In the past, people believed there was a key to obtain immortal life through the blood of the undead; a drop that could perfect the fragile human body to live for passing ages whilst the planets slowly withered and stars burnt out at their core. It was the drop of Her blood, the device of the ancients to reward the mortals with eternal life. She had once been passed down in memory as Ananke and from her stolen essence her son had emerged as an incorporal God, serpentine in form, with three heads. Merged by three brothers to form a powerful core of the indestructible Ananke; the mother of the spawns.
They circled the primal world in their coils to split it apart to form the ordered universe of earth, sea and sky. They were turning the Wheel of Constellations, determining fate through written signs on the black skies. The mortal only had to learn how to read it. The signs were there, and the tears they wept rained down on the fragile world, poisoning the land with bitterness. For no one knew that each time a fraction of the essence was ripped from the Great Beyond, it would bring about a dangerous fiend into the world. They would walk the earth like the living, masked amongst them and disguised in their presence… but they were no humans, hardly even alive. They would make up a new army, a wave of power and a new life of destruction would dawn on mankind.
The skies were always icy blue or shivering black above the frozen lake, deep inside the Silver forest. It was a crystal lake, for it was always covered in the purest ice providing a cold crypt of serenity for the ancient. She lay dormant on the bottom of the frozen lake. It had been frozen since she was laid to rest in the bottomless darkness. It was her home and she felt safe there. The ice from her tomb had spread to the surroundings, turning the silver forest into a dazzling world of crystalline architecture; crystals singing as the light danced through each marvellous structure and sending them into another direction waiting to be explored. It was a marvellous forest, but it was cold and unkind to a lost soul. Animals had fled the forest a long time ago, and nothing bloomed or ever awoke from a long lasting sleep. It was a sleepy forest, a quiet forest, a deadly yet ever so enchanting forest.
Devoid of a physical body, but more alive than the living, she gazed out from the preponderating blackness towards the surface, listening to the gentle whispers carried to her by the winds. She heard the living, knew about their trials and tribulation and mourned at their loss when tears of sadness were shed in her grave. The whisperer who was now standing above her grave was not shedding any tears, but the bitterness in his words spoke vividly to her heart; the ghost in the lake.
"Vincent is trapped, Aeris. He is spending most of his waking hours at Lucrecia's crystal prison. He is neither eating nor sleeping, just hoping to catch the moment of a day when he can break the curse set upon her. It is almost as if he's waiting for a sudden intuitive leap of understanding," Nanaki sighed and stared at the blank ice beneath his paws.
No matter the season, Aeris' lake was always frozen. The layer of ice was as pure as a mirror, but unbreakable, and the blackness underneath the surface swallowed light so not even the sparkling moonlight would reflect over its surface. It was an enchanted lake feared by many; all but Nanaki who sought refuge at the white shores, confessing thoughts and dreams to the Spirit of the depths. He could feel her heartbeat with every ripple beneath the ice, speaking to him like a tender voice of a Mother.
"The search for answers inside the Mako-palace in that hidden grave is fruitless. The answers are there before him. He is consumed by sadness, Nanaki, and lives off a delusion… a misconception that he can bring Lucrecia back."
"What if he can?" Nanaki's breath was caught on the surface of the ice as little, white crystals. The answer to his question broke through the ice with blind conviction.
"He cannot, for Lucrecia will never be free. She has no desire to be free. She made her choice, just as Vincent did, a long time ago. The only thing that can set her free is her son."
The feline cocked his head and as the realization of the difficulty presented before Vincent came into full bloom the sentient being released a grunt of despondency.
"So his only way of saving Lucrecia from her prison is by setting Sephiroth free?"
"Yes. But even so, I'm not sure there will be a reunion. Her heart belonged to someone else long before Vincent. She has not told him the truth as of yet. Begging for forgiveness from behind her crystal bars is not going to grant anyone release or closure. But I know, she will not break her prison for she won't let him know the truth. She is protecting Vincent."
The long whiskers twitched a little as Nanaki was submerged in thoughts. Looking at the sapphire skies and imbibing Nature's grandeur even at a place of death such as this, he posed a series of difficult questions.
"Why are you fighting for Sephiroth? He had been the one to rip you from us." Lowering his head towards the icy surface he went on. "Why are you fighting so hard to save him from his hell?"
Complete silence settled upon the forest and the black waters beneath the ice brought forth a pale ghost hovering in white. The shape was that of Aeris, but her complexion was devoid of color like a divine being. Her eyes were like mirrors, reflecting her surrounding, giving them the true face of their soul. The souls were often distorted once the fake façade of the flesh was peeled off in her gaze, but Nanaki remained the same. He was pure at heart and fearless. He returned her gaze and allowed Aeris to properly scrutinize his soul. Their faces were separated only by the thin ice; almost touching.
"Because he deserves better, my sweet Nanaki," Aeris voice steamed through the surface like mist. "Sephiroth was an unwanted child. Born to a mother who regretted his birth, which was a crime in itself, and later his soul was turned into stone by the very people who claimed to be his family. His love for this world was betrayed. Lucrecia should have acknowledged him despite the fact that he was a child of two mothers, and the experiments he suffered through to the benefit of one man's power were inhuman."
"But he killed you, Aeris, when we needed you the most," Nanaki argued humbly, but was silenced by the determination of the Spirit of the depth.
"No, my friend, you defeated him at last. But I must tell you this…" she hovered closer to the ice, the feline almost able to feel her breath on his face as she revealed her heart. "It wasn't until I suffered death, that I truly became free. What Sephiroth did to me was a crime in your world, but I am stronger on this side. If I had known my ancestors would be waiting for me, I would have searched for the backdoor out of life much sooner. There is a great battle coming and the serpent is growing. We have to summon all our powers and my people are ready. My beloved brother needs to live again."
"Your brother?!" Nanaki distanced with a gasp. "Sephiroth?"
"Sephiroth had blood in his veins from an ancient power shared by the Cetra," Aeris explained. "Jenova and the Cetra are two people of the same origin and Sephiroth was the last, apart from me, carrying that gift. We were different and yet so much alike. As with me, he cannot be destroyed as long as that power lingers on inside him, but it has locked him into a frightening world… his own nightmares."
In a moment of weakness, Nanaki shook his head wondering if Sephiroth's fate was not something that was rewarded following such terrifying deeds as those he was responsible for. The question brought fury out of Aeris as she struck against the surface of the ice, arms extending in what resembled a vicious attack.
"We have corrupted the soul of this innocent!" she roared with an inhuman rumble that made the crystals from the frozen branches fill the air like tiny splinters of sharp glass. The skies began weeping with tears as the icy lake was slowly covered with red droplets. Aeris was clearly mourning Sephiroth and she was relentless in her blame.
"We sent him into a world of guilt and fear that sprung out of our vicious actions towards him and then we cowered in the face of his revenge… sending him inside the mouth of the condemned. I assure you, Nanaki, Sephiroth is our only chance of survival or the serpent will devour the Universe and shatter it with its spawn."
As the Cetra calmed a little, she moved away from the ice and the raindrops halted in midair, levitating in the void like morning mist.
"Tell Vincent, his is not the only one. An army needs to be lead by a great general and Vincent is the only one strong enough to bring Sephiroth forth. He must. If Vincent will not listen, then you must speak to Chaos."
"But Vincent has control over the Daemon and influences its activities, my Lady," Nanaki argued slightly dejected.
The Cetra smiled back from the darkness, her face fading the deeper she sank into the black waters. From the very depth of the lake her final message was announced to Nanaki on wings of fear that carried him all the way home. How would he ever be able to fulfil what Aeris demanded? How could he, as the most trusted friend of Vincent, commit such a deceitful act? Aeris' words were echoing in Nanaki's head long after the night had settled and the thought still tainted the peace out of him.
"Remove the orb," she said. "Make the Daemon a Lord of his own."
Nanaki had been wondering what possible way there could be to remove the orb without destroying Vincent and before him a perilous task was opened. It was a fairytale that intertwined with the waking world and the fruits of which could tame the magic of the spirits; to make a sorcerer come alive. But to complete the task, he needed to fall asleep. He agreed to carry forth the wish of the Certa, but he would need the right opportunity for that. He asked her for a few more days of respite and surely it was granted, but only to be filled with yet another task.
"In order to bring the gate keepers on alert, you must talk to Cloud. He's been searching for an answer to why this darkness has been hounding him. Asking insistently why he is linked to Sephiroth's darkness. He merges with Kadaj in shame, but his inner self calls for the feline, which only fuels Cloud's feelings of guilt and hatred. He's insular yet blind to the confusion inside. You must tell him what we know about his past. You must tell him what you saw on the return from the failed mission at Costa del Sol. You must show him what connection he has with his General."
"Is it wise, my Lady?"
"Nanaki, Cloud needs to know. The gate keepers must unite in one common effort… their WILL."
"Yes, my Lady. I shall speak to Cloud."
Cloud was nervously biting his nails whilst pacing back and forth in the driveway to Tseng's flat. He had been summoned there by Nanaki who claimed to have important information on his past; more specifically about the bonds he shared with Sephiroth. Remembering Sephiroth's own words to "bring the weakness to light and learn from it in order to destroy it", perhaps this was the best approach with which to finally get rid of the haunting inside. Maybe by finding out whatever the cause to his bonds he shared with the General, could enable him to destroy them and not yield when the nightmares were too overpowering. Cloud was submerged in angst, but his aimless stride was caught by the presence of Nanaki calling for his attention and guiding his thoughts out of the darkness.
"Cloud," he spoke softly. "Please, calm yourself for what you are about to see today will require a strong heart."
"Nanaki, you saying that is not exactly helping me." Cloud's eyes flashed with worry. "I've been sleepless since you spoke to me. But, trust me. I'm prepared no matter what."
"Hey Cloud," Tseng greeted the blond with a smile.
He looked into the worried eyes of the Soldier and noticed that during these past years, the Cloud's innocence had been tainted; and perhaps not only due to age. There was a lack of spark in the teal gaze and the eyes looked almost opaque as if they had been saturated with all the troubles of the world. Tseng towered over Cloud and dove into his complexion.
"So this is what's happened to you," the Turk sighed. "He has captured you and made you old. Old like he was… innocent in body yet corrupt in mind. Ancient untouched."
"If you only knew the truth about that last thing you've said," Cloud whispered with a tired soul. "Sometimes I feel ready to die."
Tseng nodded in return, almost sensing that he knew it all too well, but had neither the will nor voice to speak.
"Come," Nanaki stepped in. "We need to get this over with."
Cloud was seated in the lounge. The fragrant steam from the fruit tea he had been offered rose towards his face and offered some heat to his skin as he cupped the porcelain mug. His fingers remained cold as if his limbs were insatiable to the heat that was escaping his body with anguish. Once they were all gathered, Nanaki began speaking.
"Let's not waste more time, which is of essence," he pointed out. "Cloud, do you remember the mission to the Da Chao Mountain? Some time after the events of Fort Tamblin where the first Avalanche resistance group had set up their headquarters in a pagoda in Wutai."
"This was after the war on Wutai," Cloud added in whilst drifting into his memories. "Yes, I remember. Sephiroth was considered the greatest Soldier ever for defeating ShinRa's major resistance and time was set as "zero" from then on. The turn of the century, Sephiroth brought the new century… he was only twenty-three years old. I admired that Soldier back then, would've given anything to be like him."
"We were sent out by ShinRa to search out the Avalanche base and attack," Tseng continued. "However, Avalanche was warned by their financier and protector in ShinRa, Rufus… who knew, eh… and the group's lieutenants escaped. Old man ShinRa defeated the forces at the base, and destroyed the pagoda, thinking that we had defeated entire Avalanche, but the surviving leaders of the organization regrouped on the Da Chao Mountain, and prepared for more attacks on the corporation. That is why you were there, Cloud."
"What?" Cloud cocked his head. "No, you must be mistaken. I don't remember that."
"No," Nanaki sighed. "We didn't think you would and there's a reason for it too. But before you watch the surveillance tape, we need to tell you what happened that led up to what you're about to see."
Tseng leaned forward and poured more hot water into Cloud's nearly empty mug as he continued recalling the hidden past.
"You see, president ShinRa was dead set on defeating every last man of Avalanche, if nothing else, to quench the antagonism of his own son. He soon realized that he had taught Rufus far too well… he was way too hungry for power and the old president was beginning to worry about the ambitions of the heir. So, the last stronghold of Avalanche was sniffed out at Da Chao and a handful of soldiers were sent there on a reconnaissance mission. Amongst them were you. But it was a setup. Neither you, nor they were meant to go there. It was a suicide mission from the start."
"I seriously don't remember anything of that. Are you sure you haven't gotten your information crossed? I recall almost all my missions from day one," Cloud said worryingly and washed down his words with another gulp of soothing tea.
"Well, the Avalanche wasn't stupid and had anticipated the attack. Some say thanks to Rufus again, we still don't know, but the mission went very wrong. See, the Soldiers that were sent out were sons of the five most powerful financiers of the president in his new project." Tseng stopped for a swift moment to enjoy his tea. He casually leaned back in his sofa whilst allowing his thoughts to come forth.
"I'm thinking, and have always suspected that if it had been Rufus' game, he surely knew that the death of those young men would cause a huge withdrawal of resources, causing a chink in his father's empire, whilst he would be gaining more alliance in the face of his father's enemies. Rufus knew what games he was playing. It was a coup-de-tat in a way, but not with an instant effect. He was slowly bleeding his father out of the empire. ShinRa is power with which everything is run on this planet."
"But if it was a mission for Soldiers, why was I sent there? I was a mere cadet then and I know for sure that, although Sephiroth was a real pain when it came to training, he would've never allowed a cadet to go on a mission of that magnitude. I was too inexperienced."
"Yes, but in order not to raise too many suspicions against the chosen few to be deployed some collateral damage had to be added."
"Collateral damage?"
"If it had only been the sons of the financiers, it would've caused obvious suspicions after the mission ended. Apart from the five class three Soldiers, some rookies, amongst them you, were sent there too," Nanaki clarified. "Sephiroth found out about it too late. And you're right. He never authorized such a mission, would never have… his honor and knowledge wouldn't have allowed him… by the time the news hit him about the missing stealth-ship… let's just say it like this," Nanaki leaned closer to Cloud, "he found out about the mission when the corpses were returned."
"Sephiroth was furious," Tseng latched on. "I had never seen that man so enraged… so beside himself. You know he never picked up pace unless absolutely necessary… but this time… he was racing through the halls and into the landing bay where the body-bags arrived. I remember…" Tseng halted swiftly in thought before he continued with vivid memories still playing before his eyes, "…he stormed into the bay, pushing anyone in his way aside, and he ripped the bags open… one by one. I remember the bodies were so discolored, skins marbled… eyes shrunken in. Sephiroth let out a roar that was so inhuman… so aggressive and sad at the same time. It was heartfelt in all that eeriness. We tried to hold him back but that roar made us all back down. It echoed for so long… it was scary."
"What happened to me?" Cloud asked. His hands were visibly shaking and the tea rippled in the mug. "I mean… I don't remember any of this at all."
Tseng lowered his head and stared into his golden liquid as if enchanted by the deep color.
"You… uhm… you, were alive a few days more, the only one, but badly wounded and in coma, Cloud," the Turk managed to churn out through his thickening throat. "There was no chance for you to survive. You were braindamaged beyond repair and during the coming days it was decided to switch your life support off. You were to be kept by ShinRa until physical evidence could be secured."
The words escaped him ever so reluctantly, for he knew they would cause endless grief to the blond.
"That's not possible! That's… c-can't be true," Cloud stuttered in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Cloud," Tseng said compassionately.
"No. No," Cloud shook his head persistently. "No way. It's not possible."
"Cloud, listen," Tseng made an attempt to speak, but was curtly hindered.
"Go to hell!" Cloud shouted and the cup smashed against the floor as an angry voice escalated with each repeated phrase. "I'm here… I'm here, Tseng… I am fucking HERE!"
"Cloud, listen," Tseng tried calmingly, but to no avail, "I know it's hard to accept, but…"
"No!"
"Cloud, please."
"No, Tseng, fuck you! What you're saying is ridiculous! I would surely have remembered. Or people would've told me. Sephiroth would've told me. It's impossible!"
"Isn't that the exact same phrase Sephiroth said to you too the day you defeated him?" Nanaki challenged. "Just before he took a leap into the Lifestream… 'It's impossible.'"
Cloud was persistently shaking his head in denial no matter how ardently Tseng or Nanaki argued against it. However, the Turk could acknowledge the rage blooming within Cloud. The concept of death was so unreal and to be touched by it left the soul distraught; left it numb. Cloud shook his head, rejecting the notion, and flew up from his seat shouting he was ready to leave. He didn't want to hear more, he didn't want to know more about his past. It was best to be forgotten as memories faded. The young man was already at the door when Nanaki called after him.
"Don't you want to see the truth to your connection? Why you survived all the experiments, why you had so easily incorporated someone else's identity into your own being… the same way as Jenova nestled into the mind of Sephiroth… why you were able to defeat the remnants… where that power came from? The reason and answer to all that has plagued you… why you are never free? Why do you think the Jenova cells integrated with you so easily? That you drifted into such a deep coma for so long, that semi-conscious state that Sephiroth so often suffered from after those extreme doses of Mako? You too are addicted to it. Remember what Miss Khin said… that you must have had a precursor in you."
Cloud turned under the architrave and cast a worried glance back at Tseng who stood up and held out a disc for him. The blond was disinclined to go back but something drew him in like a spell. The tiny information disc flashed like a jewel in the palm of the Turk. It was like a calling; the uncomfortable truth that promised deliverance. Or would it?
"I retrieved this from Rufus' office. Since the fall of the old president, I've learned to keep a close eye on Rufus and most of his doings are familiar to me. This, I saw a long time ago… even before the fall of Sephiroth, but I never spoke about it… he made me promise."
"Who?" Cloud asked with a weak voice as he stepped closer.
"Sephiroth," Tseng answered. "He was concerned that your connection to him would make you a target for people with dangerous ambitions. He made me promise that no one… especially not Hojo or Hollander, would ever find out that there was an unregistered carrier of the Jenova trait. Sephiroth refused to cede you to Death. By his request, I hid this from everyone. But I really think you should see it."
The gracious feline walked up to Cloud and brushed his head against the young man's hand in an encouraging gesture.
"Go on, Cloud. You know this is vital to you. Tseng and I will leave you to your moment, and allow you to watch the surveillance tape in peace. We will wait for you outside."
The Turk inserted the information disc into his computer and the holographic screen came alive with a clear, three-dimensional holographic view of the military morgue. With staggering, insecure steps, Cloud walked up to the computer and ever so slowly took his place in front of it. The click from the door made him aware he was now alone, but it merely registered in his mind as a faint concept, for he never took his eyes off the flickering screen. He was hypnotized by the neatly lined body-bags in the cold, sterile room, as they lay there bright yellow, almost fluorescent in that blackness, a color that called for awareness of the unusual cargo inside them. The presence of death was preponderant in the blackened air, but the watchful eyes of the cameras guarding these lonely souls were transforming the darkness into light. Cloud could see every detail in the large, cold room as if it had been during the zenith of the sun.
First from afar, but with increasing force, heavy steps echoed in the vastness of the room and like an angel rising from the abyss, Sephiroth appeared like an apparition. He opened up one bag after another; stale corpses in a halo of decay stared back at him with gaping mouths, encased in pale skins and veins shining through in streaks of rot. Sephiroth slammed his fists against the metal table on which they lay. His face was dissolved in fury and the lines told of a bitter man. The monitoring systems mounted in all public areas, followed Sephiroth across long halls, one frame being replaced by another along his path, all the way to the medical facility until he found Cloud in a small medical room. Sephiroth froze in his movements and just stared at the once so vibrant and cheerful boy, now laying encased in the aura of decay and slowly withering from within. Only the wires monitoring the artificial breathing and bloodlfow were telling of some form of life… if it could be called a life. The screen on the heartmonitor was showing a steady flatline; the blood was circulated through an external unit, and not through a beating heart, but the unit retained a minimum spark of life in order to keep the body from fully slipping into Death. Slowly, Sephiroth placed a hand on Cloud's forehead. The skin was pale and the limp body barely alive.
"Cloud, I'm so sorry," Sephiroth whispered. "This wasn't meant to happen."
The General leaned over the near lifeless body and spoke softly whilst caressing the face that had frozen with the agony that ripped him from the world.
"I didn't know… you weren't supposed to be there. Too young to be sent off to missions like that… too inexperienced… too innocent."
Cloud could hear the poignant confessions of Sephiroth as he spoke to the cold, ravaged body of a young cadet and felt his heart sink as sadness took him over. Cloud's own fingertips sought out the traces of Sephiroth's touch that had long faded even from the memory of his skin, yet he wanted to feel it so badly again. He wanted to feel those hands, those whispers, and that organic, spicy breath that revealed so much of the ancient heritage of Sephiroth. Cloud closed his eyes for a swift moment just to relish the remaining fragments of sensations left behind by the seraph, but words from the past, emitted from the surveillance tape, pulled him out of the alluring trance.
"I saw your mother today," Sephiroth continued. "She came to pick up your belongings. She was notifed that your body was beyond repair but will remain in military custody until evience was secured. She was mourning you with such passion. Her screams are still in my head, Cloud. She was beating me over the chest asking me how I could let this happen and I kept silent. Blaming others wouldn't bring her peace, even if it's the truth. When you enlisted, you became my responsibility when it came to missions. The truth doesn't always set you free, you know… For the first time in my life, Cloud, I didn't know what to say to a grieving mother. I couldn't call upon a honorable death for there was no honor to be found, I couldn't say… anything…"
Cloud watched Sephiroth caress the face beneath, shapely fingers running over the decaying flesh.
"But," Sephiroth whispered, "I can do something about it…"
Sephiroth slowly released Masamune from his side and raised the blade to his mouth. He stuck out his tongue and with a swift movement he slashed his own flesh, blood instantly flowed over his lips, covering his chin and converging on his throat and chest. With subtle movements, the bleeding seraph circled around the dead youth and never once let him go with his cyan gaze. When standing above Cloud's head like a guardian, hands cupped around the stale jaws, Sephiroth forced the mouth open and gently placed his lips over those of Cloud to merge in a sincere offering. The blood trickled into the receiving mouth, finding its way into the hollow substance and instantly sparking life in the pushing the presence of death out of it. It was one of many humbling traits of Jenova and for that, Cloud was now forever grateful.
The blond grabbed hold of the table as he witnessed his own body coming alive to the force of that ancient power harbored within Sephiroth delivered through a kiss of life. The flatline peaked… and then again, until a steady beat was measured through impulses. Sephiroth gave of himself to bring back a young man who had been ripped from life in grave injustice, thereby linking them both to an eternal stream of verve that would enable Cloud to eventually kill his savior, but to never let him go. Finally, he understood what Sephiroth meant when he claimed "I am your darkness, Cloud." It felt so unreal, yet it was there on the surveillance tape. He watched his own body as if it had been a foreign vessel, something alien now writhing beneath the face of his Angel; he could feel the invigorating impulses, those little electrical discharges inside his muscles, in the very same way as he felt them the day he was born again.
As his body became selfsufficicent, the skin began to shimmer and fingers slowly moved to feel and to grip, lips responding to the mouth above and chest rising to fill the lungs, body undulating. The General locked Cloud's face between his palms as the juvenile mouth was gaping for more of the enlivening spring, which was flowing from thicket kisses into his very core. Sephiroth dove into the craving mouth and rose to the sensations he stubbornly denied himself. His body was responding to the yearning and encouragements of a young man who was desperately reaching for his offering.
The angel moaned out loud with pleasure and at that instant, Cloud realized how incredibly similar that sound was to the audible demonstrations of sensuality he received from Kadaj. The memories that had been locked away in the depth of his unconscious mind were now rushing back. He could remember! He remembered it so well! He remembered drifting abandoned in a placid lake in a silver forest. It was cold and mist surrounded him, obscuring even the sky as he kept on staring at the doves flying above his head. There was silence everywhere for what seemed an eternity; silence until the voice of Sephiroth broke through to this world of solitude and brought the warmth; brought life and the impossible future. He gave Cloud strength, gave him another chance, but with it the greatest burden as well, because Cloud at that instant was destined to become the guardian against the guardian, the executor of the very man who had given him life.
Cloud remained seated for a long time even after the recording had stopped. His mind was locked within itself; no comprehensive thoughts escaped the web of bewilderment tainting him. After a while of reflection, he took strength and courage and left the apartment to meet with Tseng and Nanaki at the driveway. They were standing near his motorbike, talking amongst themselves, but they went silent when Cloud approached. All three men stood quietly for a while, exchanging nothing other than oscillating glances and expressionless faces. Finally, Cloud broke the silence with an unexpected assertion.
"I always thought he named it Masamune because it meant 'self-righteous' or 'bringer of truth'… or something like that," he spoke softly. "I always hated that. I figured it was his way of truth. Sort of that he would bring the truth and justice through death to others. I never thought he could use it to something good."
Nanaki walked up to Cloud and released a puff of hot air against the frozen skin of the blond.
"Indeed, you were wrong, my friend. Masamune is based on a legend, not the specific characters that make up the word."
"A legend, Nanaki?" Cloud asked, his mind slowly tuning in to reality.
"Yes," the great feline sat down, basking in the afternoon sun as he told of a legendary swordsmith. "He was a priest from the old world, but his skills had been passed down many generations through apprentices and one of the most accomplished heirs had a lineage that manufactured the Aramis swords. The one wielded by Sephiroth. You see, Cloud, he loved that sword. It was his only and most trusted companion and he cared for it like it was a living soul. He gave it the most honorable name he could think of because it reflected who the great Demon of Wutai really was."
"I don't understand," Cloud shook his head.
"There is a legend saying that one of the best apprentices of Masamune had challenged the master to make the ultimate sword. Following thousands of nights of ardent work, the two swords were put to the test. The sword made by the apprentice was put into a stream and all that streamed passed it was cut... leaves, fish, water and even the breeze that grazed it. When it was Masamune's turn he too placed the sword in the stream. But the sword cut nothing. Not the leaves, not the fish, not the water or even the breeze. And so, when mocked by the student for the inferior sword, the master simply replied 'Your sword is by all accounts a fine sword, however, it is a blood thirsty, evil blade, as it does not discriminate between who or what it cuts. It may just as well be cutting down butterflies as severing heads. Mine is by far the finer of the two, as it does not needlessly cut that, which is innocent and undeserving'."
"You mean to say Sephiroth discriminated between the innocent and those deserving of his anger?"
Tseng who had been quiet spoke up; "Isn't what you've seen today solid proof of that?" He stepped up to Cloud. "I had my doubts about him for so long and I'd even forgotten about that recording until Nanaki reminded me. I had discarded all my fond memories of him, but since these crazy events, a lot that's been buried in the past came rushing back. To be perfectly honest, Cloud… I have regrets."
"Regrets?" the blond asked.
"About what we did to him."
Cloud nodded and placed a hand on Tseng's shoulder. He then walked over to Nanaki and with a faint smile Cloud thanked the two friends for enlightening him and revealing the answers to the haunting questions. With a loud rumble Fenrir burst into power and carried Cloud through the vastness of the wastelands, tirelessly hurrying until he reached his home.
Greybone was sitting on the porch in the afternoon sun, relishing the warmth of the setting golden disc. He started purring at the sight of Cloud and jumped into the arms of his master. Cloud held the cat tightly in his embrace, cosseting him generously with caresses. As he entered the kitchen he placed the cat on the working bench and poured up a large bowl of cream for the feline, sweetened with a large dollop of condensed milk. The master left the cat in the kitchen and ran into the shower. Cloud kicked off his boots and clothes were left in a heap on the floor as he stepped into the stream of water to allow the fatigue and anguish to be washed away.
He felt exhausted yet invigorated, frustrated but glad and this time, he could hardly wait for the night to arrive. By the time the Moon cast its icy rays through the window those delicate steps could once again be heard on the stairs leading to the bedroom. Cloud smiled as he saw the door slowly open to a silhouette that has become ever so familiar.
"Have you finished the cream?"
Kadaj stepped into the light of the Moon. The rays encased him with splendor as if Nature had offered Kadaj a special place on the stage of Life with him in the lead role to bask in the spotlight.
"Yes," he responded. "Very delicious and sweet… thank you. So…" he paused and took an insecure step towards Cloud, "…why are you still up?"
As a response, the blond kicked off his blanket and patted the empty space next to him.
"I've been waiting for you," he said amiably. "I really, really, really need you tonight. If only to just hear you snore… I don't care."
Kadaj chuckled as he advanced one step at a time towards the Soldier. Finally, he reached the bed and sat down with a heavy body.
"I don't snore," he objected to such improper accusations and reclined against the chest of the master.
"Actually," Cloud kissed the pale neck whilst pulling the spawn into a tight embrace, "you do… and pretty loud too."
"Had a long day, Cloud?" Kadaj asked over the shoulder.
"Pretty much. Exhausting."
"No regrets?"
"Just one, that I was never aware to thank him for it. Things would've probably been very different."
"Thank who? And for what?"
Cloud raked his fingers though Kadaj's hair and pulled him over his own frame.
"It doesn't matter. Hey, I'm really glad you came," he assured and sank deep into the pillows as Kadaj seized his body.
The blond surrendered completely to the will of the spawn and the night exploded in passion. Although the truth hadn't completely set Cloud free, it had nonetheless dampened the ache and the air he was breathing was sweet and crisp.