Chapter 2 - Reunion

After only half an hour or so, the group reached Nibelheim Town, a small settlement in the forests at the feet of the mountains. The SSTT parked outside the main entrance gates to the town. All the soldiers soon got out, their guns and swords in their hands.
Cloud looked across to the dusty main square where hardly any citizens wandered around the large Mako Source Fountain that had been there since he was born. The same shops were there and probably the same keepers owned them, the very ones that Cloud used to speak to before joining Shinra.
The town had kept its mysterious atmosphere and the massive, blue Nibelheim Mansion could be seen at the outskirts. Most of the ground was made of sand-covered, stone tiles and the wind constantly brought the dust into the air, creating a weird, creepy mood within the streets.
While the soldiers stood at attention by the gates, Sephiroth walked slowly into the square and looked around at the children playing on the ground, their clothes covered in dust and sand. He turned back and looked at Cloud.
"So," he said, "how does it feel coming back? I wouldn't know as I don't have a hometown."
"Really?" Cloud said, wondering why such a powerful, intelligent man wouldn't even know where he was from. It was surprising that he'd even asked him the question. He couldn't imagine Sephiroth being interested in his own feelings on the situation. Usually his only thoughts were on the mission. "What about your parents?"
"My mother is Jenova," Sephiroth said quietly and then turned away. "She died right after giving birth to me. And my father…" He looked down at the ground and covered his eyes in grief. "…What does it matter?"
Cloud decided he would mention no more of Sephiroth's family. It was already obvious that despite his physical strength he remained a weakly emotional character when it came to the death of his parents.
"Now come on," he said as he turned around. "Let's go."
As they entered the town Cloud said, "The Mako smells pretty bad here, huh?" but there was no answer. The soldiers were only here to do their job and Sephiroth had probably done his usual share of talking for one day. Silence was an easy thing for him.
Only a few people were outside and most of them were right close to their home doors. It was likely that they were all afraid of the monsters that had been coming down from the mountains.
Sephiroth stopped outside the closest inn of the main square and turned to face the soldiers.
"We leave for the reactor at dawn," he said. "Spend only a moment in the streets to buy whatever weapons and armour you need. Make sure you get back here soon and get to sleep early."
"Yes, sir," said all of the soldiers at once.
"Oh," Sephiroth said, "you may visit your family and friends if you wish, but only for a few hours of course. It will be a long journey tomorrow."
The last comment was obviously aimed at Cloud, as it was unlikely that the other soldiers had any connections with Nibelheim. It was such a small, solitary town that it would have been too much of a coincidence.
Sephiroth and two soldiers entered the inn while Cloud and a lookout stayed outside in the dusty square. It was almost getting dark and more and more people went home. Soon the square was empty.
Cloud only had a few hours in the streets to buy any extra weapons, but he needed none. He knew immediately where he wanted to go. His house was on the other side of the square, a small, wooden bungalow with a red roof. As he walked towards it he thought of his mother, a vibrant woman with all her care thrown at him. His father had died when he was young and he was the only person his mother still loved. It had been two years, but it seemed more like twenty.
He soon entered the door that was ajar and looked inside the main living room of red carpet and wooden walls. He suddenly saw his mum working by the stove in the kitchen, pulling something hot and steamy out from the small door.
"Uh," he said nervously. He didn't know what she would think when she saw him back here after he had told her two years ago that she may never see him again.
She turned around with the tray of cakes in her hands. Suddenly she realized exactly who it was that she was looking at. "Cloud!?"
"Hi," he said as he lifted his hand slightly to give a short wave. His mother put the tray down and rushed towards him immediately. Her arms were around him in seconds, hugging him as tight as she could.
"Welcome home!" she said cheerfully, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. "I can't believe you're here! I've missed you so much!"
"Me too, mum," Cloud replied softly.
"I thought you said you were never coming back?"
"Well that's what I presumed. I never thought Shinra would have anything to do with Nibelheim."
"Is that why you're here? Are you on a mission?"
Cloud looked into his mother's glittering eyes. "Yes. So I can't stay too long I'm afraid. Only a few hours or so."
She stroked his hair gently with her soft fingers. She was so happy to see her son alive and well without any injuries or foreign disease.
"You look so handsome," she said, trying to ignore the frustration that he couldn't stay long. "I bet the girls never leave you alone."
"Not really," Cloud replied with a shrug.
The two of them spoke for quite some time, Cloud sitting at his old bed while his mother remained standing. She was too emerged in his stories to sit down while she listened.
"I'm worried about you," she said in response to the account of his new life. "There are a lot of temptations in the world. I'd feel a lot better if you just settled down with a nice girlfriend."
"I'm alright," Cloud said, not interested in silly relationships.
"You should have an older girlfriend," his mother said tenderly. "One that could take good care of you. I think that would be best for you."
"I'm not interested," Cloud said honestly, and with discomfort.
"Are you eating all right?" his mother asked, knowing that he would soon change the subject if she didn't.
"Yeah," he replied with a short smile. "The company takes good care of me."
"Is that so? I know you can't cook very well. I've been worried sick about you."
"Listen, I'm okay, really."
"I sure hope so, Cloud. I can't live without knowing you're safe."
"I'm a soldier, mum. I can take care of myself."
They continued to speak for several hours about life in general and despite her usual opinion of war, Cloud's mother was actually rather interested in his tales of life with the Shinra Military. She had been lonely throughout the years without Cloud or his father to talk to and it was a joyous surprise to be talking with him again.
She looked him in the eyes and tried to form a difficult grin. "You should go," she said quietly as she did up the top button of his clothing. "I don't want to interfere with your work."
She looked away, trying to hide the tears that were running down her cheeks. Cloud didn't feel like he was doing the right thing.
"Are you sure?" he asked concerned. "I can stay a little longer if you want."
"No…I think you should go. The longer you stay the more I'll miss you when you're gone."
Cloud's feelings were mutual with hers, and he had little time left before he should return to the inn. As much as he wanted to stay, he also didn't plan on disappointing Sephiroth by returning to the inn too late. He stepped forward and kissed his mother gently, along with a very long and silent hug.
"Goodbye, mum," he said.
Tears crept down her face as she watched him turn around.
"Bye," she said quietly as he walked out of the door. "I love you."

Cloud wondered if the short reunion was worth it at all. He was happy to finally speak to her and so was she, no doubt. But still it was very short and worthless considering he would have to leave tomorrow morning and probably never get a chance to talk to her again.
But he knew he would return here someday, so that he could spend more time with her. Even if only for a short time it certainly couldn't be much shorter than just then. He felt so guilty and uncaring just leaving so quickly. He would have loved to spend a few days with her at least.
But orders were orders and Sephiroth had ordered him to spend only a few hours outside. So he had nowhere else to go but back to the inn where the others were. The town square was almost completely quiet. Only a dog playing with a piece of litter was making a sound. The inn doors soon came into view behind the swirling tornadoes of sand.
Inside the inn there were two men by the counter, one large and muscular with baggy clothing, the other old and frail with a small goatee beard. Neither looked at Cloud as he approached the stairs, so he continued up, regardless of whether he'd need to pay to stay the night or if Sephiroth had already paid.
Upstairs was a large room within the roof with about twenty beds lined up together in columns. Anyone who stayed her obviously didn't get any privacy from the other guests. But currently there was no one in the room but Sephiroth, who was standing by the window, and three soldiers who were already asleep in their beds.
"What are you looking at?" Cloud asked the General by the window.
Sephiroth turned around and paused. "…This scenery…I feel like I know this place."
"Nice," Cloud said with a sarcastic smirk. "Well I'm going to bed, sir. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight."
"I've hired a guide to take us to the reactor tomorrow," Sephiroth said, disregarding Cloud's goodnight. "I've heard she's young. I hope we can rely on her…"
"As long as she knows the way that's all that matters."
There was no reply from the General and so Cloud was in bed within seconds. But Sephiroth just stood there by the window for hours upon hours…