Cloud sat watching the three figures. It had been over two hours since the brothers became unconscious. He had no way of knowing what was going on. Cloud had never felt so helpless in his life. He wasn't worried about the brothers or about Shadow at that point. What worried him was what would happen when Tifa arrived. And he knew she'd come. Cloud believed he could convince the others he was telling the truth, but he wasn't sure about Tifa.

At that moment he heard yelling from the village. He was tense for a moment, until he realized it was cries of excitement, and not fear. Then he heard a name, and a chill ran down his spine. He had no way of knowing how Chrono would react at seeing him here. He knew that neither he, nor Chrono, nor any of Chrono's friends had left on good terms.

Cloud was worried. If a battle broke out, he'd be outnumbered. And with three lives in the balance, it would be a massacre…

CENTER* * * * */center


Chrono was glad he's found the village. The weather had only gotten worse since he'd passed through the gate, along with Tifa and Zack. He could figure out why those two would choose to come together. They always seemed to be fighting. But he knew that there had to be a reason, and he wasn't about to argue with either of them.

There was a cheer as Chrono entered the village. Everyone still remembered what he, and his companions, had done for them. Chrono soon saw the elder come towards him.

If anyone knew whether or not the three were in town, the elder knew. "Sir Chrono! We are honored."

Tifa took a step forwards, but Chrono kept her from speaking. "We are searching for three men. Two brothers and a third man who looks like him." Chrono pointed at Zack.

The elder nodded. "I remember them. They are still here. They arrived claming they needed a place to save the life of their companions. Yet I saw no one other than the three…"

Chrono nodded in appreciation. "Can you show us where they are?"

"Follow me." The elder turned, and walked towards the far end of the village. Chrono, Tifa, and Zack followed.

CENTER* * * * */center


The elder stopped, and pointed at a house. "We placed them there. If there is nothing else, I shall leave you." Chrono nodded, then turned towards the house. The other two followed.

Cloud saw them coming, and did the only thing he could think of. He shut the door, then leaned on it. He needed time to think. And he didn't have any time left.

Chrono knocked on the door. "Come on guys, we know you're in there!"

Cloud didn't answer at first. He wasn't sure what to do.

Chrono pounded on the door. "I said open up. You've got some explaining to do."

Cloud looked at the three figures on the floor. "I'm sorry. But I can't open the door. I made a promise…"

Tifa began pounding on the door. "Cloud what is going on? We're not here to hurt you! Don't you trust me?"

Cloud didn't know what to do. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold out if they tried to break in. But he also knew that if he allowed them in, he could kill Dragon Shadow, and the brothers. And he had promised to protect them. "I don't know what to do. It's not that I don't trust you. But I can't allow you to hurt those in here. Otherwise, I could not forgive myself…"

"It's Dragon Shadow, isn't it?" Zack looked at the others. He knew.

Cloud was left to decide, and in the end he knew what it would be. "I'll let you in, but you have to promise you won't hurt anyone, but me. I know that you, Chrono, may want to kill me for what happened earlier, but we had no choice…"

There was silence from outside. Zack was the first to decided. "I can agree to that. You are not the only one to owe those three something…"

Chrono nodded. "I can also understand being driven by necessity. I have done foolish things in the past for less than a life…"

For several moments after Chrono spoke, Tifa said nothing. She wasn't sure what to say. There was no doubt left in her mind who rested inside, and whom it was that Cloud felt the need to protect. But she wasn't sure she could agree with him. "Cloud, do you have any idea what you're asking me to do? I don't know how you did it, but I can't forgive him that easy…"

Cloud's voice echoed from inside the hut. "Who ever said it was easy…?"