Dawn breaks, there is blue in the sky,
Your face before me though I don't know why,
Thoughts disappearing like tears from the moon. Waiting here, as I sit by the stone,
They came before me those men from the sun,
Signs from the heavens say I'm the one.
~I Want Tomorrow, Enya

Slowly, Sephiroth turned around to face the owner of the voice. She was standing in the shadows just off to one side of the steps, and her green eyes glittered with faint mischief. She liked the fact that she had caught him off-guard. "Talya..." he said quietly.

The Turk stepped out into the sunlight where she could be seen much more easily. She made a mock bow. "Glad to be of service, my leige." Her smile faded slightly as she eyed him up and down. "You've barely changed at all," she remarked.

He let go of the chocobo's reigns, studying her with a slight frown. "Neither have you," he answered. She could tell he was catching on quickly, but she didn't care about that right now.

She began walking a circle around him, and he eyed her warily. "I'll admitt, I think your hair's a little longer, and your clothes have definately changed..." She stopped a foot in front of him. "...but you're still the same."

Sephiroth's face remained unreadable as he watched her. "You're like Vincent," he stated finally.

"No," she replied, grinning, "I think you're a lot more like him than I am." Like father, like son, she thought. He gave her a flat look, as if to say, 'you know what I meant.' She sobered, nodded. "Yes, Hojo did perform the same experiment," she conceded, sighing a bit. "But at least I got to keep my arm." Talya held up her left hand, waved at Sephiroth playfully. He was not amused. He was too suspicious. Guarded.

"Why are you here?" he questioned.

"I heard you were here, alive again, and I decided I might as well pay you a visit. We were friends, weren't we?" She tilted her head at him. "Why are you being so suspicious?"

"Because I don't know you anymore," Sephiroth answered curtly. "And you're lying."

Talya blinked in surprise-not because he was wrongly accusing her, but because he was right. "What...? How did you get that idea?" she demanded.

"You're being far too childish," he told her. "You're uneasy." There was not a trace of the boy she had known before in him. He was closed to her, cold as ice. She didn't like it one bit.

She grinned weakly. "I guess it's because I haven't seen you in... what? Eighteen years?" He merely shrugged. "Well now... where were you going so early in the morning? It looked like you were in a hurry."

"Why should I tell you?" Sephiroth quiried. "You're still not telling me the truth."

Talya slapped a hand to her forehead, genuinely frustrated. "Sephiroth! Please!" She was about to say more, when Sephiroth put a finger over her lips to silence her.

"No more lies, Talya. And I don't want any whining because I'm not treating you like the friend you used to be." He lowered his hand and turned back to the chocobo. "Do what you will, but I am leaving."

"Wait!" Talya called, searching desperately for a reason for him to listen to her. She cursed herself inwardly for not thinking he would be so stubborn. He turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised in inquiry. "Can't we at least talk a little, like old times?" she pleaded, somewhat surprised by the fact that this was what she actually wanted.

Sephiroth paused, studying her face for a moment before nodding minutely. "I don't know why you've come, but I suppose talking can't hurt."

Talya relaxed, smiled. "Thank you. Now." It was then that fatigue finally began to catch up with her. She had crossed the ocean from Junon to Costa del Sol and walked from there. "Can we please sit down or something? I had to walk most of the way here."

"Of course," he replied. She nodded in gratitude and headed over to sit heavily on the steps. Sephiroth followed and sat down near her, a few steps higher. She could feel his gaze upon her, studying her carefully.

"I guess you've got your memory back now," she said after a while. "You wouldn't remember me if it was still blacked out."

"Actually, no," Sephiroth told her. "I don't remember much of anything. Things are slowly coming back to me, which is why I do remember you."

"Oh?" Talya inquired, blinking and turning to look at him. "So you don't remember Meteor...?" He shook his head. "But you knew about Vincent, so I guess he's the one who told you all of the things you did...?" He would have done anything for that Lucrecia of his, she thought. So of course he would find her son... but where is he now?

"Yes," came the curt reply. Talya sighed inwardly. It would take some time before he began to trust her again. It didn't help that he knew she was lying, or that he was smarter that she was. She had to be on her toes constantly to make sure he didn't get any answers out of her.

"So where is Vincent now?" she asked. "One would think he'd want to stay with you."

"He stayed behind," Sephiroth answered cautiously. "Had something to look after."

"Oh, you're just full of answers," Talya said, throwing up her hands in exasperation.

He shrugged. "For all I know, you still work for Hojo. I don't want to give you any information he might be able to use."

"Hojo's dead," she said flatly. "I haven't seen him in years."

"Lies," Sephiroth stated. "He wants me back, doesn't he?"

"Why do you still think I'm lying?"

"Please," he said, as if it were so simple that a child could figure it out. "The way I remember it, you've never been this persistent for answers. You're looking for something you can use. And you'd never have jumped to that conclusion about Vincent unless you already knew it, or had more facts."

"But that doesn't make any sense," Talya argued, "because Hojo is dead. You can't be doing things for a dead person, now can you?"

"My mother was dead," came the soft reply. "Vincent went to see her thirty years later. She died again after Meteor was destroyed." His eyes glittered green. "So don't you dare tell me that Hojo is dead. I won't believe it unless I see his lifeless body for myself."

"Vincent was the one that killed Hojo," she said. "Do you think he would leave him, if he was going to come back to life?"

"Would he have left Lucrecia, if she was going to come back to life?" he echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Lucrecia was different. She had Jenova in her," Talya said, trying to stay on top of the argument... If she had ever had the upper hand to begin with. She was trying to wrongly clear her name of the deceit he had rightfully accused her of. It was hard.

"You're telling me Hojo didn't have Jenova in him...?"

"Why would he?" she queried. "You think he wanted to make himself a specimen?"

"He might have," Sephiroth said lightly. "Hojo was a sick man. He'd do anything for his experiments." She envied his composure. He was almost completely relaxed, but gave nothing away.

"Not at the expense of losing a part of his mind. You know what Jenova does to normal people, just as I do."

"Yes, but Hojo wasn't stupid. He would have known his time was coming to an end, and that Jenova was the only way he could have saved his life." He got to his feet, considering the conversation at and end, and went down one step. "You should know by now that you'll never trick me into going with you, nor could you take me by force." He turned around to peer at her. "Of course, Hojo would have considered the possibility of a failure. You'll probably call up reinforcements, is that it? Hojo has a few others like you and you're all going to gang up on me?" Talya said nothing. Oh, how she hated it when he was right.

"In that case, it won't matter where I go, because you'll eventually catch up to me." Sephiroth studied her face carefully. "You might as well admitt it, Talya. You're not going to convince me otherwise until you show me his body." With that, he walked past her on up the steps and back into the village.

"What are you doing?" she called after him as she stood. "I thought you were leaving."

"I don't have to tell you anything, because obviously, you're not telling me anything," the swordsman said over his shoulder. "Why don't you figure it out for yourself?" Talya glared at his retreating figure, then waited until he was out of sight before heading into the village herself. Maybe there was someone there he had spoken to who might know something.



Sephiroth did not have to look to know that Talya would follow him inside and immediately begin questioning villagers. He went straight to the person who knew the most about him, and would speak it the most readily-Katrina. As he neared the door to their room, he could hear her annoyed grumblings about how he had left before she woke up. He knocked on the door to make sure it was all right for him to come in.

"Who is it?" she asked, puzzled.

"Well, it can't be me," he said dryly, "because, apparently, I already left."

"Sephiroth!?" the girl exclaimed. "Well, come in already, why don't you?" He opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. "I'm glad you decided to stay until I was awa-"

"Not now," he said firmly. She blinked, but shut up. "There's a woman who's come into the village. Her name is Talya-she may not tell you her name, though. She has green eyes, red-brown hair, and she's wearing a green vest." She nodded to confirm that she had it, then waited for him to get to the point. "She's going to want to know things about me, and possibly about Aeris or Vincent. Don't tell her anything. Pretend you don't know me if you can."

"Okay, but why?" she asked.

"She works for Hojo," he said. "He sent her to retrieve me, and I think he wants Aeris, too. I don't know what for, but I'm not about to become part of another experiment."

"I won't say a word," Katrina said. "I promise."

"Good," he said, turning to go.

"Are you leaving now?" she inquired.

He glanced at her over his shoulder. "No. I can't now. I'm going to call Vincent and ask him to meet me here. There is safety in numbers."

"But there's no way anyone could take you by force," Katrina stated. "You're Sephiroth, aren't you? You almost became a god five years ago."

"That was then," was all Sephiroth said before leaving the room. He made his way up to the top of the canyon, where the observatory was. There was no one there, which was exactly what he wanted. He checked around, just to make sure, then took out the PHS and dialed Vincent's number.

"(Who is it?)" came his soft voice through the device.

"Sephiroth," the swordsman answered. "I have a few things to ask of you."

"(Go ahead.)"

He paused for a moment. "First, how is Aeris doing?"

"(She just went back to sleep. She is still weak, but seems to be recovering.)"

"That's good," Sephiroth said as he sat down on the ledge, looking down at the village below. "Secondly... did you ever know someone named Talya?"

"(...what does she have to do with you?)" came the guarded question.

"I told you about the flashbacks I've been having... You remember the woman? That was Talya..." Vincent did not reply. "I know you knew her. You were both Turks during the same time period..."

"(Yes...)"

"Do you have any idea why she might have been working for Hojo?"

"(She may have been assigned to him. Other than that... I don't know.)"

Sephiroth sighed. "Well, she's here now. I have reasons to suspect that Hojo is still alive, and that she's still doing work for him."

"(Hojo...)"

"Yes. Did he have Jenova in him?"

There was a long pause. "(...yes.)"

Sephiroth bristled. "In that case, he wants me back... And I think he wants Aeris as well. He has something in mind."

"(No doubt you are right...)"

"He knows my abilities... and he knows my limits." Sephiroth frowned. "I don't think Talya is all he has.... I was thinking that it would be better if you were with me. That creature you can transform into could be powerful, if you managed to control it."

"(I cannot leave Aeris on her own...)"

"Then see if you can get her to come here. Either that, or find someone else to protect her, or to help me... It may seem selfish, but I can't let Hojo have his way this time."

"(I understand. I will see what happens.)"

"Oh, and Vincent?"

"(Yes...?)"

"Don't tell Aeris any of this unless you have to in order to come... I don't want to get her involved unnecessarily..."

"(I won't then.)"

"Thank you."

"(...I will see you later.)"

"Until later, then." With that, Sephiroth turned off the PHS and put it away. He sighed and looked back down at the people in the village below.

"You know," said Miera from behind him, "people are much more interesting when you talk to them instead of just watching them." He let out a short laugh as the huntress padded over to sit down next to him. "Join them why don't you?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "There is no place for me in this world, no matter what you say. You can try to convince me otherwise, but you'll only be wasting your time."

"Very well then... I'll let you find out for yourself." Miera climbed to her feet, bumping his shoulder with her head as she moved past him and on back down to where the villagers were bustling about. Sephiroth sighed. What did she mean anyway? Find what out? He just wanted to fix things. And then what?

......to fix everything, you would have to destroy Jenova itself. The Planet's wound cannot be healed until Jenova is gone, not simply defeated. So, you would have to find a way to kill Jenova...and all those who carry her cells, including yourself. He frowned. No... let the others live out their lives first. Surely you can find a way to destroy Jenova after their deaths.

What do you do after you've repaired the damage, while you are waiting for them to die? What then?

I am only an experiment...


'I saw her again today.'

'You mean Aeris?'

'Yes. But she didn't look very happy...'

'Oh?'

'She was crying... I remember I used to cry, when I was very small. Is the Professor treating her badly?'

'No, no, of course not. He would never work with a child that young...'

'I used to be that young.'

'You're different.'

'...then why was she crying?'

'......I don't know.'

'Does she want to see her mother? Might that be it?'

'Maybe...'

'You said that she was the specimen Hojo wanted. But if he's not able to work with her yet...'

'...her mother is here also.'

'I know.'

'Then what are you confused about...?'

'I'm wondering why he's keeping her here, if he can't experiment on her. I know he doesn't care about emotional ties...'

'No, he doesn't.'

'......do you?'

'Of course.'

'Then why don't you try stopping him?'

'Why don't you?'

'Because I am "only an experiment."'

'Don't say that...'

'Isn't that what you've always taught me to believe?'

'...yes... but... oh, blood, Sephiroth, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. Don't believe it for another second...'

'......what are you doing?'

'...it's called a hug, or haven't you heard the word before?'

'I have. It just seems strange, coming from you.'

'Why do you say that?'

'.........because you're not... not soft.'

'Heh. That's why I'm a Turk, isn't it?'

'I guess.'

'Believe me, I'd be a lot nicer to you if I knew how.'

'Why?'

'.........'

'............oh.'

Aeris followed Vincent up the steps to Cosmo Canyon, Elena a few paces behind her. She was a bit tired, but not only from the walking. As she didn't have a staff with her, Vincent had leant her a spare handgun, the Quicksilver, which she wasn't used to at all, though she knew how to use it. Eventually, she managed to adjust a little to the recoil, but now she could just give the gun back and buy something at the Tiger Lily shop in the canyon.

The gatekeeper blinked at them for a moment, frowning. "I recognize you two..." he said, indicating Aeris and Vincent.

"Yes," the Cetra confirmed. "It's been about five years since we've been here last."

"Oh... well, come on in. You know Nanaki, right? He's up at the observatory. Go say hello."

Aeris nodded and smiled. "We will." She turned to Elena. "I guess you'll want to go look for Sephiroth, see if he's here." Her gaze shifted to Vincent. "Come on, let's go say hello to Nanaki. Do you think Sephiroth told him that he revived me?"

Vincent shrugged. "Possibly."

She shook her head. "Well, let's find out." She took a few steps forward into the village, then paused to look around and take note of the changes since she had last been there. There are a lot more people... of course... most of the people in Midgar would have moved to other villages since their homes were destroyed.

Shaking her head slightly, Aeris turned and bounded up the steps that led up to the observatory, eager to see her old friend. Nanaki was already waiting for her when she arrived at the top of the ladder, and his one eye widened slightly at the sight of her. "Hello, Aeris," he said finally. "It's good to see you again."

The Cetra smiled, felt rather than heard Vincent come up behind her. "Hey. I guess Sephiroth told you, huh?"

"Yes, he did. Reluctantly, but he did." Nanaki nodded to Vincent in greeting, then got to his feet. "Come. There's someone I want you to meet." He walked to the door and pushed down the handle, grinning at them over his shoulder. "I had these put in to replace the round ones... can't get your paw around those if you know what I mean." He fell back onto all four paws and pushed the door the rest of the way open with his muzzle.

The person, or, rather, the creature, that was waiting in the room beyond was one Aeris had never expected to see. She, the Cetra was fairly sure it was female, looked almost exactly like Nanaki, but her coat was just a little more golden, her eyes-she had both of them-a yellow-green, and her mane somewhat shorter. Her face was a little more slender, but had the same tattoos as Nanaki's did. However, her only other tattoo was on her right forleg, a pattern that encircled it. Also, Aeris noted, she lacked the anklets that Nanaki wore, and her feathers were tipped in green.

"This is Miera," Nanaki said, introducing them. "Miera, these are Aeris and Vincent, old friends of mine."

Miera nodded, smiling slightly. "Nanaki has told me much about you."

"Sit," said Nanaki, motioning towards the sofa. "You two must be tired, and you probably have a few questions." Aeris took a seat as directed and glanced at Vincent, seeing him move to the corner and cross his arms. Nanaki noticed too and shook his head. "Some things never change," he commented.

Aeris smiled, noticing then a third feather, placed on the left side of his head. "You'd be surprised... But you're right. I do have a few questions. For one... I thought you were the last of your kind."

Nanaki opened his mouth, but Miera shook her head. "I can answer that on my own, Nanaki." He settled back on his haunches. "Yes... well... 'thought' is the key word in that sentence. You see, my parents once lived in this canyon as well, but it was at least a century ago. After that, my mother and father became nomadic and travelled from place to place. They would have returned to the Canyon, if they could have..."

Miera lay down to make herself more comfortable, and her flame-tipped tail swished once. "Once the harbor at Costa del Sol was established, they crossed the ocean to the other continent. I was born there, some sixty-seven years ago, and they stayed nearby to the small fishing town of Junon... But after some time, Shinra emerged as a growing power, and soon Junon was no longer safe, and even though I was old enough, we could not cross back over to the Middle Continent. Shinra was interested in science, or so they said, which meant rare creatures such as ourselves would be coveted."

"So you're older than Nanaki?" Aeris asked, interrupting. She looked back and forth between the two. "Why is it that he has more feathers than you, then?"

"It was because of Sephiroth," Nanaki answered. "After we defeated him, the villagers were quite proud of me and, well... I recieved the third as a 'badge of honor,' so to speak."

"Besides," Miera added, "it isn't as though fourteen years makes that much of a difference in our lives. We're both still very young..."

Aeris nodded. "I forget sometimes. You seem as old as your years in our standings... But please continue. I've interrupted you."

"It's quite all right," the golden-furred creature assured her. "...as we could no longer leave the continent, we travelled to the south in hopes that Shinra would not venture beyond Midgar and Junon. It was true until some ninteen years ago when they expanded even further and built the reactor in Fort Condor. The Shinra troops happened upon us one day, and nearly killed my parents, thinking that we were monsters instead of sentient beings.

"I suppose I gave us away by crying out my mother's name... Professor Hojo was notified of our existence, but once captured my parents sacrificed their lives to gain my freedom... I fled to the mountains where most humans dare not venture and remained there until the night Meteor was destroyed, managing to survive by growing stronger. Then I ventured down to Fort Condor and learned what had happened." Miera climbed to her forefeet, stretched a little.

"After that there isn't much to tell. I visited the other towns and the remains of Midgar before buying passage aboard a ship in Junon and crossing over to the Middle Continent. I was rather surprised when Nanaki greeted me at Cosmo Canyon's gate. Or, rather, when he came over intending to greet me and gaped instead. I can't say I blamed him. We both believed we were the last..."

"That's understandable," Aeris agreed. "But I have to wonder... why didn't Bugenhagen ever say anything? He was certainly old enough to remember these events..."

"Perhaps he never knew of Miera's existence, and heard only that her parents had been killed by the Shinra..." Nanaki offered.

"I guess..." the Cetra said. "He may have speculated that they had a cub, but didn't want to get your hopes up. It makes sense."

"Yes, it does..." Nanaki concurred. He tilted his head. "What were your other questions?"

Aeris grinned. "Are the two of you going to marry and have children within my lifetime?"

Nanaki shifted uncomfortably. "Eventually, I suppose... It would be a dishonorable thing to let our race perish... But marraige is a human custom not followed by our tribe."

"It is quite a hilarious idea..." Miera said, laughing quietly. "Can you imagine me wearing a veil and walking down the isle?" Nanaki and Aeris joined in her laughter, then the three of them quieted down. Aeris glanced briefly at Vincent, more to reassure her mind that he was, in fact, still there.

"I also wanted to ask," Aeris continued, "if Sephiroth was still here...?"

Miera nodded. "Yes, he is. I believe he has been waiting for you two."

"Waiting for us...?" Aeris queried. She noticed Vincent nod minutely out of the corner of her eye, as though he had already known. She turned to him, blinking in confusion. "Did he tell you he'd be here?"

"He did," Vincent replied, "but he also said he did not wish to get you caught up in his reasons for staying..."

"...oh." Aeris blinked once, slowly, then shrugged. "All right."

Miera glanced at the door, noting that no light peeked through from the other side. "It seems to be getting late. If you wish to sleep, there should be a free room at the inn... although it's always rather full. If there isn't a room, you can come back here and we'll make room for you."

"Thank you," said Aeris, smiling gratefully. She stood and looked around for a moment, trying to decide what to do-she wasn't quite tired yet. "I'm going down to the Cosmo Candle," she told the others. "Unless anyone wants to join me, I'll see you all later." Nanaki and Miera nodded, Vincent said nothing. She looked at him for a long moment, then decided she had dragged him into doing enough things lately, and let him be. She turned and headed out the door and back down to the village center in the darkness.

For once there was no one sitting at the Cosmo Candle. Aeris walked up the little rock step and sat down slowly by the flame, setting her bag down on the rock beside her. It was nice to be near that warmth again, near the light and out of the surrounding dark. Cosmo Canyon was a beautiful place, but... there wasn't much light during the night. Only a few torches and the bonfire. She could close her eyes and remember how everyone looked, seated around that flame with the light playing across their grim faces.

She remembered how Cloud came over and talked to her. She smiled. That was when she had fully realized his love for her. She had been so worried her feelings wouldn't be returned. Aeris shifted a little, leaned back on her hands. Of course, there had been that time in Gongaga when she spoke of Zack and he had been strangely silent. She had teased him about being jealous. Looking back, she knew she had probably been right.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sephiroth sit down near her and she froze for a moment, turning her head to watch him for a moment. He simply stared into the flames for a long time, but then he turned towards her, his blue-green gaze meeting hers. She shuddered slightly and looked back at the bonfire. A part of her panicked, and she wanted to look around to see if anyone was nearby. She didn't want to be alone with Sephiroth. She could still remember that sharp blade lancing through her...

Stop it, Aeris told herself. He's changed since then. She glanced at him once more, wondered if she should try speaking to him. "...what are you thinking about?" she asked finally.

The swordsman blinked at her, apparently surprised that she would want to talk to him. He looked back at the flame, but did not answer her. That was useful, she sighed inwardly. He doesn't want to talk to you either. Why would he? She turned back to watch the flames dance and the light flicker across the rock. It seemed so lonely now, without the others... She should make it a point to visit each of them, and see how they were doing.

"...I'm trying not to think," Sephiroth answered quietly, startling her. "But..."

She calmed herself, urging, "But what?"

"Nevermind," he said, shaking his head.

Aeris blinked. "You can trust me. I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to."

"It's not that," Sephiroth murmured. "I simply do not wish to involve you in any of this..." In his speech, he sounds like Vincent... but that sentiment was a bit like Cloud, don't you think? "It's all right. I can take care of myself..."

He sighed. "...but... why would Hojo want to create such an illusion for me? Wasn't it enough that he created me?"

"I don't know," Aeris replied softly.

"Did he just want everyone to see what his 'precious specimen' could do?" Sephiroth continued rather hatefully. "But, what a waste of lives... just to let the world see his apparent genius. Perhaps, though, that was enough for him. Just to see the result of his planning and deceit..."

"Maybe..." Aeris said slowly. "Maybe he thought, that if you wanted to claim this world for Jenova, that you would save anyone related to you. Maybe he thought that as your father, some position of power would be reserved for him..."

"But I did not even know that he was my father," he grimaced on saying the word. "Unless he planned from the beginning to inject himself with Jenova, so that he could become part of that 'family' instead."

Aeris studied his face, and his eyes shifted to watch her, but this time she did not flinch away. With his face towards the fire, his eyes caught the light and seemed to glow a brilliant emerald, but his face was quite calm, and a bit curious. "You don't seem anything like Hojo, though. I don't see how he could be related to you at all... Are you sure there couldn't be some mistake?"

For some reason, he seemed to brighten at this, but he quickly looked away. "...I don't think so... Who else could be my father, if not Hojo?"

"...Vincent?" she suggested.

Sephiroth shook his head. "He would know if he was my father. Unless he is lying, in which case, it does not make sense. Why would he want me to believe Hojo sired me unless it was the truth?"

Aeris had nothing to say to this for several minutes, but then she turned back to him with a slight smile. "You know how Hojo plays with people's memories. He did it to you. Why not Vincent and Lucrecia? Perhaps you were their child, but neither of them remembers it."

"Ever the optimist..." he murmured, saying nothing to agree or disagree.

Aeris pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them and looking into the flames. "...being here brings back so many memories... We passed through here, I remember... Everyone was all gathered around this flame. And Cloud..." She trailed off and shook her head, closing her mouth and rocking back and forth.

Sephiroth glanced at her. "You love each other, yes?"

She nodded, and she could feel the other question, unsaid, but still proposed, through his gaze. "...he's married now. To Tifa." She stopped rocking for a moment, then started up again. "...I don't suppose you'd know what it's like..."

"No," he answered. "I've never felt that, and I doubt I ever will."

Aeris shifted, sliding her legs sideways and turning towards him. "Of course you will," she said. "You've got a good soul. I can feel it. It's just that your past overshadows it. But someone's going to see through that, someday."

Sephiroth laughed, of all things. "Ever the optimist," he repeated to himself. "Ever the optimist..."

"What?" she asked. "What makes you so different from the rest of us?"

There was a lengthy silence before he finally spoke again, although it was not to answer her questions-not directly, anyway. "...when I was a child... I was isolated in the Shinra Mansion, with only Hojo and Talya... I don't suppose you'd remember me from then. Don't answer that-of course you wouldn't." He sighed. "I wasn't even innocent then. Always coming up new ways to warp the bit of world that I could..."

"Wait a second," Aeris said, although she didn't think he was going to say more anyway. His face was turned away from her, and she frowned. "Look at me," she ordered. He turned, eyeing her with a wary curiosity. She studied his face, tried to imagine it a bit younger, speaking as she did so. "I thought there was something strangely familiar about both you and Talya the first time I saw you... but I couldn't put my finger on it. You say she was in the mansion with you...?"

Unconsciously, she reached out a hand to touch his face, pushing his bangs out of the way. "...I was afraid to say anything about it because I didn't think anyone would understand... I didn't either. It makes sense now, though." She smiled suddenly. "You were cute when you were little."

Slowly, he took her hand away from his face, and she lowered it to her lap. "...strange, isn't it?" he said. "How we turned out to be complete opposites..."

"I wouldn't say that..."

"Why not?" he countered. "I tried to destroy the world to become a god, and you sacrificed your life to save it."

"If you had had your sanity, you would have been on our side... trying to save the Planet."

"What makes you so certain? I worked for Shinra, didn't I?"

"Yes... but..." Aeris paused, frowned down at the ground. "Oh, I don't know."

"Tell me something," said Sephiroth. "Why are you talking to me like this? You can't have forgotten the pain I have caused you."

She flinched slightly. "Actually, it's better when you talk. When you don't say anything, my imagination takes hold, and then I get scared..." She brightened, looking up again. "Besides, if we're going to be traveling together for any length of time, I might as well get to know you better."

Sephiroth blinked a little, then shook his head. "I don't even know myself. For you to try would be quite pointless."

"No... it isn't pointless," Aeris disagreed. "I already know a few things about you. You're a lot like Vincent: you're pessimistic, and you try to be cold and isolated, but underneath you're very kind. You want to protect people, yet you're very confused and have a good deal of self-doubt." She grinned playfully. "Now, do you want me to tell your fortune?"

"Go ahead," he consented, shaking his head helplessly.

Aeris laughed. "I'm not Cait Sith..." She sobered after a moment. "But I suppose I could guess..." Sephiroth tilted his head, blue eyes expectant. She blinked. Blue? "...well. You'll keep on trying to make up for your mistakes. Somewhere along the line, you'll realize that you're just as human as anyone else, and maybe you'll stop trying to cover it up."

He raised one eyebrow, and a hint of green returned to the blue eyes. "So you think I try to hide my humanity?"

"Yes." Sephiroth opened his mouth to say something else, his face showing mild amusement, but Aeris held up a hand. "No, don't start with that." He blinked. "Both of your parents were human. So when you think about it, you're more human than me."

Sephiroth shook his head. "The Cetra were the ancestors to humans. Jenova was... an alien thing, a sentient virus. What does that make me?"

"Whatever you want to be," Aeris answered. Sephiroth stared at her for a long moment, then turned back to the fire, saying nothing. She watched him quietly, but slowly the shadows caught her attention, and she looked around, noticing again that they were alone. She was alone with Sephiroth. He had killed her before. Cold steel, burning, yet so cold... so cold...

"Did you talk to Elena?" she asked in an attempt to stop her mind from replaying her death.

"...yes."

"...are you going to revive Tseng?"

The swordsman lowered his head ever-so-slightly. "...if I can."

Aeris frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? You revived me, didn't you?"

"The difference is that your body was completely in tact due to your resting place... It's been five years. Tseng's body may have decomposed by now..."

Aeris nodded, her frown deepening. "Where did they bury him? Did you ask?"

"Near Snow Village, she said," Sephiroth answered. "So I suppose there's a chance..."

"Why there? He was Wutain, wasn't he?"

"Two reasons. Proximity to your 'burial' site, and something to do with his last words. Elena seemed reluctant to tell me more than that."

Aeris blinked. "But why would they think to bury him near me?"

Sephiroth glanced at her. "It was assumed that he had... feelings for you."

The Cetra looked away. "...oh." The ensuing silence stretched out for several minutes before either spoke again. Aeris was surprised to hear Sephiroth speak without being prompted.

"...there are a lot of people who care about you, it seems." He lowered his head, and his silver hair fell forward to hide his face. "...it's not surprising. You have a good deal of empathy."

"What are you getting at?" Aeris inquired.

Sephiroth lifted his head ever-so-slightly. "Don't be careless, like you were before. I know it was my fault, but..."

"I understand," Aeris cut in. "Perhaps if I hadn't run off on my own... I wouldn't have died..." She sighed. "Maybe you're right, but all the same, I don't want to be babysat all the time." Sephiroth said nothing, and she still could not see his face. She looked up at the sky. It was a clear night, and the stars shone even more brightly without a full moon. "...I should be getting some sleep," she decided finally, climbing to her feet and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "It's been nice talking to you, and I do mean that."

Sephiroth nodded, kept his head lowered. "Good night."

"...good night." Aeris turned and walked down the few steps to the ground, then paused and looked back. "Oh, and Sephiroth?" She waited for him to look at her, so she could meet his gaze. "I forgive you... for killing me, I mean." He blinked. "And I want to thank you again for bringing me back. I know you didn't have to..."

"I shouldn't have killed you in the first place," Sephiroth murmured. "Your soul is too kind."

Aeris smiled. "Yours is, too. It's just a little battered, that's all."

"I..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Thank you."

"No need," she replied. "Now good night, and sweet dreams if you plan on sleeping." He nodded. Aeris smiled again, then headed towards the inn.

The innkeeper stopped her on entering. "Are you Aeris?" She nodded. "Elena got a room for the two of you," he said. "Second one on the left."

"Thank you," Aeris acknowledged politely, then went to the directed room, opening the door slowly in case Elena was asleep. The light was off, afterall. There were two beds, and Elena inhabited one of them, snoring softly. Aeris shook her head and closed the door quietly. She blinked and waited for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light, then made her way over to the other bed. She took off her shoes, set down her bag, and laid back on top of the covers, thinking.

She was a Cetra... she should be able to help, too. Maybe she could revive Lucrecia. The cave where her body lay wasn't too far from Cosmo Canyon. It would have been easier to travel there from Nibelheim, but she doubted they would be headed there. There was nothing in Nibelheim anymore... Nothing real or true, anyway. She rolled onto her side, facing the wall.

Bringing back Lucrecia could be beneficial to Sephiroth as well as Vincent. Lucrecia loved her son. Perhaps that kind of gentleness was something he needed. He certainly hadn't gotten any before. But Aeris was more concerned about Vincent. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, it seemed as though the events within the past five years had sent his thoughts into turmoil. He was completely lost, torn between self-hate for the death of Lucrecia, and the knowledge that she actually loved him, contrary to what he had believed for so long. What could be going through his mind was hard to imagine... But eventually, he would sort things out for himself, and probably not for the better. Aeris tried her best, but she didn't mean nearly as much to him as Lucrecia did. If Lucrecia was alive again, however, he wouldn't have as many reasons to hate himself, would he?

Aeris propped herself up on one elbow. Sephiroth had warned her against taking such trips on her own. But she didn't want to take Vincent with. No, she didn't want to get his hopes up in case she was unable to revive Lucrecia... The same seemed true of Sephiroth. She looked over her shoulder, towards Elena. Well... the woman had been a Turk, afterall. She might not have been nearly as powerful as Vincent or Sephiroth, but she was stronger than Aeris, and that would be good enough. If Elena consented, that is.

The Cetra let her head fall back onto the pillow and closed her eyes. She might as well get a little sleep before heading out... No use in going with so much fatigue. Just wait a little longer, Vincent. We'll make a human out of you yet. She paused in her thoughts. But then... what's so good about humanity, anyway? Rufus, President Shinra, and Hojo were all human... And both Vincent and Sephiroth are so much kinder than they ever were... Humanity is overrated. It's the soul and the heart that count, not the body...

Vincent sat down at the edge of the rock cliff, unknowingly in one of Sephiroth's favorite spots, and looked down at the bonfire below. After a few minutes, he saw Aeris walk over and sit down in it's light. Sephiroth joined her a short while later. Vincent blinked, then turned his gaze elsewhere, feeling even from this far that he was intruding upon something. The rest of the canyon lay in shadows, save for the few torches that lit the path down from the observatory to the ground. He tilted his head back, gazing instead at the sky. Aren't they beautiful? he could almost hear Lucrecia asking. He nodded to himself. So long ago, and the memories were often clearer than reality.

"Hey, Valentine," Talya greeted from behind him. He hadn't heard her voice in years, but it didn't surprise him. He glanced at her, then returned his attention to the sky. She took a seat beside him, swinging her legs back and forth. "As talkative as ever, I see."

"You haven't changed much either," he replied without looking at her. Hojo must have... He shook his head. Yes, he probably had. But there wasn't much use thinking about it.

"It's been a while, huh?"

"Yes, it has," Vincent agreed, lowering his gaze.

"Doesn't seem like it, though," she added. He shook his head in agreement. "Well now... from what I've heard, you went and saved the world. Congrats."

"...I only did it for revenge, Talya," he corrected softly. "Not out of righteousness."

"Same difference," she replied, shrugging. "You still helped save the world."

"...and what have you been doing?" he asked with a sidelong glance and a raised eyebrow.

"Aw, nothin' much," Talya answered, leaning back.

"You got assigned to watch Sephiroth, I heard."

She shrugged again. "Yeah. That was a while ago..." She sighed, then added regretfully, "He doesn't trust me anymore..."

"He has his reasons, as do I," Vincent said. "You were a Turk, if you remember. Turks aren't trustworthy."

"Guess not," Talya laughed. But the laugh was bitter. Something was bothering her, apparently.

Vincent stood, not in any mood to try to console her. He hadn't known her well before, and certainly not now. "Perhaps if you told him the truth, he would listen." Talya looked up at him, opened her mouth, shut it again, and swung her legs anxiously. Vincent stayed only a moment longer, then moved to find a new place to think.

"Tell the truth, huh?" Talya muttered after Vincent had disappeared from sight. "I can't... because then it would be even harder to take him back..." She sighed, continued speaking out loud, quietly. "Minerva's already on her way... we already have to take him by force. It'll be quicker if he's surprised. Maybe he won't get hurt that way..."

Talya glowered at the bonfire, where Aeris and Sephiroth sat talking. "I can't disobey Hojo. He's got that recall thing in Minerva, right? She can't leave him without his consent, and she'll always have to go back when he calls, unless he removes the damn thing. The gods know what else he can do with it, and what he'd do to her if I didn't follow orders." She kicked at the side of the cliff. "Damnit, I just don't want any of them getting hurt."

Grimacing, she gave the cliff another good kick. "Why do I have to be so goddamned sentimental? I'm a Turk, aren't I? I should act like one!" She sighed, calming herself, and closed her eyes. "I wish I could just quit this job. Things have gotten out of hand. I don't have any control anymore... Damn you, Hojo," she muttered vehemently. "Why didn't you just die like you were supposed to?"

Author's Note: Look! I managed to scrape by without a battle! ^.^ Don't think I'll have much luck with that next chapter. But at least I finally got it done. @.x; And look! There's an Aeris and Sephy scene! ^_^ That was sure fun to write...