It is something I will not soon forget, the look on that woman's face as I walked into that small town. True, everyone was staring at me, but she was the only one I was concerned with. I remember how she and that group of do-gooders sent me to the Lifestream. She, I think her name is Tifa, seems so afraid of me. No, not afraid just startled I suppose. I stop a foot in front of her and still she does nothing. I admit, seeing someone you believed to be dead a few months ago walk up to you as if nothing had ever happened is rather unnerving, however I would think that she could at least scream or something. I mean I did strike fear in people's hearts. However, they no longer have reason to fear me for I can no longer cause them harm, a curse from the Lifestream. *** "Where is Cloud?" he asked simply. His voice seemed to knock her from her stiff silence.

"How.what are you doing here!" she spoke through clenched teeth "We knocked you into the Lifestream, you were gone." Every muscle in Tifa's body strained to move forward and attack Sephiroth. Her mind literally screamed at her to move, to punch him, to do something! Yet, she couldn't bring herself to move. Something seemed wrong about all of this, Sephiroth felt different then he had before. When she had been fighting him, there had been a horrible evil aura about him; he always seemed to be carrying such a heavy burden. Tifa didn't know if this burden was one he was given, or if he had placed it on himself. Either way, the Sephiroth that stood in front of her was not the Sephiroth she had come to know and hate. So she steadied her shaking body and waited for his answer.

"Wouldn't you like to know." he said giving her a cheesy smile.

"Look bright boy!" she growled grabbing him by the throat. "We can do this one of two ways. One, you shut up while I think about what do to next. Or two, you can keep talking and we'll see how far you get with no head!" she emphasized her threat with a squeeze of his throat.

"Gotcha." Sephiroth croaked.

"Good, glad we understand each other." Tifa released his neck and looked around. Quite a group had gathered and people were beginning to look scared. They recognized the silver-haired man in black. "We should get inside. Come on." Tifa grabbed Sephiroth and steered him towards the inn.

The door of the inn swung open with a bang and in walked a harried looking Tifa leading a slightly ruffled Sephiroth. The innkeeper jumped back a bit and a gasped as he saw who came through his door. The two headed towards the stairs but Tifa was stopped by a shaky voice.

"M.Miss Tifa, who is.?" the innkeeper trailed off as he stared at Sephiroth. Tifa sighed and went behind the desk.

"Jayson," she said fixing him with an apologetic gaze. "I'm sorry I had to bring him here, but there was no where else."

"But th..th..that's."

"Shhh," she placed a finger to his lips and dug with her other hand in a pocket "I know, but you have to trust me. I wouldn't put you in any danger Jayson." she brought out a handful of money and pressed it into Jayson's hand. "Don't say anything, I'll handle this okay."

"Okay Miss Tifa." Jayson replied, his hand closing around the crumpled wad of money. "I trust you." he glared at Sephiroth "You tell me if he bothers you and I'll kick his ass."

"Okay Jayson." Tifa chuckled and returned to escorting Sephiroth up the stairs.

They walked wordlessly down the hallway until they reached the room Tifa and Cloud shared.

"Okay Sephiroth," Tifa said stopping in front of the door "don't do anything stupid. I could barely keep myself from killing you when I saw you. I don't want to know what Cloud will do when he sees you! Why I shouldn't kill you is beyond me."

"You see the difference in me don't you?" Sephiroth said quietly.

"What!?" Tifa exclaimed.

"So you noticed, I'm not the same as I was before."

"Yes," Tifa crossed her arms "I noticed and it's what kept me from sending you back to the Lifestream. Don't you forget that."

"Yes ma'am." He replied.

"Shut up, and stay out here until I tell you to come in. Try anything funny and I'll let Cloud stomp your ass again."

She turned and went into the room. Cloud was resting on the bed so she shook him gently to wake him.

"Cloud sweetie get up. I have something to tell you."

" Mmm, what?" Cloud said as he woke up.

"Get up Cloud I need to talk to you."

"What is it Tifa?" he asked curiously.

"Well uhhh." Tifa struggled to find the words.

"Just say it." Cloud urged as he sat up and stretched, " Whatever it is couldn't be that bad. Not coming from you anyway." He kissed her soundly on the lips and chuckled.

"This is pretty bad Cloud, I don't."

"Go on Tifa."

"Well it's about Sephiroth."