-Five: Cloud-

            From what I can remember from that moment, since I felt so ashamed of myself and also felt guilty, I just ran off continuously until I reached the forest and ended up near a stream. I was crying but I did not stop myself from doing so… after all, no one can see me there.

Shame: because I almost killed Sephiroth and did not even realize that he changed… and harming a beloved son in front of his mother isn't really such a good idea. I should've thought of my actions first rather than acting upon instinct just because I was angry at him for everything he had done.

Guilty: because of the fact that Sephiroth killed Aerith right in front of me two years ago and I wasn't even able to do anything about it but just stare at her as the Masamune penetrated through her body and eventually killed her. I was supposed to be her protector; but at that moment, I wasn't able to.

Two years.

I've had several instances wherein I wanted to cry for Aerith for the past two years… but I would always stop myself. But at that moment wherein I ran away from the others and ended up near that stream, I just let it all out while holding the pink ribbon in my grasp.

I think I sat down there for several hours because the moment I came back into my senses (even though I still had several more tears to cry), the sun was already beginning to set.

Now there was a certain question in my head at that time: "What the hell are Sephiroth and Lucrecia doing here?"

To get an answer to that question, I knew I had to go back to Nibelheim and talk to them about it… and also apologize for acting like a crud.

I looked at the pink ribbon and smiled at it bitterly. And again, another question entered my mind: "How did Sephiroth get this?"

I froze and my eyes just widened in sudden shock; as if my heart stopped beating for a second. Immediately, I got up and hurried back to the ShinRa Mansion in Nibelheim where I supposed they're all inside of that scary old mansion and getting ready for dinner.

I was correct.

But the moment I got the courage to step inside the big house, it was already 7:30 in the evening (according the clock tower of the Church) and they were in the middle of dinner.

Everyone was looking at me from their seats: Vincent, Lucrecia, Sephiroth and Yuffie.

Vincent smiled kindly at me. "Nice of you to join us for dinner, Cloud." He said.

I just stared at them… they must've been staring back at me because my eyes still looked puffy because of crying. Lucrecia motioned for me to sit down on the empty seat beside Yuffie. "Have a seat." She invited.

I hesitated at first but I realized that I was hungry already and I haven't been eating for a day already at that time, so I just accepted the invitation and ate dinner with them.

I was just quiet during dinner while listening to their conversations.

I could tell that Vincent and Lucrecia were catching up with each other for the many years that they weren't together. Sephiroth sometimes joined in their conversation, then would eventually get bugged by Yuffie with her questions regarding himself and his "insanity" and his days as a Soldier and all others. I could tell that Yuffie just made a new friend, like nothing happened in the past.

As for me, I was just staring at all of them… and I guess they all noticed it.

"How are you, Cloud?" Lucrecia asked. She sounded so motherly… and I realized how much I missed my own mother.

I hesitated for a while before answering, "I'm fine."

"Are you okay there?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah." Was all I could say.

"So, what have you been doing these past two years?" Sephiroth asked me.

I was silent for a while before replying, "Just roaming around and doing odd jobs for people I don't even know. I haven't been here in Nibelheim for a while but because Yuffie and I were looking for Tifa, we just ended up here in hopes that Vincent might know something about her whereabouts."

I saw Sephiroth and Lucrecia exchanging glances and somewhat sly smiles before turning back to me. "Don't worry about Tifa, Cloud. She's in very good hands."

I was quiet for a few seconds, trying to comprehend what they are trying to say… but then I remembered my questions from the stream. I spoke up, "Don't mind me asking, but why are the two of you here?"

Silence.

"People deserve second chances, don't they?" Lucrecia asked.

I just stared blankly at them.

Sephiroth turned to me. "Don't think of it as paying for the sins of our past. Just think of it as if we are like lost souls with unfinished business here in this Planet. Like me, for example, I wasn't able to know my mother. Now that I'm with her, I swore to always be by her side, never leave her, and to help her." He explained.

"I don't get it… does it mean that after you guys have fulfilled your 'quests' here, you'll go back to the Lifestream again or something?" Yuffie asked with a perplexed look on her face.

"No. We can stay here until our right time comes. It's just like a second life," Sephiroth replied.

We were all silent for several minutes. Vincent was looking at me, as if trying to read the look in my eyes. I wanted to ask a certain question, but I suddenly did not have the courage to do so. All I could do at that moment was look at the pink ribbon that I had tied around my right wrist so that I could always look at it and remember the beautiful girl who once owned it.

I think Vincent was able to guess my thoughts, so he was the one who asked for me, "You're the only ones who came back?"

Sephiroth turned to Vincent. "Four of us." He replied simply.

Yuffie, Vincent and I suddenly froze.

Four.

Lucrecia laughed. "The other two aren't President ShinRa and Hojo, don't worry." She assured us.

Vincent and Yuffie both sighed in relief.

"Well, who are the other two?" I asked them.

Sephiroth just smiled calmly at me. "We're not supposed to reveal our identities unless we have found our purpose in this life. I have found my purpose. Mom found her purpose. We revealed our names to you guys. As for the other two… they're the ones with Tifa. I can assure you that she's in good hands with those two… especially the other one." He raised his eyebrows at me, Vincent and Yuffie.

Lucrecia just smiled and giggled lightly.

Vincent, Yuffie and I were confused… I could tell from their facial expressions. Who are those two other people?

Hmf… Better not be Tseng or President ShinRa or Don Corneo or Hojo…

            Later that evening, I was in my room that Vincent had provided for me in the Mansion. I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about the two others with Tifa.

From my bed that was beside the window, I turned my head to the side so that I can see the stars. "Aerith…" I whispered softly as I held the ribbon tightly in my hand…