It took a day and a half for the two to reach Coast de Sol. And in that time, the two allies said little, if anything, to each other. The silence didn't bother Zax, knowing Cloud was thinking of the one-winged angel of shadows. Zax knew it wasn't just because of pity Cloud had spared Sephiroth; it had been something else. I know more than people give me credit for, Zax thought, watching Cloud stare at the sea. Poor guy...He has no idea what's going on in him...
A soft sigh passed through Cloud. Damn bastard...he cursed to himself, resting his forehead in a hand. I can't get him off my mind now...Not after I told Zax...He slammed his fist on the rail siding. Get out of my mind! he shouted mentally at the image of the wounded Sephiroth. Why do you haunt me?!
The boat let out a moan under his feet, telling the ex-SOLDIER it was approaching land. Looking up, Cloud sighed once more as he glimpsed at Coast de Sol. He heard Zax approach him from behind, but didn't turn.
"What are you going to do," Zax asked, "if he is there?"
"Finish what I started," Cloud replied coldly. "This time I won't spare him."
Again Zax could hear a lie folded in Cloud's words, but he again said nothing about it, knowing Cloud's reasons would surface with time. "Do you think killing Sephiroth will allow you to find Aeris and bring her back?" the dark-haired man asked out of the blue.
Cloud shot a dark glare at Zax. "Shut up...Don't ever speak that name near me..." He gathered his travel pack and turned to step onto the docks of Coast de Sol, a fierce aura surrounding him.
Muttering to himself, Zax followed. He walked a few paces behind the blonde, knowing not to bother trying to make conversation. Does Sephy really mean that much to Cloud? he thought as they left the port and entered the open country. Because I know it isn't Aeris he's thinking of now...
***
The light of the full moon poured into the room through the open window, where a tall silhouette with long silken hair stood. The figure wore a black satin robe that danced in the soft breeze. There was a tear in the robe's back on the right side where a midnight black wing had unfolded. Slowly, Sephiroth turned from the window.
His eyes were sad, though his face itself held no emotion. He bore a long scar that ran from his heart to his right hip. A wound bled heavily from his chest over his heart, a bloody dagger in his right hand.
"Here..." he spoke, raising his blood-drenched left hand. "Its what you wanted, isn't it?"
In his bloody hand was a black heart; still beating, still pulsing with life...
"Sephiroth!"
Cloud sat up quickly, screaming the name as he woke suddenly from the dream. He was soaked in sweat, his tank top and shorts matted against his moist skin. The blonde sat up in bed, gasping for breath. "Aeris help me..." he prayed, hugging his knees to his chest. "What's wrong with me?"
The two comrades had been in Niblhiem since nightfall, resting in the abandoned, but well taken care of, mansion. Hoping he hadn't woken Zax, Cloud glanced at the nearby bed to check on his friend. He sighed to himself, seeing Zax sleep hanging off the side of the bed, his head just inches from the ground.
Silently, Cloud stood and went to the nearby bathroom, getting a paper cup and filling it with icy water. He sighed after drinking down the liquid in a quick gulp. "What's wrong with me?" he repeated to his reflection. "What was with that fucked up dream?" Cloud placed a hand over his chest, feeling his heart beat a pace faster than normal, racing with the memory of the dream.
He closed his eyes hard, trying to push back the dream and calm his beating heart. Gripping his shirt, he fell to his knees in defeat, his hot forehead resting on the cool ceramic sink. "What's...going on? My body...my blood feels like its boiling...What's wrong with me?"
"Don't be afraid..." a voice whispered in Cloud's mind. "Just take a few deep breaths...The Jenova cells in you are responding to your emotions..."
"Seph...iroth...Get out of my mind!" Cloud clasped his head with his hands. "What do you want with me?!"
"Cloud calm down..." Sephiroth's voice spoke. "You must take control of the cells or they will destroy you from the inside out."
"It hurts..." He held his stomach as if he had been punched. "I...I don't know how..."
"Concentrate Cloud! Concentrate on your energy fighting back."
Doing as told, Cloud thought hard of his energy forming an orb within him, drowning the pain of the destructive cells with a cool, calming aura. Soon the pain within him diminished, as did the cold feeling of Sephiroth's presence.
Damn bastard, Cloud thought to himself, standing. How did he know I was here? And how did he enter my mind so easily? Was it because of the Jenova cells? He left my mind when they stopped burning me...But why did he help me? Is it because...I spared him?
"Fuck this," Cloud muttered, going into the bedroom. "I think it's about time I confronted him. No more running...I face him now."
Silently creeping past the snoozing Zax, Cloud changed into his classic blue outfit and grabbed Ultimate Weapon from its spot resting nearby. Making no sound at all, he turned to leave.
"That's dangerous you know," Zax's voice stopped Cloud. The blonde turned to his friend, who rolled out of bed and landed on his feet in a squat, then stood. "Going up to the reactor alone at night...You don't know what monsters are up there at this time of the evening."
"I don't care Zax," Cloud slapped. "I'm going to confront him then destroy the reactor."
"I'm coming with you. Someone needs to keep you two from killing each other."
"No!" Cloud's shout echoed through the mansion. "I'm not running anymore. I'm facing him alone. Besides, Shinra will be after us for destroying the reactors. Someone needs to stay behind and keep an eye out for them."
Zax gave his friend a funny look. "Dude...it's three in the morning. I don't think they're that desperate."
"Stay out of this," spoke Cloud's dark voice as he turned to leave once more.
This time Cloud made it out of the mansion. The morning air was cool and crisp, the sky still dark. The half-moon lit the path to the Mt. Nibel reactor as Cloud went up the mountain. He felt a strange sense in his heart as he crossed the old wooden bridge, making him slow his pace a bit. The feeling passed as he continued on.
Cloud heard his footsteps echo in the caves of the mountain; a cold breeze bit his face nearing the exit to the reactor. Standing before the great building, the blonde took a deep breath to muster his courage. "I'm doing this on my own free will," Cloud told himself. "I'm finally going to face Sephiroth." Taking a second deep sigh, Cloud entered.
The reactor was just how he remembered it from when he last was here. The pipes under him creaked as he went to the chains and climbed down to the metal bridge. Face emotionless and mind empty, Cloud went to the door to the main room and pushed it open.
A rush of warm air and light welcomed Cloud as he entered the room. Dust tickled his nose, as did the scent of both ancient and fresh Mako energy. But he ignored it as he glanced over the pods, going to the single pod that seemed to draw more energy from the reactor than the others.
Peering in, Cloud whispered to himself, "Sephiroth..."