When I was returned to the science labs, after that dance, I was shocked to see the Professor in a rage. Sephiroth had been equally stunned, watching the man yelling at his aids and stalking to another part of the building, all the time shaking in fury.

"P-professor?" I managed to call out to him, leaving Sephiroth's side and running towards him the best I could, being still in heels. His voice could be heard growing steadily louder. An aid rushed towards me, coming from the direction Hojo had gone.

I came across the room, running towards him. "What-what's happened?"

He turned on me, face full of rage. "No one was left to guard the girl!" He exclaimed, running shaking fingers through his now very messy hair. My eyes widened in shock.

"I-They are gone?"

"Gone! Yes gone! Iv sent men out looking for them, and no one has heard or seen anything!"

One of the blue suited men, one of the aids, rushed up to us, looking very nervous. " sir?"

"What?!" Hojo spun around, and I had felt that his temper was lost.

The aid shrunk back a step, cowering under Hojo's voice. "S-sir, we have sent some of the SOLDIER members that are here out looking for them, alerted the trains, all the patrol guards in town. We- we have nothing more to do."

"Fine! Now get out of my sight!" The aid obediently ran, and Hojo turned back to me, rubbing his temple. "They shall be the death of me I think."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Professor, why don't you get some rest. Like the aid said, we have nothing more but to wait."

Hojo shook his head sharply, looking at me from over his glasses. "No. No I have things I must do. I need to clean this mess up. What a horrid wreck this place has become." He reached down to pick up a book, but I managed to grab his wrist.

"Professor, I shall clean it. Get some rest."

The professor looked at me, but seeing no change in my will, he sighed and smiled. "Ah, my diamond, you always were so kind to me." He patted me on the head. "Do not stay up to late. Ah, Sephiroth, will you be staying here?"

I had forgotten in till now that Sephiroth had joined me. Now I turned to face him, and he was shaking his head. "I might help clean some, Sir, but I wont be staying to long. I am to return to Wutai early in the morning."

The Professor nodded. "Then ,by all means, leave us to clean this and get your desired rest boy."

Sephiroth glanced at me, then nodded. "Thank you sir."

With that, he left the room, leaving the Professor and I alone. Sighing, Hojo picked up one of the novels scattered on the floor, and returned it to its position.

No more then a day had passed when we had word of Ifalana, and her child. The Shinra had recovered the body of the Ancient, and it was promptly taken away. My only guess to its whereabouts is the locked basement in which Vincent's own body is resting. The child had been found in Sector 6, very close to the Wall Market.

Hojo, now absorbed in another specimen (another human one) had left me to take care of the girl, and get her back. Sadly, this could not be done. A woman by the name of Elmyra had taken Aeris in, and would not give her up for the world. Finding that Hojo desired me to stay in the lab more often, and not be bothered by the details of the return of Aeris, the Turks were promptly set on the case of recovery.

Again, no luck in getting the girl back.

Though Godo, the leader of Wutai, was captured, the people were still fighting. The battle across our seas and not yet ended, and Sephiroth had not returned home. The people in Midgar had forgotten about the war by now, thinking it all over and done with. SOLDIER would have no trouble finishing up whatever was going on over there.

It happens that, in the same month, I was honored with meeting a young man by the name of Cid Highwind. 16 years, like myself. I felt very privileged. He was a sharp talker, very blunt, and got right to the point. The Professor did not like the idea of me hanging about with him. Shinra had offered me to go with Cid, back to 'Rocket Town', to work on the space program. Hojo refused. A young scientist working with Hojo at the time, a replacement for Lucretia, was to go.

Shera Mindone was her name. I never saw much of her. Hojo didn't care for this young woman much, either. She was a bit of a klutz, and worked at her own speed, when she felt like working. Hojo said she was brilliant, loved the stars and science, but he had little uses for someone like her about he lab. She enjoyed the country life, and the out doors. So… he let this young woman go. I was… surprised at first. You see, Shera was almost a mirror image of Lucretia.

The war was officially over. The fighting ceased. Sephiroth returned home that summer. I remember this date not because of Sephiroth's return, but because the rocket launch was a failure. Rumor had it that Mr. Highwind stopped the launch to save Shera. This was when things began to change…

Mako was being toyed with.