Epilogue Two

Cloud

Aeris was the last to get healed, since she was in the best condition out of the three. Vincent was already standing, alert as ever, while Rufus held his head and tried to look like he wasn't in as much pain as was obvious.

The flower girl's eyes fluttered open as the energy from the Cure Materia flowed into her, healing all her wounds. She sat up, a smile playing on her face. He looked into those eyes, and heaved a sigh of relief. He had been so terrified of losing her again, of failure. Sephiroth had been right. Keeping her safe was the most important thing to him.

He looked over and saw Sephiroth's body. Even dead he appeared regal, dangerous, lethal. Cloud was both happy and saddened to him dead. The warrior had deserved it, but some time in his past, he had been a good man, and in his final moments, that old hero had re-emerged.

Aeris looked like she was about to say something, but Cloud acted on impulse and cut her off. He placed a tender, and very chaste, kiss on her lips. He pulled away, slightly abashed. An amused smile flickered over Aeris' lips. Amused!

"My, what a mighty kiss from such a mighty warrior."

Cloud blushed slightly, and Aeris let a small laugh escape. Smiling weakly, he said, "I guess we'll have to work on that."

"I guess we will."

The sound of someone firmly clearing their throat sounded from behind Cloud, and he stood and turned to face it. Rufus had a disapproving look on his face, his eyes burning in anger.

"Jenova's dead, Strife."

"Yes, she is," he said.

"Our little truce here is ended. I see that Sephiroth is dead. Half of my business here is concluded. I'll be taking the Ancient with me now."

"What do you plan to do to her?"

Rufus frowned, as if he had some hidden secret that only he was entitled to. "That's my business. And hers. But rest assured, I won't harm her. Now hand her over."

The President of Shinra lifted his shotgun and pointed it directly at Cloud. A shot fired, and the weapon fell from Rufus' hands, sheared in half.

Smoke traveled from the barrel of Vincent's gun. The ex-Turk grunted, then said. "You forgot about me."

The President glanced over to Vincent, then discarded the gun. "Fair enough. In my eagerness to achieve my goals, I didn't take everyone into account. I'll be leaving now."

He turned his back, and began to walk away.

Cloud glanced at Vincent, who shouted, "Stop!"

Rufus didn't slow his pace, didn't turn around. He just said, "What? Is the hero going to shoot me in the back? I think not. I'll be seeing you again, Strife."

Rufus' form disappeared out the large hole in the side of the Highwind, and Vincent lowered Death Penalty, shaking his head. Cloud knew how he felt. Sparing him might prove to be a mistake. A mistake that could cost the Planet dearly.

Aeris rubbed his arm affectionately, and he sighed. Whatever Rufus planned, he would not have Aeris.

After, Cloud spent some time healing Tifa and Reno, and checking himself and Rude for further wounds. Sephiroth was laid out, and readied to be picked up for later burial. Vincent left to find if Cid's body was salvagable for burial as well.

"Shit, the hell happened in here?"

Cloud turned from his spot by Rude's side, and looked to the newcomer. Barret walked in, appearing battered. He had a few superficial cuts and burns, but other than that, the former leader of Avalanche looked all right.

"Barret!" Cloud exclaimed, "You're alive!"

"'Course I am. Everyone else is, too, if that ain't a miracle. You wouldn't believe what happened out there. We pushed those monsters back like it was no one's business, but then everyone from Soldier showed up, all under Jenova's control. But between Proud Clod, and Reno's heroics, we managed to survive it."

Reno beamed. "Aw, it was nothing, big guy. You really think I'm a hero?"

"Hell no. You still a damn Turk."

"Fine. Then you're still buying drinks. Expensive ones. And lots of cheap women."

Barret's face scrunched up in anger, and he shook his hand at Reno. "The hell? I didn't offer that. You did, with your big pay check comin' up!"

"Pay check? Shit! Rufus still has to pay me!" Reno began to rush to the exit of the ship, then stopped. "Wait. You said everyone was still alive? That include the rookie?"

"Elena? Yeah. She nearly bought it, but she said somethin' 'bout Prod Clod collapsin' on a bunch of Soldiers that were about to get her. She's fine."

"Oh. Good then. Don't tell her I asked."

"She'll never hear it from me," Barret said with a grin. When Reno finally left, the large man said, "God, I hate that guy."

Cloud smiled back, and patted Barret on the arm. "It's okay. You can like him as much as you want. I won't tell a soul."

"Oh shu' up!"

Laughing, Cloud held on to Aeris' arm, and prepared for the journey back to Kalm. Despite the losses, despite the pain, despite the sacrifices, things seemed to have worked out for the most part.