Disclaimer: FFVII is still not mine, and Cloud somehow escaped. So I got Reno instead!

Reno: Oo;; Um...hi?

Author's Notes: squee I got to see a whole bunch of screenshots from Advent! Reno looks sooo adorable!! Is it just me, or can anyone else picture him with an Irish brogue? ahem Anyway...anyone who knows their Japanese culture well should know what Sephiroth tried to do before Cloud walked in. For those who don't know, he was trying to commit seppuku, Japanese ritual suicide. Another term is hara-kiri. Well, here's the last chapter, ya'll. I'll be seeing ya at the bottom! leaps to bottom of page

Remembrance

Chapter Five: Parting of Ways

"I promise."

Cloud awakened to his own words echoing in his head. He remembered everything now...about Zack and Sephiroth...and himself. He turned over and gazed at the silver-haired angel beside him. The look of madness and sadism was gone from Sephiroth's face as he slept. What had he read in the basement that had driven him over the edge?

Probably, Cloud thought bitterly, everything. Lucrecia, Jenova, even Hojo. He shuddered. Even he would go insane if he found out that Hojo was his father...

Slowly, he rolled out of bed so he wouldn't awaken Sephiroth and dressed as fast as he could. He would have to leave his Buster Sword and Materia behind and buy a new sword before heading to the Crater. While he was strapping on his armor he looked down at Sephiroth again. The Crater...he didn't have a choice. When the time came, he would have to kill his beloved angel.

Cloud tiptoed out of the room and began his descent toward the front door. He knew what Sephiroth had been trying to do here by awakening his memories and seducing him; it hadn't worked. He was still very much in love with Aeris. The only difference was he now remembered that he had once loved Sephiroth, lifetimes and eons ago...

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the tall figure standing in the doorway. Only when he heard the voice did he realize that Sephiroth was even there.

"Leaving so soon?"

Startled, Cloud took two or three steps back. Sephiroth was standing fully dressed with his back to the door, Cloud's sword resting against the wall to his left. A pillowcase sat next to it, apparently containing Cloud's Materia, the open part in a knot.

"I didn't think you'd be willing to leave without these," Sephiroth said, nodding toward the items. "Or without saying goodbye."

"I guess you were wrong," replied Cloud.

They were silent for a long time; finally Sephiroth broke the tension. "I knew you were coming here. Listen, Cloud...I want you to join me."

"You mean sacrifice myself like your zombie pals? Thanks, but no thanks. I have plenty to live for."

"That's not what I meant." Sephiroth moved forward, his black cloak whispering as he walked. He placed his hand on Cloud's shoulder. "After Meteor destroys this world, I will remake it with Gaea intact. I have the power...the world will be as it was meant to be, with the Cetra finally able to settle and be at peace. I will make sure that your friends are reincarnated in my new world...but I want only you by my side, Cloud."

He lowered his head an nuzzled Cloud's neck. "I'm a god now...I can make you the same. Together we will—"

Cloud pulled away. "Why? Why do you want to destroy everything? This world...everything I know and love? My parents...my town...even Aeris! What's it all for?!"

It was a long time before Sephiroth answered. "Don't you feel it, Cloud? It's in the wind...the water...the earth itself. This planet is suffering, and whether in ten years or one hundred years it will die because of what Shinra has done. With Meteor on its current course, it will destroy everything. But with my new power, I will bring Gaea back to life and everything will start all over again."

Cloud looked back at Sephiroth. The look of madness was gone...did Sephiroth really mean what he said? No, he quickly realized. There was something else...a look in his eyes that said the complete opposite, but not in a negative or maniacal way.

"I don't really think it's the world's suffering you want to end," he said quietly.

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow in a questioning way. "What do you mean?"

Cloud gave him a wry smile. "No...I know it's not the world's suffering you want to end. In fact, it's not even the world that's suffering. Gaea knows she'll someday mend. But I know who's really suffering in this world, with no one else to commiserate with than the alien parasite that's twisting him physically and mentally."

There was that all-too-familiar accusing expression. "And who," Sephiroth hissed, stepping menacingly forward, "would that be? Little Cloud."

Cloud backed into one of the dusty old beams in the foyer. "Don't you know yourself? It's you."

Sephiroth's hand shot out and gripped his jaw. "You know nothing about me. How dare you insult Mother! You're just like them."

Wincing at Sephiroth's vice-like grip Cloud stared straight back into the fathomless green eyes. Sephiroth's face was so close to his own that Cloud could see the combined turquoise light of their Mako eyes reflected on Sephiroth's face.

"She's not your mother, Sephiroth."

"Liar!" Sephiroth growled, moving his free hand down to Cloud's wounded side. "Take it back."

"Your real mother was a lady named Lucrecia," Cloud replied calmly. "I've met her. She's very kind...she wouldn't want you to do this. Especially not to me."

"I said take it back," Sephiroth hissed, and rammed his thumb into the still-open wound.

Cloud gritted his teeth and hissed back, but in pain. "Your mother is Lucrecia! And your father..." He inhaled sharply as Sephiroth shoved his thumb in deeper. "Your father is Hojo!"

Those seemed to be the magic words that broke the spell Jenova had over Sephiroth. The silver-haired man pulled his thumb from Cloud's side and stared at him in shock...and horror. "You're not lying...are you?"

Cloud pressed one hand to his freshly bleeding side. "No...it's Jenova who's the liar. She's using you to do what she can't...destroy Gaea once and for all."

Sephiroth finally released Cloud's face and stepped back. "I'm...a puppet? Just like all the others...? This can't be possible. If I could just...no." He hid his face in his hands. "There's nothing I can do...Meteor has been summoned. I can't...I just can't...there's no turning back..."

He looked up at Cloud, tears streaming down his face. "Cloud? When you get there...will you..."

Cloud could feel the tears welling in his own eyes. "No turning back," he repeated.

Sephiroth nodded, the remains of a familiar smile dancing across his face. "That's what I thought. You knew from the beginning, didn't you?"

He nodded; he couldn't bear to look into Sephiroth's face.

A mistake.

Something rammed him hard into the wall. Cloud's eyes flew open despite the pain, and he found himself staring into the eyes of a true maniac. "S-Sephiroth?!"

"Was that what you were expecting?" Sephiroth shouted, a malevolent grin in place of the lover's smile. "You stupid little traitor! I won't be swayed by your lies. Mother told me just how you lied. And Mother always knows best!!"

Cloud shut his eyes tightly against the assault. Please, Gaea...let it end...I can't stand... His thoughts were interrupted as a sharp pain spread throughout his cheek. I can't stand seeing him like this...

Finally Sephiroth's breath was right on his lips. "I'll see you at the Crater. I loved you once, Cloud...I even gave you the chance to stand beside me as a god in your own right. But I suppose your 'emotions' have the better of you."

With a final rough kiss, full of more hatred and bitterness that Cloud would have cared to feel in five lifetimes, Sephiroth was gone. Cloud opened his eyes and looked around him. When he realized he was at last alone he touched the spot on his cheek where Sephiroth had slapped him. His angel...his bright angel...

The one who once shined brightest in the heavens...

Has Fallen.

"Hey, Cloud!"

"Glad you're back!"

"We were getting worried, ya know..."

"You spiky-headed bastard! You're late!"

Cloud ignored the greetings of his friends (and the abuse from Cid) as he stepped onto the Highwind. He was fighting tooth and nail for his tears not to fall...

"Cloud?"

He looked up into Tifa's worried face. "Hey."

"What happened to your face?" she asked in concern. "It looks almost as if you were... Oh my God! You're bleeding!"

He brushed past her. "...It's nothing."

"Cloud! Wait!"

Before he punched the panel to cause the door to his quarters slide shut he heard Vincent's voice. "Leave him be. It seems he has more questions than answers."

Cloud smiled faintly. Thank Gaea for Vincent.

Then, unable to stand it any longer, he slumped to the floor, burying his face in his hands. He let the tears stream down his face and the sobs rock his body, hoping somewhere deep down that he would drown in his own despair.

I haven't cried so hard...since that day...

Author's Notes 2: Aaaand the end. I cried while typing this chapter! It's so sad—you think that maybe Sephiroth's going to redeem himself because of Cloud's good deeds, but then it becomes clear that he's not. Poor Cloud! About the lines about the Fallen...I dunno. Maybe I've been reading Angel Sanctuary way too much. A similar inscription is on the frontispiece in Volume 1. It seemed to fit with the way Cloud felt about Sephiroth. (Besides, if Sephiroth had been redeemed, this fic wouldn't be able to fit in with the storyline of the game. )

Unofficial Soundtrack: "In the End" by Linkin Park and "My Immortal" by Evanescence

Favorite Moment: Let's see...it would have to be when Cloud was comforting Sephiroth in Chapter Four. Awwwww!! What was your favorite moment?