Shinra Mansion was just as he remembered it to be: murky, dingy, and generally unpleasant to be in. Memories from long ago flooded into his mind, but Cloud had no time for them at the moment. Finding Tifa was his first and only priority.

The stillness that echoed around Cloud was oddly having an adverse affect on him: he crept quietly and visibly winced whenever a floorboard moaned under the weight of his steps. It was almost as if the silence was sacred- something that must be preserved at all costs.

"Tifa?" he called out in a hushed tone. "Where are you?" Then, he let out a frustrated sigh. Tifa wouldn't be able to hear him calling her that way unless she was a mere ten feet away from him. It would probably just be better if he looked around until he found her, rather than call to her.

Preparing himself for any sort of uninvited circumstance, Cloud held his sword at the ready as he gradually searched the lower levels. As soon as he entered the large pantry something caught his eye: several shelves and tables had been overturned. There were also streaking footprints in the dust that covered the floor. There had been a struggle here not too long ago...

Cloud scrutinized the area a bit more before he slowly began to back out of the room. He jumped slightly, however, when his body slammed into something hard.

Spinning around quickly with sword raised high he made ready to cleave in two whatever the thing was. He let out a heavy breath when he realized it was merely the door.

"Odd," Cloud mumbled to himself. "I don't remember closing that door..."

He had to fumble with the knob for a few moments, but it eventually opened, allowing him back into the main hall.

The only place left to check now was upstairs. Briefly testing each stair to make sure it wouldn't break under his weight, Cloud slowly ascended step by step until he came to the small junction. Since the music room was smaller he decided to search there first.

His eyes were immediately drawn to the immaculate grand piano that was set squarely in the center of the room. Unfortunately, its grandeur had been reduced to a ghostly manifestation as it was covered under a thick layer of dust.

Scanning the room for any possible threat, Cloud made his way inside and walked over to the keys of the piano. Tapping experimentally on a few, he was surprised to note that it was still in tune- even after being under these conditions for so long.

Satisfied that this room was empty, Cloud made his way towards the door, but an odd sound froze him in his tracks. One of the floorboards he had just stepped on had an unnaturally hollow resonance. Quickly balancing his sword in an empty corner, Cloud experimentally walked around the floor until he found the correct portion.

Getting onto his hands and knees, he rapped on the board in question twice with his fist. No doubt about it now- there was definitely something underneath here.

It was difficult to pry the board up with just his bare hands, but Cloud kept at it until, finally, it relented and eased out of its place among the other panels.

"Oh my god!" Cloud yelped as he dropped the board and scooted backwards across the floor until his back was pressed firmly against the far wall. "Dear god!"

He whimpered numbly and shook his head in a vain attempt to clear his mind of the awful image. Against his will Cloud's eyes were glued to that spot on the floor- as though what he saw would rise up from beneath the floorboard if he looked away- but at least from this angle he couldn't see inside.

For a long time he could only sit there and wait until the feeling returned to his limbs. The shock had been so great that he was now shivering as a result of the mental blow, but it soon passed.

Swallowing hard, Cloud slowly crept back to the hole in the floor and peered inside for a more astute observation.

Staring back up at him were the features of a small child with eyes rolled back and a face that seemed frozen in the midst of a blood-curdling scream. Blood had flowed from many gashes and abrasions that had long since run dry, but perhaps the most frightening thing about it all...was that he still looked alive.

"Who...did this?" Cloud whispered with a distressed look on his face. No doubt this was one of the children Ellie had told him about. The others had probably suffered the same fate, as well, which only turned Cloud's stomach even more. Whoever did this would have to answer to his sword!

Then, Cloud let out a small gasp. "Tifa!" he exclaimed shortly. What if...the same thing happened to her?!

Grabbing his weapon, Cloud tore from the room and entered the final wing of the house.

"Tifa?" he called as he rounded the corner and entered the first room. "Tifa, are you here? Say something, dammit!" he shouted as he ran wildly through the remaining rooms in a frenzied effort to find her.

Then, Cloud remembered the secret passage that ran underneath the mansion. Entering the master bedroom, he ran over to the fireplace and searched for the block that would release the hold on the door.

Unable to find it as fast as he would have liked, Cloud stepped back and blasted the fireplace with an aero spell. The wall collapsed with a rumble that seemed to shake the mansion to its very foundation. Glancing down to see an all too familiar purple glow waiting at the bottom, Cloud saw that his actions had obliterated the circular staircase that would've led him there.

Throwing caution to the wind, he stepped into the open air and plunged two stories to the bottom floor, where he landed with such force that the dust bounced from their recesses in the walls around him.

After regaining his balance, Cloud looked up and saw Tifa's familiar figure lying on the ground some distance up the passage. She was extremely pale, but other than that she seemed all right. However, he also saw something else that chilled him to his very core: hovering over her was a dark form that was prodding her face with stubby fingers.

"Get your filthy hands off her!" Cloud spat as he held up his blade and charged the figure.

The person jerked his head around, causing Cloud to skid to a halt and take half a step backwards.

If it were possible for the human face to melt if held to an extraordinary source of heat, then surely that's what had happened to this person. The man's face was so horribly disfigured that Cloud wondered if he had ever been human at all. Loose pieces of flesh hung from his face and one eye dangle carelessly from its socket.

"Oh? More company?" the figure hissed. "I like company." With a leer, he returned his gaze to Tifa and stroked her hair tenderly.

"I said don't touch her!" Cloud bellowed. "What the hell are you, anyway?" He was trying his hardest not to let his fear show. Something about this thing seemed awfully familiar, and it was making him lose his focus.

"Don't care," the figure replied obstinately. "I've been here...for long time. Hrm...hm, but only just woke up."

"Did you kill those children?" Cloud demanded abruptly. He made ready to charge the monster depending on his reply.

"Maybe," was all he decided to say.

"That doesn't answer my question!" Cloud hissed.

"Well, what if I...hrm, did?" the creature chuckled. "I've killed several times before."

Cloud furrowed his eyebrows but managed to hold back his rage long enough to ask: "What do you mean?"

The man held up his hand and began counting on his deformed fingers: "I've killed...hm-hm civilians from Midgar; Heidegger and Scarlet from S-Shinra, heh...the Calamity from the Skies...oh, yes! And I even killed him."

"Him?"

"Y-yes!" the man gave a toothless grin. "The commander of SOLDIER!"

"That's a lie!" Cloud shouted furiously. "I was the one who killed Sephiroth! Me! I killed Him!"

"But I couldn't kill Tifa," the man continued as he returned his gaze to the woman's lifeless from on the ground. "I've known her...eh, ever since I was a little boy. I love her so much."

Cloud didn't even give the monster a chance to defend himself. As that hideous face was turned, Cloud raced forward and stabbed his sword viciously into the creature's back.

Tifa immediately inhaled sharply and began coughing and sputtering uncontrollably. Her eyes slowly opened, but her vision was so blurry that she had to shut them again.

"C-Cloud?" she called out weakly. "Are you there?"

Upon hearing a muffled thump, Tifa opened her eyes and attempted to blink away the double vision. When she finally was able to focus, she saw Cloud lying on his face in the dirt. She could tell that he was the only one in the room, but there was something odd...then, her mind regained control of itself and she let out a startled cry.

Cloud's own Buster Sword had impaled him.

FFVII

"Are you sure about this?" Cid asked hesitantly.

"What do you mean?" Vincent countered innocently.

"I mean Tifa asked us to stay nearby, that's what I mean! What the hell are we doing at an old mako reactor at the top of Mt. Nibel?!"

"That's close by."

"My ass it is!" Cid all but shouted. "What's up here, anyway?"

Vincent closed his eyes and appeared to be concentrating on something. "He's very close by, I can tell."

"Who? Kether?!"

Vincent nodded.

"Whoa, man! If I'd known you were tracking down that creep I wouldn't have come!"

"Why is that?" Vincent asked casually.

"Gee, I dunno- maybe cause I don't have a fuckin' death wish!" Cid spat as he pulled out yet another cigarette and lit it.

"What better way to convince him that we're sincere in our desire to talk than if we both come along?" he posed.

Cid flashed Vincent an irate look. "You were the only one who wanted to talk to him."

"Then humor me," Vincent smiled. "There's no need to fear. He has sensed us as well, and I believe he's waiting for us."

"What are you, some sort of goddamn clairvoyant?" Cid replied sarcastically.

It wasn't much of a question, so Vincent decided not to answer.

"If it bothers you so much, then just let me do the talking."

"It bothers me a whole helluva lot, thank you!" Cid retorted. "Holy shit! There's the fucker now!" he yelped suddenly as he ran for cover behind a large boulder.

Vincent glanced up and saw that the one called Kether was standing at the apex of the large staircase looking down. His arm was bandaged neatly, but his face showed no outward signs of being in extreme pain.

"Kether," Vincent nodded as politely as one could to someone whom he'd just shot recently.

"You must be Vincent," came the mellow response. "I've heard so many things about you."

The calm way in which Kether spoke put Vincent on edge. His earlier assessment of the boy had been correct- he truly seemed to be in complete control of the situation. This did not bode well, though, for it meant that if he could not appeal to Kether's sense of logic then their encounter could very well prove to be a fatal one.

"Good things, I hope," Vincent finally spoke up.

"Some good. Others not so good," Kether answered lightly. "What brings you here, a former Turk?"

"I have come merely to talk," Vincent replied as he spread his arms in a gesture of good will.

"Don't you think that after shooting me such times would be past us? Don't look at me like that, I knew the moment it happened that it was you. When you were still working for Shinra, your sniping skills were world-renowned. It stands to reason, then, that after Hojo violated your humanity your skills would only increase exponentially."

"Just how much do you know about me?" Vincent asked darkly. The situation was getting out of hand very rapidly, and he didn't like it at all.

"I know everything about you, Vincent," Kether smiled. "Your past and the mysteries therein have been laid bare before my eyes. I know your sins, and I know of your incessant need to punish yourself over them. I even know that thing you have never mentioned to any one of your friends."

"Kether!" Vincent bellowed in what was a most uncharacteristic response. His eyes flared dangerously as an ethereal red glow radiated from his body.

For his part, Kether merely laughed at the former Turk's predicament. "Do not worry, dear Vincent," he said at last, "your secret is safe with me. You had said you wanted to talk? Come, then, and let us talk. Cid can stand watch outside," he added as he glanced over to the boulder the pilot was hiding behind.

"That sounds just dandy!" came his delayed response.

Once they were inside, Kether seated himself in an empty chair and motioned for Vincent to do likewise.

"So, what was it you wished to talk to me about?" he asked.

Though his nerves were still swarming, Vincent managed to keep his voice calm. "Tifa told us why you attacked her and Cloud. Although I can't understand your reasons for doing so, I realize that you truly believe Cloud harbors ill will towards this planet."

"Since when have the actions of others affected your judgment?" Kether remarked serenely. "As one of Cloud's friends how could you ever doubt him?"

"Do not twist my words, Kether," Vincent ordered. "I never said that I doubted him- merely that I've come to know the reasons for why you attacked him."

"Not just him," Kether added with a glimmer in his eyes. "I will destroy him and everyone associated with him in order to purge this planet. That includes you, by the way."

Vincent narrowed his eyes. "It was just for that reason that I've come to talk to you. Kether, no matter what you may believe, I know that you are a reasonable man. I know that you are perfectly capable of making decisions for yourself, and it is for that reason that I have come to ask a favor."

"Oh?" Kether raised his eyebrows slightly. "And what might that be?"

"I believe that the information you received came from a rather biased source. Therefore, I merely ask that you listen to my- no, to Cloud's side of the story. After that, you can make any decision that you like."

"And why should I do that? If I am so capable, do you not think that I can see the danger Cloud poses not only to humanity, but also to the planet, as well?"

"There is no doubt in my mind that he possesses that capacity, but again I believe you are missing the larger picture."

Kether closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. "Geo-stigma?" he said the word softly.

"Surely you don't believe Cloud, alone, is responsible for the dark undercurrents that have been seeping from the planet? Geo-stigma? And what of his equally emphatic opinion that you are the bane of the planet?"

"Only one of us can be right," Kether stated firmly.

"Yes," Vincent raised a metallic finger, "but there is one possibility that you are forgetting about."

"And what would that be?"

"You say that only you or Cloud can be correct in your beliefs- that one of you is the harbinger of doom for all living things- but...what if you are both wrong? What if neither of you are the true danger we all fear?"

Kether's face grew rigid and his eyes severe. After pondering this for some time, he nodded curtly and closed his eyes once more. "Very well, Vincent. I will hear your side of the story. After that, if I am not satisfied, then I will kill you."

"That is all I ask," Vincent returned a slight smile.

He was about to begin speaking, but Kether's eyes seemed to focus somewhere behind Vincent instead of on him.

"What is the matter?"

Kether straightened in his chair slightly, but then bolted upright and quickly headed for the door.

"What's wrong?" Vincent repeated more firmly.

"Something's happened to Cloud," Kether replied simply. "He spirit has departed from his body, and I fear he may be dead."

Vincent's eyes grew wide. "What?! How could that happen?"

"There's no time," Kether said as he flung open the doors and stepped outside. "Do you want to come with me?"

"What's goin' on?" Cid asked as he cautiously got to his feet and wandered over to where Kether and Vincent were standing.

"Yes," Vincent replied, ignoring Cid's question.

Kether nodded and closed his eyes. He silently mouthed the words to a spell Vincent had never seen before.

"Hey!" Cid shouted. "I asked what's going- oh my GOD!" he shouted as the trio vanished into thin air.

FFVII

Tifa could no longer hold back the tears. Cradling the ex-SOLDIER's head in her lap, it was painfully obvious that he was beyond any help- medical or otherwise. Cloud's eyes retained only the slightest glimmer of their former vibrant blue, and even as she watched they began to grow dull and lifeless.

There was very little she could do. Once she removed the sword from his body she was able to see to what extent he'd been wounded: basically, if she wanted to she could pass her fist entirely through his body. Even if she had a cure materia, no amount of energy she could summon would be able to close such a wound.

Seeing as they were stuck in what appeared to be the basement of Shinra mansion there was no one close enough to hear her cries for help, either.

Smiling wretchedly, she looked down and stroked Cloud's hair affectionately.

"C-Cloud," she choked quietly. "I'm so sorry...it's all my fault. If I hadn't come here none of this would've happened." Cloud inhaled sharply, eliciting a startled gasp from Tifa. "You're alive!" she shouted. "Cloud, hang on! I'll go get help!"

"No," Cloud managed slowly. His eyes wandered aimlessly, as if they were out of focus. "Don't...feel bad," he whispered so softly that Tifa had to strain in order to hear him. "I'm glad...I was able to save you. I kept my promise."

"Cloud!" Tifa screamed. "You were always pushing me away! Why did you come here?!"

"...Are you mad at me?" Cloud managed a weak smile.

Tifa closed her eyes tightly and clenched her jaw. "Just...why now?! If I make you so angry then why did you come after me?"

"Tifa," Cloud chuckled. "You don't annoy me." He suddenly frowned and his face grew haggard. "Whoa...I can feel it...god, this hurts like hell!" he grunted.

"Is there something I can do?" Tifa sobbed. "I wish there was something I could do for you..."

"You can...tell the others to be strong. I tried to save them, but I won't be around long enough...if I see them say that they'll be along..."

"Huh?" Tifa furrowed her eyebrows at him.

Cloud pursed his lips and tried to say it again for her: "I'll be along shortly. Aeris n' me'll bring the stuff. Make sure Barret doesn't forget the bomb...meet us at the number seven reactor..."

"Cloud!" Tifa shouted. "Stay here! Focus on me! Don't let your mind wander!"

For the first time since he'd started speaking, Cloud's eyes focused for just a moment. He glanced up at her and smiled serenely. "Tifa, it's...you! It's been...so long. What are you crying for?"

Tifa tried to smile back, but she did not feel any joy. "H-Hey, Cloud," she whispered as she reached out to his waiting hand. He was delusional now...so it wouldn't be much longer before the end. "How do you feel?"

"I feel...funny," Cloud managed. Incredibly, his face brightened. "Wow! You shouldn't have waited so long to come and visit!"

"I came as fast as I could," Tifa cried as she buried her face in his hair. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry," she kept repeating.

Cloud gave her a puzzled look. "What for? Hey, don't look so sad. Come on- smile for me! Just like you used to." Tifa shook her head and refused to budge. "Please?" Cloud persisted at her uncertainty.

Tifa sniffed and brushed a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes. Looking down at him, she managed to smile for him- seeing as it would probably be the last time she'd get the chance to. Her eyes still bore a sad look, but underneath there was a slight glimmer of elation- if only because he wished it of her.

"There," Cloud smiled back as his eyes lost their focus once more. "Just like that...you're so beautiful, Tifa."

Tifa choked down a sob and covered her mouth with a free hand. Cloud was no longer able to support his own hand, and Tifa had to hold the full weight of it herself.

"Cloud, I...I love you," she said softly. She had to tell him at least once before the end.

Cloud's eyes closed, but the smile still remained. "...I love you, too," he whispered as he exhaled for the final time.

Hearing those words from his lips did little to quell the intense emotions that welled up within her. She didn't know how or why, but the great Cloud Strife had been dealt a mortal blow- all while defending her from danger.

Oddly enough, she no longer felt the need to cry. The pain that tore through her heart cut so deep that all the crying in the world would do little to ease her mind. All she could do now was cradle his lifeless body in her arms and imagine all of the things that could have been.

The others would probably be worried about her. If they stayed in the Nibelheim area like she'd asked them to, then sooner or later they would come searching for her. Well, Tifa would wait here until they found her. If it ended up being two days or two weeks then so be it. Nothing would be able to move her from this spot.

Just as she had resigned herself to that fact, there was a blast of wind that picked up dust and other loose particles and flung them haphazardly around the room. Through squinted eyes, she saw three forms materialize in front of her.

"Kether!" she gasped as she recognized him. She protectively wrapped herself around Cloud's body. "What are you doing here? I...I won't let you do anything more to Cloud!" she screamed at him. It hadn't occurred to her that Kether may actually intend to do something to her, instead, but Tifa's mind was so flustered that she wasn't thinking correctly.

"Tifa!" Cid said as he rushed to her side. "Tifa, what in god's name happened here?!"

"Cid?" Tifa asked as her eyes slowly shifted from Kether to the man who was now next to her. "Cid, what are you doing here?"

"He brought us," Cid replied quickly, jerking his thumb in the direction of the silent Kether. Looking down at Cloud's body, he shook his head when he saw the wound. Just to be extra sure, though, he reached out and pressed his forefingers against Cloud's neck, but it was no use: he was dead.

"H-He tried to save me!" Tifa gushed as she pushed herself into Cid's startled frame. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back gently. "There, there," he said nervously. He glanced over at Vincent with a worried look on his face. It seemed he didn't have a single clue as to what he should be doing in a situation like this. "It's not your fault."

"What's he doing here!" Tifa demanded suddenly. "You're not welcome here!"

"You assume I have no reaction over this unfortunate turn of events," Kether replied with a smirk.

"Well, judging from the look on your face I'd say not," Tifa answered him vehemently.

Kether shook his head and walked over to Cloud's body. "I am sad," he remarked. "Sad that I was not the one to kill him. Still, I suppose it was inevitable if he came here- after all, you cannot remain unscathed if you attack yourself."

"Cloud didn't kill himself!" Tifa blurted out. "He died trying to save me!"

"I never said he killed himself," Kether remarked curtly. "I only said that he attacked himself."

"That's absurd!" Cid jumped in on the conversation. "Why would Cloud attack himself?"

"What does it matter?" Kether shrugged. "He is dead, so it's an irrelevant matter. It'd take a miracle to bring him back as he is now."

Tifa tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Am I to assume from your tone," Vincent spoke up, "that you know of a way to bring Cloud back?"

"If I did, I certainly wouldn't tell you!" Kether scoffed. "You people are my enemies. There's no reason why I should help you at all."

"No!" Tifa shouted as she pushed off of Cid and ran to Kether. She clutched his sleeves helplessly and sunk to her knees. Looking up at him, she said softly: "Please! I beg you! If you know of a way to help Cloud, then please...do whatever it takes! I'll even let you kill me if that's what you want!"

"Tifa!" Vincent said quickly.

"Shut up!" Tifa barked. It hurt that she had to get on her knees and beg her enemy to take her own life, but if that was his price, then so be it. She hadn't wanted Cloud to sacrifice his life for her own in the first place.

Kether put a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I don't see how that is a compelling argument. If I wanted to, I could kill you right now without having to worry about reviving Cloud at all."

Tifa's face grew dark. "You're no savior," she said openly. "You have no heart; no conscience or feelings! You're just a monster hell bent on getting things your own way, and you don't care how many lives you ruin in order to do that!"

Vincent feared a remark like that would incur the full wrath of the younger man, but Kether merely stared at Tifa silently, unmoving.

"But you know," Tifa continued, "you can't really be a savior if you don't actually save the planet from something. If Cloud's dead, then your one wish has already been denied!

"If that still isn't enough, then consider this: you said you regretted that you were unable to kill Cloud yourself, right? Then if it's within your power to revive him, then do it! Revive him so that you can turn right back around and kill him!"

Kether smiled down at her. Tifa in turn, smiled defiantly back at him. There was no hesitation or trepidation in her voice- merely a firm determination.

It started out as a low, almost inaudible chuckle. Then, it grew into an irrepressible laughter that seemed to echo throughout the entire building.

Vincent kept his hand next to his gun while Cid took a step closer towards Tifa. If he needed to, he would put himself between any advances Kether may make.

Instead of attacking, Kether merely shook his head and stared brightly at Tifa. "You know something," he said jovially, "I really like you. I mean that, Tifa. I really, really like you. A spirit like yours is so hard to find nowadays- so bright and full of energy."

"Then...does that mean...?" Tifa asked hopefully.

"Just stand back," Kether replied as he knelt down next to Cloud's body.

Reaching into his long coat, he withdrew a rather familiar looking sword.

"That sword!" Vincent said harshly. "Wh...where did you get that?" he demanded.

"That is not for you to know," Kether replied quickly.

"Wait," Tifa interrupted, "what about it? Is it special or something?"

Kether glanced over at her before he held up the sword for her to inspect. The delicate designs that were carved into the sword were just as she remembered, and it still gave off that uncanny impression of being alive. Other than that, she knew nothing about it.

"Orchrist," Kether spoke softly. "This blade has seen more wars than history can count; taken more lives than most would believe possible. However, even after all this time it remains as sharp as ever, and not once has its blade been chipped or damaged in battle. A single blemish cannot now, nor will one ever be visible on this sword for as long as it exists."

"Orchrist," Tifa repeated the word as if in a trance.

"Yes," Kether nodded. "With each life taken by this sword it grows in strength. However, as its owner I have the ability to exchange a person's life for one of the lives taken by the sword."

Tifa pressed her lips together firmly. "And you would do this for us?" she asked hesitantly.

"I will," Kether answered her. "But on one condition."

Tifa braced herself and awaited his stipulation.

"At some point in the future you must be ready to answer my call. You do not need to know when or where I will summon you, but you must come to me immediately. Then, you must do anything that I ask you to do."

"Now hold on a minute!" Cid said angrily. "What kinda bullshit are you tryin' to pull?"

"I will not ask her to kill anyone," Kether told him firmly, "for I know that it goes against her principles. Anything other than that, however, is free game. Do you find the terms acceptable, Tifa?" he smiled menacingly.

Tifa swallowed hard, but nodded quickly. "If that's what it takes to save him."

"Then stand back," Kether said dramatically as he gripped the hilt of his sword firmly, "and watch as this rotting corpse is imbued with new life!"