Disclaimer: Advent Children is owned by Square-something. This is a non-profit work only for entertainment purposes.
Chapter 4
One More Unusual Visitor
The earlier excitement that swept the Seventh Heaven had final died down. Most of the children had returned to the makeshift den to watch cartoons. Aunt Tifa was being tend by Mary Anne the second oldest since Marlene was missing.
Denzul sat in the living room bored out of his young mind. A dull ache ran through his small body an after effect of his spell. He barely noticed the ache any more and at the moment his mind was focused on other things.
During his short spell he had missed Mr. Cloud getting into a fight with some crazy guy. The details Denzul had gotten from his fellow children were exaggerated beyond reason. Making the boy feel like he missed more than he actually had. He was spending his recovery time imagining what he had missed.
Right now he could see Mr. Cloud confronting the crazy red haired man who had taken Uncle Rude hostage. He wondered how Uncle Rude had gotten captured.
Uncle Rude was really tough not as tough as Aunt Tifa. He was really cool too. One time at the church he took on an entire street gang.
The crazy man must have been really powerful. Denzul bet he breathed fire just like General Sephiroth. They could have been brothers or something.
Oh yeah, it had to be like a crazy rematch for Mr. Cloud. Like the shows Aunt Tifa did not let them watch with all the crazy families. People coming back from the dead all sorts of cool stuff like that. That was where Mary Anne learned about lovers and stuff like that.
This was so exciting. When Marlene got back he would tell her about everything.
That thought reminded him that Marlene was missing. The last time he had seen her, she had been leaving with Aunt Tifa. Uncle Cloud brought Tifa back a while ago with out Marlene.
Denzul had not actually understood how Mr. Cloud brought Aunt Tifa back. All the girls had been going on about love and stuff like that. Mary Anne kept saying that Mr. Cloud and Aunt Tifa were lovers. Whatever that was.
Of course, he did not believe them. Mr. Cloud was cool. Love was as icky like girls. Therefore Mr. Cloud obviously had nothing to do with love. Girls were just silly.
His mind moved back to the mystery of Marlene. The other children were sure that Marlene had not returned with Aunt Tifa. That was something Denzel believed. Marlene would have come into his room and fussed over him if she had been there. It would have been so embarrassing.
Marlene could still be at the church. No, that was not possible, Aunt Tifa never let them stay at the church alone.
An exciting idea began forming in Denzul's mind. The crazy man had to have attacked Aunt Tifa, Uncle Rude, and Marlene at the church when they were going to see Mr. Cloud.
Denzel could not think of a reason for Uncle Rude to be there but he bet it was cool. Every thing Uncle Rude did was cool. He said that was what being a Turk was able. Yea, the boy thought with excitement. Maybe he was there to protect Aunt Tifa like a knight or something.
All the stories Aunt Tifa told were about being rescued by knights. The knight in the story looked more like Mr. Cloud than Uncle Rude though. His busy mind raced back to more important things.
Then the crazy man must have shone up and attacked them. There would have been a huge fight just like in the movies. Lost of action and stuff blowing up.
The crazy man would have realized he could not beat Aunt Tifa and Uncle Rude so he grabbed Marlene. Aunt Tifa stayed to meet with Mr. Cloud. She was tough but she was a girl that was something they did.
Being a man and a Turk Uncle Rude would have went after he crazy man to save Marlene. The crazy man was cunning so he would have set an ambush.
Marlene had been kidnapped, he realized with terror. Sure she was just a girl but they were friends. Denzel started getting worried as he continued thinking about what happened.
The crazy man sounded really dangerous. Not only could he breath fire but he was really cunning. Denzel bet he dragged Uncle Rude here to gloat to Mr. Cloud like a real villain.
That must have been why Uncle Cloud ran off so fast. He was going to save Marlene.
There was a sharp knock on the door. Denzel jumped out of his thought with surprise. No one ever knock at the living room door. The only time it happened Aunt Tifa beat up the man who did it. Saying that he was a pervert. She was really mad about it even though Denzel could not figure out why.
Looking around the boy found the room completely empty. The knocking continued. It sounded really irritated.
Aunt Tifa did not want them opening the door no matter what. They were supposed to get Aunt Tifa but she was sick. Denzel knew she would get mad at him for opening the door. Someone important could be knocking.
Mr. Cloud must have defeated the crazy man and rescued Uncle Rude and Marlene. He was knocking because he was holding them. The crazy man most has knocked them out to make Mr. Cloud have to carry them home. What a cool villain.
Another knock came and he gleefully jumped to his feet. Racing to the door he thought about all the questions he would ask Mr. Cloud.
Smiling brightly he opened the door. A gasp escaped him as he looked at a man that was not Mr. Cloud.
The man standing at the door was tall and wearing all red. He had a creepy face that did not have any type of expression on it. Red eyes real red eyes not like Aunt Tifa's stared down at him.
Intimidated the little boy swallowed as he stared up at the creepy man. Denzel and seen a lot of movies and read a lot of comics. This man was the creepiest man he and ever seen in his life.
"Is Tifa here?" The man's voice was just as expressionless as the man's face. A long pause began as Denzel stared up at the man trying to decide what to think of him.
The creep man looked like a villain from those dark comics the older boys read when Aunt Tifa was not looking. He looked like the kind of villain that sucked the blood out of their enemies. This was so awesome.
"Yes sir." Denzel said with excitement as he continued staring up at the creepy man. Just wait till the other kids heard about this. This villain was way cooler than the crazy man and Denzel was the only one who was getting to talk to him. The other boys were going to be so jealous.
The man stood there for a long time looking at Denzel with his cool red eyes. After a few moments pasted Denzel wondered if the man was trying to read his mind. That was even cooler. Mind reading villains were always cool just like Sephiroth.
"Can I speak to Tifa?" The man final asked after the long silence. Denzel nodded his head energetically at the creepy man. If he was here to fight Aunt Tifa, he was going to get his butt kicked.
All this excitement had driven the after effects of his spell away. Then he realized Aunt Tifa had gotten sick or something. Not sick like him but she could not see anyone right now. Not even cool creep villains.
Dejected the boy shook his head. "Sorry, Aunt Tifa's sick she can't talk to anyone." The man did not seem surprised or anything. Oh yeah, he read Denzel's mind he would have know that Aunt Tifa was sick.
"Is Cloud here?" Excitement filled Denzel's body as he realized that the creepy man was a minion of the crazy man. The cunning crazy man sent him to have a cool duel with Mr. Cloud.
"No." The man actually looked annoyed as he glaring down at Denzel with his red eyes. The child was not worried at all. No matter what Aunt Tifa would beat up anyone that tried to mess with him. Besides the creepy man was looking for Mr. Cloud.
"Where did Cloud go?" The crazy man did not tell his minion how he came here to gloat at Mr. Cloud. Now Denzel understood. The creep man was not the crazy man's minion. He had to be the crazy man's rival. They were competing to kill Mr. Cloud.
That was even cooler. Mr. Cloud would have two fight them both at the same time as he carried around Uncle Rude and Marlene. Mr. Cloud was so cool.
"Mr. Cloud went to save Marlene from the crazy man." The man turned away without saying another word to Denzel. Denzel had meet one of those cool villains who did not talk to anyone unless they were an enemy.
Impressed with the creep man Denzel watched him walk into the crowded streets. Then the creepy man just disappeared. This was the coolest villain of all times and Denzel had actually gotten to talk to him in person.
Aunt Tifa would want to know about the creep man. Being a girl she would want to know about the creep man so she could warn Mr. Cloud. Not that Mr. Cloud needed warnings.
Turning towards the stairs, Denzel began to run. In his excitement the boy had completely forgotten that Aunt Tifa was sick.
Tifa opened her eyes slowly. A horrible pounding headache beat in her mind like a mad drum. She sat up slowly trying not to increase the pain in her mind.
Looking around her room left her feeling very puzzled. Sunlight was drifting into the room cheerily bright the room despite the thick curtains. From how much sunlight was filtering in it looked to be noontime.
The young martial artist never slept this long not even when she was sick. The children would be getting in all sorts of trouble with her sleeping in like this. With her watching them completely they still found way to get into trouble. She found their actions amusing most of the time. She did worried that they could hurt themselves without her presence.
Absently, she rubbed the back of her head as she tried to remember what had caused her to still be in bed. A feeling that there was something important going on tugged at her memories. She was having difficulty placing what exactly it was.
A sharp pain stabbed into her head as her had brushed against a huge knot. Wincing from pain, she realized that was what had caused her current state. Her mind was still blank as to how she had gotten the injury in the first place.
A memory of the church flashed through her mind. An image of a man with silver hair followed the first. The gate holding her memories back broke.
"Marlene!" Fearing for her young friend Tifa lunged to her feet. Before her feet hit the ground the world began to swirl around her in a very nauseating manner. She grabbed the edge of her bed to keep herself from collapsing on the floor.
The initial panic faded allowing her to review the events more reasonable. Her last memory was being struck in the back by a blunt object.
An unneeded flash of professional anger ran through her mind. If Loz's partner had not back attacked her she would have been able to defeat the arrogant man. Pushing the useless anger away she returned to Marlene.
The two men most have taken the child after incapacitating Tifa. Tifa could think of no reason for them to take Marlene. The child was just a normal child what could they need of her.
Marlene had been wearing Aeris ribbon. The thought brought a shiver to Tifa. She remembered how Shinra had captured her friend and what Hojo had been attempting to do to her. No matter what Tifa would not allow something like that to happen to Marlene.
The next thing she began to consider was how she had been returned home. She was not foolish enough to believe that she was in a state to walk home.
Cloud. Girlish hope began to rise in her as she thought about her friend. She knew that was not even a plausible thought. Cloud had been missing for a year. Against reason she still considered the option of Cloud rushing to save her like a knight in shinning armor.
When she began to feel a blush rising on her cheeks she forced her mind to think of a more reasonable solution. She doubted it was the two men, a neighbor perhaps.
It was strange that the two men had not finished her off when she was in such a vulnerable position. From what she had seen of the two men they seemed very blood thirsty in nature. They would have finished her if they had been given the chance.
Certain that she could now stand, Tifa pushed off the bed. Slowly she began hobbling towards the door. Another party must have interfered. Cloud could have been there to fight the men off. A tiny part of her squealed in joy as she considered the option of Cloud again.
As much as she wanted to believe it had been Cloud it just was not possible. She had too much to think about than to waste thoughts on the impossible.
There was still a slim chance that Marlene might have been returned. In her heart she did not believe this but she would check for the girl. Then she would have to figure out how to rescue Marlene from the men.
On the other side of the door she found Denzul standing there teeming with unbound excitement. Tifa shook her head as she looked at the boy. It did not take very much for him to get into this state. Even before he contracted Geostigma he was easily excited. The disease seemed to only add to his dramatic imagination.
"Aunt Tifa your better that's great. A really cool creepy villain guy came over to talk to you but when I told him that Mr. Cloud went to save Marlene he left." The child took a deep breath after relating his tail to her.
Cloud, everything seemed to freeze as she heard his name. Tears began to form in her eyes. Cloud had come for her. She had been right. Her crazy spiky haired friend had come back despite his note.
A huge load seemed to disappear from her heart as she thought about her hero. He had saved her from the two men at the church. They most have escape with Marlene.
She began to blush as she thought about how Cloud most have carried her back to the Seventh Heaven like a real hero. After making sure that she was safe he most have went after Marlene alone.
Alone, Cloud was in trouble. She could not be sure how much Cloud had seen of the two men but they were dangerous opponents. No matter how strong Cloud was. He could not fight two enemies of that strength alone. Even if Cloud could fight them two-on-two they had Marlene. They could use her as a hostage against Cloud.
From how Cloud disappeared for the last year he most likely believed that he would not need any help. He would not want help, Tifa was sure. No matter what he thought she was not going to let him fight alone again.
Not being alone remind Tifa of Denzel's creep man. The vague description sounded very familiar to the martial artist. "Was this villain wearing all red?" Denzel nodded jumping with excitement as he realized she know his creepy man.
Vincent had come to find Cloud. No one could get in contact with Vincent. The word that Cloud was no longer living at the Seventh Heaven could have passed him by. Or did he have some other way of tracing Cloud.
Vincent was not one to be uninformed probably from his Turk training. It could be possible that he knew where Cloud was now.
Denzel's voice broke though her thoughts of finding Cloud. "Do you know who the crazy man is too?" A crazy man, terror began to rise in her. Had the silver haired men come to the Seventh Heaven?
"What does this crazy man look like?" Tifa keep her voice calm trying to keep her fear from making Denzel more excited.
"He had red hair and was using Uncle Rude as a hostage." Tifa covered her mouth trying not to laugh in relief as she recognized the description.
Her effects seemed to fail for Denzel was staring at her strangely. In her current condition she merely nodded her head. She could image Reno's response to that.
The laughter died quickly as more important matters rose in her mind. "How long has it been since the cool villain has been here."
Denzel did not think before he responded. "I ran up here right after he left." His face was glowing with pride for thinking of the right thing.
Tifa smiled at him encouraging. It was still possible for her to catch up with him if she moved fast. She gave Denzel another encouraging smile. "I am going to meet with him stay here."
Not waiting to see the boy's response she started to run down the stairs. She could not move one foot before a wave of dizziness jabbed into her mind.
Denzel reacted quickly reaching out to help her to keep her footing. Her head injure in all the excitement about Cloud she had forgotten the extent of her injury.
Helplessness began to settle on her as she realized she would not be able to help Cloud like this. She could still tell Vincent what had happened and he could help Cloud.
She wished she could call either of the men. That was impossible because both Cloud and Vincent had not answered their PHSs since their disappears. Right after Cloud had left she had tried to call him several time. She knew he was not answering his PHS if he still had it. She would have to catch up with Vincent to have any hope of finding Cloud.
The only way for her to caught up with Vincent was to walk very slowly. At the moment it seemed so impossible but she had to try. She could not let Cloud go fight such a powerful enemy without some type of help.
"Aunt Tifa are you ok? Are you listening to me?" Denzel began to tug on her arm trying to snap her out of her stupor. Nodding, Tifa looked at the small boy. He was tall enough to support her.
"Yes, can you help me?" His face brightened like she had promised him a new video game system. "Yeah." Tifa knew it was a practical impossible idea but she had to get to Cloud.
"Vincent!" Tifa screamed into the busy streets despair filtering into her voice now. People were staring at her and Denzel but she ignored them. For the last ten minutes she had search the streets for any sign of her tall friend.
Fervently, she scanned the streets for any sign of red. Tifa had known it would have been nearly impossible to find him. Now that she was actually in the crowd streets it seemed completely impossible. She had not even considered that Vincent might not what to be found.
Helplessness began to settle on her heart again as began to realize the situation. No matter what she had to find Vincent. He was her only hope of find Cloud. Not just Cloud but Marlene as well. She did not know what she would do if either of them were hurt.
The streets began dancing around her as another bout of dizziness attacked her. Her injure was a cruel reminder of just how powerful those men were.
Once again she leaned against Denzel for support. The boy had started out so excited to be looking for the creep man. Now he only looked worried. Denzel worried it almost made Tifa laugh. Nothing troubled the boy.
"Aunt Tifa you don't look very well." Tifa could only give him a short nod as she waited for the world to return to normal.
Looking into Denzel's big brown eyes she realized how much of a mistake taking Denzel was. Tifa had not even considered his own sickness when she dragged him out with her.
At the moment he looked health but he could collapse at any moment. She would have to send him home. Her injure left her very crippled but she would have to survive on her own.
"Denzel, I need you to go back home." The boy frowned at her. A very parental look came into his eyes that would have made Tifa laugh if she was not so desperate. If Denzel was attempting to be sensible, she really was a mess.
"I think you should go home." His little voice was very firm. He stood up to his full height and attempted to glare up at her. Tifa forced a bright smile at the boy in an attempt to prove her next point. "I'm fine."
"You don't appear fine." The emotionless voice drew her attention from her little charge. Standing in front of the pathetic pair was, Vincent Valentine watching them with impassionate eyes.
"Vincent." In irony the world seemed to brighten as she looked at the red-garbed man. She would be able to help Cloud now. "I've been looking for you."
Vincent continued looking down at her in a very intimidating way. The expression did not bother Tifa for she knew Vincent well enough not to fear him.
She spared a glance in Denzel's direction to see if he was comfortable. Not only was he comfortable, his eyes were filled with hero worship. Only Denzel find someone so frightening awe-inspiring.
"I've heard." Even though his voice lacked a tone Tifa believed he was slightly annoyed. She blushed slightly. Vincent was a very private man he probably did not want her shouting his name though the streets.
"Denzel said you were looking for Cloud. Do you know where he is? The men that have Marlene are dangerous. He needs help to fight against them." She tried to keep the pleading note out of her voice. Vincent would not have appreciated her begging him.
There was a very long pause as she stared up at Vincent trying to read his expressionless face. This was her only change. By the time she recovered enough to help Cloud it would be to late.
Vincent turned from her and began to walk down the street. No, he could not walk away from her like this. "Vincent!" All her pain and fear filled his name as she screamed at his retreating back.
"Please." Her voice became a desperate whisper as tears began to form in her eyes. Ashamed of her tears she lowered her head trying to hide behind her long black hair. She would not let Denzel see her cry. How could Vincent just walk away from her like this?
"You can barely stand I don't think you can help Cloud now." Tifa looked up form the cover of her hair, surprised to her Vincent's monotone voice. He was standing two yards away from them his back still turned from them.
"I will find Cloud. You need to gather AVALACHE to fight the threat." The threat was it possible that Vincent know what was happening. At the moment Tifa did not care. Cloud would have someone to fight with him. With Vincent's own condition Cloud might not refuse his help as readily as he might her own.
"Thank you Vincent." Her voice filled with the gratitude that was filled her entire being. A slight smile crossed her lips. He was gone before she had even spoken.
Vincent had planned on helping her. He was just not planning on telling her. After a year Vincent had not changed. That left her hope that Cloud had not changed either.
Gathering the group together would be easily. Everyone was planning on meeting at Rocket Town again for the memorial service.
An even greater smile crossed her face as she thought about seeing Cloud again. If he had been able to conquer his demons the he might come home after all of this. Her only wish was for Cloud to return back home compete.
A slight feeling of doubt twisted into her mind but she pushed it aside. She had to believe that Cloud would return that was her hope.
The young woman looked down at her small friend. A radiant smile graced her face confusing the poor boy. "Let's go home."
Wind rushed through Cloud's spiky blond hair as he raced through the empty streets of outer Midgar. The area had been hit heavy by bandits in the first few months after Meteor. Cloud and several other mercenaries had cleaned the area out but people were too nervous to move out of there. Their fears were well founded. Shinra's rule did not stretch out this far.
Cloud barely noticed the surrounding area. His full attention was on the voice whispering in the distance. The further away they got the hard it was for him to judge their distance. They did not seem to be to far out of Midgar. At their current rate he would be able to catch up with them by dark.
At the forefront of his mind was the safety of the little girl. He did not want to think they would hurt her. Aeris said they need her. That would keep her alive for now.
In the dream Aeris had not said what they wanted from her. She said that he should know. Even now he could not think of a good reason. If Marlene was chosen to protect the planet would not Jenova what to kill her.
The vision of Tifa stabbed into his mind. Tifa, he had screwed up again. He should have been fast then he could have helped her against the voices. Guilt started cutting into him as he continued the train of thought. He should have left Tifa there alone.
What of Marlene he could not leave her all alone with the enemy. Tifa would want Marlene to be brought home.
A single dark spot began to stand out in the ruined streets. Cloud narrowed his mako eyes as he tried to make out what was up ahead.
A man dressed all in black stood in the center of the road. A bandit, Cloud wondered as he began reaching for one of his swords.
He thought they had all been drive out but it was not impossible for some to still be around. No one had taken care of this area in a year. At this distance he could tell that there was something dangerous about the man.
The man raised his hand in Cloud's direction. Was he casting a spell? Most bandits did not have access to materia.
Blue sparks began to form at the end of the man's fingertips. The blue energy looked like magic but it was not like any spell Cloud had ever seen before.
Who was this man or what was the man, the questions raced through Cloud's mind. He could feel something familiar about the man. The familiarity was making Cloud's stomach tighten.
An arched burst of blue white energy erupted from his hand rushing for Cloud. The mercenary tried to turn away from the energy racing towards him. The effort was in vain. Pure blue power crashed into the ground in front of the Fenrir sending the motorcycle and Cloud flying into the air.
Using his bike's momentum Cloud steered the cycle towards the man standing in the street. Almost there, Cloud pulled out one of his many broad swords planning to cleave the man in two when Cloud reached him.
There was a flash of silver. The man blocked Cloud's sword with a long katana. Cloud's eyes widened with surprise. No one was strong enough to block an attack with Cloud's strength and the weight of the Fenrir behind the blow.
Cloud felt his heart skip a beat as he fully saw what the man looked like. He was younger than Cloud with shoulder length silver hair. A strangled gasp came out of Cloud's mouth as their eyes looked.
A pair of green slit mako eyes stared straight back into his mako blue ones. Sephiroth, that was not possible. The moment seemed to continue even as the Fenrir drug Cloud away from the man.
The eye contact broke and the world came rushing back towards Cloud. He leaped off of the bike before it went crashing into the ground.
The instant Cloud's feet touched the ground the young man was there bring his katana down to strike. Cloud leap to the side barely keeping the slim sword from cutting into his chest.
"Who are you?" Another blow came down. This one Cloud did not have a chance to block. Fast as he could move he blocked with his broad sword.
The man was moving with super-human speed. Cloud's SOLDIER enhanced body was having trouble keeping up with the man.
A smile formed on the man's lips as he began to apply pressure on Cloud's sword. His strength was just as in human as his speed. The only person Cloud knew who could be so powerful was Sephiroth.
It could not be Sephiroth, Cloud's mind scream out as his sword began to slip from his grasp. Sephiroth was dead. No matter the illusions Jenova was showing him.
A white flash erupted in Cloud's mind. The image of Sephiroth began to over lay the man in front of Cloud. Cloud blinked hard trying to clear the image from his mind.
The handle of his sword went flying out of his hands. Cloud was able to back away from the lethal sword strike. The man did pause his attack. Another even faster strike was thrust at Cloud. Without hesitation Cloud pulled his spare blade out of hiding to block the attack.
Cloud blocked the attack easily. He did not even register his success. His full attention was on the blade tightly clenched in his now shaking hands. The blade in his hand was not his short blade but the slim blade of a horrifying katana.
The Masamune, everything seemed to freeze as Cloud stared in terror at the blade. This was not possible. In denial he looked down the length of the blade. It was the Masamune. No, this was a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare.
Taking advantage of Cloud's state of mind, his opponent smashed his fist into Cloud's head. Mental Cloud did not even register the blow. Shock gripped his mind so tightly he would have respond to anything. His mind keep scream that none of this could be real.
The blow sent him sprawling to the ground. It was a weak attack but his unresponsive mind kept him from keeping his footing. The cursed blade went flying out of his hands.
With the blade gone from Cloud's line of sight his mind started to work again. He looked up at his opponent. Standing over him was not the young man that looked like Sephiroth but Sephiroth himself.
Terror returned to tighten its grip on Cloud as he stared into the General's green eyes. The young man looked away from the General shame burning into his mind. Jenova could not be doing this to him. His own mind had to be creating the illusion of the General.
He laid on the ground inert wondering if the young man was going to finish him off as he laid there in his illusion. To his horror he realized that he did not even care. How could he protect anyone if he was seeing such vivid illusions? He was a far stronger threat to Marlene then the voices.
No, he screamed in his mind as he realized what he was thinking. He would fail Tifa if he died. The voices were from Jenova he could not leave Marlene with them.
"I thought you learned how to tell the difference from illusion and reality." Sephiroth commented coolly as he began to walk out of Cloud's line of sight.
Cloud tried to stand up to give himself some type of defense. But found that his body was not longer responding to his commands. Angry, terrified he tried to force himself to stand. Nothing happened, he was at the mercy of a man he could not even see and an illusion.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Sephiroth bend over to pick up the Masamune. "You'd better relearn the skill if you want to survive."
Cloud watched the General walk back over to him. Using all his effort he tired to control the emotions tightening in his chest. Sephiroth looked down at Cloud his green eyes completely expressionless. Cloud took a short breath as he stared into those eyes. Sorry Tifa.
Without a word Sephiroth sent the Masamune straight into Cloud's chest. The blade was far to sharp for Cloud to feel much pain from the actual blow but mental pain began to erupt in his mind.
Memories flashed in his mind clouding over the image of Sephiroth. Nibelheim began to dance around his mind. Zack was lying in a pool of his own blood telling Cloud to kill Sephiroth. A dark haired girl lying on the ground looking so fragile, Tifa, his mind tried to cry out to her. Fire began to wash everything away.
Cloud found himself staring up at a perfect clear blue sky. Every cell in his body seemed to be vibrating independently of him. His body was trembling violently from the after effects of the memories.
It could not be real. Last time it had not been real but he still had a large bruise around his throat. Had Reno been right? It was possible that he had done it to himself.
He sat up slowly pulling his knees to his chest. Leaning his head against his knees he tried to regain control of his quacking body. No matter what was happening inside of his mind he had to rescue Marlene and kill Jenova. He would fail.
An eternity passed before the shaking lessened enough for him to stand. He picked up his side arm trying his best not to look at the blade as he returned it to its place. Taking a shuttered breath he made his way over to his fallen sword.
Had he completely freaked out and thrown the blades around in some type of frenzy? That was the only explanation that came to him as he started at the Fenrir lying on the ground. He was reacting to illusions as if they were really. This made him far more dangerous than the anger he felt before.
The anger was something he could recognize. The images seemed so real. He could not even tell what was happening when he had one. If he was around other people he could hurt them without even knowing it.
He could hurt Tifa.
He forced his mind back on the voices. They were drifting further away. No matter how crazy he was he still had to save Marlene. If the source of the illusions were Jenova then when he killed her they would end. If she were not, he would have to deal with that later.
To 1: Thanks for the reviews. I am sorry for the poor proofreading. My skills in that area are lacking but I am trying to do better.