:: IV :: Love and Life

Cloud remembered all too well the days when he had been Zack, and not Cloud. The pain that washed over him outside the old couple's house that night was one that he knew he would never come terms with. He went back to his bed late and was relieved to see that Tifa was already asleep. The last thing he had wanted was to be questioned about his late arrival by her. He was more than just reluctant to explain what had passed.

Late the next day, the group wasted no time in journeying to Cosmo Canyon. By nightfall, they had arrived, and as usual the glowing mountainside was radiant with its sacred light still aflame, casting a fiery orange flame over the village underneath the star-swept sky. Kanta, as always, stood watch at the gateway, and a look of joyful recognition passed over his face as the four ventured up the rock-hewn stairway toward him.

"Well, what a pleasant surprise!" he greeted them enthusiastically "You've come just in time! Nanaki will be pleased!"

"Why, what's happening?" Cloud asked curiously.

"There's to be a betrothal ceremony. Everyone's been preparing for it for quite some time now."

"Nanaki's getting betrothed?!" Tifa gasped, surprise on her face.

"Yes, tomorrow."

"But I thought he was the last of his kind," Cloud interrupted, confused.

Kanta smiled. "Not so, you'll find. Others of his tribe migrated to the Ancient Forest just east of here after the war between the Gi. You'll even find some of his kind on the south Western Continent."

Kanta obligingly led them to Red's rooms. Cloud had seen Red quite recently compared to his other comrades, so their meeting was not as heartfelt as had been with the others. The teenage Red, however, seemed a little downcast as Cloud and the others passed him their congratulations.

"Anything wrong, Red?" Cloud questioned him cautiously. He was still unable to refer to his old friend as Nanaki. "You seem a bit out of sorts."

"I am," the warrior beast replied with a sorrowful sigh. "It's this betrothal. Since Hargo's become the new chief of the village elders, he's been pushing me to find a mate. He tells me it's for my good as Cosmo Canyon's village protector."

"Maybe he thinks getting married will help you to grow up," Tifa suggested, with an arch look at Cloud, at which he squirmed considerably.

"That's the stupid thing about it," Red continued with a puzzled expression. "Those of my tribe can life for a thousand years if we remain in good health. So of course, I'm not going to get married for another hundred years at least. So this betrothal's probably a bit early if you ask me. The only trouble is, I can't get Hargo to understand that."

"Now that's a mind-boggler," Barret muttered, crossing his arms.

"Have you seen the bride-to-be then?" Reeve asked, a small smile twitching on his lips.

"Oh no." Red shook his head emphatically. "But according to Hargo, she's supposed to be beautiful. How he managed to judge what's beautiful to my kind is beyond me though."

The next day Cloud spent most of his time trying to calm down a flustered Red.

"You might as well get it over and done with," he said to the other in as comforting a voice as he could manage. "Once it's all finished, you won't even have to see her again for another two hundred years or so. Look at it that way."

"I just don't see the point in this anyway," Red replied sulkily. "I'm not interested in females right now. I shouldn't have to be doing this."

"Oh, you'll get used to having a female round you soon enough," Cloud sighed. He couldn't help getting the distinct feeling that he was getting old, even though he was only twenty-three.

"How do you and Tifa do it?" Red bemoaned pathetically.

"With little difficulty," Cloud returned, but he was fairly sure that Red was too distracted to get the joke. Hoping instead to keep Red's mind off of things, he told him of the journey they had undertaken.

"Would you like to come too?"

Red gave him a look of utter relief.

"Anything to get away from here," he growled.

She seemed very young and very old, just like Red himself. And, in a strange sort of way, she was very beautiful, though Cloud could not think why he felt it to be so.

And Red obviously thought so too. Before the light of the sacred fire Hargo performed the ancient betrothal ceremony, and though the whole village had turned up to witness it, not a word could be heard amongst them. The moon was as white as could be in the night sky, and the soul of Seto and Bugenhagen seemed to sing in the minds of all. And as Red was brought toward the great fire, it almost seemed as if he were blushing through the flame of his crimson red fur.

It was the very next day that they set off for Nibelheim, though Cloud couldn't really see much point in going back to his hometown, even for the others.

"Nothing's changed much," he told them.

Nevertheless, Barret, Reeve and Red insisted on going, and soon the five arrived in the quaint little village.

"We might as well stop by for supplies," Tifa told him.

They did not spend very much time in Nibelheim, though both Tifa and Cloud allowed the others to do a spot of sightseeing. It was the Shinra Mansion that seemed to occupy most of their time.

"What are you going to do about this shabby old building, Cloud?" Barret asked him as they stood inside the library, gazing up at the tomes of musty old books. Cloud looked up from the thick masterpiece he held in his hand. Jenova and the Cetra it read, by Doctor K. Gast.

"I don't know. I think there are some plans to demolish the site and build something new and sophisticated here instead."

"What?!" Reeve looked astonished. "They're tearing this down?!"

Cloud shrugged, unperturbed "Yes, I think so."

"Aren't you upset?" Red asked him softly. He'd been a little quiet of late. Cloud carefully placed the book back on its shelf.

"Well, maybe it's for the best. When I think of the past...of Sephiroth, of Zack and I, spending four long years as experiments for Sephiroth clones..." he paused, and gazed back into the makeshift laboratory just a stones-throw away. A regretful smile curved on his lips. "When I think of all that's happened in these four walls, I think that perhaps it's best if we let it go down. There's no use in holding on to things like that."

"Perhaps you're right," Reeve replied, sighing. "Still, those memories will never go away. You can't just destroy them along with this mansion."

"No, maybe not." Cloud conceded. He looked up at the towering shelves "Hey, I've got a good idea. Why don't we burn it down now?"

"Are you serious?" Barret eyed him curiously.

Cloud shrugged, and began rooting amongst some old papers. After a moment, he pulled them out.

"Hey, look at this you lot." he called to the others. Everyone crowded round, trying to get a look at the neatly typed-out notes.

"What are they?" Red asked.

"Hang on." Barret squinted as they looked at the papers "These are Hojo's lab reports and notes!"

Cloud nodded slowly.

"Yes: look at this part.

'Escapee Report No.1 X Month X Day. The two escapees are located near Midgar.

Escapee Report No.2 Description of the time of capture.

A) Former member of SOLDIER/Number ( )

No effect could be detected from either Mako Radiation Therapy or Jenova on

him.

B) Regular/Number ( )

Reaction to Jenova detected.

Escapee Report No.3 Concerning their disposal.

A) Shot for resisting.

B) Escaped during A's resistance.

Escapee Report No.4 Other.

B's whereabouts are currently unknown. But, we submit there is no need to pursue him, due to his diminishing consciousness. Awaiting further instructions.' "

He smiled wryly.

"Aren't I lucky they didn't get me."

Cloud managed to rescue all of Hojo and Gast's notes and books on the Cetra and their various other experiments and transfer them into his house.

"What's all this junk?" Tifa demanded when several crates of the stuff had been lugged in.

"Nothing, dear," Cloud replied mockingly. He knew that Barret and the rest wanted to see him safely married and settled down with Tifa, but the way she carried on at times made him find the idea decidedly unappealing.

"What do you mean nothing, Cloud? I wanted the house all spick and span for when we get back!"

"Tifa...!" he decided that arguing was not the best option out of this situation. Instead he held her by the shoulders and bestowed her with a long kiss.

"Now will you not bother me," he asked her when they had finished.

"Well, when you put it that way..." Tifa, however, still looked a little dubious.

"If you really want to know what all that 'junk' is about, then read it yourself."

Curiosity eventually got the better of Cloud's winsome lover, and by the time midnight had come, Tifa was still firmly engrossed in The Cloning of Jenova.

"Great," Cloud thought, alone in bed. "At this rate we'll never get to Rocket Town."

Still, by the mid-day following, a bleary-eyed Tifa had managed to follow her friends up through Mount Nibel. It was still pretty treacherous climbing, and the weather was cold and wet at that height. The fact that Tifa, their main guide, was not in the sharpest of moods, did nothing to help either. Not surprisingly therefore, it took about a day to reach the Rocket Town.

The scaffolding still remained, but where once had rested a rusting, moulding mass of a structure was now the half-finished skeleton of a brand-new rocket. The village still nestled underneath the huge frame just as it had before. And, just outside the cluster of houses, on the outskirts of the town, stood the familiar and heart-warming figure of the Highwind. Something stirred in the hearts of all those present at the sight of the airship. There was still something so magnificent and beautiful about it as there had been when they had first seen it so long ago at Junon Airport. Cloud could still hardly believe that it was the hands of Cid that had created such a thing.

After taking in the scene for a minute or so, the five wandered down the mountain slope towards the tranquil, peaceful country town.

Apart from the difference of the rocket towering above the village, nothing had changed much in Rocket Town at all. Cid's house still stood in exactly the same place and state as it had before. Outside, in the fenced-off garden, was a stooped-over Shera, occupying her time with a spot of gardening.

"Hey Shera!" Cloud called over to the mousy-haired scientist jovially. The girl looked over her shoulder, startled, then her face broke out into a wide smile as she recognised her visitors.

"Cloud!"

Cloud and the others hastened to greet her. It had been exactly two years since Cloud had attended the wedding of Cid and Shera, and he was curious to see how they were getting on together. His questions were soon answered. As Shera turned round to meet the five friends, they all saw her visibly distended belly from afar. With a squeal of surprised delight, Tifa jumped forward and began to run towards the other woman.

"I say," Barret commented under his breath. "I see Cid's soon going to be indulging in the joys of fatherhood."

"Lucky man," Reeve remarked, and Cloud could not tell whether he was being serious or not.

Shera looked at them with bright eyes as the others finally noticed her.

"Hello Barret, Reeve, Red, Cloud. It's been a long time."

"Yeah, and I see you've been busy since then," Barret quipped with a slight smile on his face. Tifa broke in before Shera could even think of replying.

"Shera's eight months pregnant! Isn't it so beautiful! Shera, you're so lucky!"

Shera blushed prettily at the other. Her pregnant state seemed to have enhanced her looks in some way. Her cheeks were plump and rosy, and her eyes held a definite sparkle to them.

"Just wait until it happens to you, Tifa. You won't be so thrilled then. It's quite a trial, being pregnant, you know."

Cloud felt himself colouring slightly. He got the distinct impression that things were getting way out of his depth here.

"So where's the lucky man then?" he asked hastily, hoping that Tifa wasn't going to make a federal case of it. Shera looked up at him, wiping a layer of sweat from her forehead as she did so.

"Oh, he's at the new rocket. He's so proud of it. He's saying that in about two years time the both of us will be able to go up into space again."

"Some things never change," Red put in stoically.

"Well, that's enough about space," Shera replied cheerfully. "I expect you'll be hearing enough about it from Cid when he comes back. Perhaps you'd like to come in and have a cup of tea...?"

They all applauded the suggestion, and it was not long before they were all seated cosily in the still-untidy living room, sipping at cups of china-tea.

"So another month and your baby will be born!" Tifa cried, still not over the surprise Shera had given her. "I can't wait until I can finally see the little thing! It'll be so cute!"

Shera still seemed a bit startled at Tifa's reaction to the fact that she was going to have a baby. It was all she could do to smile round at the others bemusedly as it was.

"How did Cid react?" asked Reeve, distinctly interested in the subject. Shera smiled graciously at him.

"He seemed a bit miffed at first, but now I think he's come to quite like the idea of being a father-to-be. Well," she grinned to herself, lifting the tea to her lips, "we all knew it would be inevitable in the end."

"Yeah, well, you know Cid," Barret replied dryly. "The future's always been stars and spaceships to him. He could never think five minutes ahead unless he was thinking about his beloved rocket."

At that moment there was the marked sound of the front door banging shut.

"What was that about me?"

Everyone looked up to see the unequivocal face of Cid. His face was clean-shaven for a change, and though he still had the distinctive aroma of cigarette smoke about him, he was however, not smoking.

"We were just saying what a good father you'd make." Cloud said quickly before anyone else could say anything. Cid walked up to them, flinging his boots heedlessly into the corner.

"Oh yeah?" the expression on Cid's face was menacing, but his eyebrows were working up and down rapidly, a sign that he was in a good humour "And what are you wasters doin' hangin' round my livin' room?"

"Come now, Cid," Shera said, quite unflustered in manner. "Don't give the visitors a hard time. They've been waiting to see you all day."

At this point Cid's face broke into an obviously fake but teary expression.

"Oh, have they?!" Breaking into theatrical tears, Cid promptly travelled over to the settee and whisked Tifa up into his arms. "Oh, little Tifa, it's so good to see you after all these years."

"Hey," Cloud cut in with a sullen expression. "Cut the crap, Cid. That's my woman you've got in your arms."

"Oh really?" he turned to Cloud with a sly look in his eyes. "You know, Cloud, I hadn't noticed."

"Oh stop it, Cid," Shera scolded him, causing everyone to smile secretly to themselves.

"I see she's got you firmly under her thumb," Barret remarked as Cid let go of Tifa and flopped down next to his wife. Cid rolled his eyes comically.

"Spare us the aggro, Barret. Still up to your little old ways, I see."

"I noticed the same about you," replied the other with equal nonchalance.

"Now, now, let's not fight," Shera interrupted quickly. "Cid's a married man now, he hasn't got the mentality for fighting anymore."

"Oh yes I have," Cid murmured under his breath, then he spoke louder. "Yeah, I'm a married man, Barret, so don't even bother bad-mouthing me." He turned to the Shinra President who was sitting quietly beside Red. "Well, Cait Sith...uh...I mean Reeve...where were you when I had my weddin' three years ago? I was expectin' you and you never turned up. I was quite disappointed actually."

"Sorry," Reeve replied apologetically, "but I had so much business to attend to that year, what with the beginning of my first term as President...But I did send you a card, didn't I?"

"Yes, that's right," Cid conceded with a smile. "Still, it wasn't quite the same without you. Actually, I was quite surprised at the poor turn-out you lot exhibited."

"Sorry," Reeve apologised again. "Was it really that bad? Who else didn't turn up?"

"Well, Yuffie didn't, but somehow I didn't expect that little scoundrel to come anyway. She did send me some gifts however: let's see, a gold statue; a wallet - full of money; a set of gold cuff-links (God knows why, I'll never use them); a set of faded blueprints for a twenty-year-old Shinra aircraft..."

"And let me guess - she stole all of it?" Cloud added, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, of course, Cloud-boy," Cid returned innocently. "Anything Yuffie Kisaragi lays her hands on, she steals."

"So who else didn't come?" Red began. "If I recall rightly, Vincent wasn't there?"

"No...but somehow, I didn't expect him to come..." Cid sat back, looking up at the ceiling reflectively. "I wonder where he is now?"

There was no answer to the question, and after a moment's thoughtful silence, no one had attempted to answer it.

"So who else didn't come to the wedding?" Barret asked, breaking the silence. "There were nine of us, weren't there? Me, Cloud and Tifa; Cait Sith...I mean Reeve, Red; you of course, Cid; Vincent and..."

Cid suddenly glared at him.

"Don't say the next name," he warned Barret viciously. "Otherwise I can guarantee you that half the people in this room will start to cry!"

Naturally, Cid, being the 'adventurer' that he was, didn't have any second thoughts about travelling with the others. Shera, however, being eight months pregnant, could not travel with her husband, and did not particularly want to see him wander off either. Nevertheless, she let him go anyway. This was, as usual, out of respect for his 'dreams'. Cid was half-torn between leaving the pregnant Shera behind and going out on one of his excursions. After a long and excessively private chat, the two had decided on an agreement, and Cid was soon set to go.

"Make sure you get back soon," Shera warned him.

"Of course, dear," Cid replied meekly, and planted a kiss on her lips.

Next: The return of a certain thief; and a chance meeting in the Bone Village affords Cloud some time for introspection…