He sighed, causing the black haired man to lift his eyes.

"Hm?"

"Last time we're going to walk up this."

They were walking along a dirt road, weeds finding their way onto the unpaved path. Trees lined the road, but were swiftly growing to eat away part of it. A few tire marks, only a day or more old, were imprinted into the dirt. Silently, Zack rolled a rock along with his foot.

"Yeah. To bad they everyone's leaving this place. One of the few places of beauty left in the world… Now monsters will call it home."

"If they haven't already."

Cloud sighed again, shaking his head.

"Zack, I'm worried."

"Worried? This place was doomed from the start. Lets face it, relying only on mar-"

"Not the town! I'm worried about Ivy."

"Oh…" Zack bit his bottom lip. He was too, but there was no use in telling Cloud that. He was the strong one. He was the insane one. He was the smart one. Well, it was time to push aside the emotions, and be all that now. Well, perhaps not insane. Not at this moment.

"She's a tough one Cloudy, she'll manage to scare away the monsters."

"Its not the monsters!" Zack knew this. He wasn't stupid. Ivy's best friend, and the best friend to the two young men as well, had committed suicide no more then a week ago. Cloud was afraid Ivy would follow.

"Aye, its not like Ivy to give up. Shit, she's never given up a thing in her life. She wouldn't let her mother bring her down, she wouldn't let men. She wouldn't let people shatter her. This is no different Cloudy, so… So don't dwell in the past. Perk up. She'll be fine."

Cloud looked over at his black haired friend, smiling a little. "You think?"

"Think? I know." Zack gave him his trademark grin. "Now don't look so glum. Things are going to be okay. For her and us. So, do me a favor and grin. Reeeaaaallllyyyy big like, you know?" He closed one eye, sticking his tong out the side of his mouth, and adding a grin to that. "See?"

Cloud couldn't help but laugh. Zack chuckled a little to. "Come on now!"

"I don't think-"

"None of that!"

Zack grabbed his friend, throwing him into a headlock. Cloud Strife stumbled, surprised, and let out a stream of protest. Some of the things he said were a bit unpleasant, but they only made Zack laugh.

"No need to think, you numb skull. Grin!"

"Zack!"

"GRIN! Common!"

"No- Lemme go you big prokipine!"

"Porkipine?!" Zack touched his hair, most of which was spiked backwords, then looked down at his friend. Though Zack's own spikes were impressive, Cloud could easly poke someone's eye out with his.

"You look like a pin cushion! Don't talk to me about spiky boy! Now cut the chatter and grin, Chocobo brains!"

"Choc- your choking me right now! Let-" Cloud shoved against his friends bare arms, not really expecting to get him anywhere, "Me-GO!"

"not in till you grin for me you doof!"

"I'll-I'll do it! Just lemme go first!"

Both men were laughing, despite how odd the situation was. Zack finally let his friend go, and the boy stumbled back. He toppled over in a deep puddle of mud, the brown splatters taking up resident on his light blue clothes. He stared wide eyed down at himself, gasping.

"ZACK FLAME!"

Zack let out a lout woop, and began to run towards the house. Cloud let out a frustrated cry, slamming his hands down in the mud. That action did him little good, for the mud simply coated more of him.

"YOU BETTER RUN DAMMIT!"