"W-what the hell did you do that for?"

Buckets still poured down upon them, ice froze his body as waves crashed to the shore. He trembled under his clothes, which had become plastered to his thin body.

Both Zack and Cloud knew he shook not because of the cold, but because of fear.

"Why did I do that…" Cloud asked, his voice hollow. He put his head in his hands, shaking his head. "He could have killed me…"

The little blond peeked from behind his fingers, feeling Zack place a warm hand on his shoulder. His eyes didn't go to meet Zack's, but they roamed the shore of the beach. Parts of Ivy's blade were being pulled away, into the ocean. Suddenly he lunged forward, grabbing them up as water rushed around them.

"Help me." Cloud whispered, shoving the slices of the weapon into his pocket. His hands darted about, collecting ever piece he could. Zack, as if he was reluctant to even try, fell to his knees next to the blond, silently picking up the shards.

"…She's going to be so mad at me. She's going to skin me…Oh man…"

"Cloud…"

"What am I going to do Zack?!" The boy asked.

Zack could tell his friend wasn't going to focus on the battle Zack longed to talk to him about. It would have been good for Cloud to talk about it, to release the growing fear inside. The after shock would hit him, if it wasn't starting to now. It was going to crumble him.

"Cloud, there isn't going to be any saving this blade. Its done with."

"no- no its not. There's still a good portion in tack. We can have it re-forged. We have to. I want to return it to her. I need to return it to her."

He managed to pull a drenched glove from his pocket, pulling it on with some difficulty. Silently he picked up some more shards, throwing them back onto the beach, far enough away from the waves.

"I don't think we'll be able to fix it Cloud."

"we have to. We have to try Zack."

'But why…We wont see her again…Seph…Something's wrong with Sephiroth. Something weird is happening…"

Cloud let out a frustrated cry suddenly, falling down onto the sand. Tears mingled with raindrops. Water rushed over his body. Zack's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly got to his feet, grabbing his friends hands and dragging him up the shore.

"What's the matter with you?! Your going suicidal tonight! People say the rain does odd things here, but to turn you into a suicidal mad man is ridicules!"

"I-I'm sorry Zack…"

Zack flinched and shook his head. "Cloud-"

"sorry…Sorry I didn't get here any sooner…Sorry I'm so worthless. Cant even protect you right. Broke a sword…I couldn't fight him if he decided to get through me. You would have been defenseless. Sorry."

"Dammit Cloud!"

Zack Reached down and grabbed the boys collar, yanking him roughly to his feet. He reluctantly stood, head hung, sobbing.

He looked so helpless. Wet, tiny, cold, afraid. Zack felt his heart tug. He never could stand the sight of Cloud being sad.

"you're an idiot.' Zack said with a sideways smile, smothering his friend in an embrace. "Your such a fuckin loon Cloud Strife."

Cloud gripped his friends shirt with trembling hands.

"D-don't…don't ever…don't ever let me do that again." He whispered, sobbing growing louder. Zack chuckled, ruffling the sopping locks of blond hair.

"don't like saving my ass kid?"

"I don't want to die-die…"

"I wouldn't let him kill you."

"Y-yes you would. You - you disappeared over the wall f-faster then food in front of Ivy."

Zack laughed. "That fast aye? Ah Cloud, if he was going to kill you, I'd step in. You're my little brother. No one hurts you and gets away from me in one piece. You know that."

"Z-Zack...Zack, don't get in-into anymore trouble…"

"Okay Cloud," Zack smiled, steering him towards one of the remaining umbrellas, bending down to retrieve the hilt and a good portion of Ivy's now shattered blade. Handing it to Cloud, he retrieved his own Buster Sword. "For you."