'Its all the same…look at it…The arch way, the truck, the well, the houses. Nothing has changed in 5 years.' He shook his head, disappointed. Nibelheim. His home. Nothing had so much as stirred.

Water ran through the tiles in the square, from the buckets of rain being tossed down the Planet. In a few places the tiles has come out and washed away. They would replace them in a few days, once things dried out.

From somewhere behind him Zack laughed, walking up. He was so proud he had helped stop the Ruby Dragon days before, and was sure to be even cockier when they left this place. Fame. Only thing on Zack's mind was fame. It made Cloud angry. He could see his black spiked head from the coroner of his eyes. He ignored him and continued to look at the town. A young girl no older then he sat near a white wooden fence, brown leather hat pulled down over her eyes. He frowned. He didn't remember her. She didn't live here when he did…had she?

Suddenly his eyes widened as he noticed the hair of the girl. The small hands and the bracelets she wore. He started to gasp, but caught himself. He didn't want her attention. Quickly he turned and ran from the group.

'Its Tifa!'. He felt his face catch on fire. His emotions melted his senses from their sudden flare. His chest felt tight, his breath quick. He didn't want her to see him like this. He had left to join SOLDIER. He hadn't made it. She'd hate him. She'd be disappointed. He couldn't keep their promise now. He couldn't save her like she had wanted. He couldn't…

He couldn't let her see him.

"Hey, you alright?" A voice called. Zack. Cloud nodded his head and quickly pulled on his guard hat, which he had stored in his pocket until now.

"F-fine…" He whispered, pulling it on over his blond hair. With a tug, he sent the visor down over his eyes, casting a shadow over his face.

"Back in line, Strife." the cold voice of the General hissed at him as the silver haired man approached. Clouds head shot up at the sound of him, but he nodded and turned back to Zack. As Sephiroth approached the group, the girls head shot up. Cloud felt his insides turn to much. She had grown so much. So much prettier. Her eyes still held the same gentle kindness they had when he was small, but something made him sad. In her eyes was fear.

Tifa Lockheart shook her head as Sephiroth approached and jumped to her feet. As she turned to race back into the safety of the town, Cloud caught a glimpse of what must have been tears. He wanted to go to her. To hold her and tell her it was okay.

But it wasn't him she cried for, he realized. It was Zack and Sephiroth. Both handsome. Both suddenly there. Both…there to take his place in her heart. Those were her heroes. Cloud Strife was again a shadow of a memory.

"How does it feel?"

Cloud glanced up, watching the General as he opened his arms. His black trench coat blew about him in a soft breeze, his long hair mingling with the leaves spinning in the air.

"S-sir?" He asked, walking closer to the group.

"It's your first time back to your hometown in a long time, right?" Sephiroth asked, turning to Cloud. Cloud nodded. "So how does it feel? I wouldn't know because I don't have a hometown.…"

"Ummm... how 'bout your parents?" Cloud asked, nervous.

"My mother is Jenova. She died right after she gave birth to me." He had no sorrow in his voice, no pain. His eyes were cold as always. Did he hold no emotions at all? "My father…"

Laughter broke through the air. The man shook his head as the thought of his father seemed to amuse him.

"What does it matter...? All right, let's go."

Zack nodded. Two of the guards followed the general into the town. Cloud paused, looking towards a lonely window. He had looked into the window years ago, wishing for someone to look out at him.

"You alright Cloud?"

"Hm?" Cloud looked sadly over at Zack, as concern spread over his friends face. "Oh…Yeah…Lets go."