"Its…So quiet." Cloud whispered, looking about the empty place. He had heard that the monster attacks last time had been bad, leaving a mans limbs torn across the town…Maybe that was why they were all inside their houses.
"Zack…?"
"Hm?" The black haired young man walked over to his friend, looking disappointed.
"Do you think they are afraid of us?"
Zack glanced to his left, towards Sephiroth. Slowly he said "Naw…It…it's the monsters Cloudy. They aren't afraid of us."
"We leave for the reactor at dawn." Sephiroth said suddenly. All eyes turned to the silver haired general. The last few days had crawled along so slowly, it pained Cloud to remember them. His body was sore from sleeping in the back of a truck, or on the hard ground. He couldn't wait to be back in a nice bed. He was positive Zack thought the same.
"Make sure you all get to sleep early." Cloud nodded and went to stand next to the blue suited man who had driven them this far. Upon seeing this, the general went on. "We only need one lookout, so you others get some rest."
He turned and walked towards the inn, opening the door. Zack's mouth fell open, but Sephiroth seemed to know what the cocky youth was going to say. "Oh, that's right…You may also visit family and friends."
With that said, the general retreated from the days sun, inside the cozy inn. Zack grinned and patted Cloud on the back. "have fun kid." He said, walking into the inn.
Clouds heart tugged. He wanted to go visit Tifa. Tell her everything. Tell her how he had failed to make it to SOLDIER. Tell her he couldn't be her hero. Tell her he didn't deserve to see her. Tell her…
Nothing. Nothing at all. His eyes jerked from her window, which he had longingly spent so many nights and days outside of it. Wishing to merely enter that room, and enter that house because she wanted him there.
He followed Zack inside.
The inn was warm. Warm and cozy and decorated in reds. He looked around, smiling to himself. It never changed.
Near the counter leaned a aging man, with a strange purple suit and red cape. Cloud had never seen him before, but he merely wrinkled his nose and went upstairs to find Zack.
He found the general first, peering out a window and out to the scenery. Frowning, Cloud wondered what he was doing, watching whatever it was he was watching.
"s-sir?"
"Strife?"
"What…" He gulped. He didn't like being around Sephiroth, not after Costa Del Sol. "What are you looking at?"
"...This scenery… I feel like I know this place. ...We have an early start tomorrow. You should get some sleep soon."
Cloud opened his mouth to protest, or press on the subject of Sephiroth knowing this place, but a moan from inside the room caught his attention. Sephiroth sighed and turned to the doorway.
"What now, Flame?"
"We don't have enough beds!"
Sephiroth looked over at Cloud. "Well, one of us will have to ask the locals for a room to stay in."
Cloud gulped.
"Your…mother, wasn't it? Yes. Your mother lives in this town, doesn't she?"
Slowly Cloud nodded.
"Well, Flame, it seems we have solved the issue of the bed.
