The darkly dressed man approached the group casually. His crimson eyes locked on Aeris. Cloud noticed this and seemed very uncomfortable about it. "Aeris," he spoke in a calm deep voice. Aeris turned to see the strange man. "Vincent!" she exclaimed in surprise, "What's going on? Where's Zack?" "That's what I need to talk to you about," the man identified as Vincent replied. "Excuse me, I remember this being a private party…" Vyse told the stranger. "It's alright, Vincent is a very good friend of mine, Vyse…" Aeris assured him. "Please come with me, I'll explain everything…" Vincent insisted. "I'm coming with you…" Cloud said getting up calmly. Even though he was very calm she could see curiosity and anger building up in him. "Alright," she agreed reluctantly. "Lloyd, do you think daddy and Ms. Aeris will be alright?" Colette asked Lloyd worriedly. "Don't worry, Colette I'm sure they'll be fine," Lloyd assured her lovingly. "I don't know your dad very well, Colette, but I know this he's not going to fall easily. Whoever this guy is, if he's an enemy Cloud'll take him down!" Fina exclaimed. "I agree," Vyse stated before continuing to eat. "Aeris seemed to know that guy though…" Genis said thoughtfully. "Shall I go check on them?" Regal asked. "Give them some time, we'll all go check on them…" Lloyd sighed. "Out in that! No thank you, I'll pass on the raging thunderstorm!" Zelos whined. "Wimp…" Sheena replied smiling.
Meanwhile Cloud was following suspiciously behind Vincent and Aeris. He was trying to scan Vincent's mind, but apparently Vincent was blocking him off. All Cloud could hear was 'trust me'. This just made Cloud even more suspicious. Finally they stopped after wondering into a graveyard. "Read the stone," Vincent announced gravely. The stone read; "Zack Valentine" "No, it can't be!" Aeris gasped. She started to fall backwards but Cloud caught her. "Who is he?" Cloud asked. "Zack is my ex-boyfriend, we weren't serious but we were still good friends…" Aeris admitted. "You had a boyfriend and you flirted with me?" Cloud asked accusingly. "I'm sorry, Cloud… He broke up with me before I left this village…" she explained. "I need to be alone to think for a while…" Cloud sighed and started back to the inn. "Let him go," Vincent said interrupting, "He needs to be alone for a while, he'll be alright…" "What happened? How did this happen?" Aeris asked. "The Dark Angel Ramirez came to the village looking for you, when Zack heard about this he challenged Ramirez. I should've held my little brother back, but they were fighting before I could do anything. Ramirez killed Zack and escaped before I could do anything…" Vincent explained. "Thank you, Vincent…" Aeris said softly. "Tell my brother, next time you hear his voice, that I'm sorry I failed to avenge him…" Vincent sighed. "I will… I promise…" she sighed.
Back at the inn, the door burst open and a sopping wet Cloud Strife walked in, closing the door behind him. "Daddy? What's wrong?" Colette asked worriedly. "Nothing, I just need to be alone for a while… When Aeris comes in, just tell her you don't know where I am…" Cloud replied sadly. Cloud walked into one of the rooms and closed the door behind him. Everyone's eyes had been locked on him. "I wonder what's up with him…" Zelos asked. "You would be wise not to approach him about it…" Regal responded. Aeris walked in the expression on her face was one of sadness. Colette stood up, the look in her eyes told Lloyd that she wasn't very happy. "What happened?" she asked Aeris. "Colette, I'm so sorry! Cloud's upset because of me…" Aeris explained. "What happened?" Colette asked again becoming even more agitated. "Vincent is my ex-boyfriend's brother. He told me what became of my ex, but Cloud was upset to find out about Zack. He must feel like I was playing with his emotions. Please don't lecture me, Colette, I feel bad enough about this whole ordeal. I do love your father, but it's going to take him some time to trust me again…" Aeris finally finished explaining. She walked off in the direction of one of the rooms.
Colette sat back down feeling more sad than angry. "What's wrong?" Lloyd asked. "I-I just don't feel like eating anymore…" Colette responded before excusing herself and going off to bed. After a while everyone had retired. The air in the inn was restless though, finally someone emerged from one of the rooms. It was Raine, the storm was only getting worse. She approached the exit, she grabbed the knob and started to turn it. Before she could leave the inn though, she felt someone's presence behind her. "Vyse…" she identified in her mind. Sure enough it was the young pirate. "What are you doing up so late, Professor?" Vyse asked. "Um, I was just going out on the porch to watch the storm… Would you like to join me?" Raine said hoping that the young rogue would be too tired from traveling through the forest to accept her invitation. "Only for a little while…" the boy responded. Now this was a pickle, she was supposed to be meeting Kratos outside and Vyse was coming out with her. No good could come of this, he mind raced trying to think of something to say. "Well, you're perfectly welcome to, but don't you think you should get some sleep? No doubt that Moonstone Cannon attack you used drained all of your mana…" Raine tried to reason. "I suppose you know what's best, after all you are the Professor and all…" Vyse figured, "Good night Professor…" "Good night, Vyse…" she responded before walking through the exit.
The night passed just as it had come, restlessly. Presea left the team early the next morning, she left the inn without saying a word to the team. This disappointed Genis to no end. After searching the town the group found her home. An old derelict house that apparently at one time belonged to a lumberjack. A man was talking to Presea on the porch. "Who are these people? More visitors?" he asked. "They helped me get home," she responded. The man cackled an evil laugh before walking away. Cloud's eyes were trained on him as he vanished into the forest. Cloud was still in a bad mood for the most part. "Lloyd, let's go see Altessa without her. She'll just attack us if we try to force her…" Regal suggested. The rest of the group walked off. Cloud continued to glare off in the direction the man had walked off in. "There was something familiar about that guy…" he stood there thinking. He shook his head to clear himself of his daydream just in time to see Aeris coming to get him. "Listen Cloud, I just want to say, I'm sorry for not telling you about Zack. I understand if you don't want to talk to me, but at least let me say this. Ever since I was a little girl I've felt that I was waiting for someone, though I don't know who. When I first saw you, I felt that the person I had been awaiting for so long had finally come to me…" Aeris explained. "Aeris, I forgive you. I must admit the feeling is mutual. Last night just came as a shock to me I need some time. My feelings for you haven't changed." Cloud admitted. "Thank you for forgiving me so easily Cloud, you are the dearest friend I've ever had…" Aeris sighed. Aeris kissed Cloud on his cheek before running to catch up with the others.
"Poor Aeris, she lost one of her dearest friends and I'm not helping. What's going to happen if I fail her, just like I failed Tifa?" Cloud thought, "I've failed so much in my life, what'll happen if she's one of the many people I fail to protect? I can't fail! I won't fail! I refuse to let anything happen to Aeris or Colette!" "Hey Cloud, are you comin' or not?" Sheena's voice woke Cloud from his thoughts. "Lead the way…" Cloud replied. "Alright, but don't be grabbing my ass…" Sheena lectured. "Your thinking of Zelos…" Cloud laughed, "I can't even imagine why anyone would grab yours!" Sheena thought about it for a moment then seeing that Cloud was jesting began to join him in laughter. "I am nothing like that philandering, hollow-headed, idiot…" Cloud reasoned. "I guess not… You're actually pretty funny when you try to be…" Sheena responded. "Well thank you…" Cloud retorted. She sighed and wiped a tear away as she stopped laughing. "You'd better catch up with the others, I'll cover the rear…" Cloud explained. "Ok, be careful…" Sheena told him before going to catch up with the others. "Note to self: don't let anything happen to any present company!" Cloud thought, "That includes Regal and Presea. I know Regal is considered an adult by human standards but to me he is still a child, and it is my duty to look after all children under my care…"
