A/N: Sorry about the forever update! However, Cross Country is over and done with (no more fun parties!) so I'll hopefully have alot more free time now. I hope this meets up with your standards everyone. Thanks for reviewing and enjoy!

Chapter 20

Tifa couldn't think; in her mind's eye she watched Cloud impaled by the evil Masamune, slicing through his body as though it were straw. She felt the cold feeling creep into her body, then into her heart; she couldn't lose him…not again.

Sephiroth's eyes widened in surprise as his sword pierced Tifa's body, her back to him as she cowered over Cloud's form. He watched as the blood slowly flowed from her wound down his blade, and onto Cloud's unconscious face.

"Damn girl," Sephiroth breathed. "How dare you…" He retracted his blade, allowing Tifa to fall to the side, dead, but as he straightened up, he gasped in pain.

"No…" he whispered, staring into the face of Cloud. Tifa's blood had awoken him, and as she fell, he lashed out, grazing her shoulder as his Ultima Weapon stuck Sephiroth in the heart, his blood now spilt.

Cloud chuckled slightly, but immediately winced in pain. He grabbed his side and kept one eye clenched shut in determination, willing his sword forward. He felt it slide through Sephiroth's back, breathing slightly when he heard the puncture of flesh.

"I win, Sephiroth," Cloud boasted, pulling his sword back. Sephiroth knelt down, bracing his body with a knuckle on the ground and his head bent.

"Maybe next time then, but you should know by now Cloud: I detest leaving without company." His body shuddered in the chortle, which in moments turned into a full demonic laughter, his head thrown up and his eyes deranged. He fell face first onto the cold, hard stone and died once again, laughing until his eyes glazed over in death.

Realization suddenly hit Cloud, and he gasped as he turned toward Tifa. He shuffled over to her, picking up her limp form in his arms. Her breath was shallow and her face drenched in blood and sweat, but she was still alive…barely.

"No.." Cloud whispered as he buried his head into her neck. "It wasn't meant for you, Tifa. I don't deserve life if it was in exchange for yours. This was not how Yuffie's plan was supposed to work…" He felt the tears stream down his eyes, squeezed shut in pain and sorrow. "I was supposed to save you."

xxxxXxxxx

"You know, Cloud…I can tell you still like Tifa."

Cloud spun about, and suddenly came face to face with the young shinobi. His grimace became more pronounced.

"What do you want, Yuffie? I have a lot on my mind right now," he said agitatedly. He did not feel like dealing with this ninja, but had been greatly unnerved by her statement. If she could notice it, he must be completely obvious about it.

Yuffie smiled mischievously. "I want Vinnie. You want Tifa. I think I know how we can get what we want…and need." Of course, Yuffie hoped Cloud really wanted Tifa; she had no idea if he had been shocked, protective, or jealous of Vincent's public display, but she was hoping for the latter.

Cloud stood there for a moment, looking at her indifferently. Then he said, in a voice barely above a whisper, "I'm listening."

Yuffie's smile widened. Cloud was already beginning to regret this.

"Look, it's real simple," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she leaned forward. Cloud could not help but notice she had filled out much more since the last time he truly looked at her, but he shook his head and followed suit. Her breath tickled his ear as she explained, but he listened just the same.

"All you have to do is make sure I get in the same group with Vinny, and you get in the same group as Tifa. Then, when we go exploring the caves, you wait until you run into something, like a really big dragon, and save Tifa, okay?" she asked excitedly. Cloud merely nodded, urging her to continue.

"Alright, next, when we're fighting something big or whatever, I'll like, pretend to fall off a cliff or get really hurt, okay? Then Vincent will save me and I'll be all like, 'Yay, Vinny, I love you!'" Cloud could see the glimmer in her eyes when she said that.

"What if it doesn't work?" he asked skeptically. "It sounds pretty trite."

Yuffie put her hands on her hips in a pout, as if doubting her plan was a sin. Cloud noted she did so very cutely. "Well, then when we're camping inside that gross cavern place, we start playing them against each other. 'Tifa loves Cloud', 'Vincent loves Yuffie' yadda yadda yadda." Her mischievous grin spread all across her face once more. "Don't worry, it'll work."

Cloud grimaced slightly. "I hope so. Just make sure that cliff isn't too big. I'm not sure if Vincent will catch you."

Yuffie stormed off, leaving a smirking Cloud.

xxxxXxxxx

Cloud pressed her shivering body against his, tears flowing down his eyes. Cloud could feel the creatures of the Northern Cavern closing in, slowing moving in for the strike, but he did not care. A bright red materia on his armband started to resonate slightly, growing brighter and brighter each second.

"I don't want to lose you," he whispered, and kissed her forehead. Suddenly, the demons and monsters attacked, fangs bared, wings spread and blood hungry. However, they only got a few steps before the materia suddenly seemed to explode in a mass of light.

The monsters instantly dissolved and withered away, as did the unmoving body of Sephiroth, revealing the ancient symbol of the legendary bird surrounding the entire cavern. A light whistle filled the room as well, lifting Cloud's heart as he slowly looked up.

A smile started on his lips, as he whispered one word: "Phoenix…"

As the mythical creature swept by, Tifa stirred, her wounds healing over. Cloud turned away at the sound of moving rubble only to find Barret stand up dazedly.

"Wha'd I miss?" he asked. Cloud couldn't feel but laugh as Tifa opened her eyes.

xxxxXxxxx

It wasn't Vincent, like she had thought. It never had been; it was always Cloud.

Tifa remembered as she lay in Cloud's lap, who continued to laugh merrily at something, about how he had always been the one to save her. The Nibelheim Reactor, the Final Battle, and now here again.

He was her savior.

Tifa's mind and heart suddenly froze when Cloud turned to her, emotion swimming through his Mako eyes. Tifa almost gasped as she saw the stains of tears on his face. He had been crying…for her.

She wanted to reach up and brush his cheek, but as she tried to lift her arm, her body froze. As Cloud leaned forward, he mind and heart raced, but she could only see one face: The face of the lone, dark man that had won her heart in his own fashion.

Tifa did not push Cloud's lips from her own, but she could not respond either. She had wanted for so long for him to do this, but now…she did not know what she wanted. Her arms hesitantly wrapped around his broad shoulders as she moved her lips slowly, taking in his taste and his scent.

Barret shook his head. "C'mon you dumbasses! Get a room back at that damn ship! I don't think you want to be eaten by these damn dragons while your eating each other!"

Both Tifa and Cloud broke apart, quickly turning away from each other. Cloud bared his sword and looked around, ready for battle as Tifa came into stance. Barret merely smiled and shook his head.

"Oh, and I was just kiddin' bout those dragons."

Barret started running as Cloud charged him, sword above his head as Tifa laughed awkwardly.

xxxxXxxxx

Gast…

Vincent's head snapped up when he heard the name. Chaos? What about him? Vincent had been walking quietly behind Red and Yuffie, finding no trouble since their start.

I can smell his scent. He's in here, but…Vincent frowned slightly.

But what, Chaos? Gast is dead, you should know that as well as I do. You have access to all my memories, and you seem quite fond to use that privilege.

Vincent could feel the uneasiness in his other demonic counterparts, cowering in the corner of his mind.

True, I have reviewed it. But I definitely can pick up on his scent. There's that damn Ryo's too…but, they're both different from last time. Gast's is more…demonic. He has a demonic scent around him, and Ryo seems to have both Lartsa and Golem traveling with him.

I can tell something else is troubling you.

Chaos was silent for a moment before continuing.

Right, Valentine. By their scents, they must have been in the same spot at the same time, because there is no difference in their strength of scent.

Vincent was baffled. Here was his most intelligent counterpart, talking of two deceased creatures he had seen die. One had been at his own hands as well.

"Vinny?" came Yuffie's innocent, caring voice. "Is something wrong?" Vincent merely shook his head and held his head up, his crimson eyes meeting her storm gray ones. After a moment, she shrugged and continued walking, following Red as he sniffed at the air.

Suddenly, a large sword, a seemingly enlarged and enhanced version of Cloud's Ultima Weapon, sliced through the air like a boomerang, embedding itself in the ground in front of the group and showering them in dust and debris.

"What the hell was that?" demanded Yuffie through a fit of coughing. She brushed the dust from her face in time to see the a large creature yank the blade from the ground easily and turn to face her.

Extended his arm in front of him for aim, threw his right shoulder forward, hurling the sword with such speed and precision that the tip constantly slashed at the wall without slowing, directed right at Yuffie.

The shinobi seemed to freeze, her eyes wide in fear. The large demon's mouth opened into a large grin, but instantly feel into surprise as Vincent leapt forward, picking up the ninja effortlessly and leaping back out of harm's way.

The foe held his right arm up as if about to use a materia, but merely caught the blade by the hilt, spinning it in circles until it slowed down and stopped completely. As Vincent landed, he finally took in the appearance of his opponent.

It was seemingly humanoid, taller than Vincent himself by at least a foot. His body was tanned and toned, every muscles worked to perfection. They seemed to give him strength without hindering his speed. His shirt was gone, though his abdomen was wrapped completely with tape, as well as his both his forearms and hands. Vincent could feel a strong energy emitting from both. Tattoo markings ran up and down his chest and back, and his long, black hair was standing up in an unnatural way, silver streaks running through it with several bangs hanging in front of his eyes. He had two earrings, one on each ear. One held a dangling silver orb while the other held a dangling black one. He was an impressive character.

"What the hell are you?" asked Yuffie suddenly, pushing herself into Vincent. He instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulder in protection.

It's him…Chaos whispered suddenly. I understand now…it's him, Vincent!

Vincent was taken aback; Chaos had used his first name once again. Who is 'him'? What are you talking about?

It is the one I spoke of early, explained Chaos as the giant shouldered his even bigger sword with one hand smoothly. He slowly approached the Avalanche group, Red jumping in front of the couple with fangs bared.

It is Ryo, but he is no longer Ryo…He is Lartsa and Golem as well. They've combined, and now they're as strong as three Immortals, something even the Almighty cannot hope to vanquish!

I do not need Deus to destroy this failed project of a human. I might lose control. My wing turned black last time, and if it had not been for Yuffie's scream during my one moment of weakness, I might have rampaged toward Cloud.

"Well, well, Valentine," the creature suddenly called out. "It has been quite some time. Do you even recognize me…or should I say, us?" His voice was deep and confident, powerful in an awing sense.

Vincent turned his head slightly. "You are a revolting result of something similar to a child's chemistry experiment. The three best Turks from the past, and you have fallen prey to green and power. I shall make sure you fall for the last time, Ryo."

Ryo chuckled, a great booming laughter. "I am no longer Ryo. I am much more powerful that Ryo." His mouth opened into a wide grin, savoring a moment of power. "I am Lance Amura, the Eye of the Trinity."

A/N: AHHHH! Cliffy! I intend on writing a long action-packed chapter next, along with a surprise visit by a long-forgotten friend and a little check-up on your favorite Immortal (besides Vincent, of course). About five more chapters left, I'd say, plus an alternative ending and a 'In the Future' glimpse. Should I intend on makin a sequel? Hmm, who knows? Anyhow, Leave me a review or comment about this new chapter!