Cloud pushed the door open lightly and stepped into the large hall. The sunlight that was coming through the glass dome in large shafts gave the hall many shadowy corners.
"Sephiroth?" Cloud called out into the darkness. Nanaki was unsure of what to expect and so he prepared himself for just about anything. Sephiroth appeared at the top of the stairs, apparently he had been hiding at the top of the stairs just out of sight, waiting until Cloud told him it was okay to come out.
"How did it go?" Sephiroth asked. His eyes were on Nanaki who was watching him curiously.
"I don't see anything wrong" said Nanaki. Sephiroth stepped backwards and tripped over the top step.
"I do" said Sephiroth "You're talking!"
"Ah" said Nanaki "Now there's a mistake"
"He's got amnesia or something" said Cloud "He doesn't remember anything"
"Anything?" Nanaki asked looking at Cloud
"Well I have been filling him in on some things and he has got some memories" said Cloud
"Is that why you brought the Masamune?" Nanaki asked him.
"Yes" Cloud said "He gets memories from items he has seen in the past"
"Are you sure that these are the memories he wants?" Nanaki asked "After all no good memories can come from the sword"
"Maybe not" said Cloud "But we have to find out"
"You have to find out" said Nanaki "I am going to remain here while you give it to him"
"Okay then" said Cloud. Sephiroth came down the stairs to see what Cloud had.
"This is the sword, Sephiroth" said Cloud "It's called the Masamune and it belongs to you"
Sephiroth said nothing; he was very nervous. After everything Cloud had told him did he really want this weapon? Cloud unwrapped the sword and held it out. Sephiroth looked at the sword that Cloud was holding out. It glittered unnaturally and seemed to be calling him. With one hand Sephiroth took it. Holding it felt natural, as though he was born to do it. Suddenly Sephiroth was swamped with memories. He stumbled backwards against the staircase gasping for breath.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud said running forwards but Sephiroth threw out his hand
"Don't" he said "I need to go to my room and think about this" he said. Cloud and Nanaki watched as Sephiroth stumbled up the stairs and into his room.
"That went well" said Nanaki "At least he did not go insane and kill us"
"True" said Cloud "But who knows what he's feeling? I think Vincent should come and talk to him"
"I don't think he will" said Nanaki
"We need to have him talk to Sephiroth, Vincent knows how to deal with guilt" said Cloud
"Sephiroth could end up living in a box in your basement, Cloud" said Nanaki
"Hopefully not" said Cloud "After all he is a good person"
"Is he?" Nanaki asked
"Yes" said Cloud "Since he lost his memory he has been telling jokes, cooking food, tuning piano's and enjoying life"
"But now he's got all of his old memories back" said Nanaki "Will he still be the same man you have been living with?"
Cloud and Nanaki both looked up at the landing near where Sephiroth's room was.
Sephiroth was sat on his bed contemplating all this new information. The masamune was on his desk and it still glittered unnaturally even in the darkness. Sephiroth had closed his curtains as he wanted to remain in darkness to think about all the stuff he newly remembered. All that pain, all that death I have caused Sephiroth thought. Sephiroth remembered Vincent, Lucrecia, Jenova and Hojo as clearly as day. He remembered Aeris, Cloud, Tifa and all the others that had fought against him. He remembered being in the Temple of the Ancients, he remembered killing Tseng, he remembered taking the black materia and regenerating this original body.
Cloud and Nanaki were sat outside of the mansion. Cloud could not remain inside, the mansion now felt on fire as Sephiroth was back. Cloud kept on looking over at Tifa's house hoping that she would forgive him but he did not know where to start on his explanation. Cloud sat up as Tifa left her old house for air but she did not stay outside for long, only a minute or so and then she walked back into the house. Cloud sighed and lay down on the floor.
"You should go and speak to her" said Nanaki who was looking up at the mansion.
"And say what?" Cloud asked
"Tell her the truth, about why you helped Sephiroth" said Nanaki "What's the worst she could do?"
"Pummel me into oblivion" said Cloud
"She wouldn't do that to you, Cloud" said Nanaki "If you need me to back up your story about Sephiroth, from what I know, I will"
"Do you think it's a good idea?" Cloud asked "After all you are older than me so your opinion means a lot"
"I think that if you two love each other then you'll be fine, it might take some work but every relationship does" said Nanaki looking at Cloud "So go over to her" Cloud got to his feet and walked out of the Mansion grounds towards Tifa's house followed by Nanaki who was waving his tail as he walked.
Cloud knocked lightly on the door and Barret answered
"I don't think it's a good idea for you to be here Cloud" said Barret "So just leave" Barret then closed the door without letting Cloud say a word. Cloud banged on the door hard with his fist. Again the door opened and Barret looked a tad flushed, apparently he wanted to shout at Cloud for banging on the door but he knew Cloud was in no mood to be shouted at.
"She doesn't want to talk to you" said Barret "Just leave" he slammed the door again
"I want to hear it from her!" Cloud shouted at the door "You've got five seconds Barret" Cloud began to count backwards from five slowly; it was a trick he had picked up in Soldier, counting slowly increased the anticipation for an action and many would chicken out before zero. Cloud reached one and paused, nothing happened. Cloud said zero loudly and raised his foot. Again there was not movement from the door.
Cid, Vincent, Yuffie and Barret heard Cloud say the word zero nice and loud. Three of them watched the door while Barret waited by its side. Barret and the others started as the door exploded inwards; its hinges sent flying as Cloud kicked the door in. Cid and Yuffie jumped aside as the door crashed into the table, Vincent merely watched as it flew past.
Cloud stepped neatly into the room and instantly had Barret blocking his path.
"Leave, Cloud" said Barret. Cloud completely ignored the man in front of him and turned to face Vincent who was as calm as ever.
"Vincent, could you please go speak to Sephiroth?" Cloud asked "He needs someone at hi side, someone who knows what he is going through"
"I am only responsible for a single death and that is Lucrecia's" said Vincent "Sephiroth must take responsibility for the people he killed; I no longer will"
"Then go help him through the pain" said Cloud "He knows that you are his father, he will listen to you"
"What else does he know?" Vincent asked
"I told him about what I knew of his life, that he was an experiment and what happened to Lucrecia, all he needed was someone there when he was told, I haven't hidden anything from him if I did then maybe he would have gone insane if he found out I had hidden anything from him" said Cloud
"Interesting idea" said Vincent "Did it go as you hoped?"
"Yes" said Cloud "He knows everything and he is fine with it"
"You should still leave" said Barret "Tifa will come to you when she's ready"
"Will you go see him, Vincent?" Cloud asked. Vincent did not answer instead he turned his back on Cloud and walked to the other side of the room. Cloud ground his teeth and stepped forwards. Barret tried blocking his path but Cloud shoved him roughly aside.
"Turn your back on me if you want Vincent but don't do it to your son" said Cloud angrily. Yuffie and Cid had stepped out of Cloud's way giving him a clear run at Vincent if he chose to use it. Vincent turned around to face Cloud
"What if I don't, Cloud?" Vincent asked "Are you going to drag me over there?"
"I will just send Sephiroth over here to talk to you" said Cloud "Either way you're going to talk to your son" Cloud felt a hand on his shoulder moments before he was dragged backwards and thrown towards the door.
"I've told you to leave!" said Barret angrily.
Sephiroth watched from his window as Cloud kicked through the door into his old friends house. Sephiroth continued to watch as they argued. Sephiroth felt a knot in his throat, he did not like the idea of a confrontation. Suddenly he saw Cloud get thrown backwards; Cloud needed someone on his side. Wrapping himself in a shawl Sephiroth ran from the mansion over to the house.
Cloud was back on his feet and was shaking in fury; he felt a familiar hand on his forearm. Cloud turned to see Sephiroth who was wrapped in a shawl, hiding most of his face. Cloud noticed how much he looked like Vincent.
"Come on" said Sephiroth pulling Cloud slightly. Everyone in the room had gone quiet as Sephiroth had arrived, unarmed, to help Cloud. Vincent stood up straighter as Sephiroth arrived. Sephiroth was now stood in between Cloud and the people in the room, he had his back to them and was talking to Cloud.
"Don't argue" Sephiroth said "If they don't want to help me then don't force them"
"But" Cloud started. Sephiroth signalled for silence by raising his hand
"You can't force them" said Sephiroth "So please just leave it" Cloud stepped aside to let Sephiroth past as he walked back towards the mansion. Cloud took one last look at the taciturn Vincent who was watching Sephiroth leave. Slowly, Cloud began to walk after Sephiroth, the two of them were followed by Nanaki. When Sephiroth got back to the mansion he let out a deep breath he had been holding in; he was shaking, he had been half-expecting a fight but thankfully that had been avoided. Sephiroth felt the knot of emotion in his stomach loosen and he sunk against the wall with a sigh. Seconds later Cloud came through the front door
"Are you okay?" Cloud asked
"Yes" said Sephiroth "I'm just glad there wasn't a fight on my account"
"It's not your fault" said Cloud "I've chosen where I stand, they just don't understand"
"But still" said Sephiroth. This time it was Cloud who raised his hand for silence and Sephiroth respected his wish.
"I have chosen to help you and I will do it, even if it upsets my friends" said Cloud. Sephiroth nodded
"I'm glad I have you on my side" said Sephiroth who got back to his feet "I will be in my room if you need me" he said before walking away to his room.