Hey peoples! Ugh... another chapter. It took me a lot of work doing this, unactioned chapie. This story really isn't planned out, it's just coming to my mind. Just pops up. So, yeah. I hope this is good for ya!

Juliet woke from her terrible, painful slumber. She woke up to see Cloud, still as a statue, and heard constant mourning in her ears. Sitting up, she groaned loudly, and rubbed her head. She then removed strands of hair from her face, and revealed Cassity was the one grieving. Juliet's face turned from tiring to worrying.

"Cas-" she paused, "Cassity?" she managed to choke out.

Cloud turned over to Juliet slowly. He was scarred, just terrified. But he knew this would happen right? It would be hard to join SOLDIER… but he didn't think about it like this. Death… maybe more will come… His eyes widened and he trembled at that thought... He just couldn't believe it.

Juliet turned over to Cloud when he faced her. She saw something unusualsomething she thought to never see. 'He looks like he is about to cry…' but she shook her head and put it in the back of her mind as he looked back over to Cassity.

"Cassity! What's wrong?" she shouted, as she stared over to her. She stood for a few seconds, but her legs suddenly gave away from her. Juliet fell face first to the floor. "Ugh…" she groaned as the pain winced all over her fragile body. "Cassity…" she said as she, literally, crawled over toward her, using her arms and elbows.

She finally reached the bed where the girl weep. Juliet hung on the soft edge of the mattress and pulled herself up to a sitting position. She was exhausted, and breathes were hard and slow.

Cassity finally gave into Juliet's soft, hurting, calling voice to her. Her face still drenched in tears, she let go of the bed and limped to Juliet, hugging her tightly, her head buried in her shoulders, sobbing, and needing in comfort. The other girl also hugged her tightly in sympathy… no one; no one knew anyone was to die. Everyone thought they were to be together throughout training. Juliet also felt tears falling on her face.

But Cloud, he just sat there, wide-eyed, trembling in fear… still. Juliet noticed him, and frowned. She felt like she had to lighten up to mood, even it was useless. She moved her head in gesture to invite Cloud over the hug, smiling to him. But, as expected, it didn't work. He still sat there, frozen.

'Cloud always said something when I do that…' she told herself. Something was wrong with him, and she felt like she needed to know. "Cloud…" she said, ridding the quick tears that had fallen from her gleaming eyes, "I know you want to cry… you can if you want…"

He turned to look at her, a look of sadness filled his face, but at the same time, nothing was there. The boy answered, "I can't."


A few hours have passed, and things wasn't looking any better. Cassity said she need some time alone, so she walked out. Hayro remained asleep as well did Nick. Cloud and Juliet sat next to each other on one of the bunk beds, barely a feet apart. The two did not say a word to each other, until, surprisingly, Juliet broke the silence,

"Cassity told me… that Jack was her brother." She managed to speak without tears filling her eyes. She looked at him, and he still sat there, like an object without being held; His head sunk toward the ground. She looked away then sighed, and continued to talk, "She told me that Jack always wanted to be in SOLDIER, but… the mako injections killed him, I don't know how really, and Ruben too-"

"It hurts… my neck I mean." Cloud finally said, looking at her while rubbing his neck, attempting to change the topic. He didn't want to hear about their deceased friends no longer. It's just too painful…

Juliet realized that it wasn't the right time to talk about Jack and Ruben, so she followed Cloud's topic, "Yeah, mine too." She said as she looked at Cloud again.

Another uncomfortable silence occurred. Then she saw something out of the obvious. Something was different with Cloud, and it wasn't just his personality…

The boy looked back at Juliet, startling her. Cloud cocked an eyebrow at her, like he usually does, "…What?"

She stared at him, her mouth open, her eyes widened, as she looked directly into his eyes… His eyes, "Cloud… your eyes, there… glowing."

"Glowing?" he asked.

"It's glowing, but very faintly. It's barely recognizable. But… how are they-?"

"Mako…" Cloud answered quickly, "They injected mako in our veins and blood stream…"

"Our veins and blood stream?" She questioned him, sounding not to sure.

Cloud was about to continue to speak, until he saw a familiar red head from the corner of his eye slowly rising. He turned his head quickly and widened his eyes to see Hayro waking up from his long snooze. Cloud smiled slightly, thinking, Hayro is alive.

"Hayro?" Cloud spoke, and just as he did, Juliet also turned her head toward where Hayro rested. She smiled widely and held her hands to her mouth.

"Hayro! You're alive!" She shouted joyfully as she sat up and ran toward him. As she did, she realized that the feeling in her legs was back, but she put all that in the back of mind as she reached him.

"… Damn…" Hayro ached as he reached for his head. His vision came from blurry to clear when he saw the ravine haired girl ran up to him.

Juliet fell to her knees as she reached his bed. She felt tears fall down her face; she was very relieved to see him alive. "Hayro, are you okay?"

"…Yeah, I guess," He responded, "I feel a little weird though… Like a whole different person. Stronger… that mako stuff really helped…"

The girl smiled fainted slowly, "… That's good, I guess…" She looked at Cloud, but he was just as worried as she is. Looking back at the red haired boy, she smiled again and stood up, "I'm so glad you're okay… I thought you would never wake up."

"Where's everyone else?" Hayro questioned.

Juliet and Cloud knew were this was going. Their friends, dead… how were they going to tell him? They both remained silent until Hayro repeated his question again, "Well? Where's everyone else?"

There was an uncomfortable silence again between the three of them. Juliet looked at her knees and Cloud looked away towards a wall. Should they tell him? He was going to find out later on anyway. It was best to tell him now while he's still vulnerable. The girl looked at Hayro's mouth instead of looking at him in the eye. It was too hard for her.

"Hayro… while you were sleeping, we heard something horrible…" Juliet resisted saying, "You see… Jack and Ruben-"

"…Is dead." Cloud suddenly added as he looked at Hayro straight in his eyes. Juliet quickly turned to Cloud, and then slowly looked at the wooden ground. It was so sudden for him to say that. She almost started to cry again, until Hayro spoke.

"Oh." He responded coldly.

The blonde stared at him.

"Dead, huh? Well… what do you know…?" Hayro said unconcerned.

Juliet also stared at him, saddened but angered at his response. "Is that all? …Is that all you're going to say? …Do you even care?" Her voice rose.

Hayro looked over to Juliet, "Of course I do, don't get me wrong. But, what else am I supposed to do? Cry?"

Cloud spoke as his eyes narrowed, "You can at least show some sympathy."

Hayro looked over to Cloud, "Wow Cloud, you're the last person I know who would expect saying something like that."

Cloud tilted his head, "You don't know me-"

"Cloud, we've been here for almost three weeks. I know you. You're some kid from a hick town. What's there not to know?" Hayro interrupted.

'What the hell?' Cloud shouted in his mind. He started to get angry, shaking his fist and lowered his eyebrows. "If you're trying to be funny, this isn't! It's not the right time for your stupid jokes!"

The red haired boy looked to Cloud and raised an eyebrow, "Who I was trying to be funny?" He shrugged.

Juliet felt tears coming down her face, "Hayro! Why-?" she was cut off as he suddenly stood up and walked toward the door. 'How… how can he?' She sat there and watched him with wide eyes. It was astounding how he could just get up and walk, but she and the others had trouble even breathing and moving! What happened to him?

As Hayro slowly opened the door, his back facing them, "You know what they say, 'the strong live… and the weak, die'." He did not turn back to face them; he just shut the door.

Cloud would have gone after him, but his legs were still numb. He cursed under his breath because of his current state of being weak. The boy looked at Juliet as she did him. They were both bewildered. What just happened?

"Cloud… Hayro… he…" she sobbed. She couldn't even finish her sentence. It was just so weird. 'He changed. No, he couldn't have. Maybe he's just hiding his feelings.' She thought. But she doubted that. Something was wrong. It was something on her mind; something that could make since, but she just wasn't sure. She just had to ask Cloud, "Do you think… that… Mako can change you? Do you think it can just change your whole personality? Just in an instance?"

Cloud remembered Hayro saying something like that… 'Like a whole different person.' Hayro's voice echoed. He asked the same questionto himself…Can mako really change you?

"It's impossible." He said, not to sure himself, "It just some… There's no way…"


Nightfall came, and it dully quiet. Cloud and Juliet remained in the room while Nick still slept, and Cassity and Hayro's location was unknown. They have been gone for sometime, but it was useless to look for them in the condition they were in. It hasn't even been a whole month, and they were having problems already.

Cloud lay on his bed silently. He stared at the ceiling above him blankly and thought about what Hayro said to them a few hours ago,

"Like a whole different person…"

"Dead, huh? Well, what do you know…?"

"The strong live, and the weak die…"

'The strong live and… the weak die.' He repeated himself ashe covered his eyes with his arm and sighed softly. Who knew Hayro would say something like that… it was out of his character. Way out his character. What the hell was going on?

"Cloud!" a familiar voice yelled throughout the small room. Cloud suddenly rose up from his bed and turned to Juliet. She was near Nick, who was rising slowly from his bed.

Nick rubbed his head, as expected, and looked at Cloud ahead of him, then turned his head to see Juliet beside him. "Oh… hey guys." He said in an almost cheerful tone, "How long was I asleep?"

"Almost a whole day… it's about midnight now." answered Juliet softly.

Nick closely examined her face; she looked really depressed. He then approached at Cloud, who had the same look. That had to say something. "Whoa, what happened to you guys? You two don't look good."

Just then, the door slowly opened. The three looked at the creaking door, and saw Cassity inviting herself in. Her head was lowered, blonde hair covering her face, until she looked up and saw Nick who had awakened.

"Nick… you're awake…" She said as she slightly smiled.

"Yeah, I'm awake." Nick responded to her. "What happened? You all look so sad…"

Cassity looked over to the other two. 'They haven't told him yet…'

She took a deep breath, "Well… after the test with mako… there are some of us who didn't make it." She felt herself feeling what she felt hours ago, the same warming feeling to cry, "Jack… and Ruben are dead."

At that moment, Nick found it hard breathing. "Dead? How!"

"I don't know… that's why I left, to find out. They never told me." She said slowly and softly, lowering her head.

"Did you find out anything about them?" he questioned her.

Cassity looked at Cloud from the corner of her eye. 'Maybe I shouldn't say it now… Not while he is here.' She glanced back at Nick, "I'll tell you later. I just… need to rest right now."

The other three looked over to Cassity as she made her way to her bunk. She silently lay down and covered her face with multiple blankets. Juliet turned to Nick, "How do you feel?" she asked him.

Nick glanced down at her and smiled, "I'll be fine… I just have a headache… I think I'll be resting too. I feel so dizzy. Night." He finished and laid back down on his bed and covered the sheets over his face.

"Cloud," Juliet smiled at him, "We should get some sleep too."

Cloud nodded and also laid down on his bed. He didn't close his eyes… he couldn't even sleep. How could he? Not what just happened. It was plain impossible to sleep. Putting his pillow to the side, he put the palm of his hands on top of his head and sighed.

Juliet walked over to her bunk and sat down, then sighed facing Cloud, "Hey… where do you think Hayro went?" she asked quietly.

Cloud closed his eyes, sighed, and turned his body to the opposite side of where she was. "Who cares where that bastard is." He responded unfeelingly. "Just get some sleep, alright? He'll be here tomorrow."

Juliet slowly nodded and laid down on her bed. She frowned then looked over at Cloud's face, to only see his spiky blonde hair. "…Goodnight Cloud." She said softly, but loud enough to hear. As expected, Cloud didn't respond to her. She at least wanted something from him… There's always another time, she told herself.

She turned off the only light in the whole room and snuggled in her covers, slowly passing into sleep.


A/N: Why? What happened? Well, this is like a story, you know, kinda makes you wonder, then in another chapter, it's explained, and your all like, "OH!" Yeah, like that. Oh, and just to let you know, when I end a chapter, I can't think of anything else, that when I go on to another character's side (Tifa). And then I go on Cloud's when I can't think of nothing else! Oh, Tifa is the next chapter. I'll try to do this. I REALLY don't know how this is going to work though... Tifa and Zangan training... GAWD!