Disclaimer—I don't own FF7, the chars., just my Harper and the plot to the story.

Note—So, was the last chapter ok? I'm really trying to make them longer, I really am!

Chapter 14...

I was out only a moment, or so I thought, but the time spent in the void was almost...wonderfull, and I felt something willing me to stay there. It felt like there was someone else just beyond my reach; like there was another side to the black I was in, and that side was only light. I kept seeing wisps of white and fragmentary flashes of aqua-green light, and I couldn't help asking, "Lifestream?"

It was stupid really, to be talking to nothing, but I went on to ask if I was dead. Then I was silent for a while, just thinking about everything and nothing all at the same time. Odd pressures kept pressing in at odd times with short intervals.

Then something really weird happened.

It seemed like I'd asked if I was dead and age ago, but suddenly someone answered me. "No, you aren't dead," it (he) said. A hand appeared and pulled back a curtain I couldn't really see, and yet could see it perfectly. As it was pulled all the way back, it disappeared, revealing another black room just like mine before all the edges melted together to create the endlessness of where-ever-I-was. (It occurred to me that I didn't have a clue how I was able to see.) Where the curtain had been now stood a man whom I didn't recognize yet, or until he spoke again. "But do you know how close you were to dieing?" He started walking toward me to show himself, but he didn't need to: I already knew who he was.

The voice from the recording. "Sephiroth!"

cloud's pov

Tifa woke me up at 10 and Cid came out a little later looking like he was sleep walking. "Cid?" I called.

His eyes were barely open. They closed as he answered, "Yeah?" then they popped open and went half-closed again.

"You're still asleep...what are you doing?"

"Installing airbags in the Highwind. ----- rookies don't know how to fly a ship," he said as he stumbled out through the front door.

"Whatever," I muttered and turned back to the tv.

Not long after that, there was a "CLOUD!" from Cid.

(harper's pov.)

"Please, don't call me that. I was called by my first name in that tone for almost five years," he asked.

"Fine," I said. "Where am I?"

He looked at me. "You're in Cosmo Canyon, Harper."

"No, I'm not."

He sighed and said, "I can't tell you exactly where we are. It's against the rules. You're lucky I'm even granted the time to see you."

"No, I'm not. I didn't ask for this."

"That's beside the point. Now, we don't have long, and we have lots of rules to mind. So, are you going to fight with me, or listen?" he asked.

I considered for a moment. 'He said I was lucky, so there must be something going on that I don't know about,' I decided. "What do we even have to talk about?"

"Good choice. Let's start with your cold," he suggested slightly flippantly.

"My cold?"

"Yes, the Planet made you sick when you decided to come along with the S.H.M.—"

"S.H.M.?"

"...Silver Haired Men, yes, it's incredibly cheesy—"

I combusted with laughter when Sephiroth said 'cheesy,' but then I remembered that he'd said we didn't have much time and stopped laughing so he could go on.

He shook his head, "You really spent too much time with AVALANCHE though. Anyway, Kadaj and his gang have something up their sleeves, and it involves you."

"What is it?"

"Something bad; I can't tell you anymore: rules. When you decided to go with them and leave Midgar, the Planet decided that your cold was going to kill you—"

"You said the Planet made me sick."

"The Planet made you sicker, there. But, since I'm your father, I said, 'No, let's give her a chance. Besides, we have a back-up plan.' Planet considered it and concluded that if the plan was carried out, you'd eventually plead with someone who knew what was going on and opposed it, to kill you and end it. There it would all stop," he walked closer to me. "I wish I could tell you more, but think of it as a top-secret mission that not even the soldiers can know much about."

"O—Ok," I stuttered. I didn't believe him. Kadaj would never hurt me... but did that prove what he was saying was true?

He drew me from my thoughts by saying, "You've gotten so much bigger since last time I saw you, and you look so much like your mother."

My eyes flew open in surprise. "Wh—who was she?" I asked frantically, forgetting that I was supposed to hate him.

"I think you mean 'who is she.' She's still alive, you know."

"Where? Will I meet her?"

"I don't know that, but she lives in the blizzard desert of the north. Her name is Snow," he answered. A moment of almost frigid silence passed between us, then he asked a very odd question, "Can I hold my girl again?" It seemed he was asking whomever it was that let him come here and asking me at the same time. As it turned out, we gave each other a long hug. And I forgave him of everything he did because I knew he had no control over himself then. Something else did, and it drove him insane.

I had my eyes closed for a long time, and when I opened them again, Sephiroth was gone and I was slipping back to my place on the floor of the Canyon. Just as I was opening my eyes and letting in the dim light of the Canyon, Sephiroth's voice sounded the warning, 'watch them.'

cloud's pov.

"CLOUD! WHERE IS MY AIRSHIP?" Cid yelled.

Note—that's the end of that one! YAY! Looky I'm actually writing again! Now, please do us a favor and review!