Chapter 5: "Home sweet home"

Hey guys! Finally this is the last chapter of this story. And don't go asking for more, cause I mean it! This story is done. But of course I'm working on another one, so don't worry! 

Anyway, I hope you like the ending!

Once Cloud was out of the torture room, he found himself in another corridor. He started walking down the corridor, in order to find a way out of the castle. He fell onto Vincent.

"Hey, Vincent, are you ok?"

"Yeah…I…I'm fine…"

"I guess he gave you a hard time too, right?"

"You don't even wanna know"

Vincent looked more depressed than ever. Cloud decided it was better not to ask him about what had happened. Together they continued walking down the corridor. At some point, they heard laughter coming from a nearby room. Cautiously, Cloud opened the door. Inside the room was Sephiroth. He was standing with his back to them. Something, or someone, was laying at his feet, motionless. Sephiroth was holding Lilith and raising her into the air, like he was about to perform some kind of a sacrifice. His evil laughter pierced the silence. Suddenly, all went quiet. A bullet from Vincent's gun had buried itself in Sephiroth's back. More followed, filling him with crimson holes. A little blood dribbled down his chin. He collapsed, falling face first on the ground. Cloud ran to catch the baby that fell from his hands.

"God, that felt good!" cried Vincent.

Cloud gave him a suspicious look. He wasn't used to Vincent having such… sentimental outbursts. Vincent looked a little embarrassed. That's when Cloud noticed the… thing that was laying on the ground beneath Sephiroth. It was Kadaj. Cloud kicked Sephiroth's body away, grabbed Kadaj and shook him.

"Kadaj? Kadaj! Wake up! Are you ok?"

Kadaj opened his eyes slowly.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"I'm Cloud! And we are here to save your daughter, remember?"

"What? Cloud? I don't know any Cloud! And since when do I have a daughter?"

Cloud exchanged surprised looks with Vincent. It seemed like Kadaj didn't remember anything.

"Listen, you'll come with us. We will help you remember, ok?"

Not seeing any other way out of the dungeon he was in, Kadaj followed Cloud who was holding Lilith in his arms. After hours of searching, the found a door which led right out the back of the castle. They met with no guards on their way out. It was as if, when Sephiroth died, his whole army disappeared. Not wanting to wait and see what happened to the guards, they quickly mounted their bikes and sped home.

Back home, Tifa was worried sick. Just as she was ready to go look for them, the door opened and in stepped Cloud with Lilith in his arms. Tifa ran, took her baby in her arms and filled her with kisses. The next one who stepped inside was Kadaj. With tears in her eyes, Tifa left Lilith back in Cloud's arms. She reached out to hug Kadaj. He pushed her away. She gave him a surprised and painful look.

"What's the matter Kadaj?"

Cloud took her aside.

"Tifa, I don't know exactly what Sephiroth did to him, but he seems to have lost his memory! He doesn't remember any of us!"

"What? We have to do something! Take him to a doctor…"

"I think we should better let him rest for today, ok?"

Tifa nodded, but her eyes showed her pain and anger. She wanted her husband back.

They sat down to eat. Nobody talked. Afterwards, Cloud showed Kadaj to his bedroom, while Tifa was feeding the baby. Then he and Vincent went to sleep.

After putting Lilith safely to sleep, Tifa walked to the bedroom. She saw Kadaj lying in the bed. She wanted him so badly. After all this time, she missed him and wanted to be one with him again. But he couldn't respond to her feelings. It was killing her inside. She slipped under the sheets. Instinctively, she reached out to hug him. He rudely pushed her hand away and turned his back to her. Tifa sat up in the bed. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. Hearing her sobbing, Kadaj sat up too. His eyes locked with hers. He was starting to feel sorry for her but he didn't know the reason. He couldn't quite place his finger on it yet. Wiping her tears, Tifa took him by the hand and led him out of the house. He got on his bike and helped him sit behind her. He had taught her to drive some months ago, she remembered. They drove under the full moon, which shed its light on the city. Leaving the city behind, they drove into the woods. The woods where, some years ago, they had met and fallen in love with each other. They stopped right in front of the old hideout. She led him inside and they sat on the old bed.

"Doesn't this help you remember?"

Kadaj looked around. Everything looked familiar. He looked at Tifa. She looked even more familiar in this environment. Slowly, she leaned towards him. The minute their lips touched, Kadaj felt like a bomb had exploded inside his head. He pulled away and grabbed his head with his hands. Everything was coming back to him. His dictatorship, him chasing Cloud, meeting Tifa, falling in love with her, Sephiroth, his marriage, Lilith…

He looked at Tifa.

"God, Tifa, how could I ever forget?"

He grabbed her in his arms and kissed her passionately. Tifa started laughing. She had him back. It was the happiest moment of her life.

Ten years later…

"Lilith dear, hurry up! You're going to lose the school bus!

"Coming mom!"

Lilith packed the last books in her bag. She hated school. And who doesn't? Before running down the stairs, she brushed her hair one last time. They were long and black like her mother's. Suddenly, she saw something she hadn't seen before. Hiding between her locks of black hair was a thin lock of shiny, silver hair. Then she heard a voice:

"Hello Lilith… I am your new imaginary friend…"

Lilith looked around. No one.

"Lilith!"

"Coming!"

She grabbed her bag and walked out of the room. Taking a last look around, she closed the door and left.

The End