Tension grew all around. The men sensed it. Sephiroth chose to stand by the war front instead of turning home. Since then they have been harassed by messages demanding that Sephiroth return.

Cloud played that he wasn't effected. In truth, he was at the center of it all. Which in turn didn't help his appetite at all. Of course this made him feel more on outcast during supper time.

"You need to eat with the rest of us." Sephiroth pressured.

"How can I when the air feels like hot soup?" Cloud countered, earning a glare.

"Even when it's uncomfortable you'll at least be seen trying to be one of us."

"It won't matter how they perceive me. I don't see why I need to change for them."

"Why are you being stubborn now? Until recently you've been cooperative." Sephiroth narrowed his eyes.

"In time they'll understand. As long as you and Zack are with me, I don't care about the rest."

"You need more than just us as your circle. There's your mother and Kunsel."

"I like Kunsel. I'm not sure how to feel with my mother, yet. I can't live up to what she expects from me. I'm not that boy she lost."

Sephiroth didn't know how to reply. So he let it be. And Cloud continued his routine of avoiding supper.

As the days pressed on and they continued their advancement on the enemy lines, the men that faced Cloud tried to push monsters upon him instead of facing him head on. It seemed that they knew that he was the one responsible for devouring hearts.

His wolfish smile grew. Finally Cloud was beginning to see real challenges. And so began his hunt. At the end of it all he only tore out the chest of the leader of this settlement to claim his prize.

"Is there a point to this? Besides driving fear into their hearts." Vincent's voice nearly startled the blond.

Cloud gulped down the last bite. He glanced up at the gunslinger who remained warily a safe distance. Once again the blond was reminded how similar this man's scent was to Sephiroth's.

"Care to spill your secrets?" Cloud tilted his head.

"You're avoiding my question. Therefore I have the right to avoid yours." Vincent remained silent on the matter.

"Fair enough." Cloud licked his mouth for a last taste.

"Should you continue this habit, you'll become less human."

"Why are you so concerned with my well being?" The blond blinked in surprise.

"...You are devouring hearts at every chance you get. Soon it will be all that you eat. And then you won't distinguish friend from foe as you crave every heart within your vicinity."

"Sephiroth is very good at keeping me grounded." Cloud shrugged, not at all bothered by this.

"Yes. But for how long until you're past the point of no return?"

"Again, why are you concerned over little old me?" Cloud studied the other man.

For a split second he would have thought he was staring at Sephiroth. The colors were a stark contrast. And therefore the blond was able to keep his thoughts from straying.

Even so it was eerie to see the similarities.

"You're the only one who can find them." Vincent finally answered.

"So far they've been scarce. Probably because of me." Cloud still didn't understand why he was being sought to find Weiss and his pack.

The blond grew frustrated with so much pressure placed upon him. And it didn't help matters that Sephiroth grew distant with each passing day. With this change Cloud began to devour more hearts.

This didn't help matters at all.

"Is there an end to this? You're hardly cleaning your face unless I say something." Sephiroth frowned one evening.

"What exactly do you want of me? I'm stressed because you're stressed. You distance yourself from me. What do you expect? That I just take it and wait for you to suddenly be better? You don't let me help, so what am I supposed to do?" Cloud glared.

"How about not eating hearts and actually dine with the rest of us?"

"Even if you make me join, I'm not eating."

The tension between them worsened. It grew to a point they slept on separate beds in the tent. However Cloud began to sleep outside wherever he could find a spot. He watched the stars until he passed out and someone found him at the crack of dawn the next morning.

It looked like nothing was getting better.

Until one day, Cloud noticed a familiar scent. He tensed, hand grasping his sword as he glanced around. He knew his squad was off in the distance still alive. They would keep watch and report to Sephiroth.

"I see you're unable to satisfy the hunger, dear brother." Weiss approached casually.

"What's it to you?" Cloud drew his weapon.

His eyes never left the other. Weiss shrugged, aloof and didn't care for the weapon. Was this confidence or planning something?

"I understand you better than they do. And I wouldn't keep you caged."

"What do you want?" Cloud narrowed his eyes.

"I want my little brother back."

"...You have Nero." The blond pointed out.

"Yes. But I considered you our brother, too. We both do. And we miss you."

"...Why?" Cloud couldn't tell if he was serious or not.

"Is it wrong to miss our brother?" Weiss tilted his head.

"What's so special about me?" The blond lowered his weapon, but he was still wary.

"Your strength. That mental tenacity that has been lacking in the group since you left."

"You mean my stubbornness."

"In lesser words, yes. But that's not all. We need you. You're vital for something that is necessary. Therefore I extend to you a pardon for killing Rosso, and an open hand to be welcomed back." Weiss held out his hand.

"Just like that? You'll forgive me and put that behind us?" Cloud didn't buy it.

"Part of growing is to learn to forgive and forget. It seems these lot, these Soldiers, can't seem to grasp the idea."

Cloud couldn't believe he was considering this. However Weiss did have a point. In the same instance he wondered what exactly was Weiss after? He must be desperate to reach out.

And it also meant getting close. Close enough to figure out the plan. To get close to Shelke, find an escape, then make a run for it.

Cloud placed his sword on his back slowly. Weiss smiled as the blond grasped his hand. Suddenly the grip was vice like a vine.

The blond panicked as he tried to rip himself free. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Nero slicing the last of the Soldiers that had seen the whole ordeal.

In the distance Sephiroth was rushing towards them.

"Seph - " The cry died in his throat as darkness embraced Cloud. The blond collapsed as arms caught him and he knew no more.

xXx

"Why didn't you do anything!?" Sephiroth demanded Vincent as he appeared.

"I am just one man against two, possibly three." Vincent countered.

"And now he's gone!" Sephiroth wasn't sure whether to take his fury yet on this man or not.

"I know Cloud's game plan. He wanted to get close enough to find what they wanted. And then escape with Shelke. Obviously Weiss is more cunning than that. However, there is something that we have." Vincent procured a phone.

Despite his rage Sephiroth approached. He glanced at the device to see that the screen displayed that it was tracking something.

"...Is that?" Sephiroth frowned.

"Cloud's earring. It also doubles as a tracking device. So long as it pings near towers or anything that has connections to satellites." Vincent confirmed.

"How...?" The general was at a loss.

This was how Vincent located them.

"When I breached the laboratory security, I found this detail. Strangely this method was used only with Cloud. And he didn't know about it. Or the others, it seems. I wiped the details of this information so the Turks never learned, either."

Sephiroth glanced at his men. They had arrived and began checking on the fallen Soldiers. One of them stood at attention.

"Go with him, Sir! We will take care of our fallen." He stated with conviction.

"Someone is alive! Kunsel is alive!" Another Soldier proclaimed with excitement.

Sephiroth approached and casted Curaga. The young man gasped in his sleep. The bleeding stopped.

"Take him home. See to it the others get a proper burial." Sephiroth ordered as he stood.

"Yes, Sir!" The men saluted.

The general turned to Vincent. The Ex Turk glanced at the phone one last time before making a mad dash in the right direction. Behind him Sephiroth kept pace. The determination burned in his eyes.

Nearly an hour later they approached a large building. Vincent stopped at a rocky hillside to have a better look. Sephiroth was beside him appearing anxious.

"What is this place?" This didn't look like any Wutai building. The architecture reminded of Midgar or Junon with the metal.

"Maybe another facility? Built by whom?" Vincent wasn't sure.

"Does it matter? We need a game plan." Sephiroth didn't care.

He felt so many raw emotions. Guilt for distancing himself from Cloud. Fury that the blond accepted Weiss offer at all. But that fury was nothing against the want to make Weiss and Nero pay.

"There is stealth. Or barge in guns blazing glory." Vincent remained honest.

Sephiroth actually considered. Stealth meant catching them by surprise. However if they had access to the security cameras then that wouldn't last long.

Perhaps barge in and create chaos? This would draw them to him. And Vincent would remain in the shadows to search for Cloud and Shelke during the chaos.

"I distract them, you search for Cloud and Shelke." Sephiroth glanced at the other.

"Sound enough for me." Vincent agreed.