Splintered Dreams

"Cosmo Canyon"

Chapter 35

Morning found Zack alone in the buggy, which for him, was a real downer. He had been looking forward to soft, sleep scented skin and slumberous dark eyes that would widen—just a bit—when he laid his lips against hers, before sliding shut as she melted against him and her hands tangled in his hair.

She'd sigh—quiet, breathy—probably his name, and her leg would curve up to hitch at his hip, just like it did last night when he'd brought her to release with his touch...

With a frustrated groan he rolled onto his back. "Down, boy," he muttered, tunneling his fingers into his hair and exhaling. He didn't imagine there was a cold shower anywhere nearby, and the idea of walking around camp while sporting an erection wasn't one he favored.

After a few more deep breaths, and some rather unappealing mental visuals of Barret in a thong, Zack felt collected enough to roll his ass out of his make-shift bed. Dragging his tee shirt over his head he put himself in a semblance of order and opened the hatch.

Suppressing a yawn, he climbed down from the buggy and made his way towards what looked to be a left over campfire where Aerith sat, humming and picking absently at some bread.

She tilted her head at his approach, her gaze appraising. "You look...rested," she commented as he sat down beside her.

"Feel rested. Thank you," he said, leaning in to kiss her lightly.

"Oh, I'm not sure I can take all the credit for your current mood." Her lips carved dimples in her cheeks and she nibbled on a crumb size portion of her breakfast.

Zack just smiled. No, he supposed, she couldn't. But, where was Tifa anyway?

"Tifa's off with Red," Aerith filled him in, answering his unspoken question. She rifled through some of the food packs, handed him the one with his initials. "He thinks that we might be close to his home, so they're scouting."

"Ah." Zack rummaged in his pack for what he knew his mother had stowed for him. With a soft 'whoop' he pulled out a jar of her homemade beans. For a moment he allowed himself to worry over them, but he pushed the tightness in his chest down, and reminded himself just how rock solid his parents were. They'd handle themselves, and they'd be okay.

Self-reassured, Zack felt around some more, scored a spoon. Once the beans were open, he offered some to Aerith.

"No thanks," she shook her head.

"You don't know what you're missing."

"Mm. I'll take my chances." She finished her bread, brushed her hands together.

Zack leaned back, spooned the beans into his mouth.

"You want me to start a fire for those?"

He took another large bite. "Why?"

"No reason." Aerith shook her head.

"Where's everybody else?" he asked, noting the quiet camp. He didn't like the idea that they had left Aerith unattended.

His frown alerted her to his thoughts and she rolled her eyes. "Yuffie is still sleeping," she pointed to a lump of what Zack had assumed to be discarded blankets. "And Barret is right on the other side of the buggy."

"And Cait?"

Aerith thumbed toward a duffel bag a few feet away. "Tifa stuffed him in there when she caught him trying to peek at her changing."

"Ah." Zack's lips twitched. Gotta love that about her.

"He's such a worrier." Aerith's quiet comment raised a brow.

"Who, Cait?"

This earned him another eye-roll. "No. Barret. He won't sit or rest until Red and Tifa are back. He's like that with all of us," she smiled faintly.

Zack chewed on that—and his beans—thoughtfully. He remembered how gruff Barret was when they'd met, and how he'd swore and yelled and cussed Wedge and Biggs and Jessie to no end, but he also recalled never once going to bed without seeing Barret still up—waiting for everyone to be accounted for.

He was the man they'd relied on, and it never really made sense to Zack, but he thought, maybe, he got it now.

"Where you going?" Aerith asked when he stood—although he suspected she already knew.

"Gonna see if Barret wants some," he gestured the jar.

Barret was facing the distant canyon walls, his good hand rubbing his metal arm when Zack approached him.

"Hey," Zack grunted in greeting, coming up beside the bigger man.

Barret's eyes flickered over him briefly. "You look like you're gonna live."

Zack shrugged his shoulder. "Apparently."

Both men were quiet for a minute. "You would've missed me," Zack said finally.

Barret shot him a narrow look. "Doubtful."

Another short silence. "How long have they been gone?"

"Not long." Barret scratched the stubble on his chin. "Tifa can take care of herself. Plus Red's with her."

Zack wasn't sure who Barret was pep talking so he stayed silent. He knew Tifa could hold her own. Hell, he watched her manhandle a behemoth the other day. That made him grin and feel slightly ill simultaneously. It was a weird sensation so he shook it off.

"Want some of my Mom's beans?"

Barret eyed the offered food. "Any good?"

"They're my Mom's."

Having had her stew and waffles Barret snagged the jar.

Zack smirked, put his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Tifa says it was your idea to let me have the buggy last night."

"So?"

"So, thanks."

"You were bleeding and useless. Couldn't be tripping all over you."

That made Zack chuckle. Barret Wallace: Mr. Sensitive, he thought. "What made you change your mind? About me and Tifa, that is." Zack had no idea why the question popped out of his mouth, but it was out there, so he waited for the reply.

"Who says I did?"

"I'm still standing here."

Barret nodded, smirked. "Point."

"Well?" Zack prompted.

Barret sighed, stared off towards the distant cliffs. "I like her eyes when your around," he answered after a time. "They ain't weighed down like she's seen a hundred lifetimes and all of them tragic." He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. "It hurts to see her like that."

Zack knew all too well what it was to look into those eyes and see a fractured soul staring back. It made him ache, so he understood—and was lightened a bit, to know that he helped remove that look.

"Of all the mistakes you make, of all the fuck ups in your life...don't let this be one of them," Barret stated, soft and firm, his eyes steady on Zack's.

Zack held that hard look and met it sincerely. Barret was as close to Tifa as anyone and cared for her like family, and Zack respected that—wanted Barret to know he respected that. "I won't."

"Good. No go away. You're bothering me."

Zack grinned. "You really would have missed me," he told Barret before he sauntered away with a wave.

Tifa watched Red as he bounded over craggy rocks and sniffed the air and ground. He was anxious, that much she could tell, and she couldn't blame him. He was eager to get home.

She cricked her neck, inhaled the dust scented air and wondered what it was exactly that Red could smell. He had scented out Aerith in the Shin-Ra building and he had tackled an animal five times his size just yesterday with the ferocity of a beast, and yet his calm, collected demeanor never ruffled. She'd never met anyone like Red before, and she marveled at his uniqueness.

Seeing how he really didn't need her help in this, she walked over sparse grass and stone and waited patiently as he nosed the ground.

"This way," he said after a time.

Tifa turned to him, and he gestured with his muzzle.

"Far?" she asked, surveying the cliffs and distant rocks.

He shook his head, the beads on his mane clacking. "Not far now."

She smiled at him. "Good. So almost home for you." But there was a touch of sadness in her as she spoke. She liked Red's quiet presence in their little rag-tag group, and she would miss him. But, she also very much understood wanting to be home, and she was happy that they could get him there.

"Come on then," she rubbed behind his ears. "Let's go tell the others."

Zack's relaxed lounge didn't change when Red and Tifa came into view, but inside his blood heated and his senses hummed to life, like someone flicking an electric switch in his system. He shouldn't finds the fact that she was wearing an old pair of his pants—that his mother had taken in for her—so damn sexy, but he did.

Her eyes slid to his as they got closer and immediately her cheeks warmed to the dusky pink he loved to see so much.

Trip your circuits, too, don't I? His lips curved up at that. He dusted his pants, got to his feet and strode to greet them.

"Hey," he nodded to Red, snaked his arm around Tifa's waist. He knew she was still reserved when it came to open displays, but after last night, he really couldn't help himself.

"Red thinks we're close to his home," she informed him.

He nodded absently, cupped her cheek, brushed his lips against hers. "That's good," he murmured.

She hummed a small sound and smiled softly before ducking her head.

Allowing her deflection, Zack turned to Red. "How far?"

"I am not familiar with your units of measure, but we are less than a day's journey."

"Good enough. Which way?"

Red motioned with his muzzle.

"Northeast, then. Okay, let's get our stuff together, wake Yuffie's lazy butt, and head on our way."

It took only a few hours time before the walls of the cliffs were stretched far overhead and the sparse patches of grass and trees dwindled completely, gone in favor of smooth rock and deep ridges. The Canyon was large and seemed to stretch forever.

"It's beautiful here," Tifa breathed, peering out the window, her fingertips pressed to the glass."So many crevices and paths, and hidden trails..."

That's right, Zack thought, slanting her a look, she was a mountain guide. Exploration was something she'd enjoyed when they'd first met, and it was clear that spark hadn't died out at all.

"Many find the canyon walls intimidating," Red told them, joining her at the window.

"They're tall," Yuffie blurted. "I'll give them that."

Red's tail swished. "This canyon was carved by the very Lifestream itself when the world was but an infant."

Yuffie smirked, crossed her arms. "So, they're old is what you're telling me."

Zack'a attention was taken away from Yuffie and Red's humorous exchanges by a thump and a series of sparks from the front of the buggy. "What the hell?" he muttered, braking as smoke billowed from beneath the hood.

"Shit," Barret grumped, leaning over Zack's shoulder. "Figures." With a considerable amount of swearing, he pushed his way to the hatch, told Zack to give him a minute to check things out.

Five minutes later, Barret proclaimed the buggy to be a 'useless piece of shit' and ordered them to grab some of their gear. They were hoofing it the rest of the way.

Outside, Red scanned the area. "We are very close to my home. Cosmo Canyon is not far now."

"All right," Zack strapped his pack to his back, adjusted his sword. "We follow you."

Red nodded once and bounded ahead, his leaping gait taking him over the ground at amazing speed. He had to pause, more than once, to wait for the rest of the group to catch up, and grudgingly allow Cait to ride on his back, as the little robot couldn't keep up.

"He seems eager," Aerith noted with a smile. She looked up at the canyon cliffs, her gaze speculative. "It's said that people come to Cosmo Canyon to study the planet. I wonder if they know about the Ancients...if they have any answers..."

Zack reached over, pulled her to his side and squeezed her fingers gently. "We'll ask," he told her.

She gave him a grateful smile, brushed a curl from her forehead. "Thanks."

"I can see it!" Red's voice, unusually excited, carried to them. "I'm home!" He loped around an outcropping of rock, disappearing around the corner.

"Slow down!" They heard Cait yowl.

Tifa laughed as Red shot ahead, his flame tail flickering briefly before he vanished from sight. Behind her Zack and Aerith were quietly talking and that was good, Tifa thought. Aerit had seemed a bit...off...this morning. She had been her usual smiling self, but there was something just beneath the surface that Tifa couldn't put her finger on.

Zack would know—or at least bring it out of Aerith. They had that kind of friendship and Tifa was glad that her and Zack's relationship hadn't diminished it. Among her initial concerns over Aerith's feelings, Tifa had worried that things would change between them. She should have known Zack would be more steadfast and loyal.

She smiled at that. He was a good man. A really good man who happened to be a really good kisser...

"Stop it."

"Hm?" She turned her head, glanced at Barret's profile.

"You get this pathetic look on your face whenever you're daydreaming about princess back there."

Tifa gave an indignant snort. "I do not daydream," she scoffed, then when he cocked a brow, amended, "pathetically."

"Whatever you say."

She kicked a pebble at him. "Oh, shut up."

They rounded the curve of rock that Red had and found themselves looking at a rather impressive gate. The entrance was hidden well from plain sight, but as they got closer, Tifa realized the village was built right into the canyon walls.

Head tilted back, she could see the walls climb forever, and on top...something... round...like a metal dome?

"I heard there was an awesome observatory here," Zack said, coming up behind her. "Wonder if we'll get to see it." He placed his palm to her hip and Tifa felt it sear her, warming her.

"Cosmo Canyon is legendary," Barret stated, and there was something reverent in his tone.

At the gate they were greeted by a pleasant smile and a tip of the head. "Welcome to Cosmo Canyon where we welcome all to study the planet. Unfortunately we are at full capacity and I can't allow you entrance—"

"But our friend is in there," Yuffie protested with a huff and a stamp of foot.

From over the guard's shoulder Tifa spotted Red loping down some stairs. She smiled when he approached.

"Please, these are my friends and have helped get me home. Let them inside."

"Oh, my apologies." The guard nodded, his own smile wide. "Any friend's of Nanaki's are welcome here. Thank you for returning him to us."

"Uh...Nanaki?" Yuffie blinked.

"Yes, Nanaki..." The guard gave them and then Red a puzzled look.

"Nanaki is my name," Red—now Nanaki—informed them, his tone slightly apologetic.

"You never said anything," Tifa commented, brows furrowed. "Why not tell us your name?"

He nosed her palm, apology and appeal in one. "I did not know whether I could trust...whether I would stay..."

Given his experiences, Tifa could understand, she thought. She could imagine, a little too well, what it ws like being so far from home—trapped and lost—afraid and without anyone to trust. She glanced at Zack, saw that kindred understanding in his eyes, and knew that he probably understood better than anyone.

"It's all right," Tifa murmured, dropping to one knee so that she was level with his good eye. "We understand."

Red chuffed, nodded once. "I have made arrangements for the buggy to be retrieved and repaired. Come. I would like you to meet my grandfather while you wait."

Rising, Tifa sent a curious look over her shoulder. Hadn't Hojo said Red was the last of his kind? Grandfather?

"Sure."

Nanaki's grandfather was not what they'd expected.

In a room, atop a long stairway, in one of the upper caverns Zack did a double take when Nanaki had greeted the small, bald man with a long gray beard and layered robes as 'grandfather'.

"This is my grandfather Bugenhagen," Nanaki made the introduction with evident pride. "He is an amazing man. He knows everything."

"Hoo hoo hooo, I wouldn't say everything, Nanaki, but I know a fair bit." The old man grinned toothily and set the book he'd been reading onto the seat beside him. The room was filled with books, Zack noted. And maps and rolls of parchment and odds and ends that he couldn't even begin to place.

"Please, call me Bugen," Nanaki's grandfather hummed cheerfully. "My Nanaki tells me that you looked after him for a time. You have my deepest thanks. He is still a child and tends to get into much trouble."

That was a bit of a surprise. "A child?" Zack echoed.

"I am forty-eight," Nanaki corrected with a huff.

"Nanaki's tribe has incredible longevity, you see. His age now is only the equivalent of an early teenager, were he human."

"Oh-ho, really?" Yuffie rocked back on her heels, a smirk on her face. "Do tell."

Bugenhagen nodded. "Nanaki has always been very quiet and deep, so it is easy to mistake him for older than his years. You assumed he was an adult?"

Zack and the others nodded and Red looked at the dirt floor. "I want to be an adult," he murmured—looking for the very first time much like the child Bugen proclaimed him to be.

"You are not ready."

"I want to protect the village. It's my duty to protect the people here."

Bugen shook his head, dark gray eyes looking up at the ceiling, but seeing something far beyond. "From the heavens, threatening to snatch away the very stars..." he shook his head. "Don;t mind me, a ramble is a ramble until it is time to understand."

"Understand?" Aerith asked, voice soft, but curious.

Bugen's gaze was heavy when it found hers. "When this planet dies, we will all understand that we know absolutely nothing."

"When the planet dies?" Barret's shoulders stiffened. "What the hell does that mean?"

Bugen's gaze never left Aerith's. "I hear the cries of the planet," he said. "Listen."

Silence filled the chamber. It stretched until it edged on uncomfortable, and then he heard it. A soft sigh of sound, a moan that was pitched in a way impossible to be human. He blinked, and a glance around the room told him that he wasn't the only one that heard it.

"Planets are born, stars die, they sing their life and death songs for us to hear if you only listen." Bugen hopped up onto a small table, his arms upstretched. "Listen with more than your ears, open yourselves and hear your planet. Listen."

And there it was, mixed in with the softer moans, a plaintive sound of pain. Horrific in its futility and sharp in the way it pierced.

"What...is it?" Tifa asked, fingers rubbing her chest. Above her heart.

Zack realized he was doing the same. Like the sound was a physical ache.

"I don't hear anything," Cait complained.

"I can hear it. It's this planet. Dying." It was Aerith that answered, tears in her eyes, in her voice.

Bugen nodded, made a sympathetic 'tsk' under his breath. "It suffers. It aches and hurts."

Aerith nodded, her hands folded at her chin.

"They are on a journey, grandfather. They seek to save this planet. Could they see your apparatus?"

Those eyes, the color of thunderclouds and steel, turned on him and Zack felt like he was rooted to the ground. "You wish to save the planet?" Bugenhagen inquired. Then he smiled. "Ho ho hooo, what a lofty goal." Bugen tilted his head, stroked his beard. "One would think an impossible goal, given the nature of life. To live is to die, it is the way of the universe. This planet is no different."

"What a load of crap," Barret grumbled making Zack wince. "If you believe that, then why even get outta bed in the morning? Huh? This planet may be destined to die, but this ain't its time, and it's up to us to stop it from happening. I ain't gonna just sit back and do nothing because it'll die eventually anyway. That's stupid."

The room collectively held its breath, waiting for rebuke, rebuttal, refusal or even dismissal. Instead, Bugen laughed, clapped his hands and jumped from the table. "Good, good. Then yes, you may see my observatory. Come, come."

They followed Bugen to a small elevator at the back of his room. With a chuckle, the old man cleared out some more documents and a crate of what appeared to be tools and instruments to make room for them.

"I do not take many people up to this place with me," he explained. "It is reserved only for those that understand the planet, but if Nanaki believes in you as strongly as he says he does, and you are as steadfast as you appear to be," a glance at Barret then Aerith, "then I believe you should see what lies above." He pulled a lever and the cage rattled and the ground jerked and then they were heading up.

Not much really surprised Zack anymore. He'd lived in the highest tech facility on the planet and shared the highest rank of SOLDIER with elite fighters and had been privy to exceptional experiences and virtual simulators, but nothing could have prepared him for the swirling mass of stars that spun beside his head as the group rose up, directly into their solar system.

"Ohhhhh," Yuuffie squealed happily.

"It's beautiful," Aerith sighed, her fingers dancing over stars, scattering them around in glittering fragments.

"Oh, look," Cait pointed.

A sun streaked flames and energy across the heavens.

"Wow." Tifa's eyes were wide as she marveled the shooting stars and planets swirling in the dark. Lights flashed and skittered over her face, lighting her in colors and bathing her in sunlight. She was stunning, Zack thought, breath caught in his throat as he watched her catch a falling star.

"Yeah," Zack nodded. "Wow."

"Caught this one," she murmured, and there was something wistful in her eyes, but then she blinked and unclenched her hand.

Zack reached out, threaded his fingers between hers. It was magic around them, and he wanted her by his side. She stepped to him with a gentle smile and he brushed her forehead with a kiss.

"This is...amazing," Aerith twirled in a circle.

"What technology is this?" Cait wanted to know.

Bugenhagen laughed. "That's not important."

"Yeah, don't ruin this," Yuffie kicked Cait lightly in the backside.

"This is really something," Bugen chuckled. "But I suppose we should get on with what is really important here." He moved to the center of the room—seeming to float as he did. "All humans die. This we know, and their bodies decompose, returning to the planet. But I ask you this...what of our spirits? Our consciousness? What happens to the essence of who we are?"

"Does it go back too?" Yuffie asked.

"Very good!" Bugen nodded. "Yes, indeed. The soul returns to the planet—and not just humans, but everything. And not just this planet—all planets, throughout the universe. The spirits that return to the planet merge with another and roam the planet. They roam, converge, separate, again and again, and this swell of energy is what we call the Lifestream."

"Spirits are the energy of the Planet," Aerith said slowly.

"Right you are. Spirit Energy is a phrase you should never forget," Bugen nodded. "Each new life is blessed with this Spirit Energy and when they die, that energy returns to the Planet in a never ending cycle. There are, of course, exceptions, but that would be a diversion from what you need to know. Spirit Energy makes up everything, the birds the trees, you and me. All of life, all of the planet is made of this. So, I ask: what happens when that energy is gone?"

"Something not good," Barret commented.

"Not good, indeed. The planet will crumble into decay and life will cease. Spirit Energy is meant to exist within nature, and when it is forcefully extracted and manufactured, that cycle is broken and the energy cannot achieve its true purpose."

"You're talking about Mako," Zack commented.

"Mako is not natural. It is the compression of Spirit Energy and is the equivalent of taking living beings and discarding them as waste. Mako will only kill this planet."

"There are substantial benefits to the use of Mako as a power source—"

"Shut it, cat." Barret glowered.

"Mako offers nothing, and only destroys," Bugen declared as he shut down the swirling display. As the machines hummed and powered down, and the lights overhead flickered on, he added, "There is much still to learn, and I hope you visit the elders while you are here." He float-walked to Aerith. "You especially."

She nodded, looked over at Zack.

"It'll be awhile before the buggy is repaired," he said. "Take as long as you need."

She gave him a grateful smile. "Would you escort me to the elders, Nanaki?"

"My pleasure. Thank you, grandfather."

"Hoo hoo hoo, no thanks needed, grandson.. Now, I must rest before tonight's bonfire celebration. If you have need of me, I will be asleep. So don't have need of me."

"Will you stay for the bonfire?" Nanaki asked Zack. "It is to welcome me home."

Zack glanced at the others, who all nodded. "Of course, buddy."

Nanaki nodded his head, but his fangs flashed in a semblance of grin. "I am honored." He turned to Aerith. "Shall we?"

"After you." She paused as she passed Zack. "See you in a little while."

"Good luck." He wasn't sure what she needed luck for, but in that moment, with her green eyes locked on his, a heavy weight formed in his chest and he wanted to grab her and hide her. From what? From who? He tried to shake the feeling off, but it stuck.

When she and Nanaki were gone, Tifa turned to him. "You're worried about her."

He rubbed the nape of his neck. "Am I really that obvious?" He wanted to know.

"Yes." Tifa answered. She glanced at the door, working her lower lip between her teeth. "We'll keep her safe," she told him.

Bugenhagen approached them and gave a low chuckle. "No need to fret over your friend. She is Cetra and she is strong. The Planet sings for her. In her there is hope and new beginning. She is special even amongst the special, hoo hoo hoo." He bowed low and then wandered away.

"I bet he's a drinker," Yuffie commented, watching him go. "So what're we gonna do now?" she asked, hopping in place. "Shop? Eat? Explore? Look for materia?"

"Do whatever," Zack said with a shrug.

"Woohoo!" Yuffie clapped, bounced toward the door merrily.

"No stealing!" Tifa called after her.

Yuffie's bounce halted. "Oh, man. You are such a killjoy."

"I'm gonna go make sure they don't screw up on the buggy," Barret stated, marching off. "Later." He snatched Cait up by the scruff. "C'mon, cat."

"Looks like it's just you an me," Zack murmured, turning Tifa in his arms.

"We should probably get supplies and check on equipment," she said, brows furrowed in thought. "We could use some more potions and we should see if they offer any type of weaponry here..."

Zack cocked his head. "Yuffie could be on to something," he teased. She was probably right, though. Even as he thought it Bugenhagen stepped into the elevator, gave him a wink and flipped the lever.

Stars and planets soared once more around them, and Zack decided he really, really liked Nanaki's grandfather.

As the lift lowered, so too did Zack's head.

Warm and soft, her lips parted gently beneath his. Simmering emotion swam in her eyes when he lifted his mouth and the openness of it kicked his heart rate up. Gentle, he took her face in his hands and whispered her name.

She wound her arms around his neck, leaned into him.

In a casual show of strength he banded one arm around her back, lifted her against his chest, and kissed her again as she gave a breathless laugh.

"Why do I get the feeling we're not going to check on supplies?" she asked, shivering when his teeth scraped her earlobe.

"We will," he nodded. "Just...not right this minute. This minute, I'm busy," he smiled against her. "And maybe the next one too. And probably the one after that..." his eyes darkened, mouth open on her pulse. "And the one after that..." Tongue tasted salt and heat.

"Zack..." she gasped.

He groaned when her fingers clutched his hair. "To hell with supplies," he growled, taking her mouth again and she laughed.

He loved her laugh. In all the world he didn't think there was a sound quite like it. Soft and rough, like velvet it worked over him.

And when he looked down at her, and saw it reflected in her eyes, he felt something breathe in his chest. Something he had thought mangled and dead and left on a cold lab table.

Zack Fair found his hope again.

AN: **waves** Hi, guys! I'm still not really happy with this chapter-mostly because it was filler, but it was needed filler, so I guess I will suck it up and not wank over it too much. :P THANK YOU so, so, so much for all the continued support on this story. Thank you for reading, and as always, for those that take the time to review. I can not tell you enough how much I appreciate that. Thank you!

Coming up: Seto.