Yuffie wasn't sure why, but Vincent's stare was oddly scaring her. He stared t her phone in an eerie manner, once he was finished zoning out. She'd found him staring out into space when she'd arrived.

"I need to make a call, is it alright-" he began

"Sure, but you never call anyone..." She paused... "Is it a girlfriend? Cause if so I-"

Vincent hushed her and took the phone, dialing the number in his pocket. Yuffie bounced and started tapping her foot- this was boring. After a while she stopped- why did Vincent, of all people, look scared?

"Tseng isn't answering." He said. Yuffie froze. What was going on exactly? She saw him dial another number. The person apparently picked up this time, as the gloomy man's face fell into a grim smile. "Rufus, I need to warn you... Cloud's already there? Then you need to be careful- I saw something before he left. No don't trust what he tells you, something's going on." He hung up, turning his crimson eyes to her own. "Yuffie, stay here."

"What's going on? Why-" she began, slightly trembling.

"Just stay put, where you are." He grunted and took off... So she decided to calm herself by digging through the vacation home. But the knot in her stomach just grew tighter, it felt as though someone wrapped her in innards in a frozen noose. Something was very wrong.

Rufus had been very disconcerted the duration of the meeting. A certain blonde was acting strange: avoiding eye contact entirely, acting stiff- more so than usual, and talking in short, cryptic phrases. Not to mention the laughter. As far as he knew the other blonde, Rufus could honestly say that Cloud never laughed. Not even a giggle, or a snicker or a chuckle. Wistful smiles and a crinkled nose on occasion, but never this cackle that shook the short man's entire frame. Something was wrong, that he knew- Vincent's phone call merely proved his observation. He was certain now, of what he'd speculated over the past few weeks- geostigma was indeed what he thought, there was no denying that now. He tensed his muscles. He knew that Cloud had been unaware of his survival, but he doubted that the megalomaniac behind this was- especially considering- Rufus looked down at his lap, as discreetly as possible, hand on his double barreled pistol. When he looked back up, his fears were proven true- the blonde must've realized that the former president was indeed at the right conclusion after getting off of the phone, as he was staring directly at Rufus with such a piercing gaze that the white-clad man shivered in his wheelchair. Those were not Cloud's eyes. Cloud's were somber, defiant, and brighter than this. They were neon blue, not dark green and turquoise. Nor were they slit-pupiled like these were- no, only one person Rufus knew of had that. This wasn't the same person he'd remembered as Zack's younger friend who failed the psych eval. This wasn't the delusional man with memory loss who repeatedly got in everyone's business, or the depressed hero who'd lost a friend and the one he loved, all for the sake of another friend's madness. This was the one that he saw that day in the crater, the shaking and even less confident than usual side of the blonde, the one that only answered to one person. Rufus knew at that instant what danger he was in.

Vincent felt conflicted. There was a pervasive sense of dread as he glided and sprang from roof to roof. Managing to find a gold Chocobo and cross the ocean as fast as he did was a stroke of luck if he knew one. Perhaps that same luck would help him somehow drag Cloud back out of the encircling arms of darkness; however, he didn't know how permanent the result would be anymore. There were never any constants in dealing with the madman he knew was pulling the strings again. Nor were there with himself, or with Cloud. All three of them where unpredictable- there were endless variables that could affect the outcome from here on, and that left him uncertain this would work. He figured he'd just have to hope for the best.

Yuffie stared blankly down at the small leatherbound book in her hands. She couldn't believe what she saw- this must have been what caused Vincent to flip out. She read the text again- Cloud's scrawled writing a blaringly stark contrast to the cursive next to it.

"I'm pretty sure I'm losing it again. I've been hallucinating recently- or at least that's what I hope. Hearing that voice is driving me insane. And then there are times when I swear I see figures. Sometimes it's them, and I feel safe with her watching over me, the scent of flowers in the air. Sometimes it's him, and I fear that this might mean something, but I don't know what.

(Next entry)

My fears were right. It's been a few days, but I've had to move out to the vacation home. I was tending to her flowers again, the church felt sad that day. The flashbacks, the hallucinations, they're getting worse. And on top of everything, I'm being haunted. This, this isn't an illusion. It won't disappear when I try to make it. I can feel his presence clearly. He's returning, and I'm caught in the middle again. I don't think I can take anymore. Not from him.

(Next entry)

Vincent found me. Apparently he can see him too. He hasn't done anything yet, but my gut says he will very soon. I can feel it, just like I can feel him in my head, and in the room, he's watching and I can't escape. It's just like before, and there's nothing I can do. Not anymore.

(Next entry)

Stop writing in this, or I'll burn it.

-S

Yuffie blanched as the last entry glared at her from the page. She flipped out her phone.

The bar had been so busy of late. It didn't help that her helper disappeared as often as he did. Or that he never answered the phone. Tifa sighed. The orphans in the slums even seemed to miss him. The kids were always asking her when he'd come back. Honestly, she wasn't sure he would. Every time he left with that look, she remembered what he'd said that day after fighting Sephiroth in the lifestream, afraid that he wouldn't return because he'd taken his own life to join with Aerith and Zack in the lifestream.

She was jolted from her thoughts by the phone. Vaguely she wondered if it was Cloud, before realizing it was his office phone ringing. A delivery then. She dashed up the stairs quietly, and picked up the phone. Before she could answer, a shrill voice called out.

"Tifa! Oh I'm so glad you picked up! I'm worried about Cloud." Yuffie's voice rang out from the landline.

"We all are..." She said, pinching her nose, thinking this was just Yuffie's typical ranting call.

"No, I mean- I was chasing Vincent and I lost him for a bit, but I found him in costa del sol. He was acting even gloomier than normal and then he took off after calling Rufus about Cloud, so I snooped around in the vacation house and I found Cloud's diary. They've been hiding out here, but the worst part is... " Yuffie paused to huff and wheeze a bit, out of breath from everything she'd just said. Tifa waited, listening with rapt attention now. "His diary also has a bunch of passages stating that Sephiroth is returning. And Vincent went off to see Rufus all in a hurry.. And Tifa I'm scared."

Tifa froze. She stared at the phone in shock. This couldn't be happening. It was supposed to be over. This couldn't...

"Yuffie, are you certain?" She could barely contain her anxiety and dread.

"Of course I am. It's right here infront of me. Do you want me to read it? There's even stuff about you in here." The ninja continued on, slightly affronted

"What?" She didn't even register the last part until after she expressed her confusion.

"Yeah, it says here that he finds you annoying and wishes you'd lay off. What does he mean by that? And then there's this loopy cursivy writing next to it that says it same writing has comments everywhere and it always has a -S after it. Do you know anyone who does that?" The eighteen year old kept chattering.

Tifa blanched again. Annoying? He wishes she'd lay off? Was that why he was avoiding them? Because he didn't want her? Or because of the other writing that she suspected she knew the origin of?

"Tifa you still there?" The phone questioned at her.

"I'll have to call you back later." She said softly, and hung up, Yuffie's protestations still screaming from the receiver.

She felt a tug on her arm.

"Tifa, is Cloud ok?" Marlene looked up at her.

"No sweetie, I don't think he is." And neither am I now. She finished the thought. No use dwelling on it though, she had a bar and children to protect...

He'd forgotten how this felt during the past two years. This cacophony of voices was so loud it hurt, but that was fine. He had a purpose again, he knew what he needed to do, and by what means he had to do it. And that voice whispering comfort and encouragement into his shattered psyche. The fact that he forgot how good this felt, that he'd run from it made him laugh. When was the last time he had done so? Of course, he felt Rufus was on to him, but he was onto the other blonde as well. He could sense what the other was hiding. He could feel it, and so could he. But just as he was about to push the issue like the voices wanted, to ask about it and retrieve the matter hidden under that blanket, Rufus left him on hold for a phone call. He heard Vincent's deep tone from the speaker on the end. Why did the former turk have to interfere now? But it was fine, he figured he could just as easily use force. He stared at Rufus now, no point in hiding it anymore, and waited for the voice in the forefront to tell him what to do. The president looked up, and their eyes met for an instant, followed by a flash of pain.

"Behind you." The man's voice called out to him, deep and gravelly and familiar. Cloud raised first tsurugi to block the bullet aimed for his head. "You know what to do, don't you?" The voice asked.

"Of course. I kill them, right? For trying to stop us." He responded, getting into stance.

"Yes, that's right. Good boy." The voice crooned. The three others in the room looked at him with concern. Why concern? Didn't they see he was fine? He was being good, he was happy because he'd finally gone back where he belonged. They should be more concerned with their own issues. Especially with the orders he had now. He pulled Vendetta out from the fusion sword, holding the rest in his other hand, about to swing it down on Rufus head, but it was stopped with a loud clang, a golden, clawed hand in the way. Vincent had followed him. Cloud hissed.

"Cloud." The raven haired male began. "Snap out of it." A brief flash of something crossed his mind. A protective urge, a kind thought, a grief not yet gone. But before anything came of it, the voice was back.

"They're trying to take you away again, aren't they? You know where you belong, correct?"

The voice was imperious, demanding, possessive, undeniable. He couldn't find it in him to block it out. Why would he? The voice was always right. The man behind it too. "Shh, it's alright. I won't allow them to steal you away this time. Not again- no they will never touch you again puppet." The voice insisted, stronger now. Cloud hummed in response, tensing to strike again. Vincent met him blow for blow, and Reno managed to open the door, the redhead and Rude both about to hit him from behind. He was surrounded, but he wasn't going to allow anything to happen. He couldn't. He-

"Well, look who needs help." A new voice said aloud. All the heads snapped over in its direction.

"What are you doing here, Kadaj?" Rufus piped up.

"Well, I was planning on simply questioning you, but it appears you've got a problem, and one that I intend to make much worse." The boy looked over a Cloud, and he could feel a pull in that direction.

"Tell him what you sense." The voice commanded.

"It's under Rufus' blanket." The blonde said, hoping the child? understood.

"Not a child. A remnant, forged out of corrupted lifestream." The voice informed.

The remnant nodded his thanks, and turned back towards Rufus before motioning at the door. Two more walked in, one taller and slender, the other bulkier with cropped hair.

Cloud felt Vincent pull back, and the three of them got into fighting poses.

"It appears, big brother needs help over here." The one who came in first, Kadaj, said. The other too nodded, and took on Rude and Reno, while Cloud turned back to Vincent, sword drawn.

-—

Something different was wrong. Normally confrontation was enough to make the blonde snap out of the trance like mind controlled state, but this time, his eyes simply grew brighter, then even more dulled and greenish. He'd made it worse somehow, and there was no way of knowing how. And now those three he'd seen in the forgotten city had arrived. He was growing desperate. Those disconcerting eyes staring at him from his friend's face left a pit of ice in his stomach as the fought. Inevitably, his cloak was his downfall, it caught on Rufus' abandoned wheelchair, and he fell back. Not a moment later, Cloud was on him, literally, with a sword to his throat. He had one shot. One last clear shot with Death-penalty before he died. He was about to pick up the rifle, but he couldn't bring himself to go through with the motion. At the realization of what happened, the blonde above him gave an out of character smirk. One more like what Seph- what he would.

That meant he really was out of time. Only one thing left to try, really. Those eyes began to look concerned with the lack of movement he was making, and the blonde was too shocked to respond when he grabbed hold of the cotton sleeveless top the man always wore now. Not a single reaction until Vincent found his courage and pulled the man down by that shirt, down farther onto himself until he felt the blonde's lips on his own. The body above his trembled and convulsed, but he refused to loosen his grip or stop the contact, even going as far as to open his mouth and encourage the other man with his tongue. Anything to get the blonde back to normal, even if it ended their friendship. Suddenly, the blonde relaxed, opening his own mouth and returning the kiss. Shyly, the younger man opened his eyes, revealing that the blue color had returned, and that his pupils were normal. He then closed them once more and pulled away.

"I... Thank you. I was losing again." He recalled the exact way the man was losing it. It was more violent than before.

"It's not your fault." Vincent pulled him back, but this time to hold him comfortingly.

"It is. I gave in without a fight. He got possessive and I reacted badly- by responding to that urge, that compulsive need that always seems to reappear. I can't seem to get rid of it. No matter what I-" he stopped the blonde with another kiss.

"I think I've discovered the cure." He gave a wry smile that the blonde returned. But that smile faded as the blonde winced in pain, eyes flicking away. Vincent followed the other man's gaze, to find that where the remnants had stood was now a much taller figure. Despite that smirk behind the silver, Vincent could see how angry the man was. And now he had a body.

-—

He stared up at where the man was. Everything hurt, but Vincent's mere presence seemed to dull the pain slightly. And it helped to quiet the onslaught of voices, until the silver demon sauntered over like a wrathful god and snatched him from off of the ex-Turk's lap. The ground was spinning, his feet couldn't touch the floor. Not the best moment to be motion sick, he decided, as the man snarled and through him at the floor.

"Don't treat him like that." Vincent's voice was low and bestial.

"I can treat my possessions as I wish." Came the haughty response.

"He doesn't belong to you." Cloud knew that voice. This was going to get dangerous.

"Hm." The leather-clad man turned his head and Cloud tried not to look. "Get up." He did. He looked at the floor that was still spinning, and back up at the man. Small simple steps slowly led him closer to where the two men were facing off. His mind was racing like a baby Chocobo, his legs felt like putty. The floor began to loom closer again, but something braced him before he fell. He vaguely decided he was grateful to have stepped up to the man's right, otherwise it might've not worked out so well. Looking up, he gazed into the amber eyes he knew he would find directly across the room.

"Chaos, let Vincent back out. Please." He was scared. If those two fought, he didn't want to even think about the damage to both the world, and to Vincent's body.

"Step aside." The corse voice demanded. "This is a matter of the planets safety, and I don't want you swept into this. If we survive and I let you die, Vincent will never forgive me." The clawed creature spoke, a feral grin and glowing yellow eyes fixed on the man that Cloud could feel holding him up. "Protect him Rufus."

"Of course, the better option would be to hand him over." A smug voice said from slightly in front of where they stood, both slightly injured. The man paused. "No then?" A hmming noise followed. The leather covered figure stepped back, slightly closer, and Cloud could feel the man's unnaturally long hair tickling his own forehead. Something warm brushed his arm, and he saw a flash of green. A restore materia.

"At least heal yourself." The man ordered, as he stalked off to fight the demonic creature where Vincent had been. Cloud waited for the two of them to leave before turning to Rufus.

"How pissed off would he be if I healed you instead?" He wondered aloud.

"I wonder. Want to test that?" The other blonde replied with a cheeky tone and a hint of a smirk toying with the edge of his mouth.

"Or I could heal us both, and we can run down and try to stop them." The enigmatic warrior decided, gazing off in the direction they'd headed.

"Get them too." Rufus said, pointing to his two non MIA Turks where they lay unconscious on the floor.

"Maybe I won't." He said with a wry smile before standing up and making sure to heal everyone in the room- but not wasting any Phoenix downs on the two who were passed out. It would be funny leaving them to Rufus after they learned that they'd missed the real action. They'd complain for months on end. Or, at least Reno would. And that gave Cloud something to look forward to after all of this was over, and a reason to hurry out there. He didn't register that Rufus followed behind with his unique gun, but he did register that Chaos was on the defensive when he arrived, and that made him all the more eager to help, so he started to hurry- but he saw Sephiroth make a slashing moment and Choas wasn't looking at his adversary. It was like watching a train wreck. Cloud found he couldn't look away as those startling amber eyes fade back to blood ruby and Vincent's body fall to the ground. His legs dashed forward of their own accord as he desperately scrambled to catch his falling friend, but something barred him from moving forward. He tried to tear it off, and continue his mad dash- but that thing(an arm, he realized) wouldn't let go. He flinched at a sudden pain in his cheek- he'd been slapped. It stung, but turned his defiant gaze up at the person holding him back, glaring into those cat-like eyes with all the anger he could muster. The man slapped him again, growling. That's when he paused to actually look at the other's expression. What he saw made him look down, shocked and simply put, confused. He'd seen those eyes smug, possessive, demanding, cold, blank, tormented, crazed- but never in his experience had he every seen Sephiroth completely furious. Those eyes were so livid they looked like green fire and death and destruction and hell itself. But why? Then he remembered Vincent's lips on his own back in Healin. That could definitely be why.

"Mine." The silver haired man growled, "no-one else's but mine." Those arms wrapped around his waist tight enough that Cloud didn't think he could breathe- his thoughts were disrupted buy the man's wing snapping out. "Now, to the end of everything. Together this time." The taller man purred. Cloud shivered, as the ground fell beneath him. He wasn't entirely certain that flying was good for his stomach, and was about to panic when a sharp pain ripped through his skull and everything went dark.

He woke to pain. Burning pain.

"He got away. Might want to get up slowly. I'm going to sleep for a while Vince." Chaos warned. Despite the warning, Vincent was more than surprised to find the stabbing pain that tore through him as he sat up.

"Thank the planet. Yo, bossman, Vinny's awake." Not the best thing to hear after your literal inner demon got stabbed by a psychopath out to destroy the world, and nearly caused you to die in the process.

"Reno, tone it down please." He told the overly boisterous redhead.

"Vincent, are you all right? You got sliced rather deep." Rufus said, blanket and wheelchair gone, kneeling behind him to help hold him up.

"I'll survive. I've been shot through the heart before, that was worse. Where's Cloud."

Rufus shook his head.

"He's gone. I couldn't move fast enough, and the second I got here, all I saw was Sephiroth flying off with him- I think he was unconscious." The blonde said.

"Then it's time to find him." The former Turk stood up, still woozy from his mostly healed wound. "As well as Tseng and Elena. I believe I might know where they are."

"Then cough it up. I've be worried sick yo." Reno practical yelled.

"Hm." Vincent pulled out a thread and patched his torn shirt and cloak from where he was stabbed as he walked. "Then come along. I'll explain on the way."