"She was in the kitchen. Smart woman had the tap running and was attempting to get up to her little boy but collapsed from inhaling too much smoke. I got to her as she was trying to crawl up the stairs." Cloud explained to Tifa quickly.

"Cloud, I'm sorry for what I said." Tifa said, tearing her eyes away from the mother and son that had just been reunited. "It's just, I need to tell you something. Maybe it'll help you understand why I've been so short-tempered, maybe it won't."

"What is it?" Cloud asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I just-" Tifa looked at the ground, allowing some of her hair to fall in front of her eyes. Her cheeks were tinted red with embarrassment and Cloud didn't know whether she was going to keep talking or not. "I've liked you ever since we were kids. I don't know, maybe I even love you!" the words became choked and Cloud could tell she had started crying again.

"Tifa, I-"

"It's okay." Tifa put a hand on Cloud's shoulder, slowly looking up at him. "I know you don't like me like that. I mean, it's obvious simply from the way you act. I'm silly to think you'll like me."

"That's not true." Cloud said firmly.

"Yes it is Cloud! I'm just a stupid girl hung up on a childhood crush!"

"No, Tifa. You don't understand!" Cloud grabbed her wrist as she turned to walk away, trying to catch her attention again. She turned her head to him and flashed a smile through the tears.

"I'm fine just being your friend. Besides, I want you to be able to become a SOLDIER. It's what you want, right?" Tifa slowly pulled her wrist from Cloud's grip and walked over to the mother and son, offering them her help.

There was a blast off to the side and Cloud turned to see the fight getting even more out of control than it was before. He looked back at where Tifa was smiling warmly and talking to the woman he had just saved. How could he prove it to her?

"The truth is here, in Nibelheim!" Genesis was saying to Sephiroth. "I'll show you if you like." he smirked, throwing another fireball.

"Then show me." Sephiroth said simply, easily dodging the attack.

"Don't listen to him!" Angeal urged. There was desperation in his voice and on his face as he looked over at Sephiroth.

"You were working with him before, why have you suddenly changed your mind?" Sephiroth asked angrily, looking over at him.

"I didn't entirely understand his plans!" Angeal said. "But now that I do, please believe me! He has nothing of interest to show you!"

"Too bad. Because now I'm interested." Sephiroth said, narrowing his eyes.

"Good, then follow me." Genesis said, dropping his arms to his sides with a smirk still on his face. He turned and walked away, straight into the midst of all the burning buildings. Sephiroth glanced at Angeal with a glare and followed after the redhead.

"No!" Zack yelled, running in front of Sephiroth and glaring at him with a stubborn expression.

"Out of my way." Sephiroth said.

"This isn't going to help anything!" Zack persisted.

"I want to know what it is that has made Genesis like this. If you think of any better plans, get back to me." Sephiroth shoved past Zack, continuing to walk after his friend.

"Zack, leave him." Angeal said.

"What do you know about this!?" Zack yelled, running back to the older man and grabbing him by the collar angrily. "What's Genesis going to show Sephiroth?"

"You shouldn't involve yourself in these matters." Angeal said.

"I was sent on the mission! I deserve to know!" Zack shoved Angeal roughly but didn't release his grip.

"He's going to show him the monsters." Angeal said quietly.

"But Genesis said we are the monsters." Zack let go and stepped back, confused.

"There's a lot more to it than I can explain, I'm sorry." Angeal said. "But Genesis is angry at ShinRa for making us into monsters."

"I still don't get it. Why are we monsters?" Zack asked.

"I am more of a monster than you." Angeal said quietly, turning his head away.

"But why!?" Zack asked in annoyance. Angeal slowly looked up at him and then sighed, looking down again.

"I supposed you would've found out sooner or later." he shrugged. Taking a deep breath, Angeal braced himself. Zack stared in disbelief as a white wing stretched out from his mentor's back.

"It's-" Zack fought for words to say. "Just like Genesis!" he now remembered having seen the wing on Genesis' back when they had first arrived.

"Yes, which is why we are monsters."

"But, Angeal! How?"

"ShinRa." came Angeal's short response. "That's why Genesis hates ShinRa." Zack frowned, trying to comprehend all of this information.

"So, why does Genesis want to show Sephiroth the other 'monster's or whatever?" Zack asked.

"He wants to prove to Sephiroth that he too is a monster." Angeal said.

"Is that it?" Zack asked, slightly shocked.

"There's something else.." Angeal trailed off.

"Tell me!" Zack persisted. Angeal shook his head firmly, turning to walk away. "Where are you going? We have to stop them!"

"I've done all I can do." Angeal said. With a small leap, he was in the air and flying away. Zack stared in awe for a moment before turning back to the burning village of Nibelheim.

"Cloud! Look after Tifa, I'm going after Sephiroth!" Zack called as he started running past.

"No! Zack, I'm coming with you!" Cloud argued, running up to him and Zack stopped and turned around.

"I don't want you getting hurt Spikey." Zack said.

"I've already gotten hurt Zack!" Cloud snapped. "Let me help."

"But this is the work of a SOLDIER!" Zack retorted.

"I don't care! I want to be a SOLDIER too!" Zack sighed and shook his head slightly as if defeated.

"Cloud, you're only a grunt-" There was a scream and the two friends looked over to see Tifa sprinting off through the flames.

"Tifa.." Cloud murmured.

"Your girl needs a prince right now." Zack said. "I can handle Genesis and Sephiroth."

"But I want to help!" Cloud turned back to Zack, a pleading look in his eyes.

"You can! By looking after Tifa." Zack said. "I'm going after Sephiroth, you should go after Tifa." Zack gave Cloud a half smile and turned, running off the same way Sephiroth and Genesis had gone before.

With a resigned sigh, Cloud headed off the way he'd seen Tifa running. He wondered whether he was going to have to rescue her from another burning building or something. There was the sound of splintering wood above him and he shook his head briefly before rolling out of the way for part of a house to crash down onto the ground.

Skirting around some more flames, he saw two men beside a safe building. One of them appeared to be dead and Cloud's shoulders drooped slightly.

"Excuse me," Cloud walked over to them. "Have you seen a girl with long brown hair come by here?" he asked. The man looked up at him and he nodded his head vigorously.

"She's gone up to Mount Nibel looking for her father! Please find her and bring her back, Sephiroth's up there!" the man pleaded desperately. Cloud's eyes widened and he felt his heart skip a beat. Without bothering to give the man an answer, he was running as fast as he could towards Mount Nibel. If she stumbled upon Sephiroth and Genesis, she would probably be killed by the latter.

"Tifa!" Cloud yelled out as he ran.

Zack bent down over Tifa, concern in his eyes. She was sobbing into her arms and her entire body was shaking.

"Tifa-"

"I hate you!" she yelled, stopping him from saying anything else. "I hate all of you!" she continued sobbing, turning her face away from him.

Slowly standing up again, Zack took a deep breath. He looked over his shoulder, hoping that Cloud would come soon, and continued to walk forward to find Sephiroth and Genesis. He walked up to a large door and paused, about to go in when he heard a crash. He stepped back and stared upwards, seeing a figure with a wing flying away from the building.

"Genesis!" Zack yelled, but to no avail. Of course he wouldn't have heard him. Turning his attention back to the door in front of him, he opened it and walked in.