Cloud was gone when Reno got the call. Reno had been with Tifa and Zack, talking about what they were going to take with them to search for Sephiroth when his phone had rung and Cissnei had told him Genesis was on their side and wanted to help. She had also told him that Rude was on his way over – something which lightened Reno's spirits a whole lot.

"This is great!" Tifa exclaimed as they waited for Rude to arrive. "Now we can take our time searching for Sephiroth because we won't have to race against Genesis!"

"Yeah, and there'll be more of us together for when we actually do find Sephiroth." Zack nodded.

"I feel a whole lot better about this situation now, yo." Reno said with a sigh and a stretch. There was a smile on his face again.

"I just wish he'd hurry-!" Tifa stopped as a knock sounded on the door and Reno laughed, running out of the room to go and answer it. Tifa grinned and rolled her eyes as Zack snickered at her also.

When Reno returned with Rude by his side, they went back to talking about what they were going to do. Rude told them about what had gone on with Rufus since Reno had left and then about how Genesis wanted to unlock the true meaning of LOVELESS.

"I forgot about that!" Zack groaned. "I'm gonna have to listen to him quoting his stupid poem all day and night when we set off!"

"I'm sure you'll get over it." Tifa giggled, then sighed. "I just wish Cloud hadn't left so soon so that he could have taken the knowledge that Genesis is on our side with him. It probably would have made him feel much better. But Zack, do you have his phone number?"

"Don't even bother!" Zack replied. "He never answers the darn thing. He's probably forgotten he owns one."

Tifa sighed and looked down at the ground, defeated. She had really hoped they would be able to get a message to him to lighten his mood slightly.

"When are we going to set out?" Rude asked curiously from where he stood.

"We should leave now," Zack said. "So that all of this can be cleared up faster and we might be able to then find Cloud and let him know what's happened."

"Good idea." Tifa nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry about us, Teef," Reno said with a smile to her. "We'll all be fine and before you know it we'll be knocking on the door again yelling out stories of how we succeeded."

Tifa smiled slightly, thankful for the comfort Reno was giving her even though it was only small. She didn't want to stay behind and let them go alone, but she did feel better knowing that there would be more of them together. Especially since Genesis was on their side now.

Also, she was well aware of the fact that she was needed to look after Marlene and Denzel.

"Come on, then," Zack said, picking up his bag and heading for the door. "The more we dawdle..."

"Yeah, yeah." Reno rolled his eyes but grinned and he and Rude walked outside behind Zack.

Tifa was glad none of them had tried to say an actual goodbye, because she didn't think she would have been able to handle it if they had.

Just as Tifa was turning around to go back upstairs and check on the kids again, there came a light voice from the front door.

"Tifa, I'm here."

Tifa spun around and couldn't help but grin as she saw Aerith. She had completely forgotten the other girl was coming and was relieved to see that she wouldn't have to be alone now.

"Hey!" Tifa said, greeting her with a hug.

"How are they?" Aerith asked gently, gesturing minutely towards the stairs so that Tifa knew what she was talking about.

"They're alright," Tifa shrugged. "But Denzel's geostigma has been hurting him more lately."

"Would you mind if I had a look at him?" Aerith asked cautiously. "I'd like to see just how bad his geostigma is and get a bit of an idea of what geostigma is like."

"Oh, sure, of course." Tifa nodded, now remembering that Aerith probably didn't really know what geostigma was either because she had been in hiding with Cloud as well.

Tifa and Aerith then made their way upstairs to where Denzel was lying down, eyes staring sadly at the roof above him. When they entered he looked over and recoiled slightly.

"Don't touch me." he warned in a whisper.

"I just want to see what this geostigma is like." Aerith said softly, her voice tinkling like a fairy's. Denzel visibly relaxed, to Tifa's astonishment, and allowed Aerith to walk over and lay her hand on his forehead where the geostigma was worst.

"Aerith, be careful." Tifa said then, fearing for her friend and hoping she wasn't going to end up catching the disease.

"It's fine," Aerith said with a smile. "It's not as bad as I thought it was."

"What do you mean by that?" Tifa asked curiously, and Aerith could see in Denzel's eyes that he too wanted to know the answer to that question.

"I thought it was going to be worse than it is, but how it is now is definitely curable in my eyes." Aerith said, taking her hand back from Denzel's head.

"But there's no cure." Tifa said softly.

"I know, but if there was Denzel would be in no danger. If it worse, though, even an apparent 'cure' may not work." Aerith explained.

"That doesn't help," Denzel said grumpily. "There's still no hope for me."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Aerith said, reaching over to stroke his hair softly. "I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

"You should..." Tifa paused. "You should wash your hands."

"There's no need." Aerith said quietly, still smiling. "It's not contagious."

*

Zack, Reno and Rude went to where Rufus was staying and was met at the door by Cissnei, who Reno frowned at because she looked a lot more flustered than she had been before.

"You okay?" Reno asked her as they walked in and she nodded.

"Of course. Why?" she asked innocently.

"No reason, yo." Reno shrugged and continued past her and through to the next room, finding Genesis and Rufus.

"Ah, you're back." Genesis said, turning to him.

"Genesis, I want to be upfront with you!" Zack called out, pushing his way into the room and standing to face the red-head. "If you dare quote LOVELESS at all while we set off on this mission, I will kill you!"

"It's good to see you haven't changed at all." Genesis said calmly.

"I'm being serious." Zack said, folding his arms.

"I don't doubt that!" Genesis chuckled. "Anyway, Rufus has told me he doesn't approve of what we're doing so we'll have to bring him with us."

"What?" Reno protested.

"It's for the best, otherwise he might end up finding more people who blindly follow him and then attempt to find Sephiroth before we do." Genesis explained.

"That's understandable." Rude nodded.

"Great, we're going on a mission with a LOVELESS-quoting-weirdo and a psychopath who wants to take over to world." Zack groaned.

Genesis smirked and glanced over at Rufus, who appeared incredibly angry at something.

"Where's Cloud? I thought he of all people would want to join in the fun." Rufus spat in annoyance, having noticed the absence of the blond.

"He's obviously not here and it's none of your business what he's doing." Zack snapped.

"Chicken out, did he? Or maybe he's just not ready to accept Genesis' apology?" Rufus jeered.

"Ignore him," Genesis said as he noticed Zack getting more and more riled up. "We need to set out quickly."

"He's right." Rude agreed with a nod.

Zack sighed and tore his gaze away from Rufus, doing his best not to let his anger take over him.

Slowly, everyone began filing out of the room, collecting things on their way and then going out to the truck that was parked out the front and getting into it. Genesis wheeled Rufus out in his wheelchair and carefully loaded him into the passenger, wanting to be able to keep an eye on him as he drove.

Then he got in, started it up, and they were away – setting off on their journey to find Sephiroth.