Cloud didn't know where to go first and only knew that he had to find something or else his entire mission would be pointless. He found himself nearing Kalm after a few hours and wondered if anyone there would know how to help.

When he rode his bike in and parked, he scanned around with his eyes for anyone that looked like they knew something. He knew that was stupid though, because how was he supposed to be able to tell just by looking at them?

Making his way to the closest inn, he figured he'd ask the innkeeper if they knew anything and go on from there.

"Excuse me," Cloud said once he was inside.

"You here for a room? That'll be-"

"Actually, I was wondering if you knew anything about geostigma." Cloud cut in quickly. "It's a disease which apparently has no cure."

"Of course I know about geostigma! My daughter was taken by that plague. If you've got it, you'd best leave. We don't want no more trouble with that and it's only just been starting to go back to normal around here." the man said with narrowed eyes.

"Do you know of a cure? Has anyone discovered anything?" Cloud asked desperately.

"There's nothing. You get it, you die. It's simple. Come on, stop wasting my time."

Cloud stared at the man sadly for a moment before lowering his eyes and walking out. He'd have to search elsewhere, then. Whatever happened, he knew he was going to find a cure. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if he didn't.

Without much of another glance around Kalm, Cloud got back on his bike and rode out.

It was only when he was driving through the grasslands that he came across a group of young people, huddled together in silence. Slowing down, he pulled up near them and walked over.

"Go away!" one of the girls yelled at him, anger in her eyes that made him pause and frown.

"Yeah, just go before you insult us," a younger girl said before looking down and wrapping her arms around herself.

"I'm sorry, I just have a question..." Cloud trailed off as he saw one of the boys shift, showing his neck covered in black ooze which was terrifyingly familiar. Letting his eyes wander over the rest of the group, he suddenly realised why they were out here.

They all had geostigma.

"You have the stigma." he said softly.

"Hence why you should leave," the girl who had spoken first hissed at him. "Unless you want it too?"

"Actually, the reason why I'm out here is because I'm looking for a cure. I know someone who's got it pretty bad and... I have to help them." Cloud said.

"How sad." the girl said monotonously.

"I get it that you've had it pretty rough, but please, if you know anything-"

"Don't you think we wouldn't be like this if we knew something? Don't you think we would have followed the lead desperately until finding a cure if there was something out there to find?" the girl snapped angrily, standing up to face him. Despite the fact that she was holding her stomach, Cloud found her intimidating.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah? Well... tell it to-to... someone who..." The girl gasped and turned, running away from the group and disappearing behind a dilapidated wooden building. The sound of retching filled Cloud's ears before there was silence. He waited for her to come back and continue where she had left off, but she didn't show. The girl who had spoken second shifted across to one of the boys and clutched him tightly, beginning to cry.

Cloud slowly walked past them towards the wooden building, fearing what he would find behind it.

Five minutes later Cloud was riding his bike again, clutching the handlebars in a death grip as he stared ahead and told himself firmly that he would find a cure. He had to.

There was simply no other option.

*

Aerith hummed as she changed the sheets on Denzel's bed, smiling as the sounds of the two children playing reached her ears. She had been afraid that the geostigma would be a lot worse when Zack first told her about it, but seeing Denzel's case relaxed her.

The fact that it wasn't contagious also made her feel better, but she wished she knew more about what caused it so that she might be able to help Cloud discover a cure.

Just as she was leaving the room, Tifa appeared.

"Any ideas yet?" she asked curiously. Aerith had spoken to her briefly before about the fact that it wasn't contagious. It was the Cetra in her which had made it possible to sense that the geostigma wasn't contagious, but Aerith still needed to work on a way to use her abilities to sense what causes it.

"Not yet. I promise I'll tell you as soon as I do, though." Aerith promised. Tifa nodded quietly and bit her lip.

"I worry about him. He's having such a rough time. Only recently his foster parents were killed." Tifa admitted.

"I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end." Aerith said with a smile.

"Yeah," Tifa sighed. "I sure hope so."

"Maybe Cloud will find a cure."

"I... yeah, maybe he will." Tifa turned away and Aerith looked down, knowing that the other girl highly doubted that he would find one.

"Would you like to help me make lunch?" Aerith asked, and Tifa turned back with a small smile.

"Definitely."