Chapter2

Cloud returned home straight after the meeting, his mind in a state of confusion. How could Sephiroth have forgotten the transgressions he'd committed in such a short space of time? Was this amnesia genuine, or was it all part of another plan? He tried not to think too much of it and went to visit his long-time friend Tifa Lockheart. Perhaps her company would help him make some sense of this, or give him a bit of a distraction.

He caught her just as she was about to go shopping, and she allowed him to join her. The two walked past the shops of Midgar, stopping periodically to browse the items in the windows. Tifa seemed rather excited about picking things out, and most of the time Cloud simply nodded and agreed with her. Just as they stopped outside a shop named 'Aerdan's Apparel', Tifa stopped and looked at Cloud.

"Is something on your mind?" she asked, gently placing a hand on Cloud's cheek. "You're not being yourself at the moment." He sighed and told her about the meeting with Reno and President Rufus, and that he'd had to interrogate Sephiroth with little success. She nodded and was about to say something, but Cloud held up his hand.

"Reno said he'd call me if they found out anything else. This is bothering me, Tifa. Why would Sephiroth suddenly remember nothing of the things he did in such a short space of time?"

Tifa pouted a little. "I'm not sure. Knowing what he's like... this is probably part of another plan of his." Her voice grew icy. "Even if it is genuine, I'll never forgive him. He murdered my father!" She clenched her fists and trembled with rage. Cloud gently pulled her into a hug.

"None of us would be able to completely forgive him. But look at it this way... if this is genuine, and the memories don't come back... he might just be able to start fresh. And even if his memory did come back, as long as it didn't send him back down that path... well, he may be able to lead an almost-normal life."

Tifa made a noise of protest and thumped Cloud in the stomach. "How can you think he'd change for the better? He's a cold, heartless murderer! He burned down my home! He killed Papa!" She shrieked and tried to pull away, but Cloud tried to calm her.

"I know, Tifa... but no amount of bloodshed is gonna bring your father back. Also, we can't just look at this one way." He shook his head as he spoke. Tifa was still trembling, but she had calmed down a little. She nodded weakly and looked up at Cloud, her eyes shining with tears.

"Let's not go on about this... it hurts me to think about it." Cloud nodded in response and hugged Tifa again. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and the two resumed browsing the rest of the shops. They seemed to enjoy it less than before. Perhaps Cloud shouldn't have brought up the subject. Then again, if he hadn't, Tifa probably would have guessed.

The duo returned to Tifa's house just as it started to get dark, both carrying several shopping bags. Tifa gave Cloud a gentle kiss on the cheek, thanking him for helping her out. He chuckled lightly and said he was always glad to help out his long-time friend. Tifa opened her mouth as if to say something, but Cloud's PHS gave off an ear-splitting ring. He groaned and checked who was calling. The frequency on-screen was not one he recognised, but he answered anyway.

"Cloud Strife speaking. Who is this?" His tone was businesslike, but the only responses he received were a few grunts and a brief snatch of heavy breathing. He inquired again about the caller's identity, but he got nothing in reply. Just before he was about to hang up, someone spoke, and it wasn't a voice Cloud recognised.

"Listen, Strife. I've heard about what you're trying to do. I won't let you stop Sephiroth from resurrecting Mother." The voice was cold and harsh, and despite his hardened resolve, Cloud felt his heart pounding.

"He doesn't remember anything. You're wasting your time." Cloud heard the slight quivering in his voice, and hoped the caller wouldn't pick up on it.

"Everything's already planned out. A friend of mine is going to remind him when he visits Shinra HQ. Reno already sent for someone not related to Shinra in any way."

"You won't win. I'm not letting this happen again."

"Really. Let me give you a piece of advice, Strife. Don't try anything funny." After that, the line went dead. He looked across at Tifa, and the two exchanged worried glances. He then briefly told her what the call had been about, and her eyes widened in shock. She rushed towards Cloud and gripped his arms, looking up at him.

"You can't let them do it. Cloud, you have to warn Reno. I don't want anyone else going the same way as Papa did, and I'm not having another Meteor incident."

Cloud nodded and smiled lightly. "I'll let him know." He took out his PHS and punched in Reno's frequency.

Meanwhile, at Shinra HQ, Reno was waiting for this mysterious new arrival he knew nothing at all about. Was it really wise to trust this situation with a complete stranger? He tapped the metal rod impatiently against the wall and sighed heavily.

"You must be Reno." The voice was behind him. Reno jumped slightly and turned around. He noticed that the new arrival was a man around twenty-five years of age, wearing a skin-tight leather suit. He had a strange metal device strapped to his left arm. Reno took special notice to the man's crop of short silver-coloured hair and his green cat-like eyes. He felt his throat going dry. Questions whirled in his mind. Did Sephiroth have any siblings or other family members that he wasn't aware of? Reno could only nod in response to the man's statement.

"I believe we have some... business, so to speak. You said you needed help getting the full story?"

"Oh yes, I think-" Reno had only just managed to speak when his PHS rang. He ushered the other man out of the room and answered.

"Cloud, this isn't really a good time! I've only just got someone in here to speak with Sephiroth. He was the only one brave enough to take it on."

The redheaded Turk picked up a sigh. "Reno. Listen, you can't let them do it." Now he wasn't sure what to do. He asked why, and Cloud explained. "Whoever you've got there, he's not doing it for our benefit. Only for Jenova's. We're talkin' about Meteor all over again."

"You mean that I've just caused-" Reno cut himself off when he realised the other man could still be there. He lowered his voice. "I could potentially be dooming us all over again?" Cloud answered with a simple 'yes'. "Right. I'll have to get him out, then you'll have to come to Shinra HQ as soon as you can. We need a Plan B." The call ended, and Reno put his PHS away. He called the other man back inside.

"Sorry about that. Business call."

The other man gave Reno a sceptical look. "I see. So, where were we?"

"Ah, actually, there's been a change of plan." Reno paused to think about how to phrase his way of telling the other man to get out. "That call I just had, I actually have to attend to some business in Costa del Sol. That does mean I'm going to have to ask you to leave and come back some other time."

The look of scepticism was still there. "You told me you were off work." The other man rolled his eyes.

"I'm really sorry, it was very short notice. We'll pick this up later." Reno gently pushed the other man in the direction of the way out. He hesitated a moment, but he eventually walked out, shooting a cold backwards stare in Reno's direction as he did so.