Chapter 15

"What do you remember?" Cloud sighed, looking down to the ground. The night's festivities had been cut short due to what Cloud had found, the people told Cloud had just got morning sickness.

But it was graver than that.

"One of the men had been a guard. I remember seeing his chest plate before he hit me with the toy. It had the Queen's symbol." Cloud sighed softly, pulling on as much memory as he could.

"One of the men had red hair. He wore a mask, so I didn't see his face." Cloud looked up to his mother, his eyes drifting to the toy in her hands. He shivered slightly, looking away before he got anymore unpleasant memories.

"With this little bit of information, we couldn't even start an investigation," the Chief of Justice, Ronald Shinra replied. Cloud held back his sigh of displeasure, trying his hardest to remember something, anything.

Cloud blinked, looking to his mother with a frown of remembrance.

"He wore a ring. The guy that had grabbed me wore a ring." Cloud looked to the Chief of Justice to tell him what it looked like, but he stopped short. Shinra wore the same ring.

"It looked just like your ring," Cloud pointed out, everybody looking to Shinra. The fat man looked down to his ring, pursing his lips.

"I got this ring when I came home from the first war. It was given to the thirty men that returned, out of three thousand." Cloud had only heard stories of the blood bath, a shiver going up his spine.

"Well, it brings it down to those thirty men then. Forgive me, Shinra, but even you will be considered a suspect." Shinra bowed, Cloud taking a small sniff.

It wasn't him.

The men that kidnapped him wore the same cologne, but Shinra didn't wear it.

He wasn't one of the men.

"Is there anybody that knows who has all the rings?" Sephiroth asked, Shinra humming softly as he thought it over. He looked down to his ring, thinking it over.

"The girl that was deceived by the Don, she may know somebody." Cloud frowned in confusion, sitting up more in his seat.

"Tifa?" He asked, Shinra's eyes brightening.

"Yes!"

Cloud's hopes shot through the roof, using this as an opportunity to save Tifa from the noose. When he looked to his mother, her lips were pulled down into a frown of displeasure. She did not seem to like the idea of letting loose a person that almost got her son hurt. Cloud had tried to explain Tifa had been deceived, but the fact meant little for Tifa's case. Cloud couldn't think of anything else.

When Cloud had first told Tifa he loved her, he only said it so she wouldn't die torn apart inside. He could never love her more than Sephiroth or his unborn child, but she was family. When he remembered all the things she had done…

Cloud didn't want to see her die.

She was his family, just as much as his mother was. Besides Aerith, Tifa was like his sister.

"I will not follow false accusations, Shinra," Cloud's mother spoke, Shinra bowing before her again. Cloud crossed his fingers, hoping Shinra could convince her otherwise.

"Please, allow her to speak, my Queen." The Queen was quiet for a long moment, a small ball rolled between her long, gentle fingers. Cloud decided to speak up, hoping to give his mother the extra push. Sephiroth beat him to it.

"My Queen, I believe we should listen to what she has to say." The Queen looked to Sephiroth with a look of consideration, her lips slightly pursed as she thought things over. Cloud looked to Sephiroth who spared him a glance, his eyes telling him to be patient. Cloud swallowed thickly, looking away from everybody.

"I will allow her to speak. If her claims add up, I will replace her hanging with thirty years to life. If her claims do not add up, she will be hung on the first rise of the sun in three days time." Cloud released a small breath he had been holding, his mother looking to him. She grabbed his hand, giving him a small smile.

"Don't worry, my son. We will find the traitors." His mother rose from her seat, Shinra following after her.

"I will have my finest investigator speak to her tonight. She will not leave her cell, am I understood Vincent?" The silent guard standing by the door nodded, waiting till both the Queen and Shinra left the room before he faced Cloud.

"If you remember anything else, it would be best if you report to me sire," Vincent told him, Cloud nodding with a tired smile.

"I will take him to bed, you may leave," Sephiroth told him, Vincent bowing before leaving Cloud in Sephiroth's care. Even though Vincent left, Cloud knew he would not venture far.

"Will we still go to the beach?" Cloud whispered, filling the silence. Sephiroth looked to him at the question, his lips tilting up just slightly.

"Yes," he replied, Cloud standing up with a stretch of his arms. He was growing increasingly tired from all of the stress and festivities. Cloud yawned behind his hand, Sephiroth standing.

"Come Cloud, let's retire for the night." Cloud looked to his love, giving him a small nod. All of this drama could wait till the morning.

:::+:::

Tifa laid down on her bed, a small luxury a guard had given her. Her arms and legs hurt, her muscles too weak to stand or move. She was starving for a meal, but she was not given one. For the long hours she had been stuck in this cell, she had a lot of time to think over what had happened, what she had done.

She should have known Jenova was deceiving her, from the very beginning. From all the time she had known her, she was cruel, evil, controlling, and downright scary. She never had a good intention for anybody besides her own desired outcome. She was, for the lack of a better word, a bitch.

Tifa smiled a little at that, her chapped lips hurting. She looked to the cell door when she saw a light, her eyes squinting when it appeared in front of her door. When the door opened, a man stood there. Tifa frowned, looking at his bright red hair.

The man had markings beneath his eyes, a small smirk on his lips.

He looked rich, his clothes finely tailored. He didn't seem to be the executioner, but Tifa tried to remain alert. She didn't know what the Queen would do to her.

Tifa tried to sit up, but she could hardly move. The man walked into her cell, a small lantern held in his hand. He placed it down, standing by the door.

"Hello Tifa, my name is Reno. I'm an investigator." Tifa was silent, breathing calmly as she regarded the man cautiously.

Was it already her time?

"You know of the men of the first war?" Reno asked, Tifa nodding enough for him to see. Her neck and shoulders were so stiff, that was all she could do.

"Do you know a man that may be able to know all the men who had received it?" Reno asked, Tifa thinking back. Before Sephiroth, she had been a slave for the Prime Minister. She had not been the only one, but was gladly not dealt his touch. Many women were tainted by him. She was disposed of because she she fought back when he tried to touch her.

"The Prime Minister."

Her voice was a little scratchy, but she tried to clear it. She swallowed the little saliva she had, her eyes never leaving Reno's.

"He had all their names added to the book of Saints." Reno thanked her before leaving. Tifa was a tad confused but pushed the thought away. Reno had been given one as well, so it made no sense for him to ask when he already knew the answer.

:::+:::

Cloud sighed as he laid down in bed, the clock steadily ticking as time passed by. It was already two in the morning, but he couldn't sleep. Sephiroth had seemed to fall asleep, long gone with the tide of sleep.

Cloud got out of bed quietly, heading over to the window. The balcony was closed to keep away the cold winter air, Cloud sighing softly as he looked up to the stars.

What if he didn't want to rule?

All the drama kept Cloud from thinking about the future, from when he would rule. He would not be considered the King, more of the Queen actually, but he would have more say than Sephiroth.

That was not what he wanted. He wanted to marry Sephiroth, no doubt, but he wanted to be his. He just wanted to visit the world with him, to sleep in all day, to not have guards always breathing down his neck. Cloud would rather live the life of a commoner than the life of a Prince.

Couldn't Aerith take control?

She was adopted, so it was not likely. It would be more likely that his mother would have his child trained to rule. And when his child was ready, he or she would rule instead of Cloud. Did Cloud want that life for his child though?

Cloud jumped slightly when arms encased him from behind, Sephiroth's scent filling his nostrils. Cloud relaxed when he kissed his neck, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the feeling.

"Why are you awake?" Sephiroth whispered, Cloud opening his eyes slightly. He sighed softly, Sephiroth slipping his hand into Cloud's dress and groping his chest.

"I don't want to rule." Sephiroth stopped for a second, his fingers gently playing with Cloud's nipples.

"Why not?" He whispered, Cloud shivering when he licked the lobe of his ear. Cloud gasped sharply when his other hand slipped beneath his dress, playing with his member. Cloud pulled away from Sephiroth's advances, turning to face him with a frown.

"What if I'm not ready to rule?" Cloud asked, Sephiroth smiling at his concern.

"You don't have to, Cloud. I want you to do what you believe should be done." Cloud looked away from him, wanting to know what should be done.

"But you do not rule yet. So let's indulge in these small acts," Sephiroth replied, Cloud yelping when he picked him up bridal style. Sephiroth brought him over to the bed, dropping him on it.

Cloud bounced, looking to Sephiroth who was staring at his night gown that had risen up to his thighs.

"I'll make you forget."

Cloud looked away, not so sure that could be possible. Sephiroth got onto the bed, Cloud laying back obediently. He looked up to Sephiroth, taking in a sharp breath when he touched his core.

Cloud closed his eyes, moaning softly when he pushed in a finger.

Sephiroth leaned down to kiss him, stopping short when there was a knock on the door.

"Prince Cloud are you alright? I heard you scream." Cloud looked to the door, Vincent still watching him. Cloud knew he hadn't gotten far.

"It's nothing," Cloud replied, his eyes fluttering closed when Sephiroth pushed in another finger.

"Just fine," Cloud breathed, Sephiroth grabbing his chin and kissing him. Cloud moaned softly, wrapping his arms around Sephiroth's neck. Sephiroth pushed up Cloud's gown, pulling out his fingers. Cloud purred softly, Sephiroth lining himself up. Cloud gasped when he pushed in, Sephiroth kissing his jaw.

Vincent left before he could hear anything else.

Author's note: I still have use for Tifa Lockhart.