Hey guys! I thought I'd post a bit early here since I've been late updating! Anyway, a few things. First, thanks so much for reading! Second, I want to thank everyone who sent me a message regarding the story! Thanks so much for your support, I really appreciate it! Anyway, here is the next chapter, and I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think!

"What happened? The remnants have set Edge on High alert looking for someone." Tifa asked, the moment I walked into the bar. I shut the door behind me and sighed, walking further into the bar.

"I have a run-in with them," I admitted. Her eyes widened and she was in front of me in an instance.

"Did they find out who you are? Did they follow you? Do we need to run?" She asked quickly, looking me over for any injuries. I shook my head.

"No, I lost them a while ago. I highly doubt they'll find me for the time being, but I might need to lay low for a while. I'm going out as Tempest tonight, give them a different lead to follow and away from us. I won't be back for a while, so don't worry. Just try to make them forget about the encounter," I told her, already moving towards the stairwell. She grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

"What happened? Do they know who you are?" She asked. I bit my lip nervously.

"Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo are all parts of him, his memories, his life force. Even if they aren't him, they are his remnants. I knew that if one of them ever saw my face, without the mask, some deep part of them might recognize me. I wasn't too worried about Kadaj or Loz, but Yazoo is, essentially, the most similar to who he was when I knew him. My thoughts proved correct. I ran into Kadaj at the market, literally. Neither he or Loz recognized me, but Yazoo took one look at me and said my real name. They wanted to take me to see him. So, I ran. I managed to escape. And, here I am." I said with a small shrug.

"Your...real name. I thought your real name was Angel?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Sorry, I lied. My real name is too well known, too recognizable to the public. Besides if you all had known who I was when we first met...you would've killed me or turned me away." I murmured.

"And your real name?" She asked. I let out a long breath of air, meeting her eyes.

"My real name is Cerise Shyr. For a while, I was known as the face against Wutai. But all of that was a lie. I don't have time to explain, I have to leave," I warned her.

"Does Yuffie know?" She asked flatly.

"No. You think I could honestly tell her about who I was? The only person who knows is Barret, we'd had a run in back when I was still that person. He promised to keep my secret. Listen, I'm sorry, I hate who I was, but I really don't have time to explain myself. I may have lost them but they're still in the area. If you still want to know and don't mind me coming back, I'll explain everything." I told her and then hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I ran into my bedroom, throwing open the wardrobe. I grabbed the white mask off of the top shelf and threw it onto the bed. I pulled my simple blue dress over my head and pulled out a white tank top and pair of simple white shorts. I threw them on and a pair of white ankle boots. I ran a hand through my hair, just to get some snarls out, and then pulled on my mask. It was game time.

Tifa walked in the door just as I was about to jump out the window. "Angel, wait! You don't have to go-" I jumped out the window. I raced across the streets, making sure I was quiet and hidden until far enough away. When I was far enough away from the bar to avoid any suspicion for it, I stopped in the middle of an abandoned street. I backed up a bit, and then got a running start, using a bit of graviga to help my jump. I jumped up, feet bouncing off of the brick wall of a store and flew up, flipping and landing on top of the nearest building gracefully.

I stood up straight, looking around. I would need to use some way to get the remnants' attention without being obvious about it. I started running and jumping across buildings, using little bits of graviga in every jump.

"What are you doing, Tempest?" I sighed as she ran beside me, this time appearing as Elys.

"Can't you choose another form?" I mumbled. She was silent and when I looked over, she once again appeared as Aerith. "Not much better," I grumbled, but let it go.

"Stop running, and face what you were always meant to do." She ordered. I glared at her from the corner of my eye.

"You're asking me to kill my only form of family left." I hissed back at her. "You took my mother from me, Aerith, Elys, the only people on Gaia I have ever had some form of bond with. He is the only person left on this planet that I have, and now you want me to kill him. No, I refuse." I spat back angrily.

"It's not as if you have nothing, Cerise," She said quietly, the sympathy leaking out of her voice. "You have Tifa, you two have become good friends. You've made relationships all over the planet you just don't realize it yet. You'll get over his death, and you'll realize that it was the right thing to do," She promised. I shook my head.

"Yes, in a way, I've made friendships. But we both know that I don't belong with them, we've no lasting bonds. They're friends who I will part with eventually, who will forget about me. And that's okay because it's a part of life. But while they'll have each other-their family-what will I have?" I asked, coming to a stop atop a building. She was quiet.

"He is not your family. As difficult as it is, the only family you ever did have died when you were born." She reminded me. I looked over, seeing that her eyes matched my own-bright pink. In a way, I was the human vessel to Minerva, to Gaia, as he was to Jenova. Though we both have our own wills, our own desires and needs, we're plagued by the will of higher beings.

"What would you know about family?" I asked icily. I turned away and continued running. She didn't follow. Eventually I came to the middle of Edge-where the market had taken place. I jumped down off of the roof, landing with a feline-like grace beside some of the trade tents. I kneeled down on the ground and placed my hand against the ground, closing my eyes. I focused on finding any traces of life stream left beneath the earth. My eyes snapped open after several minutes, and I stood, making a wave-like motion with my hand above the ground.

Slowly, life stream was pulled from the ground and I threw my head back as it sank into my skin. It lit my veins and restored all energy I had lost from earlier. "Tempest," A voice growled behind me. I didn't let them see me smirk. I turned around, face emotionless. The remnants stood ten feet away, glaring at me.

"You called?" Kadaj mocked. I rolled my eyes behind the mask.

"Hardly. It's not my fault your mommy dearest can sense whenever I pull the life stream to the surface." I retorted. Though, technically, I had called.

"Then maybe you should stop doing it," Yazoo chimed in, voice bored. I shrugged, and we began to circle each other.

"Perhaps. How else am I to live? You've managed to turn all mako plants into something reminiscent of a prison, the way you have them guarded. Getting mako is a little difficult nowadays." I answered.

"Enough talking." Kadaj snarled and revved his bike. I scowled and moved back, getting ready to run. The other two revved their bikes too, moving forward. I grinned, giving a small salute to the three of them.

"Well, this has been fun, but it's about time I leave." I said, and crouched and jumped, doing a backflip and aiming a summons spell at the ground. Bahamut rose from the ground, giving a loud roar and glaring furiously at the remnants. Kadaj glared menacingly at me and I smiled charmingly and landed behind the dragon. I turned and took off at a run, using both graviga and speed to help me move at a quicker pace.

The sound of a bike revving behind me turned my attention and I spared a look behind me. I cursed. Seems Kadaj had left his brothers to deal with Bahamut while he went after me, figures.

Even with the help of the lifestream, his bike was still faster than I was and he easily caught up too me. He was right beside me, smirking as he reached out to grab hold of me. I barely dodged, and came to an abrupt halt. His bike stopped a couple feet away, managing to make a quick brake. I clenched my fists as we stayed gaze locked.

"Going to do another summon? Or are you actually going to fight this time?" He mocked. My eye twitched at his mockery. Despite him being a remnant of...him, he sounded a lot more like Genesis at this moment. And I acted despite my situation.

"I'm not a physically strong person!" I complained, as If this was something I'd discussed with him many times-which I guess in a way it was. "You don't know how difficult it is, fighting constantly while having the physical strength of a twelve year old boy! I'd never be able to fight you in a fair fight, let alone with your brothers. So, yes, I cheat!" I growled. He seemed momentarily caught off guard by my tantrum, and I kind of was as well. It'd been a long time since I'd acted so childish.

I shook off my old, immature self, and sent a firaga his way, catching him off guard. I sped past him in his moment of surprise, and used a wall as momentum to jump up atop the buildings. I heard his growl of annoyance from below and only stuck my tongue out at him as I continued on. He followed after me on the ground, making sure to keep eyes on me as I moved above.

After what seemed like hours of running, and him managing to keep up, I saw the sun rising in the distance. Time to make my great escape. I stopped running abruptly, dropping to my knees and holding my hands clasped together in front of me. I hated asking her for help.

"Goddess Minerva, lend me your wisdom and power. My vessel is your vessel, my strength your strength, your power my power." I murmured. Radiant light engulfed my body and I gasped. Although we'd done this a few times, it was always so strange, letting another soul take temporary control over your body.

When Minerva took over my body, I no longer simply looked a little like her, I was her. My hair was several shades lighter than Minerva's, part of my time as an infant floating through the lifestream which practically bleached my hair near white, but hers was a golden color and considerably longer in length. I looked less like the young girl I was, and more like, well, a goddess. Taller and more muscular, and I tended to look ageless, instead of in my early twenties.

She jumped down, hovering a few inches above the ground. Kadaj came to an abrupt halt in front of us, eyes widening at our appearance. However his glimpse of our new appearance was short as Minerva's blinding white light engulfed him, and when it dissipated, he was slumped over in a deep slumber.

"Shall I kill him?" She asked, and though it was my own voice, it sounded strange hearing her speak through my mouth.

'No, leave him be. I can take over from here,' I murmured mentally.

"I don't think so, Cerise. I gave you your chance to do things your way, now I will take matters into my own hands." I would've gasped in shock, had I control over my own body. I fought against her hold, pushing her away and out of my mind, but unlike before, it didn't work.

'What...' I thought, voice a bit sluggish, the mental pull having been a bit too much. A sword materialized in her hand as she approached Kadaj. 'Give me back my body, Minerva!' I screamed and she winced physically.

"This is for the greater good." She responded softly.

'Like hell! I won't let you kill him!' I shrieked mentally, pounding against the barriers she'd managed to put up in her short time in my vessel. She sighed.

"I will give you back your body once it is done. It shouldn't take long, losing his remnants will weaken him, and being in this body will take him by surprise. He would never expect you to kill him." She murmured, talking more to herself then to me by the end. She hovered over Kadaj's limp form now, pointing the tip of her sword at his head.

"Stop it, Cerise! This is for the best!" She hissed, pressing her fingertips against the edge of our eyes and pulling back, showing large wet droplets. "He has killed people you love, millions of innocents! He will kill this planet if you don't stop him." She reminded me fiercely.

'I don't care! I won't kill him, I won't! You can't make me!' I screamed, pounding my fists against the mental barriers once more. The sword trembled in her hand as I fought for control and she gasped and used her other hand to attempt to hold it steady. There was a groan beneath us and we looked down. Kadaj's eyes flickered open, and he peered up at us, first drowsy, then in shock, then in realization.

"Kill him!" Minerva shrieked and I jerked back, my body following suit. It stumbled back and fell against the ground, sword clattering out of our hands. I trembled, the two of us fighting for control. Kadaj sat up, meeting our gaze. I couldn't tell which set of eyes he saw-the scared little girl actually fighting for his life-or the strong goddess fighting desperately to end this once and for all. It didn't last long though, as a boot collided with the side of his head, once again knocking him unconscious. Today was just not his day. We looked up with wide-eyes, pink meeting red.

"Angel? What...why do you look like that?" She asked.

"Knock me out, now!" I shrieked, using all of my strength to gain control of my voice. She looked like she wanted to argue, but the desperation must've shown in my eyes because one moment I saw red eyes and then next I saw nothing.

I groaned awake, eyes fluttering open. Light streamed in through the windows, caressing the side of my face. I blinked several times before sitting up, looking around the room. I was back at the bar it seemed. I pushed the covers off of my body, seeing Tifa had helped me change into a blue night gown.

My eyes widened at the memories of last night and I jumped out of bed and ran to the mirror, letting out a breath of relief. I was myself. The amount of relief I felt at that moment could not be fathomed and I collapsed back onto the bed. That was one hell of a mess last night. After several minutes of allowing last nights events to replay in my mind I stood back up and approached the wardrobe.

I changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a pink blouse. I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled on a pair of white flats. This would suffice, I thought, with a shrug. I head downstairs, seeing Tifa was already up and about, serving some regular customers. I stood in front of the bar, greeting a few customers.

"Hey, what can I get you?" I asked, instantly retrieving the drink he wanted. Tifa continued on like this for a few hours, not speaking but just continuing to run the bar like always. When our regular morning drinkers finally left we closed up at noon for lunch. We still didn't speak much, working together to make lunch for ourselves and the kids.

"What happened last night?" She asked after several more minutes of silence. I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"It's a long-"

"Yeah, I know." She interrupted, voice flat. She crossed her arms over her chest, giving me a scrutinizing look. "We've got time," She finished. I sighed once more, thinking about how to tell her as I continued to chop up tomatoes.

"Well, it all ties in with my special abilities. I-it's hard to talk about. But, I do have something. My diary, I wrote in it ever since I learned of what I was and where these...gifts came from. It should explain everything. Can we compromise on that for now?" I asked quietly. She was stern for a minute, until her gaze relaxed and she nodded.

"Alright, I guess that'll do for now. Just, please don't do that again. You scared me last night, running off like that." I nodded and she pulled me into a hug, one that I was grateful for. "I know it's hard, asking for help. But you have us now, and you don't have to do everything by yourself." She promised. I nodded, allowing myself to believe it for a moment.

But I couldn't delude myself for too long, lest I actually start to believe it. I pulled back and smiled reassuringly at her. "I'll go get the diary." I explained and she nodded. I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I ran back into our shared room and kneeled down on the floor. I looked under the bed, grabbing my box of things and opening it up. The simple, pink diary sat atop the other stuff. I smiled down at it softly, and closed up the box, diary in hand. I shoved the box back underneath my bed and stood back up. I rushed back downstairs, feeling a bit cheerful that Tifa wasn't angry with me.

I jumped down on the last step and moved to walk into the bar. "Hey, Tifa, here it-" I cut off abruptly, jaw slackening at the sight in front of me. A thin silver blade was pressed against Tifa's throat and she stared at me with wide, terrified eyes. Denzel and Marlene stood in the corner, Denzel hiding Marlene from...him. A red mark sat across Denzel's cheek, showing that he'd tried to put up some form of a fight. I set the journal down on the bar counter. I returned my gaze to him.

"What are you doing here?" I all but hissed. He didn't speak, instead he seemed far more intent to hold my gaze. He motioned towards my left and I turned to look, unsurprisingly finding his remnants studying the situation, all with different expressions. Loz looked smug, Kadaj looked like he was still pretty ticked about last night, and Yazoo watched me carefully.

"I was content to allow your mischief, but no more. You will come with us, or I will kill them." His voice was so calm, but that wasn't what hurt. No, even in dire situations he had always managed to keep his voice smooth and calm, authoritative. But I could always tell by his eyes, whenever he felt guilt or pain or shame from anything you could see it in his eyes, no matter how well he managed to hide it to everyone else. But here and now, I didn't see that. He was the perfect mask of calm. He really would kill them, without a second thought.

"Denzel, Marlene. Come here." I ordered softly. They seemed hesitant but as no one made a move to stop them, they rushed over to me, huddling behind me. "What are you going to do?" I asked softly. Tears stung my eyes but I refused to let them fall. "Are you going to kill her? It wouldn't surprise me, it wouldn't be the first time you've killed someone I care about right in front of my eyes." I said, barely containing the rage and pain and desperation. Still though, no emotion.

"If that's what it takes." Was his simple response. I motioned towards his remnants.

"Make them leave. I don't want them here." I ordered. Kadaj and Loz both opened their mouths to protest, but he cut them off and motioned for them to leave. Yazoo was the first to leave, Loz following soon after and then Kadaj. "Promise me you won't hurt them. Promise that if I go with you you won't come back and kill them." I continued.

"I have no interest in their pathetic lives. Come with me and I give you my word that they will not be harmed." He promised. I moved away from Denzel and Marlene. Marlene gripped my hand, eyes wide with tears. I smiled, crouching down and placing a kiss against her forward. I ruffled Denzel's hair and then stood back up. I approached him, stopping until I stood directly in front of him. Tifa and my eyes met briefly, and then the sword was moved from her throat and she rushed to the kids. He stared down at me, eyes unreadable. Then, he nodded and turned his back. "Let's go." He ordered smoothly. I sent them one last look and then followed after him.