This chapter is kind of boring, but full of lots of deliciously informative information! I also feel it's a bit short, but that's because I cut it short and decided to make the next past chapter its own. Why? You'll just have to read to find out! Anyway, since the next past chapter will be so important and so anticipated (at least I hope so...) I won't make you wait through a present chapter, and will instead go right to it. I have some of it written (the beginning pages) but I don't know when it will be out...Sorry! I'll try my best to write it quickly though! Anyway, I think I've taken up enough time with my ramblings. Please enjoy!

It's been three years since I left Shinra and Midgar behind. After saying my final goodbyes to Sephiroth in Junon, I'd travelled for a few months before deciding on staying in Mideel. There were many reasons why I decided on the hot springs Village, but the main reason was its remote and abundance in lifestream rivers and ponds. I'm eighteen now and I've been happy here in Mideel. At least, as happy as I could be. I wasn't actively being hunted. All of my neighbors were nice enough.

I had all the lifestream to drink I would need. I had a small house, a job. But, I had no friends, no one to really talk too. In truth, I am so lonely. So tired of constantly being alone. I have acquaintances, I even had a few boyfriends, but none of it lasted. In all honesty, I yearned for home. But the sad thing was, I didn't know where that was. I just wanted a place, my place with family and friends, a place I can know that no matter what happens in the world, I can always return their for comfort and safety.

My powers have only seemed to grow over the years. It terrifies me, but I've managed to gain some control over it. Because of the lifestream flowing so abundantly through my body, I can use the abilities of materia without actually having any materia around. The only problem is when I use it, it ends up draining the lifestream in my body faster than normal and I quickly have to rehydrate. I can now use this ability with a limited amount of control, but I have to be careful. If I don't keep my emotions in check, bad things tend to happen.

There's also something else. About two months ago, I saw Angeal for the first time since my final day in Midgar. He was carried by a single wing. He told me everything that had happened with Genesis, and not the shit being fed to us on tv, the truth. He and Angeal were science experiments, injected with the cells of a being known as Jenova. Angeal was a success, but Genesis had not been so lucky. He was degrading. He was practically insane now, searching for a cure that Angeal doesn't believe exists.

He was afraid Genesis might come after me though. Apparently, he'd gotten a hold of my lab files. He wanted to know the real reason I'd abandoned Shinra and had snuck into the labs to retrieve the files. He knew as much as Dr. Hojo did. Which was pretty close to everything. Hollander, who promised Genesis he could cure him, told Genesis that my blood was required to heal him. Angeal doesn't believe Hollander knows anything though, but fears Genesis is blinded by his need for a cure.

Up until two weeks ago, there was no sign of Genesis. But i've been having nightmares, nightmares about a single black angel wing, fire and a deep sense of foreboding. I know he's close by and he's only getting closer. He's looking for me and I don't know what I'll do if he finds me. But I can't leave Mideel. I just...I don't want to set up home anymore, ya know? I don't want to be on the run by myself, constantly hiding. Mideel may not be much in turns of home, but it's the only place I have to go to. And if it comes down to it, I'll fight for it.

I closed my journal and set it back in my desk, locking it once more. I stood up and walked into the bathroom, ruffling my hair a bit. I was starting to loathe the color black simply because I missed my light hair. I'd continually dyed it over the course of the years, and reluctantly so. I preferred my natural color and missed it greatly. I straightened out my uniform-it was simple black skirt and red button down tucked in. I wore simple black flats and the normal black apron over the front. I was a waitress at a local bar. The men were complete pricks but the pay was good. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and re-touched up my makeup. Then, I grabbed my purse and left. The bar was only a block away so I usually just walked everyday.

The second I walked out of my front door, I was attacked. My instant response was to fight back, but it wasn't exactly easy when you were out of practice and the other person had a sword. A red sword. I never should've gotten out of bed this morning. I stopped struggling-it was completely useless, he was much stronger than me-and he pinned me to the wall of my house. He smirked down at me.

"Cerise Shyr. The one and only." He taunted and I glared at him. "You are not an easy person to track down." He stated.

"What do you want Genesis? I need to get to work." I growled. He tisked at me teasingly.

"You always were so impatient, Cer. Come on, we haven't seen each other in years! Old friends and all. We should sit down and have a nice conversation." He was bullying me again, just like he used too.

"Don't act like nothing has changed." I said quietly, forcing him to move his hands away from my head. I met his playful gaze with a serious look. "You're not the person I once knew."

"Aw, but neither are you. Or maybe you never were the person I thought I knew. Tell me, how many masks have you worn in your life? Were you ever real with anyone?" He asked. I met his heavy gaze evenly.

"Yes. Sephiroth." I answered and he tensed. Then, he laughed bitterly.

"Of course you were. Sephiroth-the hero." He said menacingly. I watched him carefully. I knew what he was really referring too and I shook my head.

"Sephiroth is not the hero, Genesis." I answered, watching as his eyes widened in surprise. "He's the prisoner. And so are you." His hand snapped up, grasping around my throat and I gasped in a breath of air in surprise.

"Oh? How so?" He asked lowly, his voice threatening. I glared up into his eyes boldly.

"You can't be a hero, Genesis. No one can. Heroes don't exist. We're all either prisoners or wanderers, sometimes we're both but we're never heroes. You're no wanderer. You are a prisoner to your own greed and bitterness. Sephiroth is a prisoner in his own right as well. Angeal's the lucky one." I answered.

"There's always a hero." He insisted, tightening his grip on my neck. I sucked in a deep breath of air.

"Remember that play I performed in? The LOVELESS one?" I asked and he nodded. "The hero never stuck around long enough to truly be known as a hero." He let me go.

"I need your blood, Cerise. The bringer of life, the gift of the goddess." He quoted. I eyed him carefully-I had to go about this very carefully. Just as Angeal said, Genesis wasn't the person I remembered.

"My blood won't heal you, Genesis." I said calmly. "It doesn't work that way. Hollander will only use me as an experiment." I answered, standing up and straightening up.

"Hollander? Ditched him long ago." He said, irritation leaking into his voice. However as soon as it was there, it was gone and he lunged forward, gripping my upper arms in a vise like grip. He held my gaze, eyes desperate. "Please, Cerise, we're old friends. Angeal and I looked for you everywhere. Sephiroth and I fought even more, when I realized he knew something. Please, help me." He begged. My hard expression softened at the hopeless look in his eyes.

"I want to help you, Genesis. I do. But my blood is like poison to other people, you included. Even a small dosage could make you comatose or worse, kill you. I am not your bringer of life, I am no gift of the goddess. I am only a toxin that will do more harm than good." I answered him truthfully. I wish I could help him, seeing that desperate look on his face killed me. But my blood would kill him.

"I'll just take it." He snapped angrily.

"Take it. But I will not give it to you willingly. I cannot fight you off, but I will try if you make me." I warned. He stared at me for the longest time, not saying anything, simply studying me.

"Who are you really, Cerise Shyr?" He asked quietly. I smiled sadly.

"I'm just a girl, Gen. A girl who just wants to survive. Now please, leave me alone so I can." I begged.

"You are a sad excuse for a living being." And then, he walked away slowly, his black wing protruding from his back.

"Genesis," I called and he stopped. "She won't save you! Not for any good reason." I yelled. He stood still for a moment, and then flew off. The second he was gone I ran back inside, locking the front door behind me. My heart was pounding erratically and I tried to slow it. Once I felt I could actually walk straight, I fled to my room. I opened up an old backpack and started throwing the essentials inside. So much for protecting my home, I guess.

I'm just too much of a coward to stay. If one enemy knows where I am, it won't be long before they all do. After carelessly throwing several items of clothing into the backpack, I collapsed on the ground. I tugged my hair back, my hands quivering. What was I going to do now? I'd have to start over again, make a new life again, and still live in constant fear of being found. I wanted to cry, but instead I stood up, stumbled over to my closet and started to change.

I had a certain outfit I wore in case of travel or combat, simply because I had it designed specifically for that. Because of my style of fighting (and lack thereof of strength) it was light and easy to move in. I put it on, tightening the boot straps of the leather boots that go with it and pulled my backpack over my shoulders. I headed towards the door, opening it. I turned around, to take one last look at my home. As if it could feel, I blew it a kiss, and then turned and started on my journey.

"Sephiroth's phone," A cheery voice chirped and I squinted, moving back to look at the phone and then putting it back to my ear.

"Who is this?" I asked, and there was silence over the phone for a moment.

"Sephiroth, I thought you said you didn't have a girlfriend!" The cheery voice yelled, voice muffled from being away from the phone. I couldn't help but smile in amusement. There was some shuffling over the phone.

"Who is this?" Sephiroth's voice came over the phone and I brightened instantly at the sound of my only friends voice.

"Guess," I said playfully. Shocked silence took hold of the phone and I smiled brighter.

"Zack, tell the men to set up camp," Sephiroth instructed. He waited several seconds before speaking again. "Cerise," He said, and a shock went through me when he said my name.

"The one and only. Who answered your phone?" I asked, lounging back on the motel couch.

"Zack Fair. The apprentice Angeal took back before…" He trailed off. I could feel the mood become tense, and I wasn't even next to him. Maybe it was a good idea to change the subject.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"You're coming out of hiding?" He was teasing me. I pouted.

"I thought you'd be happy to see me." I whined. There was silence and I got my answer; I smiled victoriously.

"Right outside of Rocket town. Heading towards Nibelheim." He murmured.

"I'm in Gongaga. I could meet you in Nibelheim in two days." I offered.

"Are you sure it's safe, Cerise?" He asked reluctantly. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm fine. Besides, I have a bad feeling." I murmured.

"What do you mean?" He asked and I stood up and stretched, trying to relax my tense muscles.

"I don't know. Something's about to happen. Something big. Don't do anything before I get to Nibelheim." I warned.

"Be safe, Cerise." He replied and then the line went dead.

Thanks for reading! 3