AN: I'm sorry this took months. Worst case of writer's block to strike EVER. I know that's a lame excuse but I owe it to you guys to explain. The good news is, although this is the final chapter, and although they don't get together in Dissidia 012, I STILL SHIP THEM. Yeah. So without further ado, here's the final chapter to Beginning and End.

Cloud Strife observed his surroundings with wistfulness. There would be no training that night, he knew. No infighting sessions, trading of sparring partners or even weapon augmentation would take place. He didn't have to be a genius to know that they've had enough of it. Everyone started to stop after Lightning put down her sword, staring into space at first.

"We've got no heart tonight," she said, her tone dead. Flat. "Anyone who doesn't feel like training can stop now."

It was Squall who first stopped, dropping his weapon and walking off in deep thought. Soon enough, Tidus and his friends followed, and the rest did the same.

He watched each one of them now, and began to see them for who they really were. Squall was silent as he was asked to join in with Vaan, who was busy trying to probe Laguna with battle tactics. Zidane had a large group, and they were occupied with sharing their own tastes of conquest, nervous laughter slipping their way out through all of them. He noticed how none of his teammates seemed to want to discuss defeat, whether previous, or the possible defeat of tomorrow.

Accidentally, Cloud caught the eye of Tifa Lockhart, not awkwardly. Before he could look away, she gave him one of those small, sad smiles of hers, and as always, she smiled with her eyes. He knew what they said; he always knew what she had to say. Go.

Lightning's thoughts of reverie were interrupted, when she heard Cloud's familiar voice.

"We should take a walk."

She knew his tone. It was slightly commanding, but ever so deterrent. She hated it when he spoke that way. It made her come to the conclusion that he was putting up a façade. Brave on the surface, but cautious underneath. At that moment, however, it didn't faze her as much as it did before. He had every right to feel apprehensive. They all did.

As they walked in silence, she suddenly remembered her first sparring session with him, in the same arena they were on foot. She tried to picture how they must've looked like then, where she dodged, where he jumped, and where their swords constantly clashed until one of them lost balance, only to get up, more intractable than ever. She breathed out an angry sigh after concentrating so much, letting her foot make a stray pebble fly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, although Cloud thought he knew the answer.

"I… can't remember."

"… Why?"

She stared at him then, full on the face. Anyone else would take it against them if she didn't remember anything. After all they'd been through as a team, anyone sane would think it an insult that Lightning Farron let a crucial memory slip by. Yet here he was, infuriating, asking why.

"You know how it is. I can't picture things as clearly as I'd want to."

"So…you want to remember. Question is, how much?"

"Everything."

It was one of those rare moments when Lightning changed. She looked vulnerable all of a sudden, susceptible even. She wouldn't meet his eyes, as they were fixed forward. Her strawberry-blonde locks got in their way, and with a quick brush of her hand, they weren't anymore. Cloud was started to think that she saw something he didn't.

"Look… I know we'll have to battle Chaos and his warriors tomorrow… one last time. But you mustn't sting yourself for forgetting some things. We all do, and we all don't want to."

His eyes were to her now, and she met them. The primal emotion in them was concern, she knew. As she turned back, she noticed the others were gone, and they've walked more than they ever have away from the group.

"Cloud… What if… this is all there is?"

Lightning gestured around them, and he saw what she saw. Unfilled, detached space, probably having existed even before Cosmos dreamed of having her own warriors, and even just as capable of being accessible with or without them, to whoever might need it. It could stand on its own. She turned to him again.

"We could die. Tomorrow. All of us. We all can't remember, don't you….?"

Lightning glowered into space again, biting her lip, eyes narrowed. Cloud knew that she was fighting the urge to cry. He touched her cheek lightly, making sure they were able to look at each other.

"I do. I don't remember perfectly, but I do. Say it with me. Not today."

"Not tomorrow."

"Not ever."

"You really believe that."

"Always have, Light. Always have. We won't die tomorrow. You and me."

For one golden second, she laughed.

"I still owe you a visit to my world. It's beautiful."

"We'll visit, I promise. I'll be there."

Their faces were inches apart, when they heard Warrior of Light's signal to band together. Lightning turned to face him one last time, her eyes grave and serious.

"That Tifa thing. It isn't there anymore."

"Of course you know that. It isn't."

Cloud Strife would go through a thousand battles and back. Of those thousand battles, he would think of Lightning's kiss rarely. Those rare moments would be ones wherein he thought he was absolutely done for.

She broke away gently, as soft as it came. It could've lasted a few seconds to him, or a few lifetimes. To Cloud Strife, it felt infinite.

"Not tomorrow… I promise."

She ran away towards the camp urgently, leaving him as he remembered her for who she was- all warrior, sword, and that shock of pink hair.