Alright, like I said I was in the process of writing the next chapter, so here it goes. I hope that you enjoyed the last one. Honestly, the ending of that chapter wasn't planned to be that way, but I thought that the story needs to take a turn so that way people can see how much Rufus's mind was affected.

Feedback is wonderful and I hope you will take the time to tell me what you think! I love reviews, they're what helps a writer go on! So please give feedback, it's great motivation.

-Crimson

Redemption

Chapter Six – Suggestions

Darkness, it was all that surrounded him. It was as if he was floating in a black sea, but without the water. There was no sign of life detectable besides his own shallow breathing. He opened and closed his eyes, hoping that it would somehow make the darkness go away, but it didn't. He continued to float there in what seemed a never ending shadow.

He had been reliving his memories since he could remember, ones that were sad, happy, angry and pained. However, he knew that this darkness wasn't a memory; it was something that he wasn't familiar with. It was something outside of the confinements of his own shattered mind.

He hadn't dealt with another soul since he entered the lifestream. He hadn't seen anyone or felt anyone; he immediately shut himself off and began a slumber which contained nothing but his own past. In his own memories however, he would see his past comrades and his past enemies, but he merely watched the memories flutter by, he never interacted with them.

What was he doing here? He looked around him once more, trying to look for any sign of light. Was he asleep? Was this a nightmare? He closed his eyes for a moment and thought of all the possibilities, but he came up short because this couldn't be death, he had already died.

He hated the feeling that was starting to rise in his chest – vulnerability.

"What is this place?" he asked out loud, after glancing around once again.

"It's in between life and death."

He fell silent and the feeling in his chest only seemed to worsen.

"You're being called upon by the planet."

"Gaia doesn't want me; I've been the instrument in a lot of its damage."

"Sins can be repented, with the right action."

"There is nothing I can do to repent what I have done."

"The planet doesn't seem to think so, or it wouldn't be calling upon you."

"I've killed." He said after a few seconds of awkward silence, "I've caused a lot of heartache."

"Why?"

It was just a question, but he felt like he was the most difficult thing he ever had to think about. He opened and closed his fists, hoping that maybe he could just close his eyes and he'd be back to reliving his memories. But nothing happened, and finally he just sighed quietly and shook his head slightly.

"I don't know." His voice was quiet, and he felt like he was talking more to himself then the entity that was speaking to him. "I saw what I was doing, I could feel everything around me, but…" he thought for a moment and started to feel like he was losing a battle inside of himself.

"But what?"

"But I couldn't stop. My conscious thoughts and objections never reached my physical body."

He was met with silence, and after a few more seconds he finally decided that he was a prisoner of his own mind. That voice belonged to nothing and no one but his subconscious. He felt the vulnerability start to fade away and he was glad, he wasn't used to being vulnerable.

"It has made its choice."

He jumped from the sudden sound. "What?" He asked calmly, believing that nothing around him was actually real.

"Sephiroth, Gaia needs your help and it will be your chance to repent."

Suddenly, he didn't feel as if this was just inside his own head. "What does that mean?" Why was he starting to feel sleepy?

"Good luck."

With the parting words the great General's eyes began to close, and right before he fell into a dreamless sleep, he was almost sure he felt raindrops on his face.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

What was that annoying beeping sound? Rufus's eyes snapped open suddenly, and he sat up in the same split second. Where was he? How did he get here? He glanced around the room and felt his insides start to twist and turn. He was in a hospital room.

His mind went in a million different places but before he could make a decision of what to do, the door opened and the red headed Turk Reno walked in. He stopped when he saw that Rufus was awake, and grinned slightly. "Calm down, yo. It's a private sector."

Rufus felt his breathing start to go back to normal and he started to relaxed. He hadn't been worried about being in a hospital with other people, he had just been afraid because it reminded him of that place. He looked down at his appearance and saw that he had on sweat pants and a loose t-shirt with an IV hooked up to him. He looked over to see that Reno had plopped himself in the chair beside the bed, and was staring at the ex president.

"Why am I here?" Rufus was completely confused at this point. He looked at Reno who seemed to be hesitating to say something, and while the ex president waited he realized that all the anger that the red head had seemed to have earlier was gone.

Reno scratched his head and sighed, "Well….you kinda passed out."

"Kinda?"

"No. You passed out completely."

The ex president thought back to what could have happened and after he replayed the events that he remembered in his head he was left empty handed. He couldn't remember anything after walking into the WRO building. He looked at his Turk, "Why?"

Reno sat there for a few seconds, looking like he was contemplating something. He looked at Rufus and shrugged, "I guess you were just tired. We had just walked into the hallway…and you passed out."

Rufus felt a strange sensation swarm through him. He looked Reno over and then thought over that day again. He remembered getting out of the helicopter, he remembered walking down the stairs into the building, but that was it. He couldn't remember anything after that.

Was Reno lying to him?

"I just passed out, out of nowhere?" He asked the red head, starting to feel suspicious.

"Yeah, yo!" Reno said, laughing a little this time. "We were walking through the hallway and out of nowhere you fell! You hadn't slept though right? You had to have just been exhausted. Probably from seeing me, Yuffie and Reeve….it was probably too much." He shrugged and then grinned.

Rufus thought it over for a few moments. Reno was right, he hadn't slept, and seeing everyone so fast did take a toll on him. He looked at the red head and then finally decided to believe him. What else could it have been about? He continued to look at him and for some reason it looked like Reno was really trying to convince him.

"Bossman, seriously." Reno started after Rufus didn't look completely convinced, "Why would I lie about that?"

Rufus just nodded, the other man was right. Why would he lie?

"Cloud."

Who was talking to him?

"Cloud!"

Cloud's eyes snapped open, and he was greeted to the sight of Vincent towering over him. "What?" He said after a few seconds of the two staring at each other, "Did they take Tseng again?" He felt his stomach start to twist with the thought.

"No." He nodded his head toward Cloud, "He's asleep behind you." He stared at the blond for a few moments, and the swordsmen felt his skin start to crawl.

"Vincent? What is it?" He asked after a few seconds of trying to figure out what was wrong with the gunslinger.

"Something's wrong."

Cloud waited for him to elaborate, but no response was forth coming. He stood up slowly, and then glanced outside of their cell. There were no guards patrolling, and oddly enough it was quiet. Cloud wrapped his hand around one of the cold bars, and then tried to glance at other people who seemed to be just as confused as they were.

Cloud was about to turn and face Vincent when suddenly an alarm started to scream. He jumped back slightly, and then looked over at his comrade who was now walking over to Tseng. "Get up." Vincent's gruff voice said as he shook the Turk.

Suddenly, the swordsmen heard someone scream. Gunfire started to go off, and before Cloud could even process what was happening completely, the lights shut off. He had never been thankful for his mako enhanced senses until that moment.

"What the fuck is going on?" Tseng's voice broke through Cloud's confusion and he shook his head in response.

The alarm was steady going off, and then he felt Vincent come up to the other side of him. "Vince..do you think Rufus?"

"No."

The alarm was still blaring, and at that moment Cloud seriously considered trying to break out of the place. He was about to ask his comrades what they thought, but then the door that closed the cells into the hallway busted off of its hinges and flew passed their cell.

A dark figure appeared in front of their cell a moment later, and before Cloud could process what was going on they spoke, "Move back." The blonde froze. He knew that voice. Vincent pulled on Cloud's arm, pulling him away from the cell bars.

In one quick movement the bars were sliced in half, and when Cloud saw the weapon the mystery person was using, he felt like he couldn't breathe. They took a step toward the trio, and finally once the blonde concentrated enough he could make out the figure.

"Good evening Cloud." Their voice drawled, Cloud felt himself start to grow hot.

"You son of a bitch." He muttered so quietly it sounded deadly.

They gave no reply and before Cloud could even register what was happening he saw the figure come toward him, and all he saw was black.

I know it's rushed, but I was in a stage with not knowing what to do with the story. I hope you enjoy the choice I made about who broke into the Organization to get to Cloud, Vincent and Tseng. I know I haven't really shinned the light on how terrible they are, and it's because I really want to just focus on Rufus.

Please review.

-Crimson.