I am back! So I lied, I decided to write again this month. Don't ask why, cuz I dunno. But I have worked my butt off on Christmas stuff and my hands and knees are so sore from making really nice jewelry. (Ya see I buy nice beads etc and I make some pretty fancy looking stuff. I like playing with pliers too…but it hurts to pinch yourself with em after a while.)

Once again, sadly, I no own anything to do with Final Fantasy. I don't own any of the characters except my own. This is quite tedious.

So, how y'all doing? (hah can't you tell I'm stalling.) You guys like the last chapter: ) I must admit I did. Poor Missy, I am so evil to her. As if her life didn't suck enough. And yet it's still better then mine XD. I'm only kidding. I won't go off and say my life sucks. It's sucky-ish, but it doesn't COMPLETELY suck beyond reason. Most days.

Ok, so I wanted to pick up the pace of the story soon, though I can't just jump to the next part right away. I'm still trying to figure out how to get it there in the right way, so bear with me. Anyways, that being said, go read the chapter. Oh, and in case you are interested, I was inspired to write by the songs "Hero (Red Pill Mix)" and "Stand in the Rain" by Superchick. Really deep songs in my opinion, but it seemed to fit the mood I was going for. Ok, I really am gonna shut up now. Gomen. Go read.

Chapter Thirteen-

It had been at least half an hour now since I locked myself away. I passed my time by staring at a spot on the bathtub, which faced opposite of the counter I was leaning against. Not once had I heard Cloud make the smallest noise or hint of movement near this room, and to be honest, I wasn't sure why.

Sure, I knew why I was hiding away. But why was he? Oh well, it was no matter. I was trying to keep myself from thinking of the mako man, though most of it was in vain. I wasn't thinking of him specifically, but rather my depressive state I had sunken into, and what to do next.

I couldn't believe I was actually even thinking of going with Seph. Surely this would be suicide. Not physical suicide, mind you, but spiritual. I just knew that if I journeyed with him, I wouldn't be the same person. I would be…evil.

But did it really matter? The way I'm living right now, it's hardly any better. If you can call what I do living. It's more like walking the other way at a brisk pace.

Could I give up everything I have now and change? Could I live how he wants me to? Can I live knowing I could have saved Mina and that I didn't…? If the only way to save her is to go with him then perhaps it's what I must do. But how do I know that she won't die after I leave? How do I know that's she's better off? I suppose I don't. But can I live with never knowing?

"I don't know…" I smacked my head lightly against my knees as my frustration boiled. "'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em'…that's what pisses me off the most…I can't beat him!" I slammed my fist into the wall.

About two seconds after my outburst, I heard a light knocking on the other side of the door.

"…Cloud? Is that you?"

"Are you ok?"

"Have you been there this whole time?!"

"Well I said I wouldn't leave you."

Now I felt bad. He wanted to protect me and give me my space, and I just shut him out.

I sighed and reached over to unlock the door and turned the knob.

Cloud slowly pushed it open and peaked over the edge. "Can I come in?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

He crawled over and sat next to me with one leg bent up towards his chest and the other stretched out.

"So…"

"He said he would fix Mina." I was in no mood to beat around the bush. Besides, if I tried to build up courage I'd just get tongue tied and feel the need to go very far away.

"What?!" His head shot round to the side towards me.

"He said he would break the spell…but for a price." I looked down and closed my eyes.

"If you come…" he finished. He seemed to be getting the gist of it rather easy.

I nodded. "I…I don't know what to do…" I shot my eyes up to look at his, and when my blue ones connected with his mako ones, I got a jolt of energy to expel all my thoughts. "If I go with him she could wake up again! But then again maybe he will go back on his word though I doubt that because he usually keeps his word but even if he does fix her she could still die and I don't know what would happen to me if I went-not that I really care-or what would happen to the rest of the world considering his plan and-"

"Breathe!"

I inhaled sharply. I have issues with run on sentences when I'm emotionally distressed.

"That's better. Now, I've got a simple solution for you."

"What's that?"

"Don't go."

"But Mina-!"

"We'll find another way."

"Cloud-"

"No! Missy, I mean it I won't let you go. And if you so much as try I swear to Jenova I will lock you up in a cellar!"

My eyes widened and I leaned back. "You're joking right…?"

"…" He just stared back at me with a look that said 'try me'.

"You know that's kinda creepy…"

"…"

"Alright…alright…" I sighed. "I won't go with him. But I don't know what else to do."

"Well that's why I suggested we go to Rufus."

"Look, even if I did trust your judgment on the ex-president, we can't even get to him. I could probably make another portal, but then we'd be back where we started with a zillion SOLDIERS chasing our asses."

"Not necessarily…" He entered thinking mode again, though he still looked more brooding when he did that.

"Oh?"

"Can you tell the portal to open up in a specific place back in Gaia? Like, instead of porting into Midgar, we could enter a more remote city."

I mulled it over for a minute. "Yeah…but it's harder. I need to know where I'm going. Have a mental image and all that jazz. It'd have to be somewhere I've traveled to before and I remember in order to make a portal to there. But our options will be limited. With only so many towns, it gets narrowed down to the ones I know and include popularity for SOLDIERS into the search and our results are few."

"Yeah, I know." Cloud leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling.

"I'll try and think of a town we can go to. Maybe I won't be seeing as much of Sephiroth if we're on the move continually. He likes to keep tabs on me, but he's got other business too. If I keep traveling he'll have to guess where I went, so that'll buy me some free time. But once he guesses right he'll know our general direction. That's how it worked before at least."

"What other business?"

"I'm not sure." I laughed. "He was never the kind for office work I'll tell you that. But he is very hands on."

Cloud burst out laughing, though tried to compose himself. "Yeah…" he snorted. "He definitely is with you!"

"Uh!" I scoffed at him and shoved him lightly. "That isn't funny!"

"Sorry." He continued to laugh.

I rolled my eyes. "Men! Just when I thought that you weren't sick and perverted!"

He finally controlled himself enough to cease the wave of laughter. "Oh come on you walked into that one."

"…I'm going now."

"Oh come on, it was a joke!"

I glared at him.

"Missy?"

"What…?"

"Are you mad?"

"…" I sighed. "No. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way." I stuck out my tongue at him.

"You are really strange."

"I get told that a lot." I pushed him again. "Seph used to tell me that."

"I'm sorry…"

"He meant it in a loving way though. He said that's what he liked about me. I was different. Lot of fat good it did me." I laid my head on Cloud's shoulder unconsciously before I continued. "I'm such an idiot."

"No you're not." Cloud patted my head with a soft laugh.

"No, really, I am. Not only did I manage to fall in love with a homicidal maniac, but I gave him the smallest bit of hope that I'd willingly come with him. I'm completely screwed now. He won't let it go. He's so damn stubborn."

"You're not screwed. You got us, remember? We got your back."

"Yeah," I scoffed. "And he's got my front."

We sat for a while, enjoying the silence and the company. I continued to rest my head on his shoulder as I contemplated my options. I didn't have many. I could run, but not hide. I can't kill him, and I can't stop him so far as I know. And if I can't die, how am I supposed to escape?

I can't…

You're catching on.

Just leave me alone!

Aw, that'd be no fun.

I don't care if you're having fun! Just leave me be!!

Oh come on, we both know that sooner or later you'll come with me of your own accord. Might as well be now.

Shows what you know!

What happened to your attitude from before? I thought you were seriously considering it. Don't tell me you were lying.

I changed my mind. A girl can change her mind can't she?

About clothes, dinner, and nail polish. Not about this.

Did you just say nail polish?

…What's your point?

I've never heard you say nail polish…I must be in hell.

Oh ha bloody ha. You get my point.

I never got your point. Unless you mean the actual point you IMPALED ME WITH! You jerk!

Oh not that again…

I'm going now.

How's Mina doing? Still asleep?

You know the answer to that! If you're trying to convince me to come it's not working.

Suit yourself. I could just pop on over and see for myself.

You do and I swear I will run your sword through your brains and stomp on em.

And you call me violent.

Oh shut it. I'm LEAVING NOW!

"You alright? You look kind of pissed."

"Huh?" The real world came flooding back to me and kicked Sephiroth out of my head. I shifted to look up at Cloud who was staring at me in wonder. "Yeah…just having a little schitzo-friendly chat with you know who." I stood up with a sigh and stretched my stiff limbs out. "I gotta go check on Mina now, just to make sure he doesn't come it to take her."

"Motherly love huh?"

"Just call me Momma bear."

"Huh?"

"Have you seen what mother bears will do to protect their young?"

"No…"

"Oh, well I'd do a hell of a lot worse."

"How so?"

"Let's just say after I'm done with Sephy, he won't be chasing the other puppies anymore. Though chaining him down is another matter…"

Cloud's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "You women are scary."

"Damn right we are. C'mon. Let's go check on goldilocks."

I tugged on his hand and pulled him out with me into the living room.

"Who's watching over her now? Still Tifa?"

"No, Tif had to go rest, she was getting tired. Vincent's in there now."

Sure enough, when we opened the door to Mina's room, there was Vincent guarding her. His stone cold eyes were fixated in one spot eerily, and it made it even scarier that they seemed to glow a deeper shade of red than usual. He clenched his gold metal claw into a fist, and appeared to be deep in concentration.

"She's been murmuring." He said. I wasn't expecting to hear his scratchy voice, and it startled me.

"What has she been saying?" I asked.

"She's been rambling on about a prophecy. Half of it is in a different language though." His eyes never moved from that spot while he spoke, though his head tilted towards us slightly. "I don't know which one it is, but it's ancient. I could only hear a few words here and there. She mentioned prophecy, and named our silver haired group as well as you."

"How is she doing that?" Cloud questioned. "She can't know anything about it."

"Something's inside her…" I walked forwards and brushed the stray strands from her forehead. "Something's relaying the information to her. What, I don't know, but it can't be good for her."

"Come on," Cloud reached for my arm. "I have a map you can look at of Gaia. Maybe you can find a city and we can take her away from here. It might disconnect her from whatever is doing this."

I slowly nodded and pulled the blanket over her. "Come back to me soon love…" I whispered in her ear.

I turned around and walked towards the door with Cloud. As we opened it, we saw a certain silver haired villain standing in the way.

"HOLY-oomf!" I stumbled back in surprise and fell flat on my butt. "Ow…" I shot up a nasty glare at Kadaj. "What are YOU doing here!?"

"Just following orders." He replied with a twisted smirk.

I pushed myself up back onto my feet and straightened myself out before preparing to fight.

"Fine then. Bring it punk."

"As you wish." He bowed. I hate it when they do that.

I heard a click behind me and realized that Vincent had gotten up and cocked his gun and aimed it and Kadaj's head.

"Leave us now." He commanded.

The boy laughed. "You're going to shoot me? How very brave of you." He reached out in one swift motion and pulled me towards him and was using me as a human shield. "But you'll have to put a bullet through her first."

I struggled against his grip. "I am not a bloody shield you idiot! Let go!" I stomped on his foot, but it did nothing. "Vincent just shoot! It won't hurt me!"

I could see he was hesitating.

"As I thought…" Kadaj slowly back up still holding onto me, until he was halfway out of the living room. His souba was pressing into my skin on my neck, and his leathered fingers were digging into my forearms.

Both Vincent and Cloud ran out towards us, but before they could reach us Kadaj pushed me forwards, forcing me to crash into the two men. I jumped up just in time to see the silver haired teen jump out the window and down to the street.

"That was odd…" Cloud stated.

"He gave up too easily." Vincent added.

"MINA!" I rushed back in to see Sephiroth standing over my little girl. Without thinking I jumped on top of him and tried to pull him away. "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU SICKO!"

He back up against the wall, squishing me in the process. My grip loosened and I fell down once more.

"Wonderful things, distractions are." He grinned evilly and stepped forwards to touch Mina. The both of them were about to disappear before my eyes, and something inside me snapped.

"NO!" I stood up and flung him back and began to block his punches.

Cloud and Vincent finally got into gear and came to help.

"Grab Mina and go!" I yelled.

Vincent complied and scooped her up, ran out to the living room, and gathered the others.

"Just go and I'll find you!" I ordered once more.

"Not without me you won't." Cloud stayed behind while the others ran off.

Sephiroth unsheathed Masamune and swung it near my head. I ducked down and pummeled his stomach. Cloud grabbed him from behind and screamed at me to run while I could. I did as he said, and made a mad dash for the balcony. I ran towards it and jumped up on the railing and pushed off, rolling on the ground as I landed. I cradled my arm for a second, as I swear I heard something in it snap. I glanced up to see Sephiroth about to jump down after me, and Cloud trying to hold him back.

"GO!" He shouted once more.

I scrambled to my feet and started to run out through the streets. I could see the rest of the gang far in the distance near a parking garage, waiting for me. I headed in that direction but got cut off by the wannabes.

I skidded to a halt and spun around to head the other way. It wasn't long before I stopped again.

"What the hell is THAT??!"

'That' was a very large monster that slightly resembled a behemoth. It was more like a cross between Bahamut and a behemoth, which was a rather odd sight. It was a blue-ish, silver-ish, purple-ish, furred creature the size of the tallest building within the next hundred miles. Its wings stretched out to be twice as long as it was tall, and its head was bigger than a billboard. It growled and bared its incredibly long fangs, which had spit dangling from them. Its snout was long, and dark like a dogs. The eyes however, were the most startling, as they were blood red with flecks of gold and purple in them.

"Oh shit…"

Sephiroth came up behind me and tackled me to the ground. We rolled over several times as we each fought for the higher ground. The last roll we made, I ended up underneath with his hands around my neck, squeezing the life out of me. I caught a glimpse of Cloud running for us, and then before I knew it he had tackled Seph down and I had the chance to run once more.

Catching my breath, I fumbled to my feet and stared at the fiend once more. "I hear one Godzilla joke from Skye and I swear I'll kill her." I mumbled to myself.

I ran over to where everyone else was, and we continued on until we found a beaten up old storehouse. It looked more like a shack with storage boxes, but a haven is a haven.

"Cloud!" I called out, remembering he was still behind.

The blonde warrior soon entered the building as well, gasping for air.

"Where's Sephiroth?" I demanded.

"I'm not sure." He panted. "I lost him on my way over. Someone wanna tell me what's outside in the streets?!"

"That's it!"

"Huh?"

It all made sense now. Well, not all. "Remember when we first came here? I sensed an overflowing energy and I commented on how out of place it was. That's what it was! That thing, that monster, is what's creating all that mystical energy! Seph must've brought it here with him when he came. It's gotta be like his pet or something. Figure's he'd have something like that. He's using it to fight us. But…I thought he was going to give me a chance to come in on my own."

"Sephiroth has a pet??" Cloud was having trouble keeping up.

"What changed his mind…?"

Get out here and fight!

No!

I'll give you 24 hours to say goodbye to everyone, and if you don't come out to fight us by then, blood will be on your hands.

What made you change your mind!? What is with the sudden attack?!

Isn't it obvious? I hear you all the time, when I want to. I hear you talking to Cloud. I know that you changed your mind. And I know that you're starting to feel sorry that you'll hurt him when you're taken away. You care for him don't you?

It is no business of yours!

It is if it hinders the progress of my work! Say goodbye to them all now and then come out. Or I will start killing everyone here until you do. And if you still don't, then I will bring the fight to you, starting with Cloud. Do you understand me?!

You bastard…I'll come out alright. But let me warn you, you will lose.

He was gone. He sounded so angry and hateful. It scared me. I felt so frightened and alone and confused. I looked over at Cloud for comfort, and realized that he knew before what was happening and had come over.

"What'd he say?" He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a protective hug as I started to cry.

"He's giving me 24 hours to come out and fight." I buried my face deep in his chest and clutched his shoulders.

"Then we'll fight. We'll take the time to prepare and we'll go out and kick that thing's ass."

My sniffling subsided and I nodded. I noticed that the others were over in the far corner already preparing. They were trying to leave us alone, and I had to laugh.

"Cloud?"

"Hm?"

"Would you just sit with me for a while? Just in case…"

"We won't lose. But yes, I will."

So for the next hour we laid there on the concrete floor. I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my arms around his side while his right arm folded around me.

Cloud…do you really think we'll win? Is it really possible? I don't want to lose to him…and I don't want to lose you. Because…I think…I think I'm starting to care for you more than I have for anyone in a long time. I was always afraid to. I like being near you.

Everyone else was busy loading their guns and sharpening their blades, as well as starting to warm up. But not us. Cloud and I continued to lay there together.

"Some birthday." I murmured.

Cloud gave me a small smile. "I know what'll make it better. C'mon." He got to his feet and pulled me up.

"Where are we going?" I asked with a curious look.

He dragged me along to the far side of the storehouse, away from everyone else. He opened a door and pulled me inside with him.

Wherever we were, it was dark. At least it was until Cloud swiped his hand over the wall and found a light switch.

I laughed. We were in a broom closet. "What's this?" I continued to laugh.

"I'm taking you away from the world for a little bit."

"But what if Seph comes! What if he starts killing people and decides to start the fight earlier and we're just sitting in here and-"

Cloud grabbed a hold of my head and kissed me deeply.

My eyes bulged.

Whoa…

A minute passed, and his lips still lingered on mine. His hands had found their way down to my waist and pulled me closer to him, while mine had unconsciously wrapped themselves around his neck. I tried to back up but hit the wall, and our bodies were pushed closer together. He squeezed my waist tighter and kissed me deeper. His tongue slipped in between my lips and he slid it further in and brushed it across my mouth like he was exploring.

I gave a small gasp and pushed on his chest slightly to try to get him to lighten up because I was running out of air.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked while I caught my breath.

"Panicking." He replied.

"Oh. Well you panic very well." His lips were still close to mine as I breathed my words to him.

He rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. "Feel better?"

I fumbled for words. "O-oh yeah. Much better thanks."

Well now I'm screwed. I'm in love again.

MWUAHAHA! I finally made Cloud and Missy kiss!! YES! They're just too cute in my opinion. Ok, so I'm lucky cause I have the next few chapters planned out in my head so maybe I'll get em written out faster. Cloudo and Missy sittin in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g! Haha…can't you tell I'm hyper now?

Um, I've forgotten all that I was gonna say now. Oh yeah. It's almost my birthday!! YEAH! Happy happy happy. LOL I'm still all excited about making them kiss. I know I fail psychologically I accept that lol just humor me.

So I hoped you guys liked it, and I'll try to get another chapter out by the end of this month. I just have to multitask then : ) Until next time my lovely reviewers. Go send me a review pretty please! And thanks to those who already have and who continue to do so. I give you cookies. Ta.