Note: Well, I think my weekly publishing schedule is dead and buried at this point. It was too tight anyway, and with one chapter per week I'd have to choose between updating this fanfic and writing it, which would suck. Plus, I only have four chapters left in my buffer after this one. So I'll be trying to update every two or three weeks. Hopefully this'll go better.
I also had to slow down on my answers to reviews, since you guys are awesome and I'm getting more and more love on this story. So once again, a big thank you to all the readers out there! (MonkeySensei, I was especially sorry to not be able to reply to you. Your comment was very encouraging, thanks a lot!)

Published on: 09/27/2012

Chapter 6

If his legs would have allowed it, Sephiroth would no doubt have been pacing. He had to make do with glaring at the wall and grinding his teeth, stubbornly not looking at Cloud. The ex-trooper was grateful. He didn't want that anger aimed at him.

The night had been difficult enough to get through, with everyone angry or sad or disturbed. A heavy silence weighed down on the four men. Zack kept fidgeting uncomfortably, eyes sliding between his three companions, seeming to sense it wasn't his place to break the mood. Cloud wasn't as upset to be the target of every disapproving glance as he'd usually have been. He was at peace with his decisions, and focused more on his own sadness and on that unsettling idea that wouldn't leave him alone.

Finally, it was Angeal who broke the silence.

"So," he said when everyone had had enough of eating or pretending to eat breakfast. "Now that we have all settled down a bit. Would you mind explaining yourself, Strife?"

Cloud raised his head and looked at the three SOLDIERs. Zack made a brave attempt to smile at him, Angeal stared back impassively, and Sephiroth was now glaring at a point just above his shoulder.

It was exactly this kind of attitude that made Rain wary, Cloud realized. Sephiroth was so greedy for information he was losing all sense of restraint. It wasn't fair that Cloud had to choose between the two role models of his life just because Sephiroth felt the need to throw some tantrums!

"Oh, get a grip, for Gaia's sake!" he all but shouted at his idol.

Sephiroth looked nothing short of astonished.

"Not everyone is at your beck and call! Rain had a life, before he ended up spending years trapped in my head. He had things to do, things he couldn't drag all of us around for. It's because of your attitude that he had to leave in the middle of the night like a thief!"

Sephiroth's raised eyebrows slid down into a frown.

"Strife—" he began sternly.

"You think I was happy to see him go so soon? I spent nearly my whole life with my brother. You can't even begin to understand how empty my head feels like now that he is no longer there!" Cloud ranted. "And after everything, when I finally met with him again, he had to leave… But I respect that, and the least you could do is to respect it too!"

Zack threw a protective arm around his shoulders, and he realized he was shaking.

"Hey, Cloud has a point; Rain owed us nothing. I mean, sure, we helped Cloud get him out of that weird-ass city. But before that, he had still saved Angeal without ever asking for anything in return!"

"Quite," Angeal sighed. "And there is really no need to be so glum, Sephiroth. You know Rain has to have left Cloud here with us on purpose. He'll come back, there's no doubt about it."

Although he looked in no way as furious as before, there was still a weight on Sephiroth's brow. His eyes slid to Cloud's.

"Is that for certain?"

Cloud nodded with absolute conviction.

"Yeah; he promised. And he said he'd be in touch, too. As soon as he can."

Sephiroth sighed and nodded. He looked frustrated, but most of his control was back.

"Huh," Zack said.

He seemed in a much better mood now that the air had cleared. He let go of Cloud and stretched his arms above his head.

"Well. What do we do, now? We can't just wait for a sign from this guy. How about we try and go back to Midgar?"

"Going out of the Northern Continent right now could be very risky," Angeal argued. "Don't forget they probably noticed our phone call in that city. They'll be watching the boats."

"Ah," Cloud remembered. "Yeah, I should probably mention this: Rain said he'd try to get the Turks' attention away from us, since he'll be harder to target."

"Be that as it may, I'd rather have nothing to do with Midgar before quite a while has passed," Sephiroth said unexpectedly. "We have no reason to hurry there now that we know Rain was never a prisoner of Shinra. I realize you have left important friends behind, Zack, but going back to them would only put them in danger."

Zack hung his head and sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Guess Midgar is out, then."

Cloud felt very guilty. It was because of him that Zack had had to leave his girlfriend and all his other friends behind, and all for his unwarranted concerns, too. He nudged him with his shoulder.

"Sorry, Zack."

His friend smiled and half-hugged him.

"'T's okay, little guy. Anyway, it might be for the best. Shinra was getting iffier and iffier."

He was just saying that to comfort him, Cloud knew. As "iffy" as Shinra was, Zack had been determined to make the best of what he had been given there, to do his job, to help people to the best of his ability. And now he would be stuck being a fugitive for the rest of his life. Cloud could maybe find a new place for himself, somewhere, somehow, but there was no way any of the SOLDIERs could go unnoticed long enough for that. As if he was reading his thoughts, Angeal smiled to him.

"Let's take it all one step at a time."

Cloud smiled back and nodded, touched. Angeal seemed much more amiable with him since they had found Rain, he had even used his first name earlier. The ex-SOLDIER had already had quite some time to get used to the idea of being a fugitive himself; coupled with Sephiroth's apparently unruffled attitude, it made all of this seem a bit less daunting.

"Yeah. Okay."

The very next day, Cloud's old PHS chimed from his pocket. They all stopped what they were doing while Cloud eagerly opened his phone.

"It's an email from Rain," he said happily. " 'Hey little brother, I'm writing this from one of these crappy public terminals in inns. I did as we discussed and our friends are hot on my tail. Will buy a phone as soon as I throw them off. Thought all of you might get bored in the meantime, so I suggest you head to the place your best friend got his Bahamut summon and dig around. See you soon, Rain.' "

"Woohoo, a secret message!" Zack deadpanned. "I am worth jack-shit at deciphering those. So, who is your best friend, Spike?"

"… That'd be you, Zack."

Like he was friends with a lot of people who possessed a Materia as strong as a Bahamut summon. Zack's face lit up.

"Oh yeah? Thanks, Cloud!" he said, flattered.

"So, where did you get a Bahamut summon, Puppy?" Angeal asked. "You certainly didn't have it when I left Shinra."

"Huh… Let me think…"

Zack started on some squats, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Huh… Oh yeah! Now I remember! It was Genesis'! He left it behind in… ah… in Banora."

Angeal sobered at the mention of his destroyed hometown.

"I see."

"Using his Materia so carelessly, that's just like Genesis," Sephiroth butted in with a scoff.

He was deliberately not looking at his forlorn friend.

"To Banora, then?" Cloud asked him, taking a leaf out of the SOLDIER's book.

"As soon as we can find suitable means of transportation. Although I have to say I don't particularly like your brother's way of stringing us along."

"He is doing his best, sir. I'm sure we'll find something important there."

"Hm."

"Anyway," Zack intervened, "Banora should be much nicer at this time of the year. I know I am sick of the cold!"

"Well," Angeal said, having gratefully taken the time they left him to pull himself together, "I am nearly done with that crutch for you, Sephiroth. Let's get out of here as soon as it's finished."

Their car had disappeared by the time they had made it back from the Northern Continent, and Cloud had had to silence his guilt and steal another one. At least this one had no broken window since he had been able to take his time, and they had been able to ferry it to the Mideel island.

The trooper was leaning against the car's door, utterly miserable. Zack was throwing him commiserating glances and trying to distract him with his usual babble, but Cloud had trouble paying attention to him.

Angeal was driving, and Sephiroth had had no choice but to retreat to the backseat so that his bad leg could lay straight. Cloud had willingly taken the seat next to him as he was the smallest of them all and could leave as much space as possible to his injured role model, but since Sephiroth sat nearly facing him and their legs occasionally brushed, he was very much distracted.

At least he was done wearing the man's too big spare boots, that pair Sephiroth had used in his SOLDIER Second Class' disguise. Those few days between Rain leaving and the moment when they had felt safe enough to stop at a town to get supplies had been embarrassing. It was in that very same shopping trip, though, that Sephiroth had somehow managed to acquire new phones for himself, Zack and Angeal. They were second-hand, but still serviceable. Cloud wondered how long it would take for Sephiroth to get Rain's number out of him once his brother got a phone.

Eh. That made Sephiroth sound like an overzealous suitor. He tried hard not to snicker.

"Hey Cloud," Zack said suddenly, catching his attention. "I was just thinking… How come Rain knew where I had gotten that Bahamut summon in the first place? I mean, I don't remember ever telling you. Did I?"

"No idea," Cloud groaned. "If you did, I can't remember. But I don't know why you're surprised. Rain knows a lot of things he shouldn't, hadn't you figured that out already?"

He was smirking. Zack kept silent a few seconds.

"Man, no offense Spike, but that guy is weird. Is he some sort of psychic, or an alien, or what?"

Cloud snorted. He actually had a very interesting theory as to why Rain would know so much about Zack's life, but he wasn't about to tell anyone that. Although he was nearly certain by now that he was right.

It had taken them about a week to get from the Northern Continent to Banora's outskirts, and there had been no sign of Rain in that time. Frankly, Cloud was starting to get very worried. Should it take him so long to get rid of the Turks following him?

"What's that?" Zack asked, leaning forward to peer through the windshield.

Night was falling, but in front of them, a strange green light was floating from the ground.

"We're nearly there," Angeal said.

Sephiroth said nothing, but by the way he briefly stretched his back, Cloud guessed he was impatient to escape the cramped space and uncomfortable position he was stuck in. For once, Cloud wasn't the only one who had to suffer through car rides.

Within minutes, Angeal stopped the car. They all got out and silently gathered on the cliff overlooking Banora's remains. Clumps of soil and rock now stood out from a background of gently glowing green light. Lone half-burned timbers and lopsided palm trees still clung to their islands of ground. The skeleton of the mill stood on a nearby hill like a forlorn sentry.

"Man, it looks so different now…" Zack said.

"The Lifestream," Sephiroth breathed.

Angeal sighed.

"People used to say Banora's soil was blessed by how close to the surface the Lifestream ran around here. I never thought it would take an air raid from Shinra to prove that theory."

"Hey, look," Cloud said.

He pointed to an area far away to their right. Above some steep hills, Mako green light shone as if emerging from a well, more intense than the glow from the destroyed village.

"Well, Rain said to dig around, right? Let's go take a look," Zack suggested.

They headed for the narrow path that took off in that direction. Zack and Angeal took the lead while Cloud stayed behind with Sephiroth, weapon in hand. The SOLDIER's contracted jaw was the only sign that he was frustrated by the speed at which he was hobbling along.

They reached what was actually looking quite similar to a well: a circular crack in the ground from the depths of which the Lifestream gently shone. Not far from it, they found the opening of a tunnel.

"It's too dark in there," Sephiroth said. "I don't like it."

"Yeah. We should probably get some equipment before going down there," Angeal suggested.

"What's the closest town?" Zack asked. "Mideel, right?"

"I'll go tomorrow," Cloud immediately offered. "I need to charge my phone anyway."

The old thing's battery could barely go three days while unused and Cloud kept having to charge it at inns and hotels.

"Alright, Spike, you do that, and Angeal and I can see if there is anything else interesting around here. Sephiroth, uh…"

"Save it."

The man sighed impatiently and tossed his head, sending a ripple through his long silver hair. Angeal shared a shrug and a small smile with Cloud and Zack.

"It's settled, then. Let's go back and set camp."

It quickly became evident that Rain had had to be talking about the tunnel, as there was hardly anything else around Banora. They began exploring as soon as Cloud was back with supplies and discovered nothing short of a complete network of caves and tunnels.

The scenery in there was rather spectacular. Pale Mako crystals shot from everywhere, lighting everything and making their new flashlights nearly useless. Small waterfalls made sure half of the caves had anything from one to ten feet of water, but the topography was chaotic enough that it was possible for anyone but Sephiroth to stay on dry ground by jumping from rocks to platforms.

The first time they had had to leave Sephiroth behind, Cloud had been reluctant. He had quickly learned not to be when they had returned to find him mechanically destroying a group of Evilgoyles with Materia alone. He had even looked rather bored. When one of the monsters had managed to slip through his attacks, he had cut it down with a single strike of Masamune, not even moving his legs.

That had been rather awe-inspiring to Cloud, who had no hope of going anywhere alone in the underground. The place was swarming with powerful monsters and he was mostly stuck playing support for the three SOLDIERs.

Still, the monster hunting was rather welcome for their funds. Although Sephiroth had been well inspired in taking off from Midgar with quite a sum of money, their need for supplies and travels had made a sizeable dent in it.

On the second day, Cloud emerged from the tunnel to discover he had missed a call. He let out a cry of dismay, earning the attention of his three companions. Obviously, there was no reception down there. He should have thought of it!

He immediately dialled back, not even explaining himself to the others. Someone picked up.

"I got a phone," were Rain's first words.

Cloud laughed, relieved beyond words.

"About damn time! I was beginning to get seriously worried! What took you so long?"

"Sorry. I did my best, but I am still no Turk. Don't worry though, I'll get someone to help on that."

Cloud's curiosity peaked.

"Someone? What do you mean? You know someone who can help you even after… you know…"

He sneaked a glance at the three SOLDIERs who were obviously keeping an ear on the conversation. He meant Rain's time travel, but they'd just assume he meant the years he spent trapped in his head.

"Yeah, sure. See, I won't be alone, so don't worry too much, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. Did you get started on what you meant to do?"

"Not yet, I lost time playing with these guys. I'm on my way now."

"Right. By the way, we are at the place you asked us to go to. Any kind of hint on what we are looking for?"

"… Frankly, I'm not even sure it's there yet. It might be too early. What did you find so far?"

"A whole bunch of caves infested with monsters. That's what you wanted us to look into, right?"

"No idea."

"What? Rain!" Cloud cried, appalled.

Although Angeal and Zack merely looked curious at his outburst, Sephiroth, who was walking at Cloud's side, was staring right at the phone. Did that mean he could actually hear his brother?

Rain laughed softly.

"Sorry, I really don't know. My memories are too fuzzy."

Sephiroth was now frowning. Without a word, he reached a gloved hand out.

"Uh, I think Sephiroth wants to talk to you."

"Of course he does."

The SOLDIER looked very much unamused.

"… and I think he can hear you."

"Of course he can," Rain agreed.

Despite his uneasiness, Cloud had to stifle a laugh. Sephiroth looked so unimpressed he couldn't help it.

"I'll talk to you later, Cloud."

"Yes!"

He handed the phone over. Sephiroth lost no time diving into business.

"Why would you direct us here with that kind of vague information? Are you purposefully sending us on a wild goose chase?"

Rain stayed silent a few seconds.

"I won't deny I don't really care whether you find something or not. Actually, no. I'd rather you find nothing."

Sephiroth stopped in the middle of the path and took a slow breath to calm his temper. His patience had taken quite a beating, first from Rain's disappearance and then from his wound. He did not appreciate being led around.

"Frankly, I mostly sent you there so that you would not end up in my way, whether accidentally or not," Rain carried on, although he had to be aware of Sephiroth's anger. "That's not to say there is nothing to find. I just don't know if it came here yet."

"And what, precisely, are we talking about?" Sephiroth growled.

"I'd rather not say anything if it's too early. It'll be a nasty shock as it is."

"You are a very, very irritating man."

Rain paused for a while.

"Somehow, it's very satisfying to hear you say that," he said.

Then he hung up.

It turned out there was no need to fret, as they found that "nasty shock" no later than the next day.

They emerged back in the sunlight, shaken to their very core. Zack, Angeal and Sephiroth were all pale, although probably for very different reasons. From the glint in his cat-like eyes, Cloud guessed Sephiroth was mostly furious.

Pre-empting what he was going to ask, Cloud called Rain.

"If I can't answer the phone, I'm probably busy doing something Shinra won't like. I'll call you back later. Be safe," the answering machine blithely told him.

Cloud heard Sephiroth take a long and slow breath through his noise. He sneaked a look at the man he admired to find him pressing a gloved hand against his brow in pure aggravation.

"Sorry," Cloud whispered.

Sephiroth turned his back to them and hobbled some distance away. He stopped in the middle of the path, letting the wind play with his hair.

"What are we gonna do?" Zack breathed. "Genesis… He was…"

Cloud didn't blame his friend for not finding his words. They had all thought Genesis was dead, finally laying at peace in the Lifestream. Instead of what, the man was down there, more stark raving mad than ever before. If he hadn't obviously still been suffering from his degradation and the wounds Zack had inflicted on him the last time they fought — six months ago! — it was clear they would have had to kill him.

But Genesis had tripped while trying to charge them, sank to his knees and not managed to get up, all the while screaming and ranting at them. Cloud had found it terrifying and he hadn't known the man before he left Shinra. For Sephiroth and Angeal, it had to have been a horrible vision.

But Sephiroth had been the one to snap them out of it, barking at them to get out of there. They had left and Sephiroth had snatched one of the seven strange Materia that had been resting on a pedestal before the room. The huge doors had immediately slid close, sealing Genesis and his incoherent insults inside.

"Well," Angeal sighed. "At least we know what those two clones we killed this morning were doing here."

Although his voice was calm enough, neither Cloud nor Zack could see his face.

"Taking care of him, right?" Cloud whispered. "He obviously can't get food and the like on his own."

They lapsed into silence.

"We can't leave this place anymore," Sephiroth said suddenly. "There might be other clones around, or a way for Genesis to open this door from the inside. We have to move our camp to the tunnel."

They had explored enough of the caves to know there was only one way out. If they guarded it, Genesis would not be able to escape. It was a good plan; but then, what would they do? Cloud wanted to ask. He swallowed the question.

"Then Cloud and me will get everything from camp," Zack suggested, his voice somewhat back to his usual confident one. "Right, Spike?"

Cloud nodded gratefully and followed him to the remains of Banora, leaving the two friends alone in a tense silence.

It's only in the evening that Rain called back.

Since no one had been in the mood to explore more, Cloud had taken advantage of the afternoon to go back to Mideel and recharge his phone. He was now officially in charge of supplies for the group. He had told the locals he was in the area to make a living out of hunting monsters. Thankfully, the Mideel folks were an eccentric bunch and no one batted an eyelash at the high-level stuff he sold to the shopkeepers.

"I'll put you on speaker," he told Rain.

He pressed the correct button and inclined the phone towards the three SOLDIERs that sat with him around the fire. They were a subdued bunch, tonight.

"So, you found him," were Rain's first words.

Angeal sighed heavily. His closed eyes and painful frown betrayed his torment.

"What I want to know is… what are you playing at?"

"Playing? This is not a game. I assure you it doesn't feel funny to me either."

"Then why send us here?" Sephiroth growled.

He was keeping a tight rein on his emotions, but Cloud could still feel the anger boiling in him. Rain kept silent a few seconds.

"You deserved to know."

There was really not much that could be answered to that. After some time, Rain sighed.

"I can't stay on the phone for long. I'll be busy for a while yet. Cloud?"

Cloud took back his phone and deactivated the speaker.

"Yeah?"

"I found that friend I told you about."

"Oh."

"He agreed to help me. I'll be sure to introduce you two soon. After all, you tried to help me get to him, once upon a time."

"I did?" he frowned. "… Oh. Oh!"

His eyes grew wide. Was Rain talking about that day he had asked him to get inside the Shinra Manor in Nibelheim? That was the only favour his brother had ever asked of him. But who the hell could he have found in the manor? The place had been deserted since before Cloud's birth!

"Does that mean you are in—?"

"Hush. I'd rather they don't know. But yes, I'm there. Don't worry, I have been avoiding the villagers."

Cloud tugged on his collar, gulping. Who knew what would happen if anybody saw someone looking so much like Cloud the looser wandering around the village? And his mother! He didn't even want to think about her meeting Rain out of the blue.

Still… He sneaked a glance at his companions and, noticing Zack had turned the conversation to more pleasant subjects, quietly walked away from the fire.

"Ah… Do you think you could…"

"Hm?"

"If I sent you an email for someone, could you…"

"… write it and deposit it in their mailbox? Sure."

He sighed, relieved.

"Thank you."

"If you've got one for Tifa, I'll do it too," Rain teased.

"Wha… Rain!" he hissed in the mouthpiece, face flaming.

His brother gave a quiet laugh.

"Try and do it this evening. I'll be very busy from tomorrow on. And don't try to contact me before I send you a message saying it's okay."

"… It's going to be dangerous, right? What you're going to do?"

"Frankly? I don't know. It could be done in a heartbeat. Shinra will notice and be very displeased, though. There is no helping that."

"Okay…" he sighed. "Be careful, then."

"You too."

The next days went rather quietly.

Angeal took the habit of going down to bring Genesis food. Zack worried and often went with him to the door, while Sephiroth simply frowned and kept silent. When Cloud would follow Zack on some patrols to keep the population of monsters down, his friend would keep him updated.

"He behaves a little less like a crazy loon," Zack panted, chugging down a potion Cloud had given him. "You know, less raving. His eyes still look mad, though. Mainly, he just stays far away from the door and watches Angeal and me until we leave. Sometimes he talks, complete nonsense and LOVELESS quotes; which are the same as far as I am concerned. I just don't know, Spike. It's not like we can kill him when he is like that."

Cloud had his reserves. He wondered if Sephiroth wouldn't be able to do it. After all, he had severed Angeal's wings without hesitation, as soon as there had even been a possibility it could help. Then again, according to Zack he had also refused to be sent on the first mission to track down Angeal and Genesis when they had gone MIA, probably fearing he would have to kill them.

The SOLDIER was a complex man. It was even more difficult to understand his position on the matter when he never talked about Genesis, except to make sure he wouldn't escape.

Finally, Rain contacted Cloud. Cloud had been on the way back from Mideel and lost no time pulling over.

"Is everything alright?" he eagerly asked.

"It's done. I'm fine. My friend is fine," Rain answered, unusually irritated. "But it still doesn't exactly feel "alright" to me."

Cloud heard a feminine voice in the background and nearly had a heart attack.

"Is it Cloud?"

"Wa-wa-wa-was that…?"

"I told you I was no Turk. So apparently, someone saw me posting one of your letters."

"It is Cloud!" the voice said triumphantly, from a bit closer. "Give me that! I want to talk to him!"

"Tifa?" Cloud cried in dismay.

"She is very persistent."

Before he could ask what that meant, there was an outburst of static and some loud ruffle of fabric.

"Cloud!" Tifa said, apparently now in possession of the phone. "Is that you, Cloud?"

"Tifa…"

"Oh, thank Gaia! I was beginning to think these guys were just creeps out to kidnap young girls."

"No one asked you to come," Cloud faintly heard Rain say.

"So, is that guy really your brother? I couldn't believe it when I saw him! He looks so much like you! How come no one even knew you had a brother? I never heard your mom talk about him!"

"Tifa, wait! What are you doing with Rain?"

"Well, I had to find out who that weird guy who looked like you was, duh. At first I thought it was you, can you believe it? But then I thought, no, I don't think SOLDIERs are supposed to look older than their real age. You know, you owe me some explanations."

"What?" he weakly asked.

He was busy trying not to faint. Had he heard Rain right? Had Tifa actually gone with him?

"About why your brother just sabotaged the reactor. I thought you went to become a SOLDIER? And he looks like a SOLDIER, too. Although that guy with him just looks weird. So, how can your brother be a terrorist if he is Shinra? Not that I really like Shinra, but still. That's just plain weird. That's why I went with them, but your brother can be a real jerk; he won't tell me anything."

"… Tifa, where are you right now?"

"Well, in their car, obviously. They are hightailing it out of Nibelheim, outlaws that they are."

"Wha… Tifa!" he exclaimed. "Why would you go with them if you knew they had done something illegal? Now you are going to be in trouble too!"

"I can always pretend they held me hostage or something. But I am not backing off without some explanations! Besides, I was getting bored. Half the kids our age left for the city; I thought I'd at least see what the hype was."

"By carpooling with some shady guys without any proof that one of them was really my brother?"

"Oh, sod off. You know I can take care of myself. I used to wipe your ass at Zangan's, remember?"

He wanted to argue some more, but he found himself out of words. Rain had actually sabotaged Nibelheim's reactor. He would be chased by Shinra even more than he had already been. His friend was apparently very weird, and Tifa had managed to get dragged in the horrible mess that Cloud's life had become! What else could go wrong?

"Cloud? Hey, don't ignore me—"

"And that's quite enough."

Static again, through which he heard Tifa loudly protest, then Rain's voice.

"Like I said; she is persistent."

"Come on!" Cloud cried. "You are at least SOLDIER level! Couldn't you have prevented her from coming?"

"Sure, except she looked very serious about giving Shinra every last information she had about us and what we did. Frankly, I can't afford it."

Cloud groaned, desperate.

"This is just… peachy… just great."

Rain's voice softened.

"I'm sorry, Cloud. I do what I can, but I am not infallible."

"I know," he sighed. "I know you're doing your best. And I am the one who asked you to post the letters, so it's mainly my fault. Did you really sabotage Nibelheim's reactor?"

"Yes. Though that was more of a side-effect. With luck, Shinra will think that it was our real objective and the rest was just collateral damage."

"What about the scientists who worked there?"

"Cloud."

Rain's voice was admonishing.

"They are unarmed, of course."

"Oh. Yeah, of course they are. Sorry, I'm not thinking right."

"It's okay. We are on our way to join you. I'll see you soon."

"Okay. See you then."

He hung up to Tifa's protest that she still wanted to talk to him. He gave a heavy sigh and his head dropped to the headrest. He couldn't believe he would have to see Tifa soon on top of everything else. He still felt somewhat bad that he hadn't managed to make SOLDIER despite the way he had nearly bragged before her, and she was already demanding answers about things he couldn't talk about, things that weren't his own secrets.

And then he'd have to explain Rain.

Oh boy.

That evening, when they all settled around the campfire for dinner, he had to warn his companions that Rain had called and would be joining them soon. He figured he had a little time left to figure out how to tell them he wouldn't be coming alone.

It didn't seem like the right time anyhow, he reasoned. Though Zack was happy that Cloud was going to be reunited with his brother, Angeal and Sephiroth barely reacted to the news. He would have thought Sephiroth, at least, would be more eager.

But just after dinner, Sephiroth came to him to ask for Rain's phone number. Cloud's eyebrows jumped to his hairline. He had expected that days ago. Since Sephiroth had said nothing until now, he had thought he'd be content to wait until Rain came back.

"Uh…" Cloud said.

Now that it was happening, he didn't really know how to answer. Would Rain be offended if Sephiroth got his number? Then again, Rain was the one who wanted to keep an eye on the SOLDIER. That Sephiroth was still willing to talk to him was a good thing, right? He could hardly imagine the man plaguing his brother with phone calls until he got the information he so obviously wanted out of Rain.

"Okay," he decided. "I'll just send him an email so that he knows who is calling."

"Of course," Sephiroth answered, not batting an eyelash.

The email was sent, the number traded, and Sephiroth thanked him and hobbled away. Cloud could only stare after him, curious.

Sephiroth sat down on a rock near the mouth of the tunnel and leaned his crutch against his side. Drawing his PHS from his pocket, he allowed his gaze to wander in the starry sky.

The rings dragged on until he began to think Rain wouldn't pick up. Then he did. A silence settled on the line.

"I appreciate that you agreed to speak with me."

"I'm curious. If you wanted to ask for that kind of information on the phone, you'd have done it long ago."

That kind of information. Once more, Rain made it obvious he was perfectly aware of what Sephiroth wanted from him, which could only mean he had these answers.

Sephiroth calmed his breathing and focused on the reason for his call.

"Genesis."

"What about him?"

"What did you expect would happen if you sent us here?"

Rain stayed silent.

"Do you know what state he is in?" Sephiroth pressed on.

"Not precisely. Still degrading, I expect. Probably too weak to do any kind of damage to you lot."

"Too weak to battle us and die with honour."

Rain's voice dropped.

"I wouldn't have asked that of Angeal. I'm not that cruel."

"What did you expect me to do, then?"

"… I don't know. What are you planning to do?"

The leather of Sephiroth's glove creaked as he clenched his fist.

"Is this some kind of test?" he asked, voice tight.

"Is it?… Maybe. Mostly, like I said, I wanted you out of the way. Someone would have had to take care of him, sooner or later. If it allows me to better understand the kind of person you are, I guess it's a bonus."

For someone so secretive, Rain could be incredibly frank. Sephiroth raised his free hand to his brow.

"I don't understand you at all."

"I'd feel better if the reverse wasn't also true."

A hint of dry humour had slipped in that statement to disappear at once, as if Rain hadn't premeditated it and wasn't happy about it. If that man could be blunt, Sephiroth didn't see why he should refrain.

"Can Genesis be healed?"

A brief silence.

"Probably."

"Probably?" he repeated, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.

"Yeah. In some kind of universe, it would happen."

"What kind of an answer is that? You are not making any sense," he sighed.

He couldn't even find it in himself to stay angry with that man. He was too much of an enigma.

"I mean I am sure there is a way, or maybe one chance in a million."

"You don't know how it can be done."

"No. Just that it can be done."

Which was incredibly helpful. He sighed again and dragged a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling very tired. This conversation was not going how he had hoped it would.

"… I could find someone."

Rain's voice was hesitant, nearly timid.

"Someone?"

"Someone who might help. Or not. I don't like the idea of dragging them in that mess, but it's the only way I can think of."

"I see."

There was another lull in the conversation.

"Would you be able to forgive him?" Rain asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"What are you asking?"

"Just that. I find it curious that you'd willingly look for a cure for Genesis. He left you both behind, then dragged Angeal down with him. Don't you resent him?"

"I do. But if this goes on, Angeal will never stop mourning for him."

"Hm. You'd do it for Angeal, then?"

"Is that a satisfactory answer?"

"… I guess."

Sephiroth couldn't help it. A slow rumble of a laugh dragged itself from the depths of his throat and morphed into a deep chuckle.

"I don't think I have ever met anyone quite like you."

Rain seemed thrown.

"… Oh," he only answered.

"Will you bring that person?"

"I'll try. If they refuse, I'm not insisting."

"Very well. I can agree with that."

"Then it's a deal. Tell Cloud I'll be away a few days more."

Rain hung up. Sephiroth wondered if he should have thanked him.