Note: So, so late. I'm going to spare you the excuses and just say I'm sorry. Hopefully next chapter should come quicker, but since I feel I'll have more and more work getting the story up to par for your viewing pleasure, I'll spare us the pain and just not give a deadline. I definitely hope to have something up before the end of the year, though! But it may only be a new, five chapters story I'm nearly finished with. :)
But hey! This chapter is long and plenty of interesting things happen!
(faunalind: I'm going to answer to you here since you disabled your PMs. Don't forget Rain had plenty of time to get used to Zack being alive while he was still in Cloud's head. That being said, you're right, he's being pretty distant… The reason why will be addressed in time!)
Published on: 11/11/2012
Chapter 7
Genesis' stare on Angeal was eerily unrelenting. He didn't even seem to be blinking. Cloud fidgeted, ill at ease.
He usually didn't come down to Genesis' chamber, but lately Sephiroth had taken to accompanying Angeal and Zack when they brought meals to their prisoner. Since Cloud found this sudden interest curious and he was a bit sick of staying alone when they went down, he had decided to come with them this time.
Besides, Sephiroth had gotten rid of his crutch that very morning, even though he was still limping, and despite everything Cloud was worried. Despite the liberal use of a Restore Materia, it said a lot about SOLDIER that the stubborn man could walk unaided not even three weeks after getting his knee nearly crushed to bits. Most people would have had to live with the consequences of such an injury for the rest of their lives.
Angeal was attempting small conversation with Genesis, who was only answering with sneers and cutting, barely coherent rebukes.
"Still better than before," Zack commented in a whisper to Cloud.
They were standing with Sephiroth outside the doors, as Genesis reacted badly to more than one person coming in.
"D'you think he can heal?" Cloud breathed back.
Zack only shrugged, mouth bent in an uncertain grimace. Angeal got out, apparently unruffled, and Sephiroth pocketed the Materia that would keep the doors closed. Without a word, they all started on the way back.
This routine was beginning to wear on all of them. Could Genesis heal? Did they want him to? Were they helping, and should they? These questions buzzed in Cloud's mind, and he wished Rain would hurry and get there so something would happen. Even that dreaded conversation with Tifa would be a welcome relief, at this point.
A group of Evilgoyles ambushed them and Cloud had to fall back. Damn monsters! They had already explored all the caverns, how come there were always some of them left? He would have felt frustrated at being of so little use in the fight, but he noticed Zack and Angeal weren't doing much themselves, content to let Sephiroth vent his own frustration of the past few weeks. Now Cloud didn't know whether to feel awed by the man's amazing fighting style or sorry for the monsters.
"Hey, wait up, man!" Zack called, laughing, as Sephiroth went chasing after his last prey. "Damn, eager much?"
They had to run after him as Sephiroth practically flew in a tunnel. All their good humour disappeared when they heard the metallic clang of blades clashing. They rushed around the corner to find a rather unexpected scene: Sephiroth was locked in a stalemate with Rain.
Although a frown was on his face, Cloud's brother seemed unimpressed by the pressure Masamune was applying to his sword. His eyes were just as solidly locked to Sephiroth's as their blades were. The last Evilgoyle lay dead at his feet.
"Did I steal your kill?" he carefully said. "Sorry for that."
Sephiroth snorted. Then he consented to break their stare down and returned Masamune to his side. Rain visibly relaxed and Cloud rushed to him, elated.
"Rain! When did you get here?"
"Just now. You weren't answering your phone, so I figured you lot were down here."
They shared a hug.
"Glad to see you, mate," Zack said, smiling. "It was beginning to get a bit boring out here."
Cloud abruptly felt embarrassed.
"Oh, hum, that's right. Rain, uh, I couldn't quite figure out how to tell them you weren't coming alone."
Some eyebrows rose at that, though Sephiroth didn't look very surprised.
"What's that mean?" Zack asked. "Did you bring some friends?"
"You could say that. Some welcome and some… not so much."
Rain looked pretty sour when he said that. Cloud winced.
"Was she that annoying?"
"If I have to hear her comment on men's hygiene habits just one more time, I swear to Gaia, something painful will happen. Thankfully, we picked up someone she could chat with."
That was the first Cloud heard of this.
"Oh? Was that why you had to make that detour?"
Rain answered with a grunt, but Cloud noticed he had once more locked eyes with Sephiroth. It didn't seem to be a challenge, though, as Sephiroth actually seemed to relax a bit. It made Cloud really curious to know what these two had talked about on the phone when he had given Rain's number to Sephiroth.
"Let's go back so I can introduce everyone," Rain suggested.
He turned on his heel to do just that, then glanced over his shoulder.
"Actually, Zack, would you mind going first?"
"Huh? Why?"
Rain shrugged.
"Humour me?"
Zack threw him an odd look, but consented.
"You are a weird, weird guy. What, did you get Shinra to set an ambush up there or something?"
"No offense, but if I did that, I would make sure to set the strongest of you three up for the fall."
"That's not you, Zack," Cloud chirped helpfully.
"Hey, not you too, Spike! Besides, you don't know that! Especially with Sephiroth being three-legged until this morning!"
"Do you want to test that theory, Zack?" came Sephiroth's smooth reply.
He sounded so smugly unconcerned that even Zack had to shut up lest he dig himself in a hole. He was still muttering to himself when they cleared the last corner before camp.
There, he suddenly froze. Cloud peered around his shoulder to see a girl no less than ten feet away. Dressed in a practical pale pink dress, she had her hands clasped before her, and a hopeful smile lit up her face and made her pretty features seem stunningly beautiful.
"Zack!" she cried out. "I thought I recognized your voice!"
She rushed to him and hugged him around the middle. Zack embraced her back, though he seemed at a complete loss for words. Rain stepped around him with a weirdly fond look. Cloud made to follow, but suddenly found himself face to face with a pretty girl of his own.
"Cloud! There you are!" Tifa exclaimed. "I can't believe how much time coming here took. And that guy wouldn't even let me call you!"
She suddenly hugged him and he stood there, overwhelmed and stiff as a board. She pulled back barely a second later and scrutinized him head to toe.
"Huh. You are not a SOLDIER. You didn't make it yet?"
His face couldn't get any hotter. It would explode and splatter everyone with disgusting brain goo. Seriously.
"What is this?" Angeal grunted, pushing past them to get to the camp, and Cloud could have thanked him on his knees for the interruption. "A bunch of teenage girls, that's your notion of helpful friends?"
"Hey!" Tifa protested.
Rain shrugged and averted his eyes, apparently deciding that explaining himself would use far too many words. Zack seemed to find his brain back and he took the unknown girl by her shoulders, drawing back to look at her.
"Aerith, what are you doing here? Don't you know how dangerous this is?"
The girl, who was apparently his famous girlfriend, sobered and looked up at him.
"I do. Rain explained everything to me, but he also said I could help you and your friends."
"You dragged her into this?" Zack snarled at Rain, suddenly not amiable at all.
"Zack, wait! He didn't drag me into anything," Aerith pleaded. "He explained, and then he gave me a choice. He said you were in no danger and that you would make it without me, but I thought long and hard about it… and I decided that if I could help, I should!"
Zack seemed at a loss, caught between wanting to strangle Rain and appease his girlfriend. Tifa was thankfully too caught up in the drama to pay any more attention to Cloud, who noticed that Sephiroth was pinning a particularly intent stare on Aerith.
Rain cleared his throat. He now seemed somewhat annoyed at having to deal with the insanity of so many people.
"Let's just sit down and talk about all this, okay?" he sighed, heading his own words.
Cloud gratefully rushed to sit next to him, but since nothing was ever that easy, Tifa made a point of sitting at his other side. When all were settled, Rain glanced at a shadowed corner.
"I won't ask that you join us, but at least show yourself."
They all had the extreme surprise of seeing a man detach himself from the shadows and step forward. Sephiroth, Zack and Angeal immediately had their weapons in hand, and Cloud had to wonder how even three SOLDIER Firsts could have missed a man dressed in a bright red coat standing just twelve feet away.
"I hate it when you do that," Tifa said indignantly. "How long were you standing there? I thought you were outside!"
"I was. For a while," the man answered, in a deep and rumbling voice.
Rain said nothing, but the look he threw at Angeal seemed to say "how's that for a helpful friend?".
"Who the hell are you?" Sephiroth growled.
"My name is Vincent Valentine. And you must be Sephiroth."
Vincent seemed pretty interested in him.
"Vincent is a friend," Rain added. "He agreed to help me with a few things. The girl next to Cloud is Tifa Lockheart, and she is here through absolutely no choice of my own. Please ignore her."
Tifa reached around Cloud to try and swat him, but Rain effortlessly blocked her hand. Evidently, they had developed quite the habit.
"And a few of you know of Aerith Gainsborough."
"Of course."
That had been Angeal. Cloud hadn't been aware Zack had introduced his girlfriend and his mentor… And judging from Zack's perplexity, he hadn't. First Sephiroth, now Angeal; was this girl some sort of celebrity or what?
"You know Aerith, Angeal?" Zack asked.
"I know of her, like Rain just said. She is quite well-known among some of Shinra's people. I also noticed a while back that you had met her."
"She's my girlfriend," Zack said, frowning. "Has been for a few months now, right?"
"Hm hm," Aerith smiled gently back at him and nodded, quite content to sit beside him and hold his hand.
"But I never got why Turks were hanging around her all the time. That's what we are talking about, right? And by the way… they didn't come all the way here with you, did they?"
He sounded alarmed, as if the thought had just occurred to him.
"No," Rain said.
"Uh… How…?"
"I took care of it," Valentine provided, just as succinctly as Rain.
Cloud remembered what Rain had been saying about picking up a friend who could take care of Turks. From Vincent's unruffled answer and Zack's baffled stare, he hadn't been exaggerating.
"… Right. Anyway, what is that about? Aerith?"
Her pretty smile had dipped around the corners and she looked hesitant. She glanced at Rain, questioning him.
"We might as well talk about it, since it's for that reason that I asked you to come," Rain said, gaze soft. "Do you want me to…?"
She shook her head before he could finish, sitting up straighter.
"No, I'll say it. It's my story to tell. And besides, I know you don't like to talk much."
Her tone was teasing, and they shared a smile. Cloud immediately noticed the unusual fondness in Rain's expression. Unfortunately, Zack seemed to notice it too. He only blinked, not yet jealous, but a hint of suspicion in his eyes. Then Aerith started talking and he aimed all his attention at her.
She told them of the Cetra, an ancient race that had been steadily dwindling down since thousands of years ago, and of which she was apparently the last descendant. She told them of the Cetra's unique link to the Planet and the Lifestream, and of how much Shinra was interested in her and how they had been keeping her under surveillance for years.
"That's amazing, Aerith," Zack breathed.
"I'll say!" Tifa exclaimed, eyes wide. "You can really talk to the Planet?"
Aerith smiled timidly.
"Well, it's more that I can sometimes hear her thoughts, or something like that."
"Awesome! I can't believe these rats at Shinra would want to use you for money. If they come for you, call me and I'll come kick their asses!"
Aerith giggled and thanked her. Apparently, Cloud thought, Tifa had found herself a new friend during the journey to Banora.
"And you thought her abilities could help Genesis?" Sephiroth abruptly said.
He was talking to Rain, and it seemed to come from so far out of left field that Cloud had to wonder if he had missed a part of their conversation. Rain didn't react, apparently unsurprised, but Angeal and Zack had both frozen.
"Like I told you, I have no idea if this will work. But if someone can help, it's Aerith. Just don't get your hopes too high."
This was actually aimed at Angeal. Angeal didn't look like his hopes had even had the time to raise a head, let alone get too high; he was too thunderstruck.
"Help Genesis? What do you mean?"
Rain threw a glance at Sephiroth, who was studiously not looking at Angeal. Cloud saw a faint surprised smile appear on his brother's face.
"Sephiroth asked me if I could think of anything that would heal Genesis."
"You did?" Zack blurted out, turning to Sephiroth.
"Sephiroth…" Angeal could only say.
A lesser man might have blushed. Sephiroth simply gave a toss of his head and ignored the both of them. It made Angeal smile with something akin to wonder. He turned to Aerith.
"And you agreed to this?"
"Rain only told me you had a friend who had gotten very ill because of Shinra, and that he might need the Planet's help. I don't know exactly why he thinks I'd be able to help, but if I can do anything, I am willing to try. Apparently, Rain knows a lot of things I don't…"
She seemed a bit baffled when she said that, and it drew a laugh from Zack and knowing smiles from most of them. Even Vincent, Cloud noticed.
"Don't we know what you mean!" Zack proclaimed.
Rain was scowling.
"If you lot are quite finished…"
Their camp was only meant for four people, all of them men, so they had to improvise a little to settle everyone. Aerith and Tifa got their own little alcove, separated from the rest of them by a makeshift screen made of a blanket and a few pieces of wood. They pooled the two group's supplies and gathered around dinner. It was already late and the newcomers had been travelling all day: it was agreed anything else could wait for the morning.
Cloud thought it felt a bit weird to have so many people around all of a sudden, but it was nice. Tifa was hounding him for answers and he told her as much as he could: more or less what he had told the three SOLDIERs about the nature of his brother.
"You had that guy in your head all your life?" she exclaimed, appalled. "That must have been so annoying!"
"Of course not!" he rebuked. "It was great having someone like Rain to talk to. His quick thinking got me out of more than one tight spot, and he's always so calm…"
Tifa huffed and crossed her arms.
"Yeah, right. Calm? Blank is more like it. You shouldn't let someone like him boss you around, Cloud! He just likes to pretend he's better than the rest of us. You don't even know where he came from!"
"Why are you so hard on him?" he asked, more and more surprised. "What did he do to you?"
"To me? Nothing. But none of what you said explains why that guy felt it was smart to blow up a Mako reactor!"
Rain had been holding a quiet conversation with Vincent Valentine who was sitting next to him, having deigned to leave the shadows to get some sustenance. At Tifa's outburst, Cloud's brother looked up.
"Talking about me?"
"Who else goes around blowing up Mako reactors?" Tifa accused, glaring. "And after having possessed Cloud for years like a creepy ghost, too. What, are you some alien from outer space bent on destroying mankind?"
"You destroyed a reactor?" Sephiroth jumped in, eyebrows raised high.
He had been keeping a close eye on Rain, clearly unwilling to let him leave his sight for now.
"I didn't blow it up," Rain answered, rolling his eyes.
"It was a close thing!"
"And Vincent helped."
Vincent didn't dignify that with a comment, opting instead to stay focused on his dinner. It felt weird to see him eat normal food, as Cloud had been nearly sure he was a vampire or something.
"But you nearly destroyed a reactor," Sephiroth insisted.
"Yes. So?"
"Why did you do that?
"… Let's keep this kind of questions for tomorrow."
Sephiroth raised his eyebrows once more, but didn't pursue the matter. There was a bizarre lack of enmity between him and Rain at the moment. Cloud had to wonder how much of that was due to the lighter way Rain seemed to be carrying himself since he had arrived in Banora. Clearly, what he had been doing in Nibelheim had mattered a lot to him and his plans. That success had had a positive effect on his mood.
He wasn't the only one to be happier that evening, actually. Zack and Aerith barely left each other's side, engrossed in a conversation about, of all things, flowers and wagons, from what Cloud heard of it. Hope had finally reached Angeal's heart and the load on his shoulders seemed lighter, the lines on his face softer. Sephiroth's adamant watch of Rain's every movement gradually relaxed until he seemed content to bid his time for the evening. As for Cloud himself, with his brother in arm's reach and Tifa chattering endlessly about everything he had missed in Nibelheim since he had left, he discovered he couldn't quite stop smiling.
Maybe everything would eventually end up alright, after all.
The doors to Genesis' chamber opened slowly. As soon as she saw the huge statue in its centre, Aerith gasped, wide-eyed.
"This place…"
"What's up, Aerith?" Zack asked worriedly.
The girl turned to Rain, like she expected him to explain something, but he was inspecting the place with pensive eyes.
"The presence of the Planet is strong, here," Aerith breathed.
She slowly stepped forward. Genesis sat at the foot of the statue, looking unblinkingly at them all. His hair was completely white and bandages still littered his body. Aerith stopped at the threshold, hesitating. Zack was instantly by her side.
"I'll come with you. I can't let you go inside alone."
Aerith looked unsure.
"Actually… Rain… would you mind coming instead?"
They all turned to Rain, who merely tilted his head in interrogation.
"The Planet's voice is strong around you, too. I felt it the first time we met," Aerith said, gazing down. "I think it might be easier if you are here."
Something dark flitted in Rain's eyes, but he nodded and joined her without a word. Aerith smiled at Zack before entering, but though Zack smiled back, Cloud noticed with worry that he began frowning as soon as she turned. Cloud would have to talk to Rain soon about this. He didn't want to have to worry about his brother clashing with his best friend in addition to his hero.
They all stared at the two of them as they strode through the room. Genesis stood with difficulty, wary of the two new faces approaching him. Echoes of his voice reached the group staying behind the door.
"Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul, Pride is lost, Wings stripped away, the end is nigh."
Aerith and Rain stopped, still a respectable distance from Genesis. The young woman was prudently staying behind Rain.
"And who might you be?" Genesis added, face gaunt and voice hoarse. "New jailers for the old prisoner?"
Cloud thought with a hint of trepidation that he actually sounded saner than the day before. By the way Angeal's shoulders had tensed, he had noticed too. Aerith stayed silent, and Rain grudgingly answered.
"Genesis Rhapsodos. Former SOLDIER First Class."
"That's me. And you are?"
"… Someone trying to help."
Genesis laughed, and it was still an ugly sound that made Cloud shiver.
"Are you here to attempt and 'redeem' me too, then? How foolish."
He slowly stepped forward, but what should have been an intimidating act lost its effect under the weight of his wounds.
"My friend, the fates are cruel…"
Rain's hand flew to his sword and Genesis stopped and tensed. Angeal had flinched, ready to intervene, but Rain didn't draw. He didn't let go of his weapon either. With his back turned to the door, Cloud couldn't see his brother's face, but he noticed the tight grip he kept on the hilt and the suddenly wary look in Genesis' eyes.
When Rain spoke again, his voice was so low Cloud's unenhanced hearing nearly missed it.
"How long are you going to pretend your fate is not your own? Saying your faults and failures are only the result of your Goddess' will… Aren't you tired of being a victim?"
"This world made me a victim. I am merely rebalancing the scales," Genesis warily replied.
"No. You are desperately begging for someone to drop the reason of your existence in your lap, rather than actually working at finding it in yourself. Grow up."
Genesis took a step toward him, pale with anger. Rain drew his sword, then, and pointed it at him. Genesis jumped back and clumsily drew his own rapier, which they had failed to get away from him.
"Is that really how you want it to end? You drowning in your pain and your bitterness, lashing away at everyone that still cares about you despite it all? Didn't you want to be a hero?"
There was a strange weight to Rain's voice, like something old and still painful. Cloud shifted and forced himself to not run to his brother's side.
"Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds…" Genesis quoted in a breath, then, louder as if to convince himself: "I will be! I will."
Rain lowered his sword to his side and tiredly shook his head.
"No hero would have forced his friends to share his sins. You truly are pitiful if you can't realize their pain."
Cloud hadn't expected Rain's words to have any impact on Genesis, but the man looked confused. He blinked hard and stared at his rapier with a frown, tottering on his feet. Rain took the opportunity to interrogate Aerith with a jerk of his chin. She nodded, and they stepped away from Genesis and toward the door. As soon as they were out, Sephiroth snatched the usual Materia from the pedestal. The door closed on Genesis' unreadable expression. Cloud rushed to Rain's side and put a hand on his arm.
"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.
Rain looked bone-weary, but he managed a small smile.
"Yeah. Don't worry. Just bad memories."
Although Sephiroth remained impassive, Angeal was frowning.
"Was antagonizing him like this really a good idea?"
Rain didn't answer and simply turned to Aerith. Her hands clasped under her chin, she looked pensive. Zack threw a concerned arm around her shoulders.
"I'm okay," Aerith said, clearing her throat. "And I think Rain was right to do that. I could feel the Planet around, observing. She is watching this man, but she is wary of him. And sad, too. It's like she wants to save him, but she can't do that until he has saved himself."
"Saved himself…" Zack repeated. "What does that mean?"
"I think she wants him to remember himself. If he can find peace, she will help."
"Meaning the Planet can actually help against the physical degradation?" Sephiroth asked, his stare intense, before turning to Rain. "You were right. Once again. How could you possibly have known that?"
"I told you I didn't know anything. It was just a guess."
"And you formulated the hypothesis that the planet's essence might have an effect on the J cells… from what, thin air?"
"Oh Gaia, there he goes again," Zack said with actual humour.
"It's a valid question and you know it," Sephiroth insisted, frowning.
"All your questions are valid," Rain retorted curtly. "That's the problem, because you've got plenty. And every right to quite a few answers, too."
He sighed dejectedly, but although he seemed worried and his eyes automatically searched for an exit, he made no move to escape the room. Cloud couldn't help squeezing his arm, hope growing in his heart and his eyes. Sephiroth looked surprised.
"Does that mean you will actually stop evading?"
Rain crossed his arms and looked at his feet, tense.
"I will answer a few," he said, to Cloud's delight.
Tifa mock-gasped.
"Quick, fireworks!"
"Not for you," Rain instantly rebuked.
He ignored her cry of protest and looked Sephiroth in the eye.
"I will answer every question you have about your origins and your nature. Everything you have been searching for in Shinra; if I know it, I'll tell you. It's what you wanted from me, right?"
Sephiroth's eyes had gone wide with surprise and hope. Angeal clapped him on the shoulder, happy for him.
"That's great, my friend!"
Rain anxiously averted his eyes.
"It's your story… But you must know it's not a pretty one, and I…"
He stopped, as if unsure. Sephiroth tilted his head. Although he looked eager, he was not getting as overbearing as he had been that day in a dingy hotel in Midgar when Cloud had first talked about the source of the J cells.
"Yes?" he encouraged, voice deep and deliberately calming.
To Cloud's huge surprise, the tone seemed to work on Rain. And here Cloud had thought his brother would never be receptive to anything from Sephiroth!
"I'd feel better if you didn't learn it alone," Rain said.
To Sephiroth's credit, he immediately glanced at Angeal. His friend looked touched.
"You want me to be there?"
"Don't look so surprised. With everything that has come to light about you this past year, I think it'd only be fair if you knew just as much about me."
Angeal smiled, grateful. Rain looked relieved. When Sephiroth turned to him, he wordlessly nodded. Tifa crossed her arms, pouting.
"And what about the rest of us, then?" she huffed, even though Aerith giggled at her. "Left in the ditch to rot with the roadkill?"
"You can play hide and seek with Vincent, if you want," Rain said in a rare show of good humour.
Tifa glared and Zack let out a bark of laughter. Then he glanced self-consciously around him.
"By the way, where is that guy?…"
They started warily glancing around, looking for an invisible red coat, while Rain shrugged in his version of "I told you so". He interrogated Cloud with a single glance, making sure he didn't resent not sharing the confidence to come. Cloud grinned, already overjoyed that he was willing to put that small bit of trust in Sephiroth. Of course he was curious, but the least he could do was to grant his hero his privacy.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," he whispered. "You'll see!"
Rain's answering smile was strained, but Cloud could tell he wanted to believe it too.
"Time will tell," he simply answered.
He turned to walk out, Sephiroth and Angeal dutifully following.
They had been gone for about an hour, now. Cloud had to admit he was getting antsy. Rain had made such a big deal of it, he hoped nothing bad would happen.
Tifa and Zack were happily sharing stories about Gongaga and Nibelheim while Aerith, who had known nothing but the under-Plate Midgar before Rain had come for her, listened with rapt attention. Cloud felt a pang of sympathy for the city girl. He had noticed she was even kind of afraid of the blue sky, so used was she to see the Plate above her head. How miserable was that? To think someone who talked to the Planet had led that kind of existence…
Cloud was a bit too distracted to participate in the conversation, so he made himself busy by checking the supplies. He soon felt an intense stare on him. He glanced around the cave and was surprised — alright, and maybe a bit spooked — to find Vincent looking straight at him. When had the guy even came in? When their eyes met, Vincent came closer and settled on the ground not too far from Cloud. Without a word, he set to cleaning his gun. Nervous, Cloud was about to ignore him and go back to his task when he finally spoke.
"You're… Cloud Strife. Rain's brother. Right?"
Cloud nearly started and told himself off for being so jumpy. Vincent was a friend of his brother, surely there was no reason to be scared of him!
"Hum… Yeah," he answered, trying to sound casual. "We are not blood-related, though."
"Aren't you?"
Vincent looked up at him.
"Hum…" he said after staring for a few seconds. "I guess it's a question of interpretation."
Cloud's heart jumped in his chest. Did he mean what he thought he was saying? Could it be… Rain had told Vincent who he was and where he was coming from? And if that was the case, did it mean Cloud's guess on Rain's identity was right? Did he dare ask? Should he? No… Before anything, he had to talk to Rain about it. It was the least he could do.
Just then, Angeal and Sephiroth came in. They all expectantly looked up, but Sephiroth, his expression closed, scanned the cave with a sweeping look of his peculiar eyes. He located Vincent and went straight for him. Surprised, Cloud scrambled out of the way.
"Valentine. If I may talk to you in private?"
Vincent looked at him for a moment, then he nodded and got up to follow him away. Everyone else turned to Angeal, who merely shook his head with a sigh. He gestured for Zack and Cloud. Cloud eagerly joined him while Zack excused himself to the girls.
"What's up?" Zack asked, trotting to Angeal's side.
"Well, Sephiroth got his answers."
He shrugged and led them to an adjacent cave where Tifa and Aerith wouldn't hear them. He turned back to Zack and Cloud.
"He asked me to update you two with the salient facts. He seems to think he owes you that much."
Cloud felt warm inside, surprised pleasure making his way to his face. Zack seemed equally flattered.
"That means he trusts us somewhat, right? I'm glad! Sometimes it's hard to tell if you are making any impact on that guy!"
Angeal gave a small smile, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.
"So, what did Rain have to say?"
"Well," Angeal sighed. "Apparently, Sephiroth is Hojo's very own biological son."
"No way," Zack said, unable to believe it. "Hojo? That greasy guy?! There is no way he can share any DNA with Sephiroth! It'd be like comparing a dead fish and a… a…"
"Hojo…" Cloud said, confused. "It's that guy Rain mentioned once, right? The one in charge of Sephiroth's physicals?"
"That guy is creepy as all hell, Spike!" Zack burst out. "He's Shinra's head scientist, and you wouldn't believe the stories I heard about him. A woman would have to be seriously messed up to get in bed with him!"
"Watch your words, Zack," Angeal growled. "That messed up woman was Sephiroth's mother. Rain was very clear about that: Hojo is Sephiroth's father and he is a hundred percent certain of this information. Besides, it all makes sense in the end."
"How so?" Cloud couldn't resist asking.
"Because Hojo is just the type to use his own offspring in unethical and dangerous experiments."
And he went on to describe Project S, Hojo's lead project, which had involved nothing less than injecting big quantities of J cells in a foetus while it was still developing in its mother's womb.
"Directly in the foetus?" Zack gasped. "But it's that stuff they inject SOLDIERs with! Cloud was even violently allergic to it! What if the foetus had died?"
Cloud himself was appalled. What he had learned about Project G, Angeal and Genesis was already pretty unsettling, but it seemed this Hojo guy was even further gone than Hollander!
"I doubt Hojo would have cared much about that," Angeal said, his face grave, "except that he would have had to work harder to create the perfect soldier."
"And the mother?" Cloud asked, heart in his throat. "She actually agreed to that?"
"Rain admitted he didn't know much about Sephiroth's mother, other than that her name was Lucrecia Crescent and she was a scientist working with Hojo at the time. He sent Sephiroth to talk to Vincent, actually, since it appears he knew her."
"Uh. What were the odds?… Wait, forget that, we're talking about Rain."
While Zack rolled his eyes, Cloud was frowning.
"Didn't Sephiroth say his mother's name was Jenova, though? I thought he did."
Sephiroth didn't talk much about himself, but he was sure he had heard him mention this once in conversation since they had fled Midgar.
"That's what Hojo told him," Angeal answered with a smile that was more bitterness than joy. "Apparently, Hojo felt that the real mother of his perfect soldier was not a puny female human scientist, but the source of the J cells itself."
"J cells… Jenova," Cloud breathed, eyes wide.
"That's… seriously messed up, man," Zack said with a shiver. "So then, what's that Jenova thing? Did Rain tell?"
Angeal became a blank mask. Clearly, that information had upset him too.
"Well, it seems every SOLDIER has been injected with cells from a being from out of this world."
And then he told the tale of a creature that had fallen from the sky thousand of years ago and nearly destroyed the entire planet before she was sealed away, in a place where Shinra scientists then found her, only to decide playing with her cells would be an excellent idea to create an undefeatable army. Understandably, Cloud and Zack were pretty shaken.
"So… You had an alien in your head?" Cloud asked, voice very small.
"Apparently. But there is some good news."
"How can anything about this be good?" Zack exclaimed, very pale.
Cloud didn't blame him. He, at least, had never made it into SOLDIER. Having Mako injected in your body was one thing, it actually belonged on this Planet. But cells from a powerful alien that had been known to mess with heads…
Angeal smirked. Although a bit under the weather himself, he seemed to derive a wicked satisfaction from something.
"Rain very recently took it upon himself to get rid of her. From the way he said it, I wouldn't be surprised if he chopped her in little tiny pieces and lit her remains on fire. So, there is that."
"Oh," Zack could only say. "So… No more breakdown for you?"
"None. Unless you are planning on doing something particularly stupid, of course."
"Hey, why me?" Zack exclaimed, outraged, while Cloud sniggered at him.
By the time night fell, Sephiroth still had yet to come back. Valentine had been around, so obviously their conversation was finished. Angeal was reasoning that Sephiroth was probably off somewhere trying to get all of the pieces of his life back into order and that he needed the distance, but Rain was getting more nervous by the hour; it was obvious to see in the glances he kept stealing to the cave exit and in the obsessive way he was cleaning his sword.
With a small sigh, Angeal acknowledged that he should step in. He had been intending to go back to Genesis, with which he had spent most of the day since the Cetra girl had delivered her advice, but he didn't think letting Rain act on his paranoia would be a good idea.
"I'm going to go look for Sephiroth," he said, getting up from his place around the dinner campfire.
"OK!" the ever-reliable Zack cheerfully answered for everyone.
Rain said nothing, but he looked at him and the tension around his eyes lessened a little. He nodded.
Finding Sephiroth didn't take long. As expected, he had found the highest ground in the vicinity and was firmly planted on his two feet, arms crossed over his chest. His back was to Angeal and his hair was billowing in the night breeze.
"Rain is about ready to come and drag you back inside," Angeal quipped. "Or challenge you to a duel, it's hard to tell."
Sephiroth barely turned his head to acknowledge his presence, not yet offering him his profile.
"… Is that so."
"It reminds me of the day we found him and the way you looked about ready to strangle answers out of him."
"Answers I now have."
"And how does that feel?"
Sephiroth turned to him, then, eyes blank.
"Are you also afraid I'll fall to Genesis' madness, Angeal?"
Angeal smiled.
"No, I'm not worried about that."
"Because I am not alone?"
"And because Rain challenged you."
Sephiroth raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Not to a duel, but that's still just as good as a challenge for you. Because he looks so ready to believe you'll lose part of your sanity, you won't let yourself. That would make him right, and you don't want that."
"Do you really think I am that petty?"
"With Rain? Absolutely."
A surprised smile came to Sephiroth's lips, proof if he needed one that his friend was in no murderous rage.
"That's a bold claim."
"Just admit it, Sephiroth. Rain intrigues you."
Sephiroth scoffed, closing his eyes, but still smiling.
"He irritates me beyond all belief."
"It's good for you," Angeal claimed, smiling himself. "Years with half of Shinra at your beck and call have made you spoiled."
"Isn't that why I had you and Genesis, though?"
"And yet Rain irritates you a lot more than Genesis, and without really trying, too."
Sephiroth didn't deny it. He just turned his face to let the wind play with his hair. He looked content enough, maybe even happy. Finding out he was one of Hojo's projects couldn't have been such a shock. He had had months to get used to the idea following the unveiling of Genesis and Angeal's story. Hopelessly waiting for a confirmation must have been the most taxing, and maybe Sephiroth would have reacted very differently if he had been the only one left; but Angeal was still here, still sane, proof that they could live with that burden.
His parentage actually had to have been the ugliest shock of them all. Sephiroth had always held Hojo in contempt, going so far as to call him "a walking mass of complexes". It seemed, though, that Valentine had successfully distracted him with information about his mother. It had been a long while since Angeal had seen him so at peace.
"Sephiroth," Angeal called. "What are you going to do, now?"
Sephiroth turned back to him, a faint smile still on his lips.
"What do you mean? I am the one who asked Rain to bring that Cetra girl here. I'll at least see how this plays out."
Angeal smiled back, grateful that he hadn't yet completely closed the door on Genesis.
"Bur afterwards? I can't see you moving without some sort of grand plan. Now that you are no longer Shinra, and that you accomplished the goal that made you leave it… what now?"
Sephiroth tilted his head, considering.
"I suppose that depends mainly on Rain."
"Rain?"
"An ex-Turk and a Cetra girl… Strange allies."
"Valentine is an ex-Turk?" Angeal asked, disturbed.
It wasn't so far-fetched given his abilities, but as far as he could fathom, Turks were like SOLDIERs in that regard: there was no "ex-" before their names, because once in, they didn't leave the company. Ever.
"Fascinating, isn't it? And then there is the Mako eyes, the striking resemblance to Strife while they claim to not be blood-related, the way the "Planet's voice" is apparently stronger when he is near…"
"… the time he spent in Strife's head, the Mako crystal in that strange city, his near-encyclopaedic knowledge of all of Shinra's secrets…" Angeal finished for him. "Yes, he is a bundle of mysteries. And his objectives are still unknown to us, even though his actions have thus far seemed to benefit us. You want to keep an eye on him?"
"I don't have anything better to do, short of overthrowing Shinra. And I'm not yet bored enough to get to that."
"… The scariest thing is that you are probably not really joking."
Sephiroth merely answered with a smile.
"Have I been missing dinner? I'm starving," he proclaimed, brushing past him to get to the cliff side.
Gaia help them all if Sephiroth ever really got bored.