Note: Strange how I'm receiving mixed reactions about Tifa in this story! Some of you love her, others are very annoyed with her… If that's you, I'm sorry about that! But remember she's a teenager who spent her whole life being treated like a princess by basically her whole village, including Cloud. I always saw her as pretty aloof and selfish at this age. Nibelheim's tragedy forced her to grow up, thankfully, and she will do some growing up in this story, though of course it will have to happen differently. Hope you don't feel like strangling her too much in the meantime. :)

(Coiria, thanks for your suggestion! I think I'll stick with the current title for now, but I like your idea.)

Published on: 05/26/2013

Chapter 9

They ended up camping in the wild, and without a fire since it would have attracted too much attention. It was going to be a humid and miserable night, but Cloud didn't even think about complaining. They had no choice, and he was still in a much better situation than poor Aerith. She had subdued during the walk and apologized for her outbreak, but she was still pale and had trouble looking anyone but Tifa in the eye.

As a result, Tifa was sitting beside her and looking very protective, and all of them men had by a silent agreement taken turns at the stream near the camp to wash off the blood from their clothes and skin. All of them save Genesis, still unconscious, and Rain… Cloud's brother was squatting in a corner since they had arrived and seemed lost in an intense bout of brooding.

Cloud lowered himself to the ground next to him, worried.

"Hey, Rain, are you alright?"

"I sure hope he is not," Tifa muttered from the opposite end of the camp. "All of this is his fault, after all."

"Tifa!" Cloud exclaimed, scandalized.

But instead of the long-suffering manner in which Rain usually interacted with Tifa, his brother merely gave her an unreadable glance and returned to his contemplation of the ground.

"It's true!" Tifa insisted. "He had to go blow up a reactor and piss off Shinra, and now here we all are!"

"Actually," Sephiroth said, "I doubt they were here for Rain; they didn't seem to recognize him. Most likely, they were looking for Angeal, Zack and me."

"But how did they find us?" Zack asked, worried. "We were so careful!"

"Maybe they asked around in Mideel and someone recognized my description," Cloud suggested, feeling guilty even though it couldn't have been helped.

"I doubt it," Rain finally spoke up. "Mideel is not a very Shinra-friendly town, especially since Banora's bombing."

"You got a better proposition?" Tifa asked, scornful.

"Tifa, stop it! Why are you blaming Rain like that? He did nothing wrong!"

"Cloud is right," Aerith shyly said. "It was no one's fault."

"I am unsure of that."

To Cloud's surprise, the one speaking had been Angeal. He was standing beside the prone Genesis, a no-nonsense expression on his face.

"Don't misunderstand me," he said to Rain. "I am grateful for what you did for Genesis. But I can't help but wonder what that monstrosity that attacked us was, when you were so adamant that we were now safe from the source of the J cells."

To Cloud's amazement, Rain closed his eyes and his face became drawn and taut.

"Jenova was destroyed," Vincent answered in his stead. "I was there. We both made sure of that."

Sephiroth had crossed his arms and his face was shuttered. It was obvious he, too, was displeased by whatever had happened in the caves. Cloud expected him to jump at the opportunity to get angry at Rain, but instead he said:

"Hojo as good as confirmed your claims. However, he also mentioned he had somehow used her remains to create that monster. Is this really enough to explain that Angeal, Genesis and I all fell prey to a mental attack you assured us could only come from Jenova?"

Rain was shaking his head with a distressed expression.

"I don't know," he sighed. "I really don't understand. Did I mess up? Were there some live cells left, or was that… thing the result of Hojo's desperation? I have no idea."

I don't get it at all, his face was saying, and Cloud understood: nothing like that had ever happened in the future he was coming from. He was completely out of his depth, no bit of otherworldly knowledge left to share.

Sephiroth took a step forward and Cloud tensed. He abruptly felt like they had gone back weeks ago, when Sephiroth had looked ready to do about anything to get some answers out of Rain.

"Then maybe you can clarify this," he hissed. "Hojo himself said that normal SOLDIERs shouldn't have been affected by that monster. Yet you were just as vulnerable to it as Shinra's three prized experiments. Why?"

Rain was so high-strung he looked ready to bolt. He met Sephiroth's stare head-on, but Cloud could tell it was out of sheer stubbornness. He didn't answer. Sephiroth's eyes became slits of simmering green. No one else dared to intervene.

"You are no ordinary SOLDIER," Sephiroth growled. "I already knew that. You proved today your martial skills are of a SOLDIER First level, your speed even on spar with mine. And yet every time we had to practically pull answers out of you about Angeal's or my nature, you never deemed it necessary to mention you had some firsthand experience with what we lived. Why? Who are you?"

Rain's chin went down without him breaking their staring contest. Although being questioned by Sephiroth usually made him belligerent and he had to have seen him much more furious than this, his body language was screaming defensiveness to Cloud. What was going on?

A coughing fit broke the heavy tension that had settled over the camp.

"Ah! Genesis!" Angeal cried out, redirecting everyone's attention to the red-haired man who was groaning on the floor, apparently awake.

Angeal dropped to his friend's side and Zack rushed to help him, offering his water canteen. Aerith came over too, Tifa in her wake, to assert his health. For a moment, Cloud even saw Sephiroth's eyes sway on the verge of some unnamed expression as he looked in Genesis' direction. Then his face closed up once more and he gave a last, hard glance to Rain before striding to the group.

Cloud stayed by his brother's side and put a hand on his arm.

"Hey, don't worry," he said, trying his best to smile. "Everyone is on edge right now, and you know how Sephiroth can get."

Rain didn't look at him. He took his hand, gently squeezed it, then brushed it off.

"I know, Cloud. I just need a… I need a moment alone. I'll be back."

He stood up and turned to walk away, disappearing between the trees. Cloud could only watch him go, feeling utterly useless.

Genesis was, incredibly enough, perfectly sane. The difference was so striking it felt like watching a completely different person. Angeal seemed overwhelmed by emotion and let an enthusiastic Zack narrate what had happened to get their motley group together and hiding in a jungle away from Shinra's search parties.

"I… see," Genesis finally said, at a loss for words. "What a curious turn of events. So coincidental, too," he added with a twinge of suspicion. "And where is this strange Rain character?"

"Hiding away somewhere," Tifa snorted.

"He took a moment away from some people who arbitrarily decided he was the source of all evil," Cloud hissed, glaring at her.

Tifa seemed offended and turned her back to him, scoffing. Why was she being so unreasonable about this!

Genesis' eyebrows lifted and he hummed. Then his focus shifted.

"If possible…"

He cleared his throat, looking uncharacteristically hesitant.

"I'd… appreciate it if I could have a word alone with Angeal and Sephiroth," he said, voice stilted.

"Sure!" Zack exclaimed, jumping to his feet like he had been waiting for this signal. "Come on, everyone, time for dinner!"

This was at least one thing nobody felt like quarrelling over. They drifted further away to get their provisions out of the packs, leaving the three SOLDIERs alone. Cloud sneaked a glance at them over his shoulder. Angeal was sitting next to Genesis, a hesitant smile on his face. Sephiroth stood behind him, face unyielding and blank, but at least he seemed willing to listen.

Rain had given them this moment. Why couldn't anyone but Cloud see that? He glanced at the jungle from which his brother had yet to come back, throat closing.

He jumped when a gentle hand touched his arm. He turned to see Aerith there. The young woman made a sincere effort to smile at him.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll come back safely."

He smiled back, genuinely touched. There was at least one other person who seemed willing to believe in Rain.

"Thanks. You're right, I'm sure he will."

"While everyone is getting dinner ready, do you want me to take a look at your wound?"

She held up the first-aid kit in her hands, not meeting his eyes.

"Oh!" Cloud said, startled. "That's kind of you, but…"

"It's okay," she said, valiantly looking up. "I can't keep being afraid of a little blood. I agreed to be a part of this, so I should at least do my best to be useful. I know you are all doing your best and that this battle wasn't your fault at all."

What could he answer to that? He smiled again, with a hint of wonder.

"You're being very brave. Sure, I'd like your help. Thanks."

She blushed a little but seemed happy with the praise. Cloud sat down and removed his shirt to let her take a look at his flank and the crude excuse for a bandage he had put there himself.

By the time she was done cleaning and rebandaging the wound, the three SOLDIERs' private conversation had come to an end. Sephiroth was as blank as before, but Angeal and Genesis' interactions were friendly enough and they seemed to be making sincere efforts to return to their old relationship. Genesis even took a moment to apologize to Zack for all the trouble he had caused since Wutai.

"I know words are not much," he said sombrely. "But I will sincerely do my best to atone for everything."

"It's fine, man," Zack answered in typical Zack fashion. "I can tell you're back to yourself. I'm looking forward to working with you!"

They shook hands and Genesis seemed reluctantly grateful for his unquestioning acceptance.

Genesis was still recovering, though, so he ate and went back to sleep, exhausted. The rest of them cleaned up after dinner, then prepared for the night. From the corner of his eyes, Cloud saw Vincent sneak away between the trees with some food. He returned some time later, empty-handed but alone. Cloud slipped in his sleeping bag and lay awake, staring at the night sky between the palm leaves.

Finally, an hour after everyone else had settled down, Sephiroth silently rose from his night watch. Cloud turned to look at him. The SOLDIER was staring at a dark patch of undergrowth from which soon emerged a familiar figure. Rain and Sephiroth exchanged a long, hard look, then turned away from each other. Sephiroth went back to his vigil and Rain crept to his sleeping space. He wordlessly put a hand on Cloud's shoulder, acknowledging and apologizing for his sleepless watch, and lay down next to him.

Cloud closed his eyes and let a silent sigh of relief escape him.

The helicopters came at dawn. The firsts of their group had barely begun to awake when they heard and saw one pass low over the trees. The decision was unanimous: they had to move, because they had probably been seen. They packed in a hurry and set off minutes later, the girls and Genesis still bleary from sleep.

"Where are we even going?" Tifa asked, and Cloud could hear the hint of fear in her indignant voice. "We can't keep running forever!"

"We need vehicles," Sephiroth answered.

"Mideel is the only decent-sized town on the island now that Banora is gone, and we set off in the opposite direction from it," Rain pointed out.

"I would have proposed transportation, but I think my last copies are gone," Genesis said. "It would be much simpler if you all had wings…"

"Ah, about that, Genesis…"

While Angeal briefed Genesis on the presumed danger of their extra limbs, Sephiroth proceeded.

"This means the only source of vehicles around is Shinra itself."

"One of these helicopters would be a blast," Zack agreed, and Cloud saw Tifa gape at their craziness.

"Please don't tell me we are going to attack Shinra to steal a helicopter," she muttered.

She had apparently learned better than to outright tell them what was and wasn't possible, though.

"That would mean going back to Banora," Rain said. "The jungle is too impracticable for vehicles, they probably left them there."

"There'll be soldiers looking for us on the way there, right?" Cloud asked, a little sad.

He had been one of those people not too long ago, and having to fight them still felt unfair.

"Most probably," Sephiroth answered. "They'll certainly have brought Turks in, too. Valentine, you and I will scout ahead. We'll search for the best route and dispose of opposition if we have no other choice. Stealth is preferable. Angeal, you are in charge here."

Cloud distinctly saw Rain twitch, as if he was offended that Sephiroth had taken charge. He visibly restrained himself, though, and Sephiroth and Vincent were soon gone. There was a fierce frown on Rain's face, and Cloud couldn't even begin to understand what was going on in his head. More than ever, he missed the special connection he had had with his brother until not so long ago.

"You alright?" he whispered.

Before Rain could even consider answering, Angeal said:

"Let's all keep as silent as possible from now on."

Shinra had brought Turks in… And since apparently, Turks were smarter than the average infantryman, going after the helicopters meant their motley group fell right into their trap.

They were surrounded, their backs to the gaping pit into the Lifestream that was all that remained of Banora. Tifa had pushed Aerith behind her, Cloud and Zack had taken their stances right before the girls and Sephiroth, Angeal, Genesis and Rain formed their first line of defence, Vincent right behind them, his weapon trained on Tseng.

"Must you make this so difficult?" the Turk was saying.

"We may fall today, Tseng, but not without taking most of Shinra's forces with us," Sephiroth answered. "I have no problem fighting you, but I doubt this is what you want."

Tseng sighed.

"Which is why I have to ask: must you really make this so difficult? We can work something out. The president would very much like you back."

"As what, lab rats?" Zack called out, using Angeal's words from seemingly so long ago.

"You are a symbol of Shinra, Sephiroth," Tseng continued like he hadn't been interrupted. "We have been trying to cover for your absence, but it's getting increasingly hard. Terrorist groups seem to raise their heads left and right, suddenly less afraid of Shinra's power. We have been fighting them back, of course, but it's getting tedious."

"I notice you have next to no SOLDIERs with you," Sephiroth said with a nonchalant glance around. "Did you maybe doubt they'd stay loyal against all four of their First Class officers?"

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to."

Tseng began unhurriedly pacing, not even looking at them. Cloud decided watching Sephiroth and him clash was an exercise in psychological warfare.

"Shinra is ready to take you back. You, Angeal and Zack; and since Genesis' degradation seems resolved, I am sure I could get an agreement for him too."

Next to Cloud, Zack snorted.

"Man, how desperate are you guys?" he muttered.

He hadn't meant to be overheard, but Tseng stopped and looked at him.

"How desperate are you? Poor Aerith is your girlfriend, is she not? Is a life as a fugitive really what you want for her?"

Zack snarled, furious.

"You bastard…!"

"Don't be mistaken: you are the one who got her involved. She was safe in Midgar, we Turks made certain of that. I don't know how you got her away from our surveillance, but it wasn't your brightest idea."

"Because leaving her where monsters like Hojo or Hollander could find her and whisk her away was better?" Zack yelled.

"I see you have another civilian with you, too," Tseng continued, unperturbed. "You truly are careless."

Cloud sneaked a quick glance over his shoulder at Tifa, heart beating fast. Her face had hardened and she had her fists raised before her mouth, resolve painted in every line of her body. Even now, when they had been clashing so much over Rain, she was important to him. If only he hadn't asked Rain to leave that letter for her!

"We can propose an amnesty for everyone, especially the girls. They'll be brought in Shinra to ensure that they won't use whatever knowledge they acquired at your sides against the company, but they'll be out of danger and we'll be sure to find them a job. Your two other… friends, as well."

He sneaked a curious glance at Vincent and Rain, who both seemed to intrigue him.

"And then what?" Sephiroth asked, his bearing royal. "Brainwashing, scientific experiments? Assassinations in the dead of the night? The president is too paranoid to trust loose elements in his company. This offer isn't looking very appealing, Tseng."

Tseng sighed with a hint of annoyance. Cloud could have been mistaken, but he thought he saw sadness in his eyes, too.

"Well, at least I tried."

A gunshot rang and there was a high-pitched, distinctly feminine scream. Cloud turned back, heart in his throat, to see Tifa crumple to the ground.

"Tifa!" he screamed, his panicked voice merging with Aerith's.

Zack jumped behind his girlfriend while Cloud collapsed to his knees and frantically searched for a pulse.

"Snipers on the other side of the rift!" Zack shouted.

He held his broadsword vertically before him as partial protection and his eyes searched the shadows under the trees some hundred of yards away. Cloud could have cried in relief when he found Tifa's pulse, weak but there. A pool of blood was forming under her shoulder and she was unconscious. Nearly as pale as her friend, Aerith was already gripping the Restore Materia Angeal had given her just the day before when he had seen her helping Cloud.

"So this is your answer?" Sephiroth growled, furious.

Tseng seemed unmoved by his anger.

"We have concealed snipers all around the place, too far for you to take them down as easily as you did yesterday. Some of you SOLDIERs may escape from the battle, but as for the four civilians and Strife, I very much doubt it. This is your choice."

Cloud saw Rain reflexively glance back at him. Tseng was miscalculating, that much Cloud knew. Rain had definitely as much of a survival chance as Sephiroth, if not more since nobody would expect his skills, and Vincent had a good shot at getting out as well. But it was easy to see in his brother's wide eyes: he had no intention of getting out without Cloud or the girls. Zack and Angeal wouldn't sacrifice them either.

The steady beat of helicopters approaching made Cloud lift his head in desperation. Reinforcements, again? But he caught a faint frown on Tseng's face before the Turk returned to his blank expression. He wordlessly held a hand out and one of the Turks at his side gave him an earpiece.

Before Cloud could get his hopes up about some unexpected help, two pairs of helicopters appeared above the trees. A large metallic crate was suspended beneath each of the tandems; blades strained to keep their loads in the air.

"What is…?" Tseng began, now really frowning.

Angeal, Genesis, Sephiroth and Rain all simultaneously flinched.

The bottom of the crates opened and two large masses fell straight out, slamming to the ground and flattening half a dozen infantrymen in smears of blood. Tseng stumbled back, his composure broken before the two ugly creatures getting to their feet and scrutinizing their surroundings with beady and glowing green eyes.

"What is the meaning of this?" he yelled into the earpiece. "Give me your clearance!"

The monsters gave twin screams of defiance and stomped toward the rift, offhandedly killing any soldiers on their path.

"Get away!" Cissnei the Turk was screaming to the infantry, without much success in the sudden chaos. "Regroup at the tree-line!"

Tseng was heatedly arguing with the pilots of the helicopters, but Cloud wasn't hearing him anymore. He was more preoccupied with the fact that all four men in their first line of defence were visibly shaking and unsteady on their feet.

"What are these things?" Genesis yelled, panting.

From the harnesses around the beasts' heads came a contemptuous voice.

"Oh, so you managed to repair this one? No matter, Hollander's failures are not worth my time. Now, Sephiroth, you will cease resisting me!"

"Hojo," Sephiroth growled, "how many of these abominations are you playing with?"

"As many as are necessary to bring you back. Maimer, Killer, attack!"

The creatures were nearly three times as tall as him. Cloud didn't hesitate. Drawing his sword, he screamed a battle cry and forged into the fray. Zack's voice joined his and Vincent's very last shot rang before he threw his rifle away and charged with his clawed hand. He saw Angeal drag a stumbling Genesis away from an attack and lost sight of Rain and Sephiroth.

Before long, Cloud lost himself in the rhythm of battle. As non-enhanced as he was, he was desperately struggling to get the monsters' attention away from the other fighters to give them openings, slipping in pathetically useless attacks and barely escaping deadly claws.

He wasn't quick enough in evading a tail and went flying. He hit the dirt hard. He fought to get back to his feet, clutching at his ribs and his re-opened wound. A Cure spell washed over him and a helping hand appeared in his eyesight. He followed it to Tseng's face and gaped. The Turk looked livid.

"I don't care if the Scientific Division really got clearance for this," he ground out. "These monsters just cost us nearly a hundred men. Get up."

Cloud closed his mouth, solemnly nodded his thanks and grasped the outstretched hand.

There were only six Turks on the field, but their help made a huge difference in the fight. They all swarmed around one of the beasts despite Hojo's threats and enraged rants, and before long it fell to its knees and gave a last scream of agony.

Unfortunately, this scream found an echo in its partner. The second monster screeched and fell in a bottomless fury. Its green eyes flashed red and it rose on its hind legs, unleashing a series of devastating attacks on its own assailants. Vincent nimbly leapt away, but under the effect of the J cells', Sephiroth tripped and collapsed, blood leaking from large gashes across his chest.

It would have been okay since he was already struggling to stand up, but the creature had zoned in on him and, despite Hojo's panicked imprecations, raised a large paw to finish him off. There was a universal scream from nearly every soul in the field, Turks included, and Cloud felt his own vocal chords strain in his desperation.

A metallic clang rang out.

Rain strained to remain upright. One of the large claws had speared right through his thigh and huge cracks were appearing in his sword where he had just managed to raise it to protect his vital points. Shielded behind him, Sephiroth seemed stunned in immobility. Blue light began to lift from Rain's body and Cloud felt a relieved smile bloom on his lips. Rain's Limit Break would surely finish this beast!

Then the monster's other paw slammed in his brother's body.

It had just been a swat, meant to blow that pest away from the creature's true target. It would have been okay.

But Rain went flying towards the rift, high over Aerith's horrified eyes, the unconscious form of Tifa, then the cliff side. He disappeared in the green glow of the Lifestream.

There was a stunned silence. Or maybe it was just Cloud. Maybe something in him had broken and his brain was stuck with just that: the sight of the pit that had swallowed his brother, and silence when he should have been hearing his voice.

But then there was a roar.

This voice was human, but not by much, and born from so much fury Cloud had to look back. Sephiroth was standing, barely visible through the blue haze surrounding him and the nearby rocks flowing upwards from the force of his energy. He took a single step forward and Masamune flew in an arc so powerful it left an aftershock of blinding light that felt, for a moment, like the sun had exploded right here, on the outskirts of Banora's remains.

The Supernova Limit Break, Sephiroth's most devastating attack.

When the light faded and Cloud could blink the last burning spots from his eyes, Sephiroth was standing over the two neat halves of the monster's body, shoulders heaving with his every breath.

Two silent seconds passed, then Tseng cleared his throat.

"Good job," he said in a stern voice, trying to pretend he was unaffected. "I am sorry for your loss…"

Sephiroth veered on them. Suddenly it became obvious that it was not exertion that had him gasping for breath. His pupils were so contracted there was barely a vertical slit of black left in the seething green of his eyes. He was deathly pale, and his face was contracted in boundless rage.

Cloud found himself terrified of him.

"That man," he growled in a low, simmering voice, which rose in volume until it was a shout, "is not escaping me so easily!"

And before anyone could stop him, he rushed to the cliff and launched himself off of it in a flawless swan dive.

"Sephiroth, no!" Genesis screamed, rushing to the rift like everyone else.

They saw him get swallowed by the surface of the Lifestream and gaped, not a single one of them able to believe what had happened. And then Aerith shouldered past Tseng as if to take a look herself. She took a deep breath, and stepped off the cliff.

Zack's scream was bone-chilling.

She fell swiftly, her body vertical like a dancer's, arms stiff against her sides. And she, too, disappeared. Zack collapsed to his knees.

"What… what the hell just happened?" Cissnei asked in a low, horrified whisper.

Sephiroth regained consciousness in a sea of darkness.

He took a moment to lie motionless, breathing slowly, trying to assert his condition and his surroundings. The wounds on his chest had disappeared. How? Although there seemed to be no threat around him, it was difficult to be certain of it. The last thing he could remember was sinking in the Lifestream and the unbearable burn of liquid Mako on his skin. What was this place?

He climbed slowly to his feet, his mind playing with some theories. He heard whispers.

"Hello?" he called in the darkness.

Although there was no direct answer, the whispers rose in volume.

"The Calamity's son," they hissed.

"Her cells, her hideous, corrupted cells…"

"Her mind, her will, her hand…"

Sephiroth frowned, not liking what he was hearing.

"I am no one's hand," he claimed, "and son of no Calamity."

It felt like being stabbed between the eyes. He hissed under the onslaught of a vicious headache as the whispers grew harsher.

"Her cells!"

"Too close to the Envoy… Tried to take him away…"

"Dangerous dangerous dangerous," someone chanted.

"I am only a danger to what threatens me!" Sephiroth angrily retorted.

He had the uncanny feeling of being up against beings that had nothing to fear from him, but he still refused to back down or act coy. His pride was still whole and healthy and he wouldn't bow before disembodied voices!

As a result of his insolence, the headache grew worse and each voice felt like it was trying to beam directly into his mind, creating a cacophony that made it impossible to even think.

"Go away!" he yelled.

And then they did.

He lifted his head, startled, only now noticing the gentle hand that had settled on his arm.

"Miss Gainsborough?…"

"Aerith is fine," she said, smiling sweetly.

"How… Are you really here?"

Or was she merely an illusion of this timeless, spaceless place?

"Yes. I jumped after you. I could faintly hear the voices of the Lifestream, so I figured if anyone could help you bring Rain back, it'd be me."

Sephiroth nodded, his composure regained.

"I see. Thank you. I appreciate it."

"Well, I mainly did it for Rain," she giggled, joining her hands behind her back. "But I wouldn't have been brave enough to jump alone, so… thank you."

He smiled back, amused, and glanced around him. The void was still just as void and black, but the voices seemed completely gone.

"You chased them away?"

Aerith shrugged, embarrassed.

"I asked them to leave you alone. The Lifestream doesn't like you much."

"Because I am "the Calamity's son"?" he suggested.

"Well… From what I heard of Rain's story about you…"

"Yes. "The Calamity" is the Planet's name for Jenova, isn't it?"

"How did you know?" she asked, surprised.

"I guessed. But what is the Envoy?"

Aerith looked troubled.

"The Envoy? I don't know. Did the spirits say that?"

Sephiroth shrugged.

"If you are at a loss, let's forget about it for now. How do we find Rain?"

"Well… It's my first time doing this kind of things too, so… I guess we call him?"

It seemed just as good a method as any.

"Rain!" Sephiroth called in the nothingness. "Can you hear me? You are not bailing so easily on giving me some answers!"

Aerith actually giggled at him, before she too shouted:

"Rain, we came looking for you! Where are you?"

They took turns shouting his name. When there was no reaction, they exchanged a troubled glance… and then the ground dropped from beneath their feet. Aerith gave a startled cry and Sephiroth just managed to catch her hand so they wouldn't get separated.

Wind whispered in their ears and faint, confused images emerged from the darkness. A stormy sky, blue eyes, a mountain on a clear day, a sinister mansion, a deserted factory… With a start, Sephiroth recognized the dark alley that came next as the one where he had fought Angeal. And then came a close shot of his own cat-like glowing eyes. Encouraged, he called out once more:

"Rain!"

The images distorted like they had been nothing more than reflections on the surface of a pond he had just thrown a stone in. From nowhere came a feeling of wrongness. Aerith gasped.

"It's not this name we're supposed to use!"

"What?"

"I don't know, it's just an impression I got! Is Rain a nickname?"

Sephiroth frowned. A nickname? An alias, more likely. But there was no way to guess the man's real name, since he insisted on keeping his damned secrets. If they needed something that rang true within Rain… Strife was the only thing he knew for sure to be precious to him.

"Don't you want to see Cloud again? He's your family!" he yelled as a shot in the dark.

The void disappeared.

Abruptly, they were no longer free-falling. They were standing in the middle of a town, and it was burning.