Well now that we've got it out in the open let's see where it goes.

Cloud has just proposed to Tifa and well in a sense Denzel. However in the excitement of it all Koty's still enigmatic past has officially ruined the auspicious event.

Now Cloud s desperate for answers and has offered help to the phantasmal man in exchange for them. What is about to unfurl fans of this story will shape the very foundation of their relationship with this matter and eventually lead to perhaps several character deaths.

Bright eyes "the truth of my past":

"Koty." Cloud looked at him with that same fire in his eyes he had when he had given Tifa the ring. "Don't even say it………. What do we need to do to help?"

"I need…… no help……. But I do need some time………."

"Time for what?"

"To recover."

"We'll buy you some….. It's the least we can do. But I want you to know that I'm curious and I've got some questions that need answers."

"Save your pity for the weak. I need it not." He snapped at Cloud as if insulted. "My story is coming to a close and you need no introduction to figure out how."

"Actually I do…….. That's what friends do……… they listen to the hurt of their friends and do the best they can to fix it. Now I need to know everything."

"It shall come soon enough."

"No….. NOW!" He shouted raising his voice and startling the group "your being here puts Tifa and Denzel in danger and I can't allow that without knowing how to put an end to it. I need to know. If you don't tell me ill beat it out of you."

"Cloud." Tifa pleaded him to stay his hand.

"No Tifa the wondering ends here. I won't take not knowing when you're in danger."

The bodies lying on the floor erupted into light then and disappeared as he finished his sentence.

"Starting with that what the hell is going on. No head games not later and tell me the truth"

"You seek my truth or your truth? There is only one honesty I can give you"

"Tell me what you know then"

"The truth of my past. Is……." He stood and his eyes began to glow a vibrant white and the room around the group was then shrouded in darkness.

'Oh no not this trick again' Cloud thought to himself before speaking "Koty no head games"

"If seeing is believing then you need to see as well as hear my tale. My history cannot be painted with a tongue alone. And it begins with this man."

There in front of the group's eyes was a man in a lab coat standing over a young man on a stretcher shouting in some foreign language.

"What's he saying?" Cloud demanded.

"I do not know it's a memory not a movie." That was the most blunt he had been since Cloud had met him. "This man is the cause of my awakening……….. The creation and birth of the man you see as me…. He would operate on and activate the power in my left hand. This would awaken the dormant power of the infernal and give me the strength of a demon."

"Demon……?"

"A common term for a destructive supernatural enemy." The scene then moves to a military like compound and in the center is a form of gathering. "This would be the day I realize my potential and the weapon I have become."

A young man stood among the soldier type men and within seconds he had destroyed the small platoon of combatants.

"You see the infernal has always been a part of me…… as far back as my memory can expand which regrettably isn't very far……………. The next man you are all familiar with he is 4 star general Artimis burdock of the USMC lithium's prideful leader and the head of the bioweapons division in the DPRD." The man that had walked in earlier appeared before them talking to who they assumed was Koty. "He would be the one to convince me that I would have great honor and would be a god amongst men." He added his last phrase rather sarcastically before the man in the center spoke.

"You will be a god………." Before he could finish the scene moved.

"This is the first time I learned about my ability to drift." He motioned to a man in a white coat "that man is Andrew Macbeth. The one who had essentially woke the infernal. And this was the first time I would use it to drift."

The image of the young Koty was now in front of them and almost as soon as he appeared he had disappeared the scenery changed to a nightscape. Mountains in the distance and cherry trees to the left of the now once more present Koty.

"Past this my memory is blurred but I will tell you what I know. My last few months in the DPRD had rendered me with the power of soul reaping. The ability to feed on my enemy's essence. And she was to be my victim."

Tifa remembered the conversation she had had with him the night they had journeyed to his world and she dreaded seeing what horror Koty was about to commit.

"Tifa for your sake we will not extend this memory….." he spoke as the scene dissipated and Koty's eyes returned to a cold grey, and then illuminated with a vibrant blue. "Her name was Kara…….. She would be the one flame of freedom in my life of unwitting servitude."

"You mean you didn't know you were being tested?" Cloud questioned him with a doubtful tone.

"I was young and careless. They were all that I had known until her. She was taken from her home. I had no memory of how I got there or even who I was short of a name. So no I did not know."

The scene then reappeared to a familiar scene to Tifa s dismay. "This is where my friends……… what few of them I had……… perished…………"

It was the last moments of Jonah and Elizabeth. 'Koty do we have to watch this….' Tifa swallowed her thoughts with relief when the scenery dissipated.

"He looked just like spikes" Zack pointed out and laughed.

"He is dead." Koty cut Zack s laughter short with a cold bark. "And yes I am aware of the similarities."

The next scene to appear sickened Cloud s stomach. The figure of the girl from earlier and the Koty that they now knew stood together on a cliff. As they held hands the beauty of the scene was suddenly ripped away as Koty turned quickly around to face a large group of armed men.

"Oh no…….. I think I know where this is going." Cloud swallowed hard and attempted to look away.

They stared each other down for a moment, the couple and the battalion of men on the opposition. Then as if he were a deer someone took a shot at him and the fight was on. Wave upon wave of the men charged Koty. Without even the slightest remorse he tore through them, ripping the men apart like toys, but Cloud was no fool. He had seen Zack go this route before. Oddly however he noticed his recently resurrected friend acting as if he was watching a one of a kind sporting event.

"Left, now right, oh oh oh jump………. Damn……." The man was overly enthusiastic. "Did you guys see that…? Man that's gota hurt."

Cloud could almost swear that he saw a glint of humor in Koty's eye as he watched the dark haired man, but the humor faded as the Koty in front of them was suddenly caught off guard and bombarded with bullets.

"Oh no…….." Cloud held his breath as he watched the girl run to the man's side. "This……"

The man looked up to the woman whose eyes portrayed a sense of urgency. Without a second glance he stood and charged them. Again waves of enemies assaulted him only to be destroyed until they opened fire on the couple.

"This is how it happened……" Koty voiced "this is the last thing I remember before you."

The man was crawling now. Not away from the enemy but towards the girl that lay still upon the ground.

The voices could be heard easily in the eerie silence.

"Koty run….. You have to escape……." The woman they assumed was Kara spoke.

"No I can't….. Kara I…….. I can't not without you………"

"You have to……. You have enough power left for one more jump I'm sure……"

"But I can't……. I don't have enough to get you out of here……. I will not allow this…….. They won't have you………. I won't abide it……." He was between a scream and a sob as he watched her.

"Then take me with you…….."
"But I don't have the power to do that……."

"No not like that …. Silly….." the girl's breath became ragged and shallow.

"Kara……… no I can't……." He lifted himself to his knees and pulled her limp form close to his chest. "No……… I can't….."

"Why……." She attempted to giggle through her obvious pain.

"I……. I ….. I love you….. Too much"

She shook her head and smiled. Then she reached up to him. "Do it." She kisses him and then takes his left hand and places it over her heart.

"No I won't do this….. I can't." He was pleading.

"Please take me……… take me with you…… I don't want to go back….."

"But……. If I………… you'll"

"Well be together…… please Koty……… I love you….."

"Kara……."

"I love you….. Don't forget……"

"I won't…….."

"Never…….. Let go………… don't let them win…….. I love you."

"I love you Kara…….." his eyes close in pain and his left hand breaks through her chest. She screams loudly in agony and a bright light erupts from Koty's left arm.

It's quiet after that. The group said nothing as they watch on. The girl is obviously dead and Koty stands as if with resolute finality. His posture is strong but his face portrays a sense of woe like none other.

"I love you………" he whispers to the wind as he faces the men. "You………"

The man's hand rises with a finger pointed in the direction of the men, and his eyes are a deep crimson. The wind howls and the soldiers in front of him start to be ripped apart.

"Oh my god…." Tifa gasps in horror as the flesh is peeled from their bones.

"You………." It was as if the man had an opponent in the crowd. "You will come to fear me……. Burdock……… you deserve nothing less than the destruction of your soul……… I will have my vengeance."

"hahahahah." The man from earlier walks forward seemingly unaffected by whatever was destroying the men around him. "Private… you don't even need vengeance…….. I gave you that power. That freedom……. I even gave you the girl……….. And if you come back I might give you another shot……… If a woman is what you want I have no problem finding you one…. Hell I can even make you one….. Just like I made her."

"Silence……. I've…….. I've heard enough…………… Kara………. She didn't deserve that fate…….. But I assure you, you will meet her in my void."

"Don't you see? That you are the god of war. Williams you are the reason she was created. And the reason we cannot allow you to leave here."

"If I am the god of war then how do you hope to defeat me?"

"Even god has his limits."

"For that I promise you will burn in the hell you so eagerly renovate."

"Id actually like to see you try that bright eyes." The older man scoffed at him.

"KARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!" a massive explosion rocked the area and fire surrounded Koty but the man and his minions were nowhere to be found.

As if it were the end of an intense drama the area in front of the group went black, and Cloud could hear Tifa walking upstairs. 'Is she……… oh…… Koty……….'

"I'm sorry……. Koty…." Cloud tried to apologize only to realize that Koty was also on his way upstairs.

"Man……. I guess I shouldn't have laughed huh." Zack's apologetic tone was obvious.

"It's not your fault I think……… it's just still really soon for him…… I mean if that was the last thing he remembers and Vincent said that he found him unconscious that means that it's been at best maybe a few weeks…"

"But he killed her… guys are we not seeing the big picture here…….. If he killed his girlfriend what's keepin him from offing us?" Yuffie barked with a sense of terror.

"He didn't want to Yuffie." Cloud again raised his voice "he had to….. She was going to die and so was he…… she gave herself up to save him……. It was the only way………. I think……………….. I think he regrets that…."

"He regrets that he couldn't save her? Sounds like someone I know." Aerith was next. "Let's just give him some time. However you need to go talk to your fiancé"

"OH……. Yeah……..uh….. Right…" Cloud blushed feverishly for a moment. 'God why does this happen so fast……..' "Yeah I guess I'm goin then."

Without another word he left for the upstairs. He was almost glad that he couldn't see their faces because he was sure that they would laugh at his. 'Damit Aerith why did you have to……. What's that sound……' his enhanced hearing picked up on soft sobs coming from Koty's room. 'That must've really hurt him…………. I feel kina bad………….. But first things first……. Tifa.'