Sad face. I know what most are thinking. 'That was a mistake' but you must understand the circumstances behind Vincent's death. Not only am I pressed for time but it will now be a key factor in the story for chapters to come.

Now for the rest of the story and a bit of a cool down from the climactic events of the last two….. Maybe three chapters. Well for all you mush fans this will be very interesting. For all of you action fans not so much. But it's not over till it's over. And I say when it's over. ;b

"When all is said and done." Clouds lullaby. The requiem of a hero:

"He finally did it………. But……." the words were hard to face but Shelke was right.

They lost something. An irreplaceable friend and a strong ally. They lost a brother. A father of sorts. However none knew the true loss except Koty. His hand had been stained with the former hero's blood. And to him that was more of a loss than could possibly been bore.

"What about the body……… it's obvious he's dead………. But if Yuffie……." Cloud tried to speak but realized he was too late when the door to the building was slammed hard against the wall and Yuffie's form was caught flying into the maw of the now silent battlefield. "Not good."

She was furious. The sheer fire in her blood could easily contest with the sun's harsh rays. She had been led to believe that nothing would happen to her beloved and to her dismay he now lay dead. A cold silent corpse upon the ground which for the past few months she recognized as home. Now a husk in the hands of a man who had the gall about him to dawn his famed attire and pistol.

"You!" she screamed as she stormed over to Koty's position. "You!"

"Yuffie………… Vincent he……….." he was cut short as Yuffie slammed a fist into his face sending him sliding a few feet back.

"You killed him." She kicked him in the ribs and knocked him to the ground. "We trusted you, you son of a bitch." She then straddled him as he lay on his back. "You killed him………. Why did Tifa ever trust you…..? Why Cloud…….. Why Vincent…………. Why did I trust you, you……you…… ahhhhh" she slammed angry fists into his face one by one until she tired of pummeling him.

"Yuffie……" he seemed unfazed "I'm so sorry……….."

"don't you dare speak to me……………… if you get up my conformer's all you're ever gona get the opportunity to see………… you stay where you're at."

"He wanted me to tell you…………."

"Quiet!" She demanded as she hit him again. "You say one more word and I'll make sure you follow him……….. Then he can beat your ass for eternity……."

"Would you?" he sounded almost hopeful.

"Shut up." she drew a small throwing knife from her pocket. "Don't you know what that means………. If it weren't for Tifa and Aerith I'm sure you'd be dead already. And I'm not as forgiving as Cloud……… shut up."

"Or what…….." he was agitated. "You'll cut me……….. Child please…… I have enough power now to annihilate an entire planet………… you really think a petty girl with a knife can stall my abilities any……. The only reason you're even standing now is me………… and he is my only excuse for existence…………. Now if you're going to threaten me make sure you can keep to your promises…………… I don't like being disappointed……….."

"You sick bastard………… id never give you the satisfaction…………"

"You just said you'd kill me if I spoke………. Well I'm speaking………… do it………. If you do not lack the will of your conviction do it!"

"Do it yourself damit………." She threw the blade down and stood.

"I don't die………. I kill…………… though at times it is not my intention."

"You killed him………………… him………….. He was everything to me……………………. You took him away……………. Give'em back………………" she started to cry "give'em back……………. You hear me…………….. Give him back…………………." She reinstated her punishment.

"Yuffie…………. Sweetie that's enough………" Aerith tried to pull the girl away when she got to the scene but managed only to receive an elbow to the ribs in retaliation. "Oww……… Yuffie!"

"Enough." Cloud was next and his enhanced strength allowed him to easily subdue the enraged ninja.

"You deserve to die………………. You've done nothing but cause pain……………….. You killed them all you sick fuck……………… all of them………. And I'll be damned if you get away with this…………. You bring him back………. Give'em back……….. No let go of me………………… I want him to feel it…………"

"Cloud get her out of here. I'll help Koty." Aerith pleaded with her eyes as she cupped her side "I'll be okay just a bruise promise."

"Okay……. Gha………… Yuffie knock it off………….. Calm down…………… ahh fuck this………… Yuffie………. I'm sorry but its sleepy time again." Cloud delivered a fairly rough rendered headlock that slowly drained Yuffie of any defiance she once held. He choked the air off to the point that her limbs were limp with lack of strength. She was soon unconscious again for the second time in an hour's span. "We can't keep knockin her out………. She may get hurt……..but we'll try to separate them…….. I'll get Barret and a few med staff to help me take care of Vincent…………… Aerith?"

"Yes..?"

"Don't let him do anything stupid………… I know he has to be feeling rather rough now."

"I'll take care of it……… you should really have that wound checked on."

"I will……….. But we have more important problems right now." He dragged Yuffie away at that. He was clearly feeling the pain of his injury but he persevered to keep it hidden.

Without a further thought she returned her attention to Koty. She would have tried to check him for wounds but then she noticed his eyes. They were cold grey their average color, but their feeling was different. 'He's hurt………. This has to be hard on him………' she stroked a stray strand of hair out of his face as she sighed. 'This is worse than Cloud……… he doesn't even know I'm here does he?'

"Aerith….?" He spoke not even bothering to look at her.

'I guess that answers the question' "yes…. What is it?"

"Is he……… in a ……….. Better place…." Tears welled up in his eyes.

"Yeah. I think he is………. He's with lucrecia now……….. He'll be happy there. Trust me."

"I…………. don't know……… how to feel about this……… I did not know him like all of you……… but…….. I still loved him………… it hurts………"

"I know……. We all know………. Its suppose to hurt……….. That's what happens when someone we love dies……….. But it's okay…….. He's returned to the life stream……."

"But it was because of me…………… Yuffie is right…….. I killed him." He began to weep, a strange thing coming from someone of his caliber. "I always end life……… it's all I've ever known………. I fight………… and now my enemy is gone…………… and my friend with him……….. How am I supposed to feel……? Aerith I'm so confused……"

"Shhhh" she did her best to calm him. "Its okay……… it'll be alright…… shhh" she brushed his cheeks in an attempt to stop the tears. 'I don't think I can fix this………. We need to get him inside but I can't get him to calm down…… huh?'

He suddenly fell asleep and Aerith found herself bewildered at his swift exhaustion. 'How……. What…… happened?'

"Sleep materia works well on those who aren't thinking clearly." Shelke stood above them and she held a small orb in her right hand. "Now we can get Vincent's body out of here. Barret……." She spoke to the man beside her "take Koty inside…… Tifa will help when you get there…….. You can go inside now Miss Gainsborough. The WRO will handle the rest."

"Please call me Aerith…… will he be alright." She stood and watched as Barret carried the much smaller man away.

"He'll be fine. He's just sleeping."

"Good….. I guess this means we'll have to keep him and Yuffie separated huh."

"For a time…… if I know her though Yuffie will be calmer when she wakes. I know Koty wouldn't do this without good cause. When he comes to we need to find out what happened."

"How long will he be out?"

"Well I pulled enough power to permanently put a normal person in a coma. However he didn't respond to it like a normal person so my guess is a few hours to a few days."

"So we wait now."

"Yes….. How long I don't know…….. Cloud's wounded though and with the threat of lithium gone I don't think we have to worry about another attack. So we should tend to him and the dead first."

"Hold on. I think we can help." The man from the battle field that had wounded Cloud walked forward weakly. "Koty………. He has……… freed me……… us………. And …….now lithium is no longer a threat……….. But the horde……… they still want a leader………. They don't know how to act independently…………. So with a command we can assist."

"Talk to reeve I'm sure he has a job for you" Aerith smiled warmly as she watched him.

"Okay." His eyes took a shade of white and he looked out at the battle field. "Recon override 342. New admission. Identification reeve tuesti. All USMC mech ops. Ten-hut."

Suddenly the enemy soldiers that had fallen victim to gunfire and sword slashes began to rise. Some of them gathering limbs and others standing at attention to the man who had issued orders.

"All usmc mech ops report to commander reeve tuesti of the WRO. Fall out." At the word out they left to the inside weapons and severed appendages ready.

"I guess we should go too." Aerith took a last look at Vincent before leaving.

"Yes……. But first." Shelke walked to the body of the man and laid something on his chest. It was the Cerberus emblem that everyone had thought lost in the battle with deepgroung. "Thank you for all that you did…….. We won't forget you………. Good bye." Shelke was rarely emotional but even the robotic tsviet could not help but shed a tear for the lost gunman.

She stood nodded and left with the hopes that maybe things would be better now that lithium was defeated. They had lost so much. The lives of countless innocents and many members of the WRO. They lost Cloud and Tifa's home. Denzel lost his childhood. Yuffie had lost her love and they all lost a friend. All for the sake of one man. It had to look up. There was no other way to go.

Things were going to be rough but she was confident that it would all turn out for the better.

now we're off to a good start. Yall let me know it's getting boring if it does. Don't read it if you don't like it it's meant for entertainment. Just wanted to thank all of you who have inspired me to continue and all of those who review. You know who you are and you deserve all the credit you get. Thanx again. Now let's see where were we. Ah yeah……. Well this is a heluva intermission. Now we'll pick up exactly twenty four hours after the attack on the WRO base. Now read please and enjoy my

"When all is said and done." Clouds lullaby. The day they lay you down.:

The day before though slow had passed. The friendly banter had ended. The tears were dried and though still mournful the surviving members of AVALANCHE gathered strength to carry on with life as it was. There were still bills to be paid and tasks to be done. And now there was a funeral to attend not only for the family members of the WRO troops but for their fallen hero of meteor fall and the deepground incident.

In life Vincent was feared. He was revered as a warrior and feared by his enemies. But in death he was missed. Though one would say that the funeral might not have been the best it was certainly better than they felt they could have mustered by themselves. The WRO had given the ex-Turk a fond farewell as well as saw to the fact that the members of AVALANCHE were recognized as hero's yet again for his bravery and their loss.

"He deserved better but….. It's all we can do." Cloud hung his head low as he watched the body of his friend fade away.

"I still can't believe he's gone…… seemed like only yesterday he was forcing the deepground troops to surrender singlehandedly." Tifa commented as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "How did this happen?"

"That bastard killed him…………. That's how……….." Yuffie still irritated with Koty cried quietly into Aerith's shoulder as the last remains of the man she claimed to love faded away.

"Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but now what. Vincent's gone and things are definitely not going back to normal. So where do we go from here." Zack stumbled to keep from seeming insensitive.

"You are all welcomed here as long as you like. You know that." Reeve folded his arms across his chest in hopes to seem less shaken by Vincent's untimely demise. "The WRO will freely give any provisions we can offer until you are all back on your feet."

"That's a nice offer but I don't think we can all take life on a base." Cloud interrupted. "Tifa and I have to worry about Denzel and Barret has Marlene. A military base is no place for children."

"True. But where else can you go. The offer extends to all of you. Till you find somewhere to stay you have a place here."

"Thanks reeve. We really appreciate it." Tifa ended the conversation by scolding Cloud for his lack of sensitivity to the situation.

"This doesn't change a thing. Vincent is still dead. Edge is gone. And now we're stuck with that son of a bitch." Yuffie huffed as she dried her eyes.

"Yuffie. You don't understand vincen…" Aerith was cut off.

"I understand that he murdered Vincent. Regardless of the fact that Vincent SAVED HIS ASS."

"Yuffie that is quite enough. You are refusing to listen to reason and Aerith is not the problem. So if you would please shut your mouth long enough for her to speak we could tell you why Vincent is dead and give a reason behind this whole ordeal." Red had never raised his voice at the ninja before. "Vincent was already dying. The strike he had received from burdock had more than likely traumatized his body beyond repair. Even as strong as he was that was simply too great a force to survive. Vincent gave his life to save us all. And now all you can do with the life he saved for you is hate the man who was responsible for allowing this second chance to be created… you are shallow if you think you're the only one here that mourns Vincent's passing. Koty feels far more pain than you I'm sure. No one likes watching their friends die. And certainly no one likes being the one to take a friends life."

"What's your point"

"Yes Koty killed Vincent. Because it was necessary. If Vincent had died moments sooner or if Koty had refused to take him we would all be dead right now…"

"He means that Vincent knew what was happening. He did it for us." Aerith patted Yuffie's back. Though her voice was soothing her smile on the other hand held a slight quiver as she spoke.

Yuffie said nothing, she had run out of arguments. Koty had explained his use of the 'infernal' he wielded but Yuffie thought that it was simply something to make him look bigger. She hadn't realized until Vincent that what he had said was completely and horrifyingly true. It hadn't till then presented itself and now that it had it showed deeply and glowed with hideous edification.

"So that's it. Lithium's gone. Vincent is dead. Now we just go on with our lives?"

"Yeah… seems that way… Yuffie. I'm really sorry things… they didn't work out well and I'm sorry."

"Just leave me alone."

intermission. so sad. Things don't look very good for Koty or Yuffie. And now the legendary Vincent valentine has officially been laid to rest. This said we will pass the time quickly from this point.

Again we will see where things go. Now we'll pick up three days after the funeral. Let's start with finding out what the hordes up

"When all is said and done." Clouds lullaby. Sweet music.:

"Left face." The sounds of stomps followed the voice of the man they had come to call Jonah "right face." More stomps and shouts of victory followed. "Present arms" the many soldiers spanned in front of him and his impeccably similar accomplice ,Cloud, presented their rifles to the man with the precision of a computer. "You see. Normal men can be trained where bio soldiers can only be programmed. Only difference is a question of true loyalty."

"So they aren't all robotic." Cloud inquired as he watched Jonah wave the men off.

"As a matter of fact none of them are. I have shut the bio mechs down for now. These men are simply well trained. A trained soldier is better than a computer. They can perceive and understand things the horde cant."

"Well I guess that means that you aren't a robot huh."

"Actually I'm not sure. For all intents and purposes I shouldn't function without burdock alive. But I feel a stirring in my circuits. A ghost in my machinery. I can remember, Feel, and rationalize. Too good for a machine but not quite human either." He ruffled his hair for a moment before turning to Clouds attention, his facial features portrayed a sense of confusion. "I still don't understand it myself."

"We'll call you human then. It only seems right."

"I think I like the sound of that." The man tried his best to mask a mechanized vocal set but failed.

"Good. Then I'm gona get lost. Got a lot on my mind." Cloud twirled the ring in his pocket. 'I guess I have to talk about this at some point with Tifa. As much as I hate paperwork it's the only way we can adopt Denzel.'

It had been three days since Vincent's death and already things were going to go downhill for Cloud. He hadn't even had time to actually mourn his fallen comrade and life was going to hell in a hand basket. He had to watch as Denzel turned into the one thing Cloud never wanted to see, himself. He had to watch Yuffie cry and mope more than he ever had over Aerith and Zack. He had to watch the men and women of the WRO push through the pain of loss and overcome their woes to become stronger. But the worst part was Tifa. He had to watch her drift from her friends. She had loved Vincent like she was her own flesh and blood. Cloud at one time had thought him 'competition' but shortly afterwards realized that Vincent had eyes for someone else.

He had to watch her heart break every day, right in front of him. The way she would cry for Yuffie made him feel like the most selfish human ever bourn. The way she seemed to be wasting away clung to his soul like rain to his skin. 'Man why can't life just be simple.'

To top the cake off Koty hadn't spoken since the incident of Vincent's death, now affectionately called valentine's eve. He had woken but he seemed to be in a form of trance. He hadn't eaten or slept to Clouds knowledge, and from the looks of things he hadn't moved. He simply sat on the edge of his bed and stared almost lost at Cerberus. This in turn drove Tifa to new levels of insanity and Koty was often absentmindedly caught in a tirade of Tifa's rare rage.

Today was one of those days. Tifa was fed up with him not talking and from the sound of thing she was taking out some week long pent up aggression.

"damit speak to me. Do it. I know you can talk we've been through this a thousand times. Talk to me. Tell me why. Talk. TALK!" Cloud could hear her stomping with great fury as she spat at him. "goddamit Koty if you don't talk." Cloud was surprised when he heard a loud smack from the other room. 'he didn't.' Cloud was relieved to find Tifa walking out of Koty's room without even a scratch. 'she hit him?'

"Tifa?" Cloud let out a nervous grunt.

"WHAT!" she barked at him like he had just insulted her womanhood.

"are you alright."

She simply stomped off. 'that's not like Tifa. Damit. Why couldn't I just be… better than this. I can't even save my wife from depression much less the world from evil. Oh sure I can slay psychopathic swordsmen and monsters and now I know I can slay robots but I can't slay PMS. Jeez some hero' he chuckled in his head with dry humor. 'but poor Tifa. I can't imagine how she feels. I knew Vincent too but, I'm not as close to Yuffie as she is. This is just… bad'

He returned to his room to find a small amount of sanctuary in his plushy chair. It was better than his old chair that had more than likely been vaporized in edge, so he took advantage of it. However it was just one of the many perks to living on the WRO base. The benefits didn't interest him though. He was just simply physically comfortable.

His soul had no such luck. He was stuck somewhere between hero and child. Too much a hero was his personality to simply watch things the way they were, but the child in him was too scared to act on the situation. 'alright. Since you're laughing at me I'm gona break. I need some help here.' He prayed in his head to any random deity that would pity him for a moment. 'I can't fix this on my own. I can't protect them from themselves… I can't even defend them from a threat that's not there. So please gimme a break. Just let things lighten up a little. I can't stand knowing they're hurting. Please. Do something please.'

"Cloud." Tifa came in with tears in her eyes. "Cloud I'm sorry I yelled are you in here?" she couldn't see him in the dark. Which was good because he had not wanted her to catch his time of weakness.

The room wasn't pitching black but there were no windows on the lower levels and Cloud wasn't so fond of heights anymore. He hadn't wanted to see Tifa cry anymore either but mako infused eyes seemed to want him to suffer.

"yeah I'm here. It's okay. Come 'ere baby." He walked over to her quickly and embraced her.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm like this. It's just… he use to be so… I dunno… different."

"its okay." 'I'm a little new to this Tifa. Please don't hate me if I screw up. please don't hit me either.' "I'm here now. Shh."

"I love him. He… he really is like my little brother. But I can't stand the silence." She was now in a full blown storm of tears and sobs. "I don't want him to just waste away because of this. But I know I should be angry at him for being so…"

"selfish." Cloud moved her head to where he could see her face. "Tifa… imagine killing Yuffie against your will because you knew if you didn't you and everyone else would die. That has to mess with Koty's head. Plus all the stuff he can't remember is probably flooding back now. It may take some time."

"I know. But"

"I know, the silence." He kissed her playfully. "that's why I'm here. To make noise."

"oh Cloud." She sniffled and slapped at his chest playfully as she pushed on him. "I'm serious. He won't talk or even move. I don't think he even breaths. And Yuffie… let's just not go there."

"I need a keyboard." He swiftly changed the subject.

"what? Why a…"

"the music."

"what about it." She closed her eyes and tried to relax against the friendly chatter.

"you need it. If my memories aren't completely fake I think you played once."

"oh no. I haven't played a note since I was way younger."

"you look pretty young now though. Couldn't have been that long ago."

"as I said before you suck at this whole complement thing. But at least you're improving."

"well… I can play a little. The keyboard I mean."

"just stop talking." She pressed her lips to his and he felt the shock of the moment. 'whoa… that's nice. Oh Tifa… please stop teasing me.'

"yes…" he was cut off with another kiss and a gentle pull in the direction of his bed. 'if she wants this… gulp. Then I'll give it to her… get a hold of yourself man.'

Then they fell. Like stars upon the sand they fell with force, but even when their bodies met sheets and spring they kept falling. Falling in love over and over in a vicious cycle that ended in more tumbling than it had begun.

She was water and her ebbs and flows coveted his rocky cliffs. He was after all her mountain, Her golden spiked knight in shining armor, Her valiant dark clad hero. He was her sanctuary and for a small moment even he knew that.

He felt like she needed to throw herself from his cliffs only to find that he was what awaited her with loving arms at the bottom. 'Tifa I love you so. You'll never know why or how much but I love you. My wife, my friend, my heart. I love you so much… too much'

He found himself reenacting a scene still so vivid in his mind. He was running his hands over her body, however in this particular take of the images that now painted themselves from his mind he found her intoxicating touch not fast and wanting, but slow and deliberate. It were as if she wanted him to find something in her.

Again over her shoulders and arms. Then down her sides. Up her stomach and to her breasts. She was leading him. Guiding him. He wasn't just a toy this time. He was actually taking from this. He found a sense of satisfaction in knowing he was pleasing her.

The way her fingers nimbly pushed him ,even if at snail's pace, drove his sense of touch wild. The scent coming from her skin as she slowly removed her jacket wafted up to him and rattled his already fairly shaken sense of personal interest. 'oh Tifa I. I want you so much… but should I… do I even deserve you?'

She watched him with her new sight now. Her eyes had to her joy adjusted to the darkness and she could now watch Cloud rend her asunder. She was coming undone with his touch and the way his iron hands of war turned to velvet in a matter of a simple second as they descended upon her. He was for a moment in time her pleasure embodied. All of her pain and fear slipped away with her cloths. Down onto the floor and under the bed so that they could no longer frighten her away with thoughts of catastrophe.

"oh Cloud. Please… I love you don't… don't leave…" 'I won't Tifa.' "say it Cloud." 'I love you'

"I love you"

"yes" she moaned loudly as she made him tighten his grip on her breast. "harder." He tightened his grip to the point he could feel her pulse. "harder!" 'wow is she a masochist or something' she forced him to squeeze until her skin was bloodshot under his fingers. "yes… yes… yes!"

She swiftly moved his hand down her body stopping at her hips as she formed perfectly into his palm and then continuing to her thigh. Once his hand had placement on her leg she moved her hand to his hair and pulled him downward towards her neck.

"oh yes." She released her hand over his other and surveyed her breast. "it hurts. Kiss it… make it better." She was teasing him as she played with the bruises his fingers had left. 'that's slightly disturbing but also for some reason. Really… oh Tifa.' He resisted no more.

He sank his head slowly with her urges and began almost ravenously suckling at the tarnished skin upon her chest. He planted kiss after kiss upon her luscious breast. Making it seem like she were a fine wine or a rare liquor he lapped at her battered flesh.

"just watching you… oh Cloud… love me…" 'she's really getting off on this. I think she is a masochist. What's worse is I think its slightly attractive… great… its official. You've lost it strife.' "please just a little harder… yes!" she was between a gasp and a seductive sigh as she exhaled. "you're so soft… and warm… and yet… oh gods…"

He hesitated slightly and then she was looking at him with concern. 'she needs this. Besides you won't win forever gota give in. besides you love her. Wouldn't this be best. The best way of showing her… that you trust her?' he immediately went back to kissing her. 'I'm gona show you. If I can't tell you then you'll see… feel it.'

Outside Zack could hear unabashed sighs and moans coming from Clouds room.

"that's Tifa." He was alarmed at first "damn locked… wait…" he pressed his ear to the door.

"Zack. What's going on… what's happening in there" Aerith whined as she tried to see what he was doing.

"aer baby please. I'm trying to find out what's goin on."

"well"

"oh man… I think. They're"

"you mean Cloud and Tifa are."

"yup."

Cloud couldn't control himself her scent was simply intoxicating his judgment. Not that he needed any at this point. He crashed into her chest with hungry lips and with titans hands laced with silk he pulled her body up to his. 'wow she's amazing. Not only beautiful but incredible to feel. I have to touch.' Out of all of the times he had tried to experiment with mako and other such drugs, to enhance his senses she proved to be the ultimate stimulant.

Her pale cream was his nourishment and her sighs music to his soul. Then as if out of nowhere he remembered the song he had learned to play while wounded so many months before. 'that's her song. Its beautiful… and she's beautiful… that's her song.' He slid his lips up her neck and back to her lips. 'that's you Tifa… it wasn't just some random tune… I remember it from you… you use to play it… I don't remember why but you did… man I feel dumb' he kissed her passionately before noticing the heat in her face.

"you've never done this before have you?" he let the question slip with its dawning realization.

"no… you?"

"not till now." His hand slipped thoughtlessly between them as he lay down upon her, mindlessly resting over her hyperactive heart.

Their pulses were quick and he could hear them almost. Waging war with their sternums for rights to embrace each other. It was sad but yet so beautiful. Like a melancholy song so sad yet so utterly beautiful.

"we make some pretty wild music teef." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before finally giving up the battle of his morals. He moved off of her and for a moment expected a dejected look but instead was met with a smile.

"not gona scream at me and run off?" he sounded incredulous but serious.

"no… I know now… I didn't then… I'm not gona lie I was worried that you didn't but now I know and… well I get why you're always pushing away now."

"I'm not pushing."

"you know what I mean." She smiled as they repositioned themselves. With her back now firmly against his chest she snuggled into him "by the way that's quite a grip you have there."

"are you okay"

"I like it to hurt a little."

"Tifa?"

"what?"

"are you a… a …"

"masochist?"

"yeah."

"no… I don't like getting hurt… well not by anything but you… with you its like I know you won't hurt me even when you do. So it feels good."

"why did you… you know…"

"I told you Cloud I want you to make it sting a little. Now let's rest up. they'll give you a call if we're needed. So I want you to stay there."

"why?"

"because I can't sleep."

"insomnia?"

"no I just… I can't sleep without you."

"but it's the middle of the day." He chuckled.

"so. I need a nap. And I can't sleep when you're not around. So please don't leave."

"I won't." 'not anymore.'

It wasn't long before he could tell that she was asleep 'she's kina cute when she's not trying to kill someone…. I wonder why she hit Koty… must've really hurt. I can't see as I blame her though. The pressure is getting obvious even for her. I don't know how much more we can take.' He stroked her shoulder with a carful hand while contemplating the passing months. 'now with Vincent gone things are gona get harder. He always made sure there were no extreme situations we didn't know about. So without him this means everyone will be on edge. Poor Yuffie. I know she's taking this hard. They were close. I just hope she doesn't do anything drastic.' He looked at Tifa with a hesitant eye. 'what if Koty is really the problem. If he had just left wouldn't they just have left us alone? Doubt it.' He scoffed at his thought process. 'they would have just killed us off to keep their little project a secret. The same thing happened with Zack and shinra. They killed him because he was a liability. Even if he went quietly they would have killed him… I know Koty just wants to be free but this… is this really the price… I wonder if he even knows he's alive. He hasn't moved in three days… hasn't eaten slept. Man this is so… hopeless.'

He lifted his hand to play with Tifa's hair. It wasn't something he did with a conscious effort. He just did it. 'Tifa… I'm worried about you… I know if you're freaking out over this then its gota be hard on Denzel… I wonder how he's holding up.' he wasn't sure of the situation at hand or even how he felt about it but he understood what traumatic events did to a child's mind. It was something he was quite use to himself and he had hoped that his 'son' wouldn't need to endure what he had. 'I wish I could make this stop, but… I don't know how.'

A single tear fell from the swordsman's eye as he buried his face into the hair of his lover 'I can't take not being able to protect you guys… why does it have to be so hard.'

"it doesn't have to hurt so much." A dark familiar and chilling voice echoed in his head.

"you… sephiroth… you shut up… just leave them alone." He silently screamed in his head.

"but Cloud… you know what you have to do… why not just come to me… we can fix this together."

"I'm not listening to you… shut up."

"you know you have to do it. Like this." Sephiroths demonic baritone laughed as Cloud looked down to realize that the Tifa he was once holding was now a cold pale color and she was bleeding from wounds that could only have come from the masamune.

"this is a dream it isn't real. You're not real… so leave me alone."

"now Cloud. You of all people should know how to lie… if I were an illusion could I do this." Sephiroth appeared in front of him and with swift retribution he ran the masamune through Tifa and into Clouds torso.

"ahhh… damit…" Cloud screamed as the sword pierced him through his chest and out his back.

"hurts doesn't it… trust in me Cloud. The pain you will feel later will greatly exceed this. I would know. I have felt it." The room started shaking and Cloud was aware of the intense feeling of distortion as sephiroth allowed a sinister laugh to twist and bend around Clouds ears.

"just shut up. go away…!"

Cloud wasn't aware he had fallen asleep and was instantly jolted by the sound of his own voice and the shaking he was receiving from Zack. Though he wasn't shaking him roughly it was enough to startle him.

"Cloud… hey man… spiky wake up we need to talk. Its Koty…" he pushed his blonde friend gently trying his best not to wake Tifa.

"Zack? What the hell man… what time is it." He groaned.

"a little after six. Come on if we sneak out we won't wake her up. now let's go. Come on man."

The two moved slowly and quietly through the room easily avoiding any furniture and obstacles that would have impeded any normal human's progress with their mako enhanced vision. Something was seriously amiss if Zack was so intent on serious conversation. It was a rare event that he even bothered with being serious at all much less about someone else.

"okay here's the gist. Koty's working on some sort of materia booster. I don't think I even want to know how he's gona make it or what sort of effect it could have. But he's gone missing and that isn't a good sign. Even if lithium is gone Koty is still a major disaster waiting to happen. You and I both know that." Zack stated as calmly as he could muster given his knowledge on the situation. "if he makes it to the ruins of midgar he might actually make a mess out of an already messy situation."

"he's not a child. He'll be alright." Cloud still groggy made for the door.

"no he's not what I'm worried about its Yuffie."

"what?" his attention was peaked.

"she's following him. She left a note. We both have seen how she is about him. If they clash…"

"shit… ill get Tifa. Maybe she can talk some sense into her."

"you won't have to" Koty's dark voice startled the men as he walked forward carrying a flailing ninja with him.

"put me down you heartless bastard… fight like a man… hey… you guys could help you know." Yuffie slammed a hand into Koty's face and received a blunt stare in response.

"Yuffie. Please knock it off. Your gonna get killed." Cloud whined as he motioned for Koty to release her.

"what you're not gona hit back…? Come on hit me… I dare you" she stared into Koty's eyes as she pressured him "kill me… you're heartless enough. You killed Vincent and didn't even flinch so why don't you kill me to?"

With this said Koty's eyes became a violent crimson. "that's enough. Do not antagonize me! Vincent meant more to me than you could ever know! And for you to disregard that is but an insult. Do not test my patience miss kisaragi." Koty lifted the young ninja by the shirt after that and Cloud along with Zack took a defensive stance.

"do it… do it! Come on do it! DO IT YOU SON OF A BITCH!" she looked into his eyes and for a moment her determination and anger became fear as she noticed the predominant rage in her enemy's eyes.

"you… you…" he was seething and even Cloud could see the murderous intent behind his usually calm façade.

"Koty" Cloud tried to resolve the situation, giving Koty a warning tone before gently moving forward to lower the man's arms. "Koty put'er down… its alright she didn't mean it…" he was cut short.

"quiet!" Koty's anger momentarily aimed itself at Cloud, and Cloud took again to the defensive. "how could he love you… selfish … foolish child… you have no idea how much he sacrificed… for you…" the man's eyes returned to their original cold grey and his voice to its soft tenor. "he loved you… something I could never know… and you would throw that away for a petty grudge… foolish child."

"Koty… calm down man… its okay…" Zack tried his best to pry the ninja from the man's iron grasp.

"is it…" he held on to the girl firmly against the soldiers pulling. "he meant this for you… he told me to tell you but I see that words are not something you familiarize with." A tear fell from his eyes as he lowered the girl slowly and planted a gentle kiss upon her.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" she pulled away for a moment and then stared at the man face now streaming with tears.

"I am so sorry I couldn't save him…" he pulled her in to his arms and started to weep "I will return him to you… I will bring him back I promise… this is my retribution for the wrong I have done you… I am so sorry…"

"Koty… maybe you need some rest…" Cloud again tried to arbitrate the situation. But Koty would not hear him.

The man cried and held the girl for some time before he suddenly disappeared and Yuffie fell to the floor with confused and utterly destroyed emotions.

"what just happened." Zack startled by the mans disappearance blinked before looking both ways down the corridor for a sign of the man who had vanished. "where'd he go?"

"Yuffie its alright…" Cloud knelt by the girl who simply sobbed into his shoulder.

"its not… so just stop saying that…"

"it is… you just can't tell yet… Koty, I haven't known him long but I know he keeps up to his word…"

"yeah when its 'I'm going to ruin your life' he keeps real well to those words." She spat Clouds sentence in his face as she continued to cry.

"are you okay."

"no… I don't know." She pulled furiously at her hair.

"maybe you should take a break… resting could help you think things out… but Yuffie… Koty… he tried… there was no other way… I'm sorry… but… you know Vincent wouldn't have wanted this…"

"I know… but … I… I need the hate… I need to hate him…"

"I understand… sometimes its easier to hate and blame then it is to except and move on… trust me I know all too well."

"Aerith's back though… and now that guy" she jerked her head in Zack's direction.

"hey I gotta name you know." He retorted and struck a pose. "soldier first class Zack fair."

"not right now Zack" Cloud hushed him. "Yuffie why don't you go to your room and chill a while. I'll come check on you in a minute…"

"okay…" she wiped her eyes and gave the acerbic swordsman the smallest hug she could muster as an apology to him. "thanks spiky…"

"ill be by in a bit… first I have to go make sure psycho boy isn't going to literally explode or bring the house down." He ruffled her hair and then stood. "Zack go check on the kids… Denzel has been on edge lately and I don't think he should hang around Koty too much right now… please."

"what am I a babysitter?" he threw a sarcastic sneer at Clouds request.

"consider it a favor for an old friend."

"I don't do favors spikes."

"think of all the things I've done for you"

"I can't really think of any. Been dead too long."

"okay… think of all the things I'm going to do for you."

"just buy the drinks you chocobo's ass." He laughed as he walked in the direction of the kid's room. "later."

"Yuffie. Try to chill out I'll be there in a minute. Okay?"

"kay." She sniffed as she watched him walk away. 'damit Cloud if you weren't getting married.'

He sped down corridors as fast as he could without running. Hurrying to the location of the boiler room. He knew Koty had a small attraction for tight enclosed spaces and darkness. It was a strange but understandable trait. From what the man had told them he grew up hiding from lithium and hunting for food. Darkness was only a means of covering ones form from the world. But it still couldn't mask his eyes. Those eyes that pierced the dark even when all light had dissipated. They were a beacon of sadness and yet an illumination of hope and determination.

"Koty! You down here… we need to talk…" Cloud had half expected to be slammed into a pipe fixture nearby but instead was met with ominous blue orbs floating towards him.

"what is it you need? Cloud." They were his eyes. 'damit that's creepy. Its too dark down here for even my sight to pick up on his face. But those eyes. Damit…'

"we need to talk about what you said earlier."

"I apologize for losing my temper. I meant not what I said."

"no about bringing him back."

"I see."

Yuffie had managed to distract her mind long enough to make it to her room. Once there she collapsed onto the bed. It would have been a permanent stay except she felt something under the back of her head rising and falling slowly. 'maybe its just a water bed… can't tell with all these sheets.' When she finally rationalized that thought a hand fell from above and pressed against her forehead. It was soft almost silky to the touch and its actions were deliberate. Whoever had just touched her knew she was there and could probably see her. 'oh shit…'

"Zack please tell me you're just messing with my head." 'wait Zack's hands wouldn't be that soft.'

"its me Yuffie. Don't be alarmed." Shelkes voice squeaked from the distant head of the bed.

"geez Shelke. Why are you in here in the dark."

"it was quiet and I wanted to see you."

"what why?" 'oh no not another sorry for your loss lecture I can't take anymore'

"I need your help with something."

The confession was shocking to say the least. 'what does she need help with… I'm no good with math or for that matter anything that doesn't involve materia and fighting. What could she possibly want?'

"so what's up." she started to feel comfortable with Shelke's light breathing now the known reason for her mysterious movement. "what you need."

"I've… been feeling rather strange lately…"

"well I'm not a doctor. But I'll try."

Down stairs Cloud was awaiting Koty's explanation.

"Cloud… he is important to her… and me." Koty's eyes closed for a moment. "he… loves… like I cannot."

"I don't need to know a reason. Just a method." Cloud was short as he moved forward to place a hand on his shoulder.

"the ends justify the means."

"why… does she bother you so much."

"she is… young."

"and."

"…"

"why did you kiss her?"

"it was his will."

"Vincent's?"

"yes."

"okay… we'll take that. So do you… have feelings for her?"

"only those that he wills."

"what about Tifa…" Cloud hesitated on asking. 'at least if he does ill know.'

"why are you concerned?"

"just cause… answer. Now."

"she is my sister. Of course I love her."

"as a sister or something deeper?"

"Cloud. She has an affection for you like none other… who am I to attempt and deny you what is yours."

"how do you know?"

"because I feel what she feels."

"kina creepy… then can you tell me why she hit you."

"she was confused. Angry. She was starved of normal human senses. Rage was the only alternative."

"so how does she feel towards you?"

"I wouldn't know her thoughts center on you."

'shit… why does this seem like I'm talking to Tifa.' "how does she feel about me?"

"you are inquisitive strife. But her intentions cannot be said… it would be… difficult to say."

"and?"

"actions speak louder than words sometimes."

There was a moment where Koty's eyes seemed nervous for a time. 'what's wrong with him. Why is he so giddy?'

"show me then." He didn't anticipate the outcome of his words before he said them.

Back in yuffies room Shelke was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with her 'problem'.

"so what do you need. You having guy troubles. Tell me who it is and ill whoop his ass." Yuffie joked but soon later noticed shelkes fidgeting. "what's wrong?"

"I have… strange stirrings." She answered shyly.

"like… you can't sleep or something…?"

"no."

"maybe like um… headaches… muscle spasms… anything… come on gimme a hint here babe."

"I…um… in here…" she pulled Yuffie's slender hand to her tight core. 'gosh Shelke you gota set of abs I'm jealous. Wait.'

"you mean!?" she gasped in realization at Shelke's meaning.

"I don't understand… it… feels… strangely euphoric…"

"umm…. Shelke… babe… how can I put this gently?"

"be blunt… I need to make it stop… its impairing my processing." She let the words slam into Yuffie's ears with eager anticipation.

"its called being… um… aroused…"

Shelke cocked her head to the side and Yuffie the stood to turn a light on.

The click. Then the stare. She wasn't sure how to help Shelke with this. 'okay… umm… so she hangs out with bastard of the year… maybe she's just got the hots for him.'

"aroused?" the word lingered on her tongue as if she had trouble comprehending it.

"feeling… sexy… umm… horny… oh come on… throw me a bone here." Yuffie was extremely uncomfortable discussing this topic.

"how… do I make it stop?" she was meek about the question.

"by… sex…" Yuffie whispered the word like a curse.

"how… do I…?"

"oh crap…" 'is she really that naïve? Has she never had a boyfriend…well she did live in an underground bunker and for the last few years looked like a twelve year old… so I guess she really doesn't know… shit this is gona be a long night.' "do you have someone you like?"

"someone?"

"you know… like Cloud and Tifa."

"no…"

"are you interested in guys?" 'oh shit what if she's not… then you're in deep shit yuffs.'

Shelke acted hesitant. "I don't know."

"okay… which one do you like better Cloud or Aerith…" 'stupid question.'

"umm…"

"okay… let's try something else…" 'what else is there to try…'

"I'm not sure what you mean" she narrowed her eyes in concern at the fidgeting ninja.

"okay… umm. Can you tell me a bit more about the 'problem'?"

"whenever I try to sleep I feel a strange stirring in my core… it bothers my thinking process with strange thoughts and… well… I'm not sure…"

"okay…" 'gosh what if she's… oh dear… what have you gotten yourself into. Well… I've never… maybe if…'

"Yuffie?" Shelke uttered her question as if she were trying to ask something she should already know. "what exactly is… sex?"

"oh crap…" she swallowed hard. "you mean you never got the talk?"

"talk?"

"birds and bees… man woman… love marriage… oh shit… Shelke I don't know how to put this gently but we need to get you a boyfriend."

"why?"

"its just what boyfriends are fore… they worship you and make you feel like a goddess and then when you feel like you do now they take care of that in… their own special way…"

"but… I don't know…" she blushed. An unusual thing for the robotic girl. "I don't know how to keep one."

"oh Shelke… its not that hard… like having a pet just pet them and they roll over for you."

"but don't they have to…?"

"have to what?" she sighed exasperatedly as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"kiss" Shelke copied Yuffie's earlier usage of a whisper.

Yuffie's jaw dropped to the floor with shock and awe as she heard the word of such questionable integrity. 'she's such a goodie two shoes she doesn't even know what an actual kiss means.'

"no babe. You see a kiss is something someone shares with someone they love. Not a boyfriend girlfriend thing. That's a bit more complicated."

"but… I love everyone… all of you. And I haven't kissed any of you. So… why is that the complicated part…?"

"babe I hate to tell you this but sometimes as intelligent as you are you can be so dense."

"pardon. My IQ far exceeds yours."

"yeah in mechanics and computers but you have no idea what dealing with emotion is like." She struck a heroic pose.

"well… show me…"

"show me then." These were the words that Cloud felt he would come to regret in a few moments.

Koty's eyes were focused on the floor and though it was so dark Cloud couldn't see his face he could easily depict the torn expression in his eyes.

"you wouldn't understand… it is not my place to show you such things." Koty was trying to avoid pressing a subject Cloud felt was a necessity to understand.

"how do you know. Oh yeah you read minds."

"a miss interpretation. I read memories and body language. Not minds. But you still wouldn't quite understand."

"you don't read minds you just said so. So just cut to the chase and do your 'thing'." Cloud didn't see the coming of a short storm.

"if you only knew just how much of Tifa I have accumulated within myself you wouldn't push this." He had a nervous warning in his voice that begged Cloud to leave. But with no surprise the hasty swordsman pressed forward.

"cut the crap and just do your trick." Cloud short handedly caught the man in a corner and with nowhere to run and no reason that Cloud would listen to Koty gave in.

"you really want to know?"

"yes… now just spill."

It was quick. Swift as lightning and with twice the vindication. Like the scent of lilies floating in the pond, subtle but prominent, the man moved forward. Within the blink of an eye Koty closed the short distance between them and Cloud was caught surprisingly with a gentle embrace of lips and a strong hand on his face.

'what the hell? Why can't I pull away… its… I can feel Tifa…'

Koty pulled away and left Cloud with the feeling of displacement and haze that had invaded his mind. "you see…?"

"wha… what the…." He stammered as he finally focused on the man who had just kissed him.

"I'm sorry…" Koty then shut his eyes and Cloud could no longer feel his presence. 'damn… he felt… just like Tifa… what… the… hell… wait… where'd he go?'

He searched the darkness only to find he was alone, alone and for some reason saddened by the loss of the brief contact. 'no… this isn't happening… no… but… its not a dream…' he shook his head violently to rid himself of a sense of guilt that had found its way to his mind. 'why… did he … apologize?'

Upstairs Yuffie found herself in absolute shock at the request that had just been made by her blue eyed friend. 'you've got to be kidding me… she doesn't really want me to… oh great… just great… now what am I gona do.'

"Shelke I don't think that what you…" she was cut short by the defeated look on the young girls face.

"I don't know what to do… please…" she looked up at the ninja with hope in her eyes "show me…"

"woah… I…" 'oh comeon. This is crazy this isn't happening… but is it… would it really be that bad?' "Shelke… look hun… its complicated I just… gimme some time okay…" 'time… no amount of time would help with this… what have you done Yuffie?'

intermission

Well for all of you strange fans of this it will come forward soon. I promise this Is indeed becoming quite a chapter. My longest yet I think.

I hope all of you are finding something in this. If not oh well I tried.

Well this is gona be the last of this chap and this time, time hasn't passed much. Maybe fifteen minutes from the last act. So for those of you ready to end this its going to after this instillation. Promise. Now for those who can't wait till the next chap its coming soon. And for you who don't like it suck it. I'm not writing it for a paycheck but for entertainment. If you're not entertained you have no imagination. So neah.

Anyway on to the end of this

resume

"when all is said and done" Cloud's lullaby. Clouds lullaby:

He couldn't believe it. He never thought it was even possible for him to cheat on Tifa much less against his will and with a 'man.' 'unbelievable strife. Now you're really gona have something to tell Denzel. Wow… now we gota find out what the hell is going on. No more bein left in the dark.' He was still dazed from the sense of displacement he felt when they had connected. 'ya know… not that I'm gay but… it wasn't… all that bad… it really felt like Tifa was there. Not physically but the… feeling… it was like she was standing right there. That's… not even right… that's wrong on so many levels… ughh'

He tried to wipe the feeling of self sabotage from his now very tarnished dignity. It would have been much worse if he hadn't made it to his room and saw Tifa sleeping. 'wow… if a picture were really worth a thousand words that would be the only one that would fit.' he marveled at the scene before him. her dark raven hair touching bare alabaster. Even in the dark his mako sight enabled him to touch her with his eyes. 'she's… so ….' He tried to prevent thoughts of questionable morality from plaguing him however her sheer beauty proved more a match for his mentality than even his nemesis had been. 'great… as if sephiroth didn't fuck my head up enough. Now Tifa has to go and make me… damit.'

"Cloud?" she woke up to the feeling of his eyes on her.

"its okay babe go back to sleep." He whispered softly in her ear as he knelt beside the bed.

"no its not… something's bothering you." 'damit how does she do that?'

"no… I'm fine. Just get some rest."

"come 'ere…"

"what is it." He was shocked when she forcefully planted a violent kiss upon him.

"that's for trying to be nice. And this" she kissed him again. "is a sample of what you'll get when you tell me the truth."

"its nothing." He smiled slightly in assurance to the woman.

"liar…"

"I am not… I just"

"shhh… just tell me…"

"I'm just worried that's all."

"then why are your pants so tight?" she chuckled as she shot him an innocent look.

"oh… um… I…" he panicked. "I need to go for a walk."

He left almost as soon as he came. 'fantastic. Now you're a coward too. Man. I got to stay away from that girl. If I don't there won't be much of a honeymoon to have. Damit… why is it this always happens to me…?' he stood just outside of his door before he remembered that he had promised to see Yuffie after her encounter with Koty. 'that's right. Yuffie. I promised her that I would check on her… guess that could help keep my mind off of Tifa at least. Better go.'

He would gladly have succumbed to Tifa's touch if we're not for the thought of Koty's actions plaguing his mind. The situation seemed to shake Clouds very soul. 'its… just not… possible… why would he do that… what if he's…' Cloud felt a strange feeling with a familiarity of sickness come over him as he the room darkened. 'oh hell… not this again.'

"I'm sorry to trouble you" Koty's soft voice echoed in his ear.

"just couldn't get enough of me." Clouds rare sarcasm strained a chuckle from the generally stoic man.

"how could you guess." He moved from the darkness. "but no… its not me this time… it is your young friend."

"Yuffie?"

"yes… I believe… maybe she is… fond of someone… as you've probably noticed its not me… but follow me and I'll show you something interesting that is about to take place."

"why do I get the feeling that I'm gona wake up in a terrible situation."

"don't worry your body is outside the door. You'll wake up when you decide you've seen enough."

"okay… so what is this? You spy on people now?"

"consider me an artist at heart. I enjoy seeing that which is truly beautiful. The laughter of children. Love between two young people. The determination which flows from the eyes of a warrior. Flowers the sky… you understand this though."

"wouldn't know."

"lie… you know all too well. You enjoy looking at Tifa. And seeing Denzel and Marlene smile always seems to bring one of your own. But you also enjoy the finesse of a good battle. A rare trait to be sure."

"we'll discuss battle tactics later. Now what the hell is it that's so important that you need me to practically die to see it." Cloud rolled his eyes as he approached what appeared to be Yuffie's door.

"look inside. You shall see something beautiful blooming."

"okay… did I ever mention how much you freak me out sometimes."

"I'm sure."

Cloud reached for the door before realizing that he was falling through it. 'damn. Guess I don't need to use doors when I'm like this. Wait what's goin on here?'

"look I know this is not the way you wana be… but I only know about two remedies and neither of which you want to me to show you… did deepground not teach you how to deal with things like this?" Yuffie stammered with her words as she scratched the back of her head.

"I've never had this kind of feeling. I've been perpetually twelve for the last two decades… I don't understand it…" Shelke was blushing and confused.

'damit Koty… why the hell did you make me come in for one of these … wait what is she doing.' Yuffie moved forward with trepidation written all over her face. 'that look… what's with the look. I hope they can't see me… this would be so weird.'

The ninja crossed the room and sat on the bed next to the young red head. She wrapped her arm around her and attempted to relax the girl.

"okay Shelke… I can see I'm not gona be able to tell you… jeez… but still… um… I wana help… so ill see if I can…" she swallowed.

"what is it…" Shelke leaned into Yuffie.

"I just never did this with a girl before… little new to this."

"new to what?"

"okay Shelke I know you have no idea what but just try and act like you do… its makin it hard to think that I'm about to try something with an adult if you act so naïve."

"sorry."

Yuffie moved her free hand to Shelke's slender shoulder and slid a few stray fingers under her sleeve to play with the bare skin of her arm. 'wait what the hell is goin on… this cant be good. What did she mean by try something?'

As if Cloud had died and gone to some perverted part of heaven he found the click. 'any other guy would find this scene the best moment of his life but for some reason this to me… is getting pretty creepy. Is Yuffie really about to...'

Her hand drew circles around Shelke's shoulder. This in turn made the young woman blush. She apparently had never experienced this kind of attention before. She looked as though she was nervous. 'why is Shelke so giddy… oh crap… now I get it… way to go dunce. Shoulda seen this one comin. Oh boy.'

"Yuffie?" Shelke was startled as the ninja's gentle hands suddenly went from drawing circles to following the line of her collar bone.

"shh… just… enjoy the moment…" she whispered as she guided the ex-tsviet to the mattress with a gentle motion.

"do you see strife… Yuffie… her heart hurts… and Shelke… is blossoming… alone they are but jilted… but together they can sustain one another. Like a bowl and water" Koty's voice invaded his moment of concentration as Cloud watched in a form of almost cat like curiosity.

"what do you mean?" he replied without looking at the man.

"Shelke is like the empty bowl… she feels as though she has no purpose because she cannot contain what she has… simply because she's never had anything to contain. Yuffie on the other hand is like water that has lost its container… alone they are… how shall we say useless… but together… you understand."

She moved her face close to Shelke's, scanning her eyes for any sign of hesitance. When she saw none she gently pressed her lips to the girls own.

"Yuffie… I thought you said." Shelke gasped as Yuffie buried her face in the girl's neck. "ohhh…"

"shh… I do… just trust me… I wouldn't do this if I didn't." she planted gentle slow kisses along the girls jaw line and down to her collar.

"what is this feeling?"

"don't worry about it… just enjoy it."

She shifted her body weight and laid down on the young woman before moving her hands to lace her fingers with their partners.

"ohh" Shelke began to moan.

"so you like this? That's good…" she buried her lips into the girl's neck again with a feverish desire.

"so wait… Yuffie… she's falling for Shelke?" Cloud questioned the man to his right only to receive a disproving nod.

"no… Shelke is new to emotions and Yuffie… her emotions are strained. Think of it as temporary love… it is true but not permanent… simply consoling one another in a severe time of crisis… basic same concept as having a partner with a common goal… you both benefit but there is no actual contract… you simply assist each other and hope for the best." He was indeed knowledgeable but also to Cloud slightly cold natured.

"I thought you were an artist not a biologist."

"you misinterpret again strife. You see… love no matter how temporary is love… it always is… whether love is over emotion or simply through fondness of memory love is love. It is powerful… and its everywhere… this is just simply a weak rendition of love. Temporary and experimental. But shared between friends."

"so because they're friends that makes it love?"

"no… it is because they would sacrifice for one another… they aren't compromising because they are both willing to… perhaps you can look at it as a symbol of trust."

"strangers can trust each other."

"but not like close friends can. Like yourself and Tifa… at one time you had feelings for Aerith… but in the end Tifa was closer to your heart… and you had to sacrifice a close friend to save the one you love… but she would have also done the same for you… so in the end… there is no price to be paid… only ground to be covered."

"not sure I follow but we'll go with that." He continued to watch as he muttered under his breath 'complicated sunuva'

"now Cloud temper temper."

Yuffie's fingers ran from Shelke's hands to her hair. The young woman gasped at the amount of strange attention the ninja was paying her.

"yuff…ie.." she closed her eyes as a gentle hand moved down her face and pulled her to Yuffie's lips. "mmmm"

"you've got pretty eyes Shelke…" she slid her hand downward and proceeded from Shelke's neck to her chest.

"ohh…mmmm" the girl had a total loss of speech at the feelings welling up within her.

At this Yuffie descended and began to remove the clothing from the lithe tsviet as if she were opening the paper on a Christmas present. She was eager and hasty with her lips stealing sighs and gasps even more easily than her hands had stolen materia in the past. She was obviously taking from Shelke's state of being and feeding from the euphoria that the young woman felt.

"are they…?" Cloud did not receive a response from Koty and simply marked it off as a yes.

They writhed for a moment. Enjoying each other's sounds until Yuffie had finally managed to strip Shelke of any clothing that had once impeded her progress.

With her cloths gone and her body laid bare for all of the world to see Shelke opened her eyes. 'wow Yuffie's right those eyes… she really does have nice eyes…' Cloud watched in amazement as Yuffie then removed any clothing she herself bore. 'ya know… Zack would kill to see this… too bad he isn't dead he could've watched. Wow strife that's a lovely thought… you just got'em back and now you want him to die.'

Their bodies fit together like pieces of a smooth puzzle. Silk upon silk. Fire and ravens mixed with pale ivory skin to create a storm like none Cloud had ever imagined.

"Cloud… I thought you had eyes for Tifa… very well I shall take them all then" sephiroths voice laughed in the back of his mind.

"strife… listen not… he is merely a remnant… a figment of your past come to humiliate you." Koty placed a hand on Clouds shoulder.

"kay…" he shook the voice off and watched the scene continue.

"don't try and ignore me Cloud… Cloud…CLOUD." The voice taunted him until it disappeared and he could see nothing but the two girls.

'I think… I think he's gone… Koty… is this what you meant by the power of love.' The girls continued their dance. Yuffie's hands cascading like water over Shelke's smooth toned frame.

The moans that penetrated the silence defeated Clouds sense of perception and the only thought that he could muster was the sentence Koty had given him before hand. 'love is love.'

Yuffie's hands squeezed and pressed even the slightest resistance from Shelke's frame. The tsviet couldn't hold back from the eminent passion that filled her from the emotional encounter. She began to randomly call the ninja's name with fever at the slightest touch and Yuffie in exchange gave her everything that she could.

"Yuffie." She wasn't even aware that she was panting as Yuffie lowered her head to kiss her chest and then her stomach "yuff..ffie." she stuttered at the kisses until a gentle hand found its way to her untouched womanhood and the fever of embarrassment her face.

"no one else has bothered… I'm sorry… I don't know why you're so beautiful… ill love you Shelke." Yuffie was acting as though she had been seducing the girl for months.

"you could learn from this Cloud…" Koty chuckled as he again placed his hand on the man's shoulder.

"I think I already have…" his eyes stayed glued on the two women.

"ugnnn… yuffff… ffiee…" Shelke's eyes squeezed shut as fingers invaded her.

Yuffie indulged in more kisses as she swallowed the screams of her lover. Her fingers finding refuge in the warmth of the tviets newly found sense of love she allowed herself to be fully immersed in the moment. They were burning from the inside out. Like a volcano waiting for judgment day.

'seems like Yuffie's had a lot of practice at this…' Cloud joked in his head as he watched Shelke's hand slip up the inside of Yuffie's leg to penetrate the ninja with careful but excellent precision. 'whoa Shelke learns fast… no wonder Koty gets along with her so well… speaking of which.'

"Koty?" he passed his glance to the man before returning to the scene unfolding.

"yes…?" he seemed unperturbed by the man's questioning.

"aren't you jealous…?"

"pardon?"

"you and Shelke spend a lot of time together… I'm sure that has to bring some form of attraction to her even for you… so aren't you jealous that a girl's going to have her before you?"

"don't be so ridiculous… I have no time for emotions to cloud my judgment… besides… you can't choose who you love… only how you love them…"

"and that's why you don't say anything?"

"pardon?"

"never mind… you are a thick one."

He watched on as Yuffie and Shelke both arched against each other's wrists. Each made sure the other wasn't feeling any less passion than themselves as both of them heatedly began to moan.

Sweat had accumulated on them and they glistened in the dim atmosphere of the florescent light above them. 'wow… they're giving it their all… wait…' Shelke arched her back and let out a constrained squeal into Yuffie's throat before falling back to the bed. 'that's what he meant… I needed to learn from this not to get pointers or be a pervert… he meant that… oh… I see…' soon after that thought Yuffie began to pant frantically and pulled Shelke close as her eyes closed in what almost seemed like fear and then pleasure. 'how you love them doesn't mean that I have to … well get down and dirty… bad choice of words… it means… I have to give it everything… even if I can only have her for a little while… I have to throw what's left of my heart into it…'

"thank you Koty… I think I want to go back now." He spoke before realizing he was now standing outside his own room again. 'well its safe to say Yuffie doesn't need my help right now… that's good because I know someone who does…'

He practically broke the door as he threw it open. He hadn't anticipated Tifa to be asleep again. 'well… maybe tomorrow… but for now… I'm gona love you… at least in my heart… starting the next time you wake up you'll never have to wonder again. I'll make sure of it… I love you Tifa… and you'll never need to ask to know it ever again.'

he moved to the bed and lay beside her. He wasn't going to leave again. 'but for now… you just rest… no one will ever hurt you as long as I live. I love you so much.' He kissed her head and wrapped an arm around her. She wasn't going to have the opportunity to have second thoughts. 'till the day I die I promise no one will ever hurt you. And no one will ever love you like I do… I promise… Tifa.'

He could feel the rise and fall of her chest against his wrist and his thoughts returned to Shelke and Yuffie. 'ill love like them… and Koty… as much as I dislike the thought of him kissing me… I think… I know why… if that's how you feel Tifa… then… then I… forget it I love you and that's all that matters.'

"Cloud…" Tifa uttered his name in her sleep as she pressed her back to him.

Her breathing became hypnotic after a moment and Cloud found himself drifting further from reality. Her scent her feel all of her became a medication with a heavy drowsy affect. She was the perfect drug for an addiction to friction.

As he drifted off he could almost swear he heard her song bein played on the piano. 'that's nice its like a lullaby… I… its so pretty… just like… Tifa…' the words were never there but for some reason he heard them in his head as the music invaded his soul.

"when all is said and done. Will we see what we've become… sky coming closer and burned down by the sun. when all is said and done." A soft voice almost whispered.

He faded into a peaceful and much welcomed dreamless coma as Tifa played his lullaby over and over in his memory.

"when all is said and done." And he was gone.