The wind whipped Sephiroth's hair around as he and Angeal made their way towards the small town. Sephiroth felt a pang of guilt that this was the first time he'd set foot in Genesis's hometown. He had promised the ginger several times that he would make the trip. Try one of his beloved apples, but there had simply never been the time in their schedules. Sephiroth spotted what he assumed was the odd fruit hanging from some trees they passed under. The temptation to fulfill Genesis wish tugged at him, but he pushed it down. Genesis was not dead, and he would taste one of these dumbapple for the first time when Genesis was there to enjoy it.

"My mother's home is over this way." Angeal's voice broke though the silence and Sephiroth looked to Angeal.

"I would love to meet your mother, but I would like to speak with Genesis's parents as well." Sephiroth expressed as they made their way down the road.

Angeal paused for a moment before he sighed. "That's not a good idea Sephiroth."

"They would not appreciate condolences? I also thought they may know more of what happened" Sephiroth's voice was laced with confusion something he didn't show often.

Angeal shook his head. "How much about his parents did Genesis ever tell you?"

"Nothing really except that they lived here in Banora. But talk of Banora usually turned to the apple orchards." Sephiroth explained.

Angeal thought for a moment on how to respond. Though he supposed with the man dead it wouldn't hurt to reveal his secrets, not to Sephiroth anyway, and it would be the only way to get him to understand."Genesis was adopted, and I never could figure out why those people took in a child, they obviously never wanted one. He spent his childhood trying to please them, only for them to turn their nose up at everything he did. When he was 10 he won a national award for developing a way to can the juice from the dumpapples. An award for adults. And still in was nothing. Genesis joined SOLDIER to get away from them, not prove anything to his parents. He was never much more than a burden to them, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't show up to his funeral."

Sephiroth's grip tighten on the ever present Masamune. Sadden in part that Genesis had never chosen to share this with him. But they hadn't been good memories. He supposed he could be to upset with the man, he'd never shared his own experiences in the lab. He'd always assumed that since Genesis had had an actual family that he had been loved. It was almost sickening to find out otherwise, and it explained so many things about the early parts of the relationship they'd shared. Neither one of them had known what they were doing.

"Then your mother's house is fine. I can at least speak with her before we visit the grave." Sephiroth acknowledged finally as Angeal lead him past a few houses.

Even in a place like this the whispers were ever present. People amazed at the silver General's presence. Sephiroth had long learned to tune them out, at least under normal circumstances. But some of these people seemed genuinely amazed that he would come here even on Genesis's account. Sephiroth didn't know who it was a bigger insult too.

It wasn't long however before they were standing in front of an older looking home, with Angeal knocking on the door. The creak of old wood floor boards found its way to Sephiroth's ears before the door slowly opened revealing an aged woman who resembled Angeal. She had a hard look on her face as she gazed at her son before it softened a bit and she let them inside. "I suppose this means you got my letter." She stated as they moved further into the house, and Sephiroth shut the door.

"They never told us." Angeal crossed his arms. " Sephiroth found out in a board meeting, about the same time I got your letter. We could hardly believe it." The emotion was clear in his voice as a boy talking to his mother.

A concerned look fell across Gillian Hewely's face. "I should have known better. I'm sorry for the letter, I just couldn't imagine you'd miss it."

"If we had known we would have been here." Angeal sighed as he took a seat at his mother's table, Sephiroth stood back a bit. Angeal's mother didn't seem to be bother by his presence and Sephiroth found he like the woman. At least from what he'd heard so far.

"I would say it's surprising, but this is Shinra we're talking about." Gillian stated as she placed a kettle on the stove. "I wish he could have seen it, the whole town turned out."

Angeal crossed his hands, and looked down at the table. "I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for missing it. I should have known something was wrong when he didn't contact us for so long. I just assumed he was to deep in to make casual contact.'

"You are not the only one at fault for that. I had grown concerned but not to the point of thinking anything was seriously wrong." Sephiroth finally spoke, and Gillian's eyes slid over to him for a moment before they went back to her son.

"I can take you to his grave after we have some tea to calm our nerves. How long do you plan on staying?' Gillian asked as she pulled a few cups down, placing tea bags in each one.

"A few days. " Angeal added, and Sephiroth stayed silent. He had no intention of leaving until he discovered the truth behind Genesis's death.

The woman nodded as Angeal spoke, "Well your room is the same as you left it. Apologizes to the General that is not a proper Inn, but the two of you should be comfortable enough."

"Thank you Miss, Hewely." Sephiroth acknowledged with a nod.

Angeal stood, head still down. Back in Banora, in this house where he had shared so many memories with Genesis, without him. It was starting to bring home that the man was truly gone. "I'll take our things up to the room while the tea finishes."

Sephiroth shift still holding his bags. "I'll join you." He didn't feel comfortable staying down here with Angeal mother. Parents were one thing the General didn't understand. He had questions for the woman and didn't want to ask them without Angeal around.

Angeal just silently nodded and headed up the stairs, Sephiroth following closely behind. There were pictures hung up the mantel of what he could only assume was Angeal growing up. The house was old but sturdy and for a fleeting moment Sephiroth wondered what it would have been like to grow up like this. From what Angeal had told him it seemed he had been the only one lucky enough to have been truly cared for as a child. Try as he might though he could only be angry over Genesis's fate. His lover had deserved so much more then what he was given.

Angeal lead him to a room at the end of the hall, and when he opened the door and stepped in Sephiroth took in the room. There was an old plain wooden twin bed sitting against one wall, with what looked like a mattress under it that could be pulled out. Likely where Genesis had slept when he stayed with the Hewely's. The walls were blue but bare. A dresser sat in one corner that was littered with picture frames and a chest set off in another corner next to a door Sephiroth assumed was a closet.

"You can set your things down at the end of the bed. " Angeal offered as he sat his down to the side of the dresser. Sephiroth did as he was asked, before moving to look at the pictures.

All of them were of Angeal and Genesis at various ages. There was one that Sephiroth picked up. Angeal was sitting in a creek bed, Genesis laughing, and the boys looked to be about eight. Angeal looked at the picture over Sephiroth's shoulder and smiled. "I slipped he laughed. What you don't see there is me pulling him down 10 seconds later with me."

Angeal picked up another and handed it to Sephiroth as the general set the first one down. "This is right before we left for SOLDIER together."

It was easier to recognize the man he'd fallen in love with in this picture. 15 years old, same gorgeous red hair framing his face that Sephiroth had loved to run his hands through. Bright, intelligent eyes that had drawn him in. There was no way Genesis could be dead, none. Sephiroth took a moment to sit on the bed still staring at the picture.

Angeal heard the whistling of the kettle and looked to Sephiroth. "I'll go get the tea. Just..." He didn't want to leave a man he thought was obviously grieving but it would only be for a moment. And if he didn't his mom would bring it up and he didn't think Sephiroth would appreciate it. Sephiroth just nodded in response and Angeal slipped back down stairs.

As Angeal walked down his mother had just finished pouring the tea. It sat steeping as she turned to him with a small smile. "I have to admit I'm surprised. I know you said you had befriended him, but to see him here with you. Helping to comfort you and visit Genesis. It's nice to see."

Angeal just closed his eyes. He'd never told his mother about Genesis and Sephiroth, mostly because it hadn't been his place, and partially because he wasn't sure how she would react. "Mom." He started a bit heavily. "Sephiroth isn't here to help me grieve, he's hurting to, more than I am really."

Gillian just nodded at her son. "I know, I'm sorry I know he was Genesis's friend too. I just mean I'm glad you still have a friend someone to lean on."

"He was more than Genesis's friend. They loved each other dearly." Angeal finally finished.

His mother looked furious, and for a moment Angeal mistook her anger until she spoke. "He's the one who's made Genesis happy these last couple of years? And they didn't even tell him the man died?" She shook her head. Not even sure what else to say.

"He was furious when he found out, he even thought for a moment that I had kept it from him. Apparently he only knew because they casually mentioned it in a board meeting going over the details of the war effort for the month." Angeal crossed his arms.

"Sephiroth needs you then. Take him this tea. And when you two are ready we'll make our way to the graveyard." Gillian told her son motioning back upstairs.

Angeal nodded taking the cups and heading back upstairs. When he entered the room Sephiroth was sitting on the bed still looking at the same photograph he had been when Angeal went downstairs. He knew what he had told his mom a moment ago was true. Sephiroth had to be hurting more. Before Genesis and himself had come along, Sephiroth had been a lone, barely understanding the need for human contact. They had drawn him out of his shell together and Genesis and Sephiroth had discovered something more, something beautiful together.

Finally Angeal moved further in the room, catching the general's attention as he placed the photo down. "Here" He offered holding out the cup. Sephiroth easily took it, drinking it to drink.

"I would like to go now. Thank your mother for the tea. But I need to see his grave." Sephiroth stated calmly and Angeal nodded in understanding.

"Let's go then." Angeal replied as Sephiroth followed him down stairs.

The walk to the graveyard wasn't long, as Angeal helped his mother through town. It sat on the edge of town, opposite from the dumbapple grove. There were rows and rows of weathered grave markers and at the far end was the fresh grave. Dirt still showing where the grass had refused to grow back yet. As they came to stand before it. Angeal look his mother's hand and Sephiroth stood still.

Across the marker read

Genesis Rhapsodos

Born July 17th 77 Died August 30th 102

Beloved Son and Friend

The last part about made him sick. From what Angeal had told him he had never been a beloved Son. But he wasn't about to take issue with that. Not when there were so many other things to deal with.

Gillian took a moment to pay her respects before placing a hand on her son's arm. She knew she made the general nervous. "I'll leave you two alone." She spoke softly before slipping away.

Angeal wanted to argue, he wanted his mother close as he looked at his best friend's grave but he knew Sephiroth would prefer the privacy so he just let her go. He could find comfort with his mother later.

When she was gone, Sephiroth sank to his knees looking at the grave, Angeal fighting off the first tears that had tried to show themselves bent over and offered Sephiroth a hug.

"He can't be dead." Sephiroth muttered. It was the first he had voiced his opinion to Angeal.

"I'm sorry Sephiroth. I wish he wasn't." Angeal replied as comforting as he could.

"No, I mean he's not dead. He can't be he'd never die to something so simple. Something's wrong Angeal. Can't you see it?" Sephiroth needed to get the other man to understand.

Angeal just closed his eyes fighting the tears. "He's gone. We may not have been at the funeral but mom was. She's know Genesis as well as us. He's buried here Sephiroth."

"He can't be. It's not possible." Sephiroth had too much faith in his lover as he grabbed a handful of dirt and started throwing it to the side.

"What are you doing." Angeal was startled at the General's actions he knew it was hard on the man. "Let him rest Seph, you'll do no good disturbing his grave." He was trying not to get angry.

"I'm going to prove to you he's not here." Sephiroth was still calm as he continued to move the dirt.

"You can't, you loved him right? This is the most disrespectful thing you can do. Leave him." Angeal pleaded. He couldn't let Sephiroth disturb Genesis, but he didn't know how to stop him.

"Either help me or leave me." Sephiroth finally snapped, He was going to dig up this grave with his own bare hands. Genesis's body would not be there he was certain of it.

Angeal started pacing he didn't want to fight Sephiroth but the man wouldn't stop. "I'm sorry old friend I tired." he muttered to Genesis's spirit before finally moving to sink next to a tree, feeling guilty.

He watched nearly numb as Sephiroth worked tirelessly to removed the dirt. His silver hair was covered in it but finally he stopped when the coffin was cleared. Sephiroth removed the lid to the granite exterior that was placed around Genesis's casket. Before looking up at Angeal.

"You should watch this too, I'm going to prove to you he's not dead." Sephiroth spoke with conviction standing over the casket.

"I don't agree with this." Angeal replied neutrally. He was still angry at Sephiroth and the only reason he hadn't attacked the man is because he knew his actions were born out of love and not malice. He walked over to the grave and cross his arms. At least he could make sure that it was done with some dignity. Then help put his friend back to rest properly.

When he came to the edge of the grave Sephiroth bent over. And undid the latches, stomach twisting. He knew he could be wrong, but he was unsure of exactly what he would find within the casket. As the lid slid open Angeal gasped, dread filling him as Sephiroth looked up at Angeal.

"I told you he'd not dead Angeal do you believe me now?" Sephiroth's smooth voice filled the air as Angeal stared at an empty coffin.

Chapter two over. And props to XXTakaraXX for guessing exactly what Seph was gonna do. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. And please leave a review they feed my muses - DHT