I hate running down stairs. I can run up them and on flat ground all you want; for some strange reason or another I took up long distance running back home, in Junon. But I hate running downstairs, and I could've sworn Cloud did too, until today. He was always near me, at the back. The thing is, running down stairs is at least half psychological, or it is to me, at least. If someone, like me, is afraid of falling, and every time they skip a step they feel like they're going to fall, they try to take steps one at a time. That gets a bit hard with a maniac of a superior officer breathing down you neck.

Anyway, so two days ago the short blond was freaking out with me up here, but look at him now, calm as you please, way… down… there. He might not be at the front of the pack, but he's definitely in the first half. If you had asked me a week ago, I would've said things like that don't happen overnight. But obviously, they do. He's gotten so much more confidant. That's why, when my 'friends' decided to try and slip me something at lunch, I decided to go sit by him. He's so cool to everyone now, not that I mind. I could hardly expect him to be nice to me after I insulted his friend, Reno.

That's another weird thing, Reno. They weren't friends before, but now it seems like the crazy re head has adopted Cloud, or maybe the other way around, it's hard to tell. But my main point is that Reno doesn't wander anymore. He used to never spend a meal in the same place, always hanging around different groups, but constantly watching, listening. He still watches everyone in that creepy way of his, not quite staring at everything at once, but he doesn't do it when Cloud's around. When Cloud's around he focuses most of his attention on the blond. That's alright, I suppose, but it's like Cloud is a puzzle to him. I admit, Cloud is a bit confusing but people aren't just projects, things to figure out.

There have been other strange changes in Cloud, like his performance in History of Shinra. Not so much his score on the test, that was probably average for someone who had forgotten everything, but how he reacted to that other guy telling everyone what he got. I know I would've blushed and slunk down in my chair at least, but he just sat there, cool as can be, looking amused if anything.

Then there was his standing up for Reno earlier today. The old Cloud never would have done that, and what he said about SOLDIER just being people hired to other people, that's still turning over in the back of my mind. On one hand, SOLDIER protects the civilians; they kill monsters and save towns from bandits. On the other… the war in Wutai speaks for itself. But that would mean Sephiroth is just a murderer in disguise, not the godsend he is, and I know Cloud would never think that. I think Sephiroth seemed to be Cloud's personal hero, even more so than he is for the rest of us, and to gall from so high a pedestal to a hired weapon… that's harsh. But still, if getting amnesia makes you this much, I don't know, better, I need to find something hard to hit my head with. But at the same time, if just forgetting some things changed Cloud from a timid and scared little kid to a calm and collected SOLDIER recruit, I'm not sure I want to know what he forgot.

Dreams of the Morrow, Chapter Nine: Reflections - Ian. Updated July 20, 2011. 620 words.

I told you it was going to be short, so no complaining! It was more of an interlude actually. When typing this up onto the computer off my notebook, I got the feeling that Ian has some problems. No, that is not a fact, though it might become one, maybe.

Anyway, no promises on when the next chapter is coming out. Next week I have a writing camp (in which I will be working on my original story) and the week after that I'm visiting my grandparents. Last but not least, special recognition should go towards the reviewers! You deserve an accolade. Thanks for watching and have a wonderful week!

Umm... sorry about that. You would think two months out of school I wouldn't have the urge to type the ending of our school's weekly news show at the end of every chapter.

Accolade for the reviewers: O /\ Eh, it did't turn out so well, sorry.