Both girls watched as the blond haired teen slowly, but with an ease to be envied, moved down the steep trail leading from the mountains. They knew he loved going out for hours at times by himself.

The girls had both on numerous occasions tired to follow him, but he always somehow managed to lose them, not even a mile up the trail. They had at last resigned themselves to simply wait hidden on the trail, for him to return.

This time, he had returned later than usual. It was nearly dark and the girls had been there since he had left early that morning, which some might consider bizarre, but the girls were both remarkably patient for ones their age.

Tifa glanced down at the younger girl at her side. The girl's long blond hair was braided in a single braid down her back and as she looked up, the usually serious sapphire eyes were now mischievous alight and Tifa smiled inwardly.

Rain was usually so quiet and reserved, but not out of shyness. She could be quite the opposite when she choice to be, but more out of countenance and character. It was good to see her act like her age.

She was too much like Cloud. The two were so similar in expression and manner, that at times, it was frightening how complete they seemed to know and understand each other. They both had this habit of looking so serious and far away in thought that sometimes Tifa would wonder if they would ever return. They always did though, usually at a word or touch from the other person.

She knew the villagers were frightened of the siblings and their perplexing behavior, so odd for children their ages. Most gave them a wide berth. So they were alone most of the time except for Tifa and Zangan.

When they were younger the siblings had often been harassed by the other children. Though Cloud and Rain had not allowed themselves be hurt by the other children, they did nothing to dissuade the bulling either, though they were fully capable of beating the crap out of the kids. Tifa had finally, at last cornered the kids and had beaten the crap out of them herself. Since then though, none of the children came anywhere near the Strifes, which only made her angrier.

It didn't seem to affect the siblings much though. Or at least that is what they said, but at times Tifa could catch a glimpse of sadness in one of their expression. It only ever would last a second though, before it was gone, causing her to wonder if it had even been there at all.

Right now though, Tifa saw rare eagerness in Rain's eyes and this time let the smile show on her face. Though the girl was quiet and reserved most of the time, did not mean she was not full of energy. Unlike most kids her age, Rain kept it hidden. Letting it build and build until finally given a reason or excuse to let it loose. Then Cetra help those who were in Rain Strife's way. Unfortunately for him and amusing for her, Cloud was usually the one who was on the receiving end.

Cloud bit back a sign of annoyance as he stepped of the trail and onto the road leading into Nebelheim. A familiar warning was flashing in one corner of his brain and he quickly moved his body slightly to the side, feeling the kick aimed for his head, brush some of his hair on the way by. Quickly he grabbed the foot by the ankle and swung around, lifting his attacker off the ground and into the air with superhuman strength.

One of the slightly disturbing, but beneficial surprises he had discovered years ago, when he had looked into a mirror and saw his eyes glow with a familiar green around the irises. He didn't know how it was possible, but his body was still infused with mako, lending him the unnatural strength and speed, so famous among SOLDIER.

He let go of the ankle and watched as his would be attacker, sail through the air, rolling a couple of times as she hit the ground, before coming to a shaky halt on her feet in a crouched position.

This time he did sigh. She always tried to catch him off guard, but had yet to learn how to conceal her approach on attack. She was just so full of energy that when she let loose, even a chocobo could feel that vibrations of adrenaline that coursed around her.

Cloud was just moving forward, when he heard a shout from above and looked up to see a swirling mass of black hair and clothes descending on him from above. He only just narrowly avoided the punch, but wasn't quick enough to avoid the kick to his stomach, which made his gasp for breath, dropping to his knees.

He cursed to himself, as air slowly came back to him. Rain, he could deal with, though talented her skills her limited when it came to hand to hand fighting. Tifa however was a different story. He knew before she even threw her first punch that she was and would become deadly and he had been right. He looked up into Tifa's face, which was full of concern, but yet still had on a triumphant smile, as she leaned over him.

"Cloud are you alright?"

He huffed and put out a hand to be helped up, which Tifa instantly took hold off and pulled him up with surprising strength.

At twelve she was slowly turning into the person he remembered and had loved so many years ago, or in the future, he could never decide which one it was. He never though remembered her stalking him. That had usually been him, trying to get the poplar Tifa Lockhart's attention, but he had attacked her. How things had changed, thanks to his sister.

Cloud turned to where she was still crouched on the ground and again started walking toward her. He was caught between feeling proud at their attempt and having his own pride slapped. The two girls had worked together and planned their attack well. Letting one create a distraction that wouldn't be suspicious, while the other person moved in and attacked from above. It was a good plan, especially since the girls were only eight and twelve.

The very reason that made him feel proud though, was also the hand that had slapped his own pride. After all he was not just some thirteen year old. At least not in his mind, in his mind he was still the same swordsman who had fought and defeated Sephiroth.

Yet it was also that warrior part of him that calmly stated that he was slipping. The relaxing confines of his home town were dulling his skills and reflexes. He needed to start training again, and not just the training Master Zangan gave. That served to keep his physical body in shape, but did nothing more. His fingers ached to once again feel the familiar grasp of Tsurugi, of any sword. To feel the exaltation of Omnislash coarse from him in a blue wave. Unfortunately that sort of training was not something he could do around Nebelheim, it was too risky.

It was time to move on, so he could train himself again, and Rain. He had allowed himself to stay longer than he should have because he thought Rain needed it, but now it was obvious she too was getting antsy. These increasingly frequent attacks of hers were proof of that. Plus they were only succeeding in frustrating her.

She did not excel in Master Zangan's training the way Tifa did and though she rarely showed it, her frustration was extreme. Her body did not work well with the style of punches and kicks that Master Zangan taught and it was partly Cloud's fault. Her mind was too much like his, and was telling her body to react and attack in ways her body was not ready for. Not yet at least.

As he knelt down in front of her, he could just barely see that anger on her face between the blond locks that had fallen across her face. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't give up Rai, you'll get it."

You'll just need to figure out your own stride, he thought to himself.

She however looked up at him a fake smile on her lips, "What do you mean, get it? We got you didn't we?"

Cloud's hand tightened on her shoulder. He hated it when she did that. Pretending nothing was wrong, because usually she was very good at it. She was too young, she shouldn't have to know how to hide things so well, but unfortunately she did.

"Come on, let's go home."

He stood and she followed him. Cloud saw her wince slightly when she moved one shoulder and he frowned, but she shook her head slightly motioning with her eyes to Tifa. The message obvious, Later!

The three of them slowly started down the road and half an hour later were in the village square, where Tifa left, heading toward her own home. As Cloud and Rain walked toward Master Zangan's house, which was just on the outskirts of the town, Cloud glanced down at Rain.

"How is the shoulder?"

She shrugged with her uninjured shoulder, "It's just strained, should be fine by tomorrow."

Cloud nodded, knowing she was right. No injury ever kept the two down for long, but still he felt bad for causing the injury.

"I'm sorry Rai. I thought you could land it."

She signed annoyed, "I should have been able to. It wasn't your fault. I wasn't paying attention."

Cloud stopped and looked down at her worried. Rain was usually too focused, not paying enough attention to the things around her, instead of what was just in front. It was why her energy was so high; it was always so singularly focused. For her not to be paying attention to what was right in front of her, something must be wrong.

"What is troubling you?"

"Nothing!" The response came quick, too quick and Rain began walking again. Cloud's hand lashed out capturing her arm and turning her to face him.

"Don't do that Rai. You promised! You promised you would tell me when…"

"It has nothing to do with that?" Rain all but shouted, causing Cloud to look at her in surprise.

"Then what? You need to tell me, Rai! You shouldn't keep all those thoughts to yourself." Cloud pleaded.

Rain turned her face away from him.

"Your one to talk, you expect me to share all my feelings, yet you keep everything bottled inside and I know you hurt more than I do! You think I don't see you awake at night? It only works both ways Cloud."

Rain jerked her arm back and started walking again and Cloud let her go. Her words though felt like she had just stabbed him in the heart.

They ate dinner in silence, Zangan seemed to know something was going on between the two, but did not push it, which Cloud was thankful. Though Cloud had been wary at first, he now saw that no one could have possibly put up with him and Rain's strange behavior better than Zangan.

He never asked question, only offered his support quietly from the distance. He loved them. Cloud had overhead him tell Rain often enough, when she had been small, to be assured that it was true, but he was far from any sort of parental figure in their lives. It was not that Zangan had been unwilling to take on the role, but that they just didn't need him to. Cloud especially, who though in the body of a child, still thought of himself as an adult and treated himself as such. Any paternal need Rain required, Cloud quickly filled.

Zangan gave them food, shelter and protection when need be from the other villagers. He was their friend and teacher. Teaching them everything he knew, but he was not their parent. The only person who could lay claim to that position had died and then in Cloud's mind died again a long time ago.

After supper Cloud had lapsed into his familiar solitary silence and none bothered him. Zangan knew to stay away from him when he was like that, and Rain had still not talked to him, even when they went to bed.

The room he shared with Rain was not overly big, but had always been enough for them. They didn't mind being close together, but now as Cloud sat on the edge of his bed, looking at the back of Rain, who had turned away from him as soon as she crawled into bed. He thought the room seemed awfully small.

He signed and looked out the window, once again lost in thoughts to what had transpired earlier that day. It wasn't that he didn't trust Rain with his feelings. She was the one, perhaps the only one, who could possibly ever understand him completely, but he was an adult though he might not look it and she was still just a child. He could handle the pain, the sadness alone. It was how he had always handled it.

Yes, and look where that got you before? A voice inside his head reminded him. You pulled yourself away from your friends, the people who cared about you. You would have rather died alone in your pain and grief, than to share it with your friends, because you knew they would make you fight it, together. The only reason you even made it back to them was because Aerith and Zack came to your aid from within the lifestream.

He winced and the voice suddenly turned sharp.

But they are not here for you anymore!It reminded him and the harsh and sudden reality of it pained him. They are alive now and living a life you are not part off, but Rain is! She is here right now beside you and understands. Let her in Cloud! You don't have to carry the burden alone.

A noise from the other side of the room suddenly drew him from his thoughts.

Rain who was fast asleep, suddenly twisted in her sleep. She was dreaming, and Cloud drew in a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come. He knew from experience how bad it could be. Zangan had once said, that at times it sounded like a screaming match in their room. Thankfully though they no longer dreamed together, and Zangan no longer came into the room, letting them take care of each other was always the safer option.

Cloud stood as her fists clenched tightly in the blankets and the first sobbing cries started. Whatever nightmare is was, it was always either hurting her or scaring her, most of the time both. They had become more frequently of lately though, nearly a couple times a week, and those were the ones that he was aware of, there were plenty of times where she didn't cry out at all.

He moved to Rain's side and gently said her name, knowing it would not be enough to wake her, but wanting to give her subconscious some warning before he laid his hand on her. After no response, he gripped her shoulders shaking her lightly, and called her name again. Nothing, no response! He called her name again and was now shaking her violently, but still she did not wake and now the sobs rose to screams of pain.

Cloud felt himself beginning to grow frightened. She was usually not this hard to wake up. Growing desperate he raised his hand letting it fly sharply over her face. Rain's eyes snapped open mid scream and they glowed a dangerously green in the dark. Only Cloud's abnormal reflexes saved him from the fist that flew to make contact with his face.

"It's okay Rai, it me." Cloud spoke softly, grabbing her arms to hold her still.

The mako glow slowly left her eyes and with a sob she flew into his arms.

He held her tight, closing his eyes as he rocked her soothingly. He hated that look in her eyes, it was worse enough to see it in his own, but to see the mako in the eyes of someone it did not belong in, was twisting the knife.

There were so many things that didn't belong with her, and the mako was the least of them. He still remembered the first time he had seen it in her eyes. She had been five, and like tonight she had been crying in her sleep. When he had wakened her, he had nearly fallen off the bed at that familiar glow, but when she had uttered those words, he knew that mako was not the only thing they shared.

"Why, Cloud? Why did Zack have to die?"

He had held her like he was doing now as she cried repeating that one word he had so often asked himself. Why?

It had started that night, but since then slowly, but surely every memory, every feeling he had of that formal life had somehow gotten shared with Rain.

Though they did not talk about it much unless they had to, he had made Rain promise earlier on in the beginning, to talk to him about any memories or dreams she had about him and in the begging she had, enough to know that she knew basically everything about him. Recently though he started to suspect she was holding out on him and now he was sure of it.

He knew it had to do with what she had told him on the road. She would no longer share with him when he did not share with her. He hadn't realized until now how much he needed it. Hearing Rain talk about the things and emotions he had never shared, not even with Tifa, was like a weight being lifted from his chest. It soothed him.

Now that he took time and thought about it from her point of view, he realized what an idiot he had been. She had all his memories of what the future would hold, and though he assured her they would not happen. He had never shared with her why. He had not confide in her like he should have, was meant to.

That was going to change.

"What was it about this time?" Cloud kept his voice soft, as he stroked her hair comfortingly.

He didn't catch all her words as most her muffled in his shirt, but he caught the word, "Nebelheim" and "reactor" and that had been enough.

He had had that dream often enough to know without asking, the horrors of watching Nebelheim burn. Of Tifa, unconscious at the bottom of the stairs to the reactor, Zack lying in a pool of his own blood, gasping at Cloud to kill. Kill Sephiroth. Then the agony and pain as the general pierced his body with Masamune, lifting him high in the air to mock him.

Yes, he knew that dream very well.

"What are you going to do Cloud?"

Cloud pulled away slightly, looking down at her confused and she repeated.

"What are you going to do Cloud? You're nearly fourteen, if you wait much longer, it will be too late. The events begin to start with your first year at the academy. If you're going to act it will have to be soon."

Cloud starred at her, reminding himself that this was not just some eight year old. This was an eight year old with the memories and experiences of an adult, of him. It shocked him though sometimes just how much that changed her mentality. He then realized it must be what people felt all the time around him.

"What we are going to do, you mean."

She starred at him for a moment, before the meaning behind his words sunk in. She smiled and nodded, and for a moment she looked like the kid she was.

He smiled and ruffled her hair, while standing up.

"Tomorrow, I think it is time to pay a visit to the Shinra mansion. I believe there is a person there that was been sleeping long enough."

Rain's eyes widened in understanding and for a moment she looked frightened, but that quickly turned to an uneasy smile.

"Boy, I hope he doesn't wake up on the wrong side of the coffin."

Cloud choose to ignore that comment, but secretly he hoped so too.

AN: Hey, know this chapter was a little slow, but things will pick up. Hope you liked it anyways.