AN: Here is the other part of the chapter I ended up cutting in two. Hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think!

Rain's body went limp and she collapsed against Vincent. Who grabbed her, instead of letting her fall on her face onto the metal platform. She lay gasping against gunman, her body weak from the sudden release of the presence. Jenova had suddenly gone silent, her last sound a piercing scream of anger, which left Rain's ears ringing.

A gentle touch on the back of her head.

"Rain?"

Cloud! She turned and threw herself at him clinging to him tightly. She felt him stiffen at the unexpected attack, but then wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Are you alright?"

Rain nodded, her voice muffled in his shirt, "Her voice is gone. Did you…

"Yes."

Sofly, "Good!"

Cloud was silent for a moment then asked hesitantly, almost afraid to know the answer.

"What did she do? What did you see Rain?"

"Nothing!" Her response was sharp, "I don't want to talk about it."

Cloud was tempted to press her, but decided against it. Rain had manged to resist Jenova, something not even he had been able to do the first time, that was enough for right now. He would get her to talk later, when they were alone.

"Come on let's get out of here."

As Rain stumbled to her feet, a faint whisper echoed through the chamber.

"I will never be just a memory."

Both Rain and Cloud looked at each other knowing the other heard it as well. Their look causing Vincent to ask what was wrong.

"Nothing!" They both replied at once. "It was nothing!"

The three of them slowly made their way out into the open air. It was late now, the sun would be gone in other hour or so, but Cloud knew Zangan wouldn't worry. They had stayed out late before, but this time would be different. They would only be returning to say goodbye.

Cloud knew since he had waken that morning, that today would mark the end of their lives in Nibelheim. He felt Rain gaze on him. He had her arm slung across his shoulder, so when he turned to look down at her, their faces here only inches apart.

"We won't be staying here anymore will we, Cloud."

Cloud signed, as always Rain somehow caught on to his every thought. He nodded.

"We'll only be going back to say goodbye and gather a few things together."

Rain nodded as if she expected this.

"Where will you go?"

They turned to Vincent who had been listening closely. Cloud answered.

"Wutai. The war will end soon, but for the good of all, one in particular I think it would be best if it continued for a while. Keep him busy and away from Shinra for a time."

Vincent nodded in understanding.

"What about you, what will you do now?"

Vincent huffed in response, turned and started walking down the trail. They followed both knowing Vincent enough to accept that as an answer, even if it wasn't the one they wanted. A couple hours later they reached the outskirts of the town, and Cloud turned to Vincent.

"Thank-you for you're help, Vincent."

A pause then Rain stepped up to him, touching is arm lightly, "Goodbye, Vincent."

Vincent watched both children disappeared down the trail into the town. His gaze locking particularly of the girl, Rain. It was hard to believe that little girl had stood up to both Chaos and Jenova.

Even now he could feel the demon's amusement, as he watched the girl carefully through Vincent's eyes. The intensity of it concerned him. There was something about the girl that drew the demon in. Vincent had never seen Chaos act like this toward anyone, and it was something to be watched and controlled closely.

Don't worry Vincent. I am not attracted to her in that pathetic way you humans are drawn to each other. Chaos sneered, but it would be interesting to see what this child grows into. Don't you think?

Vincent thought about it a moment then made a decision and to his annoyance he could feel Chaos's pleasure.

The house was dark when they reached it and Cloud was revealed. It would be easier to just leave a note, that face Zangan directly.

They quietly made their way up the stairs and into their room.

"Pack only what is light and easy to carry." Cloud instructed, "Along with a warm outer layer. We'll be taking the long way along the northern ridge. There are a few things you need to learn and I need to relearn before we reach Wutai."

Rain nodded and grabbed a backpack and started stuffing items and clothing into it and Cloud starting doing the same. They were almost done and Cloud was just finishing letters for both Zangan and Tifa, explaining their departure, when the door suddenly opened and light streamed into the dark room.

They both blinked as their eyes adjusted to the light. Zangan stood in the doorway.

"You're leaving."

It wasn't a question more of a statement.

Cloud answered softly.

"It is time we left. We have stayed too long as it is."

Zangan was silent for a long moment, before letting out a deep breath.

"I had a feeling you would be."

"How?"

Rain voiced the question Cloud would not ask, but was thinking as well.

Zangan's normal stern face soften silently.

"I've always known you wouldn't be staying long. I knew from the day I first took you both in."

He smiled almost sadly, "You have never really needed me. You just accepted my help for appearances sake."

"That's not true!" A voice shouted.

Cloud was surprised at the sudden emotion in Rain's voice and glanced at her and was startled to see tears running down her cheeks. This was going to be harder on her than he thought.

"You loved us, no matter what other people thought of us. You were always there for us! Whether we needed you or not, you were always there. That is all that matters. It meant so much to both of us."

Zangan appeared just as surprised as Cloud felt at Rain's outburst, but quickly manged to hid it under a gruff manner.

"And yet you were leaving a letter."

"That was my fault, Zangan. Don't blame Rain."

Zangan looked to him, obviously expecting an explanation. Cloud ran a hand through his spikes.

"I'm sorry, just not good with goodbyes."

Zangan raised an eyebrow obviously not satisfied with the answer and Cloud signed, trying to come up with with a way to explain without giving anything away.

"Life is full of goodbyes. I suppose I just wanted to spare us this one if I could."

Zangan's expression softened in sudden understanding.

"Then don't say goodbye, goodnight will suffice."

"Uh?"

Both Rain and Cloud looked confused.

"Goodnight, a promise to see one another in the morning, and a wishing of well wherever the night and dreams might take you."

Zangan smirked, " So many people say the word so causally without know the actually meaning."

Cloud starred at the man. He did understand and Cloud had a feeling he always had, though he never said anything.

"Zangan!" Rain flung herself at the man, hugging him tight. Zangan didn't hesitate he wrapped his arms around the girl, holding her close. Cloud let Rain say goodbye in her own way. Then stepped forward laid a hand on her shoulder, pulling her gently from Zangan, who dropped his arms to look at Cloud.

"Goodnight, Zangan."

Cloud muttered softly and lead Rain from the room. Just as the door closed behind him, he heard Zangan mutter softly.

"Goodnight Cloud."

As they walked out of the northern end of town, Cloud glanced down at Rain. She had stopped crying and seemed more herself, but still that little episode reminded him she was still just a eight year old no matter how old she may act.

A figure suddenly stepped out in front of them and Cloud automatically pushed Rain behind him. He relaxed then he saw the billowing, red cape.

"Vincent?"

"Thought you might take this way out of town."

"What are you doing?"

"You're coming with us aren't you?" Rain's voice was quite.

Vincent nodded in response, "At least for a little while. I cannot reach Hojo when he is deep in the middle of Shinra. I will join the Wutai, but once I find Hojo I will be gone."

Cloud nodded, refusing to show how relieved he was to have Vincent around. It would be easier to have an adult around and they would be taken more seriously by the Wutai. Also Vincent was a friend even if he didn't know it yet.

"All right then let's get going."

"Oh, no you don't!"

A voice shouted right before someone jumped out of some nearby bushes. Vincent, Cloud and Rain all tensed defensively, before Rain recognized the figure first.

"Tifa? Tifa, what do you think you are doing?"

Tifa ignored Rain and stormed up to Cloud getting right in his face, inches from touching. He took a step back at the expression at her face.

"What am I doing? What are you doing, Cloud?" Her voice was shrill causing Cloud to wince.

"Trying to sneak out of town, and don't ask how I know!" She spate at seeing Cloud open his mouth to ask just that.

"Zangan told me. He also told me you would likely take this path out of Nibelheim."

Cloud signed. Of course Zangan would, he didn't let them skip town without saying goodbye. What made him think he would let them out without seeing Tifa as well.

"I'm sorry Tifa, we should have told you and said goodbye."

"Ya, you should have told me and what makes you think you're going to say goodbye? I coming with you!"

"What!"

Both Cloud and Rain shouted together and Cloud could feel himself beginning to panic, but he forced himself to speak calmly.

"Tifa think clearly! You can't come with us, you are only twelve!"

"So, Rain is only eight and I don't see you stopping her from going with you."

"Rain is different."

"How?"

"Um," Cloud closed his mouth in frustration, then decided on a different route.

"Tifa, what about you family, you father? Are you just going to leave them all behind."

"Don't give me that Cloud, Father will be fine. I left him a note."

Cloud grimaced at the ironic of the statement.

"Besides," she continued, "boys my age leave their hometowns all the time to make their way in the big city, and join the military. Why should being a girl make any difference."

"You know she has a point Cloud. Why can't she come?" Rain muttered under her breath. She grunted, when Cloud elbowed her in the stomach sharply. He nearly jumped out of his skin, when he turned back to find Tifa once again in his face. She hissed.

"You are not going anywhere without me, Cloud and you as sure as the planet are not talking my baby without me!"

Rain groaned beside him and Cloud could see Vincent out of the corner of his eyes lift an eyebrow at the statement. If Tifa didn't look so furious and determined Cloud might have smiled at Tifa's use of Rain's nickname.

After Rain had been born, Tifa had immediately taken to the baby. Firmly declaring to all that Rain was her baby. Apparently though the four year old hated dolls, she rather loved the real thing. She had been so possessive of Rain that at times Cloud remembered feeling jealous.

"I'm not a baby!"

Rain's insulted voice interrupted the memory and they both turned on her interruption savagely.

"Rain, shut up!"

Their voices were so cinched that at any other time Rain would have laughed. Now she only pouted and turned to go stand next to Vincent, deciding to let them duke it out on their own. She knew though who would win and she was right.

That night four figures left, disappearing into the mountains and were not seen again in Nibelheim for a very long time.