AN: Hey guys as promised here is an update and it has not even been a month no less an entire year lol. Thanks soo much to all who reviewed, each one was greatly appreciated! Well enjoy and please remember to drop a comment.

"Rain? Keep your eyes open! Rain!" Rain heard Sephiroth's voice distantly, but then it started to change and get louder.

"RAIN!"

Rain groaned and opened her eyes to see two figures outlined, there features still a little blurry.

"Rain you need to wake up now," Again with that persistent voice.

Citadel's face suddenly began to focus in front of her. Citadel had changed in the short time Rain had been out or had it been short? Rain had no idea.

Instead of a child, the Weapon now looked closer to Rain's present age only with the long, blond hair that Rain had cut what seemed like an entire lifetime ago.

Rain winced as she attempted to pull away from the supporting hands and sit on her own.

Citadel however didn't pull away even though sitting up had brought their faces only inches apart. "Rain, you need to drive her away and then focus on what's happening out there. He is there and we can't afford to let him get suspicious."

"He?" Jenova's face now came into view, "Do you mean my son? He is hardly the monster you seem to think he is."

Citadel didn't bat an eyelash at Jenova's comment. Didn't even seem to acknowledge her at all, but her voice became more persistent, "Rain, remember everything we have done so far. Everything we have sacrificed to prevent that lose. We need to stay focused. You have your memories of what he has done."

"Memories, what memories? They are not her own. And what has he done, Weapon?" Jenova's voice mocked. "Name one thing my son has done that would mark him an enemy of Rain. He has done nothing but protect her. He came to rescue her and even killed the man he thought was his father in her defense. Even now he carries her while her body is damaged. Damage you have caused her. Tell me Weapon what harm has he done to Rain?"

Rain's mind went back to that memory, the memory of Sephiroth killing Hojo. Even though his eyes burning with an undeniable rage and hatred. There had been none of that insanity in his eyes that was ever present in Cloud's memories of him. Never the less, had that look he had while killing Hojo still terrified her? Yes, but that was because it was something other than the impassive mask of a General that she had grown so used to seeing. No, he might have been terrifying, but he was human.

The wind picked up again and Rain closed her eyes at the feel on her face. For a moment she forgot about everything and simply dwelled in the sensation that suddenly coursed through her. It felt like she was flying!

When Rain opened her eyes again the first thing her eyes focused on was silver. The long flowing silver hair, framing a strong face and firm mouth. With eyes that reminded her of the heart of the planet, though she really had no memory of such a place. Maybe it was Citadel's origins that triggered such a familiarity.

It was then reality hit drawing her abruptly out of her daydreams, as one by one her brain made sense of what she was feeling. Arms, she was in his arms. Sephiroth was carrying her! His hair was blowing in the wind, but there was no wind in Deepground. Then the sound of a steady beat like that of a heart beat and then she saw it. Just behind him, wings! They were flying!

Rain turned her head slightly to where Angeal flew next to them. His arms were wrapped under Zack's and locked across his chest. She let her head relax against Sephiroth's chest, while her mind whirled.

Why? Why was Sephiroth doing all this? Saving her again and again? It just didn't make sense! She had lied to him, been revealed as a traitor with ties to Wutai and she knew Sephiroth above all people hated being lied too. Was it because maybe… just maybe through all of this he sensed her true intention? She wanted to save him.

Jenova's words again surfaced and she could see the truth behind them, as much as she hated to admit it. Sephiroth was no monster, not anymore. She had known that after the first couple of weeks when she was forced to spend detention with him.

The mistrust had quickly turned into a desire to keep him safe. Safe from that monster he could become, but it was more than that. Even now Rain didn't want to admit it, but that feeling of protection had grown beyond simply wanting to keep him safe from that fate. Rain would not let herself admit it though. She was not one of the hundreds of giggling girls that had a crush on the great General Sephiroth. Never! So then where did that leave her?

Rain's eyes were growing heavy and she fought back a yawn. The green eyes glanced down.

"Relax," his deep voice commended, "we are almost out."

This was one of the rare instances where Rain actually obeyed an order. She relaxed and closed her eyes feeling safe for the first time in a long time.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Citadel's voice rang loud.

Rain winced, why couldn't they just leave her alone? At least in one respect they were no longer fighting each other now. Rain was starting to think having their attention directed on her was far worse. There was no peace, no place for her to retreat to anymore. Even sleep was only an entrance into another world of emotions and Rain was so tired of it all.

"Leave her alone Weapon, can't you see she is seeing things for what they are." Jenova's voice this time. Why was it that Jenova was becoming the voice of reason in their messed up little trio?

Rain couldn't help herself she opened her eyes. Citadel was sitting on one side of her; Rain almost didn't even take the time to notice her if not for the fact that she had changed form once again.

Her body was now older then Rain. Like what Rain would be ten years time if she lived that long. It was that which drew Rain's attention away from Jenova making her stare at the Weapon for a moment.

Rain knew half of it was simply because Citadel's form was perfection. A form without human flaws, but Rain still starred. She had to admit she looked pretty hot, or at least had the potential.

"Rain, listen to me," Citadel's voice was quieter now almost soft, "I know it's hard, but we are too close to give up now. Very soon you are going to need to run. You need to get back to Cloud."

"Why?" Jenova's voice was not mocking this time, in fact it was generally curious, "Why does the planet's chosen hero need so much from Rain?"

Citadel did not respond and that caused something to stir in Rain. What did Cloud need from her? Sure, she had helped in changing the course of events that would take place, but that had been easy.

You only needed to change a few small things to affect the big picture. Especially when you already knew what the picture looked like. Aside from being there for Cloud emotionally, why else was she needed? Just because the planet had deemed her a failsafe against Jenova in the form of Citadel, did not mean she wanted the path the planet had chosen for her.

"I was defeated Weapon," Jenova voice was now oddly tired, "Over a thousand years ago this planet's people entombed me. You are too young to remember that fight. My body has been destroyed, but my legacy remains in the minds of my few remaining children. Why do you continue to torment my daughter? Letting her brother burden her and making her choose between the man she was born to take care of and the man she has come to care for."

The older Weapon caught Rain's gaze and refused to let go, "Rain don't be fooled. You know she never gives up. There is no choice and you know it. Don't be swayed."

"There is always a choice," Rain turned to Jenova who had retreated off to the side. The armor was gone and the long blue hair hid most of her bare body. She looked how Rain felt, old and worn out. "You are the one making her choose and they said I am the cruel one."

Rain was more than a little surprised. Someone understood! Someone who saw the whole picture and didn't condemn her for wanting to sway from the planet's chosen path. It felt so utterly soothing, the balm to her open wound. Someone who sympathized and understood!

"Rain!" A hand she didn't even realize was resting on her arm suddenly tightened, "Rain listen to me, all this mako in your system is making it hard for you to resist, but you can't let her reach you."

Rain ignored Citadel's plea, her eyes never leaving the hunched over blue haired form. That is until the hand gripping her arm started to glow.

"I'm sorry Rain, you leave me no choice."

Sephiroth felt Rain relax in his arms and gave another strong beat of his wing. It carried them higher toward the center pillar in the middle of Deepground. By foot it would have taken them days to reach the closest exist at the top. Even then it still would have been impossible to reach by any other way, but by air.

The top of the cavern was fast approaching, but Sephiroth did not slow down. Instead he increased his speed and released his support under Rain's legs letting the lower half of her body drop, while still keeping a firm hold around her shoulders, pulling her tightly into his chest.

With his free hand he grasped Masume's handle and swung it free from his back, letting it bite in two perfect arches in front of him. A split second later Sephiroth followed through. His speed and the arches Masume had cut through the hanger door above them caused it to peel back like it was made from paper instead of enhanced steel.

Once through Sephiroth did not lose speed. His enhanced eyes were imminently able to pick up their new surrounding and direct a path through the empty warehouse and up through a glass panel in the roof and into the open air.

Even the foul smell of the lower plate, which they found themselves in was preferred to the stale, musty smell of underground. They had come out near one of the supporting pillars in lower Midgard. Sephiroth quickly led them until they were out of Midgard and into the desert surrounding the city, before once again rising high into the night sky.

Spotting the Shinra military guards posted at the top of every pillar, Sephiroth descended towards it. It was usually newly promoted infantrymen stationed there. So they would be very obedient to Sephiroth's every command and no questions would be asked. More important though, no report would be made if he gave the order.

Both Zack and especially Rain were in need of high level healing materia. Though Sephiroth could have easily obtained it through any Shinra facility, it would attract a lot of unwanted attention to his actions and whereabouts the last couple of days. General or not, Sephiroth was not immune to the politics of Shinra.

As Sephiroth got closer to his destination he felt eyes on him, "You're awake."

Rain's eyes, which had been unfocused and in pain were now suddenly unusually alert and aware. Her body had also gone as stiff as a piece of wood.

"We are almost there; I will put you down in a moment." He quickly reassured.

As soon as his boots touched the platform Rain wiggled in his arms and Sephiroth carefully set her down.

Angeal did the same with Zack, who took a deep breath of the fresh night air and grinned, "Wow, when you said out, you really meant out, but since when have you ever needed the door, uh Seph?"

Sephiroth ignored him, his attention elsewhere as the suddenly sound of footsteps came closer.

"Sir!" Two uniformed guards appeared around the corner of the pillar. They both saluting sharply, eyes wide at the sight of the General and their spectacular entrance.

"I need a phone."

The quite order was met with instant results. Two cells simultaneously appeared in the guards hands. Sephiroth turned his back to Rain releasing her arm, which until now he had been holding.

As his hand grasped one phone, Sephiroth instantly knew he had made a mistake.

It happened so fast Sephiroth didn't even have time to turn his head completely. Just out of the corner of his eye he saw the cell in the hand of the other guard disappear. Then Rain was moving toward the edge of the pillar.

Sephiroth lunged at her, but as incredible as it seemed Rain was faster. Sephiroth felt the fabric of her jacket just brush his fingers before she leaped off the edge, falling two hundred stories as if a magnetic force stronger then gravity was pulling her down.

Only a SOLIDER's eyes could have caught the impact. Rain's body suddenly glowed with an eerie green hue right before impact. There was the sound like that of a small explosion as the ground beneath Rain caved in, as if under a huge weight as soon as the green hue touched it.

Sephiroth saw Rain for a split second, frozen as if suspended in mid-air inches from touching the ground. It was as if the green light was creating a cushion from an otherwise fatal fall. Then the dust rose up covering her in a cloud of stones and dirt.

When the dust settles a moment later Rain was gone!

Sephiroth's chest rose and fell faster and faster, his breath quickened and an emotion bordering on furry rose within him.

Not Again!

He had just gotten her back! She was not getting away from him again! With a roar Sephiroth dove off the tower in pursuit, not paying any attention to Zack and Angeal's shouts above him.

Rain was barely aware of what was happening. She had woken up in Sephiroth's arms, but it was as if she was looking through someone else's eyes, not her own. They had landed and Rain had been released. As soon as Sephiroth turned away, Citadel's voice echoed in her head.

Grab the phone Rain!

Rain felt her body move to obey, helpless to stop it.

Jump!

Rain jumped. She was not aware of landing, but she must have for the next order came immediately after.

Run! Run Now!

The next few moments were a blur of color. The blurred color seemed to last for a handful of seconds before the colors again took form again. Rain found herself standing in the middle of a rocky dessert, with no clue how she had gotten there. Cliffs were on one side of her and Midgard was nowhere in sight, not even in the open distance.

How had she gotten here?

Rain could not have run, ever a SOLIDER's top speed could not cover such a distance.

Suddenly Rain paused, the mako was gone! She could no longer feel the burning of the excess mako!

Citadel's little sprint or whatever she had done across the dessert must have done the same thing that breaking her fingers had accomplished. Burned up the excess mako and along with the excess mako re-established the mental walls Rain kept between herself and Citadel and more importantly Jenova.

Rain was suddenly enraged! How dare Citadel control her like that! Like a..a puppet. Rain shuddered at the thought. Then a more horrifying thought filled her mind.

She had left!

She had run from them! She had run from Sephiroth! What had she done? What little trust there had been with Sephiroth must surely have snapped now. She had run again and after all they had done for her! If she had even a hope of explaining things before it was gone now.

Rain sank to her knees. She felt anxiety rise, putting her once again into panic mode. Rain had always known she acted on instinct, not necessarily on logic and forethought. It was that very part of her character that made her so different then Cloud and more like Yuffie in that area. It was what had gotten her into most of her predicaments, but not this time.

Curse that Weapon! For that matter curse the planet for creating the Weapon in the first place and making her stuck with it!

Strangely enough when she tried to calm herself down and think for a change, it was Sephiroth that first popped into her head. How he would react to finding her in such a state?

Knowing him and that impassive face of his, he would probably stare at her. Maybe raise an eyebrow at the state she let herself rise too and reprimand in that commanding tone of his, "A SOLDIER has to stay calm regardless of all circumstances."

For some reason that made her smile and she felt the panic ease. Still there was a strange tightening in her chest at the realization that she could not return to him. That bridge had been set on fire too many times and there was only so many times you would light something on fire before it burnt.

Okay, now what to do next.

Looking down at the cell phone in her hand she knew there was really only one place to turn too. Flipping the cell open in a practiced motion she quickly punched in the number her fingers knew by heart.

Hearing that short answer on the other end was like giving air to a drowning person and her voice trembled, "Cloud I need you, please."

The voice on the other end changed in an instant, "Rain, where are you?"

AN: I know a lot of you were looking forward to seeing some interaction between Cloud, Rain and Sephiroth, but please wait for the next chapter. There will be something in there I promise. Remember please review!