AN: Hey guys I'm back! First I want to thank-you all those who took time to review. It is really helpful to have feedback, letting me know if you did or did not like the chapter. I also love it when people let me know what parts they enjoyed or were surprised by. It helps me know if I'm on the right track or if I need to tweak a character or point. Anyway thanks again and enjoy the chapter!
"Call your ships off and we will land. We will then…talk."
Sephiroth starred at Cloud as if he was trying to decide if Cloud was serious or not. It took every ounce of nerve within Cloud not to back down from that gaze. Finally Sephiroth nodded.
The gloved hand which was not holding Masume rose in a fist above the man's head and then snapped back down to Sephiroth's side in a sharp gesture. The Shinra air ships had long ceased their attack ever since Bahamut's attack, but had afterwards moved in to completely surround Highwind. Yet with that one motion from Sephiroth, all the ships moved as if as one body to pull back and descend to the ground.
Yes, everything about the man was just as Cloud remembered: the voice, the cold manner and the way he held himself. The smallest gesture from this man could move armies and forever change lives. It was all exactly the same…except his eyes. Though they still shone with mako's unnatural glow, the madness and insanity, which had also burned deep from within those eyes, were no longer there.
No, Cloud thought bitterly, the madness had found a new host to reside in. One that would hurt Cloud in ways even Sephiroth in his deranged madness could never manage. The worst pain Sephiroth had always dealt Cloud was never physical, it was emotional. It was when he killed someone Cloud cherished, first his mother and then Arieth. The constant threat of Sephiroth taking away everyone Cloud cherished had made Cloud never hesitate in his determination to kill the man. The pain Sephiroth caused him had always given Cloud the strength to defeat him again and again. Jenova taking Rain instead had in a sense severed that strength Cloud had come to rely on when facing Sephiroth.
That thought alone allowed Cloud to loosen his grip on Tsurugi and put the blade back in its harness on his back.
What could this man before him do now to hurt him in compassion to what lay before him? Cloud had already lost and it had not even begun.
Where had he gone wrong? He though he had been so carful and in one instance Cloud could see the familiar path of his nightmares becoming a reality.
The gentle bump as Highway landed made Cloud jump. His eyes had not left Sephiroth, but he had been so lost in his own thoughts he had paid little heed to what was happening around them. Only now did he sense Vincent's presence behind him. It must have been Vincent who transferred Cloud's order to land to the bridge.
"Zack, I need you to go to Angeal and Genesis, and if possible bring them here." Sephiroth's voice was soft, but there was a small hint of urgency in the words, which revealed Sephiroth was not as controlled as he outwardly appeared.
Cloud glanced to the side, strangely enough the raven haired man had not moved from Cloud's side. Zack looked exactly how Cloud felt, shocked and confused. Cloud knew how he must feel. Zack had come so close to Arieth after so many years, only for her to be ripped from him again.
Cloud did not know what connection Zack had with Rain, but Cloud found himself wishing for Zack's sake that the man had not befriended his sister. It was bad enough having Arieth taken from him, without the added betrayal of it being by someone Zack was close too.
"Zack!" Sephiroth's voice had now sharpened, the order in it now clearly heard.
"What?" Zack seemed to shake himself out of his stupor, "oh…um right."
Both Cloud and Sephiroth watched as the Zack slowly moved to the side of the ship, pausing at the edge to run a hand over his face and through his hair. He then jumped over the side.
Cloud returned his gaze to Sephiroth who now also continued to watch him, face expressionless. After a brief pause the man tilted his head to the side, a clear sign for Cloud to follow. Cloud nodded trailing after, but still keeping distance between them. Obviously the man did not want Cloud out of his sight, probably the reason why he had sent Zack and had not gone personally to check on his old friends.
Tsung was waiting when the two exited Highwind. Sephiroth went up to the man to speak with him quietly, but with Cloud's enhanced hearing, he heard everything.
"General," Tsung greeted, "Rufus sends his regards and hopes you will honor your agreement."
Cloud always knew that Tsung and the Turks loyalty lay with Rufus, but for Tsung to now openly reveal it… Cloud was suddenly concerned about what this agreement between Rufus and Sephiroth might entail.
Now however was not the time to dwell on that, he had bigger problems. Being backed against the wall by Sephiroth and three of his top SOLIDERS was going to be tricky enough to maneuver without adding the Turks to the mix.
"I will take care of it in my own time." Sephiroth warned, "Yet all I will be doing is providing an opening. That does not mean Rufus has my support beyond it. He will need to move quickly and efficiently to make use of it."
Ah, so that was the deal. Rufus was making his move and he had managed to get the Great General to take out the first obstacle. Part of Cloud could care less about the political maneuverings within Shinra at that moment. Yet another part of him, one which had only begun to exist during his second life demanded that he take advantage of this situation. It was this side of him that allowed Cloud to become the Wutie's General, which had forced him to see things as a whole and not fight just as a lone warrior like he had before.
"Tell Rufus, if he wishes to solidify his upcoming…new position, he will need to contact Avalanche."
Both men turned and Cloud now had the added gaze of Tsung as well. He sighed, "Rufus funds Avalanche, and therefore indirectly me. He is aware of this, just as I am aware of who is really supplying my funding."
Tsung raised an eyebrow and Cloud could tell the wheels in the man's head were turning, "I see and just what advantage could Avalanche provide?"
Cloud's response was immediate, "The end of the Wutie war."
Both men drew in a deep breath at that. They knew as Cloud did the value of what was being offered. Whoever could take credit for ending the war that had already gone on a decade past its original due date, would gain full public favor, something Shinra desperately needed at this moment.
Finally Tsung nodded and without another word boarded a nearby helicopter which rose followed by the rest of the Shinra ships.
Cloud ran a hand through his hair, suddenly wondering the wisdom of his actions. Rufus after all was still a Shinra, but he was a Shina Cloud knew how to deal with. His father… well the only thing that could be done with that man was run with through with a sword.
Sephiroth made a grunt like sound of approval and it was only then that Cloud realized he voiced his thoughts out loud.
There was a long moment of silence where neither said a word. Cloud let it linger not about to be the first one to break it, though he knew what was coming was inevitable now. Slowly the others were now making their way out of Highwind and congregating far enough away that they would not be seen as a immediate threat by the silver haired General, but close enough to provide support should Cloud need it.
Figures were coming out from around one of the outcrop of rocks. Zack by this time had found and returned with Genesis and Angeal. Surprisingly Vincent was also with them supporting a peeved looking Genesis, while Zack helped his old mentor. Both men looked deathly pale and Cloud was certain that only sheer stubbornness was keeping them on their feet with extra assistance Vincent and Zack provided.
Zack helped Angeal sit with his back to a boulder, while Genesis attempted a more alive posture, half sitting, and half leaning on the top of the rock.
Sephiroth shot the men a look and Genesis responded by tossing him a cure materia. Cloud understood just as Sephiroth did what the gesture meant. Whatever physical injuries that materia could heal had been done, not that they looked much better for it.
"Talk," Sephiroth's voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the steel behind the word.
Cloud sighed, "What do you wish to know?"
Sephiroth's eyes narrowed as if he knew what Cloud was doing. By only answering whatever questions were poised at him, Cloud was effectively limiting what information he offered. Only revealing what they wanted to know, narrowing the chances of accidently giving away more then what they were searching for. It was first rule of interrogation; always give the prisoner a chance to speak before you started with the questions.
"Very well if that is the way you wish it," Cloud read the silent message in the other man's face. All I need to do is ask the right questions and you will reveal all.
It was Zack though who asked the first question, "Arieth… what will she do with Arieth? Rai…that creature said you would know where to find them? Where are they?"
Cloud's reply was barely above a whisper, "The Forgotten City, they are going to the Forgotten City."
Zack brow furrowed, "The Forgotten City? Where is that?"
"Inside the Corel Valley on the Northern Continent," was the factual reply.
It was Sephiroth of course, who asked the vital question. The one Cloud desperately did not want to answer.
"Why would they go there? What purpose does Jenova have in bringing us there?"
Cloud paused; trying not to drown in the memories the question evoked and still come up with a reply. How could he answer that question without giving everything away? Strange that it had been Zack who had unintentionally asked the right question.
Arieth, strange how so much of Cloud's past, his previous lifetime and the present one centered around the flower girl. Which in turn indirectly connected him to the people he had been trying to avoid and save in this lifetime. Arieth was connected to Zack, and Zack was connected to Sephiroth, who in turn was connected to Angeal and Genesis. When it came down to it, the entire fate of the planet was and had always been centered on the lives of those five people. Their lives or at least a point in their lives had always been the trigger point, that slowly but surely turned the course of history to the finally outcome Cloud was desperate to avoid. Cloud was just someone who always seemed to be around during those points in time, not that anything he did ever changed it for the better.
Why? Cloud thought bitterly. Why then am I trying to hide? What am I trying to hide those around me from, pain? Well, too late for that, and just like that Cloud made a decision.
Cloud answer softly, "Because…because in another lifetime that is the place where you killed her, where you killed Arieth."
The times Cloud had seen shock on Sephiroth's face were few and far between, usually before Cloud had killed him. So it was strange to see that Clouds words could also cause the same reaction.
"What?" Zack took a step back both confused and horrified at what Cloud had just said.
"In that lifetime, it was not Rain that Jenova took control over."
Zack glanced at Sephiroth; he obviously saw what Cloud was implying, "Wait, you are making no sense! What other lifetime? What in Gaia are you talking about?!"
Zack's voice rose toward the end, showing the level of his frustration and confusion. Cloud pitied him. This would not be easy for any of them.
"Jenova, Zack I'm talking about Jenova. Where do you think the Jenova cells inside of Rain…inside of me came from?"
Cloud turned to face Sephiroth's stare. He knew Sephiroth could feel the cells in Cloud's body, just like he could feel the cells inside of Sephiroth's body. It was like a small invisible pull, it drew Cloud to the man, just like it had all those years ago.
"Her cells were reserved for Shinra's strongest, its best SOLIDERS and Shinra has not touched me." Cloud continued, "How do you think we obtained it then? Jenova's body is gone, destroyed. So how is it possible for Rain and myself to obtain her cells? I'm sure you are aware it is not a simple process. Hojo must have bragged about all the work he put into creating Sephiroth."
Sephiroth flinched, an action Cloud was unfamiliar in the man, which spoke how true his words were.
A long sign came from Genesis who still stood against the boulder, "Alright, how did you receive the cells then?"
Again Cloud caught Sephiroth's gaze, "From you, I received your leftover cells, including your Jenova cells and Rain in turn inherited them from me."
"I thought you said Shinra has not touched you" Angeal questioned.
"They haven't, not this time around, but there was a time… before this one. This…this is the second time I'm reliving my life…the first time around I was Hojo's specimen for five years.
"Wait, are you saying you're a time traveler?" Zack asked incredulously.
"Time travel implies multiple times Zack," Cloud countered, "I've only done it once and it wasn't my choice, trust me."
"What? Then how did you do it?" Cloud shook his head, only Zack would be arguing how it could happen not if.
"I had no choice in the matter Zack, I never do." Cloud could feel his anxiety rising, "What the Planet decides, is what happens, it doesn't matter if you want it or not."
"And why would the Goddess want to turn back the wheel of time?" Genesis sneered.
"Because there was nothing left!" Cloud found himself shouting, "The planet was dying and everything, everyone was dead! There was nothing left, and I was left alone to watch it all burn!"
Silence then Genesis blinked, and snorted, "Are you sure you're not just insane? That would be a great deal more believable."
Cloud however took the question seriously, "Quite sure, though lately it's taken almost all my energy just to stay that way."
"Why would anyone here believe you?" the question came from Angeal, who despite his words looked thoughtful.
"I believe the numbskull," came a gruff voice from behind Cloud.
Cloud turned to face Cid who was standing with the rest of his friends. Cloud had almost forgotten they were even there, and for a brief moment he panicked. It was one thing if Zack, Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal choose not to believe him. Technically he was a total stranger to all of them. But these were his friends. They had always been there for him, in a way long before Rain ever was. The thought that they too might leave him filled him with a fear equal to that of losing Rain.
Yet Cloud saw with growing relief that the others were showing motions of agreement with Cid who continued.
"It makes sense in a way I guess. You have always been different Cloud. Always knew more about me then you should. H*## even Turks would not have been able to find out the stuff you knew about me the first week."
Tifa nodded with that sad smile of hers, "He's right Cloud. You and Rain were never really children growing up. The adults in Nibelheim always said it was like watching an adult in a child's body. I never understood that, in my mind Rain's Rain and Cloud's Cloud. I could never see you as strange, but Cid is right, it does make sense."
Cloud could only nod his emotions in such whirl he did not trust himself to speak.
"Sephiroth," Angeal's voice was suddenly worried, "are you alright?"
Cloud turned abruptly wary.
Sephiroth had gone deathly pale and he had a hand raised to his head, gripping it as if in pain.
Cloud's hand strayed to his sword hilt.
"He speaks the truth." The words were hoarse, but they made Cloud freeze.
Genesis's snorted, "You of all people believe all this? Why?"
"Because it is true I… I remember." Sephiroth eyes locked on Clouds, "I remember it all."
AN: For those of you who thought as you were reading the chapter that Sephiroth's reactions and feelings were missing since it was all from Cloud's point of view. I hope you now understand why:) Like I have said before please continue to review. It is very helpful both to the story and in helping me grow as a writer. Thanks again!