AN: There it is! Thanks again to all those reviewed! I'm starting to feel like a broken record saying again what your reviews mean, but it's all true and I don't take for granted the time you guys take to drop those lines. Thanks again!

The scream that left Cloud's lips did not even sound human.

Arieth covered her ears against the sound. She had felt Rain's life energy slip into the Lifestream. The impact that it had on the two men left behind was so extreme that it frightened her and caused Arieth to bury her own immediate feelings of grief. This would not end well, could not end well if things were left as they were.

The onslaught of sensations Arieth experienced as she tried to communicate this to the planet, was overwhelming. The planet seemed to think everything was alright. That it was going to be alright.

How could everything be alright?

The ground shook, one…two…three…four…five times. Arieth turned to face the Weapons and with them everyone else. When the Weapons had suddenly left their battle, everyone had naturally followed.

Cloud did not even look up as their friends ran up. Distantly Arieth heard Cid swear and Tifa and Yuffie horrified yell.

It was only as the Weapons moved closer, that both Cloud and Sephiroth moved. Cloud grabbed Rain's abandoned blade from the tree where it was left and joined Sephiroth. The two made a wall in front of Rain's remains, blades raised toward the Weapons.

Arieth let out a broken sob as the Planet's confusion vibrated through her.

The Weapons purpose had been fulfilled. The Planet reasoned. The Planet was safe from Jenova. It was time for all the Weapons to slumber away from human hands. Why was its hero resisting?

Arieth heard a familiar voice call her name and then Zack's comforting arms wrapped themselves around her. But she had to ignore it… for now at least, instead focusing on resolving the conflict before her.

Why?! Her response to the Planet was sharp and full of anger. The two most powerful men on the planet have been broken and it was the planet's doing. Could the Planet not see that? Why would these men now accept any more of the Planet's wishes?

Arieth could feel the planet's hesitation. It did not understand humans and their emotions. It had not predicted this. Arieth felt silence and then the Planet's response.

Then you both must fix them.

Both? Arieth quested before understanding, and dropped to her knees.

She heard Zack shout her name along with Cloud. She ignored them both, allowing only one name to become the center of her focus.

Rain…Rain!

Rain was drifting, embracing the calm and quite.

There was no hurry to move on. There would be plenty of time for that later. Right now she just wanted to drift in the embrace of the Lifestream and rest. Rain had never realized how exhausting life could be. Maybe she would just stay here like this until the others time came and they all joined her. Rain did not think time mattered here like it did to the living.

Yes, that sounded nice. She closed her eyes again content to let herself drift into unawareness again.

"Rain…Rain!"

Rain groaned, but the voice was insistent and familiar. Her eyes shot open.

Arieth!

No, she could not be dead, not already! Rain was not aware of time, but even this seemed too soon.

"Arieth!" Rain shouted, "Where are you?"

"Rain?"

The voice was right behind her and Rain turned.

Kneeling down in a bed of flowers, hands clasped in front of her was the flower girl. Rain slowly moved over and knelt in front of her. Arieth however did not seem able to see her. The flower girl was transparent and Rain was relieved. That meant Arieth was not part of the Lifestream yet, but communicating from outside it.

"What is it Arieth?" Rain whispered in the women's ear.

Arieth might not be able to see Rain, but she still looked up.

"You can't leave them like this Rain. It's breaking them."

Rain sighed. She knew this would happen to Cloud, but Arieth had said them. That could only mean Sephiroth also….

Standing up Rain looked around the endless expanse of the Lifestream. She had thought long and hard about how to help Cloud once her destiny had been revealed all those years ago. Rain knew very well she could not simply leave him. Cloud did not handle lose well.

"I know you are here." She yelled, "Come out, we need to talk."

For a moment nothing happened. Then slowly figures appeared in the distance, answering her summons.

The Cetra in the Lifestream could not take physical shape very well. After all this time, they had bonded so completely with the Planet that their past selves had almost disappeared. Yet they had appeared to Cloud at the very end in that other life. Rain knew they were the best shot of getting the Planet to see through human eyes. See what still needed to be done.

"I was not supposed to exist. You have made that quite clear during my lifetime." Rain could not keep the bitterness out of her voice, "I think it's time you made that a reality."

A brief human emotion crossed their aged faces. It almost looked like sorrow, before they nodded and inclined their heads in Arieth's direction.

Rain understood. She was being allowed to say goodbye. That was a surprised. This gift would benefit no cosmos purpose, just Rain. Yet it was still being offered. Maybe they still held more of their human emotions then she thought.

She walked toward Arieth and laid a hand on the flower girl's head. Slowly the surroundings changed and Rain was back in the real world, but only briefly.

Rain looked up to meet Cloud's shocked eyes.

"Arieth," Cloud breathed, "What did you do?"

"She's allowed me to say goodbye," Rain said. "There is still much to be said."

"Only goodbye?" Cloud's eyes turned fierce with that brewing anger that rarely was allowed to surface.

"It is that last thing that still remains to be done. It is finally over Cloud."

"Rain, why?" The words were whispered, and Rain heard the torment beginning to grow.

She shook her head sadly, "It always had to be someone Cloud. I think you always knew that. There always comes a time when we must face our nightmares."

He made no attempt to hid the tears on his face, "Why you? Why couldn't it have been me?"

"Because Cloud no matter what you thought of yourself or how much help you needed along the way," Rain smiled, "you were always the hero. This way it ends for good. No more recurring nightmares. You are finally free."

Cloud shook his head and Rain's hand snapped out to grab his chin, "No, I agreed to this Cloud. I always knew it was coming. Since the day we first stepped into that Reactor and Jenova surfaced for the first time. I knew and I was okay with it…until recently."

Rain faltered and glanced over at Sephiroth who had been watching her with an intensity that she could not hold his gaze for long. "I was selfish and she used that against me...but maybe it all was for the best. I don't regret it, not at all. However…"

She returned her eyes back to Cloud, "you will."

Rain smiled ruefully, "You always were an emo Cloud. That is why I know nothing I say will make a difference. You will go o the rest of your life mourning me and blaming yourself."

Cloud did not even try to deny it and Rain knew she had made the right decision.

"But not this time Cloud." She stepped back.

For a moment Cloud's face lost its anguish and grew wary.

"Rain, what did you do?"

Smiling she turned to the others, who had drawn closer.

Reaching down Rain picked up the pink ribbon the creature had torn from Arieth's hair. Carefully she re-tied it back into place on its owner's head. Arieth caught her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Arieth, I don't know what else to say but thank-you… for everything. Zack… be sure to take care of her." Though his eyes were pained, Zack gave her his famous grin before taking Arieth's hand in his own.

Rain turned to Yuffie whose eyes were red, but still struck her famous Yuffie pose. Wide stance, and hands on her hips, she spoke before Rain even got the chance.

"You got it Rain. I'll take care of Mr. Vampire over there, I promise."

Rain had to chuckle and winked at Vincent, who only nodded his head solemnly.

"Cid, Barret…try not to get into too much trouble."

Cid for once did not swear, only drew a long draft from his cigarette, "No promises, missy but we will… try."

She gave a simple acknowledging nod to both Angeal and Genesis. Who each returned the gesture.

Rain then approached Sephiroth. She had not been sure what to say to him, but what did she have to lose? She was after all already dead, so maybe for once the truth.

"You know I would have given it all up for you? I think…I had grown to love you Sephiroth. Still do, not that it really matters anymore."

She saw he was about to speak and quickly put a hand to his lips, "Don't say anything, please. I'd rather not know the truth now. Heartbreak is something I do not want to experience and anything else… I think would be even worse."

Rain stroked his cheek with her thumb, "Because no matter what is said, this is now the end and this will have to be enough."

Leaning forward she kissed him. Gently at first, Rain somewhat unsure how to even take it farther, her experience in this was shaky at best. Then his arms went around her and he took control deepening the kiss. She let him, not caring who saw or that this might just be Sephiroth giving a dead girl one last wish. This was her last moment with him and she would enjoy it.

Finally she gently pulled away, and turned away before she was pulled back in again.

She turned to Cloud who she could see was growing more disturbed by the minute. Tifa had moved up alongside of him hand and had rested a hand on his arm.

Rain smiled. Tifa was always there, the pillar of support no matter what. She would do well in helping Cloud forget.

"Make him happy Tifa and Cloud don't make Tifa wait this time." She smirked and playfully added, "Any other girl would have given up on you a lifetime ago."

It was almost over. Rain could feel herself starting to fade.

"Rain, what did you do? Rain!" Cloud was now panicking.

"It's time to forget me now Cloud. Move on and don't dwell in the past."

"Rain?"

A different voice now called and Rain froze then slowly turned. There in the tree line was a hazy, familiar figure.

"Rush!" Zack breathed.

Rain started forward, "Time for me to go. Don't worry Cloud the pain won't last for long. Soon you will all forget and everything will be…alright."

"No, Rain don't go!" Cloud lunged forward and desperately tried to grab her arm. His hand though slipped right through her.

Rain did not even turn around. She had said everything that needed to be said, well expect for one thing.

She paused, "You will always be my brother Cloud…I love you."

Rush had moved forward to stand before her now. He was still dressed in his cadet uniform and he abruptly stood at attention and saluted sharply, eyes focused behind her.

Rain knew he was saluting the Generals behind her, but she still saluted back. His eyes then met hers and they both grinned. He clasped her by the shoulders.

"Come one," he said, "let's go."

Cloud had collapsed to his knees where Rain and Rush had disappeared. Tifa was with him arms wrapped around him from behind. He was not the only one, everyone was grieving.

It took almost everything in Sephiroth not to give into the pain inside of him. He wanted to run, fly, fight… anything to distract him from this terrible pain that was only growing by the second. However the General in him would not allow it.

What Rain had said near the end unnerved him, and he watched everyone around him with growing unease. It happened suddenly, the change. Everyone suddenly seemed to grow eerily still.

It was then that the Weapons moved. This time Sephiroth did not try and stop them as an enormous clawed hand reached down and picked up the glass form, almost cradling it in its palm. Cloud did not even raise his head.

Then with a burst of light and energy all five Weapons leaped into the air, flying back toward the Northern Crater.

At once everyone began to move. Slowly at first as if coming out of a daze, they began looking around as if confused.

Cloud was on his feet, one hand touching the wound in his shoulder and wincing. Arieth ran to him and quickly began casting cure.

Cid yelled into his cell, cursing out his crew about where his bloody ship was.

"I still can't believe you never told us you were from the past, Cloud." Tifa gently reprimanded, "We could have helped make things easier for you. You did not have to try and do it alone."

Sephiroth watched silent and realized with dawning horror what was happening.

"They have all forgotten." The voice at his side confirmed his fear.

Chaos continued, "It is interesting that you have not forgotten as well human. I wonder why that is…but then again you were never supposed to remember in the first place."

"Those were Jenova's memories of that past life…I got them from her."

"Hmm, what do you suppose is the reason for your memory now I wonder? Because I can assure you, we are the only ones that will remember. Any trace of Rain on this Planet will have disappeared as if she never existed. Not even my host will be able to find a trace of her."

Sephiroth looked over at the creature, "Maybe the answer is a simple one. She is supposed stay where she belongs… in my memory."

"Sephiroth," Sephiroth turned to face Cloud who had approached him and was watching him warily, "we won."

It was spoken as a statement, but Sephiroth could hear the trace of a question behind it.

"Yes, Cloud" he agreed though his tone was bitter, "we won."

Chaos sneered, "The problem is Sephiroth things rarely stay a memory with you."

AN: Well there is it is, will update in a week. Will need that time to edit, not sure I'm completely happy with the next chapter yet. Please comment and let me know your thoughts!