Cloud woke before dawn on the second day of their holiday. The room was dark but Cloud's eyes quickly adjusted as he glanced around the unfamiliar room. He hadn't slept much that night; his mind going over the previous afternoon with Zack like a broken record.

Cloud had been left wondering if there had ever been anything between them like that the first time... If there ever had been, it was among those memories that he had lost or, more likely, it hadn't happened...

If Zack had lived that fateful day on the cliffs would that have changed?

With a sigh Cloud abandoned the idea of sleep and pulled himself out of bed, he made his way over to the door that led out onto the balcony. Stepping outside had the desired effect as the fresh pre-dawn air chased away the last vestiges of tiredness as the cold air hit the exposed skin of his chest like a ghostly embrace.

Cloud looked out over the darkened beach and for a moment he saw Costa as it had been the last time he had been here with sickening creatures pulling themselves from the waves and chasing the horrified people, hunting them down one by one where they would-

Quickly pushing the thoughts and images down with an almost violent shake of his head Cloud forced himself to see the world as it currently was; a quiet, peaceful, darkened beach with the low moon sending a long line of reflection over the softly churning water.

Releasing a white knuckled grip on the banister that he hadn't realised he was holding, Cloud took a moment longer to make up his mind before vaulting over the banister and jumping the four stories to the soft sand below.

Once down Cloud took off at a steady run, letting the cold air rush through his hair and cool his warm face as he ran down the beach. As he ran more memories invaded his mind, memories of when AVALANCHE, himself included, had rushed to Costa in hopes of saving as many people as they could once they learned of the Darkness' presence there. They dreaded letting the same thing that happened to Edge, happen to Costa as well. They had already learnt from their experiences in Edge that no one would be spared if the evacuation was not quick enough.

Eventually Cloud's run slowed to a jog before coming to a complete stop on the waters edge, his gaze turned blankly out over the ocean as the first rays of morning sunlight crept over the horizon... It was several hours later that Zack and Angeal found him there, still standing in the same position as he battled a war that no one but him could see.

Zack had been concerned when he had gone to Cloud's room to find it empty and had gone to Angeal not long after, the two had then gone in search of their missing companion, both slightly apprehensive about the blond's disappearance after the attack in the cadet dorms...

Both men had been surprised to find Cloud standing on the shore a few miles from the hotel, wearing nothing but loose pants.

"Cloud?" Zack called softly, approaching the blond slowly.

"We couldn't save them..." Cloud muttered softly, his voice almost inaudible, his tone blank of all emotion as his eyes stared off at a world neither Zack or Angeal could see with hidden sorrow.

"Who?" Zack asked after a pause, realising just how rare it was for Cloud to mention much about his personal past. How tormented was he to be driven to such a state?

"All the people here." Cloud answered, his voice remaining the same soft, blank tone. His mind was both in the present and the past; he was conscious of what he was saying while the images raced like a slide show on repeat under his eyes. "We came to save them... To get them away from the Darkness..."

Cloud went quiet for a while after that, leaving Zack and Angeal to wonder if the blond would continue or not.

"Of the while population," Cloud continued, so quiet now that both men had to move closer to hear him, "we managed to save maybe... 20 people." He finished.

Zack looked like he had been slapped as he thought of all the people, all the families that lived in the area, and all the visitors that Costa had at any time of the year. If what Cloud said was true...

"Damn..." Zack muttered softly, understanding for Cloud's haunted look washing over him like rain. Zack didn't even want to think about how he would feel in Cloud's position, how he would feel if he could only save a handful of a whole thriving cities population.

"Then you just need to stop it from happening again." Angeal said, his tone gentle yet firm as he laid a comforting hand on Cloud's shoulder. "You said you were here to change things; so change them. Do not squander your time dwelling on things that have not yet come to pass."

Angeal's words brought Cloud back from his memories, his eyes clearing of that far off look and a moment later Cloud's startling cerulean eyes met Angeal's mako eyes and the blond nodded once with renewed determination and gratitude.

Zack grinned widely before promptly tackling an unsuspecting blond to the ground.

"And no more sudden disappearances Spikey!" Zack growled. Cloud put his hands up in a shadow of surrender.

"Ok, ok." Cloud conceded. Zack nodded, content with the answer he got, and climbed off Cloud and helped him up with a grin.

Angeal once more looked on with amusement, the tall First had a pretty good idea of Zack's feelings for the blond and although he had been wary at first, he now found that he couldn't blame his raven-haired student. The blond had a quiet way of drawing people in, even when Cloud so obviously attempted to keep people at arms length. With possibly the exception of Zack.

"Come on you two, let's head back." Angeal said after a moment of silence. He had seen the look that went between them and figured that they better start walking now. That and Cloud needed a shirt.

XxXxX

Not much later the three companions stood outside their hotel. The lobby was bustling with activity as people of all status and occupation rushed about their morning routines. Cloud was now properly dressed and had First Sword slung comfortably across his back. As he watched the people moving about he was once again struck with the determination to prevent the tragedies of the past... or rather; future.

The three decided, with heavy persuasion from Zack, that they would head down to the beach although at a more secluded spot. In the end it was Cloud to come up with a good place to go that was away from the busy hustle of Costa's centre. The blond led them to a small cove a few miles from the city, something he had stumbled upon during an out-of-the-way delivery that took him past the area.

The cove had become a safe-haven for the members of AVALANCHE during tough times after that. The cove was a large, bowel shaped area that had two headlands that ran a fair way out to sea. The entrance was through a small fissure in the surrounding rocks that formed the majority of the bowel shape and was therefore easily defensible if need be as it was difficult to enter the cove without the fissure which took a minimum of people to guard. The headlands also made it difficult to enter from the sea side and therefore made the area the ideal safe-haven if need be.

They had needed to abandon the area when the Darkness struck Costa though, the cove left them wide open from attack from the sea, something that none of AVALANCHE was willing to test. Cloud could still remember the horrid creatures that clawed their way from the water at the beaches in Costa itself.

Shaking the images away resolutely, Cloud focused his eyes on the glittering scene before him; the cove was brilliantly bright in the midday sun, the water sparkling as though littered with priceless jewels and the sand looked like someone had sprinkled the ground with ground-up gold.

"Wow Spikey, how'd you come by this place?" Zack asked, his eyes alight with an almost child-like excitement.

"I more or less stumbled upon it once when I was in the area." Cloud replied with a small shrug as they made their way over to a small copse of trees for shade.

"I'm surprised none of the locals come here." Angeal commented. Cloud shook his head.

"Most avoid it due to the monsters they believe are here, others believe some old tale about pirates." Cloud elaborated, remembering his own investigation on the topic.

"Seriously? Pirates?" Zack asked rhetorically with a chuckle.

"It's not as crazy as it sounds Zack." Cloud rebuked lightly. "They used to be common in the area, though as far as I know they haven't been around here in a while."

Angeal nodded in confirmation of Cloud's words and Zack found himself studying the beach with bright eyes.

"Any treasure?" The raven-haired man asked, completely serious. Cloud thought back to his few explorations of the beach. Finally he shrugged and gave Zack a small grin.

"You'll have to look for yourself. I'm not sure I remember." He teased.

Zack adopted a mock-wounded look.

"What?! You're not going to help?" He asked with a pout. Cloud only chuckled slightly and promptly took a seat underneath the nearest tree. Angeal could only laugh when Zack pouted harder and turned up the wounded puppy look full dial. When Cloud didn't move Zack decided to take a different tactic and attempted to jump on the blond with a loud whine of;

"Spike!"

Cloud had watched several emotions and thoughts pass through Zack's eyes; most of them mischievous, and had therefore expected the jump and easy rolled to the side the moment the raven-haired man's feet left he ground and watched in amusement as Zack crashed to the ground with a muffled thump. The blond couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips as the raven-haired man looked up like a startled puppy, his face covered in a fine layer of sand.

When Zack's mako eyes met Cloud's Zack smiled a wide, troublemaking, grin that left Cloud wondering what was so funny. That wonder abruptly faded as he sensed, more than heard, a presence behind him and tried unsuccessfully, to move away. He soon found himself off the ground and heading towards the water with the sound of Zack's laughter following behind.

Cloud attempted to twist away, but the arms around him were like iron and before he could put any real effort into escaping, Cloud found himself soaring through the air for a long second before he hit the water with a splash and flurry of bubbles, sword and all.

He came up a few seconds later to see Zack laughing so hard he was clutching his stomach and Angeal standing by the waters edge with his hands on his hips smirking triumphantly. Cloud glared at them as he dragged himself from the water, steams of water running from his soaked clothes and hair. Cloud had not been expecting Angeal to try anything and therefore had not bothered to guard against the tall First.

"Oh man Spikey! You should have seen your face!"

Cloud just glared half-heartedly at his raven-haired friend before unstrapping a now soaking First Sword and planting it, tip down, into the sand before launching himself at a run towards Zack, who squeaked in a way he normally would never allow, before turning sharply and sprinting the opposite way down the beach.

Angeal took a seat on the sand and watched as Cloud caught up with Zack a ways down the beach and hauled him into the water despite how unlikely it looked given the blond's stature. Angeal had been surprised once again by the strength of Cloud; the tall First had needed to use nearly all his strength to simply hold the blond in place, and he doubted that Cloud had used much effort to escape in the few seconds it took to get to the waters edge.

The sight of the two boys in the water brought a fond smile to Angeal's face, after that mornings hardships he had come to further respect Cloud's state of mind. Even if the blond was technically older than he appeared, Angeal could not bring himself to view him in such a way, and he also believed that no one, no matter how old, should have to face the experiences that Cloud had revealed so far. Also, Angeal thought as he remembered his earlier thoughts on who Cloud's 'friend' was, I doubt he has told us everything yet either...

The water was warm around him and as Cloud waded with Zack he tried to remember ever being in water like this without being in some dire need of something. He couldn't recall anything. If he had ever swam for the sake of swimming it was lost to him. He wondered vaguely how he even knew how to swim, but he soon discarded the thought as Zack splashed a large amount of salty water into his face with a triumphant exclamation.

Cloud brought a hand up and wiped it down his face, clearing his eyes of the water in the process. Zack laughed when Cloud's blue eyes focused on him with a glare and was only half-surprised when he found himself underwater with Cloud's hand on his head. A moment later the hand was gone and Zack came up laughing.

"You know what Spikey? I think this is the most relaxed I've seen you yet." Zack commented, though he noted mentally that the blond still seemed battle ready. His muscles were still tenses enough to notice if you knew what to look for. His observations of Cloud's body brought up the fact that Cloud looked highly enticing while soaking wet; his hair somehow remained gravity-defying while still dripping water onto the blond's face, where the drop of water trailed down a sharp jaw line, down a slim throat, run over a defined collar bone and finally disappear under a soaked shirt...

"It's you..." Cloud replied softly, bringing Zack out of his observations.

"Huh?" Zack asked in confusion, having lost his train of thought... What was him?

"You've always been a... calming person." Cloud admitted, his face turned away from Zack so that his eyes were hidden from view.

The raven-haired man was surprised by the admission, having been used to the blond's stoic nature and reluctance to discuss personal topics. An awkward silence filled the air for a moment before Zack jumped at Cloud and pulled him into a half-hug.

"Aww, Spike! Thanks!" Zack said, keeping the mood light and easy going even though he felt his heart swell with joy at the simple words.

It was then that a large shape bubbled under the water nearby and Cloud was instantly alert and had positioned himself in front of Zack almost instantly, he was halfway through reaching for his sword before he realised that it was still on the beach and he mentally cursed himself.

Cloud watched a scaled head slowly rise up from the water and waited for the red eyes that would likely identify the creature as one of Darnkess' followers.

Only, they didn't.

Instead of glowing red eyes, simple black ones rose out of the water as the normal, low-levelled monster came up. In that moment Cloud could have laughed as he watched the reptilian creature stand over them.

"Uh, Spikey, those are kinda poisonous." Zack said from behind Cloud, sounding almost nervous as he remembered Cloud saying that most locals avoid the area due to monsters.

Cloud responded by moving quickly and sending a harsh punch into the creatures middle, sending it flying backwards several meters before splashing back into the water, where it slowly skulked away after recovering from the shock of the hit.

That, Cloud realised with some satisfaction, was the first non-Darkness controlled monster I have faced in... years, outside the VR room...

"Talk about packing a punch." Zack muttered happily, Cloud sent him a small smirk, feeling quite content after the monster for reasons he couldn't identify further that relief and a sense of nostalgia.

XxXxX

That evening, Angeal, Zack and Cloud were walking through the sprawling streets of Costa as party-goers moved from club to club or families took sleepy children home after a long day out. The three had spent the rest of the afternoon at the cove and Zack had even succeeded in finding some treasure after Cloud made a few very subtle suggestions on where to search.

"Oh man! I am so stuffed!" Zack said while stretching and rubbing his stomach. They had just finished a large meal at one of the better restaurants in town.

"Now that is a rarity." Angeal muttered, earning an indignant exclamation from Zack. Angeal chuckled in response and they continued walking.

"So what are you doing for the night?" Zack asked Angeal soon after.

"I was thinking of going for a drink." Angeal replied thoughtfully, seeming to not have fully decided yet.

"Spikey?"

"I think I'll just head back to the room." Cloud replied. He wasn't necessarily tired, but he was looking forward to the peace and quiet of the hotel room after the noise and bustle of people at the restaurant. Zack seemed thoughtful for a moment before speaking again.

"I think I'll go get a quick drink then join you, want anything?"

"No thanks."

The raven-haired man smiled and nodded, he was already planning on cornering the blond later. After the previous night he had found himself wanting more...

Not too long later the group split up to go to their respective venues; Angeal and Zack heading towards a nearby club that still had respectable service this time of night, and Cloud heading towards the hotel. Cloud pondered for a moment if Angeal would actually let Zack have any alcohol, after all the substance would do very little with the mako in Zack's blood.

Shaking the strange and pointless thoughts from his head Cloud entered the hotel and quickly made his way up to his room where he unlocked the door and entered. The lushly furnished room was dark, the only light coming through the large windows in the far wall from the starts outside. Moving to turn the lights on Cloud noticed that one of the far windows was open, something that he put down to most likely being Zack that morning.

Once the room was illuminated, Cloud made his way over to the open window and looked out onto the balcony and the darkened sea beyond it. He stayed there for a moment, letting the light sea breeze brush over his face as he thought about how much things had changed since he had been sent here. It still amazed him that Zack was alive, and he was glad that he had made a friend in Angeal as well. Cloud still missed his usual group though. Even Yuffie and her constant stream of hyper energy was missed. Cloud could have used Cid's flying abilities quiet a few times by now, as well as Tifa's wisdom, Barret's companionship, Marlene and Denzel's bright faces, Nanaki's fighting spirit, and Vincent's silent presence and extensive knowledge.

With a sigh Cloud moved away from the window, he would be able to see his companions eventually, even if they no longer knew him. Hell maybe he could save Denzel's family this time. Maybe... He could make all of their lives better...

Pushing the thoughts aside Cloud went to his room, planning on changing and, after his salt water dip earlier, he would have to thoroughly clean each of his blades once again.

His room was darker than the living space had been but the moment he opened the door he knew he was not alone. Flicking the switch and sending a flood of light into the room revealed a familiar figure lounged on his bed.

Razor.

"Cloud. How are you?" Razor drawled, any pretence he ever held of being a friendly cadet long gone. Now, instead of the usual standard issue cadet uniform, Razor was dressed in tight back leather pants and an even tighter muscle shirt. Cloud had to admit that it have Razor a tough edge, that along with the arrogant gleam to his black eyes, had not been there before. Or if it had, it had been well hidden.

Cloud's only answer was to unsheathe First Sword from his back and hold the massive sword ready with practised ease.

"Relax blondie, I'm just here to pass on a message." Razor stated, standing up with a stretch and seeming completely unconcerned with the battle ready blond by the door. "However," Razor continued, turning obsidian eyes to meet cerulean, "If you really want to play, I know a good game."

The tone in Razor's voice sent an unpleasant chill down Cloud's spine and the blond decided quickly that he didn't want to know what this 'game' was.

"Just tell me your message then leave." Cloud growled, putting emphasis on the last word.

"Aww, no fun!" Razor smirked. "Well... It's less of a message and more of a... warning: Flames will rise again Cloud, but only if you continue to evade us."

"What do you mean?" Cloud demanded, a feeling of unease seating itself in his stomach. Flames will rise again?

"Heh, you'll find out soon enough. You have been given one week."

Razor laughed at Cloud's confusion before drawing his sword and sending a harsh downwards slash at Cloud. Cloud reacted by bringing his sword up quickly and blocking the attack.

"Of course, it can all be avoided if you just come with me now." Razor stated as they stood with their blades locked.

"Not a chance." Cloud ground out, twisting his blade and applying force to make Razor's blade slide away and leave Razor's torso open for attack. The obsidian eyed intruder quickly jumped back, narrowly missing the tip of the large sword.

"Very well Cloud." Razor's voice was now like ice as he stepped further backwards, sheathing his sword, "You have been warned."

With that Razor melted into the shadows and Cloud was left alone in the room. Cloud looked around the room before him, even if Razor had left, the feeling that there was still something nearby itched the back of his neck like a sunburn.

Cloud detected the attack at the last possible second, moving to the side just far enough that he only sustained a shallow cut and ripped clothes just below his ribcage. Turning on the spot, Cloud came to see a large black creature with glowing red eyes. The creature looked like some sort of octopus with jelly-like skin that seemed to shift as the creature moved and several tentacle like arms.

Suddenly the open window made a lot more sense to Cloud, but he still had to wonder where the creature had hidden at first and how he had not sensed it then. Cloud figured it would be best to think on it later as the creature sent a tentacle sweeping at his legs.

Jumping up, Cloud avoided the attack while also swinging his sword against it, slicing through the slimy appendage with ease. The monster made a loud screeching, gurgling noise in response and sent several of its tentacles at Cloud point first. Cloud avoided most of them, but the last one nicked his arm, where he found out that the tips were as sharp as razors when fresh blood ran down his arm.

Gathering a small amount of spirit energy that laced his blade in slight blue flames Cloud rushed forward and delivered a series of several powerful slashes to the body of the creature. The thing gurgled weakly as it collapsed into a sloppy mess on the floor where it slowly disintegrated as the creature died.

The door to the hotel room opened then and Zack came bustling in.

"Yo, Spikey! You should ha-" Zack cut off abruptly as he saw the mess on the floor just outside Cloud's room with Cloud standing over it with his sword drawn. Zack's now serious eyes took in the blood running in a series of small streams down the blond's arm and the ripped and bloody fabric of Cloud's side. "What happened?"

Cloud looked up at Zack the moment the door opened and watched as Zack quickly assessed the situation.

"Razor." Cloud answered, voice neutral and void of emotion once more.

"Where is he?" Zack demanded wishing that he had come back with Cloud now, if only to have helped.

"Gone now." Cloud said, once again placing First Sword in the sheath on his back. The bad feeling that had taken root in his stomach at Razor's words only intensified now that the fighting was done. Zack sighed and walked over to the ugly looking thing at Cloud's feet just as it finished disintegrating, leaving a large black stain on the floor.

"Come on." Zack said, grabbing Cloud's arm that wasn't cut. "Angeal's got a medical kit in his room."

Cloud followed Zack silently, his mind working over Razor's words furiously. When Cloud next took in his surroundings, he was in a room that mirrored his and Zack's, only this one had a single room leading off the living area instead of two. Zack was pushing him towards the couch where he sat without complaint and let his mind return to the task of puzzling out the words he had been told as Zack cleaned the already healing cuts and wrapped them both.

XxXxX

Cloud looked around in horror as he watched everything he had ever known burn before his eyes. His home town was in flames, even the water tower in the middle of the square was alight. Screams filled the air as people were scorched beyond recognition or were trying vainly to find missing loved ones.

But no one would survive... Cloud knew that...

This was his doing. Sephiroth. But... why?

Cloud ran through the burning town towards his house and arrived to find only a collapsed husk of what had always been his safe-haven... His eyes were stuck on the building as though someone had taken a moving photo and stuck it before his eyes. The flames searing into his memory.

Slowly Cloud realised that he was looking at burned flesh and bone mixing with the ashen wood where the front door once stood.

"Mom..." The word was only a whisper but the pain it evoked was so much more...

Everything he ever knew was being destroyed before his eyes as he stood helplessly...

Cloud turned in a slow circle; the red, orange and yellows of the flames blurring together as he struggled to keep control of himself.

Zack... where was he? Had he gone after Sephiroth?

Slowly Cloud forced his legs to walk forward. The reactor. He would have to make it there. He would have to make it to Zack... Zack would know what to do...

Cloud snapped up from sleep with a gasp. A cold sweat covered his entire body and he was shaking. Cloud looked around in confusion as he attempted to get his bearings, he only vaguely remembered going to sleep on Angeal's lounge as neither the tall First nor Zack wanted him to sleep alone after Razor's 'visit'.

The fires of his nightmare still burnt behind his eyes, seeming to send the shadows of the darkened room flickering in a ghostly mock of the real thing.

"Cloud?" Zack's sleepy voice spoke from the lounge next to his, "You ok Buddy?"

"Nibelheim..." Cloud's voice was rough and choked as the answer to Razor's words hit him like a physical blow. Razor was going to burn his home town.

"Cloud?" Zack seemed more alert now and Cloud heard the rustle of blankets as the raven-haired man sat up. But Cloud didn't answer, he only stood up and quickly pulled some clothes on. One week. That was all he had and given the fact that no aircraft was able to go directly to the town itself, he would need to leave now.

"Cloud?" Zack's voice was worried now as he stood up. "What are you doing?"

"I need to go." Cloud said as he quickly stuffed all his things into his bag.

"Wait, what?" Zack asked, his voice surprised and confused. Cloud didn't answer, instead he just moved towards the door.

"Cloud, wait!" Zack said, moving to grab Cloud's shoulder and stopping the blond before he could get out the door. "Just... Wait. Ok?"

The door to Angeal's room opened then and the tall First walked out, looking alert and ready.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know." Zack said, sounding slightly panicked. Angeal's glowing eyes turned to Cloud's and it was with a start that the tall First noticed that the mako in Cloud's eyes was burning like liquid blue fire. Cloud has mentioned that they would only do that in times of need or strong emotion.

"What's going on Cloud?" Angeal asked, voice firm but reasonable.

"I have to get to Nibelheim. Now." Cloud replied, not bothering to elaborate or side step the question.

"Why?"

"Because... Otherwise everyone I care about there will die... again."

I apologise that it took so long for this chapter to be completed, but life has been hectic as of late and I have had very little time for anything. Oh, well I hope you enjoyed. :)