Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Twenty-One: An Ugly Reminder

"Rosso the Crimson and now Shelke the Transparent." Aerith placed a hand underneath her chin, her deep green eyes thoughtful and touch troubled. "It seems the past is coming back to haunt us, Zachary."

Zack huffed, his own violet eyes dark and doubtful. "It is, but the reports state that Shelke the Transparent died in the last battle with Xavier and AVALANCHE, but I suppose that I was foolish enough to believe such reports when it was the Shinra Family that wrote them in the first place-"

"It wasn't Rufus, but his Father that was behind those dreadful press releases." Aerith's lips thinned as she turned back to Shelke who laid unconscious on the bed, but there was one problem with the picture, however...

"Why in the hell is she still in the body of a nine-year-old?" Zack quipped out. "What happened...?"

"The experiments that Xavier Fair conducted with Rosso and chosen others were less than unethical, but in Shelke's case, it ended up saving her life," Aerith responded. "She was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the brain when Xavier came upon her. One would consider it a luck of the draw that they stumbled upon each other." Aerith looked uneasy at her own words. "But, what Shelke went through at his hands..."

"Death would have been a better and more peaceful option." Zack swallowed down the bile that was rising in his chest. He knew that Xavier's mistakes would haunt his reign as Alpha Sentinel, but never to such an extent. The horrors the man unleashed on the world would be everlasting and his legacy would be stained with it. As Xavier's grandson, his blood ran through Zack's veins and as much as he despised it, a part of Zack stilled loved him. He remembered the kind and generous man that Xavier was towards him when he was a child. He remembered the kind blue eyes and the mischevious smile his grandfather bore when he was teaching Zack the reins of a ruling Sentinel. Never did he imagine that losing one's Guide would cause such a dip in mental instability, but again, his grandfather proved him wrong - as he always did.

"I want you to take her to our private facility and do a full thorough exam," Zack commanded of Aerith. "She's been gone since the end of the rebellion and there's no telling what's she's been going through."

"Of course." Aerith murmured, reaching over and placing a hand on Shelke's forehead with a small smile. "I'll call you when the examination's complete. What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to find Cloud," Zack responded, grimacing at the awkwardness of the situation. He wasn't the most tactile when it came to apologizing and he couldn't even begin to imagine what he was going to say when he actually caught up to Cloud-

"Zack." Aerith's soothing voice interrupted his tirade, forcing him to meet her gaze which was warm and held a touch of amusement. "You just have to speak from your heart." Aerith reached up and placed her hand over her chest, her plush lips spreading into a smile that was as warm as her gaze. "What do you want to say to him? What do you think he wants to hear?"

"I want to say that he has nothing to worry about when it comes to our relationship." Zack began, a light blush dusting his tan cheeks. "I want to apologize for how cold I was towards him about the situation with Serenity. I shouldn't have said any of those things to him and I want him to come home so that we can talk about what happened and what's going to happen with us."

"And?" Aerith pressed softly. "What else?"

"And that I love him." Zack finished with a small chuckle, his chest fluttering at the thought. "I know that it's still early to say such a thing, but that's how I feel." Zack placed his hand against his chest in an effort to calm his now racing heart. "I suppose that's how I always felt."

"See?" Aerith teased. "Now was that so hard?"

"No," Zack admitted, sheepish that he was even embarrassed, but deep down he knew it wasn't going to be as simple as to reciting the words to Aerith and actually repeating them to Cloud. Aerith was a good friend. A friend who got him out of trouble on more than one occasion and whose own Sentinel was loyal to a fault, but he knew the moment his eyes met Cloud, he was going to say something stupid and dig himself deeper into the hole that he would be unable to get himself out, but he wasn't about to tell Aerith such a thing. After all, some things are best left unsaid.

"Thanks, Aerith." Zack turned on his heel. "Take care of Shelke and call me when the results are ready?"

"Of course and Zack?"

"Yeah?"

"Good luck."

Right, he was definitely going to need it.

Seventh Heaven was quiet with the sounds of the occasional clinking of ice cubes in customers drink clinking against the glass. It should have been comforting after the long night of Rosso prowling around Sector Seven, but Cloud found it unsettling that she hadn't bothered to approach him after his little scavenger hunt. It was frightening that she hadn't made a move and strange that she made to no move to harm others in the sector. Cloud clenched the handle of the broom at the thought before shaking the thoughts away and continued his small chore. He promised Tifa that he would get the bar in tip-top shape for the weekend. It would serve as a distraction until he could come up with a plan to confront Rosso.

"Are you okay, Cloud?" Jessie called out, peaking at him from behind the bar. "You've been sweeping that same spot for the last thirty minutes."

"Ah." Cloud flushed at having been caught out and swept in the other direction. "I'm fine. I'm just nervous is all."

"About the Guide that's running around?" Jessie questioned with a small hum. "Yeah, the whole sector is on edge. We've reported it to the Council and I heard they were supposed to send someone to see what was going on."

"Oh?" Cloud stilled at the information. Tifa didn't tell him that someone was being sent. "Do you know who it is?"

"Eh." Jessie shrugged as if it didn't necessarily matter to her - it probably didn't. "They didn't give Tifa a specific name. Just told her that they would send someone to investigate."

Which meant that the Council was stalling until they could get more information about Rosso's objectives and motives and how she got into Midgar. It was a simple diversion tactic and Cloud saw no reason to tell Jessie about his thoughts, just shrugging to himself and continuing to sweep the floor, allowing the motions to lead him to distraction again.

"Are you sure you're alright, Cloud?" Jessie had moved from the bar to his spot near the door and glanced out the window to see the outside area devoid of people which wasn't strange considering the situation. "You're completely out of it."

"I'm fine, Jessie, really." Cloud placed the broom against the door and pulled it open, allowing a breeze to brush against his face and ruffle his hair. "I'm going to take a walk."

Jessie suddenly looked solemn, her bright attitude from earlier melting away at his announcement. "I don't think that's a good idea. It's safer if you stayed inside while that woman is wandering around."

"It's fine," Cloud reassured, sliding his coat on and pulling on his hood with a tight smile. "I'll just take a block and I'll come right back." Cloud slipped out of the door before Jessie could protest, but he did vaguely hear that Tifa was going to kill him if he wasn't back in before curfew. Shrugging off Jessie's concern, Cloud slipped down the stairs and down the road that led towards the exit of the sector, his eyes shifting left and right and let out a small, shuddering sigh when the road was empty. It was odd considering that the streets of sector seven - which was considered a business district- was so devoid of life. He wished he could track down Rosso down and -

Cloud pushed the thought to the back of his mind when he felt a soft, insistent push against his mental shields. He only managed to turn his head when the tip of a blade was pressed against the small back and the scent of blood drifted up to his nose. He didn't have to turn around to see who it was nor did he turn to acknowledge her.

He had been waiting for this moment, after all.

"What?" Rosso drawled sliding the tip of her blade up his back and down before settling against the small of Cloud's back. "Not going to piss your pants like the last seven of my victims?"

"You're the Alpha Guide of Edge." Cloud began, resignation sweeping over him at the thought of Rosso's actions. "And you've killed seven people in a city that doesn't belong in your territory. Do you know what you've done?"

"It matters not." Rosso murmured, stepping closer to him. "I am not long for this world. So, what do I care for the consequences that follow my actions? What do I care if millions die because of my actions?"

"You're telling me that you care nothing for your people?" Cloud goaded softly. "You care nothing for them at all? You're risking an all-out war with Midgar and Junon over your actions."

"I am willing to accept that I am the fault for the war that is to come," Rosso stated softly and for once, Cloud didn't feel the sour scent of anger or the mental rush of insanity that seemed to cloak Rosso like a fine coat. Instead, it sounded like a woman who was filled with despair. As if she was at the knife's edge.

"Rosso-"

"I did not give you permission to use my name, Guide Strife." Rosso hissed, pressing the tip of the blade further into his back and Cloud was reminded that Rosso would be more than willing to stab him in the back and leave him for dead.

"Why are you doing this?" Cloud asked, swallowing tightly to wet his dry throat, careful not to anger the Guide. "What is this going to accomplish?"

"I want to wipe this land out and start anew," Rosso responded with a small, low chuckle. "Do you know how difficult it is to look over the horizon and still see this wretched city standing as if it wasn't stained with the blood of thousands. Do you realize how infuriating it is to watch that wretched man's legacy continue? You speak to me of consequences but what of Xavier's? What consequences is he suffering?"

"He will never find peace," Cloud responded, turning and staring into Rosso's, shocked to see angry tears running down her cheeks. She looked horrid with ripped, dirty, blood-stained clothing. Her hair was matted against her head stained with blood and caked with dirt. She had been on the prowl since Junon and it showed in her appearance and her mind.

"He will never see his Guide again." Cloud continued softly. "His soul is stalled in the Lifestream and there it shall remain for eternity. The Goddess has no use for irritant Sentinels."

"And no use for irritant Guides." Rosso finished with a dirty smile. "I am destined for the same road and that is why I will kill as many as I can while I am still alive."

"It will bring you no peace." Cloud's eyes lifted to the sky and braced himself for the inevitable. He knew the moment he stepped outside the safety of Tifa's bar, he knew Rosso would catch him. She was an angry soul who sought no salvation, but the Guide inside him couldn't and wouldn't be quelled. He had to try despite knowing that it would be no use.

He had to try.

"You will never see Weiss again, but both of you knew it, correct?" Cloud continued softly, his lips lifting into a soft, sad smile when he sensed Zack's approach before the man himself was in sight with a relieved look before it turned pale with horror and for the first time since arriving in Midgar, Cloud Strife regretted coming here to find a home.

Who knew that it would lead to so much heartbreak?

Cloud met Zack's eyes and watched as the man rushed forward, his violet eyes filled with blind panic and rage before a burst of pain erupted near his abdominal area so great that he looked down to see Rosso's blade stained red.

Oh

That was his blood, wasn't it?

"Cloud!"

Oh.

Zack was calling him? Zack's voice sounded so sad, so panicked that Cloud felt an immense urge to soothe him. To tell him that everything would be fine, but that would be a horrid lie because Cloud felt nothing but pain and a powerful urge to close his eyes. Yes, that sounded good. He would close his eyes for a couple of minutes.

Just a couple of minutes.

Cloud felt his knees buckle under him, and as he hit the cold ground, he heard Rosso's voice rumble above him: excited and filled with anticipation as Zack's enraged roar filled the air.

"This land with be washed with blood and it seems that it was yours, Cloud Strife, will be the first to run the rivers and skies red."