Chapter 6

"Sephiroth!" Cloud snarled again. "What do you think you're doing? What have you done to Aeris?"

Aeris took a step foward. "He hasn't done anything to me, Cloud!"

"Get away from that monster, Aeris!" Cloud screamed.

"But Cloud-"

"Stay back," Sephiroth instructed, waving his hand at her.

"Don't you dare speak a word to her, Sephiroth!" Cloud yelled. He readied his sword in front of him. "Come to me, Sephiroth, and I will finish you off once again!"

"If you insist," Sephiroth smirked, unsheatheing the Masamune.

"No, Sephiroth!" Aeris yelled. "Please! Cloud, he doesn't want to fight you! Just listen to us!"

"I will fight Strife at anytime," Sephiroth argued. "If he foolishly wants, he will pay for making a fool of me in the Crator."

Cloud took a step foward.

"No!" Aeris cried again. "Remember what the Planet said!"

Sephiroth gritted his teeth and stared into Cloud's eyes. "She never said anything about not killing Strife," he mumbled.

"The Planet...?" Tifa wondered quietly out loud.

Tayeko panicked. The spikey haired blonde was closing in on Sephiroth with a massive sword.

She surveyed the group behind him. What a strange bunch they were. There was a beautiful dark haired woman, a huge black man with a gun on his arm, a red lion-like beast, a gruffy looking man with a cigarette, a cat-mog thing, a teenage ninja girl popping bubble gum, and a man with black hair, a cape, and a metal claw on his right arm.

Aeris boldly stepped foward between Cloud and Sephiroth. "Stop this! Cloud, please," she pleaded. "Listen to me! Sephiroth is not here to hurt anyone! He's here to help!"

"Bullshit!" Cloud cursed.

"Cloud..." Tifa murmered, placing her hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Please, calm down. Look... Aeris is back! Forget Sephiroth, open your eyes and LOOK!"

Cloud lowered his sword a few inches and took in the sight before him.

Green eyes. Bright, happy green eyes. LIVING green eyes.

"My God...Aeris..." he whispered.

"Cloud," Aeris mouthed, her face bright as she clasped her hands over her chest.

"Damn... Aeris..."

"This is incredible... I was correct about my findings."

"Heyy!! Aeris. It's so good to have ya back!"

"Sweet mother of fucking God... She's goddamned alive!"

"Oh my Gawd! Aeris! I like, MISSED you SO much!"

"Aeris is amoung the living... She is most deserving in her actions to be alive again.."

Tifa wondered if it had been such a good idea to make Cloud focus on Aeris. He was staring at her, his eyes more intense then she'd seen them in a long time.... years.

Sephiroth sighed impatiently. "Well? Enough of this love stuff and fight!"

Aeris turned to face him. "There'll be NO fighting! We are going to explain to everyone what's going on!"

Cloud readied his sword again. "Aeris! What has he done to you? There is no need to lie in fear, because I will destroy him again like did twice before!"

"NEVER!" Sephiroth shouted.

"Stop!" Aeris cried. "Cloud, Lisen to me. Sephiroth hasn't hurt me! He's my friend. He's changed!"

"Somehow I don't find reason to beileve that!"

"Just listen to me!" Aeris pleaded. "Let's sit down and talk... I have alot to tell you!"

A roar sounded in the background.

"Shit," Cid cursed. "If we're gonna be doing any talking, it sure as hell ain't gonna be out here. That's fucking Ruby WEAPON roaring like that, and I think his big ass is heading this way."

"Damn!" Cloud muttered. "I knew we shoulda beat that damn thing! But noooo, Tifa said..."

"I know what I said, Cloud!" Tifa hollared. "I was too tired to fight Ruby Weapon. It's too hard! We had to go fight Sephiroth and you wanted to waste precious energy on that!"

Cloud shrugged.

"Why can't we just fight it now?" Yuffie asked. "With all of us, we could take it out!"

"No!" Cloud hollared. "Not with Aeris here. It's too risky!"

"And Tayeko," Sephiroth added.

"Who?" Cloud asked, sounding annoyed. He looked behind Sephiroth and spotted the young black haired woman in his dreams. "Oh..."

Tayeko began to figit nervously.

"That's that girl in our dreams!" Tifa declared.

"Dreams?" Tayeko wondered aloud.

"What dreams?" Aeris asked.

"No time to fuckin' explain now!" Cid yelled, as Ruby WEAPON roared again. "We got to get on the Highwind!"

Aeris shrugged and turned to Sephiroth and Tayeko. "Let's follow them," she said.

Cid ran back to the Highwind, the others muttering curses as they followed behind. Sephiroth was the last to board the massive Airship, the members of AVALANCHE watching him suspiciously.

"Yo!" Barret thundered on the deck. "Shouldn't we tie up him or something? He could be plotting to kill us all!"

"Barret!" Aeris cried. "No! How could you say such a thing?"

"I'm just saying, Aeris," Barret argued.

"Listen," Cloud interceded, shooting Sephiroth a dirty look. "Let's all go to the conference room. There Aeris can explain to me what is going on and we can keep an eye on Sephiroth.

Sephiroth gave Cloud an icy glare as the young hero turned and headed toward the conference room. Most of AVALANCHE shot Sephiroth dirty looks and suspicious eyes, namely Barret and Cid. Yuffie looked at him in confusion and curiousity, while Red and Cait seemed nuetral. Tifa tried to ignore his presence as she pushed her way into the room.

"Let's go, Seph," Tayeko said as she began to follow the group. Cloud had grabbed Aeris' hand and had her in front with him.

Sephiroth nodded. "I will be in there in a moment. I just need time to think."

"We've got a serious situation on our hands, he said, taking Aeris' hand and leading her to the front of the group. "Aeris is alive, which is wonderful... but so is Sephiroth."

"Speakin' of him, where's dat silver haired freak anyways?" Barret asked.

"Don't call him that," Aeris said. Barret grunted.

"We are going to have to make a decision. Of course Aeris stays... I dunno about ..." Cloud looked at Tayeko.

"Tayeko," she responded.

"Right. Tayeko... I dunno about her, but I have to hear the whole story. As for Sephiroth, we have to come to a decision about what to do with him."

"Nothing!" Aeris insisted. "We need him, Cloud. Don't worry, he hasn't hurt me and he won't hurt anyone else!"

"After all this time," Cloud began, "I finally feel complete again... though nothing can make up for my allowing Aeris to die the way she did."

"Please, Cloud!" Aeris pleaded. "It wasn't your fault! It was all for the better that I died."

"How can you say that?" Cloud asked frantically. "You are the kindest, purest being to walk this earth. You didn't deserve to die!"

"Cloud," Aeris coaxed, rubbing his forearm. "You will understand once you give me the chance to explain."

"Fine, Aeris," Cloud said skeptically. "You have the floor."

Cloud moved aside and Aeris slid over. "Well, um heh... everybody, I guess its great to be back."

"I missed you, Aeris."

"Yeah..."

"Damn straight! We were all pretty ticked when that damned freak ran ya through!"

"Yes, Aeris. I missed you scratching behind my ears."

"Yep! Aeris, we're glad yer back with us."

"That's fucking right! It just aint as goddamned cheery around here without you."

"Yeah, Aeris! I mean, GAWD, we missed you soooo much!"

"Welcome back, Aeris. Remember, today is the first day of the rest of your life... and tommorrow never comes."

"Guys..." Aeris blushed, locking her hands behind her back and digging her toe into the ground. "You're gonna make me cry!"

Cid laughed/coughed in response. "Yeah, Aeris. We really did miss ya, kid."

Aeris smiled. "Well... let me explain..."

"A few days ago, I woke up in the Lifestream. The concept of time in the Lifestream is very different from that of the living world. While several weeks had passed from my death, only the following events took place during that time.

"By the time I had nearly gotten myself together, my world was again raging out of control. Instead of the Lifestream, I found myself in a beautiful field of flowers. There was huge gate, and a man stepped through, wearing gorgeous white robes. He introduced himself to me as the guardian of the Cetra, and that the gates before me led to the Promised Land.

"Of course I was excited! There I was, Aeris Gainsbourough, a simple flower merchant from the slums waiting to be admitted into the most exclusive place in creation. I'd be with my people! My family! My mother!

"But it wasn't meant to be. The Guardian looked up at me with sad eyes and shook his head. Confused, I asked him what the problem was. He told me, plain and simple, that I could not enter."

"Why?" Red asked.

"The Guardian explained to me that since only my mother was Cetra, I couldn't enter," Aeris continued. "Only the full blood Cetra can enter the Promised Land. My blood was tainted by a human's, my father."

"Wait," Cloud paused. "You're only half Cetra?"

"Yes," Aeris answered quietly. "My father was Professor Gast."

"That's right," Cloud remembered. "We learned about that at his house in Icicle Inn.

"That's where I learned about it too," Aeris mumbled. "Anywhoo, I heard my mother crying, as well as a bunch of other Cetra. I didn't know what to do, so I just collasped and started crying. Next thing I knew I was in a glass room that seemed to suspended in the Lifestream's core.

"That's where I met Tayeko. She was standing in the room as well, looking out of the glass. She too was a Cetra denied access to the Promised Land because she was only half. She looked at me and showed me that out of the glass you could see the war between Holy and Meteor over Midgar."

Cloud turned to Tayeko. "You're a Cetra? I thought that Aeris was the last one."

"She was," Tayeko answered. "Remember, I was dead."

Cloud shrugged and turned back to Aeris. "Being the strong willed Cetra I am, I wanted to do something to help Holy. With Tayeko's help, I tried to move the Lifestream to help.

"But, I was too weak to complete the task successfully. That's where Sephiroth came in.

"The next thing I knew, there was a bright flash of light and suddenly two people were in the Lifestream room. A beautiful woman, and Sephiroth appeared. I knew that the woman was the Planet."

"The Planet?" Cloud questioned.

"Yeah," Aeris answered. "The Planet has a soul. That soul took on a form of a woman so that we could understand what she had to say.

"She told me that Sephiroth was going to help us. He was changed, cleaned of his sins and ready to help.

"And he did.

"The three of us knelt down and prayed for the Lifestream to move. Sure enough, with Sephiroth's added strength, we were able to push Meteor away and destroy it."

"So that's why we had visions of you, Sephiroth and Tayeko when Meteor was being destroyed!" Tifa exclaimed.

"I guess," Aeris replied, unaware of any visions. "The Planet also told us there would be a crisis on earth soon, and that we would be brought back to life to fight it. We woke up in the City of The Ancients, ready to begin our journey. I also learned that Tayeko and Sephiroth have some unexplained past together.

"So here we are. I came looking for you guys because I miss you, and we need your help."

"I see," Cloud mumbled to himself. "I just don't trust Sephiroth."

Aeris shook her head. "Cloud," she whispered. "Don't you trust me?"

Cloud looked away from her in shame. "Yeah... I'm sorry, Aeris."

Aeris nodded and smiled. "We're trying to save the Planet, Cloud. I would never do anything to hurt you or anyone else."

Cloud smiled tenderly at Aeris. "I missed you so much," he whispered.

"I missed you too," Aeris replied.

Cloud was beginning to stroke Aeris' hair when Sephiroth finally stepped in. Cloud's smile faded.

"Well," he began, turning from Aeris. "I guess you're going to stay alive, thanks to Aeris. But I swear on all things pure and holy, if you cross me Sephiroth and make one wrong move-"

"I do not appreciate your idel threats, *Ex-SOLDIER*," Sephiroth spat with bitter sarcasm. "Now, if you are quite finished, I'll be heading to claim my cabin in this ship."

"Wait, Sephiroth!" Tayeko called. "I'll come with you! We need to talk."

"Do not follow me," Sephiroth ordered. "I wish to be alone."

Tayeko shook her head, looking hurt as Sephiroth made his way out of the conference room. She waved everyone off in a gesture that she too was leaving, and exited the room.

"Poor Tayeko," Aeris whispered to herself.

"I guess this meeting is ajourned," Cloud grumbled. "Everybody stay out of Sephiroth's way... and that new girl. She seems a bit fragile. Now go get some rest..."

"But Cloud," Cid stopped him. "What the fuck are we fighting for? No offense, Aeris, but you say some evil is coming and we need Sephiroth's goddamned help to fight it? Wait a flying fucking second! We don't know what it is yet! What the hell are we supposed to do?"

"I agree wit Cid," Barret said. "What are we waitin' around for? We dun have a damned clue, but yet we running around in this big airplane with Sephiroth."

"True," Tifa mumbled quietly. "We should at least know what we're after."

"I don't know yet," Aeris answered. "But I can tell you it's coming soon. There's no point in us breaking up now because the signs will show. The Planet will tell me when the evil arrives."

Cloud shook his head. "Let's have everyone go home and spend sometime with their families. Sephiroth should stay here so we can keep an eye on him. When you sense the danger, let us know, Aeris."

Aeris nodded.

"Why don't we stick together," Yuffie suggested. "I mean, its been like, FOREVER since we've seen Aeris. Let's at least spend one night with her before we go home!"

"Right," Cloud said. "Let's fly around for a couple of hours and then we can land some where and camp out. We can go home in the morning."

Sephiroth cursed under his breath as he made his way to the door and opened it. Tayeko was standing there.

"I thought I told you not to follow me," Sephiroth complained.

"I, I'm sorry," Tayeko whispered. "It's just that, I really think we need to talk alone."

"There's nothing for us to talk about."

"Of course there is! Think about all the time that's passed since we've seen each other! I thought you would have been happy to see me again, but you didn't remember me at first and now you don't even care. I was *estactic* to be with you again, Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth shrugged. "Please, Sephiroth," Tayeko pleaded, placing her hand on his. "Tell me why you've become so-"

Sephiroth jerked his hand back violently, leaving Tayeko puzzled.

"What's wrong?"

"I do not wish to be touched," Sephiroth said. "I advise you to leave me."

Tayeko shook her head. "No, Sephiroth. What's wrong with you? We used to be friends. I know you were never the touchy feely type, but now I can't even hold your hand! What happened between us? I..."

"I am a different man now," Sephiroth said, taking advantage of her loss for words. "I have become a monster. Horrible creatures such as I do not deserve the luxury of being touched. Now leave me."

"You're not a -"

"LEAVE!"

Sephiroth returned to staring out of the window, ignoring any further attempts Tayeko made to get his attention. Sighing in resignation, she left Sephiroth to himself.

Sephiroth stared at his hands as she quietly closed the door behind her. That's right, he thought. You'll never be good enough for her, so forget it. You don't deserve her, not even her friendship. You don't deserve anyone.

Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea, she thought. I forgot Aeris was here to take Cloud away when I need him most.

Tifa leaned quietly against the door frame, careful not to alert them to her presence.

"I can't believe it, Aeris," Cloud whispered to the Cetra, drawing her in close to him. "I thought you were gone, and I was never gonna forgive myself for that."

Aeris shook her head. "Cloud, Cloud, Cloud," she mumbled. "You're so predictable. I just knew you were gonna beat yourself up for my death."

"With good reason, too," he said. "The first day I met you I promised to be your bodyguard. And what did I do? I let you down, just like I let everyone down."

"No, Cloud. It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was. I'm... I'm weak."

"What?" Aeris asked. "Don't say that! How could you be weak? After all you've done? Just because you couldn't stop Sephiroth from killing me, doesn't make you weak, Cloud!"

"No, Aeris," Cloud said in a low voice. "You don't understand... there's something... something you don't know."

"What?"

"Well... I hope you're not dissapointed. This is just kinda hard to come out and say..."

"Just say it, Cloud!" Aeris said with a giggle. "No matter what, I'll always think of you the same. I'll always... I'll always love you."

Cloud's head jerked up at Aeris and he stared at her with deep, blue, mako eyes.

Oh, God, Tifa thought. Now it comes out. He's gonna tell her he loves her too. Get ready to pack your bags, Tifa.

Aeris smiled and took Cloud's hand. "Tell me, Cloud."

Cloud scratched his head and looked away from her for a moment. "Well... not too long after you, um, died, me and Tifa fell into the Lifestream at Mideel..."

"And...?"

"Oh... um, well, I found out the truth about myself down there."

"What truth?"

"I... I never made it into SOLDIER, Aeris."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Cloud took a deep breath. "It was all a lie.. I had... It was..."

Aeris took a step closer to Cloud and touched his cheek. "Please, Cloud. Don't be afraid. Just tell me."

Cloud shrugged. "I took Zack's identity."

Aeris' eyes widened. "*Zack*?!?" "Yeah... I remember everything. Zack had made it into SOLDIER... I was just an escort guard. He was still my buddy, even after I failed. I went with him to Nibelhiem. He was there."

"Oh my God," Aeris whispered, covering her mouth. "Zack... whatever happened to him?"

Cloud looked down at the ground moving swiftly beneath the Highwind. "He... Zack's dead, Aeris. Shin-Ra killed him after we escaped Hojo."

"Hojo?" Aeris questioned. "What does he have to do with this?"

"He captured Zack and I after I killed Sephiroth and Nibelhiem burned down. He tried to make us into Sephiroth clones, but I was a failure. Zack helped me escape, and when we reached the outskirts of Midgar, he was gunned down. Tifa found me delirious at the train station a short time later."

Aeris' eyes filled with tears. "Zack..."

Cloud turned to walk away. "I'll leave you alone now."

"No!" Aeris cried, grabbing his arm. "Stay with me..."

Cloud nodded and shyly pulled Aeris into an embrace.

Aeris layed her head on Cloud's chest. "I still love you, Cloud."

Cloud lifted Aeris' chin with his fingertips and kissed her. "I love you too, Aeris," he said as their lips broke apart.

It was over now. Cloud had just kissed Aeris! Professed his love for her!

Tifa couldn't handle it. At any moment, she knew she'd break out into tears. As quietly as she could, she raced away from the deck and back to her cabin.

Once in the security of her room, Tifa collasped on her bed and let the tears come, sobs racking her fragile but strong body. It was so unfair! She now knew she never stood a chance with Cloud. He loved Aeris the whole time. She hadn't even been back a full day and already they were an item!

Tifa looked at her clock. Almost six p.m. When the Highwind landed that night, where ever they were planning to camp out, she'd leave. She take one of the chocobos and sneak off while everyone was sleeping.

Where would she go? Tifa didn't know, but she decided that she'd let the wind guide her as she stood up to pack her bag. She wasn't going to stick around long enough for Cloud to announce his engagement to Aeris.

"Man! I'm fucking tired!" Cid suddenly exclaimed. "When are you fuckers going to bed?"

Cloud checked his watch. "It's getting late, actually," he said. "Maybe we'd better head down now. We want to get up early so we can get home before the so called 'evil' comes."

Aeris playfully punched him.

"Goodnight, everyone," Vincent said as he rose. "I do not really need sleep, but I will be back before morning." With that, he walked lightly into the surrounding darkness.

"I'm out," Barret murmered. "I'll see you foos in the mornin'."

"Wait up for me, man," Cid said gruffly as he stuggled to stand up. "I want to get back and see Shera tommorrow."

"Ooooh, Cid!" Aeris teased.

"...So she can make me some goddamned tea!" he spat. Everyone laughed as he and Barret made their way to their tent.

Yuffie yawned. "Guys, its been nice, but I need to get some beauty rest. See you in the morning."

"I guess I'll be heading off too," Red said, following after Yuffie. "Have a good night."

"Yeah!" Cait Sith chimed, hopping to catch up with Red. "Nighty night!"

Tayeko giggled. "What's up with that thing?"

"That's our friend Reeve," Tifa answered. "He works in Midgar, and he controls that little stuffed cat via computer from there."

"Reeve?" Aeris asked, confused. "Reeve from Shin-Ra?"

Tifa nodded.

"Hey! I know Reeve," Tayeko said. "When I was at Shin-ra, he worked there."

"When were you at Shin-Ra?" Cloud asked suspiciously.

"Nothing like that," Tayeko answered. "When I was about seven a Turk came and took me from my home with my aunt and uncle in Midgar's slums. Professor Hojo wanted me because I was a Cetra. That's were I met Sephiroth. He was young boy and-"

"Yeah, enough about Sephiroth," Cloud interrupted. "What happened to you there?"

"Hojo performed some experiments on me," Tayeko answered. "He never got what he wanted out of me, though. He got pretty ticked at one point and split me and Sephiroth up for a few years."

"Then what happened?" Aeris asked.

"Well, Hojo tried to, um, breed us. When we resisted, Hojo ordered the guards to restrain us. But Sephiroth was too strong, and he kinda overwhelmed them. Then one of the guards accidently killed me..."

Aeris looked around. Tayeko seemed pretty nervous talking about such a sensitive topic, and Tifa and Cloud seemed uncomfortable and confused.

"Well..." Aeris muttered, trying to break the tension. "I think I'm gonna go to bed," Tayeko mumbled, standing up. "See you tommorrow."

Tifa waved goodbye and Cloud barely lifted his head to acknowledge her departure.

"I guess I'll go too," Aeris said.

"I'll walk you," Cloud said, rising. "Uh, you coming Tifa?"

Tifa unnoticably rolled her eyes. "No, I'll stay a few more minutes. See you tommorrow."

Cloud nodded and took Aeris' hand. "Alright. Let's go, Aeris."

Tifa turned a moment later and choked up at the site of Cloud and Aeris walking hand in hand toward the tents. Why couldn't it be her? It just wasn't fair!

Tifa gathered her knees up in her arms and stared at the fire. Just another hour and they'll all be asleep, she thought. Then I'm gone forever.

"Hello... Sephiroth. Can I speak with you for a moment?"

Sephiroth looked back at Vincent through the corner of his eye. "Oh, its you. The ex-Turk."

"Yes," Vincent answered.

"Well, I am not in the mood for talk," Sephiroth answered. "I wish to be left alone."

Vincent took a seat on a nearby boulder. "Please. Its about... its about your mother."

Sephiroth finally turned and glared at Vincent. "My... my mother? Lucrecia?"

"Yes," Vincent said. "I knew your mother, very well."

Sephiroth cocked an eyebrow. "How?" he demanded.

Vincent sighed and looked up into the moonlight. "I... I loved her."

"What?" Sephiroth asked.

"I was a Turk when your mother was working for Shin-Ra," Vincent explained. "We were in love, until Hojo came along."

"So you must be the Turk Gast told me about," Sephiroth said.

"I suppose," Vincent said. "I loved your mother deeply. I thought she was the most beautiful and precious creature to walk the earth."

"So what happened?" Sephiroth asked. "How did Hojo destroy lives like he always does this time?"

Vincent continued to study the night sky. "Hojo wanted to use Lucrecia for the JENOVA project, which created you. He impregnated her, and at this time I began to notice a change in Lucrecia's behavior... she seemed more detached, frightened, and withdrawn.

"Hojo announced that he was going to marry Lucrecia, and of course, I was devastated. But Lucrecia told me she didn't want to marry Hojo. He was forcing her. She told me she didn't even remember how he managed to bed her.

"I wanted to kill Hojo. I had several confrontations with him, which alerted him to my interference. But Lucrecia didn't want the Project stopped. She wanted to continue with the project, even though it was obvious Hojo was killing her. "I obeyed her wishes, and let her go ahead. She promised me that when you were born, we would run away and I could raise you with her as my own. But that never happened.

"When Lucrecia went into labor, she was near death. The moment you were born, Hojo snatched you away from her and locked himself in the lab. I forced myself into her room, because Hojo had ordered me to stay out. I saw Lucrecia climb out of bed, reach out for the door, and cry 'Sephiroth....'. Then she fell to the floor.

"The nurses were screaming, but I flew to her side and tried to help her. She was dying in my arms. I'll never forget those last moments...

Lucrecia looked up at Vincent with sad, blue green eyes.

"Please... Vincent...?"

"What is it, my love? Are you alright?"

"No... Vin...vincent... promise..."

"What? Lucrecia, what's wrong?"

"Promise you'll take... Sephiroth away from that monster..."

"I will, Lucrecia. But don't leave me!"

"Tell him I.... I love..."

"LUCRECIA!!!!"

Vincent looked down. "When Lucrecia died, something inside of me snapped. "I fled down to the basement, to Hojo's lab. I broke down the door and ran to snatch you. You were laying in a tiny incubator. You had the same bright green eyes you have now, and wispy silver hair. I couldn't beileve it."

"When I went to reach for you, Hojo appeared."

"Don't you dare, Turk! I'll have your head for that!"

"Lucrecia's dead! Because of you, she's gone!"

"It doesn't matter, Valentine. She's done her part. I have no use for her now."

"How could you! I'll kill you, you monster..."

"I leveled my gun at Hojo's head, but somehow he was swifter than me. The next thing I knew he'd shot me in the chest, and my world was going black."

"He killed you?" Sephiroth asked.

"No," Vincent answered. "I woke up sometime later in his lab. He'd opperated on me, changed me into this monster..." Vincent lifted his claw.

"Hojo did that to you?"

"Yes," Vincent replied. "As well as many other unspeakable horrors."

"That bastard!" Sephiroth cried. "How could he do that to my mother? HOW COULD HE!?!?"

Vincent shook his head. "Hojo was a horrible, horrible man. More evil than anyone to ever walk this Planet."

"Not me," Sephiroth said, looking away with a heavy heart.

"Sephiroth," Vincent began, "Do not say such things. You have made many mistakes. But you can atone for them. You are not wholly evil. I have sinned as well. I let Lucrecia down, I let those horrors be committed to her. But my ultimate sin may have been what I did after. I'm beginning to wonder..."

"What did you do?"

"After I discovered what Hojo'd done to me, I hid in a coffin in the basement. I slept there for nearly thirty years," Vincent responded. "Instead of going out and doing something... like finding you... I hid. When I could have been fighting, I slept and submitted to nightmares. Now, by fighting with AVALANCHE, I plan to atone. That is the only reason I continue."

Sephiroth nodded. "I still can't believe..." he began. "I think I've heard enough for one night."

Vincent stood. "I'll leave you now," he said as he began to walk back.

Sephiroth nodded and turned back the other way towards the ocean. "Oh, and Vincent?"

"Yes?"

"Th...thanks."

She tip toed past the row of tents, holding her knapsack close to her body. She decided she'd walk to Costa Del Sol and take the midnight ferry to Junon, then go from there.

Tifa stopped as she neared the end of the campsite. She wiped her face, still wet from a day's worth of crying. She glanced at Cloud's tent and felt fresh tears.

"Goodbye, Cloud," she whispered. "I love you."

"What are you doing?"

Tifa whirled around in shock and nearly ran into Sephiroth. There he was, standing directly in front of her with his arms crossed.

"Oh! I, uh..."

"Running away?" he finished for her. "Don't worry, I won't say a word. Just be careful." He began to walk off.

"Please, Sephiroth," Tifa pleaded. "Don't tell them anything."

Sephiroth nodded. "I won't. This is a wonderful way to teach Cloud a lesson. I will enjoy seeing him suffer." He smirked at her and continued toward the campsite.

Tifa frowned. What did he mean by that?

She shrugged and continued on her way. It didn't matter, as long as Sephiroth kept quiet. Cloud was out of her life forever. It was the only way she could handle it.

Tifa sighed as she made her way through the woods to nearby Costa Del Sol, fighting back more tears. This chapter in her life was over, and a new one was beginning.

The man knew himself only as Z.T. He'd seen the initials on a tag he discovered when he woke up in pain in a pipe someone'd brought him to in Midgar.

Z had been searching for himself. Searching for something, or someone, to give him half a clue about his identity. And this woman could very well be it.

He studied the brunette as she handed her gil to the conductor and boarded the ferry. She was wearing a short black skirt, a white tank, and gloves and armor. She had heavy backpack and her eyes seemed red and puffy, as though she'd been crying.

Z ran a hand through his thick black hair and thought. Where had he known her from? He was positive he'd seen her...

"Right this way! The reactor is beyond that bridge."

A guide? Where had he known a tour guide... in Nibelheim?

"Gosh, Sephiroth's so cold. I can't beileive he didn't go back for that guard!"

Sephiroth? Where were these visions coming from?

"Come on, Tifa! I know I've got a girl back in Midgar and everything, but you're a hot one!"

"Shush! I like someone... and he's in SOLDIER too!"

"Really? I might know him. What's his name?"

"Be quiet. We need to get to the reactor right away, Zack."

Tifa? Sephiroth? Zack?

Z wondered. That was me talking, I saw my face. When did I know Sephiroth? Is that girl Tifa?

Z was growing more confused as he stared at the young woman. She was the girl in the flashbacks, for sure. What did this all mean? Could she be the key to unlocking his past?

"Out of my way. I'm going to see mother."

"You promised..."

"Kill Sephiroth, Cloud."

No. But *he* was.

"Cloud!"

I remember Cloud, Zack thought. My best friend... and that girl was the gal he used to like from Nibelhiem...

"C'mon, Cloud. Take that damn helmet off! It's time to relax."

"No, no. Tifa might see me."

"Who's Tifa?"

"Her... right there, with the hat."

"Wow! She's cute. You like her or something?"

"Yeah... well.. um... we.."

"Yeah, yeah, you like her. Take the helmet off and go say hi!"

"No! Before I left Nibelhiem I told her I was joining SOLDIER. I didn't make it! She'll be dissapointed, and she'll probably laugh at me and call me a loser."

"Ah! If you don't want her, I'll go talk to her!"

"No! Don't you dare!"

"Wow, touchy, huh Cloud? I was only jokin'." "Don't mess with me about Tifa, Zack."

Z squeezed his eyes shut. More flashbacks! He remembered now... sort of. Cloud was his best friend from SOLDIER. Tifa was some chick he'd liked before he'd left his hometown. They'd come to Nibelheim with Sephiroth for some reason...

Z figured he learned plenty about himself in the last five minutes just from seeing Tifa's face. Imagine if he went up and talked to her!

Z slid out of his seat and made his way a few rows ahead to where Tifa was sitting He stood behind her and tapped her shoulder.

"Tifa?"

Tifa turned around. And screamed.

"Z,z,ZACK!!" she yelled. "You.....????"

Zack shrugged. "I guess that is my name, after all."

"Oh my dear God..." Tifa mumbled before fainting.

"Shit," Zack cursed. "Wake up, Tifa! "I need you!"

A usher walked past. "We're about to embark! Five minutes!"

"Shit!" Zack cursed again. "I've got to get her to safety."

"Is that woman alright?" a lady sitting nearby asked.

"She's fine," Zack lied, preparing to drag Tifa away. "I'm just gonna get her to the bathroom and get her some water."

The lady nodded skeptically as Zack lifted Tifa's body. He propped her up and tried to pretend he was walking with her. He covered his head with his hoody, and snuck Tifa down into the cargo hold.

"We'll wait here," he said to her, laying her limp body down.

Tifa began to stir, and opened her eyes

. "I had the strangest dream... she said weakly to herself. "That Zack..."

Tifa looked at the man next to her. She couldn't see his face in the dark, and his head was covered with a hood.

"Where am I?" she asked. "Who are you?"

"We're in the cargo hold," Zack answered. "I have to take you with me."

"Why?" Tifa demanded, hopping up. "You can't kidnap me!"

Fiesty as ever, Zack thought. "I'm not kidnapping you! I just need your help..."

"Help with what?" Tifa nearly shouted, adjusting the strap on one of her gloves. "Who the hell are you?"

"Tifa, you know about my past, you know my best friend. But I know nothing about myself! You are the only person who can bring me to him! To help me remember!"

Tifa looked at him as if he had two heads. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Tifa, its me! Zack!" he screamed as he threw off his hood. "Remember? Nibelhiem?"

Tifa felt herself getting dizzy. "Zack...? I thought you were... You *were* dead!!"

"I know, I was hurt bad," he said. "Although I don't know how. Some man brought me to Midgar and left me in a pipe to heal. I guess I was near death when a doctor from Mideel came along during the Meteor crisis. Alot of people were crowding the slums. I didn't know what was going on, I was delirious. But this doctor helped me. He got me feeling much better and I left Midgar. I've been searching everywhere for a clue about myself, but I've found nothing. I guess I've got amnesia. All I knew was that my initials were Z.T."

Tifa felt her jaw dropping. Could this all be true?

"How did you remember Nibelhiem if you've got amnesia?" she asked.

"I don't remember much," Zack answered. "When you boarded the ferry, I felt like I'd seen you somewhere before. Then I started having flashbacks. All I know now is that I was in SOLDIER, and that I went to Nibelhiem on a mission with Sephiroth."

What do you want me for?" Tifa asked.

"I need to you to take me to Cloud," he answered. "So I can remember."

Tifa shook her head. "I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because..." Tifa shook her head. "I've left Cloud..."

"So you guys finally did hook up?" Zack laughed.

"No," Tifa said, shaking her head. "He loves a girl named Aeris..."

Zack's mind blanked out for a second. "Aeris?"

Tifa nodded.

Zack turned away from her. "Aeris...?"

"Zack! Do you *have* to go?"

"I'm sorry, babe. Don't worry. It's an easy mission. I'll be back before ya know it!"

"You better...."

Zack shivered. He'd had another flashback, but this time there were no faces to match the voices.

"Damn," he thought aloud. "Aeris..."

"Hey!" Tifa suddenly remember something. "Aeris used to be your girlfriend!"

"What?"

"I remember now! We went to Gongaga and saw your parents."

"My parents?"

"Yeah! They were looking for a boy named Zack from SOLDIER. Of course at the time Cloud didn't know who you were, but Aeris mentioned you were her boyfriend and you never returned from a mission-"

"Why didn't Cloud remember me?" Zack asked.

Tifa sighed. She'd forgotten about the whole Lifestream incident.

"It's a reallly long story...." she said.

"Well tell me," Zack said. "I need to remember!"

Tifa thought for second. "I guess. But I can't take you to Cloud."

"Why?" he demanded.

"I just... its another long story..."

Zack sat down on a crate. "Damn.... well I guess you can travel with me. But I really need to find Cloud, one way or the other."

"Whatever," Tifa mumbled. "Find him on your own."

Zack shrugged. "That's enough of your fiestiness for now. "I'm taking a nap."

Zack slid off the crate and leaned against it, closing his eyes. Tifa stared at him for a few minutes until she heard snoring.

Sighing, Tifa walked to a far corned and sat down, rubbing goosebumps off her arms. She felt her eyes water again.

Stop it! That's enough crying for today! scolded herself. You have to be strong... you'll get through this.

Tifa tried to ignore the tiny voice that responded "Not without Cloud" as she lay down and cried herself to sleep.