"What are you doing?" Kat asked.

Yuffie looked at her. "I'm gonna call my friends on the PHS," she explained. "I don't know where they are, or what they're doing." She sighed. "God, I've been so stupid... joining the Turks."

"Call," Kat encouraged.

Yuffie was about to protest when she heard a voice call her name from up the street.

"Yuffie? Yuffie!"

Yuffie squinted her eyes, surprised to see Striker walking down the street towards her. She looked down as he approached.

"What's going on?" he asked. He looked at Kat for a long moment. "And who's this?"

"That's my friend Kat," Yuffie answered with shifty eyes. "She's running away, and I met her..."

Striker extended his hand. "Nice to meet you," he said, giving her a bright smile. "My name's David, but just call me Striker."

Kat blinked, staring into Striker's hazel colored eyes. He was quite good looking. Tall, built, and smooth caramel skin over the ripples of his muscles...

She snapped out of her daze, accepting his hand. "I'm Katyrina, but everyone calls me Kat," she said. Striker's eyebrow cocked approvingly. This girl was another knock out like Yuffie. Her eyes were especially beautiful, and her hair was a raging fire falling onto her shoulders.

Yuffie looked between them envyiously. Not that she'd given it much thought before, but Striker was pretty cute. And he was *much* closer in age to her than Reno was. She didn't like the way him and Kat were making eyes at each other.

"Well!" she interrupted.

Striker averted his attention from Kat to Yuffie. "Yeah... what's with you? Decide to leave the Turks?"

"You were right, Striker..." Yuffie admitted. "It had been a whole set up."

"What did I tell you!" Striker shouted. "How'd you manage to get out of this one?"

Yuffie shrugged, looking back at the ground. "Reno... Reno helped me get out..."

Striker shook his head. "I'm not even gonna ask," he said. "You've got to explain this to Cloud. Let's go, I'll take you back to Reeve's Headquarters. It's not far."

Yuffie thought about Kat for a moment. She had grown fond of the girl, and didn't want to leave her, but knew if she stuck around she'd be getting awfully close to Striker, who, for some strange reason, Yuffie suddenly had eyes for.

"Okay, Kat..."

"Of course Kat can come along!" Striker volunteered. "Can you fight?"

Kat pulled out her nunchacku. "Sure, I guess," she answered.

"I'm sure Cloud won't mind. Let's go."

Yuffie sighed, slapping her hands at her sides. Sure, she was glad to have Kat around, but she'd have to keep her eyes on her.

She'd had a horrible dream. Her dreams, she knew, were a prophesy of what was to come.

Was she going to die? Again?

Aeris had never been a selfish person. Last time she was more that willing to sacrifice her life for the Planet. But was she willing to do that again? Why was it always her? She wanted to live.

Was that so much to ask for?

Aeris heard a soft knocking on the door to her room. "Aeris? Can I come in?"

It was Zack. She was still terribly upset with him, but felt it was best to talk to him... while she still had a chance.

"Come in," she barely whispered.

Zack slowly opened the door, slid into the dark room, and quietly closed the door behind him.

"Hi, Aeris..." he offered.

Aeris didn't respond. Instead, she patted her bed, gesturing for him to sit.

Zack sat on the bed next to where she lay. "I'm sorry, Aeris," he apologized.

Aeris pulled the blankets further over her shoulders. "Zack..." she began. "There's not enough time for this pettiness..."

"Huh?" Zack said, bewildered. "What are you talking about?"

"I fear I don't have a lot of time left..." Aeris answered.

"Aeris!" Zack nearly shouted. "Don't talk like this. I hate it. I lost you once, I'm not looking to lose you again."

"Correction, Zack," Aeris said with a small smile. "You didn't lose me, I lost you."

"Well..." Zack stuttered a moment. "What about when Sephiroth killed you!"

"Zack, sweetie, you didn't even know about that."

Zack shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We can't separate again, Aeris."

"I'm not sure we have much of a choice."

"What are you talking about, for the Planet's sake, Aeris?!"

Aeris sighed. "Its not safe anymore. Something is going very, very wrong. I don't think it was wise for us to ignore the Jenova warning that came in that Nibel wolf."

"What? I don't understand a word you're saying."

Aeris sighed again and moved over in the bed, making room for Zack to lay. "I'm sorry, Zack. I can't explain. Maybe its just useless talk on my part. I'm just very tired."

Zack frowned, and leaned in to kiss Aeris' forehead. "Get some rest. I'm worried about you."

"As am I," Aeris mumbled. "Zack, you ought to go apologize to Tifa."

Zack frowned nervously. "Yeah... maybe later... How did you get back, Aeris?"

"Yuffie let me out."

"Yuffie? Where did you see her?"

"She was working as a Turk," Aeris explained.

Zack looked shocked. "After all that looking for her, we find out she's a damn Turk!"

"Yes," Aeris answered. "She was recruited by her new boyfriend, Reno."

"What? Reno?"

"That's right."

Zack stood up. "What a mess. I'll be back after I speak to Tifa."

Aeris smiled. "Goodnight," she whispered before drifting off to sleep.

What was wrong with him? He seemed unable to cope with the least amounts of stress. It was because that freak of a monster, Sephiroth, was with him. How could he travel with that man? If it hadn't been for Aeris, he would have killed him on the spot. He knew Sephiroth was trouble, and he was just itching for the former General's wrong move.

Cloud would have continued pacing and rambling in his mind if he hadn't noticed the dark presence behind him.

"Who's there?" he asked.

"It is just I," Vincent's voice answered.

Cloud turned around to face Vincent. "Oh. Hi."

Vincent shook his head. "Cloud, are you alright?"

Cloud shook his own head. "I don't know, Vincent. I can't function properly with Sephiroth around."

"You have to try," Vincent said. "Do you realize what an ally you have in that man?"

"I can never see him as an ally," Cloud muttered.

Vincent stepped closer to Cloud. "Cloud, you and I are more alike than you think."

"Huh?" Cloud quipped. "How are we alike, Vincent?" He resisted the urge to make a smart comment about Vincent's appearance and other abnormalities.

"We have both had our lives and physical bodies tampered with by the insane intentions of one man," Vincent explained. "Hojo. Do you know who else is like us?" Cloud shrugged.

"Sephiroth."

Cloud turned away from Vincent. "What's the point of this, Vincent?"

"Sephiroth was much worse off then us. We both had childhoods. We may have lost years in our lives, but Sephiroth never got any of that. His life was tampered with from birth."

"Again, what's your point, Vincent?"

"Imagine never knowing your parents. Then imagine learning the truth and committing horrible atrocities - taking the lives of people and nearly destroying an entire planet for your cause. Then imagine dieing and learning its all been a lie - and then imagine being forced to return to the very planet you single handedly tried to destroy, only to team up with the man who killed you and a group of other people who hate you."

Cloud looked to the ground for a moment. "What's your point, Vincent!" he finally shouted. Vincent looked at Cloud with glowing, blood red eyes. "Don't be so hard on Sephiroth. Give him a chance. And don't think of him as your enemy. Your enemy is Hojo... and Jenova."

"What?" Cloud said, suddenly interested. "Hojo? Jenova? I thought we were fighting Shin-Ra!"

"Remember the Nibel wolf?"

"Yes..."

"Don't take that lightly, Cloud," Vincent said, walking away from his leader.

Cloud stared at Vincent as he disappeared down the hallway. He shook his head and decided now would be a good time to apologize to Tifa.

"Tifa..."

Barret turned at the sound of Cloud's voice. "Take a hike, foo! She dun wanna see your spiky ass!"

Tifa looked and faced Cloud. Her nose was red, and her cheeks were damp from tears. Her eyes were blood shot and watery.

"...."

"Let's excuse them," Red suggested, walking towards the door. "Feel better, Tifa."

Cid patted Tifa on the back, pulled out a cigarette and left. Cait hopped out the door past Cloud, but Barret wouldn't budge.

"He dun deserve to talk to her," he argued.

"Now, Barret," Red warned.

"Shit," Barret cursed. "If he does anything, you call me, Teef," he said, leaving the room with Red behind him.

Cloud closed the door and sat next to Tifa on the bed. He put his hand on the small of her back and looked into her eyes. "Tifa, I'm sorry..."

Tifa used a gloved hand to wipe her face. "Cloud... I..."

Cloud ran his fingers down her back. "I know I haven't been acting right these days, Tifa. Sometimes I get a little too attached to Aeris... I'm too protective of her..."

"You still love her," Tifa said.

Cloud looked down. "I guess," he answered. "But I can't think that I love her more than you, Tifa."

Tifa looked away from him.

"I'm sorry about Zack, Tifa. I should have said something. I shouldn't have let him get away with talking to you like that."

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Can I come in?"

"Speaking of the devil..." Cloud said.

"I don't think I can face him right now," Tifa stammered.

"Get out of here, Zack," Cloud called. "She doesn't want to see you right now."

Zack rested his hands against the door. "Please..." he said. "I just want to apologize."

"Do it from out there, then," Cloud answered.

"No, no," Tifa said, sighing. "Let him in."

Cloud frowned. "Fine. You can come in, Zack."

Zack opened the door and crept in. "I'm sorry, Tifa," he said, stil standing near the door.

"Its alright, Zack," Tifa said, not looking at him.

Zack pushed his black hair out of his face. "I don't know what came over me. That was really rude of me to say, Tifa. I wasn't acting like myself."

"Mhm," Tifa answered.

"Do you forgive me?"

"Yes..."

"Alright... we're still friends?"

Tifa finally looked at him. "Of course."

Zack smiled. "Cloud... I want to apologize to you too." "For what?" Cloud said.

"I've been acting like a jerk," Zack answered. "I think I'm going to apologize to Sephiroth as well."

"You should do the same, Cloud," Tifa suggested. "Red told me about the scuffle you had downstairs."

Cloud snorted. "Over my dead body," he answered.

Zack opened the door. "I'll leave you alone now," he said.

"Goodnight Zack," Tifa said.

"'Night," Cloud offered.

Zack closed the door and Cloud turned back to Tifa. "Teef... you need some sleep. Are you feeling alright these days?"

Tifa knew she wasn't, but she wasn't sure she was ready to tell Cloud that. "Sure," she lied. "I'm fine, as always. Just tired." Cloud ran his fingers through her chocolate colored hair. "You sure?"

Tifa closed her eyes. "Positive."

His green eyes were glowly brighter than usual, and it wasn't because his lights were low. They were fiery emerald blaze, reflecting the anger and hurt that lay within.

He'd taken his gloves off, and stared down at the tiny number 1 that was tattooed on his right hand. He held them up in front of the mirror, staring horrorfully at the monster he was sure he was.

His silver hair fell gracefully on his shoulders, a river of molten precious metal flowing down his back. It reflected the moonlight the crept in through a tiny window in the office room Reeve had doubled as a bedroom for him to use.

"Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth turned to the door. Tayeko was outside.

Sighing, he walked to the door and opened it.

The girl was standing there, staring up at him with large, violet eyes. She smiled.

"Can I come in?"

Sephiroth stepped out of the way, and Tayeko walked in, closing the door behind her. "How are you doing, Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth looked down and sat on the bed. "I am fine."

Tayeko sat next to him on the bed.

"Tell me the truth, Sephiroth."

"Tayeko, have you been crying?"

Tayeko looked away from Sephiroth. "Wha, what are you talking about?" she stuttered.

"You and Aeris are not the only ones around here who can read people," Sephiroth said. "I can see it in your eyes. Is something bothering you?"

Tayeko was stunned by Sephiroth's concern for her. "Sephy, are you just doing this to get the spotlight off you?"

Sephiroth grabbed Tayeko's arm. "Tell me what's wrong, woman."

Tayeko flinched. "Well.. I had a disturbing dream..."

"Tell me," Sephiroth encouraged.

"I can't remember. All I remember is Jenova... and me dying."

Sephiroth looked into her eyes, running his hand through her raven colored hair. "Dying?"

"I don't know what happened," Tayeko said, covering her face with her hands. "Something terrible is going to happen."

"I will protect you," he promised.

Tayeko smiled and rested her head on his chest. She looked down when she noticed his hands.

"Sephiroth! You're not wearing your gloves!"

Sephiroth mentally kicked himself for forgetting to put them back on. He clasped them together. "I..."

Tayeko took his right hand and studied it, enveloping it in hers. She noticed the small tattoo on it.

"What does this number 1 mean?"

Sephiroth paled.

"Sephiroth...?"

Sephiroth snatched his hand back and covered the number with his other hand. "Hojo... put this here... I was the first."

"First what?"

"Hojo made many, many Sephiroth clones after I died at Nibelhiem," he said. "Each got a tattoo of which number they were."

Tayeko took both of Sephiroth's hands in hers, touching his long fingers. "Hojo was a terrible man," she said. "I'll never forgive him for what he's done to us."

She kissed Sephiroth's fingertips slowly, causing the ex-general to blush slightly.

"Tayeko... would you like to stay in here tonight?"

"Sure," she answered.

"I'll sleep on the floor," he offered.

"That's not neccessary, Sephiroth," Tayeko said. "Please, stay here with me."

Sephiroth smiled for the first time since he could remember. "Alright."

"Sephiroth?" a voice called from outside the door.

"That sounds like Zack," Tayeko said.

"What is it?" Sephiroth asked.

Zack cracked the door open and stuck his head in. "Sorry to bother you, General. I just wanted to apologize for the way I've been acting. I'm a jerk."

"Apology accepted, Zack," Sephiroth said. Zack saluted and turned to leave.

"Oh, and Zack?"

Zack came back in. "Yes?"

"Don't call me "General" anymore."

Zack smiled. "Alright, Sephiroth."

"Yes, and its late, so don't make so much noise," Striker said. "We'd better go to bed."

"What?" Yuffie argued. "Its not *that* late! Besides, I have to tell Cloud about Kat."

"Cloud's probably already sleeping," Striker said. "He and Sephiroth had a big arguement earlier and they almost killed each other. Aeris came back safely, but not before Zack managed to hurt Tifa's feelings pretty badly."

Kat swallowed. "Sephiroth?" She suddenly wondered what kind of people she got involved with.

"Don't worry," Yuffie said. "Sephiroth isn't crazy anymore, so we think anyway. He's helping us."

"Helping?"

"The General's not a megalomaniac killer anymore," Striker said. "He's trying to help AVALANCHE fight against Shin-Ra."

"AVALANCHE?" Kat repeated.

"Duh!" Yuffie chirped. "Didn't you know I was from AVALANCHE? The people who saved the Planet from Meteor and Sephiroth!"

"They only talked about Cloud Strife and the "Ancient" on the news..." Kat said.

"Well duh, Kat! All this time you heard me talk about someone named "Cloud" didn't you have any idea I was from AVALANCHE?"

"There could be alot of people named Cloud," Kat argued.

"Aw for Leviathan's sake, - "

"Shh! Yuffie, continue this conversation upstairs," Striker said. "Reeve left a room for you even though you never came. Share it with Kat."

"Fine, fine," Yuffie said. "Come on, Kat. Striker, where's the room?"

"I'll show you," Striker said, heading up the stairs.

"Things have been so hectic, Cait," he said to the stuffed cat that was seated atop its moogle across the room. "I don't think I can handle the pressure."

Cait bounced over to him. "Don't worry, Reevey! Everything will be okay! Want your fortune?"

Reeve smiled at his creation. "Why not."

The mog danced around a bit and out of its mouth came a tiny slip of paper. Cait snacthed it and read.

"A fat woman and five chickens will bring your demise."

Reeve sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Excellent, Cait," he said.

"Want me to try again?" Cait asked.

"No, no," Reeve said, chuckling, as there was a knock at his office door.

"Who is it?" he called.

The door opened slowly, and a dark figure entered. He couldn't make out who it was.

"Who..?" Reeve stammered.

The figure approached the desk, coming more visible in the light of the moon. He was tall, lean, wearing a dark suit. He had long, straight, shoulder length black hair, not a strand out of place, and a black dot in the center of his forehead, above his narrow eyes....

"Ts.....Tseng???"

The man smiled at Reeve. "You are still a genius, Reeve."

Cait bounced up. "Tsengy! You died in the Temple of the Ancients! Didn't Sephiroth kill you?"

Tseng glared at Cait Sith. "Shut that stupid thing up, Reeve." He cocked a small pistol in his hand. "Before I do."

Cait swallowed loudly.

"Get out of here, Cait," Reeve said.

"What're you up to, Tseng?" Cait asked.

"Cait, please!" Reeve begged.

Cait shrugged and bounced out.

"What are you doing here, Tseng? I thought you were dead."

"As did they all. I survived Sephiroth's awful attack. This little man in a purple get up got me

out of the Temple before your worthless toy blew the place up."

"We had to do that," Reeve explained.

"That man, whoever he was, was kind enough to nurse me back to health, until I was able to get back on my feet." "So what are you doing here now?" Reeve asked nervously.

"I have orders to bring you to Rufus," Tseng answered.

Reeve frowned. "Still working for Shin-Ra? Tseng, I thought you got out of that."

"What are you rambling about, Reeve?"

"You said it yourself in the Temple, Tseng. The evils of Shin-Ra. How the president was wrong. Letting Aeris go was the start of your bad luck. Remember, Tseng?"

Tseng looked down. "I... I have to follow orders."

"Been brainwashed again?" Reeve said, bravely. "Still kidnapping and killing for the Turks."

Tseng narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Reeve," he said, before pistol slapping Reeve and knocking him unconscious. He pulled out his materials, prepared to complete his task of kidnapping.