Sephiroth looks around the burning lab as Zack and Tifa go running after Hojo. Spot Cloud strapped to an upraised table and goes over

Sephiroth says, "rrrrr?"

Cloud Strife stares blankly into space...

Sephiroth taps Cloud with a paw

Cloud Strife whimpers slightly

Sephiroth uses the claw to shred the straps, but not hurt Cloud

Cloud Strife as soon as the straps are undone he curls into a tight ball

Sephiroth sniffs Cloud

Sephiroth says, "rrrrr?"

Sephiroth nudges him with his nose

Cloud Strife says, "go way... stop hurting me.... Haven't you hurt me enough already?"

Sephiroth backs up

Sephiroth says, "hisscu"

Sephiroth walks around the table. Tries to get Cloud to look at him

Cloud Strife sniffles and continues to stare into space

Sephiroth licks Cloud's cheek

Cloud Strife recoils in horror... and rolls off of the other side of the table onto the floor

Sephiroth walks around the table. Peers down at Cloud and gently roles him over onto his back

Cloud Strife just lies there.

Sephiroth sniffs him and whimpers slightly

Cloud Strife blinks... and shifts himself slightly

Sephiroth looks at Cloud. Gently taps Cloud with a claw

Cloud Strife curls back up from the touch

Sephiroth whimpers

Cloud Strife says, "why'd you leave me..."

Sephiroth lays down by Cloud in the burning lab. Leans his head against him

Zack returns... shaking his head

Zack says, "Bastard got away... "

Sephiroth looks up. Growls at what Zack said

Zack says, "Is he okay? Why am I even asking you can't answer"

Sephiroth whimpers and nudges Cloud

Cloud Strife can't get much more balled up or pathetic looking

Zack says, "Get him outta here... I'll grab Tifa and meet you back on the ridge..."

Zack fishes around in a closet and comes up with a spare lab coat to wrap Cloud in

Sephiroth nips at the coat, trying to lift Cloud, but finds that Cloud keeps slipping out

Zack sighs

Zack says, "I'll carry him I guess"

Sephiroth nods

Zack picks up Cloud who begins to struggle violently and screams. Rolls his eyes

Sephiroth whines at Cloud

Zack says, "What am I supposed to do... he wont hold still"

Sephiroth places a claw on Cloud

Sephiroth says, "rrrrr"

Cloud Strife calms down a little

Sephiroth licks Cloud

Cloud Strife begins to sob weakly... calling out for Sephiroth

Sephiroth sniffles and looks at the ground

Zack says, "Alright... lets get out... we'll have time to help him later... but we ain't gonna be able to help him if we're dead"

Sephiroth nods

Zack holds Cloud tightly to his chest... as he is still wriggling unhappily

Zack says, "Now... how to get out..."

Sephiroth flaps his wings. Lifts up into the air. Looks down at the flames

Cloud Strife gives up struggling and hangs in Zack's arms limply

Sephiroth bashes his tail into a wall. Tries to make a crack

Zack says, "We're up way high... you gonna be able to get us down?"

Sephiroth looks down at Zack. Lands and lays down

Zack climbs onto Sephiroth's back and cradles Cloud against his chest...

Zack says, "No sudden moves... I might drop him"

Sephiroth flaps his wings and flies up smoothly. Inhales sharply. Shoots a jet of flames at a wall and bursts it open. Flies out the opening. Flies out over the city and heads for the ledge. Lands by his parents and lays down

Zack slides down off of Sephiroth's back and sets Cloud on the ground

Sephiroth sniffs Cloud

Cloud Strife whimpers

Zack kneels down and checks cloud out

Zack says, "Hey... his eyes... he got Mako treatments..."

Sephiroth sniffles and wanders back over to his parents.

Zack pats Cloud on the cheeks and tries to get a response

Sephiroth sniffles again

Zack lifts up one of Cloud's hands and drops it... watching it fall limply at his side again. Sighs

Sephiroth curls up

Zack says, "So what am I supposed to do.... Take him somewhere and try and help him? I'm sure you wanna go back to your family... up to the mountains"

Sephiroth whimpers. Uncurls and walks over to Cloud and Zack

Zack says, "He's better off dead than like this..."

Sephiroth lies down by Cloud

Zack says, "And you aren't there for him now... he cried for you a lot... then he just sorta gave up I guess"

Sephiroth looks at Zack and whimpers

Zack says, "I'll take care of him for you... if you want me to..."

Sephiroth looks up at Zack, questioningly

Zack says, "Well you cant... I'm guessing"

Sephiroth rests his head on Cloud

Cloud Strife puts his arms around the head and squeezes it... still crying and probably not knowing where he is

Sephiroth doesn't mind being squeezed

Zack sits down and watches Cloud quietly

Sephiroth whimpers cause Cloud is crying

Zack says, "I don't know what to do for him... he needs some place safe and warm to heal...."

Sephiroth nudges Cloud

Cloud Strife cries out and tries to ball up again

Sephiroth has his head on Cloud's chest. Whimpers sadly again

Zack says, "I'm gonna go get Tifa... you watch over him... hopefully he wont snap outta it and freak for you"

Sephiroth watches Zack walk off. Licks Cloud's face, hoping he might figure it all out

Cloud Strife whimpers

Sephiroth whines

Cloud Strife says, "No more... please... I wanna go home...."

Cloud Strife blinks

Cloud Strife says, "big.... "

Sephiroth whimpers at Cloud

Cloud Strife tries to sit up

Sephiroth backs away a little to let Cloud sit up. Sits down next to him and looks down at him

Cloud Strife looks around

Cloud Strife says, "I'm out"

Sephiroth nods

Cloud Strife says, "Where.... Is Sephiroth? I fell asleep in his arms.... And woke up alone in Nibelheim.... Then...."

Sephiroth lays down on the ground and whimpers

Cloud Strife says, "you are"

Sephiroth looks at Cloud

Cloud Strife pulls his knees to his chest

Sephiroth blinks and sits up

Cloud Strife says, "I'm glad for you... but who is here for me now?"

Sephiroth sighs and lies down

Cloud Strife says, "you are small... "

Sephiroth looks at Cloud as if you say 'yes'

Cloud Strife says, "It feels like there is a fire in my head"

Sephiroth whimpers and moves over to Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "You are happy then... I will find some place... you are just a child"

Sephiroth nudges him softly. Licks Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "You... and I.... We're just comrades"

Sephiroth looks at him questioningly

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "You are younger than I"

Sephiroth nods sadly. Closes his eyes and concentrates

Cloud Strife opens and closes his hand... almost seeming to marvel at the fact it moves

Cloud Strife says, "I will miss you"

Sephiroth growls slightly as he forces himself to change forms despite how tired he is. Lays on the ground, panting

Cloud Strife blinks as if not comprehending. Crawls over to the prone sephiroth

Sephiroth blinks, still panting, trying to get a grip on himself

Cloud Strife says, "Seph... "

Sephiroth says, "Cloud..."

Cloud Strife gets a look of concern on his face... the first emotion he's exhibited other than fear and panic

Sephiroth closes his eyes and fixes his breathing. Opens them again and looks at Cloud

Cloud Strife reaches out and touches Sephiroth's cheek

Sephiroth smiles softly

Cloud Strife says, "you're real... not a dream anymore... whenever... I reached for you... you were just a dream"

Sephiroth says, "I'm real..."

Sephiroth takes his hand

Sephiroth says, "I am not a dream"

Cloud Strife says, "I don't know what they did to me"

Sephiroth says, "you seem to have gotten Mako treatments"

Cloud Strife says, "I have?"

Sephiroth kisses his hand

Sephiroth says, "yes, your eyes are glowing"

Cloud Strife smiles faintly

Sephiroth reaches his hand out and strokes it through Cloud's hair

Cloud Strife says, "I love you Seph... but I understand. You can't be with me can you?"

Sephiroth sighs. Pulls Cloud gently over to him. Strokes Cloud's hair some more

Cloud Strife puts his arms around Sephiroth and rests his head on his shoulder

Sephiroth says, "I love you too..."

Cloud Strife sighs and closes his eyes

Sephiroth puts his arm around Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "I love you... but you need to be with your family... and your own kind... it won't work"

Sephiroth sighs again

Sephiroth says, "what... what are you going to do?"

Cloud Strife says, "You're just a kid...."

Sephiroth strokes his hair

Cloud Strife says, "I... I don't know... I suppose... I'll go somewhere.... Hide... die.... Whatever happens"

Sephiroth says, "Tifa and Zack think I'm the equivalent of 10... why don't you come back to Nibelheim?"

Cloud Strife says, "they will find me"

Sephiroth says, "we can protect the area"

Cloud Strife says, "I don't want you to risk yourselves for me. It was stupid of you to come here in the first place...."

Sephiroth says, "no, they'd do it any way... they don't want more ShinRa to come ... and take their children. No, I needed to come. I couldn't just leave you here"

Cloud Strife says, "You should have let me die... its better than being alone... and what they did to me...."

Sephiroth says, "you'd rather die?"

Cloud Strife says, "I'm gonna be alone... my head is buzzing...."

Sephiroth kisses Cloud's forehead. Strokes his hair again

Sephiroth says, "I don't want you to be alone"

Cloud Strife says, "You can't be with me "

Sephiroth says, "I don't want you to be unhappy... you made me feel happy when I was alone and sad..."

Cloud Strife says, "You don't understand Seph"

Sephiroth says, "explain please"

Cloud Strife says, "You... are 10 years old... a kid... you belong with your parents and the rest of your kind... You need to be with them.... To grow up"

Sephiroth says, "I know"

Cloud Strife says, "And Im sure your parents do not approve of me"

Sephiroth says, "They are trying to understand"

Cloud Strife says, "we both know we cant Seph..."

Sephiroth says, "but... I hate seeing you so sad"

Cloud Strife says, "You're gonna grow up... by that time I'll be old..."

Sephiroth says, "will you at least come and see me?"

Cloud Strife puts his fingers to Sephiroth's lips

Cloud Strife says, "I won't be sad much longer..."

Sephiroth says, "why?"

Cloud Strife says, "Shh... My head hurts...."

Sephiroth kisses his head

Sephiroth says, "why will you not be sad?"

Cloud Strife looks at sephiroth oddly for a moment... then puts his head on his chest

Sephiroth lies down to give Cloud comfort

Cloud Strife says, "I will miss you"

Sephiroth says, "I'll miss you too, that's why I wish you'd come back to Nibelheim..."

Cloud Strife says, "I will... Don't worry Seph... I'll be fine... "

Sephiroth says, "why won't you be sad?"

Sephiroth is still confused about that point

Cloud Strife says, "I won't be able to feel anything"

Sephiroth says, "Cloud?"

Cloud Strife says, "Seph... Im not gonna be alive okay?"

Sephiroth says, "why?"

Sephiroth strokes his hair

Cloud Strife says, "First of all im not sure what they did to me.... And I feel real sick.... Second of all I don't want to live"

Sephiroth says, "why don't you want to live Cloud?"

Cloud Strife says, "I'm gonna be without you"

Sephiroth holds him

Sephiroth says, "now you are making me very sad..."

Cloud Strife says, "Seph... when you saved my life.... I realized... all the time... you were my hero... I had a crush on you..."

Sephiroth says, "I know"

Cloud Strife says, "now...I've admitted...I love you... and I cant have you"

Sephiroth says, "I love you too..."

Cloud Strife says, "I won't let myself have you... you need to be with your family"

Sephiroth says, "then why must you be sad?"

Cloud Strife says, "Even though I must... I don't want to let you go"

Sephiroth says, "I don't want to let you go either"

Sephiroth sniffles

Cloud Strife says, "you have to Seph...."

Sephiroth says, "but I'll be sad if you die..."

Cloud Strife says, "You'll get over it"

Sephiroth says, "I want to at least see you"

Cloud Strife says, "Seeing me will just make me hurt all the more"

Sephiroth sniffles

Sephiroth says, "I... understand... but... I don't like it. I want you to be happy though..."

Cloud Strife says, "Just let me go peaceful Seph.... And forget me"

Sephiroth sniffles

Sephiroth says, "how am I supposed to forget you?"

Cloud Strife says, "Well... we haven't known each other that long"

Sephiroth strokes his hair

Cloud Strife says, "Thank you... for... loving me though... for slipping into my bed that night... it meant more than the world to me"

Sephiroth closes his eyes and holds Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "You opened up my world... gave me things I needed.... Now you've gotta take em away... I won't survive"

Sephiroth says, "why can't you?"

Cloud Strife says, "Because... It's... just..."

Sephiroth says, "I love you still..."

Cloud Strife says, "I know. But you won't be there"

Sephiroth says, "you love me too, and you ... will not be there for me either..."

Cloud Strife squeezes his eyes closed

Sephiroth says, "you want to die?"

Cloud Strife says, "Yes.... Because I can't be with you... "

Sephiroth says, "the world is cruel and it's all the fault of the ShinRa"

Cloud Strife drapes himself loosely in Sephiroth's arms

Sephiroth says, "can't you live just to fight them?"

Cloud Strife says, "I don't want to fight... "

Sephiroth says, "oh"

Sephiroth holds him

Sephiroth says, "then what do you want?"

Cloud Strife says, "I want to be with you"

Sephiroth says, "and you can't at all?"

Cloud Strife says, "Not the way I need "

Sephiroth sniffles, holding him

Sephiroth says, "then... what do you want?"

Cloud Strife says, "I want to be with you... all the time... but.... You cant"

Sephiroth says, "not at all?"

Cloud Strife says, "Seph..."

Sephiroth says, "yes?"

Cloud Strife says, "Hit me on the head and leave me here"

Sephiroth says, "why?"

Cloud Strife says, "cuz"

Sephiroth says, "please tell me"

Cloud Strife says, "I hurt all over and my ears are buzzing"

Sephiroth says, "but what would hitting you help?"

Cloud Strife sighs

Sephiroth says, "come on"

Cloud Strife says, "Do something..."

Sephiroth says, "like?"

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "They haven't fed me... they tormented me... do anything... it doesnt matter"

Sephiroth says, "alright"

Sephiroth looks up at the two adult dragons. Makes a noise at them

Cloud Strife leans on Sephiroth and sleeps

Cloud Strife wakes up with a start

Cloud Strife says, "Seph?"

Sephiroth sleeps soundly in the caves

Cloud Strife looks around in the dim light. Picks up the stick and fumbles with it for a moment... then cracks it to make it work

Sephiroth is curled up, sleeping, next to him

Cloud Strife picks up a piece of fruit and eats it... then watches Sephiroth for a while

Sephiroth one of the adult dragons is standing near by, watching

Cloud Strife says, "My beautiful sephiroth.... You aren't mine.... Anymore"

Cloud Strife sighs and works on trying to stand up

Sephiroth yawns and moves his head out from under his wings. Stretches out and looks at Cloud

Cloud Strife leans on the wall of the cave... his legs quaking

Cloud Strife says, "Why'd you bring me here?"

Sephiroth cocks his head

Cloud Strife says, "I wanted you to leave me"

Sephiroth nuzzles his chest gently and licks him. Sits down and looks at him

Cloud Strife says, "Seph... you know what I want... to die... kill me?"

Sephiroth whimpers softly

Cloud Strife says, "Im not sure how... anything poisonous up here?"

Sephiroth sets his head down

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "Just have someone eat me "

Sephiroth places a paw on his chest. Pushes him a little

Cloud Strife says, "quit it"

Sephiroth sighs

Cloud Strife sits back down so he doesn't fall over

Sephiroth places his paw on the ground. Studies Cloud, waiting for him to say something

Cloud Strife says, "I feel so sick"

Sephiroth lies out on the ledge

Cloud Strife puts his head in his hands

Sephiroth watches Cloud, feeling sad

Cloud Strife when he places his hands over his eyes he can see the dim glow created by them...

Sephiroth sniffles

Sephiroth says, "rrr"

Cloud Strife says, "I just wanna curl up and die"

Sephiroth moves over and places his head in Cloud's lap

Cloud Strife says, "Did Zack make it?"

Cloud Strife begins to rock back and forth slightly....

Sephiroth nods, then sets his head back in Cloud's lap

Cloud Strife says, "im alone...."

Sephiroth closes his eyes, feeling sad. Sniffles

Sephiroth opens an eye and looks up. Makes a noise to the dragon

Sephiroth closes his eyes and concentrates

Cloud Strife pulls his knees to his chest and sighs

Sephiroth changes form, now lying next to Cloud

Cloud Strife has sunk into a deep depression and hardly notices

Sephiroth looks at Cloud and sighs. Touches him on the cheek

Cloud Strife sniffles and looks up

Sephiroth tries to smiles at him. Strokes his hair

Cloud Strife slips into Sephiroth's arms and begins crying

Sephiroth holds him, closing his eyes

Cloud Strife says, "Kill me please.... Make it soft and gentle... I'm not who I was anymore"

Sephiroth says, "must I kill you?"

Cloud Strife says, "I don't care who does"

Sephiroth kisses him

Cloud Strife says, "I don't think you can understand... how painful it is for me"

Sephiroth says, "I still don't want you to die... how painful is it?"

Cloud Strife says, "bodily... quite.... Mentally... My heart mostly.... To have you hold me... hurts... because I know... we cant be together. I'm holding myself together with hardly anything..."

Sephiroth says, "I hurt too"

Cloud Strife unbuttons the lab coat he is still wearing so he can feel Sephiroth against him

Sephiroth says, "It hurts to know that because I love you... it hurts you..."

Cloud Strife says, "Don't worry about me. I'm not even me anymore.... I don't think "

Sephiroth lies down, holding Cloud in his arms

Sephiroth says, "why do you say that?"

Cloud Strife says, "my head is fuzzy"

Sephiroth kisses him gently on the forehead

Sephiroth says, "it will pass. Please... that will go away Cloud... I know it well"

Cloud Strife says, "what is it?"

Sephiroth says, "what is what? Oh... Mako "

Cloud Strife says, "the fuzzy.... What makes me hurt so bad?"

Sephiroth says, "probably the Mako..."

Cloud Strife says, "will it stop?"

Sephiroth says, "I remember when I was very little I was told to stay away from certain parts of the mountains. Yes, it will"

Cloud Strife says, "How you get caught?"

Sephiroth says, "well, one day I decided to ignore sense and wander off on my own. So, I wound up away from the caves, looking at things that would have scattered if an adult had been trudging by...."

Cloud Strife says, "that was brilliant"

Sephiroth says, "well, I wound up stopping to figure some things out I was looking at... next thing I knew I felt a sting... I cried out, but of course there was no adults around... cause I didn't tell them I had disobeyed and went off on my own. Then I felt very tired all of a sudden and fell asleep. When I woke up I was trapped in a cell. I had no idea what was going on... and I was very scared because of it"

Cloud Strife says, "I woke up... and you were gone"

Sephiroth says, "didn't mean to be... I just didn't want you to get sick from the low air. And, I needed to stay up here"