The airship landed outside the ancient city. Rufus walked over to Cloud. "Come on," He said, "We must go down and see."

Cloud nodded. Rufus walked down to the ladder. Cloud climbed down gingerly. Rufus joined him. Cloud looked around as Rufus walked into the forgotten capital.

"These people had some sort of fish fetish." Cloud murmured.

"Wow, yes." Agreed Rufus. He looked around, then headed down the straight path. Cloud followed him closely. Rufus walked into the building at the end and saw the steps leading down.

"Rufus," Cloud called, "Wait up!"

Rufus stopped walking. "Sorry."

Cloud caught up. "Geez, you seem like a man on a mission."

Rufus scratched his head. "I just feel like we must go down here."

"Okay."

Rufus walked down the steps. He saw Aeris kneeling in the temple. "Aeris..." He walked down to the steps of the temple. "Aeris?"

She did not appear to hear them. Rufus walked up to the temple.

"This place is creepy." Cloud murmured.

Suddenly Sephiroth cam streaking down, his Masamune poised to impale. Rufus saw him coming and pushed Aeris out of the way. She seemed startled.

"Rufus!" Cloud cried out.

Sephiroth struck the Masamune blade right through Rufus.

"No!" Cloud screamed. "Rufus!"

Rufus was stunned as he looked down at the Masamune sticking out of his body. Sephiroth pulled the blade out.

"Rufus..." Aeris muttered.

Cloud rushed to Rufus's side. "Rufus?"

Rufus fell to the floor. His clothing was soaked with his blood. Cloud looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"God no..." Cloud murmured.

"How Ironic..." Sephiroth commented. "If you had been the true son of the president, you would have died instantly the same way." He vanished.

"W...h...a...t..." Was all Rufus could manage before he passed out in Cloud's arms.

He could hear Cloud say, "Rufus, stick with me." And he heard him yell, "God, I'm gonna kill you Sephiroth!"

He woke slowly as Cloud said; "Sephiroth will pay."

Cloud looked down at him. "Rufus, are you with us?"

Rufus blinked at him, feeling very confused. "Not his son..."

"Shh shh."

Rufus closed his eyes again and breathed softly.

"Is it safe here Aeris? I don't think we should move him."

"Yes," Aeris replied, "Since Sephiroth no longer has a reason to kill me."

"It's all true then..." Rufus murmured. "Everything else is a lie..."

"He's gonna lose it," Cloud said, "And I'm gonna lose him, like Sephiroth."

Rufus clutched him.

"Rufus," Cloud pleaded, "Please don't leave me."

"I won't."

Cloud breathed a relieved sigh as Rufus lay on him. "Rufus, you feel ok?" He frowned when Rufus did not respond.

Rufus was still bleeding. Cloud put his hands over the wound. "Aeris..." He said.

"Damn," Aeris murmured. "Rufus, are you immune to cure spells?"

"My body was never really good with them." He replied.

Cloud took off his shirt. The blood had turned Rufus's jacket red. Cloud began to cry. Rufus reached his hand up to Cloud. He stroked his face gently, accidentally smearing it with blood.

"What do we do?" Cloud asked.

"I don't know," Replied Aeris, "Other then stop Sephiroth."

Rufus kept his hand to Cloud's face.

"What are we going to do about Rufus?" Cloud asked, "Is he going to die and leave me?"

"I'm alive." Rufus told him.

"Yes, but you're still bleeding."

He gently rubbed his fingers across Cloud's cheek. "Not that much." He grinned slightly. The blood had gotten through his thick coat and began dripping onto the floor.

"God..." Cloud must have seen the blood pool.

Rufus stroked Cloud's face. Cloud looked at him, his eyes full of pain. Rufus tried to smile some more.

"Aeris..." Cloud asked.

"Yes?" She replied.

"Can you take care of Rufus? I'm gonna go after Sephiroth."

"I don't know."

"Please," Rufus begged him, "Don't leave." He coughed lightly.

Cloud took Rufus's hand in his. Rufus clutched his hand tightly. He blinked rather sleepily. "Cloud..." He said.

"Yes Rufus?"

"Don't leave, stay here."

"I won't."

Rufus blinked sleepily again.

"Just you promise to stay too." Cloud begged.

Rufus clutched his hand. "I don't want to go any where."

"Good, then don't go. We have a long life to live together, you hear me?"

The blood spread out around him. "Yes." He could see the worry in Cloud's eyes. He clutched his hand as his other hand stayed on his cheek.

Cloud pressed Rufus's hand against his cheek. "Please, you have to get better."

Rufus smiled weakly. "I will, you'll see." He blinked again, forcing his eyes to stay open.

"Rufus, you gotta stay awake."

"I know, I'm so tired."

"If you fall asleep, I'm gonna lose you."

"I can't let that happen."

"No, you can't... We have a world to save."

Aeris nodded. "That's right, but, thanks to you brother, I know it will be. Saving my life, it has saved the world. Soon Holy will be here to stop Sephiroth from using Meteor."

Rufus smiled weakly again. Cloud sat there, holding his hand. The blood was getting into Rufus's hair.

"Aeris," Cloud said, "You gotta stop his bleeding."

Rufus squeezed Cloud's hand.

"I'll try," Aeris agreed, "Take off his shirt and coat."

Cloud gently removed the blood soaked jacket and turtleneck. There was a vicious wound right through his abdomen. It went straight through him, making it possible to see the blood soaked floor.

"It's worse then I thought." Cloud winced.

Aeris turned to Cloud and whispered something to him. Cloud nodded and turned back to him. "Rufus, does it hurt much?"

"No..." His eyes started to close again.

"Rufus, stay with me." He shook him lightly.

Rufus clutched his hand. "I don't want to leave you, ever."

"You won't, you don't have to."

"I know."

Rufus heard Cloud think Death follows me...

Rufus coughed again. "No, it doesn't. Death follows Sephiroth, not you."

"Rufus, if you survived all that stuff as a kid, you'll survive now. I follow Sephiroth."

Rufus's eyes glazed over. "You are the only thing that has ever made my life worth living, the only good and happy thing."

Cloud kisses his hand, getting the blood on his lips. "Are you cold at all?"

Rufus was quiet. He couldn't tell Cloud the truth. He couldn't even fell his body any more. Cloud sat there, looking helpless, holding his hand. Rufus clutched Cloud's hand tightly, even as his eyes closed again. He heard Cloud begin to sob softly. He held his hand to Cloud's face and whispered, "Don't you go any where on me..."

"No, no, I'm here. I won't leave your side."

Rufus's hand slipped off Cloud's face. His grip on Cloud's hand began to loosen. He clutched the hand best he could.

"I won't ever leave," Cloud continued, "I promised. You remember that."
"Th... ank y...ou..."
"Maybe you should sleep..."
Rufus's grip subsided. He didn't know if anyone said anything more for all there was was darkness.

Aeris put her face in her hands and began to sob softly. She looked through her fingers and watched Rufus's hand fall out of Cloud's. Cloud sat there, tears streaming down his face. The pool of blood stopped growing. Cloud sat there, looking shocked, then gently felt for a pulse.
Cloud closed his eyes and began to sob heavily. "He's gone..."

"That should have been me..." Aeris told him, "He saved my life... saved the planet even."

"I have a score to settle."

"Yes."

Cloud spread the blood-soaked jacket over Rufus's body and stood. "I promised I wouldn't leave him, but I have to..."

Aeris stood as well and looked at Cloud. "That's not what he meant. He meant don't get yourself killed."

Cloud shook his head. "I can't live without him. As soon as I get rid of Sephiroth..."

Aeris hugged Cloud, tears streaming down her cheeks. Cloud pushed her away.

"You..." Cloud told her, "Stay out of this. I won't have any one else killed."

Aeris looked down. "I know."

"This is between Sephiroth and I. I'm tired of people dying..."

"Cloud..." Aeris looked over at Rufus, "If it wasn't for him... I would never have finished the prayer to save the planet."

"He probably cared too much."

"That's why Sephiroth was trying to kill me... and why he didn't when I was saved."

"His last hours with me... I was out of it mostly..."

Aeris looked at him.

"You go..." He told her, "Find Tifa and be happy. I will go after Sephiroth and end this all."

"You can't take on him alone..."

"Yes I can"

"He'll kill you for sure."

"I have before and lived to tell about it. And if he does, what have I got to lose? The only person I gave a damn about is gone."

"You don't care about your friends?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

Aeris sighed.

Cloud continued. "I don't want you or any of them helping me and getting killed. Barret... Red... you... Tifa... all have something to live for."

Aeris looked down. Cloud turned to leave. Aeris started to follow.

"Aeris..." He said, "Go away."

She looked down as Cloud walked off. She looked up when she heard someone walking toward her. "Tifa!" She exclaimed. She burst out into fresh tears.

"Aeris!" Tifa replied, "I finally found you."

Aeris clutched her, getting the blood on her.

"Aeris," Tifa asked, sounding worried, "Is this your blood?"

"No... But it should have been." She sagged to the ground.

"What happened? Where's Cloud?"

"He... saved my life... and Cloud... he went off to find Sephiroth."

"He's gonna get killed."

"He doesn't care. He's lost his only reason to care..."

"You couldn't help him?"

Aeris shook her head. "I cast a healing spell on him... it didn't work."

"Cloud... he must be broken up inside. Should we go after him Aeris?"

"He didn't want me too." She sat down and looked over at the body. "I still can't believe me brother did that..."

"He didn't even know, did he?"

"I called him that as he lay there bleeding, so he must have known by then."

"Cloud was so happy with him... it was the happiest I'd ever seen him."

"Rufus told Cloud he was the only happiness he'd ever had."

"Poor Cloud... The guy finds happiness... then it's all torn away from him..."

Aeris rapped her arms around Tifa. "If Rufus had been normal," Aeris told her, "He would have died instantly. If it had been me... as it should have..." She started to sob.

"At least they got to spend a little time together."

"It was uncanny how he clung there, but he must have known. The things he said... He was only thinking of Cloud."

Tifa sighed. "We should go after him any way. He loved Cloud."

"Clinging there for Cloud... Funny... The first time I ever saw him I thought he was a soulless and uncaring person. The way he spoke on that roof top, not even caring that the person he thought was his father was dead..."

"He cared.." Tifa murmured.

"But... what he did for me... and how he held on for Cloud despite the fact that anyone else would have let themselves die quickly..."

"How did Cloud react?"

"He kept wanting him to hold on and Rufus kept trying to smile."

"I'm sure he tried to... anything for Cloud."

"Yes."

"He would have lived for Cloud if he could have... I'm sure."

Aeris nodded and thought to herself.

"So," Asked Tifa, "What do we do?"

Aeris suddenly brightened. "If prayer works... We might just be able to ask it for a wish each. Bring some one back we care about." She stood up. "We have to go after Cloud."

"What do we do with him?" Asked Tifa... gesturing to the body.

"I don't know."

"We can't just leave him there... I mean... shouldn't we bury him or something?"

"I don't know. Cloud was too shaken up to stay. He couldn't bare it anymore I guess."

"Would you be able to linger if the only person you cared about died?"

Aeris looked at the body. "He told Cloud he was the only thing that ever made his life worth living."

"It's amazing Cloud didn't kill himself then and there... when Rufus died."

"He wants to kill Sephiroth."

"Sephiroth is gonna kill him."

"Rufus... I'm sure he doesn't want Cloud to die. He kept begging Cloud to stay..."

"Rufus, I'm afraid doesn't want anything.... He's dead... Poor Cloud, what did he have to stay for if Rufus was gone?"

"I know. Maybe Rufus couldn't bare the thought of Cloud dying."

"Well... the spikey headed idiot is gonna end up dying.... If we don't do something."

Aeris nodded. "We have to find him and tell him about Holy."

"He isn't going to believe us."

Aeris looked down. "Do you know what actually worries me right now?"

"Rufus never did find his promised land either.... What Aeris?"

"I can't fell Rufus any where. I can feel my mom... my real mom I mean..."

"You can feel the dead?"

"I can feel my father... who is also Rufus's real father... But I can't feel him."

"Then where is he?"

"I can't sense his spirit." Aeris shook her head. "I don't know."

"Damnit, if we could bring him back from the dead here and now... it would be so much easier, but we gotta get after Cloud... or we won't be able to find him. Do you know which way he went?"

"There is only one other way out of the city."

"Alright, then let's go."

Aeris looked at the body a second. "So... we are just leaving him there?"

"What else can we do? Wanna help me carry it? Where can we put it?
"... it..." Aeris shook her head, "I don't like it. I'll help."

"First let's figure out what we are going to do with him."

"He said, don't you go anywhere on me... that was the second to last thing he said. The last thing was thank you, after Cloud said he wouldn't." Aeris sighed. "We can't let Cloud get killed."

"Cloud... he couldn't have stayed."

"No, not stay with him... as I said... I think Rufus didn't want him to go off and get killed."

Tifa shook her head. "Rufus knew that Cloud would go after Sephiroth. We may have to drag Cloud back kicking and screaming."

Aeris looked at Tifa. Then she moved over to the body... knelling down.

"Got any tranquilizers?" Tifa asked. "We may need to use them."

The blood got onto Aeris's dress as she was knelling by the body.

"I don't think we should leave him here." Aeris said.

"So, where should we put him? He's definitely dead?"

"Feel him." Aeris slipped her arms around her dead brother's rather cold body. She became coated with his blood. "There is one thing though..."

Tifa winced. "What's that?"

"If Rufus can die... Sephiroth can die."

"Then perhaps Cloud has a chance after all..."

"But I watched how long Rufus clung on after receiving a wound that would have killed you or me instantly."

Tifa helped Aeris with the body. "Cloud's gonna have a real hard time..."

"Yes." Aeris looked around... trying to figure out a fitting place to put him.

"Unless Rufus just had an iron will and stuck it out as long as he could." Tifa suggested.

"He did have an Iron will... that was obvious. Cloud said something to him that tells me that Rufus had a horrible childhood. That, and take a look at the scars on his body."

"No wonder he wore that turtleneck and heavy jacket all the time..."

"Yes.... Where shall we put him then?"

"Think of someplace... he's slippery. Think he will sink?"

"He's covered in blood. Hmmm... I suppose."

"Well, let's put him in the water? There's plenty of that.... And we don't have a shovel. Come on, let's go."

Aeris nodded slowly and helped Tifa with the body. Tifa eased the body down the steps and looks at the water. Aeris looked with her.

"Well..." Tifa told her, "It's not the best grave.... But at least Cloud can visit... if he lives."

"Yes, I know."

"Poor Cloud... how long were they together?"

"I don't know. How long has it been since we left Midgar?"

"I think it's been 2 weeks... days have been flying along."

"Yes."

"Anyway... think how poor Cloud must feel... gaining and losing the most important thing in his life in only 2 weeks."

"Yes." Aeris looked at her dead brother again. "Think of him... he must have known, just looking at the Masamune sticking through him, that he was going to die... and yet, he clung on." He eyes teared up again. "I've never seen love like that."

Tifa frowned. "The guy loved Cloud... with all his heart. The one he never thought he had until that night on the roof I guess."

Tears streamed down Aeris's face.

"Come on Aeris," Tifa said, "Let's put him to rest.... We have a spikey headed idiot to save."

"Yes. Good bye my dear brother. You sacrificed your own life to save the world." She let go of the body.

Tifa gently pushed Rufus out into the deeper water. She sighed.

"More then just his heart..." Aeris told Tifa, "His soul... everything."

Tifa put her arms around Aeris. "Come on.... Nothing more we can do here."

Aeris put her arms around Tifa. "We have to find Cloud."

"Yes." Tifa got out of the water.

Aeris followed her. "I still can't believe how long he clung on... his eyes kept on trying to close. He had to fight to keep them open."

"He did try and talk that idiot Cloud out of what he knew he was going to do..."

"I know."

"Come on... which way did Cloud go?"

"I think he went this way." She started walk.

Tifa followed her. "What did they say to each other? Parting words?"

"Cloud doesn't realize that Rufus lives in him now..." She thought about it. "Rufus said thank you, Cloud said maybe you should sleep."

"Cloud told him to sleep? Maybe Rufus was just waiting for Cloud to give him permission to leave..."

Aeris headed out of the city. "I think so."

Tifa followed, shaking her head. "Those two were so happy together."

"Rufus was putting up a desperate, but hopeless fight. Yes."

"I didn't believe in those kind of relationships until I saw those two. It gave me the guts to talk to you..."

"Seeing Rufus in Cloud's arms was worse for me then seeing Tseng die in my arms." Aeris looked back, "Thank you." Aeris clutched her hand tightly.

"Now Cloud thinks he has nothing to live for." Tifa went on.

"Not even his friends."

"Well, his entire life was just ripped away."

"Yes..."

"He's going after the only one who he feels he can get vengeance on. Unfortunately the idiot is going to get himself killed."

"Which is what he wants, but not what Rufus wanted him to do."

"What would you do if I died?"

Aeris headed out into the cold. "I'd be very sad."

"Good... don't need you going nuts like Cloud..."

"I'd have lost all the people I'd have ever cared about in one week."

"What are the odds you think we'll get out of this alive?"

"Tseng, Rufus, Cloud, you.... I don't know."

"Now, now, we haven't lost Cloud yet."

"But, I don't think you will die before him so... I still remember the way Rufus clutched Cloud's hand till the last.... And how Cloud sobbed when he realized he was dead." She held Tifa's hand tightly.

"Must have been tough to watch that."

"I wonder when it was when Cloud realized Rufus was not going to live. I mean... there is always a point..."

"He probably didn't realize it until the guy was gone... Cloud's like that... he doesn't give up hope until it's totally gone."

"But, despite that, one clings to the fragile hope that they will make it "

"He probably just gave up when Rufus died"

"yes, but .. I think Cloud knew ... he just didn't want to believe ...."

"He knew, Probably, but he's stubborn"

"He probably begged poor Rufus to stay.. "

"Rufus knew ... I could tell he knew .... but couldn't bear to tell Cloud. he wanted to tell him he would stay"

Tifa shook her head

"but .. I remember" Aeris went on, "when Cloud asked him to promise... Rufus replied by saying he didn't want to go anywhere"

"I hope there is a town around here?"

"I think there is"

"Great we're gonna end up freezing to death instead of saving Cloud"

Aeris looked around for Cloud as they entered the town.

"We should ask if anyone has seen him" Tifa suggested.

Aeris smiled suddenly. "this was where I was born ... this town. my mom lived here"

"Really?"

Aeris nodded and looked around. "Cloud?" She yelled.

"Lets go see if anyone matching Cloud's description checked in?" Tifa suggested "at the inn"

"ok. Cloud?" She sighed, but then found him. "CLOUD!!!!!" She ran to his side and shook him.

"You know that kid?" The innkeeper asked "He came in here yesterday.. covered in blood.... and drank himself silly..... he seemed rather distraught"

Aeris looked at the innkeeper.... also covered in blood. "Of course he's upset" She told him "... the only one he loved died in his arms"

".... well could you take care of him? He's bad for business....... " He walked off.

Aeris shook Cloud some more.

"Lemme alone..." Cloud demanded.

"no ..." Aeris replied.

Cloud opened his eyes.

"Cloud," Aeris told him, "don't be a stupid idiot"

"I thought I told you to stay away" Cloud replied.

"This is the last thing he wanted"

Tifa stepped over to Aeris and Cloud. Cloud looked at her.

"Great...," Cloud remarked, "you drug her along too.... "

"she wanted to come" Aeris Replied.

"Go home.... stupid women.... this is between Sephiroth and me.... not you...."

"Cloud ... You're going to die if we leave you alone"

"So what?"

"he didn't want you to die Damn it!"

"He lied to me... He said he wouldn't leave...."

"He didn't want to leave ...."

"Sephiroth has to die for making him break his promise....."

"Cloud, I think he knew he was dead as soon as he saw the Masamune sticking through his body. he only clung to life for your sake. he couldn't bare to leave you"

Cloud broke down into tears.

"He loved you so much that he clung to his life just for you" Aeris told him.

"How could he be so selfish as to want me to live without him?" Cloud asked.

Aeris closed her eyes. "you call that selfish? Maybe it is ... you are the only one who knew what he was really like"

"Sephiroth has to die.. and I will stop at nothing"

"not even I knew. I know. Cloud, think what he did that the public knew of ... how do you think the world will remember him?"

"What does it matter? I only care about one thing right now... making Sephiroth pay"

"And after that?"

"If I live... "

"yes"

"I cant live without him.... he knew that...."

"he knew all right. that's why he clung to his life as much as he could"

"It's too late to stop me" Cloud struggled to get out of his chair.

"Cloud ... do you remember the last thing you said to him?"

"Leave me alone....."

"Cloud, you must have known he was beyond help ...... you just didn't want to believe it ...."

"Look Aeris... just take Tifa and go.... let me die .. thinking I tried to avenge his death"

"I will, just tell me, when did you know he was going to die? I know you didn't want to believe it ....."

"I knew he was going to die .... when he pushed you out of the way"

"He knew it too ... I'm sure he did. some one has to tell ..... the others"

"don't drag anyone else into this"

"not that Cloud, but, ... the world is going to be in shock when they find out he's dead ... but ... The reason we came to find you .... was to tell you something important"

Cloud put his hands to his head. "What can you say to me now that would make me want to stop...."

"Holy, which thanks to Rufus I was able to pray to, has the power to grant wishes. It might be able to bring him back"

"Don't be so cruel as to tease me like that Aeris"

Aeris shook her head. "it's true though. Holy might be able to bring back the dead"

"What do I have to do ?"

"stay alive long enough to ask Holy to bring him back"

"How long?"

"there is one thing though ... I can't sense him ....I mean, I talk to the planet, but, I can't sense his spirit " Aeris looked at Cloud.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know, but Cloud .... are you doing him justice by sitting here drinking?"

"He was definitely dead.... where did he go?"

"I don't know, but, he traded his life for that of the planet"

"It makes the pain go away Aeris... I couldn't go on"

"I know, but, .... when you drink, you can't think straight. he needed you to go on"

"I never could anyway"

"How can I go on Aeris?"

"Remember him as no one else can ...."

"I can't do that"

"everyone else saw him ... well, very differently"

"I can't think of sleeping with him not cradling me in his arms....."

"I bet most of them think he's a monster ... after that public execution" Aeris looked down. "but, is thinking of him and being sad right? you should not do that to him .... relive good memories .. don't turn them into bad ones"

Cloud shook his head. "He knew I couldn't live without him....."

"that's why he didn't die right away ...."

"He tried to talk me out of what Im going to do.... It didn't work"

"he clung till all his strength was gone. maybe that's why I can't feel him. maybe .. he just can't go back to the planet because he clung for so long to be with you. that he ....."

"He's gone gone then? No hope of bringing him back....."

"Maybe all that's left is in you as you live"

"I don't care anymore Aeris" Cloud stood up.

"your heart died with him?"

"Yes. Tomorrow Morning.. I'm traversing the glacier. If you're foolish enough to follow.... then so be it. You gave me a tiny bit of hope with that Holy thing.... but if he's gone.... totally gone.... I'm not gonna take my chances....."

"totally gone ......"

"I clung on until all hope was gone.... You say his spirit is gone right? You can't wish back what doesn't exist can you?"

"I said I can't find it ...." She closed her eyes.

"Well if it's not on the planet it must be gone... mustn't it?"

"If that is true, it was so he could be with you. I don't know"

"He isn't with me...."

"I'm not sure what it means"

"He's gone"

"gone ...."

"In fact... why wait.... Im leaving tonight" Cloud walked over to the wall and took the glacier map.

"but .. " Aeris protested, "you still have your memories... he's not gone there"

"Memories won't cut it. there will never be anyone else for me....."

"I know"

"I will die a lonely old man ....So why not just die now.... At least I can let myself believe I tried to avenge him....."

"what will happen when you die then?"

Cloud strapped his sword on and teetered towards the door. Aeris followed after him.

"When I die?" Cloud said, "Everything will be gone. It won't matter anymore because I will have ceased to exist"

"When people die," Aeris replied, "they return to the planet ..."

"He risked his life for you.. and the planet.... he didn't stop to think about me......"

"Cloud, if the planet died .... you would have died too. "he was thinking of you ...."

"I would have died....happy... with him. Not miserable and alone on some mountain pass....."

"but, everyone would have died"

"What does it matter...."

"Cloud, you can't even think of others?"

"Leave me be... I'm leaving... if you're dumb enough to follow.... fine"

"you can only think of yourself??"

"That's all that matters now" Cloud shrugged.

Aeris shook her head sadly.

"Why should you care anyway" Cloud told her "... you have Tifa....."

"everyone thought he was heartless" Aeris told him, ".... but he sacrificed his life for the world. He loved you with everything he had. It seems you're the one that was heartless ... I care about the planet ... and I care about Tifa" She turned her back on Cloud and walked to Tifa. She hoped Cloud would come to his senses.

Cloud left the inn.

Tifa frowned. "That didn't work.... " She remarked.

"how can Cloud truly be that heartless??" Aeris remarked.

"When Rufus died... so too did cloud's heart"

"I know"

"You can't blame him"

"Rufus didn't want him like this ... He sacrificed his life for all the people on the planet"

"Cloud doesn't seem to see it that way....."

"even though he knew, it would cause him the greatest amount of pain he could ever feel"

"You couldn't convince him about the holy thing either"

"That might work though ..."

"You shoulda kept quiet about Rufus' spirit being missing"

"I'm still not sure what it means. Cloud thinks it means Rufus has ceased to exist"

"Well what did you know about him? You said he wasn't normal"

"the planet told me ... that .. he was not just my brother ... but Sephiroth's as well ...." Aeris sighed, "My father ... and Sephiroth's mother. Rufus .... it took his own death to come to terms with his life ...."

"I don't know.... Cloud looked like he had been betrayed or something....."

"Cloud is angry .... "

"With everyone... even himself it seems"

"Rufus wanted to stay with him forever ... Cloud ..... he thinks Rufus should not have sacrificed his life, but, that makes Cloud selfish"

"Think about it though Aeris?"

"Rufus ... he knew what he was doing. knew he had to do it"

"I mean... Cloud had never been happier"

"but hated having to put Cloud in pain. I know"

Tifa sighed. "What are we going to do ?"

"I don't know. Cloud's going to die, unless we can figure out if holy really can bring Rufus back to life"

"He should have at least taken a jacket... he's gonna freeze to death. One of us just had to go. Is there any way we can find out if it will work or not?"

"We have to go to Holy, or, wait for holy. We have to go to where Sephiroth is. we can take the Highwind. but ... I don't know what the ShinRa will do if they find out Rufus is dead ...."

"Well.. perhaps if they don't know he is dead? We can say he is with Cloud?"

"well, we'll have to change clothing"

"Since he is AWOL as well"

"his blood is all over us. Tifa?"

"yeah"

"let's get some new clothing"

Tifa nodded. Aeris bought some new clothing and got dressed. Then she headed back the way they came. She walked into the forgotten capital.

"let's go and see him before we leave" Aeris told her.

Tifa nodded. They walked to the water. Tifa stood beside Aeris and took her hand.

"We put him in a nice spot...," Tifa said, "I think"

Rufus was still laying there .. having not been moved by anything.

"yes" Aeris replied.

Rufus looked almost .. peaceful .. They're beneath the water

"I wish Cloud wasn't being such an idiot...." Tifa remarked.

his coat, now bright red, still rested over his body. his flesh was pale ...

"yes" Aeris looked at Tifa. "If you had done what Rufus did, .... I would be treasuring every memory of you. I would not be acting the way Cloud is. I would have been shocked ... and treasured your bravery. sacrificing your life, for everyone else's"

"Yes..." Tifa agreed "but you aren't Cloud"

"I know" Aeris looked into the water. "the last thing he wanted was to put Cloud through the pain of losing him"

"Cloud put all he had into loving Rufus.... when he died..... cloud probably just snapped"

"I think Cloud really did die with him ... just his body still moves do to anger"

Tifa sighed. "How many wishes do we get if holy works?"

"I don't know"

"Hopefully two... one for Cloud..... one for Rufus"

"If we can bring Rufus back, that might cure Cloud"

"True, but that's a big IF isn't it?"

"right. I mean ... Cloud thinks Rufus is more then just dead ..."

"You shouldn't have told him about Rufus being.... gone like that"

"he thinks Rufus is truly gone ... gone forever .. nothing left but others memories of him"

"Cloud doesn't even accept his own memories of Rufus does he?"

"no"

Tifa sighed.

"He can't bring himself to even cherish the memories" Aeris went on. "poor Rufus .... he clung in vain"

"We have our work Cut out Aeris"

"Rufus only clung for Cloud. you remember what I told you he said, right?"

"Yes"

"Cloud was the only happiness he had"

"I'm guessing Rufus was all that held the little guy together though... C'mon.... lets get to the Highwind... we still have to try"

"right"

"We'll just tell them Rufus and Cloud went after Sephiroth on foot"

Aeris nodded and headed back to the Highwind. Then both her and Tifa passed out in their room.