Rufus shifted in his sleep, waking Cloud by accident. Cloud sat up slowly and looked at Rufus, careful not to wake him. Rufus was biting his lip, his eyebrows clenched. Cloud frowned; realizing Rufus was not having a pleasant dream. He wondered if he should wake him.

"You are lying," Rufus murmured in his sleep, "That can't be true. They'd have told me. I'm not going to believe it."

Cloud listened quietly; wondering whom Rufus was talking to and about what. Rufus rolled into him, burying his head in Cloud's chest.

"Leave me alone," Rufus murmured, "You can't be..."

Cloud wondered again if he should wake him. Rufus held him tightly, gripping him as if he was scared or something.

"No," Cloud heard him murmur, "That can't be true. You can't be..."

Cloud put his arms around Rufus and sighed, unsure of whether to wake him or not. Rufus gripped him very tightly, his face buried into Cloud's chest. Cloud could not hear him any more. He shook him gently. Rufus woke up, still death-gripping Cloud.

"You alright?" Cloud asked him.

"Yes."

"You were having a bad dream. Do you remember?"

Rufus sighed. "I knew I would not dream well. Oddly, I heard that voice again. After 5 years, in my dream. But, she was not making any sense."

"What was she saying?"

"That she was my mother."

"Hmm, but you have a mother, right?"

"Yes, but..." He scratched his head. "My dream said she did not give birth to me, she was just supposed to pretend to be my mom."

"Hmm, well, can you believe a dream?"

Rufus lay back, stopping his death grip, but still holding his arms around Cloud. "My dreams are often right."

"My dreams are screwy. I won't even go there."

"What happens in yours?"

"Believe it or not, I talk to myself a lot in my dreams."

"That's no weirder then mine."

"Hmm, did you see anything else in your dream?"

"I saw Sephiroth at one point. He was laughing about something."

Cloud sighed. "Once that guy is dead, I can finally lead a normal life."

Rufus looked at him. "I hope so." He leaned back. "I have to find the Promised Land."

"You didn't see me dead or anything in your dream?"

"No." He kissed his cheek tenderly.

"Phew. I tend to survive a lot of stuff."

"I know." Rufus smiled. "Well, we have to get going."

"I fell from the Mako Reactor into a church. How da hell did I live?"

"Maybe you are tougher then a Turk." He grinned at him playfully.

"Well, yeah. Where are we headed now?"

Rufus slid off the bed. "Cosmo Canyon."

Cloud nodded.

Rufus found his clothing and got dressed. "Do you think you can survive a buggy ride?"

"Yea, I can survive anything." Cloud smirked.

Rufus smiled. "Good love."

"Except maybe the pain of separation." Cloud got dressed.

Rufus nodded. "The only pain I've never known, and I don't want to know." He went back to Cloud and slid his hands to the sides of his face. He drew him in and kissed him deeply.

Cloud put his arms around Rufus. "I don't know what I'd do without you..."

"Me neither." He drew Cloud into another passionate kiss.

"Mm, no more lonely, I like this."

"Me too. Time for us to head out. Still got your tranquilizers?"

"Yeah. I try not to use them though. They make me really dopey. Last thing I need it being half asleep and picked off by our favorite Turk."

"Dopey is better then feeling like puking. Hmm, but that isn't. Reno will pay for what he did." He slid his hands down to Cloud's neck. Cloud smiled dreamily. Rufus rubbed his neck gently then dropped his arms to his sides. "We have to get going, though I wish we could just stay here. Come." He headed out, but waited for Cloud.

Cloud followed. They headed out of the Gold Saucer.

"We are leaving the other four here." Rufus informed him. "We are heading for Cosmo Canyon first."

Cloud nodded. "What's there?"

"The study of Planet Life. It might help us find out where Sephiroth it going."

Cloud nodded an odd look in his eyes. They walked to the buggy. Cloud frowned. Rufus looked at him.

"I'm coming." Cloud told him, going over to the buggy.

"You sure you are going to be ok?" He opened the door to let Cloud in.

"Yeah." He climbed in and fished the tranquilizer out of his pocket.

Rufus climbed in next to him and ordered the driver to take them to Cosmo Canyon. Cloud leaned back. The buggy started off, heading for its destination. Rufus watched Cloud. Cloud used the tranquilizer.

When they finally reached Cosmo Canyon Rufus climbed out and looked at Cloud. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah..." Cloud practically crawled out of the buggy. "Times like this I feel like I should be shot."

He helped Cloud up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's my fault." He looked around.

They headed up the steps to Cosmo Canyon.

"President Rufus?" The man at the entrance asked, "What is the ShinRa doing here?"

"I wish," Rufus told him, "To see the study of Planet Life. It's for the sake of the planet."

"Hmm, I guess you'd better come in then."

"Thank you." He walked in with Cloud.

"Rustic..." Cloud told him.

Rufus looked around. "Never been in a place like this. "He smiled."

"Nibelheim has a certain rustic feel to it too. Not this rustic though."

Rufus walked over to the candle wand watched the flames dance. "Flames..." He sat down.

"Don't like to think about flames."

"I do not know why, but the real reason I'm here, is because I feel drawn to this canyon." He watched the flames in silence.

"I'm gonna go explore, is that alright? Well, more like I'm gonna find the inn and lie down..."

"Be careful. Though, this place is fairly safe." Rufus smiled at him.

"It's peaceful here. Nice and quiet."

"I'll be going to find out about the study of planet life soon, then I'll come find you."

"Not too many places like this left."

"I know."

"Wonder if I can retire here..."

Rufus smiled. "Might be a nice change."

Cloud wandered off to find the inn. He wandered around the canyon, having a bit of trouble navigating because everything looked the same. He finally found the inn and proceeded to collapse on the bed.

"Boats," He murmured, "Planes, buggies, if I didn't know better I'd think he was trying to kill me..." He drifted off to sleep.

He woke when smelling salts were waved under his nose. He found himself tied to a chair in some room with the two Turks, Reno and Rude, standing there.

"Huh?" Cloud asked.

"Wakey, wakey." Reno chuckled. "I can't let you sleep through your treatment, can I?"

Rude cracked his knuckles.

"Treatment?" Cloud asked, "Ah shit..."

Reno grinned. Cloud still felt a bit dopey from the tranquilizer.

"Aww," snickered Reno, "Look Rude, he's still a little out of it. Toss me some hyper, that will wake him up." Rude tossed him some and he used it on Cloud.

Cloud shook his head. "Da hell?"

Reno grinned. "How do you feel?"

"Shall I even dignify that with a response?"

Reno chuckled and nodded to Rude. Rude slugged Cloud in the gut.

"Ugh." Cloud moaned.

Reno grabbed hold of Cloud's hair. "Well?"

"Like shit, okay?"

"Good." Reno slammed Cloud's head into the wall.

"Friggin pansies." Cloud said a bit slurred.

"What?" Reno glared at him.

"You heard."

Reno brought his face close to Cloud, eyes full of rage. "Now why would you say that?"

"I don't know Reno." Rude told him. "What are we going to do now?"

"Why are you a pansy?" Cloud asked. "I think you are afraid to fight me..."

Reno turned to Rude. "Hey Rude," He asked, "Am I afraid to fight?"

"Never Reno." Rude replied.

Cloud sat there, his head throbbing. Reno kicked the arm of the chair, making it splinter. It hurt Cloud, but freed him at the same time. He stood a tad shakily, leaning against the wall for support. Reno nodded to Rude and stepped back.

"Now that I'm brain damaged," Cloud told them, "You're gonna fight. Nice way of evening the odds. One retard against another eh?"

Rude multi punched Cloud in the gut and chest as Reno laughed. Cloud doubled over in pain.

"You dare call me that?" Reno said.

Cloud wheezed, trying to get air back into his lungs. Reno looked at Rude.

"Now," Reno asked, "What shall we do with him Rude? Any ideas?" He grinned evilly.

Rude grinned as well. "Hurt him."

Cloud wanted to say about a hundred asinine comments but couldn't because he was having trouble breathing. Reno took out his zap rod and turned the juice on. He then zapped Cloud with it. Cloud had to fight to retain consciousness. Reno zapped him again, sending mega volts into him. Cloud dropped to his hands and knees as Reno laughed.

Reno put his rod away. Rude walked over to Cloud and lifted him to his feet. Cloud struggled a little. Rude backed him into the wall and drew back his fist. Cloud closed his eyes, not wanting to see it coming. Rude knocked Cloud out with a heavy blow.

When Cloud woke up he found Rufus hovering over him, looking very concerned. "Cloud?" he asked, "Can you hear me?"

Cloud nodded weakly.

"Don't try to move," Rufus told him, "You might be very hurt."

Reno and Rude where tied up with ShinRa guards covering them with guns.

Hurt, Cloud thought, in body and pride yes.

Rufus summoned up a healing spell and cast it on Cloud. "How do you feel now?"

"Better."

Reno squirmed slightly. "Um, these are too tight."

Rufus's eyes hardened as they looked over at Reno. "Shut up. Reno, you are very stupid."

Cloud sat up, feeling a tad dazed.

"Scarlett's been begin me," Rufus continued, "to test out her new execution device. I'm going to let her try it out on you two."

Reno's eyes suddenly filed with fear. Rude hung his head. Cloud listed to one side slightly. Rufus looked back at Cloud and offered him a hand to help him up.

"How long was I blacked out?" Cloud asked, taking Rufus's hand.

"I'm not sure," Rufus replied, helping him up, "I think for a while."

Cloud wanted to hug Rufus desperately, but there were others in the room.

Rufus looked over at the guards. "Bring those two to Junon," He ordered, "That's where the execution will take place. I will be there in a few days to proceed with it."

The guards nodded and hoisted the two Turks up. Rufus lead Cloud out of the place. He brought him back to the in and shut the door.

Cloud sat down on the bed. Rufus sat next to him.

"I'm sorry Rufus," Cloud told him, "I'm such an idiot. I should have been more careful."

"You do not need to worry, they will be killed. They are Turks. It's their job to break into places and to trail people."

"Why didn't they kill me?"

"I don't know."

"Or, were they gonna? And you just managed to find me in time?"

"I'm not sure how long you were out, but, I had the feeling you were in danger. I called up my guards and managed to find you here. The guards arrived a few minutes after I did."

Cloud leaned into Rufus and began crying. Rufus rapped his arms around him gently, letting Cloud's head rest on his shoulder.

"Look at me," Cloud murmured, "I'm crying. I'm such a loser."

"Not true..." He drew one arm up to Cloud's head while the other hand gently rubbed his back.

Cloud sniffled. "I couldn't even fight."

"They had you tied up."

"He whacked my head against the wall and it scrambled my brains."

"They will pay dearly. Scarlett created a very painful execution device."

"I don't have to watch, do I?"

"I suppose not."

"I will anyway."

Rufus nodded, still rubbing Cloud's back.

"So I can know they are dead," Cloud continued, "but Rude, should you kill him? He was just doing what Reno told him..."

"He hurt you too, he defied the ShinRa. He has to pay too. The world has to know I mean business."

Cloud nodded. "I'm so glad I'm on your good side."

"Of course you are, I love you."

Cloud clung to Rufus, almost like a little kid, and cried until no more tears come. Rufus continued to hold him, stroking his back gently.

"I never want to be without you." Rufus told him. He kissed his ear softly.

Cloud pulled himself into Rufus's lap. "What were they doing to me when you came?"

Rufus held him, smiling softly. "Standing over you."

"At least they didn't sodomize me or anything..."

Rufus closed his eyes. "If they had been, the guards would have found nothing lest of them. My rage would have taken over."

"How did you stop them?"

"They were scared."

"Just walked in and they stopped? No fight or anything?"

"When they saw me..."

"Well, you are rather imposing..."

"Yes." He rubbed Cloud's back.

Cloud sighed as he relaxed. Rufus's hands massaged Cloud's back. He leaned into the massage. Rufus took off his shirt to massage him better.

"Any bruises I should know about?" Cloud asked, "I don't wanna look."

Rufus moved his hands over the tender spots, massaging them softly. "Why would anyone want to cause harm to your beautiful body?"

"No clue. Sephiroth seems to want to now, even though he found it quite pleasing at first."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, we had a face off after he went nuts. I'm alive, perhaps, well, I have no clue why the guy didn't kill me."

Rufus made the tender spots on Cloud's body feel better with his magic hands. Cloud practically melted.

"Your body is perfect in its own way." Rufus told him. "I hate to see it damaged, and must fix it when ever it happens."

"Mm, little obsessed with my body there love?"

Rufus smiled. "Who wouldn't be?"

"Not that I mind at all."

Rufus grinned. "Thanks love."

"You have a beautiful body too, no matter what you think."

Rufus smiled. "It's very scarred."

"Doesn't matter to me. I don't even see them any more, I just see the man I love."

"That makes me very happy." He smiled as he looked at Cloud.

"I'm safe now, well, at least until we find Sephiroth."

"Let's not think about him now."

"No, I've had enough trauma for one day. I should have laid off the tranquilizers."

"It's ok." He kissed Cloud's lips and does not want to let go.

Cloud rapped his arms around him. "I almost was lost again today. I hate to think what would happen to you, if something happened to me."

Rufus moved one hand back up to Cloud's head, running his fingers through his hair. "Let's not think about that right now."

"Yes." He closed his eyes, thrilling at Rufus's touch. He smiled and let Rufus do to him as he pleased.

"I'm not hurting you am I?" Rufus asked him.

"Not at all. I still have a few spots that are sore."

"I shall be careful of them."

"Damned bastard..."

"He's going to wish he'd never been born in a few days." Rufus grinned. "Assuming Scarlett's device works as it should."

"You seem so happy about getting to kill him."

"He hurt you, of course I'm happy."

"I've never wanted to kill anyone, just did it because I had to..."

"I understand. I also have to kill them to maintain order. If I let them go the people will think it's ok to nab someone close to me, and that I can't even control my own people. It's going to be a public execution."

"Well, as long as the people know why you are executing them."

"Yes."

"I understand why they have to die, just that so many have died already, but it's the only way to be safe."

Rufus kissed his lips again, seeming to drink him. Cloud shifted his weight and winced a little, but kept his lips locked onto Rufus's. As they kissed, Rufus's hands wandered across Cloud's body. He winced as Rufus's hand brushed a painful spot.

Rufus moved his hand away. "Sorry." He told him. Rufus kissed down Cloud's neck.

"It's okay. Mm, do we have to go anywhere at all?"

"No." Kisses his neck gently, his tongue leaving wet marks.

"Good."

Rufus closed his eyes and moved his fingers down the length of Cloud's spine. His fingers tickled Cloud's spine, traveling softly. Cloud shivered. One of Rufus's hands traveled all the way down to the base of Cloud's pants. He gently pulled on the pants.

Cloud smiled. "Go ahead," he told Rufus, "Just careful of the bruises."

"I will be." He tugged them off even as he was pinned under Cloud.

"Wow, you're good."

"Thank you."

Rufus slipped Cloud's underwear off too. Cloud smiled.

"Oh now," Cloud snickered, looking at the fully clothed Rufus, "This isn't fair. You always manage to get me out of my cloths, but what about you eh?"

Rufus grinned wickedly.

"You are an evil evil man!" Cloud chuckled.

"Heh heh heh, I know, but you still love me any way."

Cloud tugged at Rufus's jacket. "Of course I do. That's a little better."

"A little." Rufus grinned. "I stripped you even though I was under you." He grinned wickedly at Cloud.

"Hmm, where's my sword, I'll cut your clothing off then."

Rufus chuckled and pulled Cloud down to him. He kissed him deeply and very passionately. Cloud sort of liked the feel of Rufus's clothing against his bare skin. Rufus let go of him for a second and pulled his own shirt off. He then pulled him back down and continued to kiss him. Cloud ran his fingers down Rufus's chest gently, feeling the contours where his muscles are.

Then Cloud had an odd thought. It was about Sephiroth and it came as he ran his fingers along Rufus's chest. He found that it felt almost like being back with Sephiroth in Nibelheim. He stopped, and shook his head for a moment.

"Weird..." Cloud muttered.

"What is it love?" Rufus asked him.

"For a moment there I thought I was back in Nibelheim with Sephiroth. Maybe I'm getting worse."

"I hope you aren't. Why did you get that feeling?"

"Touching you like that, well. It caused a flashback I guess."

"Odd. Why would it do that?"

"I guess cuz it felt very similar."

Rufus looked confused. "That's weird, why would I feel anything like Sephiroth?"

"I don't know."

Rufus's Mako blue eyes cast an eery glow. Cloud slipped off him and stretched next to him.

"It's kind of disconcerting." Cloud told him.

Rufus looked at Cloud. "Tell me about it. I don't think I have anything in common with him, unless that dream was right, and I don't want to think about that."

Cloud sighed and pulled a blanket around himself. "I wish I had never met the man. He screwed up my whole life. Only one good that happened to me is you."

Rufus put an arm around him and smiled. "Sounds like we feel the same thing. All the good things that ever happened to me happened in the same night. My cruel father's death; Getting control of the world with ShinRa; and best of all, I met you."

"Who's gonna control ShinRa after you?"

"After me?" Rufus blinked. "I have not had time to think about something like that."

"It's not like we can have kids or anything..." Cloud smirked.

Rufus chuckled. "Well, there is always cloning and stuff like that."

"Yeah. This is one of the first times I've thought further along in the future that killing Sephiroth."

"Hmm..."

"If I can even kill him..."

"I hope he can be stopped. It was odd getting him in my dream the other night."

"What did he do? Anything else but laugh?"

"He just laughed, and the voice spoke to me. The voice had to be lying, unless I've been lied to my whole life by everyone." He dropped his arm from Cloud and rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. He moved his arm under Cloud and rolled him onto his side. Cloud put his head on Rufus's shoulder.

"Rufus," Cloud told him, "Just remember, I'm here for you. If you ever wanna talk about anything..."

"I know love."

Cloud looked at Rufus's eyes and wondered why they glowed. He must have been infused with Mako at one point Cloud thought But when and why? Hojo knows, I have to find him and get him to talk. Rufus held him to his body with one arm. Cloud rubbed at his bruised ribs absentmindedly and wondered if any of them were broken. He sighed softly.

Rufus opened his eyes and turned to Cloud. Cloud looked back at him, questioningly. "Is something wrong love?" Rufus asked him.

"No, just the days events..." And the fact that you're acting kind of weird.

"You can tell me if there is something on your mind." He blinked. "Am I?"

Cloud raised an eyebrow. Rufus blinked.

"It's just this whole Sephiroth business again." Cloud told him.

"Oh, but why do you think I'm acting weird?"

"When I mentioned that you felt like Sephiroth for a moment there you got all quiet."

"It sort of had to do with the dream I had."

"Sephiroth, a blessing and a curse, all in the course of a few days..."

"And the fact that I knew him as a child."

"He haunts me. I'm obsessed with him for some reason."

"Love, there is something I have been obsessed with for a while, but I have not told any one. I thought it was just my father's influence at first, but..." He sighed, "I have to find the Promised Land."

"What is the Promised Land anyway? Sephiroth was railing about that too..."

"I don't know. My father thought it was a land full of Mako..."

"There's that name again, Sephiroth, Sephiroth, Sephiroth! Shoot me and get it over with!"

"The Cetra say it is a land of happiness. I'm not sure what the Promised Land is, and even after announcing the stopping of Mako use, I still fee as if I have to find it."

"We're both tapped you know. Me after Sephiroth, you after your Promised Land."

"Yes. Sephiroth is after the Promised Land too."

"We're all tied up in this..."

"Yes."

"And we're probably gonna die..." Cloud sighed.

"Why do you say that?"

"Just a feeling I have. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we don't stop him we are dead. If we do go after him to stop him we'll probably get killed.

"Hmm. I don't like to think that way. I've made it this far. I think I can make it more."

"Just don't dream about me dying or anything..."

"I won't. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Nor I you."

"Thank you."

"If anything happens to you, well, I'm not sticking around to find out how long it takes me to break down."

Rufus looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"If you die I die."

Rufus looked at him sadly. "But, then who would be left to remember me like this?"

"I don't think I could live on just memories of you. We shouldn't talk so depressing."

"I know." Rufus kissed him.

They looked at each other. Cloud rapped himself around Rufus. Rufus held him to his half-naked body.

"Never leave me." Cloud begged him.

"I never will, and, I never want you to leave me."

"I won't, unless someone kills me. You can hold me to that."

"I don't want anyone to kill you."

"Well, Sephiroth probably will."

"I will not let him hurt you."

"I'm glad for that. One can only take so much in their life."

"I know."

"You've taken more than any normal person could handle."

"I know."

He put his head on Rufus's shoulder. "Life, death, you, me." He sighed. "It's all so confusing sometimes..."

Rufus stroked his hair. "My precious Cloud. I will not let anyone hurt you..."

"Hmm, I'd kill anyone else for calling me precious."

Rufus grinned. "Really?"

"Yeah. You can get away with it though, I'd probably kill someone for calling me cute too..."

"Heh heh, but you are so adorable!" He grinned wickedly.

"Grrr..." He pinched Rufus, "Go to sleep if you're gonna pick on me." He rolled over and pretended to ignore Rufus.

Rufus chuckled. "You love me..." He tickled Cloud's back.

"Eee! Of course."

Rufus kissed his back.

"Mm," Cloud confessed. "Okay, okay, so I can't ignore you."

"Heh heh." He licked Cloud's neck. "You are so cute and loveable! It is so hard to let you go from my arms."

Cloud rolled back over and put his arms around Rufus. "Same can be for you." He beeped Rufus's nose. "Go to sleep." Cloud closed his eyes and was out like a light.