Cloud Strife wanders around the ancient city... feeling great remorse for the loss of Aeris. Wanders over to where he laid Aeris to rest

Sephiroth is crouched there, his long hair wet... and his gloves lying on the ground. Has his Masamune blade pressed to one wrist, sawing it back and forth

Cloud Strife blinks and stops

Cloud Strife says, "Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth growls out right and drops the blade, the wound he gave himself instantly healing. Leans on his fist, sobbing to himself and mumbling

Cloud Strife blinks

Sephiroth didn't hear Cloud. Stares into the water, looking down at Aeris's body

Cloud Strife wonders what is going on. Walks over to Sephiroth... padding along softly

Sephiroth picks up the Masamune and starts running the blade across his other wrist. Takes it away, and watches the wound heal up instantly

Cloud Strife puts his hand on Sephiroth's shoulder

Sephiroth says, "damn you Jenova... just let me die!"

Sephiroth sobs, completely oblivious to Cloud

Cloud Strife says, "Sephiroth?"

Cloud Strife shakes him gently

Sephiroth snaps out of it, noticing Cloud for the first time. Drops his Masamune to the ground. Looks up at Cloud with tear-stained eyes

Sephiroth says, "Cloud...."

Cloud Strife says, "Sephiroth... what are you doing?"

Sephiroth says, "Trying to kill myself... what does it look like?"

Cloud Strife says, "Well why?"

Sephiroth says, "But, Jenova will not let me die..."

Sephiroth closes his eyes

Cloud Strife blinks

Cloud Strife says, "Well... I'll kill you... With great pleasure"

Sephiroth says, "That would be nice... Jenova will not let me die though... damn her"

Sephiroth sprawls on the ground

Cloud Strife draws his sword and pokes at Sephiroth

Sephiroth sobs quietly into the shore

Cloud Strife stows his sword again

Cloud Strife says, "Geez... in all my time I've never seen you cry...."

Sephiroth sniffles and roles onto his back, looking up at Cloud

Sephiroth says, "Jenova made me kill some one I loved..."

Cloud Strife says, "You loved her?"

Sephiroth closes his eyes and nods

Sephiroth says, "Jenova uses me to destroy things..."

Cloud Strife says, "Wow... never knew you even had eyes for anyone... "

Sephiroth says, "I'm Jenova's puppet...."

Sephiroth sniffles

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "How am I supposed to kill you when you are sniffling?"

Sephiroth says, "you can't kill me... Jenova will not let me die. Damn her... I want to die...."

Sephiroth places his palm to his temple

Cloud Strife says, "You weren't the only one who cared about Aeris"

Sephiroth says, "but she forced me to kill her... She forced me to destroy many things..."

Cloud Strife says, "What the hell is this stuff about me being a puppet?"

Sephiroth says, "She does not control you as much as she does me... but you see, you have her cells in you... making her able to control you. But she can't do it all the time; you need to be triggered. I was born with her cells, she can control me all the time"

Sephiroth sniffles

Sephiroth says, "right now she is resting from the fight... and has backed off from me so I can think and move on my own for a night"

Cloud Strife says, "I have Jenova cells? Huh?"

Sephiroth says, "yes. You are also confused a little as to who you are"

Cloud Strife says, "Im cloud strife... soldier first class... that's who I am"

Sephiroth says, "once we see each other up at the northern crater, I'll confuse you with some stuff and you'll get triggered. With any luck, you'll be able to regain control and come after Jenova. But, she's moving into the core, and calling me to her. As soon as the reunion happens, she will drag me to the core with her"

Sephiroth looks at Cloud and runs his fingers through his wet hair

Cloud Strife frowns

Cloud Strife says, "I don't get it"

Sephiroth says, "get what?"

Cloud Strife settles down and watches Sephiroth

Sephiroth reaches over and picks up his Masamune

Cloud Strife says, "This whole thing"

Sephiroth says, "what?"

Sephiroth takes off his cloak

Cloud Strife says, "What's going on? You're gonna destroy the world... but why does Jenova want that?"

Sephiroth holds the Masamune by the blade so he can place the tip over his heart

Sephiroth says, "she wants to rule the world... and kill everyone on it"

Cloud Strife says, "What's there to rule if there is nothing left?"

Sephiroth rams the blade through his chest then sniffles

Sephiroth says, "life stream..."

Sephiroth buries it up the hilt and sobs at the fact that he still lives

Cloud Strife winces

Sephiroth says, "She'll kill everything... and yet she will not let me kill myself... why does she do this to me? Why can't she does this on her own and let me die?"

Sephiroth twists the Masamune in his chest... a little blood trickling down in front and behind

Cloud Strife says, "Stop that... its gross"

Sephiroth opens his eyes and looks at Cloud

Sephiroth says, "you see now she will not let me die?"

Cloud Strife says, "I always admired you for your strength... now I see you like this. Yes... I see that"

Sephiroth says, "What good does my own strength do me? Nothing when it comes to Jenova"

Sephiroth works the blood-covered blade out of his chest and sighs as the wound heals up

Cloud Strife says, "You can't block her out?"

Sephiroth says, "No, I've tried. She is out of my head right now for she is resting. I'll only be free when she dies, and then I will only seek my own death"

Cloud Strife nods

Cloud Strife says, "Well you should live it up while you are turned loose"

Sephiroth says, "live it up?"

Sephiroth looks down into the water at Aeris

Cloud Strife says, "Do something rash..."

Sephiroth says, "I've tried suicide..."

Cloud Strife says, "Did she know how you felt?"

Sephiroth places his palm to his temple

Sephiroth says, "I don't know..."

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "I mean did you ever tell her?"

Sephiroth says, "never had the chance... I wanted to... but Jenova always kept me away. Then, she made me do this..."

Sephiroth closes his eyes, tears dripping down his cheeks again

Cloud Strife says, "Aww... you want a hug?"

Sephiroth says, "...."

Cloud Strife says, "I've never told my crush and never will.... It's a secret"

Sephiroth says, "Cloud... will you destroy Jenova?"

Cloud Strife says, "Yes... if I can"

Sephiroth says, "then, after she is gone, will you destroy me as well?"

Cloud Strife nods

Sephiroth nods

Sephiroth says, "thank you"

Cloud Strife says, "For you... in vengeance and friendship"

Sephiroth says, "vengeance?"

Cloud Strife says, "You destroyed my town"

Sephiroth says, "not of my own free will"

Cloud Strife says, "I know... but..."

Cloud Strife sighs

Sephiroth says, "Jenova called to me... it was so strong... I did not know what was happening"

Cloud Strife says, "Then in friendship alone..."

Sephiroth says, "thank you"

Cloud Strife says, "Payment for you being a tried and true friend... "

Sephiroth gets to his feet, slipping his cape and gloves back on

Sephiroth says, "I must go now, I feel Jenova waking up... I do not want her to see us talking, or she might try to have me kill you"

Sephiroth picks up his Masamune

Sephiroth says, "goodbye... old friend"

Sephiroth walks off, heading out of the city

Cloud Strife nods

Cloud Strife blinks...

Sephiroth stands there, his cape and gloves off, holding his Masamune

Cloud Strife says, "So this is the end... I promised"

Sephiroth nods

Cloud Strife begins to charge his omnislash

Cloud Strife says, "You'll get to be with her I hope..."

Sephiroth says, "I hope so too... and away from Jenova..."

Cloud Strife says, "Say hi to her for me... and send her an apology.... That I couldn't save her"

Sephiroth says, "Jenova is clinging to my mind... I will. Jenova is trying to take over. I'm using all my strength to hold her off"

Cloud Strife says, "Then I will make this quick"

Sephiroth looks at Cloud

Sephiroth says, "come..."

Cloud Strife puts one foot forward and hefts his weapon... as a glow begins to build around him

Sephiroth holds steady to his Masamune, holding Jenova off best he can

Cloud Strife says, "Rest in peace my friend"

Sephiroth nods

Cloud Strife flicks his wrist and makes a complex series of slashes at Sephiroth

Sephiroth drops his Masamune and falls to the ground, bleeding profusely

Cloud Strife walks over to sephiroth and kneels by him

Sephiroth closes his eyes, feeling the blood rushing out of him. Breathes a ragged breath

Sephiroth says, "thank you..."

Cloud Strife says, "Welcome Seph"

Cloud Strife smiles grimly

Sephiroth says, "goodbye... my friend..."

Cloud Strife says, "be safe"

Sephiroth shutters slightly... breathing out for the last time, then becomes still

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "Its better this way.... You are free... as am I... I have a life to rebuild.... Confessions to make..."

Red XIII pads down into the core with Tifa

Red XIII says, "Ah, Cloud... there you are"

Tifa Lockheart says, "Cloud... you got him?"

Cloud Strife nods sadly

Red XIII keeps his paws away from the blood on the ground

Tifa Lockheart says, "Why do you look so sad?"

Cloud Strife says, "I didn't wanna kill him... he was under control..."

Red XIII sits down next to Tifa and looks at Cloud

Red XIII says, "Cloud, what do you mean?"

Cloud Strife says, "Jenova had him in control"

Red XIII cocks his head, not understanding

Cloud Strife says, "He wasn't doing it cuz he wanted to"

Red XIII says, "oh, then why did you kill him?"

Cloud Strife says, "He wanted to die... he killed the one he loved"

Red XIII looks up at Tifa

Tifa Lockheart shrugs

Cloud Strife says, "When he killed Aeris... I was walking the city... while you slept"

Red XIII looks at Cloud

Red XIII says, "the poor girl..."

Cloud Strife says, "He loved her"

Red XIII blinks

Tifa Lockheart says, "It's why he wanted to die? Because he killed the one he loved?"

Cloud Strife nods

Cloud Strife says, "He was trying to kill himself... looking down at Aeris... Sawing at his wrists with the masamune... he didn't even notice me"

Red XIII says, "he was trying to kill himself?"

Red XIII blinks, rather confused now

Cloud Strife nods

Cloud Strife says, "Jenova was resting... He was relieved of her control for a while"

Red XIII looks at Tifa again, wanting to know what she thinks of all this

Tifa Lockheart says, "Its kinda sad... when you think about it"

Red XIII says, "yes"

Red XIII looks at Cloud

Red XIII says, "so, what happened?"

Cloud Strife says, "I killed him cuz he asked me to..."

Red XIII says, "oh"

Red XIII stands up and licks one of his paws

Red XIII says, "well, I think we should be heading back now, Meteor still seems to be on its way"

Cloud Strife sighs

Cloud Strife says, "We're all gonna die anyway it seems"

Red XIII says, "Have faith Cloud. We will live, I have a good feeling about it"

Red XIII starts to walk off, back up out of the core

Cloud Strife says, "I just feel bad about killing him... but yes lets go"

Red XIII looks back at Cloud and Tifa

Red XIII says, "come on"

Cloud Strife walks away from Sephiroth... Towards the way out