Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ One-Shot

Destiny

Friday, April 12

Cloud and Destiny were awaiting the train station in Midgar, Sector 1. Both were members of SOLDIER, a top class fighting group. Destiny was eighteen years of age with raven black hair, and blue gem eyes. She was very bright indeed and wouldn't take no for an answer.

Cloud on the other hand, was twenty-one and had blond hair, blue eyes and totally drop dead gorgeous. Even caught the eye of the tough character Destiny at one point, but nothing was exchanged. Destiny didn't have time to deal with guys, for she was surrounded in her own little existence.

Destiny sat beside Cloud, arms crossed and eyes closed as the train moved quickly through the dark tunnels of Midgar, the dull slum city.

"You okay Des?" Cloud asked, looking over at her.

She nodded, but didn't talk back.

Back on base, they were briefed very little about what their job was to do. Supposedly president Shinra, a former close ally with SOLDIER, is after a huge energy source called Mako energy. Cloud and Destiny were destined to arrive at Midgar and destroy all seven towers that contained this Mako energy, to stop Shinra from using it to produce their own wantings.

Just then, the speaker on the train announced they were approaching Sector 1. Destiny rubbed her right hand up and down her left arm, then folded her hands in her lap, looking out the window.

Her hometown, Kalm, was a beautiful town. There were trees, homes, even a well, but this place, on the other hand, had only one color to it, and that was gray. Every piece of this place was made of steel. There was no life, trees, grass, flowers, nothing.

"How does it feel to be in the slums?" Cloud asked.

"Boring," Destiny muttered. "Makes me even wonder why I decided to join up with…who is it…AVALANCHE?"

Cloud nodded, his blond spikes moving with his motion. "We have to find this guy named Barret. He's the leader of AVALANCHE, and is awaiting our arrival for our first task."
"I tell you one thing, our pay better be good."
Cloud agreed.

It was just then that the train had come to a stop. Since they were the only ones on the train, they got off at the nearest exit. Destiny grimaced at the place; it was completely empty, no life anywhere.

"Who would want to live in a dump like this?" questioned Destiny.

"YO!"

Cloud and Destiny looked over to see a 250-pound African-American man running towards them. This giant 6' 5" man wore a crew cut, and a black beard that was nicely shaved. Looking downwards, Destiny noticed the man had a gun-arm. She frowned.

"Destiny Mikamura and Cloud Strife, I presume?" Barret asked, not noticing Destiny's frown.

"We can be introduced later," Cloud said, not feeling in the mood to talk.

Destiny agreed with him. "Right now we have work to do."
Barret frowned.

"Well then, follow me newcomers."
Barret walked away quickly, while Destiny and Cloud walked closely behind. Right when Destiny was about to open her mouth to say something, two guards came out of nowhere.

"I'll leave that up to you, newbie's, show me what you got," Barret said, moving out of the way. The soldiers didn't seem to care; they had their eyes set on the "rookies", although Cloud and Destiny were far from it, they were cool with the comment.

Cloud pulled out his buster sword, while Destiny drew her red saber. Cloud commanded he'd get the one on the left, while Destiny took care of the right one.

Both were wearing masks, so they couldn't see their faces. With a yell, Destiny used her agility, which was her speed, and slit right down the center of the soldier, killing him instantly. Cloud used his agility, which was his strength, knocked the guard off his feet, rendering him unconscious. Barret was most pleased.

"Well done, now come with me."

Destiny put away her saber, Cloud followed. They then followed Barret into the number reactor in sector 1, where they met up with some other members. Destiny laid her eyes on one of them, who was very tall, black hair, and rags for clothing. In scanning the other, she frowned. This one was rather pudgy and had little hair. Then there was a girl, who was also dressed in rags, looking like she hadn't taken a bath in days. In fact, they all did.

"Guys, this is Cloud and Destiny, they will be working with us throughout this mission."
Barret then took off, leaving them there alone together.

The one Destiny kept staring at, stepped forward. "I'm Biggs," he said. "This is Wedge, and Jessie."
Jessie nodded.

"We don't care what your names are, once we get this done, we're outta here," Cloud said, and then pushed his way by them. Destiny followed him.

"What's wrong, Cloud?" she asked with concern.

"I never even wanted to do this in the first place, now I'm being practically forced to blow up a reactor! Something that it totally beyond illegal!"

"But we need the money," she said, continuing to walk by his side. Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie followed.

Cloud rolled his eyes. "Who knows if that overgrown chocolate bar's telling us the truth or not."

Destiny shrugged her shoulders. "Doesn't matter, at least we get paid for doing nothing. After all, AVALANCHE wanted two of SOLDIER's top fighters, that's enough to please anyone."
"We're not here to please anybody, Destiny; you need to understand that. You think that just because you're a girl, you can flatter everyone's minds, well let me tell you that no one cares. Just get over yourself."

Destiny knew herself to be beautiful, but Cloud was overdoing it greatly. Embarrassed, Destiny stopped in her tracks. Jessie came up to her and placed her hand on her shoulder. It was no doubt that Destiny's feelings were hurt.

"Are you okay Destiny?" Jessie asked in a soft tone as Cloud walked away so fast, he was nearly out of sight and to the reactor.

Destiny played the cold, cruel-hearted person she was supposed to be, and jerked Jessie's light touch off of her with the quick motion of her shoulder.

"I'm fine," she growled, then continued her walk.

During that short walk to the reactor, Destiny thought of her family, and growing up in Kalm. She had such a wonderful life, until her family had gone poor and there was only one way to help them out…to join SOLDIER. That was five years ago, she was thirteen. Then two years ago, day before leave, she received word from Kalm. Her family died because of diseases they couldn't cure. Destiny would have gone home the next day with the lump sum she promised her family, but instead, came home to what she felt was silence. If only they hung on for one more day, she could have bought them the medicine they deserved.

Ever since then, she hasn't been back there. Every summer, when everyone was released to go back home, Destiny had nowhere to go, and that's how she met Cloud, who had no family either to return to. In talking, Destiny became much attached to Cloud, physically, and mentally.

"Yo Destiny!"

Barret's voice snapped Destiny out of thought.

"Less go, I don't have all day, ya know!"

Destiny picked up her feet and joined Barret and Cloud over by the reactor.

"You are to destroy it, and now," Barret ordered.

Destiny frowned. "Excuse you?"
"Just do it Destiny, I don't wanna be here forever," Cloud said.

Destiny nodded at last, then pushed the designated numbers on the keypad.

In watching, Barret's eyes suddenly widened. Destiny had only given them ten seconds to make their escape.

"Dammit Destiny! What did you do that for?!"
Destiny then realized what she did wrong.

"Sorry!"

"No time for that now!" Barret yelled, then went in for the run. "Come on, we have to get out of here!"

Getting to her feet with a grunt, Destiny followed them out.

Running as fast as they possibly could, they had just made it out when the entire reactor was blown to bits. All of them dove down onto the ground for cover. Destiny wrapped her arms around her head with a slight cry as forces of wind and tiny objects were flying at her at intense speed. She then felt strong arms around her as Cloud shielded her and himself from the debris the best he could.

When the wind finally died down, Barret gave the word, and they moved on. He left first.

Destiny got to her feet and brushed herself off. She was covered in dirt from head to toe.

"Are you okay Des?" Cloud asked with concern. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," she said with a hint of a growl.
The tone in her voice told Cloud she didn't want to be bothered. He knew why too. Destiny knew she was supposed to do that mission correctly, but instead, messed it all up. She was crushed.

"It wasn't all that bad Des. You did fine."
She shot him a look of hate. "Mind your own business!"

Cloud jumped back in shock.

"Come on you two, we don't have all day! Back to the hideout!" ordered Barret.

Their hideout was beneath the first floor of a small bar, located in Sector 7, called "7th Heaven". Destiny looked around as little children were laughing and playing catch in the center of the dirt road. The sight immediately took her back to when she was a child, hanging around all her brothers and sisters. Her brothers used to make her play these little games with them constantly, and as of now, she couldn't have missed them more, especially her one special sister, Eryn…oh little Eryn was the best friend anyone could ever have. Her only being a year younger than Destiny allowed them to talk about everything. Destiny was most deeply saddened by her death out of all.

Walking up the stairs to the bar, Destiny heard a little girl's voice inside. Coming in view, she noticed Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie all sitting inside, drinking. There was a little girl, whom Barret was hugging, and another girl that looked like she could be in her early 20's. Before Destiny could ask any questions, Barret had ordered all members down into the basement. Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie followed him and the little girl. This now left Destiny, Cloud, and the mystery girl. Destiny watched her wipe down the counter with a cloth. She was very beautiful, indeed. She had long brown hair that was tied at the very tip, and reddish-brown eyes. She wiped her forehead with a sigh and sat down on the nearest stool.

"Cloud, it's nice to have you back," she said.

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it," Cloud said, putting his sword on the counter, then sitting on the stool.

The girl just then noticed Destiny and greeted her.

Cloud looked back. "Oh Tifa, this is Destiny Mikamura my partner, Destiny, this is Tifa Lockheart, member of AVALANCHE."

Tifa hopped off the stool and walked over to Destiny, then shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. I do hope that you'll be staying with us in AVALANCHE for quite some time, we could always use the extra help," Tifa said with a wink. She had never stopped smiling.

"I'll think about it," Destiny muttered, staring at the ground.

Cloud grabbed a mug of beer and guzzled it down in a mere second. Tifa laughed.

"Gee Cloud, you afraid it was going to go somewhere?"

"Tifa please, I have a really bad headache right now," he muttered.

Tifa looked concerned. "Perhaps you should get some rest. Do you both mind sharing a room? You can take the upper one if you'd like."
Destiny just shrugged. They were used to sleeping in the same room, seeing as though they were rooming buddies back on base, but right now, it just seemed so…different, so unlike home.

"Sure Tifa," Cloud said, not sounding too thrilled either.

Tifa showed them the room that had just one big bed, a nightstand, and a dresser.

"If you don't mind sharing that," she said, flipping the light on. "If not, one of you can take the floor."
"Thanks," Cloud said.

Tifa grinned. "Hey, my pleasure. It's the least I could do for a friend," she said, elbowing him. "Have a goodnights rest now; I'll see you in the morning."
She waved as she closed the door with a click.

Destiny immediately went into the dresser drawer to find something to sleep in. She pulled out a white silk shirt. Frowning, she looked it over.

"I take it this is hers?"
Cloud chuckled, as he placed his sword on the floor.

"Possibly."
He kicked his shoes and socks off and slid under the covers on the left side of the bed.

"Just sleep in what you're wearing," he said, turning over and facing the right side. Destiny grimaced.

"I think not."
Turning around, she removed her uniform and her bra. She sighed.

"I never felt dirtier in my whole life."
She slipped the gown over her head, after catching the glimpse of Cloud, who was overwhelmed as usual over her beauty. Destiny didn't feel the least bit embarrassed about this, she did it all the time. Suddenly, she got a chill.

"Haven't these people thought of heat in here?" she asked, rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

Walking over to the bed, she pulled back the blankets and slid in. As always, Destiny slept on her back, but for some reason, she didn't feel tired tonight.

"Is everything okay Des? Are you still upset about today?" Cloud asked, studying her, noticing her worried look.

Destiny pulled the blankets up to her chin with a sigh. "I don't know. I feel like I don't belong here, you know, with AVALANCHE. Knowing I messed everything up on them makes it ten times worse."
Cloud took his cold bare hand and lightly brushed his fingers through her silky hair. She looked over at him with a shiver from the cold.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Barret's just glad they all made it out. He's not blaming you. As far as AVALANCHE is concerned, don't worry, you'll get used to it here. I grew up with Tifa; she's probably one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. A little giddy, but nice."
Destiny chuckled. "Got that right with the giddy part. I couldn't even get one word in."

Just then, after both chuckles, silence fell between them for at least a minute. Destiny thought of her family, and the empty hole in her heart from her sudden loss years ago. The thought made her tear up, as it did every night, but she ignored it. Cloud noticed it and brushed them away with his fingertip.

"Everything will be okay, Des, I promise. After the next mission, and our pay, we'll go home."
She nodded with a sniff. "I'd like that, Cloud."
Cloud took his hands back and stared up at the ceiling as well. He only thought about his family for no more than a second, when all of a sudden, Destiny popped into his mind. He smiled as he thought of all the fun they used to have when they were first partners, and now here they were, sleeping in the same bed together, making it feel like old times. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he loved her. A little part of him hoped that she felt the same way.

Not knowing what came over him all of a sudden, but he was itching to touch her. He timidly moved his hand over to her again and brushed her hair out of the way of her neck, forgetting about every lecture given to him in the past. It must have been the fact that she was feeling down and hurt that made him love her more.

He slowly reached his lips over and kissed her neck, taking in her beautiful scent with him.

"Cloud, what are you doing?" she asked nervously as she moved out of the way.

Cloud sighed, catching himself and coming back to earth.

"We can't do this, I've told you that before," she said quickly, knowing where this was going to lead off to.

Cloud nodded. "Yes I know that, I don't know what came over me."

Destiny did, she knew what he was thinking of, and she thought of the same thing. There was no doubt in her mind as well, she loved him.

She sat up, facing him. Cloud did as well. She took his hand in hers, holding it gently. She felt bad of how she treated him with the romance business.

"Cloud, you know I care about you, right? I don't want you to think I'm a cold-hearted bitch, I'm just afraid of starting a relationship in a job like this. It could cause so many problems."
Cloud understood reluctantly. He insisted, however, that he'd give her just one kiss. Hesitating, Destiny agreed. As much as she was afraid to, she owed it to him. She paused, but then put her lips to his. He then savored the quick, but loving tap. This wasn't enough for him, however, in one fast motion he wrapped his hands around the back of her head and kissed her again. This time, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, showing no mercy. Destiny responded with a moan, surprising him entirely, giving him all she got, but when his hands dropped from the back of her head involuntarily to her chest, she broke away and pushed him back.

"Damn it Cloud!" she cried.

"Destiny, stop fighting this!" he said, clenching his fist and pounding it into the mattress. "Forget SOLDIER! I want to be with you!"

It felt so great to hear that, it was like music to her ears. Her heart suddenly went out to him right there, but she pulled back. Spending her whole life telling herself that guys were jerks and not worth anything, she found herself choking on her own words, but refused to say anything back.

"N-No, no I can't!"

She got out of the bed quickly and walked away at a fast pace. Cloud shot up in bed, watching her leave.

"Des!"

She walked into the bathroom and closed the door quickly. Throwing her back up against it, she sobbed as she slid down the door. On her lips, lingered the sweet, loving kiss of Cloud, in her heart, lingered her love for him. She didn't know why she was afraid of him, of a relationship. There wasn't ever anyone else on her mind, only him.

Just then, there was a small knock at the door.

"Destiny…" Cloud started in a whisper.

"Please go away," she sobbed.
He sighed. "Des, I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. You must forgive me."
She stood up and opened the door. She could only dream of falling into his arms and making love until the sun came up.

"How can I forgive you when I can't even forgive myself, Cloud?" she asked. "This isn't going to work out between us anymore, our working partnership."
"Then that's okay! We'll quit SOLDIER, then we can be together!"

Destiny wished she could do that, but sighed and shook her head. "No Cloud, I need to graduate and get my diploma, I need to do it for my family."
Cloud lowered his head and sighed, closing his eyes.

"You don't have a family anymore Destiny," he said in a whisper voice. "I'm all you got."

"That's what I meant," she said in an identical whisper voice.

He frowned. "You don't need to prove yourself to me; I love you as you are."
She covered her ears and clenched her eyes tightly closed. "Stop saying that! Please Cloud!"
Cloud was getting sick of her little `game' she was pulling on him. He had figured she was just playing hard to get. He loved her so much that he was leaning towards abusing her to love him back. Clenching his teeth together, he seized both of her wrists. Destiny's eyes shot open as she gave a little cry of shock.

"Cloud!"

"That's enough Destiny; I'm getting tired of these little games you're playing with me! I've never ever met anyone who said they loved someone, but they won't get with them because of a stupid job!"
Destiny winced as his grip got tighter.

"Cloud, please let me go," she whispered helplessly.

He bit his bottom lip, and then shoved her back, releasing his grip.

"Oh bother, you're not worth it!" he spat, leaving Destiny in tears, as he went back to the bed, covering himself up.

Destiny knew she did the right thing; she wasn't ready to start a relationship yet. Gathering up her courage, she walked back to the bed. She had never been more scared in her life. All this time, she had thought she was only friends with Cloud, never dreaming that he wanted to go further on. She knew he loved her, but not that much. He was willing to drop out of SOLDIER for her and not even graduate.

She went under the blankets carefully, so she wouldn't disturb him, and faced the opposite way. She sobbed very lightly, but not for long as she and sleep finally found one another.

Saturday, April 13

Barret woke them up with a pound at the door at 8:00 in the morning.

"Yo! Wake up in there! We're heading out in fifteen minutes with or without you!"

His voice annoyed Destiny's ears. She was definitely not a morning person. She groaned as she sat up.

Cloud was used to early morning calls and rose up immediately. Both of them seemed to ignore one another pretty much, not saying anything. Facing the wall, Destiny lifted off the nightgown and replaced it with her uniform after yawning several times from being too tired.

Grabbing her saber, she hooked it into its sheathe and turned around. There was Cloud, fixing the bed alone. Not saying anything, she went over and helped him, fixing her side.

"Des," he said in a small voice.

She looked up to meet with his eyes.

"I'm…sorry about last night. I shouldn't have forced you to be in a relationship with me if you didn't want to. I respect the fact that you just want to have a working relationship and nothing more. It's hard, but I've learned to accept."
Destiny nodded slightly.

"Thanks, that means a lot to me, more than you think."

It hurt him to accept her "just colleague" rule, but he didn't want to not be friends with her, so this was his only option.

It was outside in the bar area that Barret was waiting impatiently for the both of them. Destiny came out first, followed by Cloud.

"Well it's about time!" he said, then threw them each a pouch containing 1,500 gil. Destiny opened it and counted it mentally. She chuckled.

"This is my pay? Don't make me laugh."
Barret growled. "You're lucky you got just that! Don't complain!"
He turned around and motioned for his gang. "Come on! Move out!"

"Hold it," Destiny said, holding up her hand. "Who said I'm going again? I got my pay for that one mission, you want me to do the next, it's going to have to be 3,000."
Barret's mouth dropped, then he growled yet again. "What?! Hold on a sec, big time SOLDIER! If you think I'm-"

Tifa grabbed his arm. "Barret, stop!"

"That money's for my daughter's schooling!"

"But we need all the help we can get, remember? This is no easy task."
Barret sighed. "Okay, 2,000! Final offer! Don't like it, leave!"

Destiny looked at Cloud to get his opinion. He nodded. She looked back to Barret. "Okay, we'll do it."

Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, Barret, Cloud, Tifa, and Destiny all boarded the noon train ride. Destiny tossed herself in the nearest empty seat and stared mindlessly out the window. Cloud sat across from her with Tifa at his side. Barret had come over and informed them about the mission. It was the same as last time, so Destiny cared none to listen, just stared out the window.

"Yo, listen!"

Destiny knew he was talking to her, so didn't bother to look back. "What for, I already know what you're going to say."

Barret clenched his huge fist.

"You better stop being so hotheaded, girl, or you're going to be killed out there in streets like this!"
Destiny sighed, resting her head on her hand, leaning up against the window. "Whatever."
Something was really bothering Destiny and Cloud could see that.

"Des, what's the matter?"
"Nothing," she muttered.

Barret ignored her and went over to talk to Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie to inform them on their next task.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Tifa squealed, elbowing Cloud in the arm. "I'm going to love this, knowing you're in AVALANCHE with me! It can be just like old times again, remember when we were kids and we lived right next door to one another?"
`Shut the hell up,' Destiny thought in her mind. `No one cares about your pathetic stories.'

"Then you always used to come over, and sneak through my bedroom window?! Man, my papa got so mad!"

Cloud just chuckled with the words she said, not saying anything back.

Destiny rolled her eyes and sighed with anger. "Tifa, will you please shut up!"

Tifa widened her eyes and frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You're annoying the life out of me; just try not talking for the next fifteen minutes, think you can handle it? It's going to be a long mission; I don't want to hear your mouth."
Destiny didn't care if she was being cold or not, she was in one of her moods again and didn't want to hear a giddy person speak.

"Destiny!" Cloud said.

"You either Cloud, just no one talk, or I'm getting out of here," she muttered.

Cloud definitely knew something was up with her, so he knew better just to leave her alone.

"Well pardon me if I know how to have a good time, instead of being so serious all the time!"

Obviously Tifa didn't know when to leave Destiny alone. Cloud put his hand up before either of them could speak again.

"Okay that's enough, right now! Tifa, Destiny, stop! Like you said, it's going to be a long mission, and I don't want any of this fighting, you got it?"
Both girls said nothing. Tifa obviously could sense she wasn't liked by Destiny, so said nothing more, and Destiny was just too annoyed to even think about apologizing.

Destiny finally got her peace and quiet as the train rolled up ten minutes later at the sector 5 train station.

Getting off, Destiny saw that it looked exactly like sector 1.

"Yo, didn't I tell you not to ever move in a group?!" Barret scolded. "Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, go to the left. Stop anyone who tries to interfere with this mission. Cloud, Tifa, Destiny, and I will go blow up this damn tower, y'all understand?!"
Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie agreed, then went off in their own little direction.

"Why couldn't she have gone too?" Destiny muttered, eyeing Tifa evilly. Luckily no one heard her, or saw her eye.

"Okay, let's go!"
Barret lead off first, then Destiny followed a few feet behind him, while Cloud and Tifa stayed in the back, talking. Although she wasn't talking, it was more along the line of "flirting". Destiny didn't like it one bit, but held her tongue and continued to follow Barret.

Destiny then thought of what it would be like to get killed in a mission like this, wondering what Cloud would do. Would he kill himself too, cry, or just go with Tifa? This really bothered her. Last night, he was willing to do everything for her, but now, he was hanging all over Tifa.

"Get a room," she muttered under her breath.

The mission was rather fast, for it was just a repeat on what they did before; only it was five minutes until detonation this time, giving them plenty of time for their escape.

As Destiny was coming back over the bridge, she looked down, making her stomach turn. They had to have been up at least 50-100 feet into the air.

Just then, they heard a helicopter in the distance. It landed right on the bridge. Destiny studied the model, and the logo of Shinra. She stepped back.

Out of the helicopter, stepped president Shinra. He was a round man, wearing a red suit and had blond hair. Not to mention a smirk that just sent Destiny into fury.

"Oh just great, we meet again!" Barret said, clenching his fists. "You're too late, president, it looks like the second tower is about to blow!"

Shinra laughed maniacally. "Oh you think so? Well, let me ask you this, fearless leader, just how long do you expect this to go on?"
Barret growled.

"You're the…who again?"
"AVALANCHE, and don't you forget that!" Barret yelled.

Shinra smiled, then looked at each of the members, especially Destiny and Cloud.

"You both look familiar, where have I seen you before?"
"SOLDIER," Cloud said. "Cloud Strife and Destiny Mikamura, first class."
Shinra nodded. "Oh yes that's right. Forgive me, but I can't remember everyone, unless you become another Sephiroth."
Bringing back memories, Cloud's eyes widened. "Sephiroth?!"

Cloud remembered Sephiroth as the most powerful member of SOLDIER, he was the best. No one could match his strengths and agility's.

"How in the world could SOLDIER back stab us like this, sending out their two most skilled fighters out to destroy Shinra? Then worst of all, help a rebel group."

"We'll do anything to help save the world, that's what we do," Cloud said. "I'm sorry president, I know SOLDIER used to be your ally, but now, we're on our own."

"You're the one's that back stabbed us, president!" Destiny said. "Have you forgotten what hassle you caused SOLDIER and made us look like useless?!"
President Shinra put on a dirty look. "Perhaps you're right Destiny Mikamura, but I will not let you get away with helping them!"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, came a giant twenty-foot robot.

"Meet Airbuster, he'll put you out of your misery. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of work to do back at the headquarters, so I'll see you all later," he said sarcastically, then hopped back into the helicopter and left. Barret, Tifa, and Destiny were backing off from Airbuster as it was slowly chasing after them. Cloud walked towards it.

"Cloud, help!" Tifa cried.

Destiny had a little fear in her heart, but didn't dare say anything.

"Let's bring this mo fo down!" Barret said, getting his gun-arm ready.

Each of them took turns attacking the giant, but it was Cloud's lightning attack that took the brute down before it was only inches away from striking Destiny.

Everyone had watched it explode. They were about to cheer, when they discovered it left a giant hole in the floor, and Cloud hanging for dear life. He was too close to the blast.

He tried pushing himself up, but no such luck. He was down too far.

Immediately spotting this, Destiny nearly bawled. Her sudden feeling of never seeing him again made her heart jump up in her throat. Sudden flashbacks entered her mind of last night, a week ago, a month ago, five years ago, everything that they used to do together, then the kiss…

Not being able to take this anymore, she dove down onto her stomach and reached her hand across the hole as far as she could, only to discover it was too big.

"Yo, we gotta get outta here, it's gonna blow!" Barret announced.

"I'm not leaving without Cloud!" Destiny cried. "Grab onto my hand, please!"
Cloud refused, making her scared.

"Cloud, please grab on!" she sobbed, stretching her arm out to its max, making her elbow hurt.

"I'm sorry Des, but it looks like I'm no longer able to be with you," he said, tears building up in his eyes. "Don't worry; I'm not afraid to die, you shouldn't be afraid to let me go either."
She remained stretching her hand out. "No! No I'm not letting you die! There's still so much I want to tell you!"
If Destiny knew this was going to happen, she would have cancelled this stupid mission from the beginning.

He looked into her eyes, those magical eyes that melted his heart on contact. He'd give anything to have one last moment with her before his 300-foot death.

"Please don't be sad, Des, go on and live your life. Get married to that wonderful man that I couldn't be and have a great life, you deserve it."
She shook her head. "I won't have a life without you!"

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the sector 5 tower surround in lightning bolts, signaling that it was about to blow. She gasped.

"Just reach over and grab my hand! Hurry!"
He still refused and closed his eyes.

"Come on Destiny!" Barret said, picking her up and running away from the tower.

"NO! CLOUD!!" she cried, looking at him for the last time, before he was replaced with a burst of flames.

When they were in a safe place off to the side, Barret let her down. Destiny sank to the floor and sobbed hard in her hands. She loved Cloud, she wasn't sure how much at the moment, but she'd give the world to look at his face again. All she could picture in her mind was his eyes, the look in them before he died. Now, he was just an angel above her, a memory.

"He didn't even try to reach for my hand!" she cried.

Barret grieved over the sudden loss, as well as Tifa.

"I'm sorry Destiny, he was my friend too," Tifa said with comfort, sliding over to her and trying to hug her, when Destiny pushed her away.

"Get away from me!"

Tifa jumped back in shock. As much as she felt hated, however, Tifa wouldn't stop talking to her.

"Destiny, Cloud's gone, we have to live with that," she whispered, trying to make her feel better. "I know it's hard, but it's something that has to be dealt with."

Destiny glared at Tifa. "Maybe you can deal with it, seeing as though you only known one another for a couple years! I practically LIVED with him! We shared everything, even our lives, and just because we weren't born in the same hometown, don't mean anything less!"

Tifa sighed. There was just no dealing with this hothead.

"Please calm down. We all miss him equally."

"Don't you dare presume to put words into my mouth! I will miss him how I want! I don't need you to tell me how much I do!"

Barret found this rather sickening, and spoke up. "Alright, that's enough! I'll settle this once and for all: Cloud Strife is no more, whether you'd like to think so or not, he's gone! Who gives a shit who misses him more or less?! Just let his memory be a peaceful one, and make up for chrissakes! Stop trying to pull one another's hair out! We have a lot more work to do!"

Destiny stood. "Well, it's too bad you'll have to do it without me! I need to get back to base and tell them what happened to Cloud."

"Please don't go," Tifa said, standing as well. "Please Destiny, we need you more than you think we do. You're smart, beautiful, and got a good mind and heart. We don't want to continue without you."
Tifa wasn't sure why she said what she did. She just pitied her loss, as well as her own.

Not knowing what in her mind agreed, but Destiny would remain with AVALANCHE for a while longer.

Walking back to the hideout, and not forgetting about Cloud once, Destiny felt alone. She looked around, hoping to see Cloud either walking behind her, next to her, or in front of her, but instead, she only saw Barret and Tifa.

It was just then that Barret stopped in his tracks. He said something about overhearing Shinra talk. He went up to this old bum that was smoking a cigarette and holding a bottle of whiskey in his hand, asking him about the Shinra. Destiny and Tifa remained behind, not hearing a word.

"How are you doing, Destiny?" Tifa asked, looking over at her.

Destiny sighed, realizing she needed someone to talk to.

"I'm fine. I never realized how quick death could just sneak up on you. I never dreamed that this morning Cloud would be dead later in the day."
"You never receive a warning of when a loved one is going to die. I know I never did, not even when Sephiroth killed my papa."
Destiny's eyes widened.

"Sephiroth killed your father?"
Tifa nodded.

"Then Cloud came to my rescue after Sephiroth wounded me with his masamune."

Destiny shook her head.

"That's a lie, Sephiroth wouldn't do something like that, he wouldn't kill unless he had a good reason to. I know this because he was of the SOLDIER Elite and I knew him well."
Tifa shook her head.

"I saw it for myself."
This was just another reason for Destiny to start hating her again. She didn't like it when someone began telling her something and couldn't back it up with proof, especially about Sephiroth. Sure Sephiroth was strict and took no crap, but he'd never actually hurt anyone without reason.

"Whatever girl, you're always right," she said with the wave of her hand.

Tifa rolled her eyes.

Barret had just then come back over.
"What happened?" Tifa asked.

"Well, looks like we're taking a detour from our missions. The homeless guy over there mentioned something about a man named Don Corneo, and him being behind Shinra. Rumor is, he knows all about Shinra, we're just going to check this out."
Destiny was amazed that she found herself listening to this as well. It was adventure, just what she liked to do.

"Where is he?" Destiny asked.

Barret and Tifa both looked at her with wide eyes.

"Holy shit, she speaks," Barret said.

"Just answer me, I don't want a lecture."
Barret frowned. "The wall market in sector 6, just off of sector 7, not too far away from where we are now. The bum also said that the Don is in his "castle", waiting to choose a bride. Every night, he lines up four women, and chooses the one he likes most out of the four and takes them to bed with him."
Destiny and Tifa grimaced.

"How sick," Tifa commented. "Tell me we're not getting mixed up in that."
Barret shrugged. "I don't know, I'm not going with you guys. Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie are waiting for me at 7th Heaven, I need to go there and finish the rest of our mission while you two girls check this out. Can you handle it without ripping one another's heads off?"

Destiny rolled her eyes, while Tifa agreed.

"Okay, now the first thing you need to do is go to the dress shop and pick out an outfit and make up, then show up at the Don's place. Got it?"
Tifa nodded, while Destiny just muttered anything.

They had just arrived at the wall market, which wasn't really bustling with activity at all, it was practically empty. The two hadn't exactly killed one another yet, or even had an argument, they just pretty much learned to accept the fact that neither of them were going anywhere and dealt with one another.

They both walked down the dirt road of the market, looking at all the shops. There was a hotel, restaurants, stores, even a health spa, weapon shop, and a strip club.

"Okay, we see everything else, but where's the dress shop?"
Just then, they spotted it to the left. Tifa smiled. "This is it."

Both girls went in. Dresses galore. Everywhere they looked, there was a different style and color of dresses. This even got Destiny amazed.

"Welcome, how may I help you?" the owner asked, wearing a grin.

"Oh we're just looking for now, thanks," Tifa said. She and Destiny went their own ways. Destiny tried out the rack to the left, where she saw the most adorable blue dress and ribbon to match. It was lace on the top and silk on the bottom. It looked like a maid of honor dress in a wedding. She picked it up and admired it from top to bottom. Ironically, it was just her size.

"I'm going to try this one," Destiny told Tifa and went into the dressing room, not so far off from where Tifa was looking.

Putting the hanger on the hook, Destiny removed it. She suddenly thought of Cloud. Cloud. She couldn't get him off her mind, no matter how hard she tried. She started sobbing slightly again as she lifted the shirt back onto her and put the dress over her clothes and tied the ribbon in her hair. She liked it. It was very beautiful on her.

"If only Cloud could see me right now," she whispered. "I miss him so much."
"You almost done in there?" Tifa asked. "I found a really good one."
"You would," Destiny muttered, fixing the dress so you couldn't see the uniform on and walked out.
Tifa's eyes nearly melted off her face. "Wow Destiny you look really beautiful in that!"

Her eyes drained from the neckline, to the long sleeved-laced arms, then the long silk bottom.

"Thanks," Destiny said, stepping out.

Tifa got in there and changed as well.

"Are you all set?" the owner asked. Destiny walked over and paid for her dress, then waited over at the side until Tifa came out. Her dress was blue as well, but a little lighter in color and it was short. It had come with matching shoes as well and a hair accessory.

Tifa paid for hers as well, then stepped out. Immediately, both girls got the eyes of some homeless bums and got whistled at.

Tifa laughed. "I guess we're satisfactory in the beautiful category."
"Let's hope so, if we wanna get a deal on this Shinra stuff."
Destiny still really didn't understand the deal with Shinra. Who cares what he's doing with this Mako energy, just let him be.

It wasn't far to the Don's mansion. The two girls approached the door and the guard that stood there. His eyes seemed to pop out of his head. He whistled.

"Hot mama! Where have you been my entire life?!"

Destiny soon realized that he was talking about her. He approached her and tried putting his arms around her, when she punched him in the face. He jumped back, holding his face.

"Get away from me you sick bastard, we're here to see the Don," she said.

The guard nodded quickly. "Oh yes, yes, right away."
He took them inside. It was beautiful, that's for sure. Beautiful chandeliers hung from the ceiling, crystal shelves, staircase, everything was of rich value, even the carpets that looked like they could have gone anywhere from a million to two million dollars a piece. This totally took their breath away.

The guard took them to a room and told them to wait there until the Don was ready for them.

Destiny sat in the most comfortable laz-y-boy chair ever, while Tifa looked at the books that were on the glass shelves that could go anywhere from a million onward.

"There has to be a zillion books here!" Tifa said. "Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life in a place like this."
Destiny couldn't imagine spending her life in rich wonders. She spent her whole life trying to make money, support herself, working, fighting, trying to graduate from SOLDIER, everything. This would just be a huge adjustment for her.

She then popped a picture of Cloud in her mind and wondered what it would be like to live here with him. Both living in the lap of luxury together, arm in arm, never having to fight another batch of crooks ever again. Both would just be here, married, raising a family, everything.

`Why am I thinking about this?' she asked herself. `I never thought about Cloud in that way. Sure I loved him, but never even thought of settling down with him. I must miss him more than I thought. I wish I had given him what he wanted last night, then I wouldn't feel bad right now. At least I would have something to remember him by. I do actually, I do have something to remember him by, all I need is my memory and then I could put us in places we dreamed of going for years.'

"Earth to Destiny!"

Destiny shook out of her thought, looking at Tifa waving her hand in her face.

"Oh sorry, what did you say?"
Tifa chuckled. "I didn't say anything, but you looked like you were miles away from earth."
Destiny shrugged. "I guess you can say that."

She stood up, walking over to the magazine collection. With a sigh, reached down and picked one up.

Cloud never left her mind the entire time.

"You miss him, don't you?" Tifa asked, approaching her.

With that question, a tear rolled down her cheek. "Of course I miss him, I miss him with all my heart! We grew up together, saw each other every second of our lives, even in the same room, now this is the longest I've ever been without him, it's hard!"
Tifa rubbed her back. "I know it is, I felt the same way when I lost my papa, I still haven't even gotten over that yet. It takes a while, but as long as someone else loves and cares for you, you know you're not alone," she said in a calm, soothing voice. Destiny wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed.

"Thank you Tifa, you're actually starting to make me feel better."
Tifa smiled. Finally.

Destiny sat back on the chair, while Tifa took the seat across from her. "I know we don't have a lot of time, but tell me about Cloud."
Destiny frowned. "Tell you what about Cloud?"
"Well, tell me how he was."
Destiny's eyes widened. "If that means what I think it does, Cloud and I never slept together."
Tifa chuckled. "You're kidding me, after all that time of sharing rooms and being with one another, you haven't fallen in love with him like that?"
"Oh I often thought about it, but I always believed in staying strong for SOLDIER. If I fell in love with Cloud and made some stupid mistake, like getting pregnant or something, I could get thrown off the base, then how would I graduate and get a diploma for the future?

"I know Cloud felt the same way about me. Just last night, he tried it again. He just never took no for an answer. I agreed to give him one kiss, then that kiss just stuck us together like glue, I knew I loved him and there was no hiding it, but like I said before, I thought of my job. I couldn't let SOLDIER down like this, so I stopped."
"But you were away from base, what makes you think they'd know?" Tifa asked, staying alert to this conversation.

Destiny shook her head. "I don't know, but I didn't want to risk anything, I wanted to remain loyal for SOLDIER."
Tifa nodded. "I understand, that's very good thinking."
"Cloud's always been more of an older brother to me anyway. If I slept with him, I'd feel too strange and end up backing down before anything starts. Kissing is okay, but no further than that. Maybe my opinion would have changed in time, but looks like I won't get to find out."
Tifa nodded continuously. "So, what's it like in SOLDIER? I mean, what do you do?"
Destiny sighed. "Well, being the only girl on base, I got quite a story to tell on that. I went there when I was thirteen, because I needed money to support my dying family, but three years later, the day before I was scheduled to return home with the money I made for them, they died from a disease."
Tifa gasped. "Oh no, I'm sorry."
Destiny waved her hand. "Don't worry about it."
"So, what happened after that?"
"I haven't returned home since. I've been living on base with Cloud ever since I got there. Instead of working for just the money, I'm also schooling there for a college diploma that will get me a good career in the future. At the time, Cloud was sixteen when I was thirteen. We talked, we joked, we told stories, and we shared tears."
"Were you dispatched all over the world?"
Destiny nodded. "Yes we were in fact. Our very first mission together was when I was fifteen, we were sent to Junon dock to check out some suspicious cargo. It was so much fun being with him, he made it that way. I have to admit it that back then I did feel for him a lot, then when he kissed me playfully on the cheek the day we got back from that mission, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I felt like that all the way up until a man named Sephiroth came to SOLDIER. I never knew why, but as soon as I saw his skills and talents, I fell secretly in love with him. It must have been the masamune and the way he used it, but he really caught my eye. I never really talked to him that much now that I think of it, he just scared me too much. I don't know how, but he just did. He far surpassed my skills and agilities; no way could one match him. Then not too long ago, when I was seventeen, we learned back at base that Sephiroth had died. I was crushed. I never thought I could love him more than I did right there and I never got to say anything to him. I thought I learned my lesson right there with telling people how I feel about them, but I guess not, for Cloud didn't know how I felt either before he died."
"I'm sure he sensed it."
"But how? Every time he tried kissing me, I just pushed him away, pushed him away every time. I wouldn't even let him hold me. Oh how I wish I could take this all back and tell him how sorry I am. Now the two men that I've loved most in my life are dead!"
Tifa stood up as soon as Destiny started hitting the waterworks. She hugged her, and this time, Destiny accepted. Tifa was so glad that they were able to work things out between them.

"Listen Tifa, I'm sorry about what I said to you before on the train and after Cloud died. I just wasn't feeling in the mood to make a friend, but now that I see that I'm alone, I need one."
Tifa smiled and brushed Destiny's black hair off of her shoulder. "You'll never be alone Destiny, I will always be here for you for whatever reason. If you want to talk about Cloud, I'll listen, that's what friends are for."

Destiny grinned. "Okay, so what were you guys like together?"
Tifa rolled her eyes playfully. "I knew you were going to ask me this."
Destiny sat down on the chair and awaited her answer. "Tell me, tell me."
"Well, like you know, we were both born in Nibelheim, him a year before me. We lived right next door, and ever since the day I could walk, I was over his house, either coloring, or watching cartoons with him."
Destiny chuckled. "Wow, totally opposite of us."
Tifa laughed back. "When Cloud was sixteen, the day before he left for SOLDIER, we met out on the water tower for the last time. I never saw him again until Sephiroth came to Nibelheim with him a few years later, and I was a guide to take Sephiroth, Cloud, and another one of the SOLDIER members around Mount Nibel. It was up there that Sephiroth murdered my papa, then wounded me with that masamune, and Cloud came to my rescue, just like he promised on that water tower that night. I made him promise that if ever I was in danger, he'd come to my rescue, and he did." She smiled. "Then I haven't seen him since last night, three years later."
Destiny nodded. "I remember when Cloud went on that mission; it was before I really got to notice Sephiroth. I was all alone that day." She chuckled. "But I had fun."

"I guess we both had some pretty interesting lives here, haven't we?"

Destiny nodded. "We sure have."
"So what other missions did you have to do? I mean with Cloud."
"Oh all of my missions were done with Cloud, we were partners. One time we had to go to Costel Del Sol to check out a "bomb" in one of the hotel rooms, which of course, ended up being a hoax."
"Why don't they get the police for that?"
"Well, technically, we are the police, and every other help you can think of. The world revolves around SOLDIER and I was just glad I was able to join and put happy faces on those who we've helped. I may have a blazing interior, but on the outside, I do care for people."
Tifa nodded. "Oh I believe it, I know you do. What other missions were there?"
"Cloud and I went to Icicle Inn one time, which is north of Midgar, and we had to help out some civilians that were being attacked by guards of some kind."

"Have you ever done any missions with Sephiroth?"
Destiny shook her head. "None at all, only Cloud did once, and it was that trip to Nibel. Me, I just did all my missions with none other than Cloud, and now that he's dead, I'm either going to quit, or have to be placed in with someone else."

"Oh don't quit, you've almost reached your diploma."

Destiny shrugged. "Well we'll just worry about that when the time comes."

"What about Shinra, what did they do for you guys?"
"Sponsored us mostly. We did some pretty courageous things and they liked it, so they ran the money through to keep us going, but we didn't like Shinra at all, we found out that they were purposely creating danger, just so we'd rush out to fix the damage. They called it a "test".

"Then when our Lieutenant told us about the rebel group called AVALANCHE, he hired his two top fighters, who were Cloud and me, to join up with them and help with the bombings to stop Shinra before they did anymore harm. Whatever we wanted to know after that, we asked leader of AVALANCHE, Barret."

Tifa nodded. "And here we are now."

"Yeah," she said with a sigh.
"What do you think they're going to say at base once they find out about Cloud?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, probably have a funeral for him after we find his body."
"I know this is a little off subject, but how did Sephiroth die?"
"I really don't know, I don't think anyone knows. Cloud said he just went out to battle one day, and then never came back. He said that they found his body two years later near the Mideel Power Plant, which is no more than five miles from base. I was sobbing for days."

"You really liked him?"
She nodded. "He was mysterious in so many ways; I just fell in love with his nature."

Suddenly, and before another word could get out, two more girls entered the room. One had black hair and a purple dress, the other, long brown hair and a red dress. Both very beautiful.

"Hello," Tifa said, standing up.

The one with the black hair seemed to have widened her eyes as if they've spoken before. She turned around as soon as she laid eyes on Destiny. Destiny frowned.

The girl in the brown hair stepped up. "Hi, I'm Aeris Gainsborough, the lucky choice for tonight."
Her voice didn't seem so encouraging.

"What are you doing here then?"
Aeris looked over to the one with black hair. "Oh just helping out a friend that I met not to long ago with Shinra business."
Tifa frowned. "How do you know about what we're doing to Shinra?"

Everyone looked back at the one in black hair. Tifa had a feeling it was Jessie screwing around with them, however, Destiny's heart jumped up in her throat.

Tifa had a grin on her face. "Jessie, why are you hear playing this joke on us?"

Growing weak, Destiny rose to her feet and silenced Tifa with her hand. Speechlessly, she walked over and put her hand on the girl's shoulder, heart pounding. She gasped, feeling that feel before. Just then, the girl turned around. Suddenly, Destiny's eyes widened as far as they could go when she looked into those familiar blue eyes. Without blinking, tears soared down her cheeks in a beautiful waterfall motion. She sobbed with her mouth open wide. She covered her mouth in shock.

"No…you can't be! You just can't!"

Just then, the girl took the wig off, revealing the familiar blond hair of Cloud Strife. He smiled.

"Hi Des."
Tifa and Aeris grinned as Destiny hugged him in the next millisecond. She hugged him as tight as she could, as if she were to lose him again.

"Oh this can't be real!" she cried out, eyes gathering tears. "I must be dreaming!"

He hugged her back. Suddenly, it was her that gave the kiss that time. Ignoring the other girls in the room, and what she said before about her job, Destiny kissed Cloud hard. She never missed him as much as she had and this just went to show it.

"I missed you so much," she whispered. "I thought I'd never get the chance to tell you how much I loved you."
"I love you too, Des, but you already knew that."
"But it feels so good to hear it again. Cloud, you have no idea how happy I am right now. How did you survive that fall?!"

She began to rub her hands around his muscular body to prove to herself that this was really real. Cloud had returned to her.

He put his black wig back on and talked where he stood.

"I don't know. When I came to, I realized that I had crashed through the roof of a sector 6 church, and that's when I met Aeris. We weren't sure on where Barret and the others were going, but as I was taking her home, we reached this bum that was smoking a cigarette, and was muttering something about AVALANCHE and the fact that the leader sent his two girls to the wall market, and that's when I put two and two together and you both must have ended up here at the mansion to get information out of the Don."
Throughout the whole speech, Destiny couldn't stop smiling at him. She felt as if faint were going to come to her. She had never been this lucky with anything.

Tifa approached him next. "Cloud Strife, you never know when to accept death, do you?" she asked with a smile as she hugged him.

"Sorry to worry you both, I was actually quite worried myself, but I didn't want to feel like a coward towards death, so I welcomed it."
Destiny punched him in the shoulder. "You could have reached for my hand! Don't you know how horrible I felt when I thought you died?!" The thought alone made her sob again. "I didn't know how I was going to live with myself. I didn't know how I was going to go through back at base telling lieutenant Naiormi that you were dead! Then I remembered that I never told you I loved you, I felt horrible. You never knew how I felt about you all these years!"
He cupped her face and held her close to him. He looked into her eyes. She stared back, nearly getting weak at the knees at this miracle sight. She was in the arms of the man she loved most in the world. All she needed was this accident as a push to announce her true feelings.

"You didn't have to say anything to me, Des, I knew how you felt, you were just scared."

"Oh I swear to god, I'm never letting you out of my sight again!" she cried, then hugged him again.
Cloud smiled.

"I'll be here with you Des, I'm not going anywhere."

They broke away. It was then that the guard came in to get them.

Destiny was so thrilled to have Cloud by her side, that she didn't care what happened next. All she knew was that this was going to be over in a few hours from now, Barret will have his missions done, and they could go home together.

"Okay ladies, it's time, the Don is waiting."
Cloud and Destiny walked out of there, side by side, then Aeris and Tifa followed.

In taking them to his bedroom they soon discovered that the Don was a tall thin blond and very good looking. His eyes popped out at the sight of these four girls.

"Hmm, very good, splendid. I like."

He stood in front of them, walking up and down the row until he made a decision. His eyes went from the lovely Aeris, with the long brown hair and green eyes, down to the next one, which was Tifa, who also had the long brown hair, but brown matching eyes, then Cloud, who turned his head when the Don looked at him in a weird kind of way. Finally, the Don stopped at Destiny, beautiful Destiny Mikamura, whom caught his eye all along. He reached out his hand to her.

"It is you, my beauty, I choose you."
Destiny's eyes widened as she looked back at Cloud and the others. They all nodded.

"Shall we go?"
Destiny suddenly got nervous, but then realized that Cloud was back and wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Y-Yes," she said.

Everyone had left the room, leaving the Don and Destiny alone. The Don went to his bed and sat on it, then whistled for Destiny to join him.

"Oh Cloud, please hurry," she whispered, then joined the Don on his bed. She did take notice on how expensive the bed must have been. It was huge and also was the softest thing she's ever sat on.

The Don noticed that she was taking it slow.

"What's wrong, my beautiful?" he asked, slowly touching the back of her head, then running his hand down her soft, silky hair. She cringed at his touch.

"You're just a little too fast for me, that's all," she said, stalling for Cloud, waiting for him to get there.

He chuckled, untying the ribbon out of her hair lovingly, then licking it. "God you taste so good. What is your name, my dear?"
"Destiny," she whispered.

It was obvious after being in SOLDIER for so many years, she'd be able to break out of a situation like this, but she had to give Cloud and the others time to search and find what they needed to, so she kept up the act.

He grinned. "Ooh Destiny, I like that, it fits us perfectly."
He put his lips to her neck and kissed her passionately. Destiny had wished that she could break out of this, this was driving her insane.

`Cloud, what the hell ARE you doing?!' her mind screamed. She then told herself that kissing was okay, as long as it wasn't feeling, and if it was feeling, she was going to bust out of there.

`Okay girl, time to put on that scared country girl impression'.

"Oh Don," she whispered with scare. "I can't do this, I hardly know you. Shouldn't we get to know one another before we do this?"
The Don grinned. "We exchange our knowledge through lovemaking, Destiny."
`Oh great, what now?! Cloud!!'

"Well," she started, looking away from his gaze; "there is someone else."
The Don widened his eyes. "What?"
"Well-"

Before she could speak, in came in Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris, all dressed back in their normal attire.

"Cloud!" Destiny cried. "Thank god, what took you so long?!"

She got off the bed and joined her friends at the end.

"Hey, what's going on here?!" Don cried. "Guards!"

Cloud walked over to the side of the bed.

"The guards are gone, we took the liberty of that ourselves, now tell us what you know about Shinra," he said with a growl in his voice.
The Don's face turned scarlet. "Nothing!"

Cloud reached over and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "I'm going to ask you one more time, what do you know about Shinra?!"

Destiny smiled, she loved seeing Cloud in action. He was so perfect.

"Tell me right now or you're never going to see another girl in your life again, I'll kill you with my own two hands!"

The Don was now frightened. Beads of sweat grazed his forehead. "Okay, okay, they're out to crush a small rebel group, known as AVALANCHE. They discovered that their hideout was in the sector 7 slums, so they were going to crush the support structure and make the plate fall down, killing everyone and destroying AVALANCHE once and for all!"

Destiny then thought of Barret, Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie and how they're there right as of now.

"And when is this going to happen?" Cloud asked, trying to remain cool.

"Any time now."
"And who ordered this?"
The Don shook his head quickly. "No, if I told you that, I'd be killed!"

Cloud gripped harder, jolting him forward. "I mean it!"

The Don gasped. "Ahhh, it was Heidegger, head of the Public Safety Maintenance!"
"They are going to destroy the sector 7 slums! Cloud, Destiny, will you please come with me to sector 7 before it's too late?!" Tifa cried.

Cloud nodded. "Of course."
Destiny had agreed as well, ripping off her dress and revealing her SOLDIER uniform.

"SOLDIER! I should have known!" the Don cried. "You tricked me! Don't think that you'll win this one! Shinra's got you covered!"

The four of them were just about out of the room when the Don stopped them again at the end of the bed.

"Hold on a second!" he said.

"Shut up!" Cloud said.

"No, it'll only take a second. What happens when an idiot like me babbles on about the truth?"

Cloud frowned. "The hell?"

"We have no time to be answering stupid riddles, Don."
"Wrong!" he said, and then flipped a switch. Suddenly, the four were dropped down a hole and into an underground tunnel. Before she could even get a chance to cry out or react, Destiny winced as she hit the ground hard. Tifa and Aeris both landed on their feet, along with Cloud.

"Are you alright?" he asked Destiny as he helped her to her feet.

"Yes I think I am."
Tifa then gasped as she threw her hands to her mouth, looking helplessly at the two. "Oh no what if it's too late?! Barret, Marlene, the people of the slums!"

Cloud looked around. "We have to find a way out of here then."

They all picked up the pace and ran out of there.

After what seemed like hours to them, they finally found a ladder that lead out of there.
Cloud was the first one up, followed by Aeris, Tifa, and then Destiny, who was helped up by Cloud.

In telling everyone to be quiet for a moment, Tifa thought she had heard gunfire.

Looking over their shoulders, they saw the sector 7 support beam about 100 feet away, and people crowding it.

"Barret's up top there, fighting the Shinra guards!" Tifa cried, pointing to it. "I can see it! We have to go help him!"

In not waiting to see if they were following him, Tifa ran off. Cloud grabbed Destiny's hand and ran after Tifa. If Cloud didn't die before, Destiny had a feeling he'd die now.

"Cloud, I don't want you up there, I want you to stay out of sector 7. I was lucky before, but now I have the feeling I'm not going to be."
"Des, I'm fine."
"No you're not!" she cried, making him stop in his tracks, and getting in front of him. "This time you are going to die, I have a feeling! I want to…be able to be with you for the rest of my life, Cloud!"

He cupped the sides of her face and watched her tears slide down her cheeks. This was bad and she could sense it. This was more or less along the line of a second floor falling on the top of a first floor with people on it; only the second floor was made of a heavier metal type.

"Destiny, we are in SOLDIER, this is our duty, we can't be afraid of anything. Just like you said before, our love for one another is going to bring us down, like it is now. It's distracting us from what we're supposed to be doing."
"Well that was before I almost lost you the first time! I can't handle it again! Cloud, please don't!"

She shook her head slowly, hoping he'd agree with her.
"Sorry I have to do this, and so do you. If we don't survive, at least we'll be together in the end."
Destiny had no choice; she had to agree with him. This was their toughest challenge yet.

When they arrived at the pillar, Tifa had already instructed Aeris to take care of Marlene, Barret's four-year-old daughter, while the three of them went up there.

"Come on, we're running out of time!" Tifa said.

Destiny prayed silently that they'd all make it, as the three of them climbed the ten flights of twenty stairs each to the top of the support structure.

Getting to the top, it was discovered that Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie were all dead and that Barret was fighting alone to hold them off.

He was so relieved to discover that the SOLDIER members and Tifa had come to his rescue.

"Cloud, Destiny, Tifa, you made it! Hurry, they're attacking from the helicopter!"

Just as Barret was being distracted by his faithful teammates, a member of the `Turks', a former allied group with SOLDIER, jumped out of the helicopter and over to a keypad. He had orange hair, brown eyes, wore a blue suit, and had a lightning rod draped over his shoulder as his weapon. Destiny recognized him right away from the base in the past as an ex third class SOLDIER member. She gasped.

"Reno?"

Reno looked over at her, then grinned. "Well, well, if it isn't the gorgeous Destiny Mikamura. How sad that you have to work for such a lowlife team such as AVALANCHE and meet your death today."

"Don't do this Reno, please, I beg of you! If you've ever loved me, you won't do this!" Destiny cried, putting her emotions into it.

Cloud put a hand on her shoulder when he noticed that she was getting a little too into this.

Reno pressed a button on the keypad, ignoring Destiny. "That's all folks, mission accomplished. Your time of death is in ten seconds."

"Cloud, stop him!" Destiny cried. "Reno, no!"

He just laughed as the helicopter came over and picked him up. It was right then that Tifa noticed someone familiar in there.

"Aeris?!"

Reno smirked. "Aeris? Is that her name? Well, you should thank me for letting you see her one last time."
"Let her go, you sick bastard," Barret said to Reno, holding his gun-arm at him.

"I think not," Reno said, then hopped back into the helicopter.

"Don't worry Tifa, she's fine," Aeris said, but then immediately got smacked in the face for talking.

"See you in hell, Destiny," Reno said, then laughed as he flew away.

Seconds after, the support structure slowly began breaking off piece by piece.

For being a member of SOLDIER, Destiny wasn't very good with accepting death. Not right now anyway.

"We have to get out of here!" she cried.

The floor was shaking, scaring her to death, seeing as though she was 300 feet from the ground. Feeling faint, she walked shakily over to Cloud. Cloud took her up in his arms before she collapsed to the ground.

"I'm just glad I get to be with you right now, Cloud," she said, fear in her eyes and pain in her heart.

Cloud held her tight. "I won't let you go."

Barret on the other hand, was wrapped up in his own silly world.

"That goddamn Shinra, they ruined my life! They took Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie from me!"
"No time for that now, we have to find out a way to get out of here!" Cloud said, looking around, not wanting to die, but wanting to spend a little while longer with Destiny here in the living world. He held Destiny tighter as the shaking of the platform got stronger. Destiny cried out and clenched her eyes shut, burying her face into Cloud's chest.

Instead of disagreeing with him, Barret looked for another alternative. He found it in a wire that would swing them right out of sector 7 and back into sector 6, near the wall market.

Destiny felt the support beam bounce a little bit as they were hanging on by a mere thread now.

"Yo, get on!" Barret announced. He took Tifa into his lap, while Destiny sat on one of his arms, and Cloud on the other.
Barret leaped off the bar just in time as the support beam gave out and the plate began to fall on the population below. Destiny looked back and noticed the horror for herself. People screamed as they took their last breath of air before it would come down all the way.

`Shinra is just horrible,' she said to herself. Her heart went out to those who would soon lose their lives, `just horrible.'

Just missing it by an inch, Barret, Tifa, Cloud, and Destiny rolled off into sector 6, in time to hear the plate land with a crash and debris of different items fly everywhere. They were still alive, and even though everyone else wasn't, they still felt privileged.

Barret was the first one to grieve over his loss. His only concern right now was his daughter and the fact that she couldn't make it out of there in time.

"MARLENE!" he cried, running up to the door that they flew out of, which was now blocked with the fallen plate. In anger, he shot off his gun-arm, sending bullets flying everywhere. The noise was so loud that Destiny had to block her ears. She felt his pain and squeezed tears out of her eyes.
"Barret, stop it, please!" Tifa begged, pulling him by the arm he wasn't using at the second.

Barret yelled at the top of his lungs to help him relieve his sadness in the loss of his daughter. Destiny knew how he was feeling, because that's exactly how she felt when she thought she lost Cloud.

"I think Marlene's alright," Tifa said.

Barret stopped yelling and frowned. "Huh?"
"Right before they took Aeris, she said "don't worry, she'll be okay" I think she was talking about Marlene."
"I know where Aeris lives; she took me there for a little bit after I fell into the church. If she were to take Marlene anywhere, it would be there."
Everyone agreed that's where they'd go.

On the road back to Aeris's house, Destiny requested she'd talk to Cloud alone, while Tifa talked with Barret about a quarter of a mile in front of them.

"I don't know how much more I can take of these near deaths," Destiny said, still feeling herself shaking at the knees. "After this is over, I just want to quit SOLDIER and settle down, maybe find work in a store or something. The pay sucks, but at least it's somewhere safe where I know our lives won't be in danger."
Destiny's attitude was really scaring Cloud. She changed so much over the course of one day.
"What's wrong with you, Des? I thought the only reason you stayed in SOLDIER was because you loved the feeling of being in danger."
"That was before you almost got killed, Cloud! Now I don't think this is fun anymore! None of our other missions have almost gotten us killed! You, almost twice now! If it weren't for Barret, we would have been crushed!"
Cloud rolled his eyes.

"Destiny, you're really starting to anger me with this. You've become too obsessed with life; I can't take it anymore. You joined SOLDIER knowing the fact that we could come to near death, or death situations. I'm not going to go off and quit because you're afraid that I'm going to get killed! I like being in SOLDIER and I want to stay with AVALANCHE." He paused. "I want you to stay with me."
This made her heart sink, but she ignored his last request.

"You only want to be in AVALANCHE because of Tifa!"
Cloud frowned. "What are you talking about?"
She stopped in her tracks and shoved him. "You know exactly what I'm talking about! You promised me that today after we got our pay from Barret, we'd leave and go back home! Did you do it? Of course not! Typical male! You're staying because of her!"
Cloud never saw her this angry, and it angered him emotionally. She had become too obsessive with his life now. He's trying to tell himself that it's because she loves him, but he didn't want it to get to the point to where it took away all his freedom.

"I'm sorry Destiny, but they need my help."

She started tearing up again. "I thought you loved me."
"I loved the old Destiny; I don't know who you are. The old Destiny would accept the dangers around her, accept death, and accept anything that came to her feet. When you find her, then you can talk to me, but until then, I don't want to see you anymore."
Her eyes began to glitter as tears came from her eyes. It hurt Cloud greatly to say this about her, but he didn't like the fact that she was too controlling on his life ever since he nearly died. If he looked from a different point of view, he'd see the fact that she's only doing this because she loves him and doesn't want to see him hurt, but from Cloud's point of view, he found this behavior sickening and revolting. Destiny was supposed to be one of the top fighters of SOLDIER, now she's just turned into a flop, all because of love. Destiny was now choking on her words with that, about falling in love would make them weak. She fell into her own trap. Cloud felt sorry for her, but life must go on.

"I'm sorry, really I am."

With that, he ran up to the others.

"Cloud!" she called helplessly, reaching out her hand, then took it back and clenched it into a fist.

Since her agility was speed, she caught up to him in a second, then walked behind him as he walked. She studied him from behind. What was this feeling she had over him so suddenly? She was beginning to sound like his mother. Not even she liked her new self. She was much better as a fierce, don't take crap, kind of person. Cloud changed her and she should hate him for that, because this kind of behavior is going to send her to the grave, but she couldn't hate him. She mostly hated herself.

She should realize that Cloud is in SOLDIER for a reason, and that was because he was tough. Both of them were the strongest in the universe as of now, ever since Sephiroth died, and they should be able to handle every task.

"Well, we're doing okay so far," Destiny whispered under her breath. "I used to laugh at danger, but now I cower at it. I used to be strict on what Cloud used to do and say to me, now he doesn't do it anymore and I get angry."
She then told herself just to forget it and accept any dangers in their way. The only reason she liked dangers so much is because Cloud was always behind her to protect her from harm.

"He can still do that," she whispered. "He can! Like he said if we both die, at least we can be together in the other world."
She walked up to him the rest of the way and put her hand over his shoulder. "Cloud," she said softly.

"What is it, Des?" he asked with a sigh.

"Cloud, I know you want the old Destiny back and I just wanted to tell you that I found her."
He continued to walk. She at his side.

"But you do know where I was coming from with the other side of her, right? I didn't like her, she wasn't for me."
"I understand and that's why I had to get rid of her. I will throw myself in front of a moving tram for you, Cloud, she wouldn't have, that's why I realized that I'm the only Destiny for you."
He looked at her and smiled. "Thanks Des, you have no idea how good you just made me feel. If we can work as a team ever since you were thirteen, since the day you got there, we can do it again."
She grinned. She couldn't believe that she had almost ruined it for herself to be with him. Even if their relationship wasn't sexual, it was love, and no one else in the universe could match their love they had for one another.

"Yes we can."
Both of them walked together a few feet for either of them spoke again. She was relieved to have found herself, while he was relieved that she had.

"So, where is Aeris's house anyway?"
Cloud pointed to a tiny two-floor shack off in the ghettos somewhere. "Right there."
Destiny grimaced, not having a good feeling about this. "And why in the world would you go there?"
"Aeris needed a bodyguard to take her home, you see, Shinra has been after her for years."
She frowned, keeping her eyes on the tiny shack, studying it. "What for?"
Cloud shrugged. "I don't have a clue. She never told me why, but I have a feeling that her mother can explain it to us."

Cloud knocked at the door, Destiny at his side. A short redheaded woman, wearing a tattered green dress, with a ripped apron, answered.

"Oh Cloud, you're back."
Cloud noticed she had been weeping. Perhaps she had heard about Aeris already.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Gainsborough, they took Aeris."
She nodded sadly. "Yes, I know that. Aeris came here with a little girl and this is where they found her."
Barret stepped forward. "That's my daughter!"
Mrs. Gainsborough looked at him with wide eyes. "You're her father? How could you leave her like this?!"

Barret lowered his head. "I'm sorry, but I didn't want to, nor did I want Aeris getting caught because of it. I was in a bad spot and unfortunately, couldn't take my daughter with me."
Mrs. Gainsborough sighed. "Yes I understand, won't you all come in?"

She moved aside, while the group of four stepped in. Mrs. Gainsborough looked at Destiny with a frown, giving her the chills.

"You, young girl, you're from SOLDIER, aren't you?" she asked, recognizing the symbol on her uniform.
Destiny hesitated, then answered. It has always been an honor to say she was in SOLDIER.

"Why, yes I am, first class."
Mrs. Gainsborough opened her door. "Then if it's all the same for you, please leave. We don't want anymore havoc created here. I've already lost my daughter in the hands of your ally's, so leave now."
Destiny was shocked. "No Mrs. Gainsborough. Shinra, nor the Turks, are our allies anymore. It's a long story, but we both went our separate ways, and now we're getting revenge on the Shinra, as well as the Turks."
Mrs. Gainsborough looked surprised. "Why would you want to give up a partnership with Shinra?" she asked, closing the door.

"Like I said, it's a long story, but we didn't like to be feared by people, such as yourself. SOLDIER is out there to help people, not be feared, and that's exactly what Shinra was telling the citizens, that we were harmful, giving us a bad name. They set up traps in areas they knew we would fail in. You must trust us, we're here to help your daughter, and you."
Cloud smiled at her speech, falling more in love with her with every word said. The old Destiny was back.

Mrs. Gainsborough nodded. "Thank you, Miss…"
"Mikamura, Destiny Mikamura," she said with a grin.

"Miss Mikamura," she grinned back, then pointed to a chair at the table. "Will you have some tea?"
Destiny sat. "I'd like that very much."
Cloud sat beside her, and Tifa sat across from them. Barret was too into seeing Marlene, that he passed up the tea offer and went upstairs. Mrs. Gainsborough went with him to show him where she was.

Destiny leaned over to Cloud. "How come she never realized that you were from SOLDIER, but yet, noticed me right away, and you've been here before?"
Cloud looked at his uniform. "Maybe because my uniform is just a regular warrior's fighting outfit, while yours is exactly what they wear in SOLDIER?" he said with a grin.

Tifa chuckled. "That's it."
Destiny looked into his eyes. "Well, what about your Mako eyes? They have that strange glow to them, that usually signals when a person is infused with Mako energy, just like mine."

He nodded. "Yes I know. Aeris noticed that right away, but apparently Mrs. Gainsborough has never seen Mako eyes before, which got me really lucky."

Destiny nodded. "Yeah, so what are we going to ask her when she gets back?"
"Why Shinra wanted Aeris."
"Right."
It was a few moments before Mrs. Gainsborough came back. With a grin, she went back to the stove and attended the boiling water.

"Mrs. Gainsborough, do you mind if we ask a few questions in regards to Aeris?"

Mrs. Gainsborough sat down at the table after serving out the cups of tea to each of the three guests.

"Please, call me Elmyra. Go ahead, ask away."
"How old is she?" Destiny started.
Elmyra shook her head. "Honestly, Destiny, I have no idea."
Destiny frowned. "Excuse me?"
"You see, I found her on the corner, next to her dying mother."
Destiny's face instantly turned to sadness. "Oh that's horrible."
"Aeris looked like she was about two or three at the time, and didn't know how to talk yet, so she couldn't tell me for herself, so I had to guess. I'd say she's now about twenty-two. Her mother's last words were to take her somewhere safe, so I agreed. I had no children, and my husband was off in the war, fighting in Wutai at the time, so I was quite alone.

"Aeris and I got close very fast, then I taught her how to speak, and we communicated very well after that. Then when Aeris was around the age of five, I was here, cooking in the kitchen, when all of a sudden, she comes down to me and tells me not to cry, that someone very close to me had died. A few weeks later, I heard that my husband died in Wutai. She said that he wanted to come see me, but he had already become one with the planet."
"One with the planet?" Destiny questioned.

"I wasn't sure what she was talking about, I asked if she meant like a star in the sky, but she said she meant the planet.

"It was only a few years later, when Aeris was around fourteen, that the Shinra started coming after her. They said that her mother was of a special blood, known as the Ancients, and that Aeris was the last one."
"So, why did they want her?"
"They said that she was very useful to them in finding the Promised Land."
"Promised Land?"
"It's supposed to be this place that has endless Mako energy for all of Shinra's plots and inventions. It is said that only the Ancients know where this is, and now that the Shinra have her, I'm afraid they are going to find out where the place is and destroy the world!"

Destiny reached over and took the woman's trembling hand. "Not if we can help it. Elmyra, you must believe us, we'll get Aeris back, but first you have to tell us where they brought her."

Elmyra paused to get a sob out. "I heard that they took her up to the Shinra Headquarters. I didn't think I had a prayer to see her again, but if you guys please, get her back for me," she said, taking Destiny's hand. "Please, she's all I have left to live for."

Destiny's heart sank, she felt horrible.

"Don't worry Mrs. Gainsborough, we'll get her back for you."

They finished up their tea and welcomed this new mission. Elmyra wished them luck, then shut the door behind them.

"You're really going to help Aeris, right Destiny? I owe her so much for saving Marlene," Barret said.

Destiny nodded. "Yes I will, but how do we get up to the headquarters?" she asked, then looked up to Cloud.

"Well, there's not a train that goes up there anymore, but we can follow the train's tracks."
Destiny looked at Barret and Tifa to get their approval. They nodded.

"Okay, let's head out."

After an hour of searching for these railroad tracks, they found them, just off of where the wall market was.

"I'll never forget what happened in this place today," Destiny said. "Don Corneo was too much for me to handle."
Cloud chuckled. "True, but he did have a nice place."
"Oh yeah, I second that," Tifa said, remembering all the books and comfortable chairs.

"And that was only…what…four hours ago?" Destiny looked at her watch. It was now six o' clock. "It's getting late, shouldn't we think about finding a place to sleep for the night?" she asked, looking at Cloud, to get his opinion. He shook his head.

"Not yet. After we rescue Aeris, then we can think about sleep, but now, we have to do what we promised, even if it means staying out all night."
Destiny agreed. She had a feeling this was going to be an all-nighter.

"So, what's our plan of action?" Tifa asked. "Are we just going to bust down the doors and demand Aeris back, or are we going to be cautious about it?"
"Cautious, definitely. We can't start trouble." He then looked Destiny over. "Destiny, you might want to change your outfit."

Destiny looked at it. "No way."
"Des, we can't put Aeris's life in danger just so everyone can see that you're from SOLDIER. If they see you, they'll know that you came for her, and they'll kill her!"

"They won't kill her, Cloud, like Elmyra told us, they need her for the Promised Land!"

Cloud sighed. "Please."
"In any case, what am I supposed to wear? A pretty pink dress with flowers on it?" she asked sarcastically. "I don't have anything else to wear, and we're already almost up there, it's too late to go back down."
Everyone paused for a moment before Cloud spoke. "Then you're going to have to wait for us outside."
Destiny sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not getting paid for nothing, Cloud, I'm doing my job, in this outfit or not. I'm going in there and I'm bringing Aeris back home. Now I don't care if Shinra hates SOLDIER or not, I was asked to help someone and I'm going to do it."

"Don't you realize that as soon as your spotted, you could be shot down?" he asked, setting her up with the question purposely, just to see if the real Destiny did come back.

"That's a risk we just have to take," she said quickly. "I'm not in SOLDIER for nothing."

"Okay, don't y'all to thinking you're so tough, jes because you joined SOLDIER and happen to be one of the finer bunch, it's getting tiresome."

Cloud and Destiny both looked at Barret as he made that comment.

"Sorry, what do you mean?"
"I mean stop yapping about your stupid profession, just do what you're supposed to do and stop talking about it."
"Without us, Barret, you'd be nothing right now," Destiny said, not giving the sentence any thought. "Do you think you can go up to the headquarters and get Aeris back yourself? No, you can't, you need us, so watch your mouth, or we'll leave right now. We're rescuing her for you, so enjoy it, or shut it."

Cloud pulled her back by the arm. "Destiny, stop!"

She pulled her arm away from him. "I mean it! We're not doing this for our health, you know, we're doing it because you wrote to SOLDIER and asked them to send two of their finest, what did you expect their ego to be? Did you expect it to be as low as these bums here on the streets?!"
Cloud admitted she had a good point. Destiny felt better that she stuck up for her title, she would forever remain proud of being in SOLDIER.

"I'm sorry if we carried pride under our belts!"

"Alright, shut yer hole!" Barret yelled, looking at her with anger in his eyes. "I got it! Besides, if it wasn't for me, you both would be dead now, so back off!"

Tifa grabbed onto Barret's arm. "Okay, that's enough," she whispered. "Just concentrate on the next mission, not Destiny."
Barret growled. He had to admit that he needed her to do what he couldn't.

"That wasn't polite, Des," Cloud said as Tifa and Barret walked up a little ways in front of them, not being able to catch this conversation.

"I don't care. He's just jealous that he has to beg for his cash and that we're getting paid by the hour on our job as we speak."
"It's not the cash; it's your attitude, period. It's enough to tick anyone off."
"Well, maybe I should just go back to base then if they can do just fine without me."
Cloud shook his head. "Not unless you want to get fired and lose the diploma. You remember what they said about returning to SOLDIER base with the job unfinished."

Destiny shrugged. "I don't even know what our job is anymore, Cloud! We got a new mission every time we turn around! Lieutenant Naiormi failed to tell us that we'd have multiple missions at once!"
"That's what SOLDIER is all about, Des, unexpected challenges. You have to face them."
Destiny could go on and on about this for hours, but she decided to hold her tongue and talk about something different.

"You're right Cloud. Do you know what time we'd be out of this?"
He shrugged. "Hard to tell. Could be the wee hours of the morning for all we know."
Being up since eight this morning, Destiny was ready for bed now. She didn't think she could pull another all-nighter in the same week.
"Do you remember that stake-out we had to do last Monday night?" she asked with a chuckle, remembering their last mission in Corel, waiting to spot some guy shipping illegal cargo across the fields.

Cloud smiled. "Yes I do, very well. I'll never forget that one."
It was only four days ago that Cloud and Destiny came back from their last mission. They knew this one was waiting for them when they got to base that Tuesday afternoon and would have two days to rest up for it, then would be dispatched Friday morning to Midgar and meet the leader of AVALANCHE.

"Me either, especially when you fell down those stairs because I mentioned food."

He elbowed her. "Shut up, I was hungry."

"And besides that, we didn't even see anyone that entire night walk across the fields, not a single person or Chocobo!"

"I know. I was so happy when Lieutenant Naiormi called us to tell us we could go back to base and get some rest. I fell asleep the second my head hit the pillow."
"Oh yeah, me too."

The rest of the way they were mostly silent, but there was one question she had to ask before becoming totally mute.

"Cloud, what did you think of Sephiroth?" she asked.

"What did I think of Sephiroth?" he repeated. "Well, he was a good man, very brave and intelligent, but you already know that."
"How old was he? They never mentioned anything about him, except his height and weapon."
Cloud shrugged. "Whatever you know, I know, whatever you don't know, I don't."
"How old did he look?"
Cloud paused. "I'd say about late 20's, possibly early 30's. Why do you ask?"
She shrugged. "Oh, no particular reason, just ever since president Shinra mentioned him, he hasn't been able to leave my mind. His fighting skills were amazing. It's like he was created out of nowhere, just made up and full of power."
"Yeah, that's how I remember him too, but how could someone like that just die out the middle of nowhere?"
"Maybe he was killed," Cloud said, stepping up the first flight of stairs outside of the headquarters building, signaling they were getting closer.

"But who could possess the power to kill him?"

"I couldn't tell you, Des, I don't know. Maybe it was health failure, or suicide."

"It's always been a mystery to me," she said with a sigh, stepping up the last flight of stairs.

"We have to put that behind us now, it looks like we've arrived."
Destiny looked at her watch. 6:10. `Oh I hope this takes no more than 30 minutes,' she thought.

"How's our entrance going to be?" Barret asked, looking all the way up to the 70th floor.

"I think the question is: where do we start looking first?" Tifa added, looking the huge building over.

Cloud started walking towards the front door.

"Wait, you're not thinking of busting in there like that, are you?" Barret asked.

Cloud thought this over for a moment. "No, we'll use the side stairs," he said, then started walking to the other side of the building, Destiny beside him.

"Hey, wait, you guys are in SOLDIER, you should know this place pretty well," Tifa said, scooting up beside Cloud.

Cloud shook his head. "Now that I think of it, this is the first time we've been here."

"First time we've been to Midgar period," Destiny added.

The crew of 4 found the stairs at the side rather quickly. Tifa was the first one to look up to the top and drop her mouth to the floor. "Guys, do we have to climb ALL these stairs?" she asked.

Everyone else looked up as well; you couldn't even see the top of the ceiling it was so high.

"We'll go up as far as we can."
"But I thought our plan was to search the floors one by one?" Destiny rechecked.

Cloud shrugged. "We'll see how it goes from here."
Since the first door was only up one flight of stairs, Cloud decided to go back to his original plan and check them all one by one.

"Thank god we didn't have to climb all those stairs," Barret said. "Never woulda made it."

"You're telling me," Tifa said, gripping the handle, and opening the door. They had stepped out into the lobby unnoticed. Guards flooded the entire place, even the elevators. Destiny got her saber ready.

"Let's go kick some butt."

Cloud pulled out his sword as well. "I agree."
Tifa got her fists ready, and Barret readied his gun-arm. "Yep, we're here."
Destiny had to think a moment. "Wait, Cloud, don't you have the support magic materia `all'?"

Cloud thought a minute. "Yes I do, why?"
"Use it on the guards in the room."
Cloud nodded, knowing it would defeat them all

"Okay."

In giving Destiny his sword to hold, Cloud brought his hands out in front of him and shut his eyes. Concentrating hard, he growled with his mouth closed and clenched his eyes tighter. Normally it wouldn't take this long, but there were a lot of guards.

"Hey you guys!" a guard yelled. "Stop right there!"

"Hurry Cloud," Tifa said.

With one final yell, the entire room filled up with lightning bolts and each of the guards were struck dead.

"Good one Cloud," Destiny said, handing him back the sword. "Nice moves."
"Thanks," he said, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead. He sighed. "That took a lot out of me."
"Fantastic," Tifa added.

"I don't get it, those guards didn't do anything to you, but yet you still killed them. I thought you guys only fought for a good cause. Those guards could have had families back at home, jes waiting for their father/husband to come home with the money to support them," Barret said.

"True," Cloud said. "But in times like this, we don't worry about that sort of thing. SOLDIER has a motto: `Kill or be Killed'. I don't know about you, but I kill."

Barret sighed. This was going to be a long night.

It was 7:30 the next time Destiny checked her watch. Only getting to the 47th floor, she was ready to fall asleep standing up. Each of them killed over 500 guards together and still haven't found word on Aeris.

"Guys, let's just call it a night, what do you say?" she asked.

It was Tifa that was ready to agree when Cloud told everyone to be quiet while they overheard Shinra talking about Aeris in their meeting room.

"What do we do with the Ancient?" the president asked.

The blond wearing the red dress and earrings spoke at the end of the long rectangular table.

"That is up to Hojo," she said.

That rang a bell in Cloud's mind. Hojo, the expert scientist.

Hojo stood. He wore a white lab coat, long black hair, and glasses.

"Professor Hojo, what is your plan for her?"
"I want to dispose of her once we mate her with another being."
Tifa gasped. "How horrible!" she whispered.

"We wish to mate her because there are no other living Ancients in the world," explained Hojo.

"So exactly where is she?"

"She's up on the 68th floor with my other specimen. We are planning to mate them as soon as possible."
That was about as much as Destiny could handle. She walked away from the door, holding her hand over her mouth and closing her eyes.

"Destiny, what's wrong?" whispered Cloud as he followed her. Destiny reached the staircase.

"I think I'm going to be sick."
No one knew why, but this seemed to have a huge effect on her over everyone else.

"What's wrong?"
"Aeris is a human being, you can't force her to mate with something, then kill her!"
Cloud quieted her down when her voice got louder and louder with every word said.

"Destiny, it's going to be okay! We'll go get her. 68th floor, right? We'll be there."

They took an elevator up to that floor.

"The thought of that just still makes me sick, just what do they plan on mating her with?"

"Another human, of course."

"Or maybe not with anything at all, maybe just some DNA samples that they found of another living Ancient a long time ago, you never know when it comes to Shinra," Tifa said.

"Well, we're not going to know, because we are getting her out of this mess and leaving Midgar for good," Cloud said. "We're taking her and her mother to Kalm."
When that town was said, Destiny's heart jumped up into her throat, but said nothing back.

Tifa agreed.

Getting up to that floor, they opened the door and saw Aeris all by herself in the corner of a normal sized bedroom with noting in there but a chair.

"Aeris!" Cloud cried.

She looked up and the tears seemed to have melted from her eyes on contact. She grinned and stood up.

"Oh Cloud!" she cried, then ran into his arms and sobbed on his shoulder.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Cloud asked, brushing his fingers through her hair.

Aeris couldn't stop sobbing. "It was horrible, it was!"

Destiny looked around and noticed a camera up in the corner of the room. Her heart sped up and her knees grew weak. "Oh no, guys, I don't think we're alone."
Everyone joined her in the watch.
"We have to get out of here."
She turned and started for the door, but was stopped by two guards wearing heavy armor, so no magic materia could be used. They held their guns out at Destiny and the rest of the gang.

"You are to come with me now, all of you," the guard demanded. "But first, we're to pat you all down!"

First it was Destiny, because of the fact she was wearing a SOLDIER uniform. She was instructed to take her shirt and bra off. She frowned.

"No way!"

The guard growled. "Perhaps this will change your mind then."

He had put his gun in her face. Destiny gave an angry sigh and took her clothes off, her back facing the gang. The one with the gun dropped it and approached her from behind. He felt her chest softly. Destiny closed her eyes, wishing this was over.

"Hey, I will do the rest, guys," came a familiar voice from the door. Destiny gasped and spun her head around.

"Reno?!"

Reno entered with a smirk upon his angelic face. "I have been instructed to take it from here."

The guards stood up with a salute. "Yes sir."

They moved. Cloud put on an angry face. "Just what do you plan on doing to her?!" he asked loudly. Barret held him back; otherwise he'd be up in Reno's face. Cloud knew of their past and knew he liked her very much.

"Stop it Cloud," Tifa said quietly, holding his arm.

Saying nothing, Reno walked up behind Destiny's naked body and pressed himself against it. Cloud growled. Reno put both of her hands above her head and made her put them to the wall. He slowly ran his hands down her arms and to her chest lovingly. Destiny couldn't help but soft moan as his fingers grazed her nipples, making them hard.

Next, his hands traveled from her chest down to her inner thigh, where he massaged with much passion. Destiny moaned. Reno leaned over and kissed her neck.

"I knew you cared for me all along, Destiny," Reno whispered. His hand next traveled to her womanhood, where she literally jumped with excitement. Cloud was growing furious, but at the same time, wondering why she wasn't pulling back. Could she have loved him from the start and not told him? Just like she loved Sephiroth?

`How could she be doing this right here in front of me?!' Cloud's mind screamed. `She knows of my feelings! How can she do this with me here?!'

Destiny got chills as his fingers explored her world. She reached her arm around the back of his head, pulling it closer to her neck with a moan. While he was too busy playing with her lower half, Destiny readied her elbow and delivered it straight to his stomach with a fascinating blow.

With a grunt, Reno stumbled back, clenching his stomach. Cloud noticed this and was most pleased.

Destiny grabbed an article of clothing that covered up her entire front and turned around to face the fallen Reno with a gleam in her eye.

"Did you actually think I'd let you take advantage of me like this?!" she asked, half smirking, half-angry.

"Don't think you're going to get away with this, Destiny! I'll be back to get you yet! Guards, take them to the president and have him exterminate them!"

Destiny got dressed in that next second, in front of a gang that was positively amazed, especially Cloud, for he's never seen her completely naked before. Tifa and Barret were just amazed because they've never seen this sort of action before.

"Now you all must come with me," the bodyguard for Reno had said.

Without putting up a fight, Destiny and the others went along with the guards up to president Shinra.

He was at the top floor, sitting at his desk, surrounded in papers.

"I'm busy, what problems are you going to hassle me with now?!" he asked, not looking up.

"Sir, we found some people snooping on the 68th floor."
He looked up. The first one he laid eyes on was Destiny, then Cloud. He stood up in fury.

"What is this?! AVALANCHE and SOLDIER members! I want them immediately destroyed in the morning!"
Destiny felt no fear; Cloud was very good with getting out of these death situations.

"Including that Ancient! I don't give a rats ass about the Promised Land!"

"But sir-"

"DO IT!"

"Yes sir."
Each of them were taken next door and put in steel rooms with steel doors. Aeris and Tifa in one, Destiny and Cloud in the other, and Barret with some dog-like creature.

"Who the hell are you?" Barret asked.

"Name's Nanaki," the orange-red dog said as it stretched on the floor. "Hojo's specimen for tonight's experiment."

"Over my dead body you are. Don't worry, we'll get you out of here as soon as we can."
Nanaki chuckled. "That's kind of you, stranger, but there's no way out of this place once you enter it."
"Yeah, watch, we got two hotheads from SOLDIER with our group, we'll get out of here yet," Barret concluded, sitting up against the wall and closing his eyes.

Destiny and Cloud were in the cell right next to him. Destiny lay on the bed, while Cloud sat against the wall.

"Des, can I ask you something?" Cloud asked, looking at her.

"Sure."
"How come you…how come you let Reno touch you like that?!"

"It was all part of my plan, Cloud. I wasn't going to let him do anything to me; I can't stand him as is."

Cloud got angry. "You know very well you both were enjoying that!"

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "Cloud! What do you think I am?!"

He stood up. "I know you wanted this!"

She sat up as well. "What is wrong with you?!"

Cloud really didn't know what was wrong with him. Maybe it was jealousy that got him, or maybe it was just the fact that he didn't want anyone touching her. Or maybe it was him that wanted to be her first. He didn't know. It was all too confusing right now.

"I just think that you're turning into a little whore, that's what's wrong! Why is it that every guy you seem to run by, you want to get something from them?! First it was Sephiroth, then it was Reno, who next?!"

"Cloud, you know I've never done anything serious before! Please, stop this, this is crazy! I didn't know he was going to feel me up like that, it's not like I asked him to do it to me!"

Destiny had an idea where Cloud was going off to.

"But you did respond!"

"That was part of my plan!"

"Couldn't you have just knocked him out from the start?!"

"I wanted to…"

"You wanted to what?! You wanted to what?!" he yelled, getting closer and closer to her. He was almost up in her face with anger.

"What do you care anyway if I wanted that from Reno or not?! What are you going to do about it?! You don't own me! You can't tell me what to do!"

He seized her shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Enough of this! Is it so wrong for me to look out for you so you don't turn into everyone's personal whore?!"
She pushed him back. It's a good thing that the walls were made out of steel so no one could hear them screaming at one another.

"Whore nothing, Cloud! Is it so wrong to want to be loved every once in a while?! Reno loved me and he's not afraid to touch me like you are!"

Destiny was shot back as she slapped her hand over her mouth and widened her eyes.

Cloud seemed to have caught this as well. His heart sped up.

"Afraid…to touch you? I didn't know you wanted me to, I thought you said that you…that you couldn't, that your job came first."

She covered her face. "Yes I did say that and I mean it. I'm sorry I was just angry. Regardless what you think, or what it looked like, I don't love Reno and I didn't enjoy his touch."
Cloud nodded. "Okay Destiny, I believe you."

Destiny lay back down on the bed, glad that this could be resolved. She didn't blame Cloud for being concerned, she knew what she did and it probably didn't have to go that far.

"Well, at least we could now get some sleep." She checked her watch. "It's only 8:00, but I feel like I can sleep for hours."
She closed her eyes and yawned.

"Is that all you can think about is sleeping?" Cloud asked. "Des, you do realize that they are going to kill us in the morning!"

She grinned.

"I don't think so, not when they have a man named Cloud Strife in SOLDIER they won't," she said, winking at him.

Cloud grinned. "You think I'm busting out of here, do you?"

She nodded, the grin still pasted upon her face. "I know you are."
"What if I don't, hmm?"

The smirk on his face told Destiny he knew a way out of here, but wouldn't tell her.

"Come on Cloud, we have to get out of here, just tell me your plan!"
"Why yes sir my overly demanding colleague, I will!"

Out of his pocket, he pulled out a key that would get them out of the cell.

"Where did you get that?" she asked, standing up and snatching the key from him. It was a huge metal key with a strange design at the top.

"From the guard's belt," he said, taking it back. "Guess you can say that being in SOLDIER really paid off with the sneakiness."

She shook her head with a grin. "I knew you had something up your sleeve. Oh Cloud Strife, no wonder I love you so much, you think of it all."
He shrugged. "I know, what would you do without me?"
He walked over to the door, stuck the key in, and opened the door. Destiny was surprised that it didn't set off any alarms.

There was a guard, however, at the door, which Cloud just knocked out cold on contact.

He motioned for Destiny to come with him. She did. With silence, she unlocked Tifa and Aeris's door with the key she found in the guard's pocket, then Cloud got Barret and Nanaki out with the key he got.

The two girls gasped. "Destiny! How'd you get out?!"

"You'd have to ask Cloud on that, he's the expert at escapes."

"Ask me later, right now, we've done all we had to do, now we've got to get out of here pronto," Cloud said, and then lead the way out. He walked out of the room first, then gasped right away.

Destiny was in question, but then looked to see what he was gasping about, and joined in as well.

"Oh my gosh," she whispered, looking at the presidents desk. Everyone was flabbergasted and motionless.

"He's…dead. The president of Shinra is dead!" Tifa said.

"Good, serves him right for doing all that wrong to the city! Now Shinra is no more!"
Cloud and Destiny didn't listen to him, for they were too much focused on what he was killed with. Both of them walked over together. Their mouths dropped open and their eyes widened.

"It's Sephiroth's masamune," Destiny whispered breathlessly, then gave a tiny sob. "I'd know that anywhere."

Both of them looked over their shoulders to notice Barret had someone to talk to. Palmer, co-head of the company, fell victim to him.

"Who did this, did you see?" Barret asked.

Cloud and Destiny walked closer.

"It was Sephiroth, I saw him with my own eyes!" Palmer said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He was petrified.

"Sephiroth's dead, he couldn't have done this!" Destiny insisted. "He's been dead for a year now!"
Short Palmer shook his head and took out a handkerchief. "No, he was really here, I swear I saw him! Long silver hair, Mako green eyes, black cape, and that long masamune, which is impaled into the president right now!"

Cloud folded his arms. "Only Sephiroth can use a masamune, it had to have been him."

"I have to get out of here before I'm next!" Palmer said, then ran out of there.

"We should go to," Barret said. "Let's follow him."
"But…Sephiroth…" Destiny started, looking back. She started getting butterflies in her stomach as tears formed in her eyes.

"Sephiroth's gone, Destiny, he's dead, let's get out of here!" Cloud said, pulling her by the arm.

"That was his masamune, Cloud! Anyone would have seen that for themselves!"

"Not now Des, we have to get out of here."

Sephiroth wouldn't leave her mind.

Getting down to the first floor, they noticed cops and guards of all kinds surrounded the place.

"Great, what are we going to do now?" Tifa asked.

There was only one thing left to do and Cloud had the idea. He ran over to the side where there was a blue truck and a motorcycle on display.

"Tifa, you drive, Aeris, you get into the passenger side. Barret and Nanaki, get in the back! If we want this done right, we must do it fast!"
They agreed and got into their positions. As soon as they got the truck started up full blast, Cloud jumped on a motorcycle, and Destiny got behind him quickly. She sealed herself to his body tightly.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing! You can't take that!" a guard shouted.

"Are you all set, Des?" Cloud asked, ignoring the guard.

"Yes Cloud, go for it!" she said, then held onto his waist as he turned the motorcycle on. Not waiting for the others, he flew out of there in the next second. It was extremely loud, and Destiny was itching to cover her ears, but it just had to be dealt with. The only thing that was going through her mind right now was succession. She was with Cloud, Cloud succeeded every time. She had just been too blind lately to notice that.

Looking over her shoulder, she had noticed the guards leaving the building, waiting for them on the other side.

"Hold on!" he yelled to her suddenly over the noise and wind. Cloud kicked it up to full speed and they ripped right across the lobby and headed for a window.

`He's nuts!' she cried in her mind. She gripped his waist harder and laid her head on his upper back and clenched her eyes tightly as they broke through the window and landed on the Midgar Highway ten feet below. Tifa kicked up her speed as well and followed them. After landing on the ground with a thud and a bounce, Destiny picked her head up with a wince.

"Are you alright?!" Cloud yelled over the wind and engine.

"I'm fine!"

Destiny looked behind her shoulder and noticed that some Shinra soldiers were coming at them on motorcycles.

"Cloud, they're approaching fast!" Destiny yelled. "We have to do something!"

Cloud drew out his long sword and waited for them to come to his side. When one did, Destiny watched as he smacked him with the sword, making him fall off the bike. He repeated this procedure to all that tried to attack them. Each time, she listened to the painful cries of the guards as they fell off their 70 M.P.H. moving motorcycles and hit the ground, which tore them up into shreds. She felt horrible.

That didn't stop any of the others, however, they just kept on coming.

Just to be safe, Tifa sped up ahead of him, while Cloud took care of all that dared to cross him.

Destiny didn't take her eyes off the blue truck that sped up ahead of them. Then, managing to get a sneak peek at her watch, she noticed it was nearly nine.

Not paying any attention, she felt something sharp in her back. She winced painfully and turned her head; there was a guard behind her that stuck the tip of his sword about an inch into her back. Taking a look at him, he was laughing and trying to push it in more.

"Cloud, move over!" she cried as best as her weakened voice allowed her to and tried to avoid stumbling off the bike.

He looked behind his shoulder and noticed the guard behind Destiny. He moved over to the side, like told, and slammed the sword up against the guard's head, making him fall on contact. The sword was ripped out of Destiny's back as the guard had fallen to the ground.

She struggled to ignore the pain in her back and grip onto Cloud's waist, but found herself losing her grip, due to the pain.

"Cloud, Cloud!" she cried with scare, feeling herself slip, only gripping him with her fingertips.

Cloud felt her struggling to reach. Not knowing what was wrong with her, grabbed her hand, pulling her up again. Luckily for Destiny, the highway had come to an end and there were no other soldiers following them.

Cloud stopped dead at the end of the highway, jolting Destiny's body forward into him with a grunt.

Because of the fact that he had to let go of her hand to stop the motorcycle, she fell off sideways, landing on the ground. She was half out of it.

"Destiny!" Tifa cried, running over to her and lifting her head up. Destiny moaned softly. Tifa placed her hand comfortingly on the side of her cheek.

"What's wrong with her?!" Cloud cried, getting off the bike and allowing it to fall to the ground with a thud. Dropping to his knees, heart in deep sadness, took Destiny into his lap.

"Des, speak to me!"

While cradling her, he noticed a pile of blood on the ground. Only thinking for a second on how this could have happened, he knew it was that guard who did this to her and that's what caused her to lose grip.

"Oh Des, I'm so sorry," he said, then held her limp body close. "I didn't know. This is all my fault!"

"N-No, no it…it's not…Cloud," Destiny said very weakly, barely able to keep her eyes open.

Cloud gasped. "Des! Oh Destiny!"

She shook her head and gave a small violent cough that scared Cloud greatly. He took hold of her hand and held it in his.

"Please don't die on me Destiny, please!"

From the way things were now, Cloud didn't think she had a chance.

It was in that moment that Destiny began to shake violently. Cloud gripped her shoulders and tried to hold her down so she wouldn't hurt herself.

"Destiny!" he cried in terror. Everyone else seemed to just share Cloud's feelings and wonder what was going to happen next.

"She's going into shock!" Barret announced and helped Cloud hold her down. Cloud's heart jumped up in his throat as this was something he couldn't dream of seeing happen to his beloved Destiny. When Barret held her down, her eyes snapped open and so did her mouth, almost like she was gasping for air. No matter how hard the two tried holding her body down, she managed to come up some each time. It wasn't long before she began her gasping for air.

"Please Destiny, you have to make it! Please Des!"

Destiny stopped shaking and gasping, just laid there again with her eyes closed. Cloud had never been more relieved that that was over. He went back to stroking her cheek with the back of his fingertips, praying she'd make it.

Destiny opened her eyes half way again and concentrated on Cloud's face. She reached up her free hand and lightly touched his cheek.

"Oh Des," he whispered.

"I…I won't…I won't die. It…doesn't even hurt anymore."

Cloud started to cry as he saw tears come out of Destiny's eyes.

One of his tears rolled down his cheek and onto her hand. Soon, she closed her eyes again.

"Please don't die," he whispered, then held her up and sobbed with his cheek up against her head. "You can't die!"

"She won't," Barret said, standing there with his arms folded. "That girl's ego is too tough to be blown away that easily."
Cloud looked up. "You think so?"

Barret nodded. "I know so."
Cloud stood up, taking Destiny with him in his arms. He stared down at her emotionless face, then the puddle of blood beneath him. He gave her a light tap on the cheek with his lips, and then brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

"I have to get her out of Midgar and to the nearest town. Where would that be?" he asked, not taking his eyes off of her.

Aeris answered this one. She stepped forward. "It's not much, Cloud, but it's only a half a mile away. A place called Kalm."
Cloud hesitated. "Her hometown. I don't know about that."
"Come on, man! What's worse, keeping her away from bad memories, or her dying?!"

Cloud nodded. He didn't know what he would do if Destiny died right under his nose and he could have done something to prevent it.

"Right then, let's go."

They arrived at Kalm a half-hour later. Destiny was right, this place was beautiful. There were trees, birds, grass, flowers, everything. It sure was a great place to live.

Seems as though Aeris knew the place well. She directed the gang to a one-room hospital that was empty at the moment. Cloud rushed Destiny in there right away. The short, blond, mid 40 year old, attended to them immediately. It also appeared that the woman also recognized Destiny.

"Destiny!" she cried, throwing her hands to her face. "Oh no, what happened to her?!"
"She was wounded in the back," Cloud informed. "Help her!"

She nodded. "Oh yes, yes, right away!"

She directed Cloud into the next room, where he laid her down on the stomach.

"How long will it take before she's able to move on?" Aeris asked.

The doctor stood there, making a mental calculation.

"Come back tomorrow morning, she should be well enough then."
Cloud nodded and thanked his lucky stars it wasn't more serious than that.

The gang was invited to stay in the hotel that night, free of charge, due to their liking of Destiny, and her horrible accident. They got two rooms, one for Barret, Tifa, and Nanaki. The other for Cloud and Aeris, who insisted she'd sleep with him in the same room.

He ignored Aeris most of the time and just spent his time staring out the window mindlessly, thinking of what he would do if he ever lost Destiny, like he almost did today.

"I don't know what I would do if she left me," he muttered to himself, putting his hand over his face. "I think I'd rather be dead that go on."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Aeris got it. Cloud looked over and noticed Barret and the others entering the room. Barret walked until he was at the corner of the bed and took a seat. Cloud stood up from the window.

"Yo, Cloud, what's your deal with Sephiroth?" Barret asked. Tifa went over to stand with Cloud, giving him comfort like a friend would.

"I saw the look in your eyes when you saw that masamune blade through president Shinra's body. What's the deal?"
Cloud sighed. "It's a long story."
"I got the time."
Cloud walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, a little ways from Barret. "It all happened when I was eighteen. I admired Sephiroth greatly. I'd do anything for him! Then one time, during one of our missions, we stopped at Nibelheim to take that tour of Mt. Nibel and to the reactor. Tifa was our guide that day. Anyway, I noticed Sephiroth's attitude greatly change. Worried, I went down to the basement of the Shinra mansion to talk to him. I found him reading books about his ancestors, and mine as well. It was later learned that the Sephiroth now was a clone from the Sephiroth Des and I knew back in SOLDIER, only the clone was implanted in the womb of Jenova, who is an Ancient, like Aeris. Meaning this Sephiroth was a clone from the real one. This one's more cold and ruthless than the first."
"Hold up, so this Sephiroth's an Ancient?" Barret asked.

Cloud nodded. "But that's only the beginning. After he found that out, he's become angry, mentally and physically. I spent the night in the mansion, then when I woke up the next morning, Sephiroth had the entire town of Nibelheim, and everyone in it, engulfed in flames. It was horrible! Nothing left!" Cloud covered his face while remembering this horrible memory.

Barret frowned. "Okay…"
"Then I followed Sephiroth back up to the Nibelheim reactor up top Mt. Nibel and faced him once and for all. He joined forces with his mother and tried to take me on after I saw him wound Tifa and got into his face."

"Then what happened?"
Cloud shook his head. "I don't know. In terms of strength, I couldn't have killed him, but I know I wasn't killed, because I'm still here.

"When I arrived back at base, Destiny was there to greet me with a new mission, so Sephiroth quickly left my mind."
"Does Destiny know about this?"
"No she doesn't. Destiny was under the impression that that was the Sephiroth from SOLDIER, the one she's liked and admired. She has no idea this was an evil clone that's tried to kill people. The real Sephiroth died days before this trip to Mt. Nibel from what I heard, but his body was found days after. Hojo snuck in and stole some of Sephiroth's DNA as he was dead, and just left his body to freeze in the snow. I didn't tell Destiny that Sephiroth was dead until two years later, when she was seventeen. She just was lead to believe that Sephiroth left SOLDIER and didn't return, that was the best way we could explain his absence to her." He lowered his head. "But as it stands, he's back and as evil as ever."
"Hold up right there, so you're telling me that you knew Sephiroth was a clone?!"

He nodded. "I did, I could sense it. Sephiroth was so different. I didn't know he was a clone, however, until he told me in the basement that night. I just never wanted to tell Destiny."

"What are you so afraid of when it comes to her and Sephiroth?" Aeris asked.

Cloud sighed. "As Destiny's team member, it is my duty to protect her from harm and in my honest opinion, a guy that burns a town to the ground, needs to be kept a secret from a mere teenager."
Aeris nodded slowly. "I understand."
"So, now that he's back, what are you going to do?"
Cloud folded his hands in his lap. "Sephiroth's alive; I have to settle the score. He burned my hometown to ashes, all because he found out he was a clone from the SOLDIER Sephiroth and has the blood of an Ancient running within his veins!"
"You don't stand a chance against something that powerful Cloud," Tifa said with worry.

"Oh I'll find a way. Not a word of this to Destiny, I will tell her when the time's right. If she knows Sephiroth's alive, she'll go crazy. Keep this among yourselves, please."
They all nodded.

"But what about the masamune?" Tifa asked.

Cloud shook his head. "I'll try and make her forget about it. I'll tell her and convince her that it wasn't Sephiroth's."

Shortly after, Barret and Tifa left for their room, while Cloud and Aeris got settled into their own room. It felt so strange not having Destiny with him; his heart felt like it would collapse. Then knowing she was in the hospital made him even more depressed.

"It's nice having a room with you Cloud," Aeris said, pulling back the blankets to the bed, then getting under them with a romantic sigh. It didn't take a genius for Cloud to realize that she liked him in that way and even felt uncomfortable sleeping in the same bed as her

He faced her. Instead of seeing the gorgeous Mako eyes of Destiny, he saw gem green eyes of Aeris. He hated it and wished for Destiny to get well again.

"Aeris, you are aware that nothing's going to happen between us, right?"
Instead of Aeris agreeing, she stalled.

"Well…no, I thought you liked me."
Cloud sighed. "I've known you one day, Aeris."
"It's Destiny, isn't it?" she asked quickly, narrowing her eyes. "You like her, don't you? Even though I saved your life, you still love her!"

"I thank you for saving my life, Aeris, but Destiny's my partner. We've spent 24/7 together for five years straight. This is my first night away from her, give me a break."

"You still didn't answer my question, Cloud," she said immediately. "Do you like her?"

He paused. It wasn't going to satisfy her, unless he's got the right answer, but Cloud didn't care to satisfy her.

"Yes I do, you happy now? I love Destiny mentally and physically."
The more he said that, the more he believed himself to have loved her, even though he's struggled to terminate those feelings for years.

"How much?"

That was a good question that was hardly ever given any thought. He loved Destiny to the point where he'd do anything for her, but just how much is that exactly.

"I love her to the point where I'd give my own life to save her."
"And what about me? I saved your life, and Marlene's, what do I get in return?"

Cloud began to fear angry within. His fists began to clench.

"We rescued you from a near death situation, risked our lives in the Shinra building, Destiny ended up in the hospital with a stab wound while escaping the place, then we all nearly getting killed in the process of escape! Isn't that good enough?!" he yelled, not thinking about these words he shot.

"I refuse to sleep with you Aeris Gainsborough, no matter what situation you were in. I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way towards you."

Aeris was angry. So angry, she fumed in the face until it was beet red.

"And I thought you were so unlike all the other guys! I hope Destiny gets metal poisoning and dies!"

Cloud's mouth dropped. The thought of that happening made him go weak at the knees. Aeris turned away from him, lying on her side. How could she have said that about Destiny?
Just then, a vision of Destiny popped into his mind. They where at their first mission even together when she was fifteen. Little Destiny, she was so loving and carefree. He then pictured her smiling at him. Cloud could only thank god she wasn't dead and hoped she wouldn't be either.

He was about ready to walk over to the bed when suddenly his mind told him to stop and think about what really should be done now.

"Destiny would do this for me," he whispered, then raced over to put his shoes on. Curious, Aeris looked over her shoulder.

"Cloud?"
"Enjoy your night alone, I'm going to the place where I should have gone from the beginning."

And with that, he set out of the room and made his way outside without telling anyone. It was clearly obvious he was off to see and be with Destiny again.

He stepped out into the breezy night and walked along the road of rocks to the tiny house-sized hospital. It was a beautiful star lit night, one of those nights he loved sharing with Destiny. Both of them would spend hours outside together, just looking at the stars and telling one another their hopes and dreams for the future. Even talked about the past on occasion.

He approached the home and knocked on the door. The 40-year-old woman answered. She grinned.

"Why Cloud, back so soon?"
"I was worried about Destiny. Do you mind if I stay here with her overnight?"

She shook her head instantly. "Not at all, please, go in."
Cloud stepped into the room. There was Destiny, alive and well, but still resting comfortably on her back.

"The wound wasn't bad, it just hit a nerve, causing her to lose muscle use and cut off the flow of blood to the brain temporarily, causing her to first go into shock, then black out, but she's a lot better and is just sleeping as of now."
Cloud was so happy that he could have kissed the ground the woman walked on.

"Thank you so much."
She grinned and waved her hand. "Hey no problem, glad I could help."

When she left, Cloud just sat and stared at Destiny as she slept. He's done this before, several times. Not knowing why he enjoyed this, he just liked the peaceful look on her face, signaling she was fearless, not a worry in the world. He took his fingertip and gently brushed her bangs out of her face.

She moaned quietly and opened her eyes with a flutter, looking over at Cloud, he grinned weakly.

"Cloud. My hero's come to my rescue," she said in a whisper.
He grinned.

"Of course I have." He then paused for a second. "I'm so sorry I didn't know about the guard, Des, it's all my fault."

While he was punishing himself, she touched his arm lovingly. "It's not your fault, Cloud, you didn't know any more than I did. I'm sorry I had to bring you all out of the way to tend to my needs."
He placed his finger over her lips to stop her from talking. "Shh, I don't want to hear it."

Suddenly, and while staring into his gorgeous blue eyes, she kissed his finger, then opened her mouth to take in his finger, sucking and licking the tip. Cloud felt himself harden as she licked the tip with a wet tongue. Not because of the person, but by the feeling alone. He moaned slightly.
"Oh Des, what are you doing to me?" he asked, shutting his eyes, not removing the finger.

She seized his hand, then devoured his middle finger as well. Finally, she ended up just kissing the tips. He had no idea what had just come over her and suddenly. Here was the girl that constantly told him to back off, but here she was now, getting him aroused by the second.

"Destiny…what's wrong with you?"
"Cloud, we've been through a lot and I think we have more in common than we thought. I know I'm eating my words, but I think we should take it to the next level."
Cloud was nearly shot back. She must have still been a little warped from the medication. Cloud didn't want to do anything, for fear he'd take advantage of her while on the painkillers.

"I don't know if that's a good idea Des, you need your rest. I'll be right here with you."
She looked disappointed, but agreed. He watched as she slowly drifted off to sleep then made himself comfortable on the floor. Take it to the next level? Was she serious? She sure sounded it.

All these thoughts were running through Cloud's mind, he got very scared; scared mostly because he knew he'd probably end up falling in her trap of pure romance and love, then end up hurting her in the end. No, this couldn't be done, he couldn't give her this, it would totally just ruin their happy moments together.

Cloud drifted off to sleep with this thought in mind.

Sunday, April 14

Cloud woke up first that morning, as always. Looking at the wall clock, he noticed it was 8:00 even.

Standing up, the first thing he laid eyes on was Destiny, all curled up in a ball, sleeping peacefully.

He placed his hand softly on her shoulder and shook her gently.

"Des…Destiny," he whispered. "Wake up."

He knew she was never a morning person, especially if she was out all day the previous day. To his utter surprise, she moaned and her eyes fluttered open. She looked up and smiled immediately at Cloud.

"Cloud! You didn't forget about me!"

She jumped up and hugged him. "I'm so sorry I made you come out of your way for me."

Cloud frowned.

"What?"

"Huh?"
She looked at him. "I said thank you for-"

"I know what you said…you said it before."

It was her turn to frown. "What?"

"You don't remember what you said last night before you fell asleep?"
She had to think for a moment. "No. I don't remember seeing you at all last night. The last time I saw you was on the Midgar highway before I blacked out."
Cloud sighed with relief. Good, she forgot. The thought of her and him fled his mind for good that day.

Her frown still remained. "What did I say?"
He let his mouth hang open for a second before speaking.

"Well…you said something to me about wanting to go home and that you were tired of traveling with these people."
Her frown remained. "I said that?"
He nodded. "That's what I heard, then I told you to go to sleep and you agreed."

She got silent, and then suddenly, he saw tears in her eyes.

"Des?"

She covered her face and sobbed.

"Cloud, I'm not a moron, I know what I said last night! If you didn't want to take it to the next level, then just say so! You didn't have to lie to me!"

He covered his face with a heavy sigh. "Des, we've been through this before."
"But we've never really discussed it!"

"You know I want to Destiny, but we can't! It'll completely ruin all of our past!"

"No it won't!" she protested. "It'll only bring us closer!"

He shook his head.

"Cloud, I love you! I thought you felt the same!"

He closed his eyes. "You're letting the other part of you come back again. I told you before, I don't like the new Destiny, I like the old one."

"The old one never said that she loved you, she was so stuck on her job rather than the people she loved! I don't like her."
Cloud had to think long and hard about this. Although it pained him greatly to say this, but he had to.
"Well, if you don't get her back, then…I don't want anything to do with you."

She gasped as her mouth hung open. Cloud spun around and left the room. He loved Destiny, there was no doubt about it, but not when she was all mushy like this. He loved her as a hard working, serious girl, like when they first arrived at Midgar. Ever since then, she's changed drastically. He didn't like it.
"Oh Destiny, I beg of you, please return to me."

He then returned to the hotel, everyone was up and ready for him.

"Yo Cloud, where were you?" Barret asked as Cloud entered the lobby. He stood beside Tifa.

"Sorry, I just went to see Destiny."
Tifa's eyes widened. "And?"
Cloud sighed. "Not good."
He suddenly saw a smile on Aeris's face. He saw it and glared.

"I mean, she's reverted back to her other self again."
Tifa and Barret knew what he was talking about. Barret growled. "Well, she better not go flouncing around with you, we have work to do."
Cloud nodded. "I won't, don't worry. I already told her that I didn't want anything to do with her if she was like that. I didn't want to say it, but it was for her own good."

"You must have hurt her feelings so bad Cloud," Tifa said with a short sigh.

Cloud folded his arms. "I know, I know, but I didn't know of any other way to say it. I love her, I always have, but not when she's obsessive like this. I can't even get a drink of water without her thinking something's in it."

"She's just going through a phase, she'll outgrow it."

"We can't get anything done if she's like this." He looked up to everyone. "I think it's better if we leave her here."

Cloud had not believed he just said that. It was like another part of him was speaking.
Tifa's eyes went wide. "Cloud, you can't mean that. Destiny's the best we have!"
He shook his head. "Believe me Tifa, when she's like this, there's no stopping her."
"I agree with Tifa," Barret said, folding his arm. "Who else is going to be able to stop the Shinra? Neither one of us is that powerful."
Cloud thought for a moment. "Isn't Shinra finished? The president's dead, remember?"

Barret nodded. "Yeah, but he has a son, Rufus, who will carry out the plan. He needs to be stopped. We need Destiny."
Cloud extended his arms. "What am I, chopped liver? You guys got me! I'm in the same class as Destiny!"
"Two heads are better than one," Barret countered.

"I think Cloud's right," Aeris said. "We should leave Destiny here and let her recover."

Cloud knew what she was up to, but didn't say anything, just agreed.

Barret paused, then finally sighed. "Okay we will. We'll come back and get her once our mission is complete."
Once everyone else agreed, they heard an angry voice in the doorway of the hotel. Each one looked back and noticed Destiny there and dressed in her blue uniform with the SOLDIER trademark, carrying her saber.

"You will do no such thing. I'm not getting paid for my health."
Her hair was neatly combed and put back in a ponytail. She watched as each of them stared at her mindlessly.

"Well, let's go, I don't have all day."
Putting the saber in its sheathe, she walked out the door.

"Sounds like she's out of her phase already," Tifa said.

Cloud sighed. `Oh Destiny, what has gotten into you?' he thought.

During their walk to their next destination, the town of Junon, which was in the process of putting on a parade for the new president of Shinra and was welcoming all non-SOLDIER candidates. Cloud kept his eyes off Destiny the best he could, but kept finding himself looking at her with confusion in his mind. Sure he admitted into loving her before, even tried to go onto the next level as well, but was smart and backed off before things got too out of hand.

`Why does she want this so bad?' he thought. `Doesn't she like this the way it is? Our partnership? Why does relationship have to fall in the middle? Why?!'

"Earth to Cloud!"

Cloud snapped out of this thought to Tifa tugging on his arm.

"Oh, yes? Sorry," he muttered.

Tifa chuckled. "Barret just wanted to remind you that once you get there, NOT to get involved in the parades and things of the sort."
Barret, Nanaki, and Aeris had gone a separate way, while Destiny went with Tifa and Cloud. Barret always had a thing about traveling in groups.

"Oh sure, no problem."
Tifa looked to Destiny. "That okay with you?"
Destiny raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, sure, why not?"

Tifa nodded. "Okay. Once we get there, we have to dress into the uniforms that the guards wear, and disguise ourselves as one of them, then jump aboard the cargo ship that'll take us to Costel Del Sol, then eventually get us to Mt. Nibel where-"

"Tifa!" Cloud hissed.

Tifa gasped remembering not to talk about Sephiroth in front of Destiny.

"…Where the reactor is. Another thing that's carrying Mako energy and must be destroyed."
She turned her head and fake sobbed at her corny lie.

Cloud suddenly remembered their mission in Junon, then the one in Costel Del Sol. Junon, their very first one together, the one that brought them closer. He had wondered if Destiny was thinking the same thing when she heard the Junon mission.
"To avoid the guards, we'll simply have to walk in the alleys, dressed like guards. We may get yelled at, and that's when you book, got it?"

Since Barret wasn't here to give the rules, Tifa was next in line.

"Yeah, got it."

Tifa was afraid to ask Destiny, so she just assumed she went along with it.

Suddenly, Destiny let down her beautiful long black hair, then waved her fingers through them, letting off this wonderful aroma that just filled Cloud's nostrils. It was almost like a trance spell. The scent was so…beautiful…just like her…

Cloud placed his hand over his face. `Stop it! Stop it now!'

He listened to his thoughts and just continued to walk. She ran her fingers through her hair from front to back, then shook her head slightly, allowing the sides to fall over her face, then pushed the strands behind her ears. Cloud stared at her beautiful blue Mako eyes and watched them sparkle in the sunlight. God he loved her, more than anything. So, why doesn't he just swoop her up in his arms and take her into his love life, forgetting about all that stuff of what they are supposed to be and be what they want to be?

He shook his head yet again and continued to ignore his feelings for her. It wouldn't be right.

It took them a little over an hour on foot to reach Junon. When they did, Barret and his gang were waiting for them in the square, buying useful items to help them on their trip. He was the first to notice Cloud and waved.

"Glad you all could make it. We have to hurry and find the cargo ship, it leaves in fifteen minutes," he informed.

Cloud nodded. "Will do."
Barret then looked to Destiny and pointed to her outfit. "You might want to change your outfit. You're libel to get shot if you wear that here with Shinra around."
Instead of complaining, Destiny looked around. She then noticed there was a Shinra guard near the elevator they would need to get to the upper part of the city where the parade was taking place now.

"Then go get me that uniform that guard is wearing. If you do that, I will change."
Cloud looked at her in shock. She looked back.

"I'm serious. The last thing I want to do is get the gang caught."
Barret nodded and headed to the guard.

"Yo man, sup?" he said, approaching him. The guard frowned.

"If you want to use the elevator, you have to give me 10 gil," he said.

Instead, Barret leaned over to him. "I've just come to warn you that someone's after you and that you should come with me for a second."
The guard deep frowned. "What?"

Barret motioned for him to follow. The guard did. When they were in an area where there were no people, Barret turned around to face him.

"What's going on?"
Just then, Cloud knocked the guard upside the head hard, knocking him out. He fell limply to the floor.

"There you go Destiny, now you got yourself an outfit."
They undressed the guard, leaving him in nothing but his underwear, socks, and the shoes. Since the uniform was big enough, Destiny wore it over her SOLDIER uniform and just kept her old shoes on.

"So?" she asked, spinning in a circle, then waved her fingers through her hair. "How do I look?"
Tifa chuckled. "Very interesting. You're starting to look like Cloud now."
Cloud blushed and shrugged. He was in fact wearing a Shinra-like uniform already, only his was purple, hers was blue.

After they got that situated, they took the elevator up to the top and exited it. They walked out to a hallway that guards were running down to catch up in the parade.

"Guys, this doesn't look too good," Barret said as they saw a Shinra commander walking down the hall. "Cloud, Destiny, you guys are going to have to march in the parade. Aeris, Tifa, Nanaki, and myself are going to board that cargo ship and stall for you. If we all get caught, it'll leave without us."
Cloud and Destiny agreed. Barret and the others ran off before the commander could catch them.

"Hey you both! What are you doing here?!"

Cloud and Destiny pretended to look clueless.

"Oh I get it, you're our latecomers I see. Well, get moving! The parade is going on now!"

Cloud and Destiny nodded to avoid any confrontations and left for the parade in the street beside them. Destiny had butterflies in her stomach and Cloud was just plain nervous.

They got into the back of the line and, side by side, began to march as one with the rest of them. In the background, music was playing to welcome the new president of Shinra.

"Hey, you two!"
Cloud cringed. They haven't even taken two steps and already someone was calling out for them.

"Make a run for it Des," he whispered.

She looked at him with a frown. "What?"
"Just do it, we can't get caught."
She nodded and led them out first. Cloud followed. Both were running as fast as they could.

"Stop them!" the guard yelled out.

Cloud figured they saw Destiny. They knew she was the only girl within the battling systems and right now was their enemy. They would stop at nothing to capture SOLDIER.

Feeling scared, Destiny looked behind her shoulder as she ran. Armed guards broke from the parade and followed them down the empty road. Suddenly, Destiny felt herself grow weak quickly because of the wound. She whimpered as she struggled to run faster, but found it impossible. Butterflies filled her entire stomach again as she feared both Cloud and her would lose their lives because of her.

"Cloud, I can't run anymore…" she said, then began to slow down and stumble. She gasped for air and felt faint.

Cloud stopped in worry, ignoring the guards that were traveling close behind them.

"Des!"

She closed her eyes and felt the faint come closer, then she collapsed to the ground. Gasping, he ran to her and picked up her limp body off the ground.

"There he is!" the guard shouted, then ran after him. "Stop now!"
Cloud, running as fast as he could with an extra 120 lbs. in his arms, managed to get into the view of the cargo ship, which was just seconds away from departure.

"Hold on Destiny, we're almost there," he said to the young girl who was taken out of the fight.
He ran to the cargo ship and dove inside before he was spotted. As he was looking out the doors to make sure they weren't following him, they shut. He sighed with relief…they were safe.

"Thank god for that."

Since they were in the cargo area alone, Cloud decided to wait until Destiny awoke before going to see the others. He laid her down on the floor, propping her head up on a small, flat crate he found. The light that was on above him made it available to see her.

He was jolted back a tad when the ship started up and began moving. After a second, he ignored it and put his attention fully on Destiny. His heart alone sped up just by looking at her. She was so beautiful, even in sleep. He felt the urge to touch and hold her again.

"I don't care anymore; I don't care how we're supposed to be."

Cloud reached over and kissed her softly on the lips. He missed those lips, his lips. Wanting more, and ignoring her past speeches on how this behavior could change their lives, he drove his tongue over her upper and lower lips, getting aroused by the second. He wanted her more than he could ever imagine, ignoring the past.

`I don't care, I don't care!' Cloud thought, saying what he said before, but mentally. `I don't care what we're supposed to be, or about the damn job. I want you!'

Just then, Destiny woke up to Cloud over her lips. Her eyes widened.

"Cloud!" she said in surprise, under his passionate kiss. He snapped opened his eyes and took his lips away in the next fraction of a second.

She sat up with shock written across her face.

"I thought you didn't want me like that."
Cloud shrugged slightly, then put his hand over his face. He didn't know what he wanted now. She placed her hand over his arm and pulled his hand slightly away from his face. "Cloud, you don't need to be afraid. We're graduating from SOLDIER in just a few short months, who cares what mistakes we make now. Hiding our love from one another is just going to make us angry." She paused, not even thinking about what she was saying. Love got the best of her. "Do you love me Cloud? I mean, like that?"
Oh god yes, yes he loved her more than anything. He looked at her gorgeous face, right down to her lips in which he claimed just seconds ago, then looked at the rest of her, engulfing his heart into flames.
"You don't have to be afraid," she whispered comfortingly.
He nodded, putting the past's words of wisdom behind him. "Yes I do. I love you Destiny Mikamura, more than life itself."

She looked into his eyes and those told her that he wasn't lying. With those words, their lives would be changed forever.

His hand reached up and was placed on her left cheek. He softly caressed her lips with his thumb. This feeling alone just gave Destiny the chills. Her breathing got slightly heavier as well. Cloud could tell she was scared, no matter how much she said she wanted this. Just then, not removing his hand, Cloud touched her lips slightly with his. It was Destiny that wrapped both arms around him, pushing him closer to her. She pulled him on top of her, still kissing him and using tongue. She was so thrilled he did this, but so scared at the same time. She's wanted this for as long as she could remember, just never had the courage to do it. Now that it was being done, she didn't want it to end.

She moaned under his kiss. Cloud brought her back down to the ground, taking both of her tops off in the process, leaving her in her bra. She felt slightly embarrassed about that, but quickly got over it. Eagerly, he unclipped it, then kissed her bare chest for the first time, licking and sucking at each one of the nipples that hardened on contact. She gasped in ecstasy, getting more and more desperate for him.

It pleased him to hear her gasps and cries for more. He knew he was in full control here.

She got chills all over her body from this pleasure she was feeling for the first time with him. His hands traveled down to her waistline and took off both of the bottom halves of the uniforms, leaving her almost totally naked. Her head was tossed back as he drove his tongue up her stomach, past her navel, past her chest, and back up to her beautiful lips. He slowly spread her legs and allowed himself to set in between them. Still kissing her, he freed one hand and gripped the underwear strap. She helped him get them off, then flicked them away with her foot. She was completely naked beneath him.

"Oh Cloud," she moaned, not able to take this torture anymore. Her body was calling out to him. "Please, make me yours."
That's a command he'd be more than willing to complete. Using his tongue, he gently encircled her clitoris, making her gasp suddenly. The more he did it, the more she felt herself come to an orgasm. It got to the point where she felt it approaching fast and cried out. That's what gave Cloud the signal to go harder. She thrust her hips at him, wanting the best of the orgasm.

It suddenly hit her and she cried out his name at the top of her lungs a few times until it died down, not caring who heard her. All the juices that extracted from her, Cloud licked up in seconds, making sure not to leave a drip. Destiny had never felt luckier. Tossing her head from side to side, she panted so loud, the upper deck could have heard it. He watched her beautiful black bangs stick to her forehead as little beads of sweat grazed it. Cloud backed off and removed his uniform next, followed by his boxers. Destiny watched this and noticed his hardened manhood. It was hers for the taking.

She got to her knees, while he continued to stand. He watched her virgin mouth take him in. As she sucked at him and rubbed him endlessly everywhere, he tossed his head back and groaned. This was wonderful. To make matters better, it was Destiny Mikamura giving him this pleasure. He wouldn't have it any other way. This was too good to be thinking about the words of the past.

As he was ready to explode, he gave one final cry of her name, then released his seed into her mouth. With eagerness, she licked it all up, not leaving a drop behind.

He then dropped to his knees and kissed her. She used her tongue roughly. He pushed her to the ground, wanting this more than anything. He knew it was only a matter of time before she was his. It was then that Destiny snapped. She had woken up and realized what she was doing.

Just as he lined up his manhood with her, she spoke the words no man would want to hear at this point.

"Cloud, no," she panted. "No, we can't do this. We can't do this here. Please."
Cloud was so tempted to just give her what she asked for before, but instead, he sighed and laid his head in the middle of her chest. Somehow he had a feeling she was going to do this.

"How could you have done this to me?" he whispered.

"I'm so sorry; please don't be angry with me."

Cloud stood up and turned his back on her to get dressed. Feeling guilty that she did this to him, she began sobbing slightly. They were so close.

Destiny put both pairs of uniforms on, still feeling horrible.

"Cloud…"

He still had his back turned to her. He sighed.

"What Des?"
"I'm sorry I did this to you. I know I was leading you on and it was wrong for me to stop, but it should be special when we do this. It shouldn't be done on a cargo ship. The next time-"

"Des," he interrupted.

She paused. "What?"
"There won't be a next time," he said quietly, then faced her. "I'm sorry myself for doing this. It should have never happened. When I said "how could you have done this to me" I meant how could you have did what you did. This just made me realize what wrong it was."
Her mouth opened in shock as her eyes began to water slightly again.

"You used me then."

Cloud's mouth dropped as well. "No Des…"

"You used me!" she cried out. "You used me for your own pleasures! Thank god I stopped you before I made the biggest mistake of my life!"

She turned away from him and began walking to the stairs that would take her to the first floor. Pain and hurt filled her eyes and heart. This is what she was afraid of with Cloud. Everything just went blank when she decided to give herself to him, she wasn't thinking in the manner she should have been.

"Hold on a second right there!" Cloud yelled, then ripped her back by the arm, making her face him. A little cry of surprise escaped her lips. He glared at her with as much hate possible. "Let's get one thing straight here, Destiny!" he started through clenched teeth, looking into her petrified blue eyes. "I am not the one who wanted this, it was you! I'm not the one who stopped either, that was you too! If anyone was being used, it was me! If you would have kept your mouth shut and your legs closed, you would see why I didn't want this in the first place! Look at us now! We're fighting!"

Destiny didn't seem to care; she just continuously tried yanking her way free out of his grip. "Let me go!"
"Not until you listen to me! What the hell's gotten into you?!" he yelled, watching her with disgust.

"I said let me go!" she cried.

Suddenly growing hot and losing control of everything he's ever loved, Cloud struck her across the face with a backhand so hard, she spun and landed to the floor on her knees with a cry. The way she was acting now made him so angry that he didn't think twice with this. He didn't regret it either.

"Your little childish acts aren't throwing me off guard, Destiny Mikamura! When we get off this cargo ship, I'm going straight back to base and requesting a partner change! I'm not going down with you! I've had it with your attitude and obsessions!"

She just stood there with her hand over her face and the tears in her eyes as he stormed his way by her and went up to the main deck. She just remained there on her knees, sobbing, and not wanting anything more than just to kill herself now. She had just listened to him place full blame on her, making her feel horrible.

"He used me," she sobbed to herself. "He knew that I didn't want this. He KNEW of my feelings for a working relationship only, but yet he just came out and did it anyway. So what if what I said back in Kalm? Or what I said about ten minutes ago? I never wanted this from him! Oh god what mistake have I made this time? Why me?"

She remained sobbing at full power. Their lives were forever changed now, like she had said.

Cloud had struggled not to tell the rest of the gang what had happened. If they asked where Destiny was, he would tell them she'd be arriving with them in a second. He walked up to the deck, smelling the wonderful smell of salt water and breeze together. There were many people on board, mostly tourists looking to get over to Costel Del Sol. He couldn't remember the last time he was on a boat, if there was a time at all.

He walked over to a bench and sat down with a sigh. Destiny didn't leave his mind once. Barret then spotted him alone.

"Yo Cloud! Where were you? Where's Destiny?" he asked all at once and very fast.

Cloud had to laugh at Barret, who was wearing a sailor suit.

"Wasso funny?" he asked, looking himself over. He growled. "You don't look so hot yourself, smart one. Where's Destiny?"
"She'll be along in a second," Cloud said, going along with his plan. "Where is everyone?"
"Up on deck, enjoying the scenery."
Both of them started walking up there together.

"So where were you both?"
"We were in the cargo area. She passed out from running, so I just carried her in there and waited until she awoke. When she did, I left," he said, which wasn't a total lie.
Barret smelt something cooking here. He chuckled.

"What?"
"Cloud, what really happened? Tell me honestly."
"That IS what happened, really," he said, struggling not to look in his eyes.
"I know how you two feel about one another, besides, your lips are red, due to the passionate suction of kissing," Barret insisted. There was no fooling him.
Cloud embarrassingly covered his mouth and blushed.

"Then to add to that, I know how you kids are."
"Okay point made."
Barret chuckled again. "So what happened?"
Cloud sighed, wanting to forget about what happened. "Oh must I go through this?"
Barret grinned. "Yeah, detail, detail."

"Nothing happened between us, just some kissing. She stopped me before I could go all the way."
"Maybe it's for a good cause?"
Cloud shrugged. "Maybe it is, maybe not, but I said I wasn't going to do it again with her, now she's mad at me, saying I took advantage of her when I didn't. She was flipping out on me, then I couldn't take it anymore and I…well I…" He looked to the ground and shut his eyes. "…hit her."
Barret gasped. "Cloud!"
"You think I wanted to?! Hell I'd never want to hurt Destiny! I love her too much!"

"But…?"
He sighed. "But not for this. Her making me stop was a good thing, now that I think of it. We're not destined to be together like that."
Barret paused. "Maybe you are and you just don't know it yet."

Cloud shook his head. "No it's not like that. God only knows how much I love her, I'd give her anything, but I don't know what I was thinking before. I can't do this again."
"You obviously love her enough to go and do that once, you'll do it again. As much as you say you both can't do this, the next time you're alone, it will happen. Cloud, you can't hide your emotions from Destiny, she knows it now that you truly love her. As soon as she gets past being afraid of this, she'll snap to it as well. Why don't you just forget your ego and go for her even before she comes to?"

He sighed and covered his face. "Oh Barret, I don't need this right now. As soon as I get off the ship, I'm heading back to SOLDIER headquarters and changing partners."
Instead of laughing at him, Barret tried to talk him out of it.

"You sure you want to do that? You and Destiny have been partners for a long time now."
"I can't get any work done with her around me like this. I'm too busy now looking at the kind of eye she gives me, or the type of sexual gesture she might slip me, then there's the fact that she's a girl, making her vulnerable and fragile to attacks."

"It's worked so far, hasn't it? In my honest opinion, I believe that Destiny is the strongest one out there by far."

Cloud said nothing, feeling the words of wisdom stick inside his head.

"Cloud, you're not going to be happy with anyone, but Destiny. Don't do this to yourself, don't do this to her. She needs you, just as much as you need her. If not for the mission, than think of it for the bond you both carry within."
Basically what Barret was trying to say was that they both needed one another, not just physically, but mentally as well. Cloud had thought about it and thought the same thing as well. He needed Destiny as much as Destiny needed him.

"You're right Barret, I thank you for helping me out with this."

Barret grinned and nodded.
"Now the tricky part is getting Destiny to talk."
"We'll leave it up to Tifa to do that."

Cloud agreed.

Destiny still remained in the same spot, sobbing intensely.

"Destiny!"

Destiny gasped and spun her head around. There was Tifa walking towards her. She then realized that in order for Tifa to be there, Cloud must have said something.

"Did you come here just to tell me I screwed up?" she asked, wiping her eyes. "Because I know I did, you don't have to tell me."

Tifa knelt beside her and put her hand on her shoulder and spoke in a soft tone.

"No I'm not here for that. You were right to do what you did to push away like that. If you're not ready, then you're not, okay?"
"But I lead him on, I didn't make him stop, but then suddenly I stopped. It's all my fault he's this angry!" She paused to get a few sobs out. "He even hit me."
Tifa then noticed the mark on her cheek; it was dark red. She gasped slightly. "Oh Destiny, I'm sorry."

"Then he kept yelling at me." She sobbed. "I don't know what's gotten into him, I was so scared!"

Tifa then hugged her. Destiny replied even harder. It felt good to have a shoulder to cry on.

"You need to go back to Cloud. You both need one another more than you think."
Destiny shook her head. "Oh no I couldn't. I can't ever show my face around him again. I'd just make him angry at me."
"You don't know that, Destiny," she whispered, running her hand softly down the back of her head.

"Otherwise he wouldn't be changing partners when we got off the ship! I'm never going to see him again!"

That only made her sob harder. Tifa sank inside. It hurt her to see the young teen break down like this.

"Don't cry, he's not going to do that. We already had a talk with him, Barret and I, he's never been sorrier."
"Then why doesn't he come down here and tell me himself!"

"For the same reason you didn't want to go up there a few ago. He believes you still hate him."
She shook her head. "I could never hate him. I love him so much; I love all the things we used to do before we fell for one another. It was destined to happen. How could I have let myself do this?! I wasn't thinking of anything when he approached me like that, it's like everything vanished from my head!"
Tifa just comforted her like a friend, but really didn't know what to tell her. She just continued to let her sob on her shoulder.

"You going down to see how they're doing?" Barret asked Cloud, who were both now on the upper deck, watching the ship move across the water gracefully. Cloud leaned over onto the railing, watching the water below. This is something he'd always used to share with Destiny, among everything else. The carefree dolphins jumped without a problem in the world. Cloud wished he were one of them right now.

"I can't talk to her right now, Barret," he said with a sigh, closing his eyes. "She'd just turn me away."

Barret sighed with a hint of growl in his voice. "I don't want to hear that. If I know Tifa, she talked more sense into Destiny than anyone ever has."
Barret then noticed something out of the corner of his eye. He turned to the waving of Tifa and saw Destiny behind her. Tifa motioned for them to tiptoe out of there, leaving Destiny alone with Cloud on the upper deck. Tifa gave her thumbs up and mouthed her good luck.

Cloud still looked down at the water, having no idea Destiny was behind him.

"Do you think she'll forgive me? What if Tifa's speech didn't work?" Cloud asked, still thinking Barret was behind him.

Destiny knew he'd be turning around soon to see why Barret wasn't talking to him. Approaching him slowly, and with bricks in her chest, she hesitated, but managed to put a shaking hand on his shoulder. She had never been so scared in her life.

"C-Cloud," she whispered, following a short sob.

Recognizing that voice right away, he turned around. There before him was his angel, his perfect angel. She was the one worth living for all these years. She was the one any guy would want to get up early in the morning to see.

She took her hand back and held it in her other to try and stop the shaking.

"I'm so sorry, I really am. Please-"

Not letting her finish her sentence, Cloud took her into his arms and held her tight. She had never felt safer knowing she was in the arms of the one she'd do anything for. She sobbed with relief.

"Oh Destiny, you don't have to be sorry, you didn't do anything. I apologize for doing and saying what I did. You didn't deserve it. You're too beautiful and smart to put up with half the shit that's in your way."
She continued to sob on his shoulder. "I love you Cloud."

Hearing that made him happy he was alive. "I love you too Des."
Barret and Tifa watched from the sidelines with a smile on their faces and in their hearts.

"We did well, girl, we did well," Barret said, tapping her on the shoulder.

Tifa grinned. "Yes we did."

Cloud and Destiny went into the cabin to sit. Both were so happy that things were going to go back to the way they were.

Cloud ran his thumb down her cheek. "Did it hurt when I hit you?"

"Well only for a second, but it mostly hurt mentally."
He sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what made me do that. I shouldn't have."

She took his hand off her face and held it in hers. "It's all over now. We can start going back to the way we were before these missions, back to the way we were last week at the stake-out, best friends."

He nodded. "You're right Des. I never would have even realized just how right you were when you said that if we feel passionate for one another and start crossing the borders of the friendship rule and into the strong relationships one, that it'll never feel the same again. I don't know how to feel. We've crossed those borders and now, we're two totally different people. Not the way we used to be anymore."
Cloud was right. Things would never feel the same again. They'd feel like two couples going out on missions together, no longer colleagues.

"That may be so, but we're not going to let that stand in our way, Cloud. The strong feelings are gone; we need to get back on the right foot." She placed her hand on his arm. "And the only way we're going to do that is if we struggle to forget about what happen today. It's going to be hard at first, but it will be easier as we go along."
He shook his head. "You just can't forget Des. It's etched in stone now who your first was, and how far you actually did go. Lucky for us, we didn't to it all the way, but we did to things that only people in love would have done."
She shrugged. "Okay, well, honestly, I did love you. I loved you so much, I would have given you anything, and your command at that time just so happened to have been my body. I gave it to you."

Cloud covered his face. "But why?!"
"I loved you. I didn't want to disappoint you."

"Even after all those times you said you'd stick with just being friends and that your job was more important than any guy in the universe?"
Destiny just sighed. "Please Cloud, no more, okay? Who cares whose fault it was, let's just go back to the way things used to be before this mission, like I said. Something's are better left forgotten before they get worse."
She had a point; he was willing to enforce it. He nodded. "Okay Des, you win, it's forgotten."
She smiled. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

He nodded reluctantly.

They got to Costel Del Sol around ten that night. Stepping out of the ship, Barret was the first to complain about the humidity.

"Dammit, why does it have to be so hot here?!" he asked, fanning himself with this fingertips. "The sun ain't even out!"

Cloud seconded it. "Well, doesn't matter anyway, we're almost to where Nibelheim used to be, then I can prove I wasn't lying about the fire."
Tifa looked sad again. "Papa…I can't believe Sephiroth would do something like that…I trusted him."
With that, she started to sob. Cloud took her into his arms and gave her comfort. She hugged back, sobbing on his shoulder. She missed her father very much and knowing Sephiroth was still alive just made her angrier. Cloud still dared not to say anything to Destiny about it, for he knew she'd bombard him with questions.

"We all trusted Sephiroth."
"Can we change the subject please," Destiny muttered, walking out of Costel Del Sol and onto the large green field. Everyone followed her seconds later. Out of the blue, Destiny suddenly felt unwanted, so alone. Cloud now moved onto Tifa, forgetting all about her. Her heart sank, she just wanted to leave this scene, just hurl herself off of a cliff and die. Cloud didn't love her anymore; she made him promise not to. There was no going back to the way they used to be before; she knew that all along.

Tifa's eyes lit up as she noticed the Gold Saucer approach her. The Gold Saucer was basically an amusement park with a monorail that took you through the park, a battle section to prove your strengths, a hotel, and an event square, Chocobo racing center, an arcade, and a roller coaster.

Lights lit up the dark area and beautiful music filled their ears as they approached it.

"What do you say Cloud, should we?" Tifa asked.

"Yeah, this would be so much fun!" Aeris said.

Barret grinned. "I say this is a plan."
Nanaki agreed as well. Everyone but Destiny. Tifa looked at her in concern. "Destiny, do you want to come in with us?"
Destiny shrugged. "Not like I have much of a choice," she muttered.

Barret clenched his fist. "You better shape up girl, or I'm going to give you something to cry about!"

Destiny glared at him. "Yeah you and what army? Your clan's dead, remember?"
Barret stepped back in shock, while everyone's eyes and mouth dropped open.

"Destiny!" Tifa said, eyes wide.

Destiny shook her head and went off towards the Gold Saucer alone. Since the noticed she was a member of SOLDIER they let her in for free. Cloud and the others had to pay to get in. Destiny was the first to notice each of the sections. She would have been most thrilled over the battle section, but wasn't in the mood to battle tonight.

Cloud and the others came in next. Aeris was holding onto Cloud's arm, jumping up and down with excitement, mainly over because she was all Cloud's now and Destiny was out of the picture.

"Oh the monorail! Cloud, let's go on that!" she said, eyes all lit up with pure happiness.

Destiny rolled her eyes and gave a heavy sigh. She turned to her quickly. "Aeris, shut the hell up! I'm in no mood to deal with your happiness, okay?!"

She frowned. "Well excuse me!" She took Clouds hand, knowing she'd make Destiny jealous. "Come on Cloud, let's go to the monorail."
Cloud looked at Destiny and the hatred in her eyes right now, but on the other side, were her eyes begging him not to go off with her. Aeris was dirty, she was trash. Slum filth.

He nodded, still looking at Destiny in the eyes. "Okay, let's go."
Aeris jumped up and down. "Yay!"

Destiny shook her head in disgust and pivoted out of there, to the hotel section. "Hope you two have fun."
Aeris grinned and watched her go. "Oh you know it!"

Cloud watched Destiny walk off with a sigh. In a way he felt sorry for her, but in another way, he was disgusted with her. He'd sure have a talk with her later.

"Come on Barret, let's go play some games," Tifa said, same happiness as Aeris.

Cloud turned to them. "Guys, don't be out too late, we need to get up early tomorrow and find Shinra and the Turks."
Barret nodded. "Believe me, I haven't forgotten that."
Cloud nodded. "Okay then, meet back at the hotel in a few hours."
They agreed and departed. Aeris then practically dragged Cloud into the monorail section. They were lucky when it was just them in line. The operator, a lady with black hair and purple eyes assisted them. She grinned.

"Hello, welcome to the monorail," she said. "You may get in."
They did so. Aeris sat across from him, looking out the window in pure excitement. "Oh this is so great!"
When the operator locked the door, she sent them in a horizontal movement at first, then after a few bangs and jumps, they were up in the air. Up there, they could see everything, the giant hotel, the Chocobo's racing, most of all the giant roller coaster. Lights flashed, filling up the entire place.

"This is so beautiful," Aeris said with a sigh. "I've always wanted to come here, but until now I never could." She looked into Cloud's eyes. "Cloud, I'm sorry for everything I've did to you recently mostly, then at Kalm. I guess what I'm trying to say is that…" She paused to look to the ground. "Well, what I mean is…I…I like you a lot. I'm just hoping you feel the same way towards me."
Cloud slowly went into a shrug. He still had Destiny on his mind, it was hard not to. He knew she still loved him, way more than Aeris ever could.

Aeris walked over and sat beside him. She took his hand. "Cloud…"

He looked at her beautiful green eyes and suddenly felt something towards her that he's felt about Destiny for a while.

"Aeris…" he whispered back, then suddenly, his mouth dropped onto hers. Aeris moaned with pleasure, reaching her tongue into his mouth, eagerly taking him as her own, putting as much passion in her kiss as possible. She was struggling to become better than Destiny, making him forget about her. Cloud knew that deep in his heart it was impossible to forget about her. She was his first true love, the first to show him what it was all about. The first to touch him. Now that Destiny was gone and Aeris had appeared, what else was there to do?
Aeris pulled away in a pant. He had given her the best kiss anyone's ever given her before.

"That…was incredible," she said, then took his hand. "I hope to see more of you later."
She kissed his fingers, driving her tongue over the tips, making him harden. She noticed it right away and put her free hand over it, rubbing him. He moaned and closed his eyes.

"Feel good?" she asked in a seductive voice.

"Oh Aeris, what are you doing to me?" he asked in a whispering pant, tossing his head back.

"Why don't you let me show you."
She climbed over him; one leg on each side, lining herself up with his hardened manhood, then slowly started moving up and down. Her lips rested on his.

Forgetting all about Destiny in that one second, he reached his hand up her dress and felt for the strap. Aeris moaned.

Just then, the ride began slowing down. Aeris noticed this and immediately got off of him and back to her spot. The lady smiled at them.

"Nice sight," Aeris said. "Beautiful."
"Enjoy your night here," the lady said as the exited.

Aeris and Cloud spent the next few hours together, laughing and talking. They had gone to the event square, seen Chocobo's racing, even had a bite to eat. Cloud had thought of Destiny and how sad she'd feel if she ever found out they had done this.

"So was this an official date?" Aeris asked, walking up to the hotel with him around midnight.

Cloud grinned. "Yes I think it was."

She took a hold of his arm. "I can't wait to have it happen again." She paused. "So, care to share a room tonight?"
Cloud knew for a fact that if he ended up sharing a room with her, she'd want sex. There was no getting out of it on that account. If he did to it, he'd hurt the only one he's always cared about, and that's like hurting a family member.

"I don't know Aeris; I have to talk with Destiny before I make any more decisions."

Her grin disappeared and a glare came on. "Oh come on Cloud, she's not your mother! Why must you always treat her like she is?! You guys aren't together anymore, so what's the big idea?!"

Cloud sighed. "I still love her, regardless."
"Then what are you going to talk to her about? You going to go and ask her if we can sleep together? You know very well what she'll say."
Cloud shook his head. "No Aeris, I'm not going to ask her that. I just feel bad of how I treated her, that's all. I hurt her, more than you'll ever know or care."
Aeris stopped in her tracks. "So you're just going to throw away what happened tonight?"

Cloud opened his mouth to speak, but nothing managed to come out. He tried talking with his hand, but that didn't work either.

"No I'm not," he said. "I never will."
With that, he walked off to the hotel. He found out what room Destiny checked herself into and walked up the stairs to the room on the left. 234. He knocked. It was then that Destiny came to the door. He didn't speak right away, for he was just staring into her beautiful Mako blue eyes and her miraculous figure, which was now dressed in a short, silk, white nightgown.

"Cloud, what is it?" she asked in a small voice, bringing her eyes back up to his.

"Destiny…can I come in for a little while?"
She nodded and stepped aside.

"Thanks," he murmured, then walked over to the edge of the bed, grabbing a seat.

"What do you want?" she asked, folding up her uniform, not looking at him. "Not much I'm assuming, since you and Aeris devoted your entire love and affection for one another already."
Cloud shook his head. "No it's not like that Des. We didn't do anything."
"Yet," she muttered.

"I just came here to ask you what's become of you and me?"

She looked at him with a sigh and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. "Cloud, everything's changing so suddenly. I don't know about you, but I don't like this. I dislike Aeris, she's bad news."
"No she's not," he said, interrupting her. "Aeris happens to be a wonderful person. I like her."
It hurt Destiny more than anything to hear that from him, especially about her. Her heart dropped flat right there. Her and Cloud were officially done, according to him.

Tears came to her eyes. "Please, you can't mean that." She put her hand over her aching chest. "No."
"Des, you know I love you more than I'll love anyone else, ever, but you know we can't be together. We won't let one another have that privilege."
Destiny felt as if a heart attack was going to claim her and she was to die, that's how bad her chest hurt her. She was losing Cloud, her Cloud, the one that's been there her whole life, the one who had that shoulder to cry on and the one who's always made her feel better. He was leaving and never to return to her.

She so very desperately wanted to kill herself now. She had forgotten about every important thing in her life.

Cloud noticed her sobbing drastically and went over to lend her a crying shoulder. She sank into his arms and soaked up his entire shoulder. She buried her face deep into his neck, wishing she could be his all over again.

"Cloud please, don't leave me," she sobbed. "You can't leave me, I won't have anyone left!"

He then knew it. He knew what was bothering her then. He took her face off his shoulder and cupped it with his hands.

"Destiny, listen to me…" he started, removing one hand to brush her hair free from her face. "I will never leave you, ever. I love you more than I could ever love anyone else."

She nodded. "I understand."
"Do you really?"
"Yes I do. I can't stop you from Aeris. She'd eventually get you anyway. Just promise me Cloud that you won't do anything stupid, like drop out of SOLDIER for her, or sleep with her. I don't trust Aeris, I don't know why, but I just don't. You have to believe me."
He shook his head. "You have nothing to worry about Des; I love you more than life itself."
With that, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips, which she savored greatly.

"So I take it you won't be in here with me tonight?"
"I will, that's a promise, I just have to go and talk to her first."
With a sigh, Destiny crawled into bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin. "Good night Cloud, appearing as though I won't be seeing you tonight."

"I'll be right back," he said, then left the room. He had never felt more confused in his life. He said he loved Destiny, which is true, but didn't really know how much. He told Aeris he didn't want to sleep with her, and promised Destiny he wouldn't, but really didn't know if he wanted to. He still wanted to win Destiny's heart again.

In the middle of thinking about Destiny, Aeris walked by the door and took Cloud's hand.

"You coming?"
He had to admit that he liked Aeris a lot. He hated to disappoint, but he believed Destiny when she said she didn't trust her. He hardly knew Aeris.

"Yes," he said, then went the next two rooms over to her room. She shut the door behind her with a seductive grin.

"You ready?"
Destiny flew into Cloud's mind again. He loved her and couldn't stand to break her heart. This would just kill her.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry Aeris, I can't."
Her mouth dropped. "It's Destiny again, isn't it?"
"I love her Aeris, I'm sorry. Even if she won't meet my every needs, she's always there for me when it comes to other things and I love her for that. You have to understand."
She had never felt more hate in her life. "You said you loved me! You said you'd do this with me!"
"I never said anything of the sort!"
"You kissed me!"

He paused. "It was a mistake."
"Mistake my ass!" she yelled. "She'll never give you sex and that's what you want the most right now!"

He frowned. "Don't tell me what I want; you have no idea what I want right now! And even if I wanted sex, I wouldn't want it from you!"

Whatever he felt towards her was gone now. He pushed by her and went out the door. Throwing it open, he stormed down the hall and went for Destiny's room.

"Cloud, you know you want me! Don't pretend you don't care!" she said, sticking her head out the door. Cloud entered Destiny's room, not saying anything. He shut the door slowly and walked into the dark room.

"Des?" he asked into the silent room. He heard her moving around in the bed.

She turned the lamp light on.

"Cloud?"
Cloud stripped down to nothing but his boxers and got in beside her.

"What happened?" she asked, not taking her eyes off of him.
"Shut the light off and we can talk about it."
She did, then laid on her back, looking up at darkness.

"You were right; I don't think she can be trusted. I don't know what I saw in her before, but she's no longer on my mind."
Destiny was relieved. "Oh Cloud, you don't know how happy I am right now. I was so afraid she was going to take you away and turn you into something horrible."
"I'm not going to worry about her anymore. I don't like what looks she was giving you or how she was treating you."
This made Destiny feel at the top of the world. She loved Cloud more than anything right now.

"Cloud, I'm sorry I haven't been able to make up my mind lately, I wasn't sure what I wanted, but now I think I have a pretty good idea of what I've come to."

"What do you mean?"
"We haven't been able to make up our minds about one another. One says I love you, the other doesn't accept, then the one that doesn't accept says it and the other pushes it away. We've already done most of it and are never going to feel the same for one another as we used to."
"Des, what are you saying?"
She turned to him and looked at him in the dark. "What I'm saying is that…well…I love you and I want to go all the way. After I thought Aeris stole you from me, I didn't think there was any hope in getting you back, then when I thought I lost you, I couldn't bare it any longer. I don't want to lose you again, and I don't care how we were in the past, it's done and over with. All I want is you now."
"Destiny…you have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."
Destiny sighed.

"There's no one I'd rather be with than you."
Destiny put the lamp on to make sure this was Cloud she was talking to. Sure enough, it was. She was positive this time in what she wanted from him. Their working relationship was over now; they've crossed too many boundaries, so they might as well go the whole way.

Imagining himself inside her just made him harden again. He's dreamed of this for so long and finally she's accepting him into her life.

"Oh Cloud," she whispered. "There has never been anyone else. Not Sephiroth, not Reno."
Waiting for this moment again, he kissed her hard on the mouth, driving his tongue into it. Destiny replied even harder, but with a moan. Cloud climbed over her and unbuttoned the nightgown all the way down to her chest, lips not removing from hers. He slid the gown off of her shoulders slowly, giving her the chills. She shivered.

After her gown was removed, Cloud licked her chest and sucked at each nipple, making them harden on contact. Now that Destiny loved Cloud enough to want this from him, she was able to enjoy it this time. She was drowning in pure excitement.

"Please Cloud," she whispered in ecstasy. "Please don't tease me like this!"
He didn't want to tease himself either. He removed her underpants, then removed his boxers.

`This is it,' Destiny thought. `No turning back now.'

She watched his fully harden manhood take its place over its goal. Cloud cupped her face.

"Are you sure you want this? I don't want to hurt you Destiny, I never did."

Destiny had never been surer of this in her life. She was in full pant now as excitement took over her, making her body numb with pleasure. It was Cloud she loved.

"Yes," she whispered. "Please."

He watched her face scrunch up with pain suddenly as he slowly pushed his first inch into her. She tossed her head back, not having any idea that it was going to hurt like this. Her little moans and gasps of pain got the best of her.

Cloud, on the other hand, was seeking the heat, which drove him mad with pleasure. He wanted nothing more than to just push the rest of the way in, but took it slow for her. He kept going until he met her resistance. He knew she was still a virgin and felt lucky enough to be the first, finally now that all their problems were solved. Destiny gripped her hands onto his back and dug her nails into him, trying to stop the pain.

"Are you okay?" he whispered. "Do you want me to stop?"

She nodded quickly. Beads of sweat filled her whole forehead, making her bangs stick to it. Even though her eyes were tightly closed and her voice was making loud pants, he could tell she still wanted him to continue.

"Cloud do it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"
He withdrew slightly, then, just pausing a second to remember this moment for the rest of his life, broke through her virginity barrier in one mighty thrust. She cried out, digging her nails harder into his back. When she started trembling, he stopped and laid his head on her shoulder. She panted loudly, wishing the pain away so very badly. He ran his fingers through her charcoal-black hair, still inside her.

"Did I hurt you?"

She opened her eyes to look at him.

"Only a little."

She was relieved when the pain had gone and replaced with a wonderful sensation that couldn't be explained. Cloud withdrew, then pushed back into her. Destiny gasped at every strong, severe thrust. Cloud never stopped, just kept going.

"Oh Cloud, I love you so much!" she managed to cry out in the middle of her pant.

Cloud entered all the way and thrust faster and harder until Destiny couldn't take it anymore. It was just then that she felt an orgasm approach her.

"Harder!" she cried out, ripping her nails up his back, then threw both of them back to the headboard where she gripped on tightly, helping herself rise up and move to meet his thrusts.

Upon command, he gave it to her. Destiny had never felt anything remotely close to this. It was the most wonderful thing ever experienced to her, and was even more special knowing it was Cloud who gave it to her.

"OH CLOUD!!" she yelled, throwing her head back violently, not caring who heard her yet again. She thrust her hips at him, struggling to get the best of the orgasm, while continuing to grip the headboard with a fantastic grip.

He cried her name out as well, then couldn't hold back any longer as he sprouted his seed into her. Destiny gasped at the never-ending force of it. When it was over, he collapsed onto her chest, then rolled off, panting heavily. She took her hands back, which were weak and were hurting from her tight grip, placing one of them over her beating heart; afraid it was going to beat its way out of her. Her mouth and eyes were left wide open as she never expected to feel something like that.

"Oh god…Cloud," she panted.

Cloud reached over and kissed her again, only it wasn't hard. It was of his love and affection towards her all these years.

"I love you with all my heart, Destiny Mikamura. I wouldn't have had this any other way."
"Either would I."

Aeris, who was outside their door and listening the whole time, vowed she'd in some way, destroy Destiny and win Cloud's love back.

`He loved me in that monorail,' she thought. `It's that bitch in there that changed his mind! Well, no matter, I'll get him back!'

Monday, April 15. 8:00a

Both Cloud and Destiny were awaken by a knock at the door. It was Aeris.

"Cloud, Destiny, hurry up, I want to show you both something!"

Destiny groaned as she opened her eyes. She didn't want to move. The blankets were up to her chin and she had never been more comfortable in her life. Cloud, on the other hand, got right up and dressed in the next second. Destiny still didn't know how he did that early every morning.

As she moved to the other side of the bed, she noticed she wasn't wearing any clothes. She then remembered what happened last night. She was now Cloud's forever.

"I wonder what she wants to show us now," Cloud said, lifting the top of his uniform over his head, then grabbed his sword.

"It better be good to tear us out of bed this early," Destiny said, rising naked in front of Cloud. She no longer felt embarrassed approaching him naked from the front. Looking at her, he was reminded of his wonderful night with her. It would never be forgotten.

He still felt guilty however on making her eat her words.

"Des, are you sure I didn't hurt you last night?" he asked. "I didn't know this was going to happen."

She shook her head and put her SOLDIER uniform back on, then grabbed the brush on the bureau and ran it through her hair.

"Cloud, you were wonderful. Almost as good as-"

She stopped herself and widened her eyes. He gave her the frown.

"Almost as good as I thought you would be."

She bit her lip and prayed he wouldn't say anything. Cloud had to think for a second, think about if there was anyone else in her life before him. That's when he remembered Sephiroth.

"No Des, please tell me you didn't do anything with him," he begged, changing the subject very fast.

"What?"

"Sephiroth."
"How do you know I was talking about him?"

"I could tell, just by the look in your eyes. Des, I won't get mad, I just want to know the truth. You still had a virginity barrier, but that doesn't mean anything."

She sighed and spoke in a low voice.

"I loved him, Cloud. I loved him like I love you now."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing! Cloud you were always with me, didn't you see that we didn't do anything?"

Cloud had to nod on that one. He did remember her never going anywhere near him, except for the day that he died.

"Okay Destiny, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get that worked up."
She rubbed his arm. "It's okay Cloud, you're just being protective of me, like you always have."
He nodded. "I am."

"And that's why I love you so much."
With that, she kissed him lovingly.

"Oh Des," he whispered.

"Come on!" Aeris called through the closed door. "Hurry up!"

Both of them groaned and walked to the door. They opened it to a grinning Aeris.

"Well it's about time. Follow me downstairs, we're going to Barret's room."
Neither of them had a clue on what she was talking about.

"What's this in regards to, Aeris?" Cloud asked.

"We're in no mood to play your games," Destiny finished.

Destiny then remembered that they used to finish one another's sentences a while back. It made her feel good that her and Cloud were on the right foot again.

Aeris motioned for them to come with her. They walked down the stairs and around the corner to room 213. Walking in, they noticed Barret, Tifa, and Nanaki all on the bed. Barret looked impatient.

"What is this all about?"

Aeris grabbed hold of a VCR tape. "I just wanted to show you all a little something. Cloud, Destiny, will you please both sit on the bed with the others."
Both didn't move.

"Or stand, you choose. Either way, you're not going to like what you see."

Both of them exchanged glances. Aeris turned on the 49-inch television set and put the tape in. After a quick rewind, she pressed play. It was blank for a moment.

"I just wanted you all to see the real Cloud and Destiny."

When the picture came into view, everyone in the room saw a close up version of Cloud and Destiny making love. Aeris zoomed in purposely on the camera. Destiny nearly died as she saw herself meeting Cloud's every movement and moaning loudly.

"What is this?!" Barret roared, getting to his feet.

"The real Cloud and Destiny. They don't care about your mission, all they want to do is mess around!"

Destiny covered her face in humiliation and nearly started sobbing.

"Shut that off!" Cloud yelled.

"Truth hurts, doesn't it?" Aeris asked with a grin. Cloud marched right up to Aeris and took her by the throat hard. She gagged and grabbed his wrists.

"Where the hell did that camcorder come from?!" Barret asked.

"I don't give a shit where this came from! What right do you have doing this to us?!"

Aeris struggled to breathe as she tried prying his hands off.

"Cloud stop!" Barret yelled. "Get your hands off of her!"

He grabbed Cloud's arms and ripped them free from her neck. She fell to her knees, coughing violently.

"Shut this off now!" Cloud yelled to the fallen Aeris. It was at the point now where the both reached their climaxes. Their moans got louder. In the room, Destiny cried out and left.

"Damn it!" Cloud cussed, watching her leave. Not thinking, he picked Aeris up by the throat and punched her in the face, then threw her back into the wall. She smacked into it hard and winced.

"Cloud, stop it now!" Tifa cried in horror. She ran to Aeris and helped her. Cloud was disgusted.

"Oh sure Tifa, help her all you want. Ignore the ones being humiliated! Destiny didn't deserve this, either did I! Maybe she's right, go ahead, do the missions without us!"

He stormed out of the room and found Destiny up against the wall, sobbing in her hands.

"Des," he whispered, sitting down beside her. She never picked her head up. He ran his fingers through her hair.

"I've never been more humiliated in my whole life. Oh god Cloud!"

He took her into his embrace and let her sob on his shoulder, giving her all the comfort she needed.

"I guess it's over with AVALANCHE. Whatever trust we had in Barret is gone. He'll never look at us the same again! We have to leave, Cloud, please!"

Cloud took her head off his shoulder and cupped her cheek with his right hand.

"No Des, we're not going anywhere. I know I said I was going to, but we have to finish something we started. If we were to go back to base right now with the job incomplete, Naiormi would surely throw us out into the streets. We're just stuck here."
"Well, what's going to happen to us?"
With his free hand, he ran his fingers through her hair again.

"Nothing, we're not going to let her get the best of us or her get her way. Just act like we used to, okay?"

She nodded. He then kissed her on the cheek.

"Remain strong."

She sniffled, and then nodded.

Getting back inside the room, the video was off and Aeris was back on her feet.

"How could you have done this to us?" Destiny asked. "And to think you could be so low."

"I just wanted them to see who you were."
Cloud shook his head.

"No that's not it at all. You were just angry at me because I wouldn't have sex with you last night," he said, walking up to her. He took notice of the giant fingerprints around her neck and handprint on her face. His glare scared her.

"Admit it, damn it!" he yelled in her face.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Leave me alone!"

Cloud grabbed the collar of her shirt and pulled her inches away form his face. She cried out in shock.

"You know very well! Stop lying!"
Aeris was in a bad spot and she knew that very well, but she was proud of herself for putting on this show and humoring everyone, so really didn't care what happened next.

"The only one here lying is you!" she cried. "Incase you haven't remembered your share on the monorail!"

"What about it?"

Aeris nodded. "I see, so you think I'm just going to forget what we shared, is that it? Well Cloud, let me just inform you that I will never forget the size of your fingers, as well as you saying your not going to forget the depth of my mouth!"

Cloud felt himself blow up inside. He didn't know what Aeris was trying to prove, but it got him very angry.

"Alright, you listen here, you stupid bitch! You know very well we didn't do anything!"
His fist clenched involuntarily and he was tempted to strike, but held back with a growl.

"Cloud," Destiny said hesitantly and nervously, grabbing his arm. "Forget about her, she's nothing. I don't know who she is or why she's doing this. All I know is that I just want to leave."
Cloud growled and pushed Aeris back. "Destiny's right, you are nothing. I'm not going to let this all get to me. I should have never liked you in the first place. So what if I made Destiny mine? So what if we went beyond our limits? It's no one's business but ours and I'd just like to inform all of you that as well. I would say the hell with you all, but unfortunately SOLDIER makes us stay out until our job is completed."

Tifa shook her head with a sigh. "Oh Cloud, what's happened to you?"

He looked to her. "I grew up."

"Obviously," she said with the same identical sigh. Her eyes not meeting his.

"Let's just go, forget about this shit," Barret said, grabbing the VCR tape, then threw it in the trash. "Our next target is Nibelheim."

Hardly a word was spoken between everyone. Just Barret and Tifa mostly. Cloud just stayed mute and Destiny was still embarrassed to even look at anyone. It took them nine hours to reach Nibelheim on foot. In completing this journey, they walked into the town. Tifa's eyes widened, as she expected it to be burnt to the ground. Instead, she saw her home still standing there, the well, the shops, the restaurants, and anything else that may have been there since she was a child.

"I thought you said it was burnt to the ground!"

Cloud had the same look on his face. "It was! I saw it with my own eyes!" He looked at Tifa, begging her to believe him with body language.

"Okay Cloud, I believe you. Maybe it was just rebuilt in the same manner."
Barret looked up to notice the mansion in front of him, then looked elsewhere to notice some homes, stores, and restaurants that Cloud was talking about in his past stories.

"We'll have to stay in that mansion tonight."
Everyone agreed, for they couldn't find a hotel and the fact that they were exhausted and would sleep on anything right now. Cloud remembered the last time he was at this mansion…he was with Sephiroth and Tifa. He was still a little reluctant about staying here for Destiny's sake. He knew Sephiroth was still alive, what if he made his way back here?

They made their way into the mansion and looked around. The little light outside made it possible to see inside. Cloud flipped on a light that completely filled up the place. It was a great building indeed, but smelt like a musty old attic. Barret walked away from the group without much notice in the place.
"Go find yourselves a room. I will meet y'all bright and early tomorrow morning."
With that said, he disappeared up a flight of stairs. Destiny didn't know why, but she felt herself being watched.

Tifa had forgiven Aeris and were now friends again. They left next, followed by Nanaki.

"You coming?" Cloud asked, noticing Destiny just standing there.

"Cloud, if it's al the same to you, I'd rather sleep alone tonight. I don't think the others would accept us being together."
Cloud was about to say something about Sephiroth, but instead nodded. "Okay Des, I understand."
He then just turned around and walked away. When she was alone, she felt even more eyes on her. It gave her the chills.

"Who's there?" she whispered into silence.

Just then, she felt the sudden urge to go downstairs into the basement library. She felt as if someone just took a hold of her body and was pulling her. Her heart began beating with fear as her breathing slowly increased. Her body slightly began to tremble as she reached the door of the cold, dark library. There was only a dull light lit, but she was able to see.

"H-Hello?"

She walked in, fear in her heart. Before her, she noticed a book covered in dust. Picking it up, she noticed the name Sephiroth.

"Sephiroth," she whispered. She read the page aloud quietly to herself. "Experiment #1 by professor Hojo. August 19, 2035. Today we succeeded in injecting the cells of the dead body of Sephiroth into the womb of Jenova, the Ancient. She produced the clone of Sephiroth in full grown form, as an Ancient."

Destiny's eyes widened as she suddenly felt dizzy and dropped the book out of her hands. She gasped slightly, then learning that Sephiroth was alive all this time, ever since he was dead. Tears of happiness came slowly to her eyes.

"So I see you've found out."
That voice was unmistakable. A strange feeling went straight down to the pit of her stomach. She stared out in front of her, not turning around to the voice. The strange, wonderful feeling traveled up and down her body.

"Sephiroth," she whispered as if she was in a trance. Her locked-in-love for him was now released into the world yet again.
She felt him get closer to her, then put his hand on her hips. She flinched, but didn't move.

"Destiny," he whispered. She felt his hot breath on her neck. Her body ached with pleasure as she was easily getting aroused by him. She had never been this close to Sephiroth, clone or not.

Just then, he placed his warm lips on her neck. She gasped slightly and moved her neck to the side so Sephiroth could gain better access.

"Oh Sephiroth, I've waited for you. I knew you were going to come back to me."

She closed her eyes and raveled the feeling of Sephiroth's lips and tongue on her neck. He pressed himself up against her.

"Sephiroth," she whispered in ecstasy. She turned her head and looked at him. Sure enough it was the Sephiroth she knew from SOLDIER...Mako green eyes and the long silver hair, it was entirely unmistakable. While she was growing weak at the knees, looking at him in the eyes, he claimed her lips. She lost control of herself and kissed back hard. Her love for Sephiroth all these years let out in that fraction of a second. She loved him. Sephiroth turned her around and pressed her up against him, not taking his lips off of hers. She felt her body grow numb. She moaned and gasped as his hand slowly caressed her inner thigh.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this," she moaned. "Then when you died, I had to forget about you."
"Well I'm back for you now."
Sephiroth dropped to his knees, taking Destiny's pants down with him. She was exposed to him. He showed no mercy in teasing her with his tongue. She moaned loudly as he found her clitoris and then entered two of his fingers up into her. She tossed her head back and cried out. She put her hands around the back of his head, pushing him more into her.

"Sephiroth!" she cried out, followed by a sharp gasp.

When she felt an orgasm approach, she moved her hips in a rhythm against his face. When it was let out, the whole library was filled with her cries and desperate begs for more.

After Sephiroth did it a number of times and sucking her dry, her legs gave out and she fell to her knees in the loudest pant ever known to man. Her whole body was covered in sweat. Not even Cloud gave her this much excitement, but then again, she's loved Sephiroth even longer than she's loved Cloud in that way.

She reached her maximum in being aroused.

"Don't…stop," she panted. "…Sephiroth please!"

Sephiroth was far from over. He ripped her top off and dove at her chest. She moaned as he laid her down on the cold floor, licking and sucking at her chest. He was so perfect. It's like he knew exactly what she wanted and how. Destiny was desperate to feel him inside her.

"Sephiroth, don't tease me like this, please," she moaned. It was then he took his top off. She got to her knees and kissed his chest. She massaged his chest with her hands up and down the front, then ended at his sides, pushing him closer to her. This was all happening so fast, but she didn't care. She waited long enough all these years. She gripped the top to his pants and pulled them down, exposing him to her. His arousal she had to gasp at. He was much larger than Cloud by far. Sephiroth laid her down slowly, kissing her with full passion. He slowly spread her legs open to their fullest, then set himself in between them. Just seconds later, he used his fingers to find her womanhood. When he did, he lined himself up with it and put his hands on her hips, then slowly entered her. She wasn't used to his width and gasped in pain.

"Se-Sephiroth!" she cried in pain. He wouldn't stop, just kept going. When his fully erect arousal entered her the whole way, right down to the base, Destiny had gotten used to its size and already made up a rhythm for him to follow. He withdrew slightly, then, grabbing a hold of her shoulders, pushed all seven inches back into her at magnificent speed. She cried out at the top of her lungs as he hit that one spot in her that made her jump with excitement. She rose her hips to meet with his every thrust. It was just seconds later that she felt her climax growing closer and closer.

Just then, Sephiroth paused for a brief moment to sit her up. They got into a 69 position, where he felt in full control now. He grabbed her hips and quickly began to bounce her up and down on his hardened manhood. Destiny tossed her head back as she felt her climax come. With one final cry of his name, she spilt out onto him. Sephiroth encouraged his own climax by putting both hands to her buttocks and pushing her closer to him with great force. He did this only for a few seconds until he groaned and sprouted his seed into her. Destiny groaned as he took himself out of her, but only for a matter of seconds. He kissed her, then told her to get on all fours. She was more than willing to do this for him. He got into position and entered her from behind. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed his hardest into her. Destiny gave her little cries for more. He constantly withdrew and pushed back in at the speed of light. Destiny quickly found herself ready to climax again. She once again found herself crying for it to be harder. Sephiroth released into her again with a grunt.

Destiny rolled over and panted, trying to catch her breath. She had done this with Sephiroth. Sephiroth! The one she had dreamed about doing it with from the beginning. He lay beside her, panting as well. His long silver hair, Destiny took into her hands.

"I love you Sephiroth," she whispered. "I love you so much."
She cuddled up beside him and closed her eyes. She had never felt safer.

Monday, April 16

Destiny awoke alone in the room, clothed. She sat up.

"Sephiroth?"

Looking around, she didn't notice Sephiroth anywhere.

"Destiny."

Destiny gasped and spun around. There was Cloud right before her.

"Cloud!"

He frowned. "What are you doing down here?"

Destiny looked around. For a split second, she had thought Sephiroth was a dream, but the ache between her legs told her different. She still, however, looked clueless.

"I--don't know."
He walked up to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

"Come on back upstairs. You must be freezing down here."

Destiny just nodded and left with Cloud. She did feel a little guilty about what she did to him. The second she wins Cloud's love, she goes off with Sephiroth. She was tempted to tell him with the hope he'd understand, but wanted to keep him, so she said nothing. They got upstairs and got ready to head out.

One Month Later

After a month of trying to beat Shinra and the Turks…they have not yet succeeded. Cloud and Destiny returned back to SOLDIER base to get some rest. Barret and Tifa spent their time at Corel, which was Barret's old hometown. They would meet up with one another later.

Cloud still had no clue on what happened with Sephiroth and Destiny. Sephiroth had just disappeared that day and was never seen again by her or anyone else and Destiny didn't even bother to tell him.

It was the morning of May 21 that Destiny had become sick. Cloud shot up in bed and watched her run into the bathroom.

"Des you okay?" he asked in worry.

She came back out of the bathroom with her hand on her forehead. She groaned.

"What did I eat last night?" she asked herself, then walked back over to the bed. Lying down, she was thinking to herself on how she could have gotten sick. As soon as her head was about to hit the pillow, she shot back up with a gasp.

"Destiny?" Cloud asked, who caught wind of this.

She put her hand over her chest, which felt like a ton of bricks. "Oh no," she breathed.

Cloud sat up beside her in concern. "What?"

"I'm pregnant," she said abruptly.

Cloud's mouth dropped. Now his chest began to feel like a ton of bricks. "But you don't know that for a fact."
"It's true; I can feel it within by gut."
Cloud swallowed hard, thinking it was his.

"Well, like you said before, we're graduating from SOLDIER in two months, we can become a family."
Destiny would have been overjoyed, but there was a barrier in her way. She shook her head slightly.

"No we can't."

Cloud was confused.

"What? Why?"

She started sobbing.

"Oh Cloud, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

He sighed heavily.

"Okay Destiny, who's is it?"
Destiny heard the sadness and hurt in his voice. She took his hands.

"Please never leave me! You're all I have! Please!"

"Who was it Des?" he asked again with a straight face. She could definitely tell he was hurt. She dropped her head and sobbed out Sephiroth's name. Cloud shut his eyes and lowered his head with a sharp sigh. She waved her fingers through his hair.

"I never meant to hurt you Cloud, you must believe me. I love you."

"That is precisely why I never told you he was alive all these years, that's what I was afraid of. I knew you loved him, but if you knew of him being alive, you would have gone to him and he'd hurt you in some way."

She shook her head. "Oh no, Sephiroth's not like that-"

"Did he ever come back?" Cloud interrupted. Destiny bit her lip. "He's not even human! Do you realize that the Shinra will be after you and your child now?!"

"No!"

"The child will be an Ancient. They will be able to sense it, like they did with Aeris!"

She covered her ears. "Cloud, no! Stop!"

"How could you have been this stupid, Destiny?" he muttered, then got out of bed.

"Where you going?"

"WE are going to see if you are pregnant for sure and whose child it is. If the baby's DNA doesn't match mine, then it's his, and I don't know what you're expecting from him but he's not going to be a father."
Cloud got dressed.

"It's yours, you came first!" she said, getting out of bed.

"It happened in practically the same night, Destiny, the same damn night! Anything's possible!"

"Why are you yelling at me?!" she cried.

"You would to if you had someone you loved, not to mention slept with, then found out a month later that you, the next night, slept with an Ancient clone!"

"Don't blame me Cloud! You know I loved him and what I've come to, you knew he was alive! Then you decided to stay in the Shinra mansion where he stayed! What did you expect to happen?!"

"I didn't think you'd actually do this behind my back!"

"I loved him!"

"Then you can go with him!"

After all the yelling was said, Cloud stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Destiny just cried out in her hands. Her only strength was gone. It wasn't long before Lieutenant Naiormi came to the door. She immediately dried her tears and called him in. The early 30-year-old blond entered the room. Destiny hid her face from him.

"Lieutenant Naiormi, what can I do for you?"
"Just taking attendance."
"Okay."
He was silent for a bit, and then spoke again. "How have you been, Destiny? I mean, with these long missions?"
"Fine," she said quickly, wishing he'd leave. If he found out she was pregnant, he'd kick her out in the next second.

"Are you happy about graduation in a few months?"
"Yes sir."

He paused again. "Why aren't you looking at me?"
She actually forgot whom she was talking to. If it were anyone else, he would have yelled at them in the face, or suspended them for not looking at him, giving him their full attention.

"No reason sir," she said with scare.

"Destiny, hon, what's troubling you? It is Cloud? Do you need to change partners?" he asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. She flinched.

"No sir," she said, then nearly started sobbing again. Lieutenant Naiormi cupped her chin and brought her eyes to his. He then noticed tear drops falling down the sides of her cheeks. He felt for her and brushed them away with his fingertip. That only made her cry more, knowing someone cared.

"What's wrong?"
She sobbed slightly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. I need to graduate."
He frowned. "You can tell me anything. Destiny, what happened? You being the only girl ever on campus made me provide you with special privileges, you know that."
"To let this slide, I must be really special."

He sat her down on the bed with a sigh. She never looked into his eyes.

"You can tell me."
"Lieutenant…you have to promise me you won't get rid of me…I'm still able to fight with AVALANCHE and stop Shinra."
"Does this involve Cloud?"
She nodded. He deep sighed.

"Did you two sleep together?"
"I'm sorry, lieutenant, it never meant to happen like it did. I totally took back my promises after all these years."
"And now you're pregnant?"
She nodded. He stood up, putting his hand over his face. "I knew something would happen if you both stayed together like this. I practically force you two to team up all the time. It's my entire fault."
Destiny stood up. "No lieutenant. Cloud and I have let our feelings get ahead of our job, as I feared would happen and it wasn't you fault. It's something that just happened. Please don't kick us out, we need to stay here."

"You and Cloud are my top fighters, you know that. I couldn't get rid of you both. You do realize that your love for him has weakened you greatly, however. I don't even know if you can perform the same tasks that you used to in the past."

She nodded. "I know."

He sighed. "Do you know for sure you're pregnant?"
"Morning sickness had already overcome me. Cloud wanted us to go down now to see if it was his."
Destiny widened her eyes and threw her hands over her mouth, not meaning to just blurt it out like that.

"Oh…I need to leave!" she cried, then ran out of the room.

He would definitely get rid of her now knowing another person was involved, she thought. Using her speed agility, she dashed out of there and out the front gate. She smacked up against the wall and threw her hands over her face. She was so ashamed this was going to be a broadcast soon. Everyone would know that the once strong Destiny Mikamura, the one that took crap from no one, turned into people's own personal whore. She was slowly growing a bad reputation.

"Destiny?"
She looked back up to notice that Cloud had followed her out. She ran into his arms with a sob.

"Oh Cloud, Lieutenant Naiormi knows! He knows about me!"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing about you, you're okay, but he knows that there was someone else! I didn't mean to say it!"

"Don't worry Des, Lieutenant Naiormi likes you, he let's you get away with everything."
Destiny was still scared, she cried endlessly on his shoulder. She then hoped that the baby was Cloud's. Angry at herself for believing that Sephiroth would ever become a responsible father, she almost lost the one that cared for her, over him.

"Cloud, please forgive me of everything I've put you through with Sephiroth."

"Don't worry Des, even if that child is Sephiroth's, I will treat it as my own."
Excited, Destiny hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much!"

It was then that Lieutenant Naiormi came out. Usually Cloud greeted him with the proper salute, but right now, he just kept his arms around Destiny strongly.

"I never thought you two would mess up like this," he said, stepping closer. "You both, the two very best fighters I have and you had to go and do this."

"It's called love, Naiormi," Cloud said with a slight drop of sarcasm. "Something you probably haven't felt in years."

Lieutenant Naiormi passed him a look of hate. "Don't you speak that way to me, young man! I could easily throw your ass out on the streets! I'm not the one who messed up here!"
Destiny began feeling guilty again and let out a few more sobs. "Stop Cloud, don't say anything, we need this."

Cloud was so built up with rage that he almost yelled back at him, but let it all out with a growl instead. He thought of Destiny and the fact that he didn't want to lose her; he thought she'd be mad if he did this against her will.

"Yes Cloud, you better keep your mouth tightly clenched if you know what's good for you."

He growled again.

"What was that?" Lieutenant Naiormi asked, leaning his ear in his direction. "I didn't quite hear you."
"Yes sir!" Cloud said in a growl, half reluctantly.

He nodded. "Very good, now, be on your way."
Cloud frowned.

"Don't give me that, you know very well that you're on patrol duty right now."
Cloud remained in a frown, not knowing what he was talking about, but went along anyway.

"Come with me Destiny," he whispered. "I don't trust him."

"Oh and Destiny, you will remain here until the child is born. Failure to abide by these rules will get you thrown out. You both are lucky I'm letting you stay here. Cloud, you will no longer have a partnership with Destiny, nor be in the same room."

Both their mouths dropped to the floor. Destiny was the first to speak.

"But lieutenant-!"

"Cloud, you will be in the first building, Destiny, you will be in your original room. Don't even think about sneaking out to see one another at night, it's impossible."
He turned around and began to walk towards the door. He looked back around at Destiny.

"Well, you coming or what?"
She didn't move.

"Will you at least give us two seconds to talk?! You're depriving us of everything we own, the least you can do is let us have these last two seconds!"
He sighed with anger. "Very well. Two seconds only! I will be waiting here for you."
As soon as he was out of sight and into the doorway, he spoke. "Destiny, I don't like this," he whispered. "I don't know what's gotten into him. It's like he was possessed by something evil in just a few seconds flat. I'm so afraid for you."

She cupped his cheek lightly, for she was more afraid than she's ever been. "Cloud, we have to do this, if not for one another, then do it for our child. Sephiroth is no more, and I'm not even going to bother going to get a DNA test, I want it to be yours. I will do whatever Naiormi wants me to do in order to get that diploma and graduate. I need this, Cloud, and I don't want you to protect me and get yourself thrown out."

She stared into his eyes, hoping that he'd still feel the same. Her hands dropped onto his shoulders, while his went up to cup her cheeks. "Destiny," he said quietly. "You know I can't do that. I have to protect you."

"No Cloud, you can't. Just go and do what Naiormi wants you to do. I want you to succeed. I love you."
With that, he slowly brought his lips to hers and kissed her.

"Alright, time's up!" Naiormi called from the doorway. "Cloud, get a move on!"

They looked at one another for the last time, held hands, then walked away, holding onto them until they couldn't any longer and split apart. She watched him until he was out of sight, then sobbed.

"It will be okay Destiny."
"How could you do this to us?!" Destiny cried, looking over at Naiormi in the doorway. "I need him!"

"He was weakening you, don't you see that?" Naiormi asked in a low voice, walking over to her. He ran his fingers through her hair. She moved her head back away from his touch. "You were made to be SOLDIER's top fighter, I thought I taught you well."
"Lieutenant, Cloud and I are still very loyal to you; it's just that we fell in love. I don't know how, I don't know when, I don't know why, but we just did. I can't live with out him, he's the father of my child, I need him."
He shook his head. "No. No I will not have that. Cloud is a heartbreaker."
She dropped her head to the ground. "So am I, what's your point?"
"You need someone that will be good to you, and I'm going to find that someone right among this camp."
It was about two hours later that she was taken to the reception area and introduced to a tall, dark, and handsome twenty-year-old who was about 5'10" and dressed in a SOLDIER uniform.

He put his coffee down when he heard Naiormi calling him.

"Yes sir?" he asked. He had the most perfect voice. His hair was that of the flaming black jet and his eyes of the long lost blue gem. He was nicely built, making the tight uniform look nice on him.

"Vincent, I would like you to meet Destiny Mikamura, she's your new partner. Destiny, this is Vincent Valentine. Hopefully he can make you like you used to be in the past."
He smiled at her and nodded. His teeth were perfectly shaped and bright white. While admiring his semi-long black hair, Destiny took notice of the plain red bandanna he wore as well.

"I will leave you two alone now to get aquatinted. Your first mission will be to patrol the Kaeaa hills right outside of Wutai, about a few miles from here. Is any of this unclear?"
"No sir," Vincent said.

Destiny shook her head.

"Good. I want you both to leave within the hour."
He left. Vincent picked his coffee back up and sipped it. "So Destiny, I heard of your troubles."

"You have no idea," she mumbled. "News travels fast, doesn't it? Seeming it just happened today not even two hours ago."

"Don't worry, Naiormi only told me because I'm your new partner. If I can help in any way possible, you let me know okay? You don't have to be afraid to talk to me."
Afraid she was. She was just practically forced to be with someone else she hardly even knew after being a team with Cloud for the last five years.

An hour later and nothing said, they left headquarters and headed for Kaeaa hill. On her right shoulder, Destiny carried her soldier rifle, and wore her uniform, equipped with a matching hat. Vincent had on twin to what she was wearing.

Still, she said nothing to him.

After what seemed like hours of silence between them, Destiny spoke up.

"Vincent."
He looked over at her; shocked she said anything to him. "Destiny?"
"Why were you made to change partners?"

He paused. "Well Destiny, to be honest with you, I never had a partner. I just got here not even a month ago. Ever since then, I was just training to become more like you and Cloud. I heard about you two being the most powerful on base and asked Lieutenant Naiormi to require special training from either one of you."

"So he found this a perfect opportunity to split us up."

"He said it wasn't going to be forever," he said. "It was only going to be for the next few months. He thought that it would be a good idea that you both would train the newcomers privately, which is why we're going on this mission. He wants you to observe and teach me things that I don't know. I'm sorry if you both were close; I understand what it's like to be torn away from someone you love."

"Vincent please, this is very hard on us right now. You don't know what we've been going through."
"Oh you mean about you being pregnant by him?" he asked in a low voice.

She nodded. "It's hard."
"It's okay; I'm not asking for anything, I just want to be your friend. You could always use a friend."
She nodded and gave a slight grin, surprising herself and him. "I'd like that."

He grinned back. "So you going to teach me how to use one of these things or what?" he asked, motioning towards the rifle.

It was just then that Destiny saw someone near the power plant that they were supposed to be guarding. She felt her old self come back in that short amount of time.

"Hey you!" she cried out, then started running.

It felt good to be back again. She took the rifle off her shoulder while she was still running, then dropped to her knees and positioned her rifle. "Stop right now or I won't hesitate to shoot!"

Vincent stepped back to radio in for the police. Destiny aimed her gun at the relentless being that wouldn't stop running. He ignored her warning and didn't stop. Destiny pulled the trigger at the man who was more than a hundred feet in front of her, catching him in the leg. She watched him fall to the ground.

Vincent's eyes widened to the max.

"How the-!"

Destiny stood up. She never realized how great and wonderful it was to hold and shoot a rifle again. She had never loved being in SOLDIER any more than she did right at the moment.

"I still haven't lost my touch," she said with a grin.

"How did you do that back so far?! Not to mention so accurately!"

She looked back to see Vincent's eyes pop out of his head. She chuckled. "Practice, Vince, it's all in the eye."

"You have to teach me to shoot like you!"

She nodded. "Of course I will, I have to make you just like me if your going to be my partner."
He grinned.

"We will continue once the cops come to pick up our friend," she said, then looked over at the fallen victim.
He agreed.

In the meantime, Destiny and Vincent were finding out more about one another. He told her some sad stories, and some happy ones. She told him about her family and some of her past missions, then some about Cloud. It was then that the cops came and took away the man. Some seconds later, he was ready to be taught.

"You ready?" she asked.

"Never been readier," he said, positioning his gun off somewhere.

For some reason, she felt as if she's known him her whole life. She walked up to him and had him get to his knees.

"Hold up your gun in a firing position," she commanded, then got behind him and knelt down as well. She brought her arms around his waist and to the gun, helping him into the position he was supposed to be in. after his elbows and gun were in the right position, he was ready for open fire.

"Okay Vincent, you are ready to shoot."
Vincent felt invincible as he sat in that position. He felt even more special knowing the fierce Destiny Mikamura was teaching him. She really did know her stuff, even if love and romance brought her down in the past, it would never permanently stop her. Destiny was made to be a fighter. Vincent put his finger on the trigger, awaiting her instructions to fire.

"See if you can strike the center of the hole in that tree over there," she said, grasping her hands to his hips, looking over his shoulder. The tree had to have been no more than 20 feet away.

"We must start off in short distance."
He nodded and aimed at the tiny black hole.

"Okay Vince, fire!"

He pulled the trigger and set off a loud boom. No more than a quarter second later, they heard it hit the tree, but didn't know if it was the black hole. Both of them stood up and began the walk to the tree.

"These things have a nice firing range to them, don't they?" he asked.

Destiny nodded. "Yes they do. Naiormi likes those kinds. I don't blame him. If you can use it, go for it."

"Exactly. I'm going to force myself to be like you, Destiny. I've always admired you."
She grinned. She had no idea she had fans out there.

"Thank you Vincent, don't worry, you yourself will be having them in no time. I shall see to that myself."

He looked over and smiled at her. "You know, you really are a great person, Destiny. Along with the hope of being trained by you someday, I've also fallen in love with you at some points. Well, not to be in a relationship way of course," he said quickly, afraid she'd get mad. "I just love your work and it's made me…like you."

He realized he had repeated himself all over again.

"Damn, I'm sorry; I had no right to say that."
She chuckled. "Oh Vince, you don't have to be sorry. It's nice to be cared for, and in my condition, that's all I long for. I can't like you back thought, Vincent, that's what brought me down and weakened in the first place. I never thought I could be the victim of love. Even up to now, I don't know how I feel about Cloud. It's just all too confusing."
"It's okay Destiny, we don't need to talk about this. I want no more than to be your friend, that's all I long for."
"Me too."

They got to the tree. Destiny had discovered the bullet far, far away from the hole. She pointed up the tree some twenty feet with a chuckle. Vincent laughed.

"Man, I don't think that was good at all."
"It was only your first try Vince, don't go knocking it. We still have a whole day to go. I will teach until I'm blue in the face!"

Vincent smiled at her. It was hard not to fall in love with her at first sight. She was beautiful, smart, funny, great to talk to, and would never ever give up on something, that's why Vincent had confidence in himself, because she believed in him. He would do this for her.

It was hours and many shots later that Vincent became exhausted. He had become much closer and closer to his target, but slipping by an inch each time.

"You progressed wonderfully Vincent Valentine, I'm astonished."

Vincent sighed. "Wow that was tiring. I think I've gotten better," he said, swinging the rifle strap over his shoulder. "Couldn't have done it without you."

Destiny felt herself blush slightly. "Oh Vincent."

He laughed. "Oh come on, let's get back to camp."
Dark had fallen over the hills as the two walked back to camp together.

"Destiny, would you mind if I asked you something?"
"Not at all."
Vincent paused. The crickets chirped; the calm night air was cool and crisp, awaiting his question.

"Who is…the…other person involved?"
Destiny knew what he was talking about and sighed. She would be angry if it was someone she knew asking her this, but Vincent was a stranger, he was harmless.

"Will you promise not to tell Naiormi this?"
"He knows."
"He doesn't know who it is."
"Oh."
She sighed again.

"Do you know Sephiroth?" she asked, hoping he hadn't.

He frowned. "Yes I do, but he died three years ago. How could he-"

"Professor Hojo created a clone of the original. Adult Sephiroth was recreated in the blink of an eye. I loved him just the same. I don't mean to get all into detail, but when he took me into his arms; it was so hard to say no."
Vincent nodded. "Yes Destiny, I know what you mean. I was in love with Sephiroth's sister, Lucrecia, for a long while, until she left me that is."

"Oh Vincent I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "No matter. I've never been in true love before. It was all child's play, puppy love."

Destiny felt her heart go out to him. She really felt for him once she saw tears in his eyes.

"Oh Vince."

She reached over and hugged him. He hugged back tighter.

They seemed to hug for hours, until he finally took his arms back. He didn't look at her after that, just kept walking.

"He's so mysterious," she said to herself in a whisper. "There's something unusual about him."

They both walked back to the camp.

Destiny had to sleep in an empty bed that night, for Cloud was now at the other end of the building. She missed him greatly and felt a hint of tears come to her eyes. That's the only thing she's wanted right now was to be loved in her condition. Instead, she was more like one of those characters in a V.C. Andrews novel…alone.

She pulled the blankets up to her chin and closed her eyes in the dark, silent room. It was then that she thought about Cloud, the door creaked open and the hall light peered into the room at her. She turned over to see what it was, yet groaned at the bright light. She saw a figure with long, spiky hair.

"Who is it?" she asked.

The door shut and it was dark again. Destiny sat up and reached for her lamplight. Turning it on, she was overjoyed at what sight she saw. There was Cloud, standing there with a slight grin on his face and his sword in hand.

"Cloud?! What are you doing? How did you get here?!"

Cloud was really there. He had come to her rescue.

"That, Mikamura, is a secret."
He walked over and hugged her. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tightly, ignoring Naiormi's threats that were passed down from before. She had never missed him more. She took in the scent of him and admired it greatly.

"You're going to be thrown out if Naiormi catches you!"

He cupped her cheeks. "That is a risk I just have to take then."

He kissed her straight on the lips. Destiny kissed back harder, thrusting her tongue into his mouth. She felt as if she hasn't seen him in years and savored his beautiful kiss. It was obvious she didn't care about Naiormi's wishes or graduation even.

Destiny moaned and whispered her demands to him, which were to take her into his arms and make sweet love to her. She didn't care if he was illegally inside the room or what; she missed him and more importantly, missed HIM.

"Oh Cloud, take me," she moaned in a whisper.

Her legs grew numb and the spot between her legs ached with the feeling of pleasure that overwhelmed her that second. Cloud laid her down, kissing her intensely.

"I've missed you," she whispered.

Light poured in the window as Destiny opened her eyes to a bright room. She moaned and shifted herself slightly, only to realize she was naked and in some serious trouble. She gasped and sat up. Cloud was right beside her, still asleep, nude as well. She quickly shook his shoulder, whispering for him to awaken. He groaned and exposed his beautiful blue eyes to her.

"Cloud, you have to leave!" she whispered in a panic. "Lieutenant Naiormi will know you're missing!"

"Too late!" came a voice.

Both gasped as the door flew open. There was Naiormi with his arms folded and a crossed look. Cloud yelped and covered up himself. Destiny followed.

"What is wrong with you?!" she cried.

He ignored Destiny and kept his glare at Cloud. He walked up to him with a growl and ripped the sheet from him, exposing him.

"Kyle!" Cloud shouted, using his first name with disrespect. It was then that Naiormi punched Cloud straight across the face, making him spin and hit the wall. Destiny cried out as she heard his fist against his face, making an unbearable noise. Naiormi then walked up to Cloud and yanked him up by his hair, then punched him again. Cloud groaned as he was bleeding from the nose.

"Lieutenant, stop!" Destiny cried desperately. Totally nude, she ran over to Naiormi and jumped up onto his back. He threw Cloud back into the wall, knocking him unconscious from the hard hit, then pried at Destiny's hands until she was off of him. He knocked her to the floor. She winced.

He then faced her with hungry eyes. His glare scared her greatly as she got chills all over her body.

"Why do you look at me that way?" she asked, covering herself up as best she could with her hands. It wasn't too obvious. Naiormi loved Destiny, and to see her like this, it was positively heaven. He reached out his hand to her.

"Let me help you up?"
She glared at him. "You want to help me? After what you just did to Cloud, do you expect me to let you help me?!"

He rolled his eyes. "Girls, so demanding!"

She cried out in shock as he pulled her up by her arm, then pushed her onto the bed. He climbed in on his hands and knees with a grin on his face that looked like as if he's been drinking one too many. Although Destiny was top member in SOLDIER, she was scared.

"Kyle, please," she whispered helplessly. Her heart beat wildly in her chest with the fear he'd hurt her somehow.

"Now you know you're not supposed to say the first name's to the lieutenants, Miss Mikamura."
"Oh? And I suppose what you're doing to me is okay?! What has gotten into you?! Why have you all of a sudden changed?!" she cried in scare, hoping he would come to.

Angry, Naiormi placed himself over Destiny and covered her mouth so she was unable to cry out. She looked up at him; fear lingered in her bright blue eyes.

"I don't know why you love Cloud so much, Destiny," he whispered, staring in her eyes. Ever since I saw you enter this camp, I thought for sure I'd be the lucky one." He looked away. "But I can see you chose Cloud. I just can't let that happen."
Destiny's heart jumped up in her throat. She had guessed that after all these years he's finally flipped and blurted out his love for her in the wrong way.

She was afraid that he was going to do something to her.

"Lieutenant-"

He placed his pointer finger over her lips.

"Not a word," he whispered.

He then removed his finger and replaced it with this thumb, rubbing all around her dry lips softly. Destiny was afraid to breathe, for she thought she'd upset him.

"Do you like me, Destiny?" he whispered with a hint of passion in his voice. Not giving her a chance to respond, he placed his lips over hers gently. She gasped as she suddenly felt his fingers caressing her womanhood. Involuntarily, she moved her leg out to allow him better access.

"I knew you liked me," he whispered, lips inches away from hers.

"Naiormi please," she begged.

"I always wondered why you picked Cloud over me Destiny; I could have given you all you've ever wanted."
Destiny had to admit that she did like Naiormi a little. As a blossoming teen, she always did have a soft spot for him, but never did she have these fantasies. This wasn't Naiormi; she didn't like it at all.

"I love Cloud."
He stopped and looked at her.

"You need to understand that, Naiormi." She looked into his eyes intensely, hoping he would. He shook his head slowly at first, but then much faster. He clenched his fist.

"No! No I will never understand why you did this! I want you Destiny! I want every inch of you!"

Destiny gathered tears in her eyes. Naiormi was really starting to scare her.

"I'm sorry but I can't."

He got into her face. "I don't care what you want! I'm in charge around here; you will do as I say! If I want you to become my whore, you will be, do you understand?!"
Destiny's mind was yelling at her to agree, but she declined. "No Naiormi, I do not understand."
She pushed him off of her. He fell to the floor.

"How dare you do that to me?!"

Destiny reached for her sky-blue bathrobe and put it on quickly. "How could you've done what you did to me?! I don't care about graduation, I quit!"

She walked to Cloud and shook him. "Cloud, come on, get up, we're leaving."

"Destiny, don't do this."
She glared at Naiormi. "You shut up! Don't you think you've done enough?! You hurt Cloud, then nearly raped me! You think you can have ownership of me, just because I'm the only girl on base?!"

"I never said that Destiny!"
Cloud moaned slightly as he opened his eyes.

"Hmm…Des?"

"Cloud, we have to get out of here, please don't ask questions until we're off base."
Cloud looked up over at Naiormi. He stood up, still nude.

"I know you have something to do with this. What did you do to her?!"
Destiny pulled him back by his arm. "Cloud, don't do anything stupid," she warned.

"None of your business Cloud! I'm lieutenant around here; I can do whatever I want!" he repeated.

"Destiny," Cloud growled, not taking his eyes off Naiormi, "what did he do to you?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter Cloud, it doesn't matter at all! I just want to get out of here!"

Ignoring Naiormi, Cloud began to get dressed.

"Please Cloud, we have to leave!"

"So that's it? No graduation for you both?! All because of a little romance that got in your way?!" Naiormi shot back.

Destiny froze. She then realized what she was doing.

Naiormi saw the second thought look in her eyes and grinned maniacally.

"Do you really want to leave Destiny? I'm giving you a second chance now. With the degree from SOLDIER you can provide your child with the necessary needs. Without it, you can be sure to parish!"

She clenched her eyes closed and felt the tears build up within them. She needed this degree badly, even more now that she was pregnant.

`It's only two more months, I can do it.' The only one on her mind was her unborn child. Looking at Cloud, she could tell he didn't want to leave either.

"Okay Naiormi, you win."
Cloud sighed and placed his hand over his forehead. She could tell that he was worried if she stayed there with Naiormi.

He smiled. "I'm glad you reconsidered."
He then turned to Cloud. "You on the other hand, I want gone."

Naiormi's heart was full of pure jealousy that Cloud got to Destiny before he did. Cloud's eyes widened, but Destiny spoke.

"Lieutenant please, don't do this to him! Cloud is the best you have and you know it!"

"I will no longer accept him on base seeing that he was inside you!"

He walked to the door and opened it.

"Get out!"

Cloud and Destiny looked at one another, then eventually moved into an embrace. Naiormi's jealously would never separate them. Destiny stared into Cloud's eyes, hoping that he would never leave her. She didn't know it, but he hoped the same.

"I said leave!"

Both of them continued to ignore him and look into one another's eyes, in that short while, they wondered about their future and their lives together. Most of all, the mistake they've made. Destiny knew that if she had kept her attitude about putting work before love, she wouldn't be in this spot now. Since this was mainly her fault, she was willing to do whatever it takes to make sure Cloud stayed on campus and graduated.

"Now!"

Instead of flipping, Destiny turned and spoke. "Naiormi please, don't do this to him. I know you don't like Cloud because of what happened, but he needs this as much as me. Please let us be together here."
Naiormi wouldn't hear of it. "Destiny, if you want Cloud to stay, you must agree to share my quarters until the child is born, not speaking to him until then."

Destiny swallowed and looked to Cloud. His eyes didn't suggest she'd do such thing. She sighed.

"Naiormi, can we have a minute alone? That's all I'm asking for."
He nodded and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

"You nuts?!" Cloud cried after she told him this was a fine enough deal, regarding the talk with Naiormi and him.

"Cloud, I want you to graduate!" she said, holding his hand.

"Forget about me! You and Naiormi in the same room for the next nine months is enough to get me going in circles! I'd rather quit now than stay and hear that he raped you or did something to the child!"
"Cloud if you leave, he'll still make me stay with him, he loves me. It's better if you just stay here and protect me."
"How?! We can't see one another for Christ sakes, he made that perfectly clear!" he yelled, pointing to the door. "Or are you just too stupid to notice that!"

Destiny was shot back. "Huh?"

Cloud backhanded the air. "Go with Naiormi, be his whore, I don't care anymore!"

Her eyes and mouth remained dropped as he grabbed his sword and left.

"Well excuse me for caring!" she cried as the door slammed.

It pained her to have had this happen the way it did, but she loved Cloud and was willing to do anything to keep him in SOLDIER and graduate, even if it meant her and Naiormi in the same room.

About five seconds later, Naiormi came back in.

"Well Destiny, are you ready?"
Destiny looked on the bright side and just thought of how she wouldn't always be there, just at night. During the day, she'd be out patrolling the fields and things like that, whatever mission she had that day.

"Yes sir, I am."

She was taken to his quarters, where she would remain for the next eight months. This room was by far the best room she had ever seen. First of all, it was huge. It wasn't normal size to all the other rooms. There was a king-sized bed on the other side, followed by an entertainment center, everything that would be in a regular house, followed by a dining room and a living room.

She was surprised. "Wow."

He smiled. "I assure you you'll like this Destiny."
This still didn't compare to hers and Cloud's room. Even though it was only a bed, a dresser, and a bathroom, he was everything to her.

Destiny watched Naiormi as he went back into the room. Right then, she started tearing up. She had no idea of what had gotten into him or why he was acting like this. The Naiormi she knew would never have done this to her or Cloud.

She followed him. "Naiormi…"

He turned to her. "Destiny?"

"Naiormi, why are you acting like nothing happened out there? Why were you being that way to me? You made me feel so violated!"

Naiormi bit his lower lip. "You're right, you are, and I'm very sorry. This isn't like me at all, I've always admired you and Cloud greatly, but…ever since yesterday when you said you were pregnant by him…it just all flipped and my feelings came soaring out in a second. Yes Destiny, it is true, I do love and care for you very much. I know you don't feel the same way, but…"

Destiny took his hand. "Oh no Naiormi, I do care for you, but just not in that way, you need to understand that, please."

He kept his head lower. "I try, but I still can't accept Cloud as the father of your child. Hell, I can't accept anyone as the father of your child!"
Her being the only girl on base really must have sent Naiormi into a tale-spin.

"If only you could realize how much you hurt Cloud, Naiormi. This wasn't his fault, it was mine. I'm the one that broke my feelings about my job and went further into love. Please, don't do anything to him; he's innocent according to me."
Naiormi probably would have flipped, but held back, seeing as though he finally realized he was wrong.

He could see how much Cloud meant to her and was willing to do anything to make her happy. He was happy as long as she was.

Destiny had won this battle and got placed back with Cloud. Together, two months later, they helped AVALANCHE beat Shinra and the Turks just before their week of graduation. Both Cloud and Destiny left SOLDIER with a degree and had never been happier. Three months pregnant now, Destiny and Cloud lived in a home in Kalm, awaiting their child to be born. Sephiroth never did return and Destiny never did get that DNA test, so Cloud assumed it as his, and it would be that way for the rest of their lives..