Jyleth tossed a package at Sephiroth. He caught it deftly, even from the sitting position she had found him in after making her purchases at the town square. They were about a mile out of town, well off the main road. Finding Sephiroth hadn't been difficult for Jyleth, since she still had the skills she had acquired from the Northern continent as a guide. Tracking a human on the dirt of a temperate land was about the same as tracking an animal in snowlands. It was just a matter of knowing where to look and how to guess the age of certain depressions.

Sephiroth turned the package over inquiringly, inspecting its contents. It was clear that he didn't know why she had tossed the package at him, but he didn't want to admit he didn't know. Finally, his curiosity overwhelmed his pride.

"Rope?" His voice was quiet and calm, completely opposite of the tone he had exhibited in the dockyard.

"Rope," Jyleth confirmed, sitting down several feet away from him - well out of his reach.

"And you bought this because…?"

"I got an idea," she said, looking more than a little uncomfortable. "Of how to deal with…you…" She trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the rope.

"Jyleth." His voice was a low, warning tone.

"It's a way to control…you," she said after a few moments. She kept her eyes down, intently studying her feet. After a long silence, she looked up, finding him staring at her with a shocked expression.

"You intend to use this"-he held up the rope in an almost threatening manner-"to tie me up?" The edge in his tone clearly indicated his thoughts about her idea.

"Well-" she started to explain, but stopped when he threw the package at her feet. She stared for a moment at the package, blinking to clear the dust that had puffed up from the package's impact with the dry dirt.

"No," he said fiercely, rising to his feet. "Not now, not ever. Don't ever suggest that again. Don't even think it." Jyleth watched him silently while he brushed himself off in a vain effort to disguise that he was shaking in anger - or fear?

"Sephiroth," Jyleth tried again as she rose to her feet. She didn't understand his complete revulsion of the idea of using a rope to control him. "I can't think of anything else. We have to do something… and soon." He turned away from her, striding a few steps away, as if he was going to leave her in his fury. But he stopped, then turned back to face her.

"I can think of more than a few solutions," he said in a strained tone. "More than a few…" Sephiroth looked at her measuringly, not bothering to try to hide the hunger in his eyes. His jaw clenched tightly, and he closed his eyes, trying to regain his precious control. "The best solution," he continued a few moments later, "is for me to leave." He looked to see her response to his decision.

"Leave?" Jyleth looked at him incredulously. "You mean to leave me?"

"It is the best solution," he said, nodding. His eyes betrayed him, however, showing he didn't really think that separating was the best solution.

"Oh yes," she said, her own anger starting to rise, "leaving is certainly the best way out. If you are a coward." She stressed the word, knowing it would infuriate him. "Too weak to deal with your problems, so just leave them behind you, as if they will never come back to haunt you! Didn't you learn anything from before?" She referred to his time of madness when Jenova took control of his mind. "Ignoring a problem only makes it worse! And what about Avalanche? Do you think you can simply take them all on? Or that they will forgive you if you just stride up and demand that they do so?"

He stared blankly back at her, only quiet anger in his eyes showing that he had heard the words at all. The air between them suddenly seemed thick and hot, and Jyleth worried momentarily that Sephiroth might have cast a materia spell in his anger. But he turned away a moment later, and the tension disappeared. She didn't bother to hide her sigh of relief and irritation.

"I never asked you to join me," he said, keeping his back to her. His tone was subdued once more, almost defeated. "This task the Ancient has set me to is likely to be pointless and fruitless, probably just for her amusement." He gave a short harsh laugh, raising his right hand slightly. "This stone," he said, turning suddenly back to face her one more, "this damn stone will never turn green. And even if it does, it doesn't mean anything. It's probably all just a game to her." He met her eyes, the mako green of his irises demanding her complete attention. "I won't dance to anyone's tune again. Not ever."

It was her turn to be silent, trying to find a suitable answer. He believed Aeris was only toying with him? Jyleth found that hard to believe. What she had heard of the Ancient was that she was a caring, sweet-natured girl. One who gave her life to save the planet. It didn't seem that she would play games with any living being - even the one who had murdered her. Jyleth kept her eyes locked with Sephiroth's, feeling the agony of his shame and the fury of his anger beating down with equal force on her. How could she possibly convince him that this wasn't a game?

"Sephiroth," she began, taking a slow, careful step toward him. "If this was a game, then why would she be helping you so much? She could have left you in the void, but she didn't. She could have kept you from meeting that hermit. But she didn't. She could have revealed your presence to Avalanche long before you were fully recovered. But she didn't. And she could have let those villagers continue to fear you. But she didn't. She interfered, at all these times, encouraging people to trust you, to forgive you, or, if needed, to ignore you. You have to finish the task she gave you. You owe her that much."

"I don't owe her anything," he said derisively, "she chose to interfere. That is her business."

"You owe her her life," Jyleth reminded him. His face paled momentarily, remembering gliding down toward the kneeling girl, remembering how it felt to feel the Masamune tear through her as if she were made of air and not flesh and bone. Remembering the sudden, quiet gasp of surprise, the last breath she took. He turned his face down, breaking eye contact.

"I'll continue," he said, finally agreeing with her. "But not with you. You are too much of a distraction. Too much… for me to deal with. I can't-"

"You can," she said, interrupting him as she closed the distance between them. Tentatively, she reached her hand to his face, breaking the rule she herself had put forth. "I'll think of something else. Or you will. This isn't hopeless. Giving up - or giving in - isn't of your nature." He met her eyes again, for once showing a certain vulnerability. He raised his hand to hers, clasping it gently. Closing his eyes, he swallowed hard, fighting to make himself just hold her hand, to not reach for her. She smiled slightly, pulling her hand away before the desire became too much for him to control.

"You won't leave," he stated, opening his eyes and shifting a few steps away from her.

"No," she answered, "and if you try to leave me, I'll follow you. I won't let you get yourself killed." She smiled again, amused at her suggestion of having to protect him, rather than vice versa. He stared at her a moment longer, as if debating whether or not it was worth arguing the issue of whether he needed her protection. He apparently decided not to, for he moved away, seeking his pack and the over-used polishing cloth therein.

Cloud sat sullenly at a table in the corner of the inn's dining room, watching the other occupants of the room with guarded eyes. Tifa sat next to him, calmly sipping at a mug of warmed cider while she also watched the room, although her attention was less obvious. The group had split up upon entry to Bone Village, agreeing to meet up at the inn. Cloud and Tifa had come immediately to the inn, hoping to find information from the innkeeper, as innkeepers were usually a talkative bunch.

What they had found was not at what they had expected. The innkeeper had greeted them in a friendly enough manner, but after he had given them a closer inspection, he suddenly grew distant, only speaking when asked direct question. He didn't provide them with any information about Sephiroth or his companion. Cloud and Tifa had finally given up trying to talk to the innkeeper; instead, they had taken a table and asked for two mugs of hot cider.

The other occupants of the room were subdued, speaking in soft tones so that their words were impossible to make out. Every now and then, one of them would glance over at the two strangers in the corner, giving them a measuring stare before returning to their conversation.

"I don't like this," Cloud said in a low tone. "They are hiding something."

"You are right," Tifa agreed, "but what? They might just be wary of strangers. I heard there was some looting of the Ancient's City going on. They might think we are more treasure hunters."

"Looting?" Cloud asked, anger coloring his voice. "Who would dare disturb her?" His voice grew louder with each word. Tifa reached over and touched his hand gently.

"Cloud, I'm sure no one has found where she is. It was well hidden. And they are probably after artifacts, not remains." Cloud's hand closed in a tight fist.

"Aeris…"

Tifa didn't say anything. After all these years and two children, he still gets all dreamy when thinking about her... Cloud's eyes were glassy, his expression vacant. Tifa squeezed his hand tightly, until his eyes focused on the room and her once more.

"It's her he's after," Cloud whispered, a sudden intensity showing in his face. "He's after Aeris. Killing her wasn't enough, he-"

"Cloud!" Tifa whispered furiously, yanking on his arm to silence his tirade. He quieted immediately, regarding her with cold, emotionless eyes.

"He's been up here for some time, why would he wait until now to go the Ancient's City? Think about it." Cloud sighed heavily, nodding slowly. He dropped his eyes to his mug, studying it gravely. Tifa pulled her hand away from him, returning her gaze to the room. Several pairs of eyes openly watched them, conversation having stopped during Cloud's outburst. Tifa stared them down one by one until they had all returned back to their respective conversations.

During the next hour, the rest of their group slowly found their way to the inn and quietly took chairs at the table with Cloud and Tifa. They didn't speak, sensing the tension between Tifa and Cloud and not wanting to get involved. Cid thoughtfully puffed on a cigarette, earning him a momentarily glare of irritation from Tifa. The innkeeper took their drink orders briskly, not engaging in the usual banter. He brought their drinks in silence, departing before they had a chance to tip him.

"These people are just too damn quiet," Barret said in a gruff undertone as he sipped at his drink.

"They were unwilling to speak about anything other than the weather," agreed Vincent.

"They certainly clammed up pretty good when I mentioned our silver-haired friend," Cid said caustically. "They are hiding something, that's for sure."

"They were here." This was from Nanaki, who quietly lay on the floor between Barret and Cid, acting as if he were a tame animal rather than a thinking creature. He had long ago given up trying to convince people he wasn't a monster, choosing rather to play the tame dog.

"I know they were here," said Cloud. "I can sense the residue of his presence here, clinging to everything like-"

"Cloud," Tifa interrupted, placing her hand on his arm once more, "we know."

"It's everywhere…" Cloud insisted, his eyes glazing slightly.

"We know," Tifa answered softly, squeezing his arm reassuringly. "We'll find him. Red, what did you hear?"

"Perhaps it would be best to acquire some rooms and speak about this in a more private manner," Nanaki suggested, sitting up and shaking his head fiercely. Cloud stirred as the red beast shook himself, the glaze on his eyes completely dissolving. He smiled softly at Tifa, his whole demeanor softening. Cid's breath came in a sudden hiss, showing the reaction of the entire group to Cloud's rapid changing character.

"I think Red has the right of it," Cloud said casually, taking some materia and placing it on the table. "Let's retire for the night and discuss this in private." He left the table with Tifa in tow.

"Is it just me," said Cid once Cloud was out of hearing range, "or is our spiky-haired hero getting a little spooky?"

"Jus like da last time," Barret said, nodding slowly. He watched as Cloud swiftly negotiated for their night's board with the innkeeper. "Remember that he used to get funny when we was chasing Sephiroth last time. It's gotta be that Sephiroth is messing with his head again."

"We should not talk of this around him or Tifa," said Vincent quietly, "they are under enough stress. Let's just keep close to him, in case he goes…" Vincent trailed off, his vocabulary failing him.

"Nuts?" Cid supplied.

"Or worse." Vincent's voice was deadly calm.

"I don't want to think about that," Barret said, shaking his head, "This is all too strange for me, an' none of it makes sense. I just gonna follow Cloud's lead. He seems to have some connection with ole' SOLDIER boy, and that's all we needed last time, so it oughta do this time too…"

The four fell silent, lost in their thoughts as they finished their drinks. Tifa came over shortly after the last mug rested empty on the table to show them to their rooms.