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Chapter 29

My right to live…would depend on if I had the guts to kill Sephiroth. You would think it would be so easy for me to kill the man that tried to kill me…expose me. You would think I could kill him just for killing my best friend. You would think…but I couldn’t even wrap my mind around what I had agreed to do. Could I take a life? Even if that so called life was nothing but a farce? He was dead a long time, Sephiroth. Just a zombie now, driven his mothers own insane thoughts. His mother…my mother. I tried to push that behind me…but it always found a way back in my mind.

I stared out the window, waiting for the time where I would have to meet Sephiroth. Reno was pacing around my room, buttoning up his shirt and putting the finishing touches on his Shinra uniform. He too had a mission- he had to fight Sephiroth’s little minions- and hopefully he wouldn’t be put in the situation I was in. He could just render them immobile;, I had to make someone cease breathing. But I wouldn’t dare say my boyfriend was having an easy time with this. We fought about it last night when I told him- he wanted to help, I said he couldn’t. I wasn’t going to drag him into this, it would put more strain on me and could result in his own…no I can’t even say it. I had to make this sacrifice. I had to leave behind my boyfriend…

I could feel his eyes on me, his breath tangling with my unruly blonde locks, and still I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I had to wipe away any emotion in my heart, to be able to do the deed I was destined to do. You have to be…some kind of monster to willingly kill you brother.

“Look at me,” he said coldly, “Look at me.”

“You know I can’t,” I muttered, laying my head on the frosted window.

“I have to go,” his breathing became harsh; “I want you to fucking look at me!”

It felt as if someone was squeezing my heart all of a sudden- my emotions wouldn’t dry up. I could feel my boyfriend’s pain, I could feel it leak into my body and break me down. I wanted to grant him this one wish, but I feared that…if I looked into his eyes I would never walk to my death.

Despite that…I looked at him. The pain became even more real, and like I feared I wanted to stay, or run away…either would be good at that point. I just didn’t want to leave him.

“Better,” he sighed, “I have to go.”

“Okay,” I muttered once again, earning a rough look from Reno’s side.

“This won’t be the last time I see you…”

“We can’t be-“

“No, fucking tell me…tell me we will meet back here, in this exact spot when it is all over.”

How could I possibly make a promise like that? I swallowed the lump that was growing in my throat, and tried to muster up a cold gaze…only to fail miserably. My eyes wilted to the floor, in fear that if I looked into his depressed face, my touch composer would collapse.

“Promise me Cloud,” he said, “Promise me we will see each other.”

“I promise, Reno,” I sighed, “I promise.”

It wasn’t like…it would be the first time I ever broke a promise.

He was mildly satisfied, and I forced myself to watch him walk out the door, to face his own demons. Wondering briefly…if that would be my last memory of him, and remembering…I forgot to tell him how much I loved him.

--

I stood in the middle of the cold street waiting for my so called brother to finally show himself. It was a cloudy night tonight, with a cold breeze that sent shivers down my spin. I scanned my block for any sign of life. I was hoping that people would have gone out with their children, but sadly every light on my street was on, save for my house. More casualties for Sephiroth to feast on…more lives I would have to protect save for my own. I nearly threw up at the thought of protecting these vile people, who cursed my name and spat at me. They probably deserved to die…but what kind of human would I be if I allowed that. I would be Sephiroth…and like hell I would ever be like him, I am not a soulless monster.

Footsteps echoed through the quiet street, signing the arrival of my opponent. I turned around and saw Sephiroth a few yards away from me with a sinister smile tattooed to his face.

“Well I’m here,” I yelled, “Now what?”

A devious twinkle glimmered in his bright yellow eyes as he advance towards me, slowly. “I am surprised- you would defend people who wish you were dead.”

“I’m not just here for them, I am here to make sure you don’t hurt anyone anymore.”

“Oh? And it’s that simple,” he stopped, “just appearing here?”

“I have more strength that you think I have,” I growled.

“Oh?” He dug into his pocket, revealing a small red lighter.

“Is that supposed to scare me,” I laughed.

An evil laughter escaped his lips, “There are gasoline containers hidden in garbage cans and in bushes, with a trail of the said liquid linking each point. Unless you can stop me, I am going burn this place to the grown…”

I began to tremble- all the cockiness I had before quickly drained along with my complexion- and I stood, my face pale as snow, staring at him in disbelief.

“Cloud, I am going to take away everything you’ve grown to accustom to. I will take away everyone you cherish…and then…I will take away your life. The ending of this story, Cloud, is up to you.”

I clenched my hands into a tight first, willing my legs to stay exactly were they stood- I couldn’t run…I wanted to run. I wanted to just let this place burn and save myself and Reno. But I couldn’t, and I had to realize that…the lives of the people in this neighborhood were in my trembling hands.

A fist suddenly came in contact with my face, and I stumbled…shocked…the floor. Sephiroth’s laughter got louder and louder. I quickly jumped to my feet, wiping away the blood that dripped from the corner of my lip. I got my mind together quickly, and rushed the bastard. I swung at him, only to have my bolted fist caught in his hand. He swung me around, almost dislocating my arm, and threw me to the floor again. I attempted to get to my feet, with his feet connected to my ribs, sending me to my back.

His foot came down, attempting to hit my ribs again- a coward’s move- but I quickly rolled away before he could connect. With a flash I was on my feet again, and managed to land a punch in his stomach, only have another one of his bellowing fist come in contact with my face.

With fist of fury we fought through the cold night wind. Our blood splattered the floor carelessly, as screams of pain and anguish echoed through the neighborhood. I dully noted how no one dared come out of their warm houses to see what the ruckus was about- it didn’t concern them. I pushed foul thoughts my neighbors down in to the darkness of my heart, and used it as fuel to kick the shit out of Sephiroth. For all he has done…for all the pain he caused…he had to pay for it.

Fueled with new anger I charged him once again, tackling him to the ground, and began a relentless assault on his pretty boy face. Blood oozed from his nose and lip, and with every punch I landed the blood splattered on the cold street. I only had him pinned down for a couple of minutes, before he managed to land one of his own punches square in my throat. I rolled off him, gagging for air. As I was stunned Sephiroth the opportunity to grab my shirt and throw me against a random house, holding me in place as he attempted to punch me. I ducked in time, and his fist connected with the cold brick wall. Freed from his grasp, I punched him…hard…in the stomach, and once again in the face. He stumbled backwards…blood erupting from his mouth.

I ran towards him to get another punch, but I noticed the smirk that danced along his bloody face. I attempted to stop, only to slip on a patch of ice conveniently placed in front of me…as I skidded towards him, he punched me again in the face…and again, and again, and again, until I could feel my brain actually rock from the pressure of being hit so many times.

I could feel the black and blue form around my eyes, as blood cascaded from my nose and lip. I stumbled around, dazed and confused suddenly, trying to focus on a blur that I assumed was Sephiroth- turned out to be a “Do Not Park” sign. In my confusion I walked straight in the sign, earning a cackle from Sephiroth’s side.

My eyes focused, and I spun around looking for where he had gotten to. That’s why my blue eyes landed on him. He revealed the lighter once again, lighting it- and despite the cold wind, the hot flame danced against his finger.

“I should have known, the world can’t rely on you.”

He threw the light lighter into a bush. In a matter of seconds the bush was engulfed in flames, and sprinkling sparks randomly. The sparks hit the trails of gasoline Sephiroth poured on the sidewalks, sending a wall of fire around the neighborhood. The fire hit cars, and sporadic gasoline containers. The dark night…was now illuminated by the flames of hell that reached the sky.

Once the smoke rose, people began to run of their houses, grabbing their children, and running down the street as the fire chased after them. Screams of terror echoed past the fire, as everyone quickly made their escape…leaving me to burn in hell.

“Don’t you see Cloud?” Sephiroth approached me, “They don’t care about you, even if you are trying to save their pathetic existence. All they care about is themselves. Not you. They could care less about you. So why are you still fighting for a right they don’t deserve.”

I watched as the neighbors who tortured me at Aeris’ funeral grabbed their children and ran down the block, the fire on their heels. Fear plagued their normally stone cold faces as their eyes seemed to be only focused on getting their children, and themselves, to safety. I saw they were human, they were afraid, like any human would be of death…but something else hit me. I watched as a man ran into a strangers house to rescue her child from the burning the flames that engulfed her house. He emerged with burns along his and bare body- he used his shirt to shield the child from the flames...

Despite all my neighbor’s faults, and the faults of humanity, I realized something’s were worth protecting. Life.

“You’re right they don’t care,” I announced, “They don’t care about me. And who knows, maybe after this they still won’t care. They can hate me their entire life. They can resent me for being gay, despite how hard I tried fighting for them, and they can curse me in the street and try to get me to leave. But they can’t take away my right to live in this world- no one has that right. Not even you Sephiroth, you don’t hold that right in that sniveling, sour, soul of yours. You can’t take away my right to live. Every human on this earth is born with the right to make sometimes of themselves. Even though I am treated like a fucking second hand second hand citizen in this place, I will not go quietly into the night and let you or anyone else win this battle that was determined for me when I came out of the closet. I will not die. I will not fall. I will live. I will fucking fight.”

I felt hot tears cascade down my face, washing away the dried up blood, “And as long as there is breath in this body of mine, you will not take away my will to fucking walk this world like every body else!”

“Well what are you going to do mister hero!”

“I am not a hero, I am boy-“ I laughed despite the tears, and held my head high, “I am man…I am a fucking man…made to fight this battle for myself, and for everyone else who feels like me. I will defeat you…I will show you…”

I charged him, despite the fact he had drawn a small pocket knife. I was ready to kill him…I had to…

--

Reno’s POV

I liked how Yazoo and Loz thought they were going to get one over us again. Unluckily for them we were prepared this time, and this time allowed the crazy blonde known as Elena join us. No sooner did the Sephiroth clones get out of their beat up car, did we have the surrounded with guns pointed at their heads. Funny thing was, they weren’t exactly guns…more like water guns we spray painted black. But they did the job and the chicken shits where on their knees begging for the lives. We tied them up with chains and threw them back in their car.

The three of us exchanged a laugh, though my mind was plagued with worry over Cloud’s wellbeing. He made me promise yesterday, that no matter I heard or saw, I was not to come to his rescue. I felt like an asshole for sitting on the hood of Rude’s car, knowing full well my boyfriend…my boyfriend could be in some serious trouble. I felt helpless and weak, and I hated feeling like that. I felt like this was Tseng all over again, and I was going to fall into another nightmare.

I was reliving my Californian tragedy all over again.

All I could do was pray to any God that would listen, that Cloud’s life would be spare…I just needed him to be okay.

The click from a gun dragged me from my daunting thoughts, and I sprung to my feet. I was met with the cold blank eyes of Hojo…and the barrel of a gun. He smirked evilly at me, with nothing but sinister thoughts running through that man scientist head of his.

“I knew I should have killed you when I had the chance, you stupid faggot.”

I could hear Elena and Rude yelling at me to run…but I couldn’t. I was frozen in fear and frustration. All the sanity I had left drained from my body and the only thing I could do…was put on a happy smirk.

“Go a head,” I mocked, “Fucking shoot me.”

-

Cloud’s POV

Sephiroth swung at me with the knife, but I managed to dodge the attack and capture his wrist with my hand. We struggled for control of the knife. I don’t remember how I managed to do it, but I grabbed the knife from his grasp, and in a second stabbed him in his cut…

Blood oozed from the wound…and on to my hand. Bright crimson blood that seemed to weird…like I had never seen it before. Instinctively I pulled the knife out of his gut…and he fell to the floor, clutching his stomach in pain. I watched him gag and tremble, as his life quickly left his body. I stumbled back, dropping the blood soaked knife, and just stared as my brother stopped moving…and closed his tortured yellow eyes.

Reno’s POV

I heard the gunshot echo through the dense night air…

The small brass bullet hit me…somewhere…my stomach, arm? I couldn’t quiet pinpoint it…all I knew was it hurt like a fucking bitch. I collapsed to the floor, blood cascading from where the wound was. The pain was so unbearable, and I grabbed my stomach, feeling the warm liquid dye my hand a horrible shade of red. I squirmed and screamed out in pain.

Another gun shot raced through the air, and I braced myself for my death…

In stead all I head was a gurgle and someone collapsing on the floor. Words swarmed around me- Rude I think was screaming my name, Elena rushed over to me, taking off her jacket to placing it on the wound in my stomach to stop the bleeding. A strangers cold voice said something about getting help…all I could focused on with the blood suffocating me…

I opened my tightly shut eyes and saw him…saw Tseng…looking at me from a distance. My angel of death had finally come to retrieve me…

“No,” I coughed, blood leaking onto my face, “No I am not ready to die. I can’t die.”

“Reno you are going to be alright!” Elena shouted.

“I made a promise I can’t die…I can’t die…”

I wasn’t ready to die…

Cloud’s POV

How strange…it started to rain. Not a cold rain…it was warm and comforting in a way. The rain chased away the boiling fire from the houses that still stood. It cleansed me. I felt renewed somehow, cleared of all the sins I had ever committed in my life. I could be born again, live again, a better person despite what I had just done. I could feel Aeris and Zack surround me, their comforting arms wrapped around my bruised body, healing me.

Everything was silent…

BANG!

A bullet hit me…through my shoulder, sending blood and human tissue on to the wet floor. I clutched the wound, the blood oozing way to fast…I was starting to get light headed. I turned slightly and saw Sephiroth, holding a gun, and smirking. His last breath was wasted on trying to kill me…he was truly a determined boy…

I only managed to take one step, before the lost of blood finally took its toll on my worn out body. I collapsed to my knees…I looked up to the raining sky, as it now cried for me…my life…

And all I could say was, “I’m sorry Reno…” before darkness and cold street enveloped me.