A/N: The multi-chap conclusion to You Were Always Late and Away From You

Over the Rainbow

And Back Again

I guess you could say I've been through a lot, and when you've been through a lot, you find yourself regretting things. I'm not suppose to regret things. That was something I decided a long time ago when I got into this business.

When I dropped that plate, I didn't feel anything for a while. I had stopped feeling for a long time.

When I look back, I wouldn't do that now. That's a lot to have on your shoulders, just for a pretty penny.

Now, don't get me wrong people. I'm still a hardcore son of a bitch with quite the reputation around here, and I'm not about to blow that. I worked hard for that people.

Okay, well, the booze did half the work but that's besides the point.

When they paired me up with Rude, I thought I would die. I mean, look at the guy, he's complete opposite of me. Maybe they thought he'd straighten me out, maybe they thought I'd loosen him up (Why would they want that? He's practically Tseng's wetdream), but neither of us thought we'd last long together.

Look at us now, still partners, and we know each other better than anyone else.

They tell you to know your partner, but not to feel for them so it won't affect you when you lose them. What kind of bullshit is that? My fuckin partner better feel for my ass or I might get screwed over in the field. I'm not saying I want Rude to throw himself in front of a bullet for me, but damn, I expect him to take at least a little risk for my well-being. And, if he don't feel anything for me, well, why would he take any risk at all?

It's just a good thing Rude isn't a woman. If Elena had been my partner, well, I would've been shot in the back along time ago.

Still, why am I still in this life? Is it just because I've gotten use to it? Maybe. Maybe I can't leave the Turks because it's all I've got left. Either way, I'm not good when it comes to orders, especially when I'm out looking for that stupid ex-SOLDIER boy. Idiot is what he is.

Dammit, I've had to find a lot of people in my past, but if there's one person I hate chasing, it's freaking Cloud Strife; better known as that stupid fucktard in my head. So, I definitely wasn't in the best of moods when this whole thing started.

Not to mention the fact that Lockhart wasn't even at the damn bar, so she can't call him and tell him to get his ass where I can find it.

Man I hate that guy.

So now, we've got to go hike all over the accursed city better known as Midgar. Or at least what's left of it.

And not only that, we're searching for one mopey son of a bitch, and not only is he emotional, he can chop me in freaking half with that damn sword of his.

Not that I wouldn't put up a fair fight, but still. I don't have time for this.

Rude leads the way, I'm too busy sulking to even care.

Of course I know where we're going, and of course he's going to be there, or show up eventually...but I really, really, really don't like it there.

That really doesn't make sense, does it? But I mean, it's just...unsettling there. It's too good, too pure, and it feels a little empty.

I guess it's because she died.

I sigh as we near the building, and shake my head. That nice motorcycle of his is parked outside.

As much as I hate the guy, you have to admit he's one lucky bitch. I mean, look at that bike! All nice and shiny, sleek and sexy. I want that bike.

Dammit.

Rude nudges me, and I realize we have work to do.

Damn Rufus. Always sending me after this idiot.

Dammit.

The door to the church is standing wide open, and I sigh. I really don't like this place anymore.

I sigh, shove Rude back and begin to trek up towards the door.

We both stop short when we hear a furious yell, a desperate roar. It's awful, just this raw pain pouring out of someone's lips, and I wonder, if Cloudy boy didn't end up with Kadaj's sword run through him already.

Still, what's even more unsettling, I doubt Cloud would scream like that even if he were impaled on Masamune. Cloud's the silent type, almost like Rude (Rude's cool), but neither of them yell. Nothing makes them yell.

That's what gets me on edge. What made Cloud yell? Wait...why do I even care?

I grab Rude's sleeve, whose still frozen near the doorway, and shake him out of his stupor. He nods his head and follows me slowly, cautiously. I inch my way around the open doorway, another cry of despair reaching my ears. It is Cloud, I can see his back from here.

He's sitting on the ground near a column, facing away from us mostly, rocking something between his arms and legs, back and forth, back and forth.

And every now and then, another scream slips from his lips, an almost animal yell. It isn't human. It's just too much pure, unfiltered feeling. It's raw, and goes straight to your bones.

It's kind of scary.

And I don't scare easily, and neither does Cloud-bitch. This is bad. Something is seriously wrong here.

And he's still rocking back and forth, and I catch a glimpse of his face. It's contorted into this look of pain, something of a grimace at the corner of his mouth, eyes squeezed shut, and his brows low and furrowed.

And that's when another sound breaks through the silence, a strangled sob, and I watch as Cloud presses his face into the back of the thing.

"Please..." he hisses, gasping, "I'm here now...I'm sorry...I'm sorry I'm late...but I'm here now..." he gasps again, "I'm sorry. Please, say something else...please Teef...please, anything else."

Still rocking, still fighting sobs.

That's when I see him jerk back, his left hand slams into the dusty floor, and he growls.

And there's black blood dripping off of his arm, running on to the floor boards, mingling with a red blood, a lily caught in the mad storm.

And he falls back unconscious, and my breath freezes in my throat, as he hits the floor behind him, the thing landing on top of his chest.

The body.

The bruised, bloody body with flowing brown hair, and vacant red eyes.

I think I hear Rude gasp beside of me, but I'm too busy trying to grasp the reality of the moment.

The reality that Tifa Lockhart is dead.

I can't carry her. I can't. Any other time, yes. But...no...I-I just can't do that.

So Rude does, and it pains him, as much as he wants to hide it. After you've been with someone for so long, you pick up on little habits. Like Rude, when he's upset, he'll fiddle with the end of his jacket. I can tell he wants to, but he can't, because he's got a corpse in his arms.

What happened? What happened to all of us, really...we're all so different from two years ago. You...you Cloud Strife...you would've never let this happen to her two years ago.

What happened to you?

I don't know how we actually made it back to the bar; it was empty. No children, children that had already lost one mother, lost another.

I don't want to be the one to tell them; I don't even want to be around when they find out.

We put her in her bed after cleaning the worst of her wounds. It's strange, looking at her now. She's still got that sad smile on her face, the one we found her with...or rather, the one Cloud found her with. We lay her hands across her stomach, and she looks unnatural, laying there with no breath.

Rude finally drags me away from her, to watch for Cloud to wake up.

It's a few hours before he finally does, wincing once before slowly opening his eyes. He looks around the room of the children's, so confused, so...hurt.

And then he glares at me.

"Why am I awake?"

The question catches me off guard, and I blink rapidly, "What?"

"Why am I alive?!" he roars.

He's off the bed fast, much faster than he should be leaving it. To prove this fact, his legs give out, and he hits the floor hard. I almost walk over to help him up, but I remember the body laying just two doors down.

She's dead because of him. I never blamed him for the death of Aeris. Who saw that coming, really? Sephiroth, and all that bullshit. I don't blame him. I blame myself for the plate. Who pressed that button, anyways? I did.

But I'm blaming him for this, even if I'm not better than him. I'm blaming Cloud for Tifa's death...because she wouldn't have died if he hadn't been so selfish...if he hadn't of been so blind.

And he struggles to his feet again, and as much as I hate him, and even more now, I have to stop him. If he sees Tifa's body, I don't know what he'll do.

"Cloud, stop," I try to stop him, honestly.

But he backhands me viciously, unexpectedly. I rear back, and slam against the wall behind me.

"Shit! Rude!" I yell, watching as Cloud struggles down the hallway.

I make it out the door, my feet slipping on the floor slightly, trying to catch up with him, trying to stop him from seeing her.

Her bedroom door swings open suddenly, and I almost expect to see her walking out of there, smiling and asking what's wrong. But it isn't her...it's Rude, Rude who goes straight up to Cloud slamming his forearm beneath Cloud's neck and forcing him against the wall opposite.

Cloud's eyes are wild, his efforts are weak, though, still resisting a truth he undoubtedly knows.

"Where is she?" his voice is broken, hoarse.

Rude says nothing, just pushes Cloud back down the hall, back towards the children's room with rough shoves. Cloud doesn't protest...maybe for once he realizes what's best for him right now. Rude doesn't even have to shove him into the children's room.

I go to follow him into the room, but he slams the door behind him, and there is silence.

My life has been…was a hectic swirl. It was filled with grief and happiness, usually linked, standing there tied together, hand in hand. Life in general is full of strange things, and happenings, but that doesn't make them any less painful or bearable.

Bad things happen, and cause people to hurt and cry and suffer. We all do, really, every one of us who has something to live for that isn't greed or jealousy or evil. We, who live for others, and love, and the beauty in life and the planet, we always suffer despite what we do for it.

But not everyone is like that, and those governed by sins are the ones that cause the pain; the ones that cause the bad things to happen, to make people like us suffer.

You are…were a good person, whether you are willing to accept it or not; despite the sins you may have committed, you felt guilt and wished to be forgiven. You are a good person. Unfortunately for people like us, like you, we suffer, always, at the hands of those that live by sin.

We're good people, but bad things happen to good people.

A/N: That's right, fellas...I'm ending it. Check out You were always late, and Away from you, if you want this to make sense... I hope you all enjoy this, and the begining was in Reno's POV. Kudos to those who figure out the italics. Do not expect quick updates, I'm busy with classes right now, but as always, I appreciate reviews.