Moonlight reflected off the bits of broken blade that littered the alley.

Cloud stepped into the alley as the Quickening fruitlessly searched for a host. He looked up at the stars.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess
We seek it thus, and take it to the sky"

Finding no one, the body began to fade into a golden mist.

"Ripples form on the water's surface
The wandering soul knows no rest"

"LOVELESS?" Sephiroth asked bemused. "I haven't heard that in quite some time. Are you sure you didn't inherit some of Genesis' cells as well?"

"A few days before he died, Zack and I were travelling in the back of a truck. To kill the time he read it aloud to pass the time. I can't tell you why, but I remembered it. The way he read it too."

Sephiroth turned to pick up the hilt and showed it to Cloud.

"You know him?"

"Not really. I went into a bar and he was there talking to a friend about these strange "Immortals" that he'd seen. Apparently you did or said something he didn't like to someone he knew and wanted to see what was going on. I tried telling him to leave well enough alone, but he didn't seem to be listening. I left not long after he did, but obviously I was too late." He sounded sad, yet resigned. "It wasn't much of a fight, was it?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "He protested when he saw my sword. Said something about cheating. I gave him a few chances to stand down, but the second he took a swing at me I had to fight back."

"And it was over."

"One strike."

"Hmph. It is not over between you and I."

The was a look of smug superiority on Sephiroth's face as he began to recite.

"Nothing shall forestall my return
To become the dew that quenches the land
To spare the sands, the seas, the skies"

Cloud snorted as mako-infused eyes scanned the night. "Let us leave this place," Cloud finally said. "Our fight is timeless. We should let his friend mourn in peace."

Sephiroth turned to where Cloud looked and saw an older man on his knees, clutching his cane. As the pair left, Cloud lowered his head in respect, but never once looked back.