So, this is the conclusion of The Red Cloak! Thanks to all my regular readers and reviewers for sticking with the story through its run. I've enjoyed writing it; I hope you've enjoyed reading it just as much. Be seeing you around!

The last five SHM SOLDIERs had been forced into a small group, encircled by a squad of WRO personnel that were barely managing to keep the monsters at bay with small-arms fire and the occasional good thrust with a melee weapon.

On receiving a signal from their commander, they pulled back and retreated a good distance, knowing that their job had been accomplished. The SOLDIERs snarled and cast yellow gazes about, looking for the reason that their opponents were retreating, and found it.

In the next instant, they all died as Cloud laid into them with an Omnislash. The SOLDIERs were all severed at the waist and neck, and their heads were diced in two even as they fell from their shoulders. Cloud came to a halt behind them and returned the First Tsurugi to its harness, crackling with spirit energy and a bit out of breath.

The battle for the WRO Tower had been decided. The last of the SHM SOLDIERs were dead and the rest of the SHM had been killed, rounded up, or had retreated, soon to be rooted out and arrested. After today, and especially after the entirety of the movement's plot had been made public, Cloud very much doubted that a single living soul would sympathize with any of its members and harbor or aid them.

He headed back to the Tower and met up with Tifa at the front entrance. She pulled him into an embrace and they stayed there for a while, taking comfort in each other's presences, before they pulled apart and exchanged a brief kiss.

"I take it we won," she said.

Cloud nodded. "Uh-huh. On this front, anyway. We'll still need to hear back from the ones that went to check out the movement's headquarters and the mako reactor."

As if on cue, there was a roar from overhead and a light WRO dropship shot past before circling about, slowing to a crawl, and entering the Tower's hangar. Tifa watched it for a moment before observing, "That must be them now. If they're coming back, I wouldn't be too worried."

The two of them entered the Tower and found Reeve and Tseng barking orders left and right, telling subordinates where to hold captured SHM, where to get supplies to, to get the elevators working again, to send out patrols to restore order in the city, and so forth. Reeve clutched an empty bottle of water in one hand and a ration bar that he eagerly took bites out of between orders in the other; it was going to take a while, but he was already on the road to complete recovery.

He was working through a mouthful of the bar when he saw Cloud and Tifa. "We did it!" he tried to say, though it came out sounding more like "om dim im!" and he swallowed before repeating himself.

Cloud grinned and patted Reeve on the shoulder. "We did. And I gotta say, I'm really glad you aren't an evil mastermind."

"Me, too. It doesn't sound like a job with many perks."

The rest of the party quickly joined them. Red XIII and Naiad reported complete success in securing the north side of the Tower, while Cid and Barret informed them that what they had termed the "Geriatric Geronimos" had decimated the SHM on the west side. Cloud resisted the urge to roll his eyes; neither of the men were that old yet, after all.

Cloud's phone rang and he picked up, still grinning. "Hello?"

"It's Reno," came a terse voice. "We're stuck on the hangar floor and Yuffie needs medical attention. Someone get the fucking elevators working."

An hour later, minus Reeve and Tseng, who were still in operational command of the WRO and were elsewhere, and Elena, who was staying with Tseng, the party, plus Reno and Rude, stood outside Yuffie's room in the Tower's hospital wing. The first thing that the doctors had said when they had seen the ninja-girl was that she wasn't going to die, but they hadn't precisely said she was going to be all right, so everyone was understandably worried.

The tension thickened to palpable levels when the door opened and the man who had been attending to Yuffie stepped out. His expression was relatively jovial, however, and that cleared the air a bit even before he spoke. "I don't know what the hell she was doing," he said, "and I wouldn't advise that she do it again, but she's going to be just fine. Multiple broken bones, internal hemorrhaging, a concussion, the list goes on, but none of it was fatal. We've managed to Cure most of her injuries, and the more severe ones will take just a few more days to heal. You can go in and see her, if you like."

He was nearly knocked down in the stampede to get inside, though Cloud did remember to toss a "thank you" in the man's direction before disappearing into the room. The doctor gave a grunt and moved on to his other patients, of whom there were quite a few.

Inside, Yuffie looked almost serene as she lay, apparently asleep, in the white hospital bed. They had been none too quiet in their entrance, though, so she opened one eye and cracked a half-smile. "Wonderful. The cavalry's here, late as usual."

Reno stepped forward. "Sorry, sugar. It took us a bit to get our asses in gear."

"My knight in shining armor. Don't worry, I forgive you." Her smile widened a bit and Yuffie motioned for Reno to come a bit closer, at which point she grabbed him and pulled him to her for a kiss.

"That's sho shweet," Cid sneered. Yuffie flipped him off without looking, and then Reno pulled back a moment later. "Looks like the doc wasn't lyin', kid. I think yer gonna be just fine."

"Of course I am." Yuffie smiled at the rest of them, but the expression wavered as she looked at the gathering. "Where's Vincent?"

Silence fell and nobody felt like saying anything, so Cloud took it upon himself to inform her. "We're fairly sure he's dead."

Yuffie stared at him. "What the fuck? Are you serious?"

"He is," Reno said, looking pained. "After that monster knocked you out, that Commander Pan guy did some trick – I don't know how, but he liquefied himself and merged with it to try to stop it. The mako reactor was overloading by that point, and Pan's trick seemed like it was gonna work, so I grabbed you and then Rude and I got the hell out of there, told Vincent to come too. We ran our asses off until we judged we were at a safe distance, at which point we turned around and realized Vincent hadn't followed us. We could hear the explosion, and there's no way in hell that he survived. I guess Pan's trick didn't work and he had to stay behind."

Nobody said a word, and Yuffie dropped her gaze to her lap. Presently Cloud heard the sound of her tears hitting the bedsheet, but he kept quiet. When he'd heard the news, he'd wanted to cry, too.

"That idiot," she finally said. "Always trying to do everything by himself." She pulled Reno back to her and rested her head against his stomach. "I told him that. Didn't I tell him that?"

"You did," Reno said. "You did, sugar. It was his own decision."

"T-t-that f-fucking idiot," Yuffie sobbed into Reno's shirt. "That f-fucking idiot."

Nobody had the heart to disagree with her.

A week passed, and life slowly returned to normal. Funerals were held, the SHM were officially disbanded, and Reeve, the real Reeve, resumed the office of President of the WRO. Tseng, Rude, and Cloud returned to their positions as well, with their authority restored.

Reeve made a point of having the chip in his brain surgically removed and destroyed. "Just in case," he'd observed humorously to them as he'd dropped the chip into an incinerator. For a world-shaking event, Cait Sith's rebellion had surprisingly little aftermath to speak of.

There was no funeral for Vincent, on Yuffie's insistence, and no casket. "After all the years he spent in a coffin, and being mopey and alone and everything, you think he would want to end up that way again, even in spirit?" she'd argued. "And he wouldn't want any of us to get all depressed over his death. I knew him, I know that's what he'd say!"

She'd gone outside to compose herself after that, and everyone had agreed that she was probably right.

It was a month later, and Cloud was sitting down with Godo and Makoto in the Wutai Pagoda to discuss the future of Wutai and the WRO.

"Obviously, what with this entire thing being that Cait Sith's fault, no blame can be placed on Reeve Tuesti," Godo grunted. "If you were sent here to apologize for him, don't. Only a fool would hold him responsible."

Cloud nodded. "I appreciate it, and so does Reeve. He feels responsible for this entire incident, even though it isn't his fault, and he's doing his very best to correct everything. The actual reason he sent me is to propose a formal alliance between Wutai and the WRO, for the benefit of both our governments. He wants to open up unrestricted trade and get a little economic dependency going, so future generations will be disposed to see Wutai in a more indispensable light."

Godo grunted again and ran a hand through his greying hair. "He's thinking about the next generation already, is he? None of us are that old yet."

"Maybe not, but after a crisis like this I think one's thoughts tend to turn to the next generation. After all, we have to keep the world safe for them." Cloud gave a rare, genuinely enthusiastic smile as his own thoughts turned to Tifa's declaration of two weeks ago that she would like to have a child. There's been enough death and depression lately, I think we ought to turn the trend around. Don't you?

"An alliance sounds reasonable, as well as desirable. You concur, Commander Makoto?"

Makoto nodded. "Absolutely. I would even go so far as to say that, in the future, an alliance will be vital. Why not start now?"

"In that case," Cloud said, "I'm due back in Edge the day after tomorrow, so I won't be able to stay to negotiate all the terms of the alliance. On that note, let me introduce you to the WRO's official representative to the sovereign nation-state of Wutai."

He motioned for the attendant at the door to open it. She did, sliding it open to reveal a familiar face looking very uncomfortable in a neatly pressed suit.

Godo's exclamation of surprise could be heard from several floors below.

That evening, Cloud and Reno arrived back at Yuffie's house to find her waiting for them with a bottle of Wutainese honey-bourbon and three glasses with ice. "How was my big boy's first day at work?" she asked only half-ironically.

Reno rolled his eyes and immediately started freeing his neck from the iron vise of his suit's collar and tie. "Just fine. Your old man had a heart attack at seeing me again and had to be rushed to the hospital, but otherwise just fine."

"Dad's not that old yet. Don't bullshit me, sugar."

"Yes, dear."

Cloud sat back and nursed his drink until Reno returned in vastly more comfortable evening wear and Yuffie stopped needling the ex-Turk. He looked at the silver end of Reno's leg and observed, "You've gotten used to it, I see."

Reno grinned. "Yeah. I don't ever bother to take it off anymore, actually. It's a real improvement over using a cane all the time. If I could go back in time and tell myself 'stop being a little whiny pansy about it and get the operation!' I would."

"I don't think you're a whiny pansy," Yuffie admonished him. "There wasn't any real need for it before. And all's well that ends well, after all."

"Yeah. You're right." Reno took another sip of his drink and sighed. "This brings back some memories. Makoto oughta be here."

"He has responsibilities," Yuffie said dismissively. "And so do you, now, but they're not big ones and I can still keep you. So everything is dandy."

Cloud smiled and tipped back the last of his drink. "I'm glad to see the both of you are settled again."

"Yeah," Reno agreed, "well, Yuffie said to me a couple weeks back, 'We can't let this weigh us down. We need to just get on with our goddamn lives like he would have wanted us to, and do the best we can with them.' I think it was the deepest thing she's ever said."

Yuffie, for once, didn't object, but simply gazed thoughtfully into the distance. "That really is what I think, too. I'm still sad, and I will be for a while, but I know Vincent wouldn't want me to be that way.

"A while ago, he told me something really important. 'You know who you are. You're the Great Ninja Yuffie. Don't let the fact that you failed or that you were wrong change that. Deal with the consequences and be who you want to be – and be with who you want to be with. That's what's important. If anyone tells you you're wrong, that's just their interpretation; in the end, it's your decisions and your life, after all.' I remember it exactly, because he was so goddamn right. We can do whatever we want to do, including being happy with ourselves and our lives, as long as we have the will to do it. That's what makes us who we are. If he could do that, and it was so fucking hard for him, I have no excuse not to."

Cloud nodded and got to his feet. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I'm sure that's what he would have wanted, too."

"You leaving?" Reno asked. "We're going to have a night out on the town, you'd be welcome."

"I really do need to go. My transport is fast, but it'll still take tonight and all of tomorrow to get me back to Edge, and they need me there. Reeve is looking at opening relations with Cosmo Canyon, too, and he wants to send me with whatever ambassador he selects to do the job. You two take care."

"That we will," Yuffie said. "We'll see you for the reunion next year, right, Cloud?"

Cloud hesitated at the door, thinking about it. "I haven't been in five years. Why would you expect me to break with tradition?"

"Vinnie broke with his tradition of being an angsty loner at the end, didn't he? This should be easy as pie for you."

She had a point. Cloud shrugged and made his way out. "Then I'll see you there, too," he called over his shoulder.

The front door closed, and Reno and Yuffie exchanged a look. Yuffie grinned at Reno and said, "Pay up."

Reno mumbled something under his breath and pulled out a fifty-gil note. "Son of a bitch. Couldn't keep being antisocial."

"I told you he'd come around. If there's one thing that Vincent showed us, it's that it's not impossible for anybody."

Reno heaved a sigh and looked at the ceiling. "Right. Lot of fucking luck that is. Thanks a lot, Vincent Valentine."

Cloud brought the Fenrir to a stop next to the sleek, black car that was parked on a ridge overlooking Wutai. He could barely see Yuffie's house from here, though he knew that the car's driver would have no such trouble.

There was a rail along the ridge to keep cars from careening off of it in case there was an accident, and on this particular night there was a figure leaning on the rail. From behind, nobody would have recognized him; he wore a dark, Turk-issue suit, his normally unruly black hair had been cut to shoulder-length and pulled back into a ponytail, and all he wore on his hands were leather gloves. The only odd thing about him was that he was wearing sunglasses, despite the fact that it was now dark outside.

The Fenrir's engine died down and Cloud dismounted, walking over to the figure. He followed the man's gaze straight to Yuffie's house in the distance. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. "I mean… Cutting off all contact? Becoming just another member of my special forces division of the WRO? It'll be an entirely new life. You're sure?"

The man gave Cloud a sidelong glance and removed his glasses, revealing ruby-red eyes that glittered in the twilight and reflected the lights of the city.

"I'm sure," Vincent said.

"You haven't really told me why."

Vincent returned to staring at Yuffie's house and gathered his thoughts for a bit before replying. "The WRO lab's analysts told me some interesting things. I was in the Lifestream long enough for it to wash me up on the shore of the Central Continent. All that mako exposure reacted strangely with the modifications that Hojo made to me, years ago. It was like my having Chaos as part of my being had brought my system to a standstill, and it took a major mutagenic shock to start me up again. I'm no longer immortal. My body still never will be entirely human, but for all intents and purposes I am one again. I'll age and live out my life and then die. I want to use my new life to do something significant."

"I mean you haven't told me why you don't want anyone else, especially Yuffie, to know," Cloud said, somewhat testily. "She may not show it, and she's doing her best to get through it, but she's still grieving."

"I hate to see her in pain, but it will pass and she will eventually let me go," Vincent said. "Besides, if I was alive again… It would just raise questions that she wouldn't want to answer. It's better this way. Now there's no more 'what ifs' or 'could have beens.' That's what's important."

"You're sure you're not just doing this as an easy way out of her life?" Cloud pressed him. "You're sure your motives aren't entirely selfish?"

Vincent looked at him, and Cloud saw genuine anger flash through the man's eyes. "I love her."

Cloud drew back a pace and then nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Forget it." Vincent put his sunglasses back on and said, "Isn't it time we were heading out, Mr. Strife? You're due back in Edge day after tomorrow, after all."

With a little effort, Cloud collected himself and nodded. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Ruby. We'll head to the airship now; the President wouldn't like it if we were late."

He headed back over to the Fenrir, started it up, and called, "I'll meet you there. You have my luggage in the trunk, after all. Don't take too long."

Vincent watched his old friend disappear down the road and took one last look at Yuffie's house. He felt an unfamiliar pang and realized there were tears in his eyes.

"Goodbye," he said to the empty twilight air. He got back in the car, swiped at his eyes, and headed after Cloud, his future lying ahead of him.

It was a chill day in December when the two men in suits knocked on Yuffie's door.

"I'm coming!" she called. Obviously she wasn't as limber as she used to be, or as fast… or as young… but she still made it to the door in what she considered to be record time. She opened it and was confronted by the unfamiliar, sunglasses-wearing faces of two men she didn't know. "And you are?"

"We're representatives of the WRO Special Services Division," the first one said. "Ms. Kisaragi, we have been sent to inform you that you are listed as a beneficiary in the will of one of our recently-deceased members."

Yuffie frowned and realized the second one was holding a small box, about the size of her torso. "Really? The only person I know in the SSD is Cloud, and I'm pretty sure that he's not dead."

Both the men bristled at the idea that Cloud Strife, still the most capable and active member of the SSD even in his fifties, could possibly be dead. "No, ma'am, he is not. Do you know a Mr. Phoenix Ruby?"

Yuffie shook her head. "I've never even heard of him. Why would I be listed in his will?"

Reno, who was sitting in the living room working on a crossword puzzle, lazily called over his shoulder, "This better not be an old boyfriend of yours, Yuffie!"

"Shut up!" she called back at him, fighting the urge to stick out her tongue. "I'm sorry, boys, I don't know any Phoenix Ruby. You're sure there isn't a mistake?"

"Absolutely sure, ma'am. You're listed on there very specifically. 'Yuffie Kisaragi, Queen and Single White Rose of Wutai.'"

Yuffie colored a bit. "The whole 'queen' thing is just because my father's passed away. Makoto's really in charge."

"We know, ma'am. Still, you are listed in the late Mr. Ruby's will. I think you should go ahead and see what he had to give you that was so important." The second suit extended the box to her, and she took it without protest, thinking to just get the idiots off of her doorstep. "Have a nice day."

"You too," she said before shutting the door in their faces.

"Dumbasses," Reno drawled. "Phoenix Ruby, though? I think I remember him."

Yuffie looked at him as she started getting into the box. "Really?"

"Yeah. I remember seeing his name in the papers a few times, and Rude mentioned him to me at one point. Leader of an SSD squad, did a lot of good and saved a lot of lives during his career." Reno put down the paper he was working on and switched to a different one, the Edge Daily. "Look, here's an article on his death."

Yuffie took the paper from Reno and scanned the article. There was no picture and the piece was short; it said that a celebrated SSD officer had fallen in the line of duty and that he would be sorely missed and so forth. There were no details or anything particularly interesting, and Yuffie put the paper down with a snort. "Worthless." She attacked the box with renewed vigor.

Finally the damned thing yielded and Yuffie tore it open.

At first, she didn't know what to think. All there was inside was a dusty, tattered article of clothing that clearly hadn't seen the sun in years. Yuffie pulled it out of the box and stood up to let it hang to its full length and realized that it was a cloak, a cloak of a very familiar color.

Reno looked at it. "What the… Sugar, is that – ?"

Yuffie half-sat, half-collapsed on the couch behind her. "Uh-huh," she murmured. "It is." She cradled it against herself and gave a small sigh that could have been happy or sad. "It is."

The Red Cloak
End