Spiraling Universe

Chapter 3

"So you mean...sometimes people can come back from the lifestream?" Zurui asked the giant firecat.

Nanaki purred and nodded. "Yes, Zurui. Sometimes there is too much left for one life to accomplish to simply allow it to end. Sometimes the lifestream and the powerful spirits within see fit to give second chances."

"Nanaki, why are you tellin' us this?" Cid asked, sliding Syndey off of his lap and scooting to the edge of the couch.

The feline looked at the floor. "I don't know if it's my place to-"

A series of gasps cut him short and he looked up again, following the surprised line of sight to the stairs, where Vincent led four silver-haired remnants, one timid Wutaian, and an all-too-energetic redhead through the maze of tables and to the den.

"Ax...Axys?" Tifa whispered.

Yuffie started taking deep, gasping breaths and clutching at the couch. “I don’t…I don’t believe it!” She said.

Tifa stood and slowly made her way to Vincent’s side, just out of Axys’ reach.

“Are you real?” she asked, her voice shaking.

“For now.” Axys answered.

Tifa reached out to touch her old friend, when a young voice stopped her advance and it seemed as though all of the air had been sucked from the room.

“Mother?”

Axys’ breath caught in her throat when Tifa stepped aside to allow the little boy to see his mother.

“Is it really you? And Daddy too? You’re really here?” Zurui asked, taking a hesitant step forward.

Yazoo stepped around his wife to get a good look at his son. He took a deep breath at the beautiful child he saw. “Yes. We’re here.” He said.

“Wow…” Zurui whispered. “Your voice is so…soft…”

Very slowly, as though they were rabid dogs just waiting to bite him, Zurui stepped closer and closer to his parents. He’d been dreaming of this moment his whole life, and he would not rush through it.


It was agonizing, waiting for her son to come to her. Is this how Jenova felt when her husband and her brothers abandoned her? Axys refused to let herself think that way. She was nothing like Jenova. She had given up her own life to protect her son…but hadn’t she abandoned him by doing so?

Her previous fears came rushing back and she shied back behind her husband.

“Mommy?” Zurui asked, reaching for her.

“I-I-I…” Axys started.

Yazoo could feel her anxiety almost as strongly as if it were his own. He extended his hand and wrapped his fingers around Zurui’s small wrist, while at the same time, moving out from in front of Axys. He carefully pulled the boy closer and led him to wrap his small arms around his mother.

As soon as she felt her son’s arms encircle her waist, All of her fears vanished, replaced by the over-powering need to hold her child. The groups of awestruck friends watched with tear filled eyes as mother and son embraced each other tightly.

“I’m so sorry baby! I’m so sorry that we left you…I only wanted to protect you…I never wanted to leave you…I’m so sorry!” Axys sobbed, dropping to her knees and pulling Zurui onto her lap, squeezing him so tightly that Yazoo was sure he couldn’t breathe. He knelt on the floor next to his wife and wrapped his arms around both her and their son, rocking them both back and forth gently.

“I can’t believe you’re really here…I’ve always wished that I could have known you…Mommy…” Zurui buried his face in Axys’ neck, inhaling, and instantly he was assaulted by the knowledge that he knew that smell.

“How is this…possible?” Reeve asked, breaking the silence that radiated from the others.

Kadaj stepped forward.

“We were given a great gift, from a very special person.” He said. “We have the whole summer to live again…before we have to go back to the lifestream.”

“But…Why?” Nanaki asked.

“Well…it would appear we have something left to do. A very important mission.” Kadaj answered.

“And what is that?”

“I’m sorry, Nanaki, but we can’t tell you that just yet…though I promise to all of you, our mission will reveal itself by the time we have to go.”