[ ... He can't. Not yet. But with every face that arrives here from their world, split apart from the life that Sephiroth knew, it becomes harder and harder to maintain this illusion. Rather, the illusion he's cast had cracks in it before he even began. And for a few short moments, his hands start shaking.

And then he clenches them, as if that would steel his nerves once more. Not yet, Cloud repeats, again and again in his mind. Finally he answers him. ]

Things have been...a bit tangled up ever since we got here.

[ Between the time disparities and after being busted free by the Sinless... And the bristling reunion between the three of them when they were rescued? That was an understatement. Perhaps even earlier. He doesn't know what Sephiroth is doing or what he's feeling. ]

There's some things I need to sort out first, but... [ Cloud talks himself through it all the same. His heart just about feels like stopping when he asks, ] Can you give me some time?