Guilt certainly had a part in it, but so too did the pain. The pain of knowing that what she'd done to him, what it would mean for his abnormally extended life. At first, she'd thought that it was just another dream of hers. A phantom of a man she had betrayed yet had only wanted what was best for her until the end.

Yet as they stood there, she could almost taste the regret as clearly as she had all those years ago. That he was now touching her again, so gingerly as though she were made of porcelain and was afraid he'd break her...

Yuffie was right. He deserved so much better than her.

"You died trying to save me. If anything, I owed you." A sad smile tugged across her lips, voice just as soft. "I'm so sorry."