"He always has been." And, if Cloud is watching Sephiroth - and he probably doesn't dare not watch him - he might see the small smile on Sephiroth's lips, looking down at the chicken in his lap. Something soft and fond, as he talks about one of the most important people in his life. "You'll learn that quickly about him. But he always means well."

But after a moment, Sephiroth looks up, meeting Cloud's gaze. "...I know it changes nothing between us, Cloud, but..." He pauses. Is this safe? Is this too much for Cloud's patchwork memory? He doesn't think so, but it still feels a bit like defusing a bomb. "Do you remember anything about me from before that day in Nibelheim? What I was like then? We traveled together; we spoke. Whether you believe what I've told you about Jenova, or whether you think I simply went insane...the person I was before then, and what I became after - you must recognize how different they are. Is it that unbelievable that my mind may have been restored to the point where I am the Sephiroth you first met? Someone who never wanted what ended up happening?"

He looks down at his chicken again. "I know that makes up for nothing. That nothing could. I'm not asking that you forgive me, or even like me. After what happened...I will likely always be the face of your worst nightmares, and nothing I or anyone else could do can change that. But I would like to believe you can at least recognize that the person I was before everything went wrong - the person I am again - wasn't someone who simply killed and tortured for fun. That whatever I became, for whatever reason you can accept...wasn't truly me, making conscious decisions based on what I wanted. If you can accept that, believe that...then perhaps you won't feel the need to fear what I might do so much." A pause, and then a sigh. "Or perhaps a cave that once contained a monster can never be trusted not to harbor more. I may still be asking too much."

But...he's tried. If nothing else, he can tell Angeal he tried.