Author's Note: My enthusiasm had lead me to publish yet another work of mine! This one I've had for a while and it's been edited several times, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. But as always, suggestions are welcome! This one starts at the end too, so know that Chapter 1 is technically the end and the rest of the chapters will explain how it happened and why. I promise the next story will be chronological! I do NOT own or pretend to own anything Final Fantasy VII!

Sephiroth watched as his last hold on sanity died. He, the Great Sephiroth, was completely helpless against it. He ran as fast as he could, but no amount of willpower could make him fast enough to stop a bullet. Amarantine's body lay on the ground, her chest faltering and stained in red.

"Please…" Her voice was weak. Sephiroth, blind with rage, killed every Shinra troop that stood within sight. When he finished, he knelt down and gently took her into his arms. The ground seemed colder and her blood burned his skin. The fresh wound just underneath her breast bled steadily.

"Don't let this break you." Her eyes became teary with pain but her voice, though soft, was stern. For the first time in his life, Sephiroth let a tear escape his eye.

"I won't let you go."

She only smiled, "What happens to me cannot be changed."

Another soldier attempted to sneak up behind him, and Sephiroth was enraged. He bent to her ear and whispered gently,

"They will never touch you again." He drew his sword almost invisibly, and the lifeless body of his assailant dropped to the ground. Again he cradled her in his arms.

He buried his face in her hair and confessed, "I love you Amarantine." Her bloody lips curved into a smile.

"And I love you Sephiroth."

"Please don't leave me." He whispered. She cried, tears stinging her eyes at his plea. He wiped them with his thumb. Slowly, gently, he placed his lips on hers. She smiled under his mouth and kissed back. He withdrew, looking her in the eyes, "Forgive me if I am weak."

"You don't need forgiveness. I'm sorry… for leaving you like this." Her voice became strained and she coughed, "I love you Sephiroth. If I could, I'd stay with you. I'll miss you… but someday we'll meet again. Just know that you are not a monster. "

"No…" his weak voice pleaded.

"Goodbye Sephiroth, I… love you," with those final words her eyes closed.

Sephiroth brushed his lips against her ear and whispered,

"I love you too Amarantine."