Chapter 1
"Why won't you go join the party with everyone else?" Sephiroth asked his father.
"Sit down," Vincent patted the seat next to him. "There is something that I need to tell you,"
Doing as his father said, the silver hair man sat next to him. "You look so serious," he pointed out. "Is it that bad?"
Holding his face in his hand, Vincent sighed loudly. "I love you and your mother very much. Everything I have accomplished all these years while running the business was something I enjoyed doing. Without me...you will be taking over the business here in Rocket Town," He knew that Sephiroth wanted to ask him what was going on, but wouldn't allow his son to speak. "Even though I love my own family..." Vincent began to shake his head, still holding his face. "...I have another secret life,"
"Secret life?" asked Sephiroth. "Come on now, mother's over there enjoying the party while you're drowning in your sorrow. It's your fifty-seventh birthday, cheer up,"
"What's going on in here?" asked Lucrecia, walking into the room. "Dear," she spoke to her husband, "let's go join everyone in the other room," As he looked up at her, Lucrecia saw a strange sadness coming from his eyes. "Are you all right, Vincent?"
The man slowly shook his head with tears in his eyes. "After all these years of your love and my own son, I'm nothing more than a sinful man,"
"Vincent, what are you talking about?" Lucrecia sat down between her son and husband.
"There once was a young lady who was taking care of her little sister," explained Vincent. "They were from the slums and both parents were dead. The older sister, Nadia, was a very gentle lady who was caring. She lived to only make sure that her little sister will be able to live in prosperity. In the middle of the streets, in the slums, a man helped them. He pitied these two creatures and took them out of Midgar and into a little town near Junon. Strangely, one day, this man fell in love with Nadia and engaged in sleeping with her. He moved them out of the town near Junon and gave Nadia and her sister a place to stay in Nibelheim. Nadia Gast was and still is a good woman. The man who fell in love with her became a sinful man," Vincent looked into his wife's eyes and cried. "And that man is me...I'm so sorry, Lucrecia,"
"W-what are you talking about?" The woman couldn't believe her own ears. "After almost thirty years of marriage...you had an affair with some dirt poor woman?" Getting up to her feet, she, too, wept. Sephiroth came wrapping his arms around her. Glaring at Vincent, she shook her head. "Do you even love me at all?"
"I do, Lucrecia," Vincent looked away. "I love you so much. What I have done was unforgivable and it still is. I'm so sorry,"
"How could you?" she screamed. "We have a family together, Vincent! You, especially, have everything that a man could ever desire! How could you just fall in love with a woman you barely know? Not only that, but you even gave her a place to stay in Rocket Town! What made you do something like this to me? How could you hurt me like this?"
"It just happened, Lucrecia. I don't know how to explain it."
"Do you still love her?" When she saw a nod from him, Lucrecia wanted to leave the room, but her son stopped her.
"How the hell could you do something like this to my mother?" asked Sephiroth.
"Love cannot be helped whether it be with one or more person," answered Vincent. He stood up, only to clutch his own chest.
"Vincent!" Lucrecia ran to his side before he fell down into the sofa.
"I'm so...so...sorry...L-Lucrecia...I n-never meant to...have...t-t-two hearts..."
"Father!" Sephiroth stood there, watching his father's heart condition worsening.
"N-no matter...you're...my...o-only..." The pain only increased as he spoke. "M-my only...wife..."
"Vincent!" Lucrecia screamed at the top of her lungs. "Open your eyes! Open your eyes!" she begged. "I accept your apologies, Vincent! Don't leave me. I don't care what you've done! You're still my husband. Vincent!" Both arms came wrapping around his neck. Lucrecia shook her head hysterically. "No, no, no, no, no! I love you, Vincent," she cried. "Please wake up,"
Two fists were clenched and unclenched as Sephiroth watched his father pass away.
Other relatives came running into the room at the sound of Lucrecia's sob.
From friends to relatives, many people gathered out in the open for Vincent Valentine's funeral. The two mother and son sat up in the front. Everyone wore the death color, mourning over the death of this man.
Sephiroth tried to comfort his mother. After looking around to see the crowd, one woman came walking towards the coffin carrying a wreathe with a banner around it. As the wreathe was put down, Sephiroth began reading the banner: May you be taken to heaven and rest in peace--Nadia Gast. The woman had turned around to leave.
Without a thought in mind, Sephiroth got up and charged outside, taking the wreathe with him. Everyone got up and followed.
"Some nerves you have for showing up here, Miss Nadia Gast," said Sephiroth, with anger in his tone. The woman slowly turned around. Sephiroth eyed her up a down. She had long, chestnut hair with big emerald eyes, wearing black long skirt with a black blouse. He couldn't believe what his father had done. Nadia Gast was so young, even younger than he was. How could his father sleep with a woman who was young enough to be his own daughter?
"I-" started the woman.
"Shut up," he told her. "We don't need trash like you around here," He saw the fear and hurt in her eyes. "Get out of here and take this trash with you," Sephiroth threw the wreathe down at her feet. "Get the hell out of here before I make you,"
"Sephiroth," Lucrecia touched her son's arm.
"Here's the woman that father was mentioning before he died. I can't tell which is worst, having the nerve to take another woman's man, or having the nerve to show up in his funeral with his family."
The young woman slowly picked up the wreathe and lowered her head. "My apologies, please. Could you please put this along with the piles of-"
"Just leave," Lucrecia said to the woman without feelings. "Leave now before I call for someone who will make you leave! Go on!" she screamed. "Get the hell out of here!" Lucrecia also noticed the young woman's beauty. Nadia is actually a very beautiful woman whose face was of an innocent child. "No wonder he fell for a tramp like you," she spoke loudly as tears streamed her face. "Just look at you,"
"We don't need you upsetting the people around here," Sephiroth took a step closer to the woman. "Get out of here before I throw you out!"
"Would you at least accept this in his death?" The chestnut haired woman looked as if she was about to cry. "I'm sorry about-"
"Take your damn trash and leave!" The silver haired man's voice raised into a tone of anger.
"Please-" she begged.
Angrily, Sephiroth stepped up to her and seized the woman by the arm.
Lucrecia's heart leapt at her throat. Even though she didn't like this woman, but the way Sephiroth was handling her was wrong. "Sephiroth!" He couldn't hear her. She watched her own son drag a helpless woman by the arm and toss her out of the place.
Coming home with tears in her eyes, the chestnut haired woman wiped it cleaned before her sister sees her.
"What happened?" asked a woman who came walking outside.
"Vincent's son threw me out,"
"Are you all right?" She wrapped both arms around her sister.
"I'm fine. I just didn't expect them to have such hate-"
"It's okay," sighing, the woman helped her sister inside. "Some people are just bitches,"
"All right," Sephiroth sat down in his father's seat. This office, this entire Rocket Town building belonged to him. Ever since the day Cid Highwind had managed to fly the rocket out of town, Vincent paid trillions to have this new building built right outside of town. "Let's try to keep up a great job like you all have been doing in the past. Today's meeting will end here,"
Everyone left their own seatings. "Zack," called Sephiroth. "Let's go," This charming young man was his assistant in making decision for the better of this company of materia and mako. "I need you to contact Shinra in Midgar. Try to get him to distribute some mako,"
"What if he asks why," asked Zack.
"Why what?" They entered an elevator. "Shinra always gives mako for a price. He never asks why,"
"Oh right!" Zack stood still and chuckled to himself. "I keep forgetting,"
"Well, you better start remembering or else I'll find a replacement,"
"Come on, Sephy-poo, you wouldn't do that now, would you?"
"If you keep calling me that, I will replace you," They exited the elevator and turned a corner.
"Oh come on! You know that I'm just joking with you. Besides, I still want to work around here. There are so many babes that will worship the ground I walk on," He watched his boss crack a smile. "But I don't know. If you keep on smiling like that, women would probably fall at your feet. I am so envious of you sometimes, Mr. Valentine."
"I have no interest in anyone here,"
"Well, maybe not now, but later you might,"
Getting into Sephiroth's car, they drove to a nearby resturaunt and dined.
"Hey, sir, I know that you've heard this many times, but I'm really sorry about your old man," said Zack. "He was a great friend and boss. I just can't believe that he's gone so soon,"
"I know," replied Sephiroth, "Me, too. What I can't believe is that the woman he had an affair with had the nerves to show up,"
"She actually showed up?"
"Didn't you see her?"
"No...I was talking to someone,"
"Nadia is pretty young,"
"Oh really? She must be a babe if your father-" Zack stopped himself from finishing his sentence. "I'm sorry,"
"It's all right. I wished that I could do more than just throw her out,"
"What would you do if you could do anything to her?"
"I would send her to hell,"
Zack had no comment about what his boss just said. "So what does she look like?"
"Long, chestnut hair with green eyes, pale face, rosy lips, and probably five foot three,"
"Huh," He crammed a few food in his mouth. "Sounds like this really hot chick that works with us. I've been wanting to get to know her for awhile now, but she's usually too busy to open her door for anyone to go through."
"Could be her, but I doubt it. Are you done eating yet? Thirty minutes is almost up,"
"Okay, hold up," One more scoop went dashing into his mouth. Zack quickly took a sip of water and got up with his boss.
In the building, the two men headed up towards Sephiroth's office.
"We need to find a way to conserve the use of mako for the town's heating system during the winter rather than turning it into materia," said Zack. "If we could reduce the production in materia by ten percent, we'll be saving enough for this year's winter."
"Make sure that it will be a lucrative business,"
"What about all the misers?"
"Make materia much more costly and have the price of mako affordable."
"Affordable, yes, but we cannot drop the price for mako or else it will be too affordable. Once it becomes a product that can be bought-"
"Who said anything about buying?" Sephiroth sighed. "Mako can be highly poisonous if not in the proper care. We'll sell mako to the governor of Rocket Town so that he could use it for the people's heating system."
"I don't get it," Zack shrugged his shoulders after a quick thought.
"Highwind will be given a certain amount of mako for the city. Varying on how much he's buying, he will be distributing it-" Talking to Zack had caught him off guard when turning a corner. He walked straight into a woman with arms full of papers.
The woman quickly got down and retrieved her documents and forms. "I'm so sorry,"
Sephiroth got down to help her. "That's fine. It was probably my-" As the woman raised her head to look, Sephiroth got up to his feet. "What are you doing here?" His voice turned cold as ice. "Do I need to throw you out again, Miss Nadia?"
"Uh, sir," said Zack, whispering. "I don't think that's Nadia,"
"What are you talking about?" Sephiroth turned his head to Zack.
"Excuse me, please," With that, the woman took off.
"That is Nadia Gast, isn't it?" asked Sephiroth. "She came to my father's funeral; it was her!"
"No," The younger man shook his head and smiled. "That there is the little sister."
"What?" Sephiroth couldn't believe the woman's identity. "What is she doing here?"
"I don't know. One day, your father just introduced her to the co-workers. She's a hard worker, I tell ya." Zack had a grin on his face. "Her name's Aeris Gast, the younger sister of Nadia Gast,"
"Why didn't you tell me earlier at the resturaunt that I was describing this woman rather than her sister?"
"Because I have never seen her older sister. Also, I wasn't sure if you were describing Nadia or not. I don't know!"
"So this is Nadia's younger sister?" In a way, he felt uneasy and a tad bit embarassed for thinking of the younger sister as Nadia. Sephiroth angrily took off without Zack. He went into his office and slammed the door shut.
From ID cards to computer, Sephiroth kept searching up for this woman. Either he overlooked or her name wasn't on...! What if she wasn't just one of the regular workers? After another quick search, his guess was right. "Secretary?" he whispered to himself. His eyes narrowed. "What the hell! How could she be given such a high position? Why, father? Why did you give her this job? Why not in grocery stores or something else?"
Reading her room number, she wasn't placed too far away from his office. "Aeris Gast," he read her name in a whisper. The woman was just four rooms away from his office. Did his father wanted it to be like this? To have this wretched woman near him?
Three knocks came at his door. Before he replied, a woman buzzed him, saying it was Zack. "Come in,"
"Sir," said Zack, walking in. "In four days, could you-"
"I won't be here," Sephiroth cut in. "My father left a will and the names mentioned in it will be gathered around the table for a discussion."
All gathered up in the small room in Rocket Town, Aeris and Nadia was summoned to join the table as their names were mentioned in the death will. They sat very close together. Sephiroth and his mother kept icy glares at the other two.
"There will be a time when we all come to an end," read the attorney. "That day should be a happy day because that man or woman goes to heaven. Sometimes it seems sad because that person dies really young, or has left someone so dear behind. As I wrote this, I know that my death is coming soon. I feel as though I have already lived long enough. My son, Sephiroth, is now a man. What more could a father desire than to see his own child grow older? Memories are feelings left behind that lingers in our hearts. That is what keeps our sadness from leaving.
"My dearest wife, Lucrecia, I have cherished all the years with you. There's never a day when I would wake up and didn't think of you. My heart was caught astride into another woman's embrace. It wasn't because you have done me wrong, but my feelings became unstabled. It was all a feeling of betrayals. I don't know why I did what I did, but in my heart, I still love you, Lucrecia. My friendship with Miss Nadia Gast has turned into something more. When it happened, I don't know. I am sure that you probably won't forgive me, which I understand.
"The fortunes that I have acquired these long, hard years will be split up for everyone. First of all, my Materia & Mako Inc. will be given to my son, Sephiroth. I hope that you can do good in taking care of the company. I'm very sure that you will. As for my wife, I know how much you love the view of islands. I bought a place in Mideel a long time ago, but wanted to surprise you with it, but I guess it's too late. It's a beautiful villa near the inn.
"Nadia Gast, the woman who had given me comfort. To you, I give the Chocobo Farm near Midgar to you and the villa in Costa del Sol,"
Sephiroth was the first to shoot daggers towards the woman.
Aeris felt nervous and extremely unwanted. She could have left, but was too worried about her older sister.
"Many years have passed between us and you have become more than a friend to me. I have also adored your little sister. She's more like a daughter to me. Aeris, if you are here, I know how much you love chocobos. In the northern continent, in the snowy fields, there's a little Chocobo Sage. That entire place belongs to you.
"Besides properties, I have a death money to give to my dearest wife, Lucrecia. I give you three point five million gils. Thank you for those who came to listen to this will. My attorney should be giving the paper works so that the properties will be divided the way I have wanted. He is also the proof of today's will. ---V.V."
"Who's that?" Aeris asked her older sister.
"He's Faust Chermane," answered Nadia. "What do you think of him?"
A frown came to the younger woman's face. "Nadia...what are you doing? Vincent just died!"
"I know..." she replied sadly. "People got to move on,"
"How could you have a boyfriend so soon after someone you loved just died?"
"I never did love Vincent like a spouse, more like a father,"
"Then why did you...?" Aeris shook her head and closed her eyes. "Vincent helped us get out of the slum and this is how you repay him? By having another man in your life just like that? Nadia, how could you?" A hand came resting on both of her shoulders. Aeris looked up at her sister. "Do you know how angry they will be after finding out that you were just using him?"
"I know, Aeris. Remember, I'm only doing this for us. I don't ever want to see you in the slums ever again. After mom and dad died, we barely had anything to eat and shelter was always cold. I never wanted to use Vincent, but at the same time, I didn't really love him at all,"
"But you could have told him instead of giving yourself to him like that!" Taking a deep breath, Aeris forced herself not to cry. "I know that you want to give me a better life, but at least appreciate what Vincent has done for us!"
"I do appreciate him, Aeris. You'll never understand me. You only have me and I only have you, Aeris. We're out of the slums now, isn't that what you wanted?"
"Yes, but not in this dirty way!" She wiped her eyes, surprised to find it dry. "Vincent was a good man! You can't just replace him with that guy over there as if you and Vincent had never shared-"
"Hello ladies," said Faust, walking in on them. He wrapped both arms around Nadia and kissed her cheeks. "And you must be Aeris, correct?"
Already, Aeris didn't like this man. The way he was looking at her was like desire. "Goodnight," She hurriedly ran up the stairs and into her room.
Resting at the bottom of her bedside, Aeris brought up to hands together to form a prayer. Please forgive her, Vincent. I never thought that she would do something like this. Nadia... The woman broke the prayer before she started crying. She didn't bother to finish it. Aeris just got in bed, forcing the tears to remain inside.
Rocket Town and Nibelheim was too far from each other. Everyday, Aeris had been walking to work. Mt. Nibel was no more of a problem. Many people traveled there, now that a road was built for easy transportation. It didn't even take long to get there. Not only did Aeris not mind walking, it was great exercise.
Upon coming up to the Materia & Mako Inc. building, Aeris took a deep breath. Hopefully, Vincent's son would not give her a hard time.
She entered the building, feeling shakey. What if he fires her? She couldn't afford to get fired. This job pays a lot when compared to other company. Also, it isn't easy to get this kind of occupation. Holding her head up high, Aeris got into the elevator. As it stopped on the highest floor, she brought out a key to open the lock.
Speak of the devils...her boss was sitting in her chair with both feet on the desk. In his hands were some papers. Aeris stood there quietly without saying a word. She was going to wait until he finishes reading whatever he was enjoying.
"How could someone of your status get a job that is this good?" Sephiroth sneered at her. "Your resume shows no experience of you ever doing an office job in your life. I wonder why my father gave you this kind of job and such great position, too!"
Aeris lowered her head and didn't say a word. If she upsets him the slightest, he would probably fire her. It was probably best if she didn't look at him at all.
"Do you even know anything about Mako?" he asked her in the most meanest way. "Well, do you?" He noticed her silence. "Answer me when I'm speaking!"
"Y-yes," she stammered. "I know a little bit,"
Scoffing, he placed the papers back on the desk. Sephiroth leaned back comfortably with both hands behind his head. "Like what?"
"Mako can-"
"Look at me when you're speaking," he cut in. The fear in her eyes brought him to a grin.
The woman raised her head. Instead of looking directly at him, she gazed out the window behind his head. "Mako is a very poisonous substance if one should consume enough of it. Over a period of time, it can also be turned into materia. It can be used as fuel for heatings in homes-"
"Is that all you know? Just the basics?"
"No, sir," she answered. "I know a little bit more,"
"Like what?"
"Mako can be used like a chemical weapon by inserting it into an ordinary weapon,"
"Yeah, yeah." Sephiroth stood up. The closer he moved towards her, the more she backed up. "What are you afraid about?"
"Please, sir, I need to get back to my work," She walked around him.
"If you don't show me more respect, then I'll get rid of you," he threaten her.
That caught her attention. She slowly turned around and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, sir," She noticed him turning to face her.
"Much better," It was hard to resist, but he wanted to bring up his hand and slap her. "The only reason you still have a job is because that's what my father wanted. Not just that, but because you weren't the one my father had an affair with. From now on, I am the boss of this entire place. Everything you do here involves my consent. If you so as make me angry, you'll be out of here within a second. When I call you to my office, I demand that you get there in less than one minute. If you do not get there on time, I will deduct your paycheck every week. And if I tell you to do something for me, I expect it to be done fast. Any delays will not be tolerated,"
"Yes, sir," she answered.
"Did you not hear what I said earlier?" he shouted. "Whenever I am speaking, you are to look at me!" He watched her slowly bringing her head up. "I will not have pity on you. If anyone calls for you to come to my office, do not go unless it is my voice. Otherwise, stay away from my office. As I mentioned before, whenever I tell you to do anything, I expect you to do it without questioning me. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir,"
"Good." Before leaving, he glared into her eyes with dagger.
Aeris quietly shut the door behind him, growing more shaky every second.
AN: Ah! I'm so tired! I didn't want to start on a new fic, but I couldn't stop myself. I'll keep it at three. All reviews are enabled. I think i enabled it a long while ago, i onno. i just did it some time ago without really putting anything up. got kinda lazy, plus, mood swing comes in handy sometimes cuz i got over the crap ppl gave me. kinda too soon, but i don't like to linger. n e ways, like my every other fic, excuse grammar and spelling. i get so tired and lazy, ya know? so sorry. one more thing, this fic will be kinda messed up...like storyline-wise or ppl wise, etc., etc. n i know that the scenes had went by extremely quick, but i needed to cut to tha chase. i'mma slow it down soon.
Kuri: Hey, i know ur on ur vacation n this reply is really late, but to ur reply, forget bout silverknight. i could care less about that chickdude. guess wut, a little bird told me that this chickdude was supposed to email me bout something...i think bitchin me out o something like that. i onno. never got tha mail. o well. like i said, just forget it. n bout skribble...is it skribble? can't remember. n e ways, lmao. forget this person too. i onno...never had a problem with this person...
"I'm Rick James, bitch." -dave chapelle. hahaha.
