A bitter, nauseating emptiness crawled up her throat, begging to be filled. She ignored it, pushing it away with other thoughts. It settled in her stomach, back to where it started. It mingled with an emotion, just as tart and hollow as the physical sensation. Loneliness and hunger.

She shook her head, willing that feeling off as well, but she found them both lingering sensations. Little did she know, he was battling the same feelings. She watched him as he walked down the street, hair shifting back and forth with each step, eyes watching the street ahead.

Tantalizing scents hung in the air, offering escape from emptiness. But, he couldn't stop, not for anything. She couldn't stop, either, not for anything. She ran in her mind. From the past. The things she'd seen and gone through. She leaned out the window, wanting to leave, but staying still.

"Mr. Sephiroth?" Her voice quavered nervously, she was surprised it had come out at all.

"Hello." He watched the nervous woman watching him. She had short, light brown hair and eyes that retained a faint glimmer of past joys. Despite the distant light, he knew her smile was fake. He was used to people. He understood them, but that didn't mean he always liked them. That smile, though.... "Anything you want to say?"

"Do you...want anything?" She played with her hands, folding and unfolding them again and again. She had put something on the stove of her small residence, but she wasn't sure if it could feed two. She wouldn't eat, then. She'd just watch. Maybe she could make him happy. She wished she could make more people smile... "You look like you could use something to eat..."

"Thank you." He nodded politely. "That would be very nice."

"Then, come in." That smile again.

"Thank you, Miss....Yuna?" He hoped the name was right. He'd spoken to her during prior visits to the tiny village.

"Yes...that's me." She laughed at the uncertainty in his voice. She opened the door, giving him a quick, unusual bow. He repeated it, for courtesy's sake. Again, Yuna laughed, a beaded strand of hair swinging like a pendulum in front of her face. There was a bit of madness in her. It was so out of place. She gestured at a chair, "Here sit down."

He remembered a time he had been to the village when she was not there. Her absence struck him. He'd really wanted to talk to her. He listened to the people talking amongst themselves, hoping they would have an answer. He had heard her name spoken in reverent whispers. She'd gone on a journey. Perhaps, she had learned the madness there.

It was a mad world out there. She knew it. She laid out the plates and put food in his.

"Now, where's your food?" He asked, looking her straight in the eyes. Yuna looked away.

"I don't need any..." He shoveled half the contents of his plate into hers, with his fork.

"You need something."

"Thank you." Her shoulders drooped, she sunk into her chair. She twiddled with her fork, pushing the contents of her plate back and forth. She couldn't bring it to her mouth to eat, so instead took a sip of water. "When...when are you leaving?"

She'd been left behind. They'd left her and she'd had to send them away. She was sick of people leaving.

He saw that. Heard it in her voice, her sigh. The way she looked out the window. She liked a little company, but would never ask for it. She was lonely, but would never say so.

"I think I might stick around for awhile." He found himself saying. She gazed up at him, smiling. His lips twitched upward; ever so slightly. He saw that, this time, her smile was real.

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Quite a novelty, eh? Never thought you'd see a SephirothXYuna, eh? I'm not too pleased with how this came out. I feel that, despite my "effort," everyone is rather OOC....Angst.