Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
-by Amaranthos-
Note: This story is my magnum opus and my first real go at the couple Sephiroth and Tifa.
Many thanks to inspiration: VioletGoddess
It had been a day filled of riotous fires and tuneless screams. A sky of saffron and red streaks seems to sketch a scene of what Satan's hell might look like. Already the fires of the burnt village could be seen all around. Burning black timber had been the residue of the crackling fires that seem to burn everything in its path, even part of the forestry.
The humidity that was surging through the hazy afternoon only made the smell of burnt flesh that much more intoxicating. Another stray scream of a woman rips out as she taken by the alive fires in their rage. There, standing in the centre of all the chaos and madness is a man of long silver hair with elliptical cat-like eyes of fluorescent green. Eyes that almost seem to strike fear but indirectly beauty into the hearts of men.
Making his way through the field of fallen bodies and carnage with nothing more than a disgruntled curse at the time lost, was General Sephiroth of the Empirical Black Crescents Empire. Known to be the best of the lot with many impressive years of work experience in the military, Sephiroth had become a secret weapon and nightmare to anyone who dare oppose him. Again, another incoherent curse is muttered as time is being a wasted in returning to the camp. Kicking another hapless body out his way, the young General didn't seem to show any form of regret.
"General Sephiroth" speaks a voice.
Sephiroth didn't seem to react upon his name being called.
"Sir, the commander requests your presence" a young soldier in a sharp black uniform began.
Sephiroth spared him a glance of recognition. "Report"
"Sir, we've had 50 casualties, 31 deaths and 75 of our men are missing from Team A. Our ammo is now running at a low with half of it is missing, sir" the soldier paused, "we believe that the enemy has gathered our weaponry location"
"And what has the commander done?" both men continued to walk into the camp proximity.
"He is awaiting to discuss details with you, sir" the soldier remarked.
Sephiroth's features suddenly strewed into distaste.
'So, the commander thinks he can bend me as he feels. Humph! The incompetent fool thinks he can talk to me about a remedy to his problems, while he sits on a high paying cushy job. Well I beg to differ, commander'
Entering a black tent, Sephiroth pushed the flaps back on his entering. Inside the confinement were two soldiers on either side and the commander sitting behind a desk.
"You wanted to see me?" his voice was filled of brusque coldness.
"Sit" the commander pointed at the chair opposite to him.
Sephiroth sat.
"We've won the battle today Sephiroth, but just barely"
"Why does this not surprise me?" it was somewhat sarcastically and rhetorically said.
"I suppose I should have announced it earlier, that we targeted the wrong area" he looped a leg around the other.
"And you kept this from us, commander?"
"Believe me, no one is as aggrieved as I am" he jarred "a lot of our men are missing and it seems somehow to be an irreplaceable loss"
"Yet two hours ago I was given an immediate run around of the enemy's location and if I didn't forget, I specifically remembered you saying to burn down the 7 villages that the enemy was hiding within, ne (right)?"
"Look General, it was hard enough keeping track of our different teams, besides, I'm sure Black Crescents isn't going to notice a few missing soldiers" he said, popping a cigarette between his lips and flicking his lighter to the tip.
Sephiroth felt a niggling irritation, one that he felt the urgency to slap the Commander.
"Wouldn't you lose your job if the council found out about such a wrong doing?"
"They don't notice anything and besides why should they care?" he paused to scoff, "would you like something to drink?" he asked.
"No." Sephiroth spoke, "where are the notices from today's battle?"
"Always to the punch aren't we?"
"This is what makes us, different, ne?"
The Commander smirks.
"Jinsun, get General Sephiroth today's notices"
A manila folder was handed to Sephiroth which pertained documents of the day's progress.
Sephiroth drew his thumb throughout the notices seeing the progress of the army was just merely a point against the enemy.
"This report is unfounded and slanderous commander even if you consider it a win in our book" Sephiroth drew a pause, "I mean what man has the strength to engineer such gut as great as yours? You obviously didn't choose to say anything until the battle was won and just barely" Sephiroth spat, easing the folder across the table.
"You'd do better than to insult me, General."
"No Commander, you'd do better than to insult me. You know the council would want to know why so many of their men are killed and it's me who have to answer, not you, so listen and listen good because I'm only going to say this once" Sephiroth drew himself over the table, "I'm not taking your blame"
"So you want to stir trouble, aye?" he blew a puff of smoke at Sephiroth.
"I find that accusation unjust, besides TakadaI've already told you, I won't be one of your lapdogs and won't be blamed for your blunders" Sephiroth vehemently quoted.
A silence grew between both men, forcing a sickening tension to build between them.
"It seems we've captured someone" Sephiroth tapped a finger against the folder.
"I assume your interest has been sparked?"
"Who is it?" Sephiroth rested his head against the back of the chair.
The commander smirked, "why don't you see for yourself" and with a snap of his fingers, a woman bonded by the wrists in a blue-grey gown came out. Her hair had been dishelmed leaving several black tendrils covering her eyes. Absentmindedly she thrashed and wriggled from the grasps of the guards, but was given a quick jerk to keep in line.
"What is her name?"
"She won't say…regardless a series of beatings, she refuses to talk"
Sephiroth arched a brow.
"Why keep her?" he pauses to evaluate the situation, "Why not kill her?"
"At the time we found her she had 10 guards protecting her…I believe this is our enemy's daughter"
"You mean to say—
"I mean to say, Lockhart's daughter, Tifa"
Sephiroth smirks, "are you sure?"
"Pretty much. She was in a coach with her family's royal insignia printed on the vehicle. This can only mean royalty and prestige. Either way, some of our sources have indeed pointed out she is Lockhart's daughter"
The Commander took up a knife and began cutting small pieces of fruit.
"You won't get away with this, you bastard" she sneered.
The Commander laughed.
Getting to his feet he picked up the blade and came to Tifa's side.
"You know if I were you, I'd shut that pretty mouth of mine" he pulled her by the arm, sending the blade threatening under her chin. She gritted her teeth keeping a cautious eye on the blade.
"Un-cuff me you scumbag" she sniveled.
"And what if I don't, what are you gonna do?" he took the opportunity to taunt Tifa by sending the blade lightly down her neckline, down her collarbone and lower down to the décolleté of her breasts.
"Aren't you beautiful?" he licked his lips keeping an eye on her bulging breasts.
"Get away from me asshole" she spat and with that she rammed her knee into his groin. Immediately he gave off a cry of pain.
Sephiroth smirked. By this time, Tifa flicked back her hair to take in the trouble she had caused. Sephiroth had manage to see a young woman in her early twenties wearing long chocolate hair, and the most enthralling red eyes he had ever seen. They were filled of emotion, some of sadness, some of pain but for the most part it was about her wit and free-spirited demeanor. He could see she was different. While most women were conservative or afraid to show their fiery characters, this young woman blatantly defied that, and what surprised him even all the more, was her sudden attack on the commander. At least her onslaught had caused the silence to break.
"You little bitch!" the Commander got to his feet and slapped her across the face.
She started with a cry of alarm before tottering to the floor. The commander in a rage, continued his senseless beatings at the young woman. Already slapped, kicked and abused emotionally, Tifa lied painfully against the floor with her limbs gracefully and awkwardly sprawled.
"So…" Sephiroth began "Are you willing to cooperate with us?" Sephiroth gave her a bored, emotionless look, as if he could care less about her disposition.
A tear fell deafly from her right eye. Painfully she nodded.
"Good" Sephiroth got to his feet and began leaving.
"Have her placed on the carriage for the trip back home" Sephiroth was about to leave when he stopped. "Oh Commander, I almost forgot" Sephiroth smirks.
The man dusts his jacket eyeing the General, expectantly.
"As of now your duty has been relieved of you." Sephiroth curtly informed.
"What? Wha—
Sephiroth eased his Masamune and made a fluent diagonal slash across the commander's chest.
"I don't work with simpletons' Commander" Sephiroth flicks the blood from his sword, "it ruins my title" he wiped the blade.
Turning to the woman on the floor, "if you know what's good for you, you'll refrain from being a nuisance otherwise a similar fate to the commander shall befall you. Oh, and Lockhart"
He knew she couldn't respond after such blows from the commander.
"As of now you're in my custody, and a token of keeps of my war and as you'll learn there is a fine between mine and what I make mine…understood?"
To be continued...