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"I will take you to the Promised Land..."

Protector.

Warmth surrounded me as I dreamed peacefully of days when I was younger. Days when I used to come home dripping from head to toe in mud after suffering attacks from the village bullies. I would always try to hide away under my wild bangs ashamed to meet my mother's gaze. "A big boy shouldn't cry…" my mind would shout. "….a big boy should be strong…..and able to protect others." Yet, no matter how ashamed I felt, my mother always gently lifted my chin and smiled warmly at me. She would tightly hug my mud coated body and cheer me up with hopes of finally confronting those bullies tomorrow.

I sighed in my sleep unconsciously snuggling closer to my unknown heat source while my mind fought to hold on to that simple happy memory as awareness slowly crept up on me. The makeshift pillow supporting my head shifted suddenly causing me to groan in annoyance. I didn't want to wake up! However, as my senses slowly returned I began to become aware of the rich powerful scent mixed with my own, the delicate yet tender flesh acting as my makeshift pillow, and the feeling of long fingers playing and needing my hair.

"What's…..going on….?"

As if to answer my question a deep rumbling noise sounded into my ears and it didn't take long for me to realize where the sound came from. I had felt the vibration against my cheek which meant it had come form the hard surface I had my head currently rested against. I gulped nervously as I peeled my eyes open slowly before gazing up into familiar feline mako green eyes.

"Sephiroth….how had I forgotten…."

I glanced away from those eyes scanning the room just to distract my mind. The room surrounding us lay encased with book shelves that broke off in the center revealing a dimly light hallway. Many books were scattered across the floor and on top of the lone desk stationed in the center of the room. "Full but empty of any personal touches…." I mused.. But I was forgetting one last piece of furniture, which caused my cheeks to color lightly. "….the chair." Sephiroth had me tightly held in his lap, cradling me like a mere child, while smirking down at me. "Damn, no wonder I had been laughed at…"

"Do you remember where you are?" questioned Sephiroth.

"How could I ever forget this place….." I cringed. "…..The Shinra Mansion…..you locked yourself away in here that night…..and I served as a one of Hojo's experiments….I'd never forget."

Sephiroth nodded without pause and I figured he hadn't read my thoughts. I glanced up to confirm my suspicions and smiled, much to his surprise. I couldn't help it. I could see sanity in his eyes which meant Jenova had eased her hold on him for now. I knew something this rare would be gone very soon so I couldn't help appreciate it while it lasted.

I gasped and dropped my gaze to the floor. "What was I thinking?" I found myself thinking, so easily falling back into denial. "I had always been a traitor….I had always belonged to Sephiroth." I remembered deciding that. "…but was it really okay? What about those I had chosen to fight along side to save the world from his grasp. Can I be a traitor and a protector?"

"Forget about them….you won't be seeing them ever again." his voice cut into my thoughts, putting an end to my silent questioning. "The Planet is no longer yours to bother protecting."

I glared up into his eyes opening my mouth to demand him to tell me what he had planned for them and the planet. Sound never left my mouth as he capture my lips in a forceful kiss. Our second kiss. Why do I feel so light headed? Why couldn't I remember what I was going to say? It made me frustrated to know that a simple kiss from Sephiroth could wash away all thoughts from my mind. And worse, Sephiroth realized he had this power over me even before I did.

"Cloud, do you doubt my intentions?" he whispered into my mind.

"…what?" I blinked, my mind cloudy and unable to think straight.

"No harm will come to you….even as a traitor…" he continued.

"Was he protecting me?" I thought, trying to understand his words.

"Cloud…" his voice echoed pleasantly in my mind.

"I-I want to see them…." I whispered aloud against his lips, the words slipping out without me even realizing it.

He pulled away from me and I frown as I saw the insanity rise gradually within the depths of his gaze. I blinked being quite slow to regain myself.

"Come to the reunion….and you shall see them once more…" he stated, all emotion drained from his voice.

"The reunion…? Will I be able to bare their anger against me? The anger upon seeing their protective leader in the hands of the enemy? The hurt…? How will Tifa…?"


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