Beyond the Veil
Disclaimer: I only own Ami-kun, the rest of everything is owned by other people, mostly Square-Enix. I'd like to thank everyone who has sent me feedback on this fic- you've all helped me out.
Chapter One
Sephiroth was glad once the dark haired pain in his rear was handed off to the scientists. Maybe being around Hojo for a while might just teach her some humility and just might temper her from being a punk to maybe something a bit more reasonable. 'Or it might make her completely insane,' he mused as he had walked away from the labs. Still, he felt bad that she was probably go through a torturous existence up until she found her way out of the labs.
It had been four months since the nuisance of a woman was yanked from her world into the hands of the scientists and he was surprised over the silence in the labs. Especially since Hojo had continually tried to get him into the labs before the incident. And then the scientist had just about ignored his existence. 'Maybe Hojo just needs to be continually given more specimens each time he gets bored of them,' he mused before his PHS rang.
He flipped it open, expecting it to be Director Lazard informing him that he was going to be sent back to Wutai to go back to the front lines. However, his expectations turned out to be stuff of his dreams as he quickly found out that it was Hojo.
"I want you to come up for your quarterly physical," Hojo stated over what sounded like a piano playing loudly.
The piano was playing what sounded like a waltz of sorts that was pleasant and uplifting. Even with his sensitive hearing, he could tell whoever it was knew the song very well and had practiced it constantly. He was half tempted to go up to the labs if only to find out how they managed to get a piano up there for one thing and for another, who it was playing. He knew very well that Hojo liked to make sure that his experiments were well-rounded with their knowledge and abilities. He realized that it had to be Ami on the piano since he knew full well that she was the only human other than scientists on that level.
"Very well," he replied, knowing that there was barely a wait for Hojo to get his answer.
.:.
Ami had assumed that since no one had ever bothered her while she was playing on the musical keyboard that she was safe to just close her eyes and lose herself while playing the one song that had spurned her on to learn to play the piano- a song called Merry go round of life, otherwise known as the theme from Howl's Moving Castle. In the time since, she had actually memorized that song and each note came naturally to her.
She, of course, was wrong in thinking that this time, much like the previous times, that she would be left alone and ignored. Instead, she was startled once she finished the song.
"And here I thought you had no talents other than being an insufferable pain in the ass," a calm masculine voice said, his words tinged with amusement.
"If you think you've figured me out, I may just yet surprise you," she replied.
"I know I haven't fully figured out your skill set yet."
She had to scoff at his words, causing him to let out a questioning hum.
"There's more to me than just a bundle of skills."
"True, but that's all I'll ever see you as other than being insufferable."
"You're quite insufferable yourself. You think you're better than everyone else."
"That's because I am," he said, his voice turning dark and sinister.
"Not where it counts," she replied, her tone blase, "strength of the body is a fleeting thing. Soon even you too will eventually find your body growing weaker in old age."
"It's all that has ever mattered."
"Not in my experience. What really matters is the strength of one's personality. That is what will stand the test of time."
"Hmph," he scoffed as he stared at her, "what makes you think that?"
"Everyone leaves loved ones behind. They don't think of body strength as much as they do personality. I only remember my father through his personality- things he used to do, only remembering his body strength when that gave out and he was put into a wheelchair," she said quietly.
"So, your father passed on," he said quietly.
"A while ago, yes. When he got sicker and sicker, my music helped a little. Used to make him smile," she said, her voice breaking with the emotions.
"What is it like?"
"What?"
"What is it like having real parents that care?"
She chuckled as she turned to face him.
"I only had one. I guess we both know what it's like to not have a mother," she said, "my dad...he was all that I had, really. He was the guiding light in my life."
"Hmph," was all that Sephiroth said before saying, "if you had such a lovely family, then-"
"Why am I a punk?" Ami asked, interrupting Sephiroth, "variety of reasons. I could never have been able to avoid fights or else I would have been killed while walking between my old home and my school. I couldn't simply have been full defensive or the gangs and other punks would have seen me as a target. By seeking out the strongest person in the gang and beating them until they were nearly bleeding to death, I was feared and subsequently left alone."
"Which is why you were trying to instigate a fight with me," Sephiroth stated.
Ami only gave him a dark grin, one that he recognized as one he saw many men on the front lines wear to scare the crap of anyone unlucky to face them on the battlefield.
.:.
Sephiroth sat on the top of the Shinra building with Genesis to one side and Angeal to the other. Between them was a six pack of booze. Genesis knocked back a can before looking at Sephiroth.
"I heard you went to the Sci level," Genesis said.
Angeal raised an eyebrow at Sephiroth.
"Yes. Quarterly exam," he said with a shiver before the other two shivered as well, "and I saw the girl from the other world."
Angeal's other eyebrow raised as he paused in his sipping of his alcohol.
"She's a rather demonic punk," Sephiroth stated.
Both of the men's mouths curved in amusement.
"If I hadn't known better, I'd say that she scared you," Angeal said, obviously goading the white-haired man.
"Is the great hero Sephiroth getting soft from having been pulled away from the front lines?" Genesis asked, joining in goading the man who had been their best friend.
"Of course not," Sephiroth stated, almost sounding indignant, "just imagine someone like her giving a dark smirk not unlike the one that Herrick had before charging into that Wutai stronghold."
"You mean that dark, bloodthirsty grin?" Genesis asked, getting a curt nod from Sephiroth.
"Oh dear Minerva," Angeal muttered under his breath before sipping from his can.
"So are we going to let her rot in that cell?" Genesis asked with a frown, "we all have gone through similar experiences being experiments."
"Besides, she does seem to have an attitude that would make her fit into SOLDIER well. Especially how she managed to point out the strongest one in the room," Angeal said.
"I can see her more of a Turk," Sephiroth stated with a frown.
"I think you don't want her in SOLDIER just because you think you'll throttle her. Or have all of the men throttle her," Genesis stated with a smirk.
"I can see her managing to play every man against each other using her feminine wiles. If she was to join SOLDIER, she would have to be housed with someone who won't fall for her obvious ploys," Sephiroth stated.
He didn't know whether to be surprised or annoyed when his two best friends looked at him with an expectant look. Almost like they singled him out.
"Hn?"
"Sephiroth, I mean no disrespect, but seeing as how you hang around us more than you screw women, you come off as a flaming fruit," Genesis said with a smile.
"Flaming...fruit." Sephiroth said, his voice pondering the words that came out slowly and eloquently.
"Another way of saying 'gay'," Angeal stated.
Sephiroth downed the rest of the contents of his can of booze, looking like he was holding onto his self control and not shout in a fit of anger.
"I am not gay. I have no interest in men," Sephiroth stated.
"Are you sure?" Genesis said, leaning towards Sephiroth and batting his eyes at the silver-haired man.
"Get away!" Sephiroth jokingly said, gently pushing Genesis off of him.
"Then why is it that you showed little to no reaction to the otherworldly woman who arrived in her birthday suit?" Angeal said, obviously jokingly goading.
"The question is, if you spout honor so much, why are you going against honor by teaming up on me?" Sephiroth asked, "besides, I am in no way interested in a little insufferable punk."
"Actually, she's much taller than the female average," Genesis said with a smirk.
The three First Class SOLDIERs' PHSes beeped, obviously an alarm clock.
"Good night Angeal, Sephiroth," Genesis said, nodding to both of his friends before going to the door to the stairway down.
"Night Genesis," both Sephiroth and Angeal stated before Genesis left.
"See you in the morning, Sephiroth," Angeal stated.
"Same to you, Angeal," Sephiroth replied before cleaning up the empty cans, obviously feeling just a little buzzed.
.:.
Author's Note: 12/11/10
Heyas all. Gregora here. Most of this was actually written during playing Amber Diceless RPG. I've had a horrendous week, all culminating with my finding out that my entrance into college is being set back yet another quarter.
As for Ami and her being able to have memorized only a handful of songs on a piano, one of which she wanted to learn piano just to play, it didn't sound a very useful skill other than to show that Hojo encourages learning music as far as his specimens go. That and it can potentially break the ice between the two who are rather cold characters.
And as far as the scene with Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal, my intention was to show those three as three peas in a pod and just a group of guys. Sephiroth has long since getting used to the joking of those two and feels secure with these two. Such a thing is mirrored in Crisis Core in the flashback with those three just hanging out, Sephiroth showed emotion around Genesis and Angeal just by the mannerisms. Like how he showed his dry sense of humor (and since I also have a dry of humor, I caught on real quick). So since it's been my intention to show each and every character as having real emotions, real motivations, as well as failings (Sephiroth's being short temper, wrathful, and a case of egoism bordering on arrogance while Genesis' being envy/jealousy, huge temper and not as much self-control as Sephiroth. I see Angeal as being "cheap", pessimistic, and prideful.). When I realized their biggest downfalls, it hit me that three of the "7 sins" are covered by these three. I can see Ami's biggest downfall being either lust or greed, if not sloth. Of course, Reno's could possibly be sloth (aka laziness).
Talking about Reno, I'm really unsure of when in the timeline that Reno joined the Turks. But I figure that Sephiroth, even if he is in charge of the majority of SOLDIER, he still would have to answer to Lazard, director of SOLDIER.
What's kind of depressing is that I know I'll wind up writing Sephiroth as being betrayed when/if the mass desertion of SOLDIER happens. I mean, both of his closest friends pretty much betray him. It just can't be very good for his already shaky mental health.
Well, I'll see about making a nice cushion of a few chapters before posting more of them. That may mean that they'll be a short hiatus. I hope no one would mind.
Laters!
~Gregora
Net time on BtV: While everyone was asleep, it seems that something has befallen the many different specimens on the science lab. Why? Who did it? Answers and more in the next chapter!