The Angel Within
Chapter Two: An Evil Voice Inside
"Hey Tifa, when is Cloud coming home from his delivery runs?" asked Marlene.
"Soon honey, soon." Tifa was washing some cups when the doorbell rang to the bar entrance.
"I got it Marlene." Tifa puts down the glass and answers the door.
"Tifa?" said Katelyn.
Tifa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Katelyn, Keshia and Kadye were holding Kayli's unconscious body in their arms. "
"She needs help. We'll explain later. Do you have a place where we can put her? She's a little heavy," said Keshia.
"Oh hang on. BARRET I NEED HELP!" Tifa called for him.
Barret came running in. "What up Tifa?"
"Barret, can you carry this girl upstairs please?" asked Tifa.
"Sure." Barret took the unconscious Kayli from Kadye, Keshia and Katelyn's grasp.
"Please come in." Tifa led the girls inside.
"Take it easy Tifa," said Red XIII.
Tifa smiles. "Thank you Red. See you soon."
Red XIII and his pack run off.
Tifa closes the door. "Would anyone like anything to drink?"
Katelyn looked at the rest. "Just water please."
"You got it." Tifa brought out four glasses of water and placed them in front of the girls.
The girls said their thanks.
"Who's the girl?" said Barret as he came walking into the room.
"That's our friend rather my friend and their cousin," said Katelyn as she take a sip of water.
"Her name is Kayli," said Lilly.
"My name is Katelyn."
"Keshia." nodded her head. "And this is my little sister Kadye,"
"The name's Lilly," Lilly made a peace sign with her fingers.
"You see…" Katelyn placed her cup down. "We're not from around here. We were transported here somehow from another world. Shadowcreepers previously attacked us. Luckily Kayli was able defeat them. She suddenly started to get sharp pains and came down with a minor temp. Keshia summoned Red XIII and his pack, they kindly took us here."
"Well that's interesting. Where did the Shadowcreepers come from?" asked Tifa.
"That's just the thing, we don't know," said Keshia. "They just appeared."
"Can you excuse us for a moment, Barret can I talk to you for a moment?" Tifa walked to the other room.
"Of course." said Keshia.
"Everyone, don't say anything about how Kayli was able to summon the masamune. They might think that we're evil." Katelyn looked at the rest of the group.
"After all it was Sephiroth who was the only one who was able to use the masamune and he was very evil," Lilly took a gulp of water.
"Well said Lilly," Katelyn looked at her water.
In the other room"Should we trust these girls Tifa?" asked Barret.
"Why not? They are obviously not from around her. Beside their friend is ill." Tifa walked back to were the girls were.
Barret followed.
Marlene saw her dad come back in and decided to sit on his lap.
Barret smiled.
"We believe you girls, how can we help you and your friend, Kayli is?" asked Tifa.
"Yes her name is Kayli. Thank you so much Tifa." Katelyn looked at Barret. "You too Barret."
"No problem." said Barret.
Meanwhile upstairs…"Oww my head." Kayli slowly sat up. She looks around. "Well it looks like we made it to Tifa's bar after all." Kayli stumbles to the window. Then the pain from before comes back. She grasps her arm tightly. "What is going on?" She rolled up her sleeve. Kayli stumbled back onto the bed. "This is…"
'*Geostigma…*' said a voice within Kayli's head.
"Who's there?" asked Kayli looking around.
'*Sephiroth.*'
Kayli gasped. 'Seph…iroth? How come I can hear you in my head? Where are you?'
'*I'm inside of you Kayli.*' Sephiroth chuckled.
'How? I thought you died when Cloud destroyed you for the second time. Besides Kadaj is no longer here.' Kayli cover up her arm as she heard someone coming.
"Oh good you're awake. Kayli." Tifa bowed.
"Thank you so much Tifa-san," Kayli bowed back.
"No problem." said Tifa. "How do you feel?"
"I'm not really sure. I still feel a little weak." Kayli quietly stared at the floor. "Ummm Tifa-san?" said Kayli looking at Tifa.
"Just call me Tifa. What is it Kayli?"
"I was wondering where I could find Cloud. There is something that I have to ask him. It's really important," Kayli walked to the window.
What's the matter Kayli?" asked Tifa.
"I'm not sure…I just need to talk to Cloud…" Kayli looks at the ground. "It's about Aerith."
"Aerith? Cloud is on a delivery run. Let me call him." Tifa takes out her cell phone.
"He's at the Sleeping Forest," said a voice.
"AHH…Oh hi Vincent. You scared me." Tifa almost dropped her cell.
"Sorry. He had me come to tell you that he needs some time alone to train. He said that he'd be back later on tonight." Vincent looks at Kayli. "Who's this Tifa?"
"I'm Kayli. Nice to meet you Vincent." Kayli held out her hand.
"Vincent, Kayli needs to talk to Cloud." Tifa looked at Vincent as she places a hand on Kayli's shoulder.
"Do you want me to take you to him miss?" Vincent folded his arms.
"If you don't mind." Kayli smiled.
"I don't mind." Vincent held out his hand.
"Can you wait a moment? I have to let my friends know where I am going." said Kayli.
"I'll be here when you return." Vincent leaned against the wall in the corner.
"Ok." said Kayli. Kayli walked down stairs.
"KAYKAY‼" Lilly ran to Kayli who almost fell to the ground as Lilly almost tackled her.
Katelyn, Keshia, and Kadye stood up and walked over to her.
"Are you alright Kayli?" asked Katelyn.
"Yeah. I guess all that fighting took a lot out of me more than I though it would," Kayli smiled.
"We're glad you're alright Kay." Lilly hugged Kayli tightly.
"You're squeezing me to hard Lill, I can't breath." Kayli hugged her back. "Look, I have to talk to Cloud. Vincent is going to take me to see him at the Forgotten City. I'll be back later. Ok everyone?"
"Sure." said Kadye.
"No problem." Keshia sits back down on the couch.
"Be careful Kay." Lilly hugged her again.
"Don't do anything stupid," said Katelyn.
"Heh I'll try not to." Kayli smiled.
Just as Kayli went to turn around to go back up stairs to talk to Vincent, he suddenly showed up.
"AHHHH! Vincent don't scar me like that!" Kayli fell on the floor and landed on her butt.
"Sorry. You ready?" asked Vincent.
Kayli sighs. "Yes I am. See ya guys later."
"Hey Lilly, do you want to come play with me?" asked Marlene.
"Sure." said Lilly.
Kayli watches Lilly and Marlene scamper off. She smiles.
"I'm ready Vincent." Kayli looks at Vincent.
Vincent wraps Kayli up in his cloak. "Hang on tight."
Kayli did as she was told and wrapped her arms around Vincent's waist.
Suddenly Kayli's vision went blurry.
Kayli and Vincent were gone in a flash.
At the Sleeping Forest
"We're here Kayli." Vincent removed his cloak from around Kayli.
"Where's Cloud." asked Kayli.
"He should be here momentarily," said Vincent.
"Okay." Kayli sits on a rock and waits.
A few minutes later, a soft rumble was heard in the distance.
"Here he comes now," said Vincent.
Soon enough Cloud Strife pulls up on his motorcycle, Fenrir.
Cloud blinks. "Ummm hello Vincent. What are…" Clouds eyes gaze at Kayli. "Who are u?"
"I'm Kayli, Cloud."
"How do you know me?" asked Cloud.
"Don't worry Cloud I'm a friend." Kayli stands up.
"She needs to talk with you Cloud." Vincent leans against a tree.
"What about?" Cloud kicks out the kickstand and climbs off of Fenrir.
"Kayli just call when you want to be brought back to the bar." Vincent stood back up.
"Don't worry about it Vincent. I'll bring her back to Tifa's bar. Besides it's been some time since I visited everyone." said Cloud leaning against his bike.
Kayli sighs. "Are you still distancing yourself from your friends even after the big battle with Kadaj and the "Reunion" of his?"
"She seems to somehow know a lot about us. Same goes with a few of her friends." Vincent said. "See ya around Cloud, Kayli." Vincent wraps his cloak around him and is gone in a flash.
"So why did you have to talk to me, Kayli isn't it?" said Cloud.
Kayli nods her head. "Yes it's Kayli. Well I…" All of a sudden Shadowcreepers appear. "Not again!"
Cloud curses then pulls out his buster sword from his bike. "What do you mean 'Not again?' Has these appeared before?"
"Yes they have." Kayli thinks to herself, 'Damn if I help him then that would mean the masamune would appear. I have to pretend to be helpless and allow him to fight them by himself.' "CLOUD ABOVE YOU‼‼"
Cloud quickly jumps out of the way, dodging the attack.
"Damn it! Why are they here?" Cloud slashes at the Shadowcreeper
Suddenly a Shadowcreeper lunges at Kayli when all of a sudden, a bright white light shrouds around Kayli, and a soft female voice is heard.
Kayli gasps. "Aerith?" Kayli then passes out.
The bright light blinds the Shadowcreepers and they disappear.
Cloud quickly catches her before she hits the ground. He looks up to see Aerith looking down at him.
"Hello Cloud." says Aerith.
"Aer…ith?" Cloud blinks to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"I'm here in spirit Cloud once again to guide my friends. I sense great darkness in this young woman. The elder of the ancients tell me that darkness is buried inside of her. Her and her friends' hold great powers and they will help you and the others fight this evil. It is uncertain which side she will choose. Only her light can awake her from the darkness." Aerith waves her hand over Kayli and a spark comes from Kayli's body.
Cloud gasps and blinks. "What was that?"
"I see that she is starting to give into the darkness. Until I know more of this darkness Cloud, please say nothing to no one. I shall watch over her since she is my little sister." White wings appear from Aerith's back as she floats into the air.
"What? Wait Aerith!" Cloud watches the figure of Aerith float then disappears.
Kayli begins to awaken. "Aerith…" She opens her eyes.
"Are you alright Kayli?" asked Cloud.
"Yeah thanks. She was here wasn't she? Aerith…" Kayli looks at Cloud.
"Yes she was." Cloud put his buster sword in the holster on his back.
"You can tell I'm not from around here huh Cloud?"
Cloud nods his head.
"Well, my friends and I came here somehow and don't know why. When we were sent here from our world I heard Aerith's voice saying that…"
Unexpectedly the Shadowcreepers appeared again. One appeared right behind Cloud.
"CLOUD‼‼‼" Kayli ran behind Cloud and used herself as a shield when a bright white light filled the area.
Cloud blinked and saw white feathers flew everywhere.
The Shadowcreepers disappeared as quickly as they came.
Kayli fell to her knees.
Cloud turned around and saw her on her knees with bright white wings of about 36-foot wingspan from her back.
"Are you alright Cloud?" Kayli's body was shaking.
"Y…yes." Cloud couldn't believe his eyes. "You have wings Kayli?"
Kayli blinked. "What do you…?" Kayli looked behind her and gasped. "Wow. They're like Aerith's wings. Awesome."
"We should head back to Tifa's bar. Your friends might get worried," said Cloud as he stood up.
"True. Ummm I should put these away." Kayli closed her eyes and the wings disappeared. "That's better. Ummmm…Cloud…?"
"What is it Kayli?" Cloud looked at her.
"Can you keep this quiet…about me having wings and the fact that I'm Aerith's sister." Kayli got to her feet.
"So you know that your Aerith's sister?" Cloud folded his arms over his chest.
"When we came here I heard someone say that I'm a Cetra and that I'm Aerith's sister. I didn't think it was true. I thought it was a random voice saying nonsense in my head. But I guess it really is true." Kayli looked at the night sky. "We have been here awhile. Good idea we should go."
"Hop on." Cloud climbed on his bike.
"But I never had been on a motorcycle before." Kayli stepped closer to Cloud.
"Don't worry I won't let you fall." Cloud said to Kayli
Kayli swallows the lump of air in her throat and flings her leg over one side and climbs onto Cloud's bike.
"Ok wrap your arms around my waist." Cloud turns his head to look at Kayli.
Kayli wraps her arms around Cloud's waist.
"Here we go." said Cloud as the bike roared to life.
The bike suddenly gains speed and Kayli lets out a squeak.
Cloud yells out so he could be heard over the rumble of his bike, "You ok Kayli?"
"Yeah I'm fine." She also yells out. "It's really not that bad of a ride."
Cloud smiles and makes the bike go faster.
Kayli's grip grew tighter as they went faster.
Back at Tifa's bar.
Lilly and Marlene were drawing.
"Is right here okay to put this box Tifa?" asked Kadye.
Tifa looked up after she placed down the box that she was carrying. "Yup. Thank you everyone for helping out."
"It's the least we can do for letting us stay here." said Keshia.
Katelyn came in holding a box. "Here's the last on Tifa." She placed it next to the other ones.
A rumble was heard outside.
"Cloud's back." said Tifa.
A bell was heard as the door to the bar was opened.
"KAYLI‼‼" yelled Lilly.
"Hi Lill…" Kayli was tackled by Lilly.
Cloud walks in just as Kayli was tackled. He blinks and smiles. He then looks up to see Tifa looking at him.
His smile grows bigger. "I'm back."
She smiles back at him. "Want a drink?" asked Tifa as she walked behind the bar.
"Sure, thanks Tifa." Cloud sits down at the bar.
"Hi Spiky!" Barret comes walking in.
"Hi Barret." said Cloud.
"What would you like to drink Cloud?" Tifa grabs a glass
"The usual." said Cloud. "Thanks."
"You got it. Barret wanna drink too?" Tifa poured an amber coloured drink in a glass of ice and placed it in front of Cloud.
"Sure can I have a Scotch on the rocks?" said Barret
"Yup." Tifa got Barret his drink and handed it to him.
"Me and Kayli we attacked by Shadowcreepers again in the Forgotten City." Cloud sips his drink.
"What? Why were they there?" asked Tifa.
"Not sure." said Cloud.
"Did you and Kayli fight them off?" asked Keshia as her Kadye and Katelyn came walking into the room.
"No just me, why?" asked Cloud.
"Just wondering." said Keshia.
Kayli got up and dusted herself off. "Cloud, these are my cousins. Kadye, Keshia and the one who tackled me Lilly. The one with the short blonde hair is my best friend Katelyn."
"Can we have Strawberry Daiquiri?" asked Lilly.
"Non-alcoholic Tifa. Our Aunty Gina has her own bar in the back of her house and she makes the ones that aren't old enough to drink make non-alcoholic drinks." said Kayli.
"Sure I can Lilly. Barret can Marlene have a non-alcoholic one too?" Tifa puts a few fresh strawberries into the Daiquiri mix into the blender and puts the cover on and blends it. Then she puts ice in it and crushes the ice up.
"Sure I don't see why not, Tifa," said Barret looking at his daughter.
Both Marlene and Lilly jumped up and down. "Yay‼"
Kayli smiled. "Lill, you really get along with Marlene huh?"
"Yup." Lilly happily smiled at Kayli.
"Lilly is like a sister to me." Marlene said sitting on the barstool.
Lilly joined Marlene on the stool next to her.
"Umm Tifa I was wondering if there was a way that maybe you could teach me how to fight? You know teach me some martial arts. I know some martial arts but the dojo that I was learning from shut down so now I can't continue to learn how to protect myself and the people that I care about." Kayli looked at Tifa.
"Sure if you want I'll teach you." Tifa placed her hand on her hips after she gave Marlene and Lilly their drinks. She came around from the bar.
"Really? Thanks." Kayli gave a hug to Tifa.
Tifa smiled.
Lilly yawned.
"Tired Lill?" Kayli smiled.
"Well we all did have a long day today after all." Keshia said as she sat on a barstool.
"Let me show you all to your rooms." said Tifa.
"I'm going to stay up for a bit ok Lill?" said Kayli.
"Sure see ya Kay." Lilly gives her a hug goodnight and follows Tifa, Keshia, Marlene, and Kadye to the upstairs.
"I'll be up to tuck you in okay Marlene?" said Barret.
"Ok dad thanks." Marlene smiled and walked next to Lilly upstairs.
"You ok Kayli?" asked Katelyn as she walked next to her.
Kayli looked at Katelyn. "Yeah I think so," said Kayli.
"Something happened at the Forgotten City huh?" said Katelyn.
"Is it that obvious?" asked Kayli.
"It's all written on your face." Said Katelyn.
Kayli looks at Cloud and then back to Katelyn. "Well, more Shadowcreepers appeared and Cloud defeated most of them when I felt that same pain from before I felt dizzy and began to fall, Cloud caught me. Suddenly a Shadowcreeper came up from behind Cloud and the last thing I remember was hearing Aerith's voice and…seeing white wings from my back."
"Aerith says Kayli is centra like her," said Cloud.
"Not only that Kate, I'm Aerith sister." Kayli felt the pain again but tried desperately to hide it. She was able to hide it from the others so they wouldn't see her.
"Wow I never would have thought you would be centra Kayli. You got your wish about having wings." Katelyn smiled.
"True." Kayli got up and went to the window and looked out.
"Well I'm heading to bed Kayli. See ya in the morning. Oh and Kayli?" Katelyn smiled.
"K night Kate. Yes?" said Kayli.
"The Game." Katelyn smirked and left.
"Aww man. I was going a long time too." Kayli looked back outside.
Both Barret and Cloud waved to Katelyn.
"So how are you feeling Kayli?" asked Cloud as he took another gulp of his drink.
"Better thanks Cloud." Kayli went quiet.
Tifa came back into the room.
"Everyone is safe and sound in their beds." She sat down on the stool next to Cloud. She looks over at Kayli. "Are you okay Kayli? You seem distant and lost in thought."
"Huh? Oh I'm sorry Tifa it's just that a lot of stuff happened today and my mind is just trying to process everything. With my friends and me somehow coming here, the Shaowcreepers attacking me and Cloud it's just a lot of information. All this…" Kayli waved her hand around. "You guys seem all a dream to me. It's just that some of my friends know a lot more about you guys then you think we do. Don't worry we aren't bad guys or anything. It's just at times I know you will question if we're evil or not." Kayli started to feel dizzy.
A laugh sounded in her mind. She knew it was the One-Winged-Angel laughing.
'*I hope you can say that about yourself Kayli.*' Said Sephiroth chuckling.
Kayli thought to herself, 'Sephiroth shut up will ya. I'm trying to think here and it's very hard having a second party in my mind that hears my thoughts. It's kinda creepy in a way.'
'*You have no idea what I'm capable of doing in this body of yours Kayli. Such a wonderful vessel. Much stronger then Kadaj's. His was a mere human vessel, but yours is stronger from being a Centra. I can simply take over and have you kill everyone. Right here, right now. The best part is that they won't think that it is me. There is no one here that will believe you Kayli that I'm back.*'
'We'll see about that Sephiroth.' Kayli makes a mental barrier so that Sephiroth can't hear or talk to her. She gets up and walks to the others. "Umm I was wondering if Rufus Shinra was still at the Healin Lodge. I know his Geostigma is gone but I was wondering where I can find him." Asked Kayli.
"Let me call Reno up and ask him." said Cloud.
"So you got another cell after you dropped the other one from the fight with Loz, Kadaj and Yazoo in the Forgotten City when you went to get back the kids that were under control of Kadaj?" Kayli smiled as Barret's face dropped.
"Yes Tifa got me another one for me." Cloud paused as he dialed a number. "Hi Reno where is Rufus right now. Oh he is, is he? Well no I don't but I have a friend that wants to, huh no another friend that he doesn't know. Sure thanks Reno; sure I'll let her know ok. Yup bye." Cloud flips close the cell and puts it in it holster.
Kayli looked at Cloud.
"Reno said that he'll be here in 5-10 minutes." Cloud gulps the rest of his drink and places the glass down gently on the counter.
"More Cloud?" asked Tifa.
"No thanks Tifa. I still have to drive." Cloud stretched and got up.
Kayli noticed the sad look on Tifa's face. "Cloud why do you always have to be away even if you're not on your delivery runs? There is no reason why you can't be here in Edge is there? I know you live at Aerith's church but why are you still away from the ones you mean so much to? I figured that after the battle with …" Kayli cringed at the name she was about to say. "Sephiroth that you would want to be with your friends even more. There are some that hold you closer than you think Cloud." Kayli sighs as the door to the bar opens and Reno appears.
"What's up everyone?" Reno smiles.
"Not much Reno." Cloud looks at his empty glass.
Kayli walk to Reno. "Hello Reno I'm Kayli. I'm the one who would like a word with Rufus Shinra."
Reno looks at Cloud and Cloud nods.
"Ok I'll take you to him." said Reno.
"This shouldn't take long everyone. If anyone wakes up let them know where I went. Oh and Cloud, this might be a best time to consider who means the most to you." Kayli looks at Tifa. "Well, see ya in a few." She walks out the door.