Hey guys! Sorry it took so long for this chapter. The ones to follow will come much faster. I'm so glad to see so much support! I will definitely continue, so keep reading!
A/N: A lot of the geography in this fic might be bogus, but it's AU anyway
so just roll with it.
Chapter two: Learning to Hate You
Tired. Freezing. Pissed off. These were the things Claire Elise Annatole was feeling as she trudged along the drab streets of Midgar. But the most prominent emotion she was feeling was fear. It was dark.
The people who were walking around were getting fewer and rougher-looking. Occasionally there would be small groups of men and they would eye her and smirk.
She would have been grateful to have Cloud at her side right now. To have anyone at her side. Anyone, that is, except him. Just as she was thinking this, she looked up
and realized she had wandered down an alley. A very putrid, dark alley. She shivered, and not just with cold. She turned around, and her heart leaped in her mouth.
Blocking her way was a very motley looking group of men. They were holding various weapons- chains, bats, crowbars, and one had a gun. They were all leering at her.
"Come on, little girl, come to papa.." Coaxed one of them in a singsong voice, smiling a bristly, chip-toothed smirk at her. Claire turned ashen. Without even bothering to respond,
she turned and fled. But the feet which had been so swift and nimble that morning were now leaden down with exhaustion. She heard the gangs' mocking laughter as they easily
overtook her. As she felt tough hands grasp her arms, she fell back on her last resort: to scream at the to of her lungs.
No street un-inspected. No alley unturned. How hard could it be to find a little frightened rich girl in a town like Midgar? Not hard. Something must have happened to her.
A mob, or kidnappers perhaps. "She better hope they take her to Timbuktu," Sephiroth snarled as he scanned the street. "Because when I get my hands on her I'll beat the fear of travel out of her for sure."
Suddenly he stopped and listened. Somebody was screaming. He narrowed his eyes- he had no desire to rescue a random female. But there was something familiar about that scream.
He whipped out Masamune and began racing towards the sound.
"Please stop! Please stop!" All little Claire could do was whimper her protests as the group of men ran their grimy paws over her tiny frame.
"Come on sweetie, you'll enjoy this. C'mon, Chuck, hold her! The rest of you, clear off!" Shouted the grizzly faced one. "This sweet little thing is mine."
They did as they were told. Everyone released Claire, and the one named Chuck reached around and put her arms in a strong hold, forcing her to her knees.
"Now, dearie, you just hold still.." Big tears rolled down Claire's face as he unfastened his pants, revealing his manhood to her virgin eyes. He grabbed a fistful of her hair at the roots,
forcing her face upwards to meet his eyes. "Now, I think you know what to do here. Open your mouth…" Claire clamped her trembling lips together so tightly they turned pale.
"Tough one, eh?" muttered the man with a smirk. He turned to a man beside him. "Give me a club, Snag," he ordered. The man named Snag handed him the bludgeon, and he in turn poised it over Claire's head.
"Now, little bitch, maybe you'll listen to me. Open your mouth." Squeezing her eyes shut, Claire obeyed. She cringed, waiting for the deplorable. But it didn't happen.
Instead, there was a loud slicing noise and a blood curdling shriek. The first thing she saw when she popped her eyes open was her attacker standing over her with a long,
bloody sword sticking out of his chest, the metal glinting even under the blood that was dripping from it. Suddenly the sword was whipped out of his body, and he fell to the ground
with a sickening thud. Claire quickly stood up to get out of the way. She looked up to see what had been the cause of the mans death, and what she saw gave her chills.
Sephiroth was standing there, sword extended to the side, hair whipping around him in the wind, looking like the very angel of death. After that there was the sound of other men
shouting and drawing weapons, but Claire was soon unaware of the fight around her- she was too busy fainting. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was his eyes boring
into hers, and the last noise she heard was the dreadful sound of slicing.
When she opened her eyes again she was back in her little room, freshly clothed in pajamas. Across from her bed Sephiroth was sitting in a chair, his head resting on his hands which were formed in a
triangle shape, the tips of the fingers touching, watching her intently. Claire immediately felt uncomfortable. She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. Apologize for running away?
Thank him for saving her life? Soon the silent was unbearable. She squirmed a bit, and finally said: "Who undressed me?" Sephiroth ignored the question. He got up and strode
over to her bedside. He stood there, arms crossed, glaring down at her. "So. How did you enjoy your little escapade this afternoon?" He asked, obviously not expecting a reply.
"You certainly managed to disgrace yourself, arriving here unconscious and bedraggled, soaking wet. Believe me, there was just as much scorn as there was pity by everyone here. Is that what you want?
to make a fool of yourself?" He was shouting now. But this didn't stop Claire. She stood up in bed, eye to angry eye with him. "No I don't!" She shouted back,
"But I don't want to be married to some evil bastared either! How do you think I feel about this? HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK I FEEL?"
"I suppose you'd rather be dead in an alley, raped and killed by some gang? If so, I do beg your pardon for diverting you from your course." He snarled sarcastically.
"Maybe you'd like me to escort you back to the streets of Midgar myself and leave you to your own devices. Perhaps you'll last for more than a day this time, hmm?"
Claire's eyes welled up against her will. "N-no. I just want to go home!" she sobbed, bursting into tears. Sephiroth turned away. He walked over to the window and gazed out of it.
"You can't go home." He said finally. "Do you think your family will accept you after everything? They'd send you right back here with some heavy apologies. No. You and I are going to
be married the day after tomorrow, and that's that." With that, he turned and strode out the door. Claire sat back down and pulled her knees to her chest. He was right. That was that.
"Moving the wedding?" Genesis asked, raising his eyebrows over his wineglass. He, Sephiroth, and Angeal were all sitting in Genesis' living room. Angeal,
seeing the rage Sephiroth was in, had suggested they come there to help him cool off with a glass of wine. "Yes." Sephiroth grumbled. "She seems like she'd be stupid enough to run off again,
and I can't stay by her side for a week. Besides, why not get it over with." Angeal looked thoughtful. "Maybe I could talk to her. She seems quiet enough-" here Sephiroth snorted-
"Maybe all she needs is a kind word." Sephiroth shrugged. "Do what you want. Just do it before 3o'clock Friday. Now come on, let's talk about something else."
Friday morning came early. Claire was sitting in her chair in her room, gazing out the window. She refused to cry. It wouldn't help. What Sephiroth had said the day before was true. She couldn't
survive on her won, She couldn't go back home. All she could do was stay and marry…she shuddered. Presently, there was a knock on her door. She looked at it with narrowed eyes.
Girls had been coming in and out of it all morning, getting final preparations for the wedding. Moving the wedding up had turned ShinRa upside down. The Great Hall a few blocks away
was where it was to be held, and frantic decorating was going on there, not to mention the great feast being prepared. Apparently the marriage of ShinRa's first general was a great ordeal.
But all Claire wanted was to be left alone till the time came. But she knew this could not be so. "Come in," She called wearily. The door opened and she was startled to see a dark-haired SOLDIER walk in.
"Who are you?" she asked, bewildered. He was too old to be a cadet, and his uniform was too fine to be a mere guard. He smiled at her and bowed slightly. :Commander Angeal Hewley at your service. I'm one of Sephiroths' closest friends. I understand you've been feeling depressed lately, and I thought you might like to talk to someone about it." Claire just blinked at him. Angeal walked over to the bed.
"Do you mind if I sit?" He asked. Claire shrugged. He sat down. "So, the wedding is in a few hours. Is there anything you'd like to talk about?: He smiled at her again. It was too much for Claire.
Nobody had smiled at her in weeks. the brave front she had constructed fell apart as the tears came. She threw herself onto Angeal and sobbed; "I, don't, want, to, get, married!" She wept.
"He's such a monsterrr! He's cruel! B-b-but I don't have anywhere to gooo…." she trailed off into racking sobs. Angeal felt awkward, holding her like this. He wasn't used to females crying on his shoulder.
The closest his last girlfriend had come to crying on him was when she was telling him to shut up and give it to her. But he did hold her as she cried, and while part of him thought that maybe he shouldn't,
he stroked her long hair gently and murmured soothingly into her ear. And they stayed like that for a long, long time.
"Her hair is so long! And such a pretty pale blonde! Oh I want it!" "And look at her skin, it's so pale! I'm not going to tan for a year!" "I thought you said tan was in!" "Please stand up miss so we can put on your dress."
Claire was sitting in her underwear in a fancy dressing room at the Great Hall. Actually, it felt sort of nice being freshly bathed, and being fussed over by all these ladies who were busily
combing and setting her hair, powdering her chest and back, and brushing her face with foundation. They wanted to add rouge and blush, but Claire hated having an 'artificial face.'
She got up off the stool and walked to where two women were standing holding the gown. It was, of course, absolutely stunning. It was extremely full, with a four-foot train.
The waist was small, with a big sating bow at the small of the back which flowed into the train. The sleeves were small puffs that were not attached to the dress itself, but rather
slipped into the arms alone. Even with the prospect of marriage to Sephiroth looming before her, she loved stepping into the gown. "You remember your vows, don't you miss?"
Asked one of the women as they cinched her up. The white satin elbow gloves game next. "Yes, I remember." Claire murmured. Love, honor, protect… in sickness, in health…She wondered
if it was even possible to keep these vows in a loveless marriage. A tight knot was forming in her stomach. The veil was last to be put on. It was attached to a sparkling, very expensive-looking tiara.
In the front it came down to he waist, in the back it flowed into the train of the dress. She felt like a birl trapped in a beautiful cage. A woman handed her the bouquet,
which was composed of pale pink roses. "There." Said the woman with satisfaction. "You are ready. Know that you could not be more lovely."
"So, how do you feel?"
"I feel like I need a drink."
"So, how did your talk with Claire go by the way?"
Sephiroth asked Angeal after they had a few quick ones. "Fairly well, I suppose" He answered somewhat guiltily, remembering. "I suppose you reassured her of Sephiroth's many virtues?" Genesis inquired idly.
"Somewhat, yes." Angeal lied. Genesis looked at him sharply. "Virtues my rear-end." Sephiroth snorted. "Virtues or none we get married in ten minutes." He motioned to the waiter to
refill his glass. "We'd better get going then. Hard to have the wedding without the groom." Angeal commented. "Or a groom that's tight as a fish," Genesis agreed, removing the glass
from Sephiroth's hand. Sephiroth grunted. They all rose, and headed for the main ceremonial room. As they entered, they were mildly surprised at the crowd. They had spent most of
the morning at the bar of the reception room, playing darts, so they hadn't noticed the people streaming in. Sephiroth had supposed that some of Claire's family and maybe some officials
and perhaps a press member would attend, and perhaps some miscellaneous people. But this was a ShinRa affair. There were hundreds, hundreds of people. Grand-looking ladies in lacey
dresses and light colored suits with big hats, important looking men with aristocrat bearing, official-looking men in uniforms, uniforms glinting with medals and badges, (though none as impressive as
Sephiroth's uniform," and the press, oh the press was everywhere. Large cameras were everywhere, with men and women holding microphones and talking to them in several languages. as they
turned and looked out the window, they saw another large crowd of more common-looking people, and much more press. "My, my. It seems this is the social event of the season," Genesis commented.
"How flattering." Replied Sephiroth dryly. A man in a black suit carrying a clip board came up to them. "There you are. We've been waiting. Please take your places at the back of the line.
Commanders, you've each been assigned an escort from the wedding party." He motioned to a group of people that proved to be the said wedding party. "Hmm!" Said Genesis, rubbing his hands.
He and Angeal began walking over to the escorts. "Wait a minute," said Sephiroth. "What is he doing here." He pointed to a man at the very back of the party. The man was dressed in a light grey suit,
(he usually wore a white one, but it would have been inappropriate here," He had blonde hair, and an aristocratic damn-your-eyes look on his face. The man was Rufus Shinra, and Sephiroth
eyed him most suspiciously. "Rufus Shinra? He's been assigned to give the bride away due to the absence of miss Annatole's family." Answered the black suited man, who's name was Tseng.
Sephiroth made no reply, but he didn't like it. He had never cared for Rufus, he was much too velvet-handed, too pretty little rich boy for his taste. But he decided to let it go. There were more
important things to think about.
"It's time, miss." Claire took a deep breath as they led her to the entrance of the main hall. Standing there in front of the heavy double doors was a young man dressed in dove gray.
A very handsome young man, Claire noticed. He had light blonde hair and clear blue eyes, eyes that looked at her with interest. "Hello, miss Annatole. I am Rufus Shinra, and I have
the privilege to escort you down the aisle." He explained. He held out a white gloved hand to her. She took it, and he brought hers to his lips. He then led her to the waiting position at the doors.
"In a moment, they will begin to play the bridal march. The doors will open, and we will proceed." Claire nodded, swallowing. "Please take my arm, miss Annatole. It will be any moment now."
She did so, talking his arm with one trembling hand, and clutching her bouquet tightly with the other. Rufus noticed her distress, and his eyes softened with compassion. He patted her hand,
and rested his own upon it, hoping to calm her. "It will be alright, miss Annatole." He said softly. And it did help, a little. Then, the heavy double doors swung open, and the strains of the bridal march burst through. Here comes the bride…
This was it.