PROJECT D
Chapter Two
The next couple of days were very enlightening. I learned that Zack could'nt cook a chicken to save his life. Of course that might be because he does'nt have a stove or oven. We talked quite a bit, i was suprised at how much this guy had
to talk about.
He told me all about his career in SOLDIER, his fight with Sephiroth in Nibelheim was apperantly his favorite subject because the conversation always strayed to it. He also gave me a great deal of detail as to how he and Cloud managed
to get as close to Midgar as they did before getting gunned down. I told him a bit about myself, being careful not to mention anything that might let him know i was'nt being entirely honest about my past.
Still who could blame me for being less then completely honest.
I really had a lot to hide, if i told him the full truth he would think i was insane. Which was a distinct possibility.
I also learned a little bit more about the travel time of this world, it would take as long as two weeks to get from Costa del sol to Nibelheim.
Zack took an hour every day to practice his sword fighting, and another hour every day for walking about the forest. Today i sat on his front porch looking out at Rocket town wondering if i should travel there. Zack went there once a week for
supplies. I once asked him how he could afford it, he said the people gave it to him free as a reward for keeping the monster population low. Another one of his pastimes. Zack stepped out of his house with a goofy grin on his face.
"Ah, a wonderful day for a walk! I think i'm going to take one, want to come?" He asked in his typically cheerful voice.
"Sure, why not." I said standing up. We took two steps before he said "Oh by the way, there are monsters in this forest, so if we come across any stay behind me." I nodded, talking was not my best point as i'm sure you've guessed.
Its not that i do'nt like to talk, i just happen to be shy. We started walking with Zack humming a tune that sounded like Aeris's theme. After a moment i said "Stop humming, that tune is way to sad!" He looked over and asked
"Oh yeah? What would you hum then?" I thought for a moment smirked, and started humming the one-winged-angel theme, loudly and putting extra effort into the SEPHIROTH part. Luckily i was humming and not singing, so he could'nt
tell what the lyrics were.
"Hold it! Thats a bit sinister sounding for my tastes." Zack said as we continued to walk. I smirked up at him and asked rather teasingly "Whats the matter? To spoooooky?" He shook his head and was about to reply when he froze.
His smile vanished and he began looking around, a concerned look coming over his face.
"Whats wrong?" I asked in concern. He slowly reached for his sword, carefuly observing the forest around us. "Something bad is coming." He stated. A breeze picked up, then turned into a wind as the ground in front of us began to flux.
Then something began to lift out of the ground. First came white hair, i heard Zack gasping beside me. I took a half step back, shifting myself into a sideways stance.
A face lifted, then the body complete in the black leather outfit. "Sephiroth." I said under my breath. He lifted from the ground and hovered there slowly opening closed eyes. "SHIT!! DAVID STAY BACK!!" Zack said moving forward and
drawing his sword in the same move. I had told him my name over dinner on the first night. Sephiroth looked at us coldly as he said "Where is Cloud?" "What about Cloud?" Zack asked raising his sword to a ready stance.
Sephiroth turned his eyes on Zack and said "The reunion ended in disaster. Cloud has resisted my power and forced me from his mind, this betrayal must be dealt with. I will destroy him."
"Over my dead body!" Zack returned feircely.
"I see, you are on his side, then you to shall perish." Sephiroth said as he raised his right hand. I narrowed my eyes, and nearly cussed when i saw a green shimmer in the air. In a swirl of green light the Masamune appeared in his grip.
Now i did cuss, causing him to turn his eyes to me. I quickly went through all the Karate lessons i had taken over the past weeks. Not enough to win a fight like this, but enough to live another five seconds, maybe.
"SEPHIROTH!!!" Zack suddenly shouted moving forward so fast he almost seemed to fly at Sephiroth. Sephiroth jumped up into the air and Zack leapt after him bringing the Buster sword around his shoulder to meet the Masamune with
a feirce clang of blade on blade. I moved quickly trying to keep them in sight as they sailed into the canopy with another vicious clang, i caught a glimpse of Zack jumping backwards off a branch with Sephiroth giving chase with a
lightning fast strike of the Masamune. I lost sight of them again as the two swords met with a spray of sparks that flew outwards.
"Come on get back where i can see you." I growled to myself. Suddenly they came flying downwards through the canopy, their swords locked together in a struggle for physical domination. I could see blood coming from a few spots on Zacks body.
The two broke apart landing ten feet away from eachother, then faced off. Zack was breathing heavily and seemed to be having trouble keeping his sword up. Sephiroth seemed good as new, which did not bode well for me and Zack.
I found myself wondering how i got so thoroughly screwed in my first week, i had no anwser, as usual. I never had the anwser anymore, never. Sephiroth sprang forward slashing at Zack who retreated backwards while franticaly
trying to deflect the Masamune. Zack was completely on the defensive.
I moved to follow them from a distance, being sure to keep closer to Zack then Sephiroth. Zack was less likely to chop me up after all. After four slashes Zack was sent flying to the ground hard with a cry of pain.
Sephiroth raised his sword for another strike, but shifted his swing to deflect the large stick i had just swung at his head, then he kicked me hard in the side knocking me through the air and sending me crashing into a tree trunk.
I fell hard to the ground but through some miracle managed to keep my footing.
My stick landed in two peices off in the bushes. "Damnit!!" I snapped angrily. Sephiroth must not have considered me to be a threat because he turned back to Zack. "Where'd you pick this fool up Zack?" Sephiroth asked
mockingly.
I scowled but made no move to attack, my side felt like it was on fire and it was taking a great deal of effort to not cry out or fall over. Zack sprang up swinging his sword at Sephiroth, but he caught the blow and sent Zack flying
backwards where he crashed into the ground and slid several feet with another cry of pain.
This was hopeless, i could think of nothing that would help, and Zack was beat. I looked over and observed his wounds, none of them were serious by themselves, but they did add up. Suddenly i felt something building up within me, something
powerful, my hands lifted like they were on auto-pilot. "What the..." I said, but was silenced when my hands began to glow a greenish color, and so did Zack who'se wounds were starting to heal, much to everyones suprise.
Now it is important to note that i had no materia, and without that i should'nt have been able to use magic of any sort. Yet there i was healing Zack's wounds slowly but surely.
Sephiroth turned to face me and i got the distinct feeling he was'nt happy with me.
Zack was starting to stand, but Sephiroth brought the Masamune around to rest on Zack's throat. "Oh." Zack said. However Sephiroth kept his eyes on me, which as far as i could tell was not good for me. "Interesting." He said.
