Rhia felt her heart stop as she slid her hand over the doorknob, and slowly opened it, entering a predominately blue room cloaked in dusky shadow. All of the lights were out, and Rhia felt a tiny glimmer of hope.
Maybe he's already asleep…
But her hopes sunk as she saw that the bed was empty and still made.
"Sit down." A voice commanded, and Rhia gasped.
Sephiroth rose from his chair, walking in circles about Rhia, looking her up and down as his black cape swept the floor. "Be calm. I'm not going to harm you."
Well, of course not. Rhia thought. It isn't supposed to hurt.
But he seemed different, this one. He didn't seem interested at all.
"How well do you know this area?"
The question took Rhia completely by surprise, and she stammered. Gods, I must look like an idiot.
...Why do I care?
"P-pretty well."
"Do you know of a place called Nobunaga?"
The archaic name had changed to Safehold centuries ago, and was a tapped Materia source. She wondered how he knew the old name. And, for a brief, flitting moment, gone before she thought upon it, she wondered how she knew, too
"Uh, um…yes." She stared into piercing green eyes much like her own, almost with an aqua cast. So like her own, the same in intensity and shape…
For a moment Rhia just stared blankly into those green eyes. For a moment she understood why there were numerous cults that proclaimed Sephiroth a god.
"Good." Sephiroth continued as if no time had passed.
"Then we'll have need of you. I will give you 3500 gil to accompany me and my soldiers. We will first be heading by train to Shinra headquarters."
Sephiroth started towards the door.
All of a sudden, Rhia could barely suppress an urge to fling herself at his feet and beg him not to leave her again. Again? By the gods, what's come over me? As much as she denied it, she couldn't stop an incredible feel of bondage with this powerful and beautiful stranger. She told herself to get a grip, and huffily laid down to try and get some rest.
Rhia flung herself out of bed, her white nightgown swirling about the floor as she went, almost ghostlike, or with her blond hair, angelic.
If I had known this would have happened, I'd have told Kitty to stick her head up her ass and salute it.
Her head swam with the offer she had just taken. 3500 gil! She had never seen so much money! But…would she be safe? Could she trust this man or his soldiers?
Silently, she padded barefoot around the corridor, peeking into each of the rooms. All asleep, along with her friends.
It must be really late.
Even Sephiroth lay silent, his eyes closed and his breathing heavy and regular. As she turned away from his door, a brilliant white light blinded her, and she fell, landing with a reverberating thud on the wooden floor. She slammed her eyes shut, although it was in vain. The bright light was as gone as soon as it had appeared. Rhia snarled inwardly. Stupid clumsy…she bit her cheeks to keep from swearing aloud, instead trying to stay silent, on the watch for anybody that might have woken up.
One minute. Two.
Inwardly heaving a sigh of relief, she balanced herself and peered inside Sephiroth's room. What had blinded her? Her bump of curiosity warred with her screaming bump of caution for a total of ten seconds. As always, the bump of curiosity won. He seemed still asleep, so Rhia crept inside the familiar Inn room, glancing around. It did not take her long to find what she was looking for.
Sephiroth, completely alert, opened one eye slowly, peering about the room. He did not sense danger, but he kept his breathing even and deep. He had been awake the entire night, resting his body when it seemed his mind never would. He was surprised to see Rhia, Rhia? In the room with him, creeping inexorably towards his single most prized possession, his incredible sword. The Masamune.
It appeared to be a normal sword, except for it's extra long, thin blade like a katana. It had no adornments whatsoever, a warrior's weapon, and the grip was of split leather worn from use. Looks can be deceiving, Sephiroth thought, and couldn't help a grin creeping onto his face. He had conquered armies with that sword. And, obviously unbeknownst to Rhia, he was the only one who could wield it, let alone touch it. He sighed and a small grin touched his face. Rhia was in for a nasty surprise.
Rhia, her eyes riveted on the steel, found herself lifting a hand to reach up and touch the cool blade, it's gleam reflecting in her eyes. As she lifted her hand, an almost imperceptible warning wound a tendril through her body, definitely there but too small for her to take heed. She reached out and touched the blade almost reverently.
Nothing happened.
Emboldened by her effort, Rhia grabbed the hilt of the sword and hefted it, feeling it weigh impossibly on her arm, yet seeming to fit her grip perfectly.
The blade sat quietly in her hand. Still, nothing happened.
An angry shout sounded behind her, and she whirled around to stare into those green eyes that now seemed to burn as though the fires of Hell lit them. Sephiroth now towered above her, and, whimpering, Rhia dropped the sword-which only seemed to flare Sephiroth more. She dropped to the ground, curling her knees to her chest protectively.
Sephiroth grabbed the sword and held it at her throat, his voice a roar. "What were you doing!?"
"I'm sorry, please, I didn't mean any harm, I was just-…"
"SILENCE! How dare you touch my sword! How did you…"
Seeing Sephioroth raging above her, his earsplitting words rushed by her unheeding. She was gripped with an uncontrollable and unreasonable terror, and it seemed like Sephiroth grew with each word, until he towered over her like a titan. Rhia found she no longer feared the stories of Hell and Demons her friends told…Surely, this was a demon. The Great Sephiroth. She curled in the corner, unable to say a word as the sword bit into her neck a tiny bit and she screamed.
The door flung open, and the SOLDIERS came dashing in, two still in their pajamas.
Rhia, realizing her chance, flung toward the open door as the men uselessly tried to calm their furious leader. They never asked him what happened.
They had seen it all.
AN: Heeeeey! Please take the time to review! Thanks for reading...gah, I've got nothing to say. ;) Next chapter- Seems like our dear Rhia is to be Sephiroth's guide...and it seems a few more pieces fall into place in this puzzle...AND THANKS FOR MY FIRST REVIEW! I should be taking anonymous ones by now :)