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 Three
Ami yelped as she swore she could feel her tenderized shoulder be crushed into dust. She shot Sephiroth a glare, acting completely on impulse. In response, the pressure on her shoulder increased. She realized that this wasn't going to be healthy if she continued. Perhaps one of the white haired man's friends might be able to call him off.
"What's the point you're trying to make by turning my shoulder into paste?" she asked, pain and hostility vying for dominance in her tone.
"That I'm stronger than you," came the reply.
"Fine. I get your point. Want me to kiss your shoes while I'm at it?"
"I think she's had enough," Genesis said with a frown before saying, "if you treat all women like her, no wonder why you're single at our age."
"I have plenty of time to fix my status of being a bachelor. I'm only nineteen," Sephiroth stated.
"In that case, ya gotta start respectin' your elders," Ami stated, "I'm older than you are. I'm twenty-one."
"Respect is a two way street. Besides, you act like a teenager," Sephiroth stated.
"Don't wanna show my age. If I do that, I'll find myself dead before too long," Ami stated.
"I don't think it works like that," Genesis said.
She saw Sephiroth giving her a gaze that said that he connected all the dots about her.
"It's about your father. Isn't it?" Sephiroth asked, "Because he died, you believe that if you continue to be a child, he would be back."
She felt all four eyes fall on her as she broke off all eye contact.
"I don't want to talk about it," she stated quietly.
"You fear your own mortality. You think that maturity means that you wouldn't have to face mortality," Sephiroth continued.
"So you got me all figured out, haven't you," she spat.
"Hardly," he stated before his PHS rang.
He looked to his companions.
"Make sure she doesn't escape," Sephiroth stated, letting go of Ami so he could answer his PHS, "Sephiroth."
Ami didn't look at anyone as she heard Sephiroth reply, "yes, sir."
She heard a beep and a rustle of clothing before Sephiroth said, "We're to take her to the Briefing Room on the SOLDIER floor to meet with Director Lazard."
"I wonder why. Maybe I'm to enter SOLDIER?" Ami asked.
"Is that hesitation I hear? I remember someone saying that they'll make a better SOLDIER than I. Or perhaps I may have been hearing things," Sephiroth stated, getting a glance from Ami.
He swore he was seeing a fire of determination blazing in her Mako-enhanced eyes.
.:.
The four SOLDIERs and the otherworldly woman walked in. Ami's eyes landed on Lazard within moments of walking into the briefing room. She gave him a respectful nod and a polite smile, her eyes glowing brilliantly with determination. He knew instantly that she had to be in SOLDIER, even without having had been told to give Sephiroth quite an interesting assignment. But this went from feeling pressed into it to a willingness to help someone who would obviously have the skills to be in his little branch of Shinra.
"You must be Miss Durrell," Lazard said politely and businesslike.
"That I am, Director Lazard," Ami stated politely and calmly.
"Please have a seat," Lazard said before turning to the four men, "All but Sephiroth may leave."
Ami looked at Lazard with a raised eyebrow, knowing that Sephiroth was most likely mirroring her expression judging by Lazard's lengthening smile as Genesis, Zack, and Angeal walked out of the room.
"Please, take a seat," Lazard said.
"May I ask why I was asked to remain?" Sephiroth asked.
"Yes, you may. As soon as the massive escape of the specimens from the Science floor, President Shinra sent a Turk to watch each of you," Lazard stated.
"The Turk watching me saw Ami defeat the altered Behemoth," Sephiroth stated.
"Yes. President Shinra got the report and has convinced me to put her name in the next pool of recruits to be tested. However, the President doesn't wish for me to simply bring her into SOLDIER, but wishes to have her go through the proper channels with an exception."
Sephiroth frowned slightly as he let out a small breath before giving a small smile.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like this?" Sephiroth asked.
"The exception is what is going to be your next assignment- you are to train Ami in preparation for her SOLDIER entrance exams. Also, you are aware that there are no unoccupied quarters in the building," Lazard said.
"Director, I respectfully decline," Sephiroth stated.
"This isn't something you can decline. This is coming from the President himself. He specifically mentioned that he wanted you to train her as well as house her. For an increase in pay, might I add."
"And when she passes the exams and joins SOLDIER?"
"You will be her mentor and teacher just like Angeal is to Zack."
He turned his head to glare at her. She was still wearing the clothes she had been when she had escaped- thin cotton pants and shirt as well was a pair of sneakers that still had bits of Behemoth brain caked on.
"I will not take any more insults from you without disciplining you," Sephiroth stated.
"Yes sir, Sephiroth sir," Ami said politely if not just a little cheekily.
"Hmph. Quite a cheeky one," Sephiroth stated before turning to Lazard, "fine. I will train her."
The tone Sephiroth said the last sentence in reminded of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation when Data had asked Worf to take care of Spot, the cat. The scene ended with Worf saying in an annoyed and deadpan voice 'I will feed him.' Sephiroth's words and tone had brought that scene to mind and made her smirk.
"You are allowed to bring her to the SOLDIER floor to train her while under your supervision," Lazard stated.
Sephiroth nodded curtly, "Of course."
"Dismissed," Lazard said.
Sephiroth stood up and nodded to her and she followed suit and trailed after his footsteps. She was just happy she was free of the scientists and her cage. Half of her was overjoyed at her freedom. However, the other half was making Somehow she got the feeling that she was going to regret this arrangement.
.:.
Ami looked around, unsure of where exactly they were going that involved going outside.
"Where are we going, sensei?" Ami asked.
"First of all, we're going to get you something you can wear that you can fight in. Second of all, what does 'sensei' mean?" Sephiroth asked.
"Sensei is a word in a language from my world that I know snippets of and it can be directly translated to teacher or mentor. It's always used in a polite manner unless context says otherwise," Ami replied.
"It has a similar meaning in Wutaiese," Sephiroth stated.
"So perhaps other languages from my world are mirrored here," Ami stated.
"Perhaps," Sephiroth stated before a taxi pulled up to the curb, "that will be for us."
.:.
Ami fell onto the ground. She could feel the loose gravel dig into her skin and she closed her eyes. Even if it wasn't comfortable, it gave a small respite to her burning muscles.
"I'm regretting this arrangement, Sensei," Ami almost whined, "this is your revenge for everything I've ever said to you, ain't it?"
"No. I've yet to enact any amount of revenge upon you," Sephiroth stated, "get up already."
"I'm throwing in the towel. I give up."
Sephiroth smirked as he strode to stand next to his student.
"And here I thought you wanted to be better than me. But here you are, laying in the dirt while the SOLDIER entrance exams are approaching," Sephiroth stated before scoffing, "Which one is really the weak one now, hm?"
Ami opened her eyes, seeing his boots only a few inches from her face.
"With all due respect, sensei, you're being a jerk about all this."
"Everyone has similar opinions of their teachers in the beginning. I remember hearing from Angeal that Zack was always cursing Angeal when Angeal started training Zack," Sephiroth stated.
"At least I have the peace of mind to keep all my curses inside my head."
"Enough slacking. Get up already," Sephiroth stated.
"Or?" Ami asked.
"Or you won't be getting any dinner," Sephiroth stated, "our scheduled time for this room is about to expire."
Ami raised her head, feeling like her head weighed a ton.
"I'll try," Ami stated hollowly.
She moved her right arm so that it could be used to get her into a crawling position before doing the same with her left.
"Here," Sephiroth stated, holding out his hand to her.
"Hn?" Ami asked, looking at the hand, surprise on her face.
"Since we're going to be a packaged deal until I retire, I'm going to have to get used to helping you and you're going to have to get used to getting my help. That is, as long as you don't think I'll pull you out of the fire at the last second."
Ami nodded.
"Agreed," Ami stated, accepting the hand up.
She let out a cry of pain as she stood, feeling her legs cramping up while being weak to the point of feeling like they wouldn't be able to hold her weight.
"Hn. It seems that I may have pushed you further than I thought. Unless it's all an act to get my pity."
"Pity is just another empty sensation that hinders more than help."
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow.
"You can put all your weight on my arm."
Ami nodded and done so as she felt like she was mostly being dragged out of the training room.
"You think I can pass the exams?" Ami asked.
"I know you can if you can keep up the good work," Sephiroth stated, "you have potential."
"You're just making me want to let you torture me, aren't you?"
"I'm nothing if not honest."
"And sadistic."
"Perhaps. But that's something you can be accused of as well."
"Wait up!" Ami heard a voice call to them.
"Zack," Sephiroth stated, looking at the young black-haired man.
"I heard the news," Zack said.
"As have I. Do you even know if she's a puppy or a kitten?" another voice said eloquently and friendly before an auburn-haired man in red looked at her, "she looks like she's been through her paces."
"Don't we all on our first day of training?" Sephiroth asked with a smirk.
"Good point, but she's a girl. They're far more fragile than-" Genesis started.
"If you think I'm a fragile weakling, I think you're a male chauvinist pig," Ami said, interrupting Genesis, glaring at said man.
Genesis smirked at her expression of annoyance that echoed Sephiroth's. Once he realized the similarity, he started to chuckle.
"Hn?" Sephiroth asked.
"Just that her expression of annoyance mirrors yours," Genesis said with a chuckle, "looks like you're already rubbing off on her."
"Not funny," Ami stated, glaring at Genesis.
"Wow. Identical glares and in stereo," Zack stated as Genesis took two steps back.
Zack didn't see it coming when Sephiroth and Ami glared at each other.
"Stop copying me," both said in unison, in the same calm tone but Sephiroth's words were dripping with threatening intent.
"Jinks!" Ami cried out immediately afterwards, causing the men to give her curious looks and questioning utterances.
"Back where I'm from, when two people say the same thing at the same time, they call 'jinks'. Whoever says it last owes the other person a soda," Ami explained.
"Interesting," Genesis said with a smile before turning to Sephiroth, "it looks like you owe this lady a soda."
"Hmph."
.:.
Author's Note: 12/13/10
Well, decided not to make a cushion and just posted the last chapter whenever. Which I'll probably do with this one. I felt that Ami and Sephiroth would have similar expressions because the two of them are both somewhat cold outwardly. It's only Ami who is mostly cold in and out.
So yeah, she's going to be in SOLDIER eventually. Those who have written the previous version would know this. I also had more of a crazy idea that whenever she gets PMS, maybe it makes her stronger and a lot more scarier. However, as for Genesis asking if Ami's a puppy or kitten, I'm going to have to say kitten on this and eventually, Sephiroth would probably say as much.
The whole Jinks thing was very sudden and unplanned. However, about her expressions being similar if not exactly like Sephy's is mostly because both have got the whole distant thing down. Well, I gotta go to bed already. Seeya.
Laters!
~Gregora
Next Chapter: Now that Ami's training has started, can she find the strength to continue her training and pass all of the tests that Sephiroth sets in front of her?