intermission o2: across the universe

Hell had come to Earth, that was the only way to describe it and it didn't seem to be enough. Satan himself had descended on the town, bringing his wrath and hatred to bear against the people. In reality, it was only the men that ruled the world.

"SEIFER!"

He heard her melodic voice before he saw her stunning face, jerking out of her grasp as she grabbed his arm.

"Damnit boy," she growled, narrowing her bright purple eyes and grabbing for him again. "What do you think you're doing!?"

Seifer ignored the ethereal woman, eyes scanning the area desperately for signs of life. So many people were dying at the hands of these men, so many lives cut short… He ignored Nanami's hand on his shoulder because he had to find them—now.

"Seifer, we must go!" Nanami screeched over the sounds of bullets and crackling fire. "Travers Town is done for, Seifer, it's gone, what are you waiting for?"

"Go without me!" he yelled, waving her away. There—right there. He could see the patchwork of the boy's hat, if he could just get to him…

"They're not here, boy!" Nanami cried desperately, picking him up around the waist. "They've been done for days, we're the only ones here besides the bodies. We have to go—before they find us or we die!"

"NO! Not without them! Not without—" He was cut off as the air was pushed from his lungs, he and Nanami hitting the ground. He saw the hat move, though—it had to be him. "VIVI! Vivi, stay still, don't move!"

The thing looked at him as the fire hit a gasmain, causing an explosion. Shrapnel embedded into the creature and Nanami dragged him away as he screamed; it was just a Heartless, not Vivi. Nanami was right—it was just them. Just them, and monsters, and the bodies of the people that couldn't escape.

His family was gone.

-BREAK-

"What if we've got it all wrong?"

Those were the words that brought him into consciousness. Riku stayed still, gaining his bearings and hoping Larxene would continue talking.

"We don't, 'Xene! We can't be wrong, they're probably just resting somewhere or had to wait a bit longer for Roxas, you know that," Marluxia insisted, shifting in the chair next to Riku's bed.

"But's been almost a week, 'Luxia, what if—"

"Larxene, shush! You're going to wake Riku, you know he'll get sick again if he worries. They're grown, they can take care of themselves."

"I know that—I know, okay? But that's my baby brother out there, what if something happened?"

"You just have to trust them and believe they can take care of themselves and each other," Marluxia said soothingly. "We'll wait for them, love."

He heard Larxene huff in irritation and stomp away; Marluxia sighed and ran after her, muttering under his breath. When Riku was sure they weren't coming back, he sat up and stretched, listening to his joints pop. A week—he'd apparently been unconscious for almost a week, and Demyx, Axel and Zexion still hadn't arrived with the blonde girl. Looking around the room, he saw his and Larxene's bags at the foot of the bed and Marluxia's books ad med-kits on the floor by the closet, so he figured he was in their usual room. He was just contemplating getting out of bed when the door opened and someone walked in.

"Oh, you're awake! I'm sorry!"

Riku's eyes locked on big brown-violet ones. "Uh yes…it's fine, you didn't know."

"Still, I'm sorry. Boss sent me to check on you and I didn't even think to knock, you've been unconscious for like four days and…well…"

"Really, it's okay," Riku assured her. "But can you tell me what happened, Yuffie?"

"We were so afraid you were a goner! Marluxia and Larxene never gave up hope, of course, but it was…it was a very close thing. Do you remember arriving here at all?" Yuffie asked.

"Not…really, no. Some vague memories, really, of being carried in and a lady kicking up a fuss but nothing really…it doesn't feel like they're my memories," Riku admitted.

"You were already mostly out of it when they carried you in, Marluxia said you'd been ill for a while. You were feverish and delusional but awake that first day. Then in the middle of the night we found you puking up blood and vomit, you were laying in a pool of it, and we were so scared! We did everything to ensure you would make it but it was touch and go for a while, Lenne had me checking on you every ninety minutes. How do you feel?"

"Fine actually. I don't feel like I was ever sick."

"Good! C'mon then, lazy bones, Boss wants to know when you wake up!"

…

Yuffie burst into the meeting room with a shout of, "Miss Boss Lady!"

"Oh Yuffie please, don't be so loud! You'll wake all of the guests, dear one! Go to the kitchens and get Mister Anatari some soup, and don't forget rink, you hear?"

"Yes ma'am!" Yuffie chirped. "I'll be back in a jiffy!"

The woman, Riku assumed this was the Lenne Yuffie had mentioned, nodded and watched as the ninja skipped out the door. When it was just the two of them she motioned Riku to sit on a cushion on the floor, saying, "Sit, make yourself comfortable, darling one! I know I've met you briefly before, you've come here a few times, but do you remember me?"

"I…I don't really, only vaguely, honestly…Mizz Lenne, right?"

"Yes, darling one, exactly right! Lenne Amicita, Conductor and Protector of the Stations! Now Riku, have you ever wondered why these places are so very successful?" Lenne asked excitedly.

Riku nodded, not willing to speak again and interrupt this captivating woman. Every move she made was so very graceful, like she was dancing, and her voice was like music. Riku was enthralled, and he wondered how a woman like her could have ended up running a network of safe houses for dirty, bloody, homeless people like him. He wondered how she could care for so many people, for there must have been hundreds of pictures of refugees that came here for sanctuary hanging on her walls, many of them featuring more than one person.

"You are a bright boy, darling Riku, and I see your interest in these photos surrounding us. These are the ones that have lived; the ones that did not, well…their photos are in another room, their memories reserved for another day. I won't like, Riku, I was almost afraid I would have to move your photo in there as well. But I digress, can you tell me where the other half of your little party has gotten off to?"

"We met a girl," Riku mumble. "They stayed back to help her, I gather it's been about a week ago, maybe a little more."

Larxene nodded thoughtfully. "Marluxia did mention…no matter! Now I've never actually spoken with you, tell me a bit about yourself. Is there any help you need, any family we need to find?"

"Axel and I are the only ones left in our family," Riku answered curtly. "The only ones who care about each other, anyway."

"Please, darling one, let me know! I may be able to help…"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" Riku demanded just as the door opened and Yuffie popped in with a tray.

"Chicken soup and water for Riku!" she said brightly as she set the tray in front of him. She then closed the door and sat on a cushion in front of it. When Lenne gave her a Look she shrugged and said, "Sorry Boss. Shuyin told me to watch over you while he was away; I dare not disobey his orders, ma'am."

Lenne rolled her eyes but nodded anyway, turning back to Riku with a raised eyebrow.

"Right, um. Well, I was sick when I was little, though I don't know with what, and the family shunned me. I didn't have anything contagious, or so Axel says, but he was the only one that would have anything to do with me. Axel said my mother hated me…since he interacted with me, the family shunned him too. And…I think I was five, maybe six, Mom decided she was done with us. Told us we were gonna play a game, took us to the woods and left us there. We wandered for days until Axel said Lexaeus found us and dropped us at the orphanage Demyx and Larxene's mom ran."

"That is…"

"So wrong!" Yuffie cried. "How could your family—your mother—do that to you!? You are so much better than that, worth so much more than death in the woods! She deserves to die, if she hasn't already I'll kill her myself, I'll—"

"I think he understands, Miss Kisaragi," Lenne said coldly. "And what Riku's mother did is unforgivable, but I can't say I'm not happy. After all, Riku, we have you now. We have you and we know you can help us change the world with your power."

"My what!?" Riku asked timidly.

Lenne never got the chance to answer. There was a racket in the hallway before the door opened and Demyx stepped around Yuffie, rushing to Riku and wrapping him in a desperate hug.

"You're okay," Demyx sobbed into Riku's shoulder. "Marluxia said…he said—but you're awake and okay, God I missed you, I'm so sorry for leaving."

"Demyx calm down," Riku whispered, rubbing his back. "I'm fine, I promise, love, don't cry."

Demyx took a few heaving breaths before sitting back and wiping his yes. "Right, right, I'm sorry, I just…Sorry ma'am," Demyx said to Lenne. "I did want to speak with you, but when I saw him…"

"It's quite alright, Demyx, but what's going on?" Lenne asked soothingly.

"Marluxia told you who we met?" At Lenne's nod, Demyx sighed and continued, "Well she got sick, we met her uncle and then she ran away in the middle of the night a few days ago. Master Sephiroth sent us here, said we'd never be able to find her. We don't even know where she would be going besides Twilight Town; Zexion is absolutely beside himself with worry over her, though I don't really know why!"

"Twilight Town, you said? We can send an envoy—"

"No ma'am," Demyx interjected, "Master Sephiroth said we won't find her until she wants to be found."

There was a knock on the doorframe and everyone turned to see Zell waiting with a pinched look on his face.

"Sorry to interrupt your meeting, Mizz Lenne, but I overheard—well, reports are coming in by the dozen, ma'am," Zell said quietly. "Twilight Town is in flames."

-BREAK-

"Sora, Sora, Sora," Kairi chanted, sobbing and clinging to Zack as they huddled on the side of the road. "Oh God, my baby, my Sora."

Zack sighed and hugged her closer, scooting further away from the road. They'd made it far enough to be safe from the fire, but with each step Kairi had become more and more distraught. He felt for Kairi—he knew what it was like to lose a brother—but she could at least get hers back. Rocking gently, Zack allowed himself to remember one last time.

"ANGEAL! Angeal—where are you!? Answer me!"

"Zack! He's near the river!"

Zack locked eyes with Cissnei and knew that he would be too late. He took off anyway, sprinting until he collapsed next to his best friend.

"Angeal…," he begged quietly.

"I—I know," the man answered, raising his hand. Zack grasped it and understood; his brother knew he was dying and was ready to let go.

"J-just promise me…one thing," Angeal choked out, blood running from the corners of his mouth.

"Anything," Zack said desperately. "Anything for you."

"Promise to…to live, Zack, an-nd never…n-n-never give up ho-hope," Angeal said, coughing yet more blood up.

"I promise Angeal," he whispered, laying his head on Angeal's chest and listening to the SOLDIER's heartbeat fade. "Please don't leave! Please…I—Angeal," he keened as Angeal's heart finally stopped beating. He let out an anguished cry and let Cissnei pull him up, cradle his body to hers, and kiss his tears away.

"I still need you," Zack whispered to the air, hoping Angeal could hear him.

-BREAK-

Sephiroth jerked to a stand when his front door crashed in. He had known she would come, but hadn't expected her to show up so soon; the red-eyed woman was standing, livid, on his coffee table. She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer.

"Where. Is. She," the woman growled, her nose touching his.

"I'm sure I don't know who you're talking about," Sephiroth answered smoothly, letting his head fall to the side.

"Bullshit!" she spat, shaking him violently. "You know damn well, Strife, now tell me where she is!"

Sephiroth sighed, prying her fingers from his shirt. "I do not know, Tifa. They were here for five days before she left in the middle of the night. You know how she is, no one will find her before she's ready."

He watched, feeling no satisfaction as something in Tifa's eyes died.

"They're all gone," she mumbled brokenly, stepping off the table and sitting on the couch. "Roxas is missing, Naminé's run away…she's so much like Aerith, probably out getting herself hurt…"

Sephiroth sat on the couch next to his sister-in-law and put his arm around her shoulders. "She's fine, she knows how to survive," he said comfortingly.

A red-haired man suddenly burst through the open doorway yelling, "Tifa!"

Tifa lifted her head and looked toward the man questioningly.

"Tseng just got a report, someone saw her—outskirts of Twilight Town, little brunet boy with her! We've gotta move or we'll lose her!"

Tifa jumped from the couch, Sephiroth following and grabbing her arm.

"Stay here, Sephiroth, you have to," she said, pulling away.

"I can help!"

"I know! Okay? I know," she yelled, pulling him into a rough hug. "Please just stay here," she begged, burying her face in his shoulder. "I can't lose you, too."

Sephiroth signed and agreed, letting her go with the redhead. When they were gone he fell back onto the couch, saying, "You think I want to lose you either, Tifa? What will I do if you're gone for good?"

The old cottage groaned in answer and Sephiroth put his head in his hands, left alone again.