'It was my first day off…I chose to spend it with Akemi that day. I'll never forget it.'
Akemi did not remember how long ago her last lie in had been. Usually she woke up to clean up after her father and do what work she could, even though she knew that it would only get in a state again.
However, this time, she was going to have a lie-in. Sephiroth had other ideas as he knocked on her door.
"Tell me…Please; please tell me…what did I do that was so wrong in another life?" She wondered aloud, rolling onto her back and getting out of the warm bed.
"Good morning." A low but happy voice said as she opened the door. "Sleep well?"
"I was…" Akemi mumbled, rubbing her eye. "What time is it anyway?"
Sephiroth smiled. "Five to ten," Akemi's eyes widened slightly. "I thought you might be sleeping, so I didn't want to wake you."
"Don't worry, I overslept…It's only since I've been staying here…"
"I know; the beds are too comfy." Akemi laughed slightly and stepped aside so he could come in.
"Just make yourself comfortable while I get changed." She said, walking into her bedroom and leaving the door open slightly, no one could see in but she could still hear and talk to Sephiroth.
"No need, I was going to take you out for breakfast…even though it is a little late." He told her while standing near the flat screen T.V embedded in the wall in front of the red sofa above an artificial polished wood fireplace.
"Oh, you don't have to, you're really spoiling me!" Akemi called out as she slipped her yellow jumper over her head, it was a yellow creamish colour, with long sleeves, which covered the palms of her hands, exposed her slender shoulders, and ended above her blue jeans. On the wrists, at the top and bottom were cardigan cuffs.
Sephiroth smiled. "Oh believe me; you deserve to be spoiled…"
'I knew I had embarrassed her, it was completely accidental, I didn't even know what I was going to say until I opened my mouth and the words flooded out…I think I embarrassed and scared myself a little…'
Akemi came out of her bedroom putting her hair in a loose, thick plat over her shoulder and tying the end with a blue hair-band. (There is a picture of her at my profile, I did not draw it but it is what inspired me to write this.)
"Where are you planning to go then?" Akemi questioned, surprised that she was not stuttering as she usually did.
"Sephiroth…?" She asked again after there was no answer.
Sephiroth shook his head, he had been staring at her in a daze, and he could not remember what had been going through his head.
"Sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked where you were planning to eat." Akemi said again as she put black healed boots on and pulled her jeans over the top.
"There's a nice place I've only been in once. They do nice breakfasts and dinners." He explained, watching as Akemi put her coat on and her bag over her head so it would rest on her hip.
"Sounds good..."
'Then we left, it was just I and her for a change, Angeal and Genesis were still working.'
"I've only ever seen you wearing leather and your uniform; it's strange seeing you in a different kind of material." Akemi cheerfully told him as they walked down the street.
Sephiroth smiled, for a change he was wearing jean and material. Black jeans, much shorter black boots, a dark grey T-shirt with a slight V-neck covered with a black jean jacket. However, his hair was normal.
"I know, it's not very often I wear things like this. It takes a bit of getting used to." He said honestly. "Besides, it was the same when I saw you. I had only seen you wearing your uniform…and a bed-sheet on one occasion. In the end you begin thinking that's what a person wears all the time."
Akemi nodded. "I can't stand putting that uniform on! It takes so much time! By the time I get to work, I'm knackered! I don't even want to think of what it would be like if that's all I could wear…" She laughed.
'We soon arrived at our destination. It was nice, almost comforting, though I guess that what made it special and enjoyable was that I had Akemi's company. And that for the first time no one was asking for autograph's, pointing, asking questions, and there was not one girl giggling as she spoke to me…after all, the only female who really mattered to me then was the one sitting opposite me.'
Akemi sat opposite Sephiroth looking at the peach-coloured menu while Sephiroth looked at his. He was secretly looking at her from behind his, studying her facial expressions, after all, when you are famous worldwide and either meet a girl or take her out, it is very strange to see their real expressions since they are never quiet and are constantly giggling as if it is going out of fashion.
Akemi's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the price on the menu. "Um…It's a little…expensive…" She told him, looking over the top of the plastic covered paper.
Sephiroth laughed slightly. "Compared to most places this is cheap."
Akemi blushed slightly. "Well, between you and me, this is my first time eating out. Usually I get a takeaway and eat it on the way home."
Sephiroth smiled. "That's understandable, besides you don't have to pa—"
"Sephiroth…! You're really going to spoil me if you keep paying for my food! You're paying for my hotel room; you paid for all the rides at the fair! You're really making me feel guilty!"
Sephiroth laughed. "Good, I only give people what they deserve. Which is why you are the only person I have ever spent this much on and asked out without persuasion."
Akemi blushed brightly and desperately longed to hide her face behind the menu once again.
Sephiroth smiled and lifted his menu to his face while he made his final decision on his food.
"Oh no…!" Akemi hissed under her breath, hiding her face behind her menu.
"What is it?" Sephiroth asked her.
"Look over there."
Sephiroth turned and looked at the table next to them against the opposite wall. "Isn't that our boss?"
Akemi nodded. "He can't see me here. If he sees me with you he'll come up with a bunch of excuses why—" Sephiroth took her hand to silence her and rubbed it slightly while taking her menu and putting it back in its holder with his.
"Then let him see us. He's with his wife so he can only glance our way. Besides, he might get the point that you are really not interested in him." He whispered the last part in her ear.
Akemi relaxed a little and smiled after breathing out. "You're right. Let's tease him…!" She said with an evil glint in her eyes.
Sephiroth laughed. "So then, what would you like?"
"A salad with a stilton filled Pannini please." She told him with a much happier smile.
Sephiroth smiled back and waited for a waiter to come before giving their orders.
"It feels strange to be served instead of serving." Akemi stated.
Sephiroth nodded. "I know the feeling."
"He's looking at us…" Sephiroth stated in a low voice a while later as she ate from her plate.
"Is it jealousy?"
"Of course…" Sephiroth replied with a smile.
'I loved being with her, talking with her, I could have conversations and act in ways I would only behave around Angeal and Genesis…minus the fighting. The truth for me not wearing my leather that day was really that I wanted to make a good impression. I'd never tell her that though…'
"Mm…" Akemi moaned, putting her fork and knife down neatly on her empty plate. "That was the best food I have tasted in a while."
"I said you would like it here." Sephiroth replied as he had also finished his plate. "How do you feel about coming here later in the evening?"
Akemi smiled. "It sounds nice, but…your money—"
"I've told you before, that is not a problem, and Shinra pays me far too much." Akemi giggled and laced her fingers together while leaning her chin on them.
"Well," Sephiroth stood up. "I'll go and pay the bill."
Akemi stood up and went to follow him. "Good luck. That's some man you've got there." Her boss's wife said as she walked past.
"And I can honestly say the same to you. It's not every day a girl meets a man like your husband, I can honestly say that he stands out amongst the crowd." She said cheekily, her boss glared at her while his wife took it as a compliment.
Sephiroth smiled silently.
"Where do you feel like going?" Sephiroth asked her once they were outside.
"I'm not sure. I don't get much time to myself to do anything…"
'Neither of us knew what there was to do, so we ended up walking around the area, just talking. I'm sure that we were walking in circles.'
"What's that?" Akemi asked as Sephiroth bent down to pick up a plastic egg-shaped container that he had just kicked accidentally.
Sephiroth pulled the two pieces of plastic apart and took out the prize. "One of those things you get in gambling machines…here." He gave her the silver ring he had taken out. "I don't think it will fit me somehow."
Akemi laughed; flattered that he had given it to her. "Thank you, it's beautiful!"
"At least you can't say that I spent too much on you." Akemi laughed at his comment and slipped the ring on her middle finger.
'The day went by surprisingly quickly after that. They do say that time passes when you're having fun. We went back at eleven, just after the firework display.'
Sephiroth walked into the hotel with Akemi and was almost upset that the day was over. "I'll see you tomorrow." He told her as she walked through the door to her apartment.
"Goodnight…" She said, closing the door slowly. "Thank you…"
Sephiroth smiled and practically waltzed into Angeal's living room. As usual, Genesis was there and the two looked exhausted as they watched the T.V.
"It's been a terrible day before you ask." Genesis mumbled before Sephiroth could say anything. "I had to deal with a man in his ninety's who wondered into the shop after escaping from the old people's home. He wet himself and I won't mention what he did on the floor."
"That's nothing. Two boys tried stealing swords. One shoved a dagger down his sock the little idiot, he tripped and I spent the day giving the police a report since it was apparently my fault he tripped since I was the one chasing them…"
"Well I had a wonderful day…" Sephiroth said as he stretched and sat down between them.
The two friends looked at each other and then at Sephiroth. "YOU had a nice day?" Genesis asked. "The one who's always saying that free-time hates him?"
Sephiroth grinned. "It's different when you're with someone."
Angeal smiled. "He's in the third stage."
"I'm worried, these stages are coming quicker than usual."
Sephiroth looked at them. "What are you talking about?"
"The first stage is the unknown crush." Genesis started.
"The second is denial."
"The third is friendly happiness. It turns you into a smiling monster."
"The forth is love."
"I thought the forth was arguments?" Genesis asked.
Angeal shook his head. "No, love comes next."
"I bet it's not."
"Five quid…?"
"Deal…" Genesis replied.
Sephiroth just shook his head and walked into his own apartment. Happily waiting for the next day, he slept.