Kamen
Chapter Eight
AN: Well here it is. I dunno when it will be done, but I love you all who review(ed). I seem to have picked up a few commoners. And you're all orgasmic. Thank you so much lovelies! Keep it up please!
Kurai-Tenshi
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Cloud did as he asked, much to Sephiroth's amusement. Aerith watched with him face barely masking her worry. Zack tried to reassure her, although his antics had to be restrained ever-so-slightly as they entered closer and closer to the Capital. Cloud had overheard Sephiroth and Zack planning and knew enough to know where they were going, but not how the two now-fugitives planned to get into the highly-guarded fortress or how they wanted to go about solving anything or meeting Shinra. He was overly paranoid about harmless farmers, making it impossible to see him when he had guards posted against the two. And they seemed to be after Cloud as well. Or at least Shinra was.
They stayed out of the towns bordering Shinra's fortress as they were swarmed with not only soldiers, but spies and peasants looking to make some yen off of turning them in. They had almost been spotted on the outskirts of a small village, but Sephiroth had disposed of the man. Cloud wouldn't lie, he had felt guilt, but he tried to equate it to their lives or that man's, and by numbers it seemed justified. He was getting better, and he noticed, when he laid down his sword opting to try a few of his dance steps, he was still as fluent at that. Perhaps he could actually manage to master both worlds. No, not perhaps he would master both worlds. One of beauty and one of malice and strength. He would juggle both as eloquently as his dance. They must have been at least two days away from what Cloud feared would be their doom when something completely abnormal it shook even Sephiroth (only momentarily) happened. They were set upon by thieves.
At least they seemed to be thieves. They leapt down from the trees above them blocking the sun and had circled them with rounded-looking swords in only moments. Sephiroth and Zack were frozen for a matter of seconds and had it not been for his recent, intense training with the General every night he would not have truly picked up on the subtleties of the situation. The thieves were masked and wore a traditional black-suited outfit. Cloud grabbed Aerith and pulled her closer as Sephiroth whipped out Masamune with little effort, attention or noise, simply on instinct. The thieves moved in a collective gesture of warning and a hint of intimidation, Cloud noticed. He was so glad in that moment he had practised as Sephiroth had told him, memorise every detail, no matter how minute. It didn't matter if it seemed insignificant, it always mattered. He had started to delve more into his meditation practices and once he seemed to open his mind more spiritually everything else around him became easier to observe. He practised this carefully now and watched their reactions.
"What's this now?" A somehow melodious voice came from behind Cloud, in back of the circle of masked thieves. They seemed to be gypsies and the woman that stepped around them could be nothing but their leader. She was tall and leggy, thin as a rail, and quite obviously muscled. Her outfit was highly different from the ones the others were wearing and she left her face half-masked with a guard that outlined her slightly-narrow chin. Her eyes twinkled merrily as she took in Cloud who was slightly put-off by her appearance. He had been lucky enough while at his dancing school to observe a tribe of nomads as they passed through the village. They were a matriarchal people, highly unheard of and rarely found their way into that region of Japan. Although the Emperor Shinra claimed to rule all of the land it had yet to be truly unified and many parts still denied his rule, keeping officers in their own lands as law instead. This annoyed Shinra which is one of the reasons Zack and Sephiroth patrolled the lands. The gypsies when they had passed through had not mingled with the people of the town and had stopped by the dance school to present a form of their own dancing, which Cloud had found truly beautiful.
Most of the others had shunned it, claiming it too provocative, but that was the part he had found most thrilling. To move in winding motions as they had, manipulating every sinew of the body in a most primal, archaic way...the idea gave him shivers. The woman before them seemed to be one of the dancers he had seen in their traditional dancing outfits. She wore something as such, large, frilly pants that shimmered in their rich emerald colour (she must have been the leader he concluded, as green dye was highly expensive and rare and they would not clothe anyone but in such), her top a mid-riff with strings of brown to green beads dripping from them. Her hair was short, only to her shoulders, but a rich mahogany, a shade darker then Aerith's, and just as beautiful. Her eyes matched her hair, but glittered more jokingly. She seemed some kind of court jester. Yet deadly as well. Cloud sensed their lives were potentially in her hands.
He shoved Aerith behind him again as Sephiroth slid in front of him and Zack protected Aerith's back. Sephiroth seemed relaxed, but his eyes told a different story. If this gypsy was telling jokes, he was clearly in no mood to laugh. "Can we help you?" He asked his voice a stone razor. She tilted her head to the side and giggled girlishly. "We would loooove any treasured possessions you have, anything of value, anything we can make some yen off of." She shrugged, and smiled. It was apparent even under the mask, which was a dirt colour. "I fear we have nothing of the sort." The woman eyed his sword and leaned around him (Cloud saw him stiffen when her eyes landed on him), and swept over their troupe. "Seems like you travel light. But we may request to search you if you don't mind. See in this area that Emperor isn't too sweet on our kind, so we're really hurting for funding if you know what I mean." Another giggle.
Sephiroth raised Masamune and there was a collective rustling from the warriors around them. "That would be a highly unwise decision. I suggest you move on while you still have the chance." She rolled her eyes. "How dramatic you are." Sephiroth's eyes narrowed and took a step forward while Zack advanced as well and the armed gypsies prepared for the attack. And then, before Cloud could think properly Aerith was there, in front of him (probably the worst thing to have done) and was looking directly into the eyes of the shocked gypsy chief. "Yuffie? Is that you?" There was a moment of stunned silence from every member in the clearing, all aside from Aerith, who seemed too calm. Cloud was rocked to his core. Aerith had never seemed the kind of girl to pull such a stunt. Then comprehension and happy surprise dawned on the gypsy woman's face. "Well Ka-mi-sama, if it isn't little Aerith-chan. What the hell brings you here in this company?"
The gypsy leader embraced Aerith who embraced her back, then pulled away smiling serenely, as if there weren't a small deadly army surrounding them. "Well we're just passing through I'm sorry if we encroached on your grounds." Yuffie snorted and waved a hand dismissively. "Were passing through too. Trying to make our way back after a tribal meeting." Aerith's brow furrowed. "There hasn't been a meeting in hundreds of years what's happening?" Yuffie grinned and wagged a finger at her. "Ah-uh, private business." Aerith laughed, a calming noise that seemed to spread through the clearing and effect everyone present. Zack sheathed his weapon and moved to stand by Aerith nodding to Yuffie as greeting. "Uh...Aerith-chan care to explain?" Aerith turned to him and smiled.
"My parents on my farm were lucky enough to have close dealings with a local gypsy tribe, Yuffie being a member of such. She now leads it, but I haven't seen her since I left home. How's your father?" She asked turning back to Yuffie, seeming not to notice Zack's shocked expression. Cloud frowned. Aerith had never mentioned that to him either. Sephiroth remained on the alert, sword lowered slightly, but still intense. Cloud sensed this causing some uneasiness through the other gypsies who were starting to place trigger-happy hands back on their weapons. "Oh, you know, still rather...touchy, especially now that I'm running things, he refuses to lighten up." Aerith nodded then turned back to Sephiroth.
"It's okay General, you can lower your sword." Her eyes were locked onto his and, Cloud was shocked to see, he sheathed Masamune, looking ever-so-slightly baffled. His hands dropped heavily to his sides. Cloud watched him speculatively, his reactions seeming odd. The General looked to him suddenly and his look was intimidating somehow. Cloud averted his gaze back to the two women who were talking of the past. Zack stood next to them, still seeming shocked. "We have a camp near here with another tribe from the council that we were going to camp with. They'll have actual beds you can sleep on if you'd like to come. It won't be a long walk and seems to be straight on your course. We'll have food and such." Yuffie grinned and waved her arms in order to demonstrate the direction she meant. "Well…" Aerith turned to Zack, seeming unsure, but the look in her eyes was obvious to see that she wanted desperately to go. Zack had been swayed at the mention of food however and turned to the General, anything short of a simpering puppy. Cloud watched him from the corner of his eyes to see his reaction.
He seemed reluctant, and shot a glance towards Cloud who shrugged, so he responded: "We cannot travel far." Yuffie squeaked and grabbed Aerith's hand dragging her off. She stopped by the two far gypsies behind her and became official. "Travel back through, make sure we weren't followed. Send two ahead to clear the path and watch for obstructions. When they arrive inform the Elder we're on you way, and the soldiers with us are in good favour." They nodded at her command and flawlessly headed out. Yuffie turned back towards them grinning cheerily and called: "Come on stiffs, we're off!" Aerith laughed as they walked off into the forest, Yuffie swinging their joined hands. Zack shrugged, then practically skipped off to join them, convinced by a good meal. The other warriors followed Zack, a few casting suspicious glances back at Cloud and Sephiroth. Cloud walked to Sephiroth's side and looked up to him. "We may as well follow." Sephiroth didn't look at him, just walked out of the clearing after the gypsies, Cloud following behind.
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The camp was beautiful to say the least. The gypsies lived in traveling carts which were basically their homes on wheels. The carts were extravagantly painted and decorated (gypsies clans were known for their creative skills), and the people looked exotic. They greeted Yuffie's people kindly, and as soon as the excitement had settled down of the greetings the warriors settled themselves and spread around to watch, as this clan had few warriors, and were lower profile then Yuffie's, and Yuffie spoke in the universal gypsy language to the tribal leader. They laughed and smiled and then Yuffie turned back to them. Aerith leaned over to Cloud, smiling sweetly. "We're in for a treat!" she whispered, excitedly.
"They're doing a circle tonight. Today is one of their sacred spiritual holidays, and they'd like us to join them!" Cloud felt excitement and Aerith giggled (as did Zack), but Sephiroth seemed immune, per usual. As darkness fell the preparations began for the festivities. Aerith had disappeared with Aerith leaving Cloud, Zack and Sephiroth alone amongst the bustling camp. The others seemed to keep their distance, their government status seeming ominous. The gypsies and the emperor were mortal enemies. The emperor had treated the nomads as a scourge, or invasion. It was nothing short of a genocide, and gradually becoming more and more bloody. Once and open, friendly, people they now traveled quietly and stayed as far as possible from the army or it's ruler.
Breaking Cloud's thought on this Aerith pulled him away from the others. Cloud was confused, and meant to show his upset as soon as they were out of earshot, but she turned on him, all smiles and sunshine. "There is an ancient gypsy dance Cloud-kun, called a masquerade where the most exotic, provocative dances known to the gypsies to rile the passion of anyone are performed, but the dancers wear ornate masks. I have told Yuffie of your identity and talent and she has begged me to ask you to perform. The tribal Mother would be honoured as well." Cloud felt shocked, not for the first time that day. "D-Do I have time to learn Aerith-Chan?" Cloud asked, flustered immediately and forgetting his frustration. His wish to see the gypsy dances once again were fulfilled, but in a way he could barely contain. "I know some of the moves myself Cloud-kun, and with your ability it would take no time at all! You'll have to work hard too, and they even have a costume that would fit you! Will you do it?" She was begging him again, her lips pouting in a way Cloud knew was persuasive. And it worked. "Lead the way, Aerith-chan!" he cried smiling excitedly.
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Sephiroth could not lie to himself; he was anxious. The boy had disappeared into what seemed like nothingness hours ago, and now, at dusk, the feast had begun, music played, and yet he was still missing. Zack had no idea where he had gone, as Aerith had disappeared as well, and Sephiroth felt himself on tether-hooks awaiting his emergence. He never knew being without the silly little dancer would put him so ill-at-ease, but it did. He hated his reaction, but he hated being ignorant to his location more. If only he had some idea…
The murmurings of conversation and drunken laughter ended. Apparently something was beginning as the circle of gypsies had stopped to watch the Elder sitting at the head of the circle. She rose and spoke in the gypsy language. When the soft, melodic words had ended, Sephiroth noticed Aerith slipped from behind her and announced in Japanese: "Tonight we celebrate the emergence of passion into humanities range of emotions. We will have the dance of the passion in the blood, with a guest performer tonight, a member of the Kabuki theatre. May our guests enjoy this honour." Sephiroth growled lowly. 'What idiocy is this?' He hid his shock and slight apprehension however and stood with Zack and bowed in respect.
The stringed instruments began plucking a sweet, seductive almost, melody that rippled around the circle. It began slow, then slowly slid into a hotter playing. The dancers emerged from behind the matriarch coming in two straight lines, filing into where the entire audience could see. They were a mixture of men and women, and they were clothed simply, and elegantly. Simply, because what they wore covered little of their body and left little to the imagination, but elegantly because the costumes made their skin glitter and could make even the most homely seem beautiful and the beautiful seem god-like. Masks adorned their faces, covering every inch, unlike the costumes, and, for the most part, hid their identities.
The dance began when the drums joined the strings and it started together, but then each dancer took off into their own interpretation of the music slipping around them, all personifying passion itself. They slipped around the circle becoming individual interpretations of the music they were hearing, of lust itself. Some dancers were fluid, others sinuous. Sephiroth tried to ignore it, but soon others of the circle were getting up and dancing, less articulately with the dancers. Sephiroth's eyes kept wandering back to the small crowd, searching for the blonde spikes, so rare in the sea of raven-black and soft brunette. And then he spotted them. The dancer he had caught was completely unique, in that he combined everything around him into one. He seemed to be the youngest dancing, smaller then the rest, but the lithe body and winding curves giving him the appearance of years of work with passion. He was winding his body, dipping, curving, twirling, arms slipping up, then down, a complete expression of lust, and it was not going unnoticed.
Men and women were making bee-lines towards him, but he merely amused them, teasing, hands moving out in invitation, body skipping back, hips curving outwards, a content spider in its delicious web. And everything about him was just that; delicious. His costume was bits of fabric making a small, (too small Sephiroth thought, as his eyes narrowed in anger) wrap around his groin, ending at the bottoms of his thighs, with fabric sleeves that coated his arms ending in spiked designs over his long hands. His torso had bands of shimmering silk winding down it, making it appear longer and slimmer. And it was embedded with glitter so everything on him seemed ethereal. His mask was a stunning emerald which made his cerulean eyes sparkle, but also shine with depth, an envy of the bluest night sky with its most brilliant stars. His hair was down, as it had been in the theatre, but not straight, instead soft, more so then the silk in his costume. Only his lips were freed, which had been painted to match the mask, and somehow made them look fuller, even more desirable. Everyone tried to capture him, to place hands on his winding hips, firm thighs, perfect backside, but he evaded them all, a creature of the forest, of Faye. He was everything the dance embodied, a perfect muse for passion and lust.
As a woman brushed his shoulder he spun and faced Sephiroth. Those lips curved into a somewhat sinister smile, as if he knew the power he had over the man right now, before he tilted his head back, closed his long lashes over the jeweled eyes, parted his lips, hands over his head and rolled his hips, stomach muscled tightening. He lost himself to the music and passion so freely and beautifully that Sephiroth doubted he noticed anyone around him anymore. This was for him, he knew in an instant that the boy was performing for him. And Kami be damned it was working. Anger exploded in him when everyone, mostly, stopped to watch the lust-god among mortals and Sephiroth let loose a ferocious growl and jumped from his sitting position on the ground.
He had never noticed Zack leave him, but apparently he had, probably to find Aerith. He stalked through the crowd, nearly bowling over a man and woman entwined, approaching his dancer. Yes, his dancer, meant for his eyes only, no one else's! He would be damned if anyone thought one thought of him! He was his! The passion of these roiling emotions presented itself and he wrapped his arms around the boy's waist. He jumped, snapping from his trance and looked up into Sephiroth's eyes. He seemed confused when he saw the anger there and Sephiroth pulled him close and whispered into his ear, teeth clenched, voice rasped: "I would prefer if you did not demonstrate this so openly." He was so close to his ear he felt the shiver his breath caused on it to run down Cloud's whole body. This only pushed him farther when he could see the reaction the boy had to him. This was going too far too fast. He would do something he highly regretted, very, very soon.
He told his arms, commanded them, to let go, but they only hugged tighter. Cloud seemed to sense his inability to release him and decided to take advantage of it. He wound his arms up around the General's neck and began his hip movements again, pushing against his groin. He felt the moan escape, then hissed when it had, and had been audible. The boy sighed and leaned his head back into him. Sephiroth looked down onto his face and saw bliss. This was too much! He had to get them out of here, everyone was watching his dancer, and that was not fair! Besides, he was about to do something very bad to this boy in front of everyone, and that was not right. He pulled his arms from his neck and swept him into his arms.
The boy squeaked, which was a bit adorable, he couldn't lie, and carried him off, into the darkness, away from the fire and the people. He carried him until he couldn't see the firelight anymore. They were behind one of the carts. He lowered him to his feet and let go of the breath he had been holding for what felt like hours. He smelled intoxicating as well. Sephiroth had noticed the alluring smell from the first time he had met him, but tonight it was enhanced from the exertion of his dance, and the fire in his blood. Sephiroth looked at him, standing there in all of his seducing glory, cheeks flushed from passion, hands clenched from restriction, eyes glittering with promises, and lips parted in waiting and he did the first thing that popped into his currently deranged mind; he yelled at him. "What were you thinking?! Showing off like that in front of those people! Someone could have taken advantage of you!" Cloud visibly wilted and Sephiroth cursed himself into every kind of hell that could have existed. There was silence for a long while, as Cloud watched the ground and Sephiroth drank in his face under the full moon.
"I...you confuse me! Some moments you seem drawn to me and others repulsed! I have let you insult me as no other has and yet you still seem to despise me! I learned this dance at first of my own interest, but then I thought perhaps-!" He caught himself then, looking up into the General's eyes, completely vulnerable and helpless. And that only added to his want. After looking into his eyes for a moment he looked away and tears filled his eyes. In exasperation he pulled off his mask, revealing a decorated face with silver paint around his eyes to match the costume. Silent tears fell from them and Sephiroth hated himself. "Perhaps what?" he dared to ask, voice unnecessarily gruff. "I just don't want you to hate me." Cloud blurted, tears free now. "I admire you dammit, and you're so beautiful! I thought you could think the same of me too! I felt the music tonight, the dance, the passion, the seduction, and I wore this and made myself what I thought could be appealing to anyone, but more so you, and I did this so you would notice me, and perhaps find me...appealing...I danced and felt this passion for you...no one else…" "Perhaps it would work better if I had a private show?" His voice creaked and his eyes watched him intently, he hoped revealing no emotion.
Cloud's eyes met his, barely daring to hope. "Don't fool with me, if it didn't work then, it won't ever work. I am not as seductive as I could have hoped." he wiped his eyes smearing the paint across his delicate cheekbones, only making his face shine more in the light. "I was distracted back there, by being jealous of how much everyone else wanted you to notice truly your dancing, and I beg of you now to grace me with your private attentions." Cloud's face lit up. "As you wish General." He started to place the mask back on, but Sephiroth snatched it from his hands. "No." He growled. "I want to see your face." A blush appeared on his cheeks, demonstrating his innocence, which, until now, had been all-but absent.
He nodded meekly, then titled his head back, closing his eyes, drawing the power of the night of the festival and the primal urges it evoked. It began as a swaying, as he found the ancient music in the moonlight and the forest around them, then moved through his limbs as he raised his hands and arms and rocked his body and began to move around Sephiroth. He became instantly entranced and his lust was soon uncontainable. The boy spun his hair dancing in front of his face and Sephiroth snapped when his head titled back mouth open, and his arms reached out and grabbed his shoulders roughly pushing him back until he slammed into the wooden cart. His eyes shot open, just as Sephiroth pushed his larger body into him, fitting his smaller curvy body into his rough one, feeling how they melded together and fit perfectly. He only wished with his every fibre that his clothes didn't separate them.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud gasped, before his lips descended onto his. He was rough as he captured them, and the boy was rigid with shock, but only for a moment. As if something within him as well snapped, in only a moment his arms were entwined around his neck, hands buried in his hair as he tried to pull him even closer, standing on his toes to possibly make their lips closer together. All he could taste was the paint from his lips, so his tongue pushed them apart, making the boy gasp as he parted them and dove into his honeyed mouth. He moaned, which made the boy shiver, as he tasted him fully. He knew he would be forever addicted. Every image of him he had ever had burned into his mind of his beauty-that first night at the theatre, where he had been mystified by the brilliant spirit, afterwards in the garden where he had seen him and been enraptured of him under the moonlight, the night he had saved him and in fire and helplessness he had seen his most vulnerable side, and had felt the anger and possessiveness he would never feel towards another. Carrying him in his arms, as he curled into his chest and the warmth he brought to him then. Catching glances at him while he slept and wanting to soothe the fear and restlessness he saw, seeing the fire in him when he woke. Catching him so revealed and open in that small towel, wet and glistening, and the later bath, when the boy had practically seduced him, wet and naked. And now with his dance of seduction, he had to taste him, know his body, feel him pressed against him, and his taste was more then he could have ever imagined: he would never know another.
And no other would ever know his dancer. He would make sure of that. He was addicted, and he would have him. His tongue traced every inch of his mouth and yet his knew no matter how long he tasted him he would never be content, or full. Cloud's tongue danced with his, his favourite dance he had performed yet. He growled, and the boy shivered. A small moan escaped him, and Sephiroth then allowed his hands to explore him, starting at his shoulders, then down his chest, feeling every dip and curve and the warmth radiating off of him, then down to his waist, which he wrapped his arms around and pulled him closer as the boy gasped into his mouth, making him growl and break the kiss to trail down his chin, (Kami-sama his skin was so delicious, just as he had thought!) to his neck, biting and sucking, almost leaving a mark, when his dancer called out his name. Somehow, this woke him up, snapping the trance the boy and the night had put him under.
All of his senses came crashing back and he froze. Cloud sensed his withdrawal and pulled away, lifting his face so he could look into his eyes. "Sephiroth? What's wrong?" Sephiroth saw in his eyes all the things he wanted most in that moment, he saw a happiness that evaded him almost his entire life, if only because he had been to afraid to take it. But here it was now, and he could seize it and feel the emotion he had never dared to feel. He closed his eyes, thinking, and then he took the cowards way out, as always. "No…" He whispered. Cloud's eyes widened, a small edge of hurt slipping into them.
"What do you mean?" He released the boy and stepped back, shaking his head. "This is stupid. I shouldn't be with you, touching you. You're a simple dancer, you have no meaning, I was merely influenced by the...music. My mistake." And, feeling his heart throb in agony, he turned and fled. He walked slowly, keeping his back to him knowing he couldn't bear to see his face did he turn around. He felt as if he were doing nothing but fleeing, leaving behind any hope he had of ever feeling anything that could be contentment. He was damned to live life alone. And he had accepted that now, now that he had seen how much the boy cared for him. He loved him, and he knew that affection was returned, but the boy had no idea how badly Sephiroth could hurt him and destroy him. He would only drag him down with him, and on every breath he took he swore he would not allow that to happen. No matter how much it hurt him now.
TBC!
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AN2: Well, here it is. Took me forever to write. Isn't it crazy how easily we drift away from things that once seemed so so important when faced with a huge life-changing move? Odd huh? Oh well. Can't even try to say when the next chapter will be up, but I'll try really hard...I love you all so, so much, can't wait for your reviews!!
LOVE!,
Kurai-Tenshi ;;
