Sooooo, my lovely readers, I have decided to upload another chapter today, in an attempt to make up for the long time I took before updating this story.
P.S. Every Final Fantasy character belongs to Square Enix. Otherwise... aaaaaaahhhhh I got nothin' ب_ب
Return of a warrior
The night eventually did melt into a new day; the days faded into weeks and weeks morphed into months, amassing to a whole year since Karinna had left Midgar. It was strange, but Zack found life quite boring without her around, in spite of the fact that he trained almost constantly just like before. What was worse was that he didn't even know when she would be back, and the uncertainty was killing him. She hadn't written... was she sick? Was she injured? Was she even still alive? He really couldn't understand how Sephiroth and the others could be so calm and so... unconcerned about her. After all, she was a girl not a man like them. It was during that particular summer day, that a train was arriving in Midgar with that very girl on board. She hadn't written to tell them when she would be arriving as she wanted it to be a surprise. Upon stepping into the deserted station she took a deep breath... somehow, it felt good to be back, even if Midgar held some unpleasant memories. She had missed the four males who had gotten so involved in her life, but out of all of them, she had definitely missed Sephiroth the most.
With a faint smile gracing her lips, she now stepped out into the streets of the upper level, making her way toward the main building. Zack had been kind enough to get her acquainted with most of Midgar's upper level, thus it wasn't too hard for her to find her way around now. With each step she could feel excitement building up inside her... were all of them still alive? Were they well? But most importantly... would he be happy to see her again? Would he be proud of her? Slightly tightening her grasp on the envelope she held in her right hand – containing papers addressed to Sephiroth by the commander of the camp, pertaining to her grades and conduct – she once more took a deep breath. There was no use tormenting herself with questions like that; especially not now, when she was so close to getting her answers. Finally, after what seemed like forever walking along the streets, she arrived in an area that suddenly made her feel melancholic. To think about it... she had left as a child and was now returning as a grown woman, in the span of just one year. Her body had developed harmoniously, gaining well defined curves in both her chest and hips, she was somewhat taller than before – actually she was probably about as tall as Zack, now – and her timidity was all but gone.
Upon entering the SOLDIER sector, she stopped for a few moments, feeling utterly lost. That area was by no means small... how in the world was she going to find anyone she knew? Not to mention that she hadn't seen all that much of that sector before leaving, since Sephiroth had tried to keep her safe from idiots, therefore he hadn't allowed her to wander off too far on her own. Sighing in resignation, she took to wandering the labyrinth-like structure, trying to remember where the main SOLDIER building was located. To her relief, however, she soon spotted a familiar patch of black hair walking along one of the corridors. Zack was on his way to the training room where Angeal had agreed to meet with him for a virtual mission. Just when he was about to let out an obnoxious yawn, he blinked at the feeling of a hand lightly ruffling his hair. Thinking it was Angeal pulling one of his pranks, he whirled around with his mouth already open to give a smartass retort, only to be rendered wordless by the sight before him.
"Uh... hello?" he stated, while his lips almost instinctively curved into a slight smile. "Can I help you?"
Arching a brow, Karinna lightly tilted her head... did he really not recognize her at all? Deciding to play along, she crossed her arms with a miffed expression.
"I can't believe you forgot about me so fast."
Leaning back somewhat, the boy gave her a surprised look.
"No, I think I would've remembered a beautiful girl like you." he replied, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh really?" she retorted with a sly smile. "Then what's my name... puppy?"
For a moment she locked gazes with him intently; if anything, maybe the unique color of her eyes would jog his memory. It was at that word that his expression fell into an awed one.
"No way... Karinna?"
When she smiled he suddenly lunged forward, trapping her into a tight embrace.
"Oh, man... I can't believe you're back!"
Once he finally gave her some breathing space, the girl chuckled.
"You look good, Zack." she said softly.
Scratching his cheek, the boy nodded.
"Yeah... you too..."
Minutes later, the two were now walking toward the training room together, the girl telling him about her time in boot camp. Zack had told her that Angeal was waiting for him there and that Sephiroth and Genesis had said they were going to come watch him during that mission. Sephiroth and Angeal were indeed waiting outside, after Sephiroth himself had programmed the training mission. The silver haired First Class was quiet today, as was Angeal; the two males were similar in this way at times, since there were moments that they simply had nothing to say. Moments later the deathly silence was broken by Genesis' light tone.
"He's not here yet? That's a surprise..." he chuckled.
Of course, it wasn't the first time Zack had been late for a training session and he knew how much it annoyed Angeal that the boy just couldn't seem to grasp the idea of being on time where he was needed. Leaning against the rail, he glanced over the empty streets while crossing his arms. They didn't really have anything to do but wait for Zack; it wasn't like any one of them was going to waste his time looking for the boy. About ten minutes after Genesis' arrival, Zack finally showed up onto the suspended corridor leading to the training room. He'd honestly nearly forgotten about the mission entirely, as he was so deeply invested into what Karinna was telling him about boot camp. He only really returned to reality when she suddenly stopped in her tracks and her voice died out, her silver gaze now fixed upon Sephiroth. For a few moments, it was like he could actually feel the joy radiating from her despite the lack of a smile on her lips. Before he could voice out his thought of encouraging her to go talk to the others, he blinked when she almost vanished from his side, rushing forward and literally latching herself onto the General.
With her face hidden against his bare chest, it was then that the girl finally allowed herself the tears she had held back almost throughout that entire year. Even Genesis was startled when the sound of footsteps rushing across the steel structure was followed by a low thud. Arching a brow at the scene, he really didn't know for once whether to laugh or not, though he did wonder if the girl – as he had indeed recognized it to be a female clinging to his friend – had broken her nose after the impact with Sephiroth's body. Angeal had seen the girl coming, and moved to take a single step to the side. Sephiroth however, had merely stood there until he felt the girl bump against him and settle there. If not for the familiar color of her hair and the sound of her sobbing voice, he would have pushed her away, but he instead embraced Karinna without a word. He'd expected that she would be back those days, though she was indeed taller and somewhat stronger. Karinna hadn't expected him to actually return her embrace... somehow she'd figured that she had crossed the line with him, but that thought came too late, after she was already stuck to him like a leech. However, when she felt his arms locking around her, her free hand clenched onto the black leather covering his back. She wanted to say so many things – like I missed you or I'm glad you're alright – but her mind was a blur and she couldn't make out anything. Deciding to let the girl have her moment with his friend, Genesis now turned his azure gaze to Zack.
"You're late..."
Blinking at that, the boy's smile faded into an exasperated expression.
"Oh, come on... give me a break. Shouldn't you be all focused on Karinna, now?"
With the unexpectedly soothing effect Sephiroth's embrace had on her, the girl soon settled down and slowly leaned away from him, offering him the envelope.
"I... guess I finished boot camp earlier than I expected."
To look at her, one wouldn't have been able to tell if she was happy about it or not. Her hesitating demeanor was justified, however... she had no idea what was written in those papers, so she didn't know if it was positive information or not. All she knew was that her drill sergeant had given her that sealed envelope four days before, telling her that she could go back to Midgar. When Genesis placed a hand onto her head, she looked up to see that warm smile of his she had so missed during that year.
"I'm sure it can't be that bad..." he stated somewhat in jest.
Sephiroth didn't often take the time to train rookies himself, but so far none who had trained with him had failed. Surely the girl was no exception. The General accepted the envelope, silent as he glanced between it and the girl, before turning his attention to Zack and giving a stern warning,
"Do not talk back to your superiors. Next time, it'll be three thousand squats."
Dismissing the situation then, he ripped open the top of the envelope and pulled the papers from it, moving to read them. Needless to say, if she failed, he would be livid with her; he had given her every single tool necessary to not only pass their normal course with ease, but need an advanced regimen so that she could continue to grow while there.
"S... Sir!"
Karinna – for all the tension literally looming over her, since Sephiroth was still taller than her by a full head – barely bit back a chortle when Zack cringed painfully at the General's words. Apparently it wasn't the first time Sephiroth had put him through that. When she registered the sound of the papers being pulled out of the envelope, however, she lightly gulped and once more focused on the male before her. It went without saying that she would lie down and take any punishment he saw fit to give her, if anything displeased him in that report. Within a few seconds she was inwardly hyperventilating... she didn't dare to ask him what the report said, but this was torture. Though she hadn't read it, the report was basically just a list of praises regarding her grades and skills in both hand-to-hand combat, as well as the use of various tools and weapons. The first few months had been the roughest, as the overseer of the training camp had pointed out; 40 cases of attempted rape on her, out of which 25 had been kicked out of the military. The other 15 – one of those being her first drill sergeant – which she had killed in self defense, had been given a traitor's burial for turning on a member of their own ranks. Even her mastery of all the materia she possessed had been mentioned there, along with the respective dates on which each materia had split in two, a clear sign that she had learned all its secrets. Sephiroth had skimmed over the report, bit by bit, seemingly taking in what was a list of accomplishments without complaint. She seemed to have no weaknesses whatsoever to speak of, which was exactly what he had trained her for. Reading in depth, he spoke out loud.
"Forty cases of attempted rape, including a drill sergeant? Ugh... I'm going to have to have a chat with President Shinra about what goes on in his training camps."
Angeal somewhat blinked before his eyes widened and a scowl formed on his lips.
"Sephiroth... are you serious?"
Upon hearing that, Karinna lowered her gaze and shifted uneasily on her feet. She didn't have to look up to hear Genesis' shocked gasp, or to feel Zack's stunned gaze burning holes in the back of her head.
"So they... mentioned it, huh?" she finally said, doing her best attempt at a light tone. "Yeah, I didn't really have a choice but to kill some of them; they just didn't give up."
Rubbing the back of her neck at what she saw as a sign of weakness, she kept her gaze firmly on his black boots. It was Hell... his words had revived in just a few moments all the memories she'd tried for so many months to bury somewhere in the recesses of her mind, hopefully never to dig them up again. She so wanted to see Genesis' warm, soothing smile now, but she knew he was too shocked to give her that; she could tell by how he had gone utterly quiet after that gasp, and by how her peripheral vision could catch a glimpse of his gloved hand firmly clenched onto the rail as if he was trying to turn it into sand by sheer physical strength alone. When her words failed to loosen the atmosphere, she was left with no other option but to sink further in that awkward silence which engulfed the hallway. Sephiroth said nothing of the SOLDIER recommendation; she would indeed have to serve in the military for Shinra to even contemplate promoting her into their ranks, especially since they'd never taken in a woman, before. Slipping all of it back into the envelope, the General handed it off to Angeal before consolingly hugging Karinna once more. She didn't need a superior, right now – she needed a friend.
The last thing she could see was Angeal removing the papers from the envelope, probably to read it with his own eyes despite the fact that she knew he trusted Sephiroth even with his life. Mere moments afterwards, that faintly familiar sensation of strong arms holding her returned, and everything before her eyes became a mixture of black leather and pale skin. A dozen thoughts rushed through her mind at that moment... was he pitying her? Did he think she was weak? If so, why was he embracing her? Why wasn't he scolding her for being so disgustingly weak? Making her best attempt to swallow down the memories still floating around in her head, she turned her head upwards trying to smile as much as she could.
"I'm... I'm alright. You don't have to worry about me... that's all in the past, I'm over it by now."
Oh, for the love of... just why did his face have to be so close to hers? It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but what irritated her was that those stupid memories weren't even letting her enjoy his presence and the closeness he was trying to offer her.
"What people tend to forget about those who fight is that we have feelings, as well. Don't try to act so tough... none of us are like that."
His words were spoken gently, but earnestly, as he continued to hold her. Meanwhile, Angeal's expression once again turned stony, as his own eyes feasted upon the information in the report. He didn't say a word, but soon put the documents away once more.
"What the fuck is wrong with those people?!"
Even Genesis was startled by Zack suddenly blurting out angrily like that, when he apparently recovered his voice. Not to mention Karinna nearly jumped out of her skin, having been completely absorbed in Sephiroth's eyes. Damn that weird, alien shade of green... it was so enticing, so soothing, so... out of this world. Looking at the whole scene in perspective, it was rather funny in a way. It almost felt like some sort of sick, twisted play and they were the actors. However, her expression failed to display any of the morbid humor her mind had suddenly slipped into. How had it come to this? How many nights had she dreamed of him holding her like this? For an entirely different reason, to be sure, but still... she'd known for months that what she felt for him wasn't just friendship or respect or even gratitude for all the kindness he had shown her. No, she didn't want his kindness, or his pity... but she had grown to know enough of him before leaving for boot camp, to know that what she wanted was something he wouldn't give to a child like her. He would never give his heart to her; she just wasn't like those women in the Turk ranks he had surely interacted with, so many times. Even now, he spoke to her as if he would to a child. She would always be a child in his eyes. And it hurt... that realization suddenly hurt so much that she was barely able to hold back the tears struggling to well up in her eyes. The General gazed toward Zack for just a moment, while he faintly rubbed the girl's back. Letting go after a moment, he responded calmly to the Second Class SOLDIER.
"There is no point in simply getting angry, when we can harness that anger toward making a difference. Tomorrow, I'm going to President Shinra... who's with me?"
Angeal's ocular lids narrowed, before he tipped his head in a nod.
"I'm in."
Though she hadn't seen Genesis' approving nod – since she had been too busy lowering her gaze to avoid the embarrassment of bursting in tears in front of Sephiroth – the girl did hear the rumble in his throat as a wordless yes. Seemingly settling down from his anger to some extent, Zack now rubbed the back of his head.
"I don't know if they'll even listen to a Second Class like me, but you can count me in."
She would have wanted to ask them not to go to so much trouble over her, but she knew it was a matter of long term effects, if other women ever decided to join the military.
"As long as the Firsts are with you, they'll listen..."
Those were the last words Sephiroth had said before pretty much tossing Zack into the training room and starting the simulation. The day after, it had hit the news channel available on the plate rather quickly apparently leaked by someone in the office. The General expected that it had been an eavesdropping Turk, although there was no evidence... which made him believe it even more; they could be sneaky, when they wanted to be. Ultimately, what had started as a small conversation ending in the President's compliance had ended up becoming a movement amongst the women in the military, as many of them had experienced attempted or successful sexual assaults on their person while in the training camp.
