The Last of Their Kind

This is the ninth chapter, and I would like to thank all of those who have reviewed the story, enjoy!!!

Stay With Me

Aeris's arms were draped over Sephiroth's quivering shoulders, as he held his head; a feeling of pressure mixed with white hot pain that surged through every muscle. This is the pain he had known for years but it was more intense then it had ever been, "Mother why do you want me to kill the last female Cetra, couldn't she be useful to us in some way?" Sephiroth questioned aloud.

"Are you becoming soft son?" Jenova asked, "You must get rid of her, she will only get in our way and you don't want that do you?" Sephiroth shook his head.

"No, but…. she knows me mother…. she knew my song," Sephiroth was speaking loud enough so that Aeris could hear.

"Seph who are you speaking to," before Sephiroth could answer Jenova increased her powers, he was in such pain, he couldn't answer. "Planet!" Aeris yelled aloud, "Please tell me what is wrong with him!" upon hearing this Jenova used the last of her energy to block the planets words but one word was heard….

"………….JENOVA…….."

Aeris looked down at the body quivering in her arms, her senses told her to back away, but her heart told her to hold him closer, that he needed her, she listened to her heart no matter how scared she was. Sephiroth laid his head on her chest listening to a gentle heartbeat as the pain slowly slipped away.

"Something is restraining my powers, no not something, it is this girl, she has the purest aura I have ever seen, it seems familiar actually….. no it can't be," Through Sephiroth's eyes she saw the white gem she had been fearing, "She possesses the white materia, that is why my powers are restrained, the only way to counter it's effects is possessing the black materia. My energy is spent I shall wait to regain my strength then I can use these two to do my bidding," with those last thoughts, Jenova slowly slipped from Sephiroth's mind, leaving him free….. for now.

Sephiroth's head lay gently against Aeris's chest, listening to her heartbeat, the silence around them was calm, and yet scary, Aeris was the first to break it, "Are….are you still in pain?" she asked calmly.

"No, it's gone now, you know Angel I do not even deserve to be near someone like you…" He spoke using her old nickname only in a delirious state.

"What do you mean "someone like me?" she asked.

"You are a white soul, and I…….I am a black soul. You are pure and kind, you would do anything to protect those you love, I, on the other hand, live to kill and destroy, I am evil and cruel…" Hearing these words made tears come to Aeris's eyes.

"That's not true Sephiroth, it wasn't you who did those things," she said on the verge of tears, "You would never do something like that," he shot a cold glare at her as he parted from her body, looking coldly in her eyes.

"Who are you to speak, you don't even know me, you have no right to……." He was cut off by a harsh slap.

"I can't believe you Sephiroth," she watched as he held his now swollen cheek, "I know you better then anyone, I… I can prove it to," Sephiroth looked at her with confused eyes.

"Oh really, prove it then," Aeris began to remove the buckles and latches on his coat, she seemed to have a bit of trouble but she manage to undo his armor, soon after went his coat, it still covered him when she closed her eyes, upon closing them she pushed his coat off of his shoulders, Sephiroth stared at her confused as she laid her hand on his stomach and began to speak.

"If I didn't know you how would I know that you have the word DEATH etched into your stomach," he hand the traveled up to his chest and began to stroke another scar, "or that there is a large scar that resembles a cross on the right side of your chest," she then opened her eyes and stared intently into his glowing orbs, "what about the scar that is etched into a rose that covers your entire back, how would I know of these things if I didn't know you?" Sephiroth looked at her, shocked.

"I…I don't know," he stared into her eyes and thought to himself, "Never in my life has someone studied my soul as she does, never in my life has anyone cared for me like this except mother, there's something different about her." His thought began to wonder, "She is beautiful, and she seems so sincere and worried, perhaps she is telling the truth."

The two sat on there knees, still, just staring silently at one another; now having the chance Aeris's eyes began to scan his body, he had many more scars then when she had left him but his stomach remained untouched besides the word etched into his skin, his chest was strong and his stomach was rock hard with muscle, his shoulders were broad and exactly the right size for his body, and his legs were long, he must've been a very fast runner. His face hadn't truly seemed to change in the past years, his features were still soft, his skin was still pale, the only thing that had seemed to change were his eyes, the glow had become stronger. She absently ran her fingers through his hair, the texture was still very soft, like silk, but now it carried no wisps of black every here and there, it was a white as snow, the way they were sitting it seemed to touch the ground. Aeris looked to the sky and saw that it had started to lighten.

"Oh no," she spoke aloud, startling Sephiroth.

"What, what is it?" he asked a bit rushed.

"I should get back to the Inn, I don't want to worry Cloud and…." Something at that moment snapped in Sephiroth's mind.

"Cloud…. Strife?" he asked fearing the answer, Aeris remembered what Cloud had told he and didn't even turn back to Sephiroth to answer.

"Yes…" She stood and picked up her coat, Sephiroth stood and watched her, his green eyes fallowing her every movement, then without words she passed him, she paused for a moment and Sephiroth watched her, "goodbye," she said sadly and then began to walk, suddenly she lost her balance, there was a tug and her arm, she spun back into Sephiroth's arms, his skin was freezing, but she couldn't look away from his eyes, let alone speak.

"Don't go," he said, pulling her closer into an embrace, "if you go back to… him, we may never see each other again, and I'm sure you don't want that as much as I do," Aeris shuddered at that thought, "stay with me," Aeris looked at him and spoke.

"But if Cloud find's you he'll…"

"I don't care, I deserve what ever he does to me, stay and rest with me," Aeris ran her fingers across the cheek she had slapped.

"I'm sorry I hit you," she said gently.

"It's okay I deserved it," he noticed Aeris shiver but said nothing of it.

"I'll stay on one condition," Sephiroth eyed her strangely.

"And that would be?" Aeris smiled.

"When we were younger you would sing me to sleep, I was wondering if you would do it again," Sephiroth eyed her again, giving her a your-kidding look, "That's the only thing I ask."

He thought about it only for a moment then looked back at her, "Alright, come on then let's get some sleep," The two laid down near the lake, using Sephiroth's jacket as a cover, he held her and felt her shiver again, "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"You're so cold," she said to him.

"I'm sorry," he said trying to move away, upon doing this Aeris clung to his body.

"Don't," she said almost pleading, "it's alright I really don't mind, but why is your skin freezing like this?" she asked calmly.

"I would have Mako infusions when I was younger, the long exposure left my eyes practically glowing and my skin permanently as cold as Mako.

"Oh," Aeris said tiredly, laying her head on his chest, listening to his gently heartbeat she smiled, "You said you'd sing if I stayed," she said with a giggle.

'I did, didn't I? Well then rest, close your eyes and relax," Aeris did as she was told and soon she could hear a smooth, rich, and gentle voice sing the Cetran ballad. The gentle voice along with the steady heartbeat quickly lulled Aeris to sleep, and her last thoughts for the night were…..

"I finally have you back Seph, and I'm never going to lose you again, I promise….."

Chapter 9 done!!!!!!!!!! Lot's of fluff I know, but the suspense and action is in the next chap, R&R please the more the review's the faster the chapter's come.