CHAPTER 10.
Aeris sat on a boulder, taking a sip of water. She watched Sephiroth pacing in front of her, going off on a rant. "..On top of that, you should shift your center of balance lower, taking support with one foot slightly at the back like this – you'll have better leverage for a more powerful blow that way."
They'd been practicing for hours, Aeris couldn't keep count anymore of the number of monster heads she'd bashed in. Apparently once Sephiroth took on a task he was all in, no holds barred, unrelenting and untiring. Unlike Aeris, who felt she'd seen her share of bloodshed for today – even if it was only monsters.
Sephiroth seemed to finally notice her disinterest, blinking at her. "Time for dinner?"
Aeris nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes please. I'm guessing the local delicacies are all sea food?"
"Pretty much." Sephiroth gathered the few belongings they hadn't already took aboard the Leviathan in his backbag, throwing it over one shoulder and gestured for Aeris to lead the way back towards town.
They walked in companionable silence for a while, Aeris enjoying the cool sea breeze pulling at her hair while Sephiroth kept his eyes on his shoes. The sun was falling lower in the sky but they still had hours to wait until they'd be expected at the harbour.
"What's that?" Sephiroth suddenly asked, his eyes focused on a point atop her head. Aeris reached back and grabbed her heirloom, pulling it out from her hairpin and showing it to Sephiroth, who grabbed the small orb and rolled it around between his fingers.
"My mother gave it to me, my birth mother that is.. Before she died. According to Elmyra, I'll know how to use it when the time comes."
Sephiroth wrinkled his brow. "It's materia?"
"I guess so. I've never gotten it to work, though."
Sephiroth seemed to focus on the orb for a moment, eyes closed. The materia pulsed with light, and he suddenly fell to his knees, the materia rolling a small distance away.
"Sephiroth!" Aeris exclaimed, grabbing her materia and storing it back into the clutches of her hairpin. "Are you alright?"
Sephiroth climbed back to his feet with some effort, a stunned look on his face. "I'm fine." He eyed the materia now back in Aeris' hair with apprehension. "It.. rejected me."
Aeris wanted to inquire further but decided against it, seeing the forlorn look on his face.
"It's just a stupid piece of rock. Come on, let's go have dinner! I bet you know all the best restaurants." Aeris tugged on his arm and he reluctantly followed.
Dinner did indeed consist of mostly fish, accompanied by some steamed vegetables and rice. Aeris eagerly tried everything she could.
"You sure worked up an appetite." Sephiroth smirked, earning himself a dirty look from Aeris.
"Well it's your fault. I bet I'll be sore in the morning.."
Another smirk, this time aimed at the table cloth. Sephiroth was idly picking at a loose thread in the fabric.
Aeris frowned at him, casting aside her now empty plate. "You seem anxious.. Do you think there'll be trouble on the way to Junon?"
Sephiroth's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Why, do you know something?"
Aeris shook her head, though his paranoia confirmed her belief that something was bothering him. "Nothing. I guess it's just nerves.. The harbour kind of gave me the creeps, earlier."
Sephiroth shrugged. "I didn't notice anything unusual. This is a pretty sheltered cove, it often gets foggy."
"That's not what I meant." Aeris tried to explain. "I had a dream.. something about that place."
Sephiroth blinked. "Oh.."
Aeris suddenly felt really silly. "Nevermind that, it's stupid. Shouldn't we get over to to the boat.. what was it called.. Leviathan?"
"That's right. We might as well.. it's getting late."
Aeris stood and followed Sephiroth as they made their way through the darkened streets towards the docks. "It sure gets quiet around here.." She whispered into his back.
"It's late.. Our boat leaves at midnight."
Aeris nodded, apprehensive as Sephiroth approached an elderly man she assumed was the captain, shook hands with him and continued to talk in what sounded like Wutanese.
"This way," He told her, pointing to the gangplank leading to their boat. Aeris followed into their cabin, with two beds, thank the Planet. It was a very small room though. She sat on one, with the round window behind her back open, letting her know the ships crew were busy getting ready to set sail.
Sephiroth returned to her soon with two cups of tea with him. "Compliments of the crew." He told her as he handed her her mug. She took a sip of the sweet herbal drink just as Sephiroth did from his mug. "It's several hours before we dock in Junon, we might as well try to get some rest." He told her, sitting down on his bed with a thud.
"I don't know if I can.." She muttered, just as the vessels engines flared to life. The whole cabin seemed to be shaking. Outside, orders were being shouted, Aeris could hear running footsteps. "I guess it's midnight then.." She lamented, peering out into the blackness outside through her small circular window.
"We'll be fine.." Sephiroth told her, having set down his empty mug on the bedside table. He layed down, one arm over his face. "Just think of it as a heartbeat of some ancient benevolent being you're inside of.."
Aeris paused, thinking. Yes, that was what it was like.. Somewhere in the distance, a fog horn sounded. Thinking nothing of it, she too finished her drink, taking one last look at Sephiroth who already seemed to be sleeping. Odd. She set her mug down next to his, feeling drowzy despite the noise coming through the open window. She pulled her blanket up to her ears, grateful for the extra warmth.
The soft rocking of the boat sent her to sleep as the Leviathan left the harbour for Junon.