Final Fantasy VII:
Destiny of the One Winged Angel Chapter: 10 – Divergent PathsWhite painted the area, chimes…musical, a fluttering of wings…black feathers floating down, impervious to the forces of gravity. Golden waves cascading as the figure landed, their wings folding. They turned about, slowly, and gazed with soft, but piercing blue eyes, washed through with traces of emerald.
"My name is…" they began to say, but as their lips continued to move all sound had been lost. Then an argument broke through the strange scene, shattering this world and the person with it.
Cloud awoke to the sound of voices, heated in confrontation, a moan escaped him and the sounds died down. A door opened, and footsteps seemed to leave, he lay there, eyes still closed, and then decided it was time to test them open. He did so and found that a single lamp lit the whole room. He heard the sound of rustling as the remaining person walked, somewhat tentatively towards where he lay. They were about to sit beside him, when the footsteps returned, but not alone.
"He's awake…" the person who was beside him said, turning to face the newcomer who was brought by the one who had left. Cloud couldn't be bothered to turn his head, so continued to look at the dancing shadows cast by the single lamp.
"Please…make sure he'll understand…" one of the figures asked, this one was a woman, and their voice…
"Aeris…?" the name passed Clouds lips, he heard the door open and the shuffling of feet, he sat up quickly and a blast of pain shot through him, but he ignored it, if only to catch a glimpse, "Aeris!" he said more desperately, hoping beyond hope that it was her, but he couldn't see. Whoever it had been had gone through the door and shut it, he had only caught the briefest glimpse of a cloak, and that was it. A hand rested on his shoulder, easing him back down onto the bed, he continued to look at the door.
"Cloud, I need you to look at me so I can make sure you're okay," the person said. He obliged, somewhat reluctantly, and looked upon the face of a man he hadn't seen since Aeris had first left him. He was barely recognisable, clad in a sleeveless blue jacket over a white sleeveless shirt, black jeans and brown boots. His face was the only recognisable feature of who he was, long black hair fell past his shoulders, dark eyes concentrated on his and the distinctive black mark in the centre of his forehead, realisation suddenly hit him.
"Tseng…you've been the one helping out at the gardens…but how?" he asked, allowing the other to check the bandages about his ribs, the ones that Tifa had applied. He still felt a bit groggy from the blow he had received, and had no idea how long he had been asleep.
"Well…I owe it to her…" Tseng replied, testing the bruises on his torso. Cloud winced in response, and the other nodded, reapplying the bandages after rubbing in a soothing salve, the vapours seeping into his flesh.
"What do you mean?" he asked, keeping careful so as to not let his guard down, after all he knew next to nothing about this man who helped him, despite their past. An amused smile played across Tsengs face, as he felt Cloud tense beneath his hands.
"Hey, its not like I enjoy doing this sort of thing, if I had my way I'd be tending to a woman right now," he stated, somewhat lightly. Cloud relaxed a bit, comforted that the other wasn't taking any pleasure in this, any more than he did receiving the treatment, "to answer your question…it was her people, her kin that brought me back…" he caught Clouds questioning look, and sighed before continuing, "you remember I was killed by Sephiroth, or rather left for dead, I died shortly after being found by you and giving you the Keystone…my body was never recovered, because it had been encased and taken into another realm," he paused to test the firmness of the bandages, frowning slightly as he did so, "well, anyway, the spirits of the Ancients were responsible for that, after the Temple became the Black Materia, the realm no longer existed and I was in the Lifestream…or rather my spirit was, since my body was where I woke up, in the forest outside the Temple, still encased in magic,"
"How long…have you been awake?" Cloud asked, as Tseng tied the ends of the bandages, making them secure.
"It's been about six months now…most of that time was spent getting back to civilisation, and living under a false name," he paused for a moment, checking Clouds ocular responses to light, and some of his reflexes, then sensing he was going to ask another question, he continued with his explanation, "they allowed me to be sent back, for a reason I cannot repeat, I wasn't even sure if the incident was to take place anytime soon, but now I think…" he paused again, this time to lift up Clouds head and inspect the back of it, "this time I think that my previous thoughts were wrong, they sent me back just in time…" he ended, and spotted the bruise that was still prominent against his fair skin. He applied some of the salve there as well, and allowed his patient to lie back down, blinking in surprise.
"Just in time…what do you mean?" Cloud asked, sitting up and resting against the headboard. The former Turk appraised the mercenary for a moment, and then sighed.
" '…Balance will be thrown, dead will rise and walk as though living…' ", he quoted, not knowing that the same words had been spoken to another, "it means that something is going to happen that will break the laws of balance in this world, whatever it is, it obviously seeks to destroy this place, but why is something I can't answer…all I know is that the processes that take place will be less swift and painless than when Meteor was a threat," he explained, catching Clouds uncomprehending look, which hardened into a look of deep thought then a chilling glare, as the words sank in.
"He's alive, isn't he…he's back," he said, the words dripping with ice and hatred. Tseng looked at him a moment, then stood and made his way to the door.
"That is something I cannot tell you myself, for with that knowledge a reason must accompany it, rest for now, I'll see you later," he said, then left, leaving the lamp on. Cloud sighed irritably, and then lay back down, pulling the covers up over his bare torso and tried to sleep. It was difficult, his thoughts were plagued with new items of information and he couldn't sort them all, ' "…Balance will be thrown, dead will rise as though living…", hah, seems like its already happening, I've just met three people who should be dead, but walk as though living…but what if Aeris is back…' what if she was, would he have to condemn her as one of the people who should be dead, 'No…she never did deserve to die in the first place, not like that anyway,' he thought, then closed his eyes and drifted off, the thoughts still inside his mind, but being slowly shoved to one side as weariness took over him.
~*~
"I told you not to follow me," Sephiroth said, his tone harsh. He had been pacing back and forth, since they had gone into his room, since Cloud had awoken from his deep sleep. It had been only a few hours since they had been confronted by that dark haired man who claimed to be Zack, whoever it had been though, they had taken off with the two girls that were held by those beasts. He had been a fraction of a second too late, they had vanished to god knows where, just as his blade barely came into contact with the beast nearest his right. At about that time, a man had come running up the slope, his hair soaked through with the rain, since he had removed his cowl to view the scene more clearly.
"I've already told you, I am bonded to you, and as such I go where you go, even if its only a few miles," she stated flatly, they had returned to the Inn, Sephiroth carrying the limp form of Cloud, while the man who had introduced himself as Tseng, followed closely behind. Aeris had picked up the blade left by the man, who had taken the Buster Sword in exchange, and left it at Clouds bedside. Their cowls were down now so they could see each other clearly; the overhead light was switched on here, unlike Clouds. Sephiroth had stopped pacing and glared at her, the anger at his order being ignored evidently shown.
"Aeris…" he began, running a hand through his short hair, no longer expecting it to be longer than it once was, "I know we're bonded…but it doesn't mean you have to go through the dangers I place myself in," he ended, the tone of his voice gentler, his eyes going softer. He tried to understand her point of view, and it wasn't hard, to be bound to the person who had taken your life was the worst thing imaginable, but it didn't mean you had to take its literal meaning. She looked at him passively, understanding his words, but not caring.
"Sephiroth, I don't really care what you have to say, I may be bound to you because you were the one who brought me back, but it doesn't mean that you have the right to dictate my actions," she said, her tone still cold, the words jabbing at him like knives. He looked at her, a mixture of pity, sorrow and sincere regret for his actions shining in his eyes, she was taken aback by this open display of his emotions, and misunderstood them for something else, "Sephiroth…I can never love you, you know that, whatever thoughts you may have of us being together…" the words trailed off, as his eyes softened further.
"How can I ever love you, when your heart belongs to another, namely the man next door…" he said, a gentle smile playing over his features. She had never travelled with him before, never known him before this time, so it was understandable that she should misinterpret his emotions when displayed. Lost for a response, silence lingered between them, the only sound being that of the clock, ticking the seconds away.
"H-how do you know…that I love another?" she asked, her voice losing its customary ice, which had settled over her words since she had worked out who he was mere moments after meeting him. He made his way to the waist-high chest of drawers, and leaned against them, his elbows propped over the top.
"I heard you…whispering his name in your sleep, you must have really loved him, I only wish I had the chance to experience such a feeling before my death…although, there happens to be someone who probably loves me, but I'm not sure on my feelings for her…" he replied, the words trailing off as he remembered the kiss she had given, his first kiss, yet not how he had always imagined it to be. Aeris shifted uncomfortably, she hadn't been aware of speaking in her sleep, but then again it was odd to be finding herself here discussing the matter of love with the man who had separated her from Cloud. "Strange, I thought you loved Zack," he said suddenly, taking her off guard.
"Zack…how…" she trailed off, unable to say anything that seemed relevant. He smiled again, and let his head hang back momentarily, displaying his weariness after the battle and travel.
"You know…he would always go on about you, how you were the light in his life, the one thing good enough to die for…he even admitted to you being the one thing that kept him going, kept him alive in the battles we faced," he said, somewhat wistfully, she swallowed, she had had some idea of her worth to the man who had rooted from Gongaga, but never had she guessed that he used to share his feelings with his comrades, "I guess, that's why I feel that I have to make sure nothing happens to you, to keep you safe and out of harms way so that you could return to Cloud…and be happy," he ended, locking his eyes onto hers, the sincerity within them shocking her. She stood up, feeling uncomfortable about the current situation, rousing him from his relaxed position.
"No, its okay, I'll see myself out…" she said, her tone anxious, as she stepped to the door and opened it. He stayed where he was, respecting her wishes. "Good night," she whispered, looking into his eyes, taking him aback since this was the only form of politeness he had received from her since he could remember.
"Good night…" he responded, as she turned to go, nodding once, and then left, closing the door. The whole thing was a bit unnerving, Aeris had just shown him a sign of politeness, but he could sense that she too was a bit surprised by their conversation, she hadn't counted on him having feelings as acute as anyone else's, after all he was supposed to be tyrant, 'But not anymore…there is no Jenova, and as such I am able to repent in the only way I can…'
~*~
Two days had passed since the battle and subsequent abduction of Tifa and Lumira, the days were spent with Cloud mainly healing both mentally and physically, for in a mere few hours what he had believed to be true for five years, had now been destroyed. He rose out of bed, feeling much better, the ribs practically healed, even though the broken ones still needed some time, but were less bothersome now than they were before. Throughout the time he rested, his only visitor was Tseng, and sometimes one of the other two, although they were always cloaked with their cowls up, and they never spoke a word. It had been practically isolating, but he was determined to leave today and begin his mission to rescue the girls.
He stepped out into the hall, fully dressed after having washed and showered, he made his way downstairs, his cloak trailing behind him and the Nodachi at his waist, he needed to buy a scabbard for his new weapon, and he also needed to get accustomed to its use.
"Good morning, Cloud," he turned at the sound of his name and saw an all too familiar face looking at him from behind the counter, even though she had aged some, she still held her motherly nature.
"Elmyra…how good to see you," he said, stepping over to her and clasping her hands in his, "you have no idea how much I needed to see someone, especially you after so long," she smiled in return, and looked past him at something that was behind. He turned and saw the cloaked figures, cowls up, hiding their features, and Tseng, who too was cloaked.
"Cloud, its time we talked," the tallest of the three said, stepping forward. Cloud turned and faced Elmyra, and gave her a sad smile.
"Don't worry…I'm sure we'll have time to catch up soon," she said, her voice hiding her disappointment, while her eyes betrayed it. He nodded, and then made his way towards the trio, Tseng opened the door and they stepped outside into the open.
"This way," Tseng said, before Cloud could say anything to the other two. He followed, nestled between the two cloaked figures, as Tseng led the way. They walked through numerous streets, all the while seeming to get away from the heart of the city. Passing markets and monuments, as well as a theatre advertising for its current and future productions. It appeared that nobody seemed to notice the odd group of people, cloaked even in this pleasant weather, passing by to some unknown location, that only the leader knew. Soon the buildings began to get smaller as they appeared to be entering the residential area, no longer tall and grand, only a few tall buildings dotted the place, most likely flats. "Here," Tseng said, the only word that had been spoken since they began this trek. He had stopped outside a house, which looked just like any other, and took out a key and opened the door. "Make yourselves comfortable…this is my house after all," he said, closing the door once they had all entered. The interior was well decorated, with polished wooden floorboards and the best furniture that only the richest most likely owned. "Can you believe my account is still active, even after I've been pronounced dead," he commented, leading them towards the living room.
Here he took a seat on one of the couches, and gestured for the other three to pick a seat.
"Why are we here…or rather why am I here?" Cloud asked, once everyone was seated. He looked shiftily from one person to the other, not knowing what to do or how to present himself without seeming distrustful. Without hesitating, the tallest of the two still cloaked, who Cloud knew to be a man since he could recognise him from the battle they had shared, stood and pulled back their cowl. He sucked in a breath as what he had feared came true, platinum strands fell out and framed the ageless face of his one time friend and General. Although his hair was no longer past waist length, the eyes still held that mysterious sheen, given off by the Mako treatment all SOLDIER candidates underwent, "Sephiroth…" he hissed and fought the urge to launch himself at the man that had caused him so much pain, the scars still unhealed.
"Cloud…" he said simply, his tone low and devoid of the madness it had held all those years ago, "we meet at last, face-to-face," his appearance seemed sombre, his eyes beseeching and presenting his naked feelings of regret and despair at what had happened between them. For a mild moment Cloud considered comforting the man, but the thought was eliminated immediately, 'If its forgiveness he wants, he's looking at the wrong person, I can never forgive what he had done, nor accept any form of recompense,' he thought bitterly. Sephiroth looked taken aback, evidently the mercenary had been unaware that he had revealed his feelings, the Archetypes breaking through without being willed to. "I see the scars have not healed…"
"Nor will they ever be, so long as you exist to plague my life…why can't you just die," he growled in response, his tone expressing his dark feelings for the man.
"Cloud…" he began, his expression pained, "I know you're going to go after Zack –"
"He is not Zack," the other interrupted. The former General looked at him, his expression hard.
"You'd like to believe that wouldn't you…" he sighed, as Cloud glared at him, "you never did like anything that didn't go your way, just like how I'm here right now and you don't like it, you have to start expecting the –"
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot expect! You lost your authority over me ten years ago!" the other roared, jumping to his feet and coming close to Sephiroth, so that they almost shared the same breath, "When you burnt down Nibelheim…" the taller man just looked at him, his face heating up with the shame of that memory.
"That was a long time ago, but not a day goes by that I don't catch myself regretting all those lives…" he whispered, his voice barely audible for fear of revealing emotion.
"How do I know that you're telling the truth, how do I know that you're not just scheming something and using me as your puppet?!" he cried, stalking away from him and spitting the last word out as though it was distasteful, "after all, you did say to expect the unexpected and always assume the worst of your enemy…" he hissed, turning back to the platinum haired warrior.
"Then, would you consider me your enemy…?" a soft voice asked, a voice that had taken him by sheer surprise he almost staggered with its memory. He turned, unable to make his voice work to face the second cloaked figure; their hands raised and hesitated, then slowly the cowl was pulled back to reveal a face he hadn't seen in five years, but was perfectly etched into his memory. The brown hair, green eyes and the sweep of her features, everything was the same, "I'm travelling with him…no matter what," she said, answering the question that formed in his eyes. The power of these words, crashing into him almost made him fall to his knees in disbelief, but he stood there dumbfounded, and then locked his gaze onto Sephiroth. He then charged, releasing a cry of fury, gabbed hold of the cloak about his neck and thrust him against the wall, still keeping his hold.
"You! This is all your fault! You took her away from me all those years ago, and now you're making sure that I never get to see her again!" he bellowed, slamming the older man against the wall with each statement. He drew back a fist and landed it fiercely against his face, Sephiroth wasn't even making an effort to avoid the blow, enraged further by this passive behaviour, the punishment continued, Cloud landed blow after blow of punches and ended with a knee to the mans gut and had to be dragged from the beaten form, still crying out profanities and trying vainly to land a kick. "Let go of me Tseng!" he cried, as Aeris went to Sephiroths side and helped him up, he let out another roar of anger as she did this.
"There's no way I'm letting you go until you calm down!" Tseng grunted, as he dodged Clouds head as he tried to hit him in protest, "you have to trust me, he isn't here to cause any harm but to aid in the danger I was talking about," he said, his tone more gentler as he could feel him relaxing. He let go of Cloud, who just collapsed to his knees and pounded the ground in anger. Unable to watch him in this state, Aeris went towards him and helped him up, as Sephiroth was tended to by the former Turk.
"Come on…we need to talk…" she said simply, and offered her support but found it rejected in a fierce manner.
"Just lead the way…" he muttered, tears of anger still burning in his eyes. She nodded, and led the way to the back garden, where they stood out in the open, among the well-kept green grass. She turned to look at him, but was hurt to see that he would not meet her gaze, she cleared her throat, still he did not look up.
"Well…long time no see…" she began, tentatively, he snorted in return, "Cloud, why are you being this way? It's not like I begged Sephiroth to being me to life, nor to take me with him," she said, beseeching his understanding. He looked at her, his gaze dark.
"How can you travel with him, after what he did to you…" he hissed, his tone matching his gaze, she seemed taken aback, "I'd rather have killed myself again than to travel with him," she hesitated at his true statement, it wasn't like she hadn't considered the act, but still she couldn't do it.
"We're bonded…" she said simply, trailing off as she couldn't think of anything more to say.
"What is that supposed to mean, just because he brought you back your lives are entwined, so you go where he goes and die when he dies?" he asked, his tone mocking. She nodded, unable to say anything more to clarify the truth, "but you have another reason, I know you do," he said, reading her mind, after all he did know her, he had travelled with her and knew that simple reasons were not her true reasons.
"He fascinates me…" she said, then caught his surprised and incredulous look, "I believe that he was sent back for an important reason, and I am going to bear witness to that reason, which is why I think I was brought back in the first place," she added, her tone strong and defiant. He looked at her, his gaze softening as he heard the truth of her words, but still deep inside, he wished that she could travel with him.
"I wish…" he began, his voice faltering as he knew the inevitable, she stepped closer to him, "I wish…that I could go with you, but I can't trust him, nor myself around him…I hate him and as such, I wish to be away from him if not kill him," he said, his tone serious, and true. She wasn't taken aback by his words, for she felt the same way, but had to play with the cards that fate and destiny had dealt her, "Aeris…" she looked up at the sound of her name, and was met by firm hands on her shoulders as he placed his lips against hers, doing something he should have done years ago. Her hands trailed up his arms and rested at the shoulders, clutching with the need that had built up over five years of separation, they kissed with an undying passion. He allowed his hands to climb up into her hair, then fall back down, cupping her face and a few moments later, they parted still burning with the desire to be with each other, even though this wish could not be fulfilled under the present circumstances.
~*~
"He punches really hard…" Sephiroth commented, as they waited for the two to return from their little chat from unauthorised ears.
"I wouldn't know, but judging from the results I'd say you're right and that I'd hate to be in your position," Tseng replied, glancing quickly at the silver haired warrior that had put an end to his life.
"Thanks, I wasn't hoping for such brutal truth," he sighed somewhat lightly, making it known that it was intended to be a joke. Tseng let out a short laugh to let him know he had caught on, "I'm sorry for what happened…for what I did to you…I don't expect you'd like to join me on my part of the journey, since I know Strife wouldn't dare to spend one second in the same area as me," the former Turk looked at Sephiroth, his eyes betraying his fair surprise at the statement.
"I understand that you're not the same person you were five years ago, that much I learned in the Lifestream…but to answer your question, no I won't be going with you, Cloud needs someone, and since you have Aeris, it's only fair that I go with him for support," he replied, his tone even and practical. Sephiroth looked at him and nodded, then they both looked up as they heard footsteps returning to them, and caught sight of Aeris and Cloud walking side by side, a slight glow tingeing their cheeks.
"We leave as soon as possible…I go my way, you go your way," Cloud announced, answering the question that he knew would be asked of them. He crossed the room and stood up close to Sephiroth, blue eyes boring into green, "I am doing the unthinkable with her life, trusting it to you…if you fail in that duty, you can be sure that I won't think twice before making you suffer then killing you," he hissed, his tone sharp and serious.
"You have my word…which I know is not good enough for you, but I still give it," the former General said, matching the gaze with equal intensity. Tseng made his move and stood beside Cloud, while Aeris took her place beside Sephiroth.
"I'm coming with you," he said, and Cloud looked at him, as though to measure his worth and potential, then nodded. The four of them stepped out of the house, and waited as Tseng locked up. Cloud stepped up to Aeris and looked at her reassuringly, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I'll see you soon, Aeris," Cloud said, the words more of a promise than a reassurance. He then turned and left once Tseng was done and made his way towards the centre of the city, where he needed to explain the situation to someone and prepare their supplies. Wordlessly, the remaining pair followed, but headed towards the Inn to gather their belongings and check out, before beginning their part of the same chapter.