Chapter 10: Dying Stars

Cloud was silent the entire time the story was relayed, as was I. I let Aerith speak for me, retell everything for what felt like the millionth time. I was so weary of hearing my own story that I began to find myself boring.

Yuffie, however, seemed to find me very interesting after our little mind-melding mishap. She clung to me like a lost child, and I remained unable to get a good emotional reading off of her. Based on how the others were reacting to her silence, I came to surmise she might have otherwise been quite chatty. I sat on the loveseat next to Aerith, and Yuffie sat on the armrest next to me, hovering, nearly touching but never quite, like she was almost afraid I'd crumble under her fingers were she to reach out. It was strange; I'd never known to be pitied in such a way. Aerith was the only other to really know much of my past, and while I knew she felt empathy for what I'd gone through, she was smart enough to know that the past is not something that be pitied away, and instead helped me change who I should become a minute from now, an hour, a week, a month, a year.

It seemed that, in that respect, Yuffie was very much still a child. No, not still a child. Simply not able to understand.

Did I mention how I'm not used to human interaction? I could order a squadron of soldiers into battle in the safest and most strategic way, but if I were to be asked any more than their names I would be unable to tell you the first thing about any of them. I was their leader, their best bet to survive a fight, not their friend. Other than a select few, just as crazy as I if not more so, I had no friends. Technically, I didn't; most of those I once considered to be close to - or at least as close as someone like me could be - had died, or been declared missing so long it was highly unlikely that they were still alive.

Aerith? She was... more than a friend. More than a lover, to be sure. She was my sunshine, warm and clean and bright and-

Cloud stood and spoke for the first time in three hours. "Aerith, can I... talk to you? Just you. Please?"

Aerith looked to me, worriedly. She bit her lip in an anxious manner, but it only served to make her look innocent and bewildered; I doubt she had a facial expression that could combat the constant look of innocence about her, but I stopped myself before I smiled at her. I'm sure my smile would likely terrify her friends, each for reasons of their own. I merely shrugged and nodded, avoiding eye contact with Cloud. She stood and followed him down the hallway.

To say the silence that stretch between all of us was awkward would be a gross understatement. Seven pairs of eyes stared me down, varying looks on each of them, ranging from disgust to worry. I took them all in stride; I wasn't exactly expecting a welcoming party on my behalf.

Yuffie broke the silence, but first climbed right over top of me and stole Aerith's seat. She crossed her legs under her, our knees touching, then crossed her arms over her chest. A heavy sigh, then a grimace. "So, you guys going to help us, or what?"

"Us? Yuffie, this is a lot to swallow," reprimanded Tifa. "I mean, I'm currently sharing a room, as well as coffee cake and a cup of tea, with the man that killed my father, nearly killed me, then razed my hometown to the ground. And let's not forget about all of that 'trying to kill everyone so he can be reborn into a god' stuff."

I cleared my throat. "I'm not asking forgiveness, Miss Lockheart. I'm merely asking for your cooperation in bringing Hojo down. Keep in mind; if he'd never toyed with my life in the first place, I, nor all of you, would be here, let alone in this predicament. I don't care what judgement you pass to me; you'll do it anyway. But, for the time being, we have more pressing matters at hand than personal grudges."

Her face colored, and while my words were perhaps a bit harsh, I hadn't meant to anger her. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "I was a different man then. I'm not a better man, but I'm changing, I'm trying. I wasn't always insane, you know; Cloud, the very man you put your trust and friendship in, once wanted to be like me."

"That was before we had to chase your twisted ass halfway around the planet and back, overstepping the bodies your left behind, the lives you ruined." The pilot took a long drag from his cigarette.

"And you're the same man now as you were a decade ago, I'm sure," I retorted, feeling even more drained than ever.

Cid rolled his eyes. "Puh-lees. I ain't got a trail of bodies behind me, and blood that don't wash off my hands. What did Aerith say? Two little ones?"

Outraged, I stood.

But, surprisingly, Yuffie beat me to it. "Shut up, you crusty old codger. If you would get your head out of your ass for a minute you might have heard that he wasn't able to control his own body when he did it. Didn't you hear Aerith? Didn't you see how tense and lost inside of himself he became when she was talking about it?"

Vincent stood as well, putting his hands out to attempt to silence the both of them. "Personal grudges aside, please. It's bigger than that - this isn't about us."

The fire cat raised his hackles and hissed. "The hell it isn't. He took Aerith from us-"

"And he kept her safe, and freed her, when Hojo would have kept her, broken her, and done planet knows what to her. He could have killed her again. Hell, he could kill half of us right now before we would know what was happening. All he's asking us is to help take Hojo down." Yuffie was so mad she stomped her foot.

I shook my head. "I'm not asking forgiveness. I'm merely asking your aid. If we don't stop Hojo, he will never stop hunting Aerith or I, and if you understand anything, let it be this; Hojo is unrelenting. He might hide for a time, so well none of us would ever hope to find him. But, he would -never- stop his search for Aerith. And, if I ever fall under his command again, I might be the one to deliver her to him."

All eyes were on me, but the looks behind them were conflicted. I knew the majority of them hated me. I wasn't looking to change that. Let them hate me, if it gave them so much purpose. But, if it was the last thing I did, I would end Hojo, once and for all. I would protect Aerith with my last breath if it came to that.

I exited the living room and walked down the hallway, intent on seeing why Cloud and Aerith were taking so long. I stood just outside the doorway to the bedroom, listening past the din of arguments that were echoing from the way I'd just come.

Cloud's voice was pained. "I just don't understand. Why, of all people, him?"

"You're acting like I had a choice in the matter. You can't just tell your heart who to love."

"He's taken so much from so many people."

"Don't talk to me about what he's stolen, Cloud Strife. I know damnwell what he's taken."

I stepped into the room. Aerith turned her head to look over her shoulder at me, and Cloud caught a glimpse of her neck. His eyes widened, and then he looked to me like some heartsick puppy.

"You didn't."

Aerith turned back to him, confused. "Did what?"

I stayed still, not wanting to instigate anything between us. "We need to discuss what's to be done about Hojo."

"No, we need to discussthis."

"I'm not entering a pissing match with you, Strife, when Aerith's well-being is in danger."

"You took her once and you still weren't satisfied, so you had to take her again, didn't you?"

Aerith's hand shot up to her neck, touching the mark I'd left on her soft skin. Her face flushed when she realized the second meaning behind Cloud's words.

"I took nothing that wasn't freely given." My words, too, had a double meaning; once, she'd given me her life on an altar, and once she'd let me elevate her to one.

"You don't deserve a fraction of what she's worth."

"And I'm painfully aware of my undeserved wealth."

Aerith sighed. "That's enough testosterone slinging for right now, please."

Cloud outright ignored her. "You have no idea of your worthlessness."

I sighed. "I do."

He looked shocked, like he'd expecting a fight.

"I understand what I've done. I'd offer my apology, but it would change nothing, least of all your mind."

"Boys, please-"

Cloud stepped between Aerith and I, his jaw set tight. "You're right, because no amount of well-wishing will bring my mother, my hometown, or my past back to me."

"But I was kind enough to return your flower."

"Far from unscathed. What did you do to steal her heart?I know too well how you love to manipulate."

"ENOUGH!"

Aerith's words shook the both of us. We jumped and turned our gaze to her. Her cheeks might still have been flushed pink, but her tiny fists were clenched and she had a look about her as though she would knock our heads together as if we were misbehaving little children.

Such power she had. Cloud and I cowed, like spoiled children who had been scolded. We both hung our heads slightly, sheepishly.

"I will not have fighting in my house. If you two are going to pick one another apart with words, I'll thank you to take it outside."

Cloud shot me a sour look, but kept his mouth shut.

"I apologize, Aerith. You know how little human interaction I'm used to, and even less with antagonizing conversations. I hadn't meant for any of this; I'd called Reeve after weighing our options and seeing outside help as our only solution. I am beginning to regret it, if I'm to be honest."

"It would be easier if you were to just slit his throat. But that's not how it should be done."

Cloud looked between the two of us. "You're serious? The only reason you haven't gone after Hojo, the only reason you haven't gutted the bastard, is because she's asked you not to?"

"Though I don't agree with her opinion, I understand, now, that life is precious. True, Hojo is undeserving of one, but Aerith is adamant that justice will prevail through means other than bloodshed."

Cloud snorted. "That, and I know how hard he is to kill; he's a like a cockroach."

I actually smiled at the assessment. "He isn't likea cockroach; he isone."

The side of Cloud's mouth lifted in a smile he was attempting to hide. So many differences, but at least we could agree on something.

I held out my hand in a gesture of goodwill. "We aren't forgetting things past; I'm not asking you to. But Hojo needs to be taken down, and we are the only ones capable of it."

He sighed, his half-smile vanished. After a long moment, he held out his hand and shook mine. "This isn't over."

"Not by a long shot," I agreed as we exited the bedroom. I sighed once were out; I'd fully expected Cloud to have socked me in the face.

Aerith shook her head, though she didn't seem too upset. When we returned to the living room, there was a full on shouting match in progress, though it dimmed as the three of us entered the room.

"Cloud Strife," Yuffie pointed her finger, adding an air of accusation to her already angry tone. "So help me, if we don't lend a hand to this problem, I'll kick your ass."

I thought for a moment how terribly funny it would be to see Yuffie, a little wisp of a woman, tearing into Cloud, the only being who could prove to be a physical match for me. I hid another smile.

"Relax, Yuffie. We're going to help."

Tifa crossed her arms. "I have no problem helping Aerith, but him?"

"We're not forgiving him, and I'm not asking you to forget what he did. But for right now, we are all in danger. What if Hojo got a hold of one of you, and used them to hunt the rest of us? Would you be willing to kill a friend to save everyone elses?"

The room was so quiet that several people jumped when the refrigerator suddenly turned on. Cloud had struck home; none of them would be able to hurt another if it ever came to that. They might fight back out of instinct, but once the collar was on and given a command, it was unrelenting.

Reeve stood, pounding the remains of his third glass of hard cider and setting the empty glass on the countertop behind him. "If we are going to move, we need to do it now. We need to formulate a plan, and it needs to be good, and it needs to be fast."

Tifa pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Alright. I'll do it for Aerith."

Everyone nodded; they all had the same idea. Protecting Aerith was their common goal, a want so great that they were willing to overlook me for the time being in order to protect her.

And so, we planned. It was a remarkably simple idea we came to; I would take Aerith back, make it look like I'd captured her, and fake any command Hojo gave until it was time to make our move. We'd take their airship, The Highwind, back to Midgar, but halfway through the journey I would take Aerith and fly the two of us directly to the compound. The ship would dock outside of Kalm and its occupants would then approach the city by foot as to remain inconspicuous. Vincent, apparently capable of spectrum shifting and controlled flight like myself, would follow close, and with him he would bring Cloud, both remaining invisible and in close pursuit. They would provide my backup, were anything to take a turn for the worst. Those that enter the city by foot would meet with several Shinra response teams, care of Reeve's connections, and block off the building so that any surface escape would be unlikely. Even if Hojo were to be notified of our impending strike, there would be nowhere for him to run.

We decided to act immediately. I dug through the closet and pulled Lukka loose, rifled through his pockets and pulled out his phone. Everyone in the room held their breath as I dialed the last called number from just days before.

One ring. Two. Three, four five - shit, it was going to go to voice mail, wasn't it?

"What is it? You'd better have something to actually report today."

"The boy's been compromised. I have the girl. I'm returning."

Stunned silence. Then, I could almost hear his greasy smile. "Good. Hurry back." I flipped the phone closed and everyone in the room let out a collective breath. Step one was complete. Now, we left.

Aerith didn't bother packing, though we did make sure to lock the door as the last of us ventured out. If Hojo had one set of eyes on the girl, he likely had many, and so in two groups Vincent and I led our ragtag team through the streets by the cover of moonlight and to the docks. Invisible, we boarded the ship on the outskirts of town and took to the skies.

We maintained steady pace - as fast as the damn thing could go, in order to make it look like, to those tracking me, that I was merely on my way back to Midgar. Regardless, it would be several hours until we reached the point of our journey in which we would split into two groups, and so everyone was resting. Aerith and I shared a meal with her friends in the common dining area of the ship, but I didn't feel like I could stomach much.

My entire body hummed with the prospect of bringing Hojo to his knees. At the flower girl's wish, I would let him keep his life. I would, however, make him beg me to take it.

Oh, I would leave him his life, but I would destroy what little shriveled soul he had left.

I decided I needed fresh air and excused myself from the table and simply wandered the halls until I found a door to the outside. I unlocked it with my mind, and stepped out into the brisk wind. The sun was just rising over the horizon. My hair whipped around my face. It would be time to leave the ship in less than two hours.

I turned when I heard the door open. It was Aerith, and she smiled up at me. She opened her mouth to speak to me, but the sound of the wind and propellers was deafening drowned out whatever it was she had to say. I shook my head and pointed to my ears, indicating that I couldn't hear her. We moved inside and shut the door, my fresh air break over nearly as soon as it started.

"I just wanted to make sure you're doing alright," she sighed, leaning up against the wall next to me.

"To be honest, I'm terrified. I'm confronting the man that made my entire life a living hell. He ruined me."

Aerith took my hands in hers, pulling me close. "You're not ruined, merely broken. Broken things can be fixed, can be put back together."

I sighed. She was so pure, and so sure of the good in people. "Little flower, I'm not certain I can keep my anger hidden much longer."

She reached up and cupped my face in her hands. "Anger?"

"I want, so terribly, to slit his throat, to spill his blood. He's hurt so many."

"And by hurting him, you will only perpetuate the cycle he forced you into. Don't give in to your anger, to your hatred." She smiled up at me, tilting her head. "I didn't, and look where we are."

She stood on her toes to kiss me. Once, twice, my lips, my cheeks, my eyelids. I clutched her waist, feeling like I was both burning and falling.

I hadn't even noticed when Cloud had entered the hallway. He cleared his throat and I jumped; he was on edge because I was around, and once I realized it, I could sense how he was attempting to hide himself and his aura. He, after all, wanted the upper hand if I decided to turn against them. I commended his foresight, but wished he would put his mind to the task at hand instead of toward his insecurities.

Aerith pulled away from me, but didn't bother to look embarrassed or shamed. She'd been clear with Cloud; you couldn't tell your heart who to love. I took one of her hands and twined our fingers together, not wanting to let go just yet.

He looked between us for several moments, as if gauging what next could come from his mouth, but when he finally decided to speak, he was civil. "We're nearing the separation point. I just wanted to make sure the two of you are ready. Once we take to the air, we won't be able to communicate."

"We'll meet you on the bridge when it's time, don't worry. We just need a little time to talk, that's all." Aerith smiled at him, and he stared back at her for a quiet moment. He then looked to me, as if I would provide him with answers. I met his stare, but without hostility; if she wanted to talk to me, that's what she was going to do.

Finally, he nodded, then turned on his heels and made his way back the way he'd ventured from.

Aerith tugged on our hands, the ones that remained interlocked, and guided me down, further into the bowels of the ship. "I never got a chance to ride on this ship before. I got a chance to escape the slums and travel the world, but it was by foot or boat; I never was able to fly in an actual ship."

"She's a thing of beauty. That pilot friend of yours sure seems to know his way through the sky."

"He was the first man in space."

I made a soft noise of surprise. Though she was looking at all of the machinery we passed by, she was leading me deeper and deeper into the ship. There was something more than just talking on her mind, and it was unlike her to be so secretive.

"Aerith, where are you taking me?"

She looked at me and smiled over her shoulder, batting her long eyelashes innocently.

Oh.

She led me into a maintenance closet and promptly attacked me. I was up against the door the moment it was closed, and she'd wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. It was hot and sweet, but it felt desperate.

"Aerith, stop. Why this, why now? We are on the eve of something gigantic for the both of us, for all of us, and this seems like... just a distraction."

She sighed against me. "I know. But I want a distraction. I want you to distract me." She pushed her hips against mine. "And I know that you could use one, too."

She stilled, and I knew the next move was mine. I, however, would test the waters before jumping in.

"Aerith, is this about more than just distractions."

Another sigh. "The time I've spent with you recently has been... liberating. I've never felt so free, so wanted. Don't get me wrong, seeing all of my friends has brought me such joy, but... Once this is over, there'll be talk of what to do next, and I know some of my friends might fight over who I am to stay with until they all decide what to do with you. I don't want it to be like that, I want to stay with you."

I could smell her tears, though her voice didn't shake. She was frustrated, and needed something that I would willingly give her, something she'd already had, and craved again.

"The way Cloud looks at me- it's like I some divine being, haunting him from his dreams. He would never be so crass and unkind as to force me to hide away, but he's not going to let me out of his sight until he understands that I'm not quite so fragile any longer. And you," she kissed my forehead to emphasize her point, "might look at me like I'm a goddess, but behind your eyes and voice I can see and hear how much you want me. I'm precious to you, but you don't treat me like I'll crumble under you."

She wiped her face with her palms. "I don't understand why, but I love you so much."

That was all I needed. Hell, I shouldn't have needed it at all, but hearing those words fall from her lips ignited my entire being. She needed me, wanted me, not Cloud, not any other man. Me.

I took her and pinned her to the door, lifting up the little sundress she wore all the way to her hips. We had no time for gentleness - not now, not with what we were preparing to do after our lovemaking. I tore her panties right off, threw them somewhere behind me, and growled into her neck as I lifted her off the ground and wrapped her legs around my waist.

She whimpered - not out of fear, but out of excitement, out of need - and dipped her hands below to made quick work of my belt, despite the low level of light filtering in from under the door. Her breath was hot as it cascaded over my neck and shoulders, and it only made me want her all the more.

Gods above, I hadn't realized how much I'd wanted her until we were joined at the hips, calling one another's names out and feeling our beating hearts as one.

Despite our altitude, we felt the earth move together.

She rested her head on my shoulder, panting, and ran her fingers through my hair. "Oh, Seph," she whimpered, still pressed against the door.

"No one else can have you; I won't let them. You're mine."

I felt her shiver at my words, clutch at me, despite the rest of her body being limp.

I let those words echo throughout me. Mine. All mine. She gave herself to me, willingly, and so long as she still wanted me, I would do nothing short of please her, make her tremble with pleasure, make her scream my name.

It would take the world to tear me from her.

We dressed, me smoothing out her dress and apologizing for the fact that she would spend the rest of the day without underwear, and she fixing my belt and tucking in my shirt. I smoothed out her hair, but she had to rebraid it herself. I hadn't even noticed when it'd come undone.

She laced her fingers through mine and we left the small the little maintenance closet, proud new members of the mile-high club.

We met Cloud and the others on the bridge, just like we said we would. He looked tired and agitated, but said nothing that could be taken in a hostile manner. Perhaps he was coming to terms with the idea that while Aerith loved him, she was in love with me. I took a moment to consider the idea from his point of view, and understood why he might be so sour.

Tifa, however, hovered over his shoulder, all the while Cloud oblivious to her obvious love for him. It pained me to think I would love someone enough to stand by their side, but never be brave enough to tell them so.

She looked at me, glared, then looked away. Her hatred was well placed in me, but I could sense jealousy now that I could see how she looked at Cloud.

I might pity her, if she wouldn't hate me more for it.

Vincent stood on the bridge, leaning over the railing and peering through the glass into the bright morning sunlight. He looked back to Cloud, then to Aerith and I. "Are you ready?"

I took a deep breath. "It's not as though we have a choice."

"Just to be clear, what are our objectives?" Cloud asked as he came to stand next to us.

"Subdue Hojo, sedate him if we have to, and take him into custody. There, we will decide what is to be done with him, possibly through the public justice system as those he's wronged are not limited to this group of individuals."

"You'd make a good lawyer," Aerith teased.

I snorted. "I hate paperwork." I turned to Vincent. "Follow me as best you can."

Aerith bit her lip. "What if we lose one another? How will we regroup?"

Cloud blinked several times, his face blank. "I hadn't thought of that."

Vincent cleared his throat. "Sephiroth, would you mind going invisible for a moment?"

I did as was asked of me, watching as all eyes in the room looked to where they'd seen me take up space only moments ago. Vincent smiled. Then, he turned brighter than he had been only moments before, an almost odd glow coming from behind him.

I phased back to visible, only to watch Vincent fade out completely. I was dumbstruck. After another moment, he came back into view.

"How did that work? What just happened?" I was in awe.

"When we become invisible, we allow our atoms to separate and become part of another dimension. From that dimension, we can see things and people in the one we came from. That's why I couldn't see you until I faded out, and just like how, I assume based off the shock on your face, you were unable to see me when you faded out while I stayed in."

"You're slipping between dimensions?" Cloud's mouth hung agape.

"Well, that's my hypothesis. I'm glad I've found someone else who can fade in and out of the visible spectrum for me to test it on. We are either slipping in and out of dimensions, or my equally and as likely theory is that we can pass into spectrums of light that aren't visible to the human eye and-"

"Oh my hairy aunty, Vincent; I didn't sign up for a lecture. You need to go!"

Vincent rolled his eyes at Yuffie's outcry, but turned to ready himself. He took a deep breath, then dissolved into shadowed particles. They hovered for a moment, then drifted over to consume Cloud. It was an almost frightening sight, watching Cloud dissolve into the air. Once he was no longer whole, the shadow completely disappeared.

I took a deep breath, gathered Aerith in my arms, faded, and took off though the front of the ship. Over my shoulder, I could see The Highwind begin to bank to the right, preparing to land near Kalm.

I didn't have the sense to keep a lookout behind me and make sure that Vincent and Cloud were still following. I should have. Once I was near our destination, I slowed only to realize that Aerith and I were alone.

"Did you see where the others went?" I questioned.

Aerith looked up; apparently, she'd tucked her head against my shoulder and neck to keep the wind from her face. She took a deep breath, then closed her eyes. "I can't sense them. I don't know what could have happened. I didn't hear or feel them drift away from us, but I can't feel them now."

I became uneasy. Something, a deep feeling in the pit of my stomach, told me that something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

But we couldn't slow down, not now. Hojo would be tracking me, and if he saw me stop while inside the city limits...

Clutching Aerith close, I sighed. "Whatever happens, Aerith, know that I love you."

She shifted in my arms and moved to kiss my neck. "And I you."

"I might have to... do things I otherwise wouldn't."

"I understand. We have to make Hojo think you're still under his power. Do whatever you need to, and I'll try my best to play along."

"I'll try not to hurt you."

She trembled in my arms.

I phased through the building and down, into the labs. Despite my elevated blood pressure and shaking hands, I forced myself to still and let a calmness wash over me. Once this was over, I would take my precious flower far from here. We would find a place she could bloom, and our days would be filled with happiness, while our nights revolving around one other.

He was in the main lab. When he looked up and saw me, I dropped Aerith, a little roughly, to the floor.

Hojo smiled down at her, a toothy grin with nothing but evil behind it. She shrank back toward the wall. She wasn't acting; she was truly terrified. I didn't blame her, but nor could I offer her any comfort.

"You thought you could get away, you stupid girl. Now, we have to do this the hard way. Number one, subdue her."

I reached out and grabbed her upper arms, forcing her to stand. Once she was on her feet, I twisted her arms behind her back and held them. I kept my face stony, completely devoid of emotion.

Somehow, she'd managed to wiggled a few of her fingers free, and was clutching one of mine tightly. I squeezed her hand back, trying to offer some form of comfort that would remain unseen, but my reassurance did nothing for her heart rate, nor my mental state.

Hojo backhanded her hard enough her lip split. I kept my position, kept my head, despite the fact that I was seeing red; so help me, I was going to slit his fucking throat if he touched her again. I needed an opening, a way to catch Hojo off guard, if I ever hoped to be victorious. He might not be as strong as me, but he was full of nasty tricks.

He looked at me. "You've nothing to say about the matter?"

"Why should she be free when I'm stuck in this hell hole?"

Another smile, just as wicked.

"My thoughts exactly."

I knew he was going to move before was in motion, but I only had time to push Aerith out of the way. She hadn't even hit the floor before I was shocked with enough electricity to kill a herd of chocobos.

Somehow, he'd known. I cursed my foolishness; I should have known better. Not once in my life had I ever gained the upperhand against him.

He reached down toward me, something in his hand, but the world was nothing more than a blur to me; I was in such pain I'd fallen to the floor and hadn't even felt it. Then, a wild scream and a flash of color. Despite my temporary blindness, I knew what had just happened - Aerith had attacked Hojo.

Hojo grunted, offended, and reached out to pull Aerith off his back as my vision was clearing. He threw her across the room, and she hit one of the work tables before spinning off of it and hitting the floor.

I made to move, despite my numb limbs, but something struck the back of my head and the world began to spiral under me again.

And then, something clicked.

I felt the chill of metal as it closed around my neck.

Once again, I belonged to him.

Hojo was laughing, finding humor in such a situation. "Don't hurt me. Don't ever hurt me, or take my life."

I puked all over the floor as my body reacted to the collar.

Then, as the words left his mouth, I felt nothing but dread.

"Collect your little Cetra bitch."

I stood, my body completely under control of the collar and the materia within. I walked toward her, my feet heavy, my head spinning. Hojo had ordered me to collect her, but he didn't say how, or for how long. I picked her up, held her shoulders so she stood in place for a moment, then promptly let her go.

"Aerith, run!" I commanded.

Hojo shrieked, obviously having not taken into account the defect in the collar. He'd known I'd been cut loose of the ties of the previous collar, but he hadn't figured out how.

Aerith turned and scrambled for the door, but Hojo was too fast. A long, grey-green tentacle shot out from his back and snaked its way around Aerith's arm, yanking her backwards.

"You've brought this upon yourselves," Hojo spat, continuing to yank Aerith toward him. "Number one, collect her and don't let her go until you're instructed."

My hands gripped her upper arms. She struggled, she screamed, pushing against me, trying to claw her way to freedom. "Aerith..."

"Fight it, Seph! Fight it!"

Hojo laughed. "I knew it. I knew you were the one to take her, I simply couldn't figure out how. Oh, but now I know. Wordplay, that's all it was. Well, I'll be sure to be more eloquent this time around. Hit her. Hit her, hard. In the face."

Her eyes locked with mine, filled with such fear. With all of my soul, all of my strength, I fought my body as one of my hands raised. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much effort I put into resisting, the collar was stronger, the bond of magic triumphing over physical strength.

I struck her, and her lip split again. A trail of blood seeped down her chin. Tears were forming in her eyes, and she looked up at me, searching for a way out. "Fight it, Sephiroth. We've done it before, we can do it again. Fight it!"

"Again."

The meaty sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through my mind as I struck her again and again at Hojo's command. I was sickened to the point of vomiting, but I had nothing in my stomach.

Each time I struck her, she cried my name, not beg me to stop, but to beg me to fight.

She was bloodied and weak when Hojo decided she'd had enough. Tears were streaming down my face, but I felt hollow inside, completely devoid of anything but fear, guilt, and regret.

Hojo walked around us, smiling the entire time. Then, he looked me in the eyes, an evil glint shimmering behind his own. "And this will teach you to never disobey me, ever again. Sephiroth, kill her."

The sound of a gunshot rang, clear and clean, echoing through the laboratory. Vincent and Cloud materialized just on the other side of one of the examination tables.

Hojo shrieked and lunged at the both of them.

"Cloud!" I shouted, my hands going for Aerith's neck. "Save her!"

He didn't hesitate. Instantly, Aerith was out of my arms. She was limp and bloodied, but she was alive. But, our predicament was only growing worse.

"You have to get her out of here, you have to keep her hidden," I instructed, slowly circling the table. It might have been a chase, as I'd been ordered to kill Aerith, but Hojo hadn't instructed how fast I had to move. "He snapped another collar on me, and has instructed me to kill her."

"Vincent!" Cloud shouted over his shoulder. "Take her! I'll deal with Hojo!"

Like they had rehearsed it a thousand times before, Vincent and Cloud both jumped over several tables, passing Aerith between them. "Sephiroth!" she cried, reaching for me.

"Get her out of here!" I yelled, unable to stop myself from lurching toward them.

Vincent began to dematerialize, but Hojo was prepared. Despite trying to dodge Cloud's gigantic sword, Hojo managed to pull a small device from his pocket. He aimed it at Vincent without a moment's hesitation, and the second it struck Vincent and Aerith's bodies convulsed from electric shock. They both fell to the ground, crumpling upon one another.

Cloud made to move for his fallen comrades, but his compassion would be his undoing; Hojo took aim again, fired the device, and sent Cloud tumbling to the floor, completely unconscious.

Fuck. Were they really both so out of practice? Had their fighting skills been shut away for so long they could no longer handle themselves in battle?

"KILL HER!" he screamed, red-faced and spitting. "KILL THEM ALL!"

I picked Aerith up by her shoulders, then gripped her neck. "Aerith, flower, I-"

She smiled, sadly, behind split lips and lost teeth, from under swollen eyes and cheeks.

"I love you," she finished for me, tears streaking down her face.

The sound of her neck snapping and a gunshot echoed simultaneously through the lab. I fell backwards, the collar around my neck shattering into a thousand tiny pieces. She simply fell to the floor, lifeless and limp.