Sephiroth's Redemption
written by Kat_Aclysm
Rated PG: Because I said so. There's probably bad language in here somewhere! (Probably?! More like 'imminently'! Cid is in this story, don't forget!)
DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy VII isn't mine, it belongs to SquareSoft. Although I own a copy of the game, it is still SquareSoft's, and the great Tetsuya Nomura's idea (he designed all the characters). The plot to this fanfic is mine though. So don't pinch it on me or I'll cry (like you'd care).
NOTE: Read chapters 1-10 before this one. This story probably contains spoilers, so play through FFVII before reading (or I'll bash you).
Stuff in *'s is spoken in telepathy, while stuff in plain italics are just thoughts, unless somebody is yelling.
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Chapter 11 - A Flower For Your Thoughts......
"He's over this way!"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
"Hey!!" Shera cried out, now thoroughly exhausted. "Slow down and wait up for me!"
Shera raced after Red XIII and the little cub as they crashed through the Mideel forest. As to why Red XIII was running, he had no idea. At the moment, he didn't even care if the cub was going to lead them into a trap - all he wanted were answers, and he was not going to let the cub out of his sight until he had some.
Just as the red lion was about to open his mouth and ask the first of many questions he had on his mind, the cub suddenly dashed up ahead and out of sight altogether. Just mere seconds afterward, the cub's shrill voice cried out to the bigger lion.
"I found him!!" he screamed out. "Come over this way!!"
"Found who??" Red XIII wondered, as he continued to run ahead in the direction of the cub's voice. The response that came didn't come from the cub at all, but answered his question all the same.
"F*cking hell!! Do you have to scream in my ear like that?!"
"Cid!!!"
Red XIII heard Shera's desperate cry from behind him suddenly. He ran up with her into the undergrowth, where Cid was sitting, the cub at his side just sniffing him slightly. Shera pushed the cub aside in her frenzy and flung her arms around the pilot as hard as she could. Red XIII just smiled faintly at the scene.
"F*cking hell woman...." Cid smiled, wincing slightly in his wife's crushing hug. "What's your problem? Why are you crying? Why are you so sad?"
"Dummy! That's not it....." Shera said, wiping her eyes. "I'm crying because I'm happy..... happy you're alive."
"Because you're happy?" Cid grunted as he reached out his arms and hugged her. "You cry when you're happy too? You sure are a weird one....."
The small cub just looked at Shera and Cid's display with an essence of curiosity.
"Excuse me....." the cub whispered to Red XIII. "But do all bipeds greet each other in this way?"
"No of course not, little one!" Red XIII chuckled loudly. "Considering their circumstances, a greeting like this is just natural."
"Huh?" the cub looked baffled. "Why put on such a display?"
"Well you see, he is her mate and she's been worrying herself sick over him, because until this moment he was missing. We've been looking for him everywhere."
"Oh." the cub said, suddenly understanding. "I suppose now we shall pick him up and carry him back to your dwelling?"
"Yes, that would be the best thing to do." Red XIII nodded, then turned to Shera and Cid.
"Shera," Red XIII said to her, slightly guilty that he had interrupted her reunion with Cid. "Do we take Cid with us back to the Highwind, or do we send him back to the hospital in Mideel?"
"If you send me back to that hellhole, I'm kicking you all off my plane!" Cid snapped suddenly. "Why, if you even consider it, I'll......."
"Why, Cid?" Shera interrupted him, suddenly angry. "What made you leave the hospital?! You were warm, you were being cared for and you were being waited on hand and foot! What was so bad about that place that made you decide to just get up and leave!?"
"Don't make me discuss that, Shera....." Cid said, subdued.
"And why not!?" Shera snapped. "I am married to you, or did you forget that!? I think I have a right to know!!"
"God, are you deaf, woman?!" Cid barked. "I said don't make me discuss it!!"
"Sorry, I don't know what came over me...."
"Now let's get the f*ck out of here and go home." Cid grunted. "It's cold and I'm hungry."
"Yes Cid....." Shera sighed, picking up his belongings and helping him to his feet slowly. "Sorry Cid......"
"It's easy to tell they're mates now. " the cub whispered to Red XIII.
"And why is that?" Red XIII wondered.
"The male is domineering over the female." the cub whispered. "It's standard behaviour between mates, isn't it?"
"Not in the human's eyes, cub." Red XIII whispered, scowling. "They're supposed to see each other as equals."
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On the deck of the Highwind near the bow of the plane, Sephiroth sat quietly, just staring out at the horizon. He looked up briefly to see if Cloud and Tifa were still up the roof of the ship - they were not. Sephiroth felt a bit unsettled by that - he had not seen them climb down. He quickly shrugged it off though, after coming to the conclusion that they had most likely gone inside where it was warm.
Meanwhile, the biting coldness of the night air didn't seem to worry the grey haired warrior in the slightest - there were more important things on his mind than a feeling of slight uncomfort. Looking upward, a deep scowl grew on his face as his eyes drifted to the unheavenly red body in the sky.
"This is utterly hopeless...... I don't even know where it's going to land....."
*"But YOU already know."*
"Huh?" Sephiroth said suddenly, looking around. But there was no-one in sight.
*"Oh, it's you again. Why must you keep pestering me?"*
*"Because you keep persisting with frivolous questions, and worrying over pointless things."*
*"No they are not frivolous! They are legitimate questions that have been puzzling me many times over! I think worrying about where the Meteor is going to land is definitely NOT a pointless exercise, thankyou!"*
*"But you know where it is going to land, so why bother worrying over it?"*
*"No I don't!!! I don't know where that thing is going to crash down at all!!"*
*"But the one who summons an Ultimate Magic instinctively knows where it's focal point is, do they not? The magic's summoner can also call off the enchantment at any time he or she chooses."*
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*"So, unless you didn't summon the Meteor, you know where it will land, and you can halt the magic at any time you see fit."*
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*"Just shut up."*
*"Then listen to the voice of reason, child. Everybody knows that you didn't summon that eyesore in the sky..... but do you?"*
".............yes."
*"Then why do you persist with your stubborn attitude?"*
*"Because the world needs a scapegoat. Someone to blame their problems on...."*
*"Then shouldn't that scapegoat be the Calamity From the Skies, child?"*
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*"It is alright. I will not force you......"*
*"I need help......"*
*"Then use the power that which was bestowed upon you when you were brought into this world, child. Just because it is destructive does not mean that it should be abhorred and destroyed....."*
*"Power?? Bestowed upon me? No, you don't understand. My power was taken from me when the Chosen One resurrected me...."*
*"Incorrect."*
*"Huh?"*
*"The Chosen One did not resurrect you."*
*"Yes she did!!!"*
*"Incorrect."*
*"Her name is Aeris!! You don't know her??"*
*"I know her very well. But you made no pact with the Chosen One."*
*"Yes I DID!!!"*
*"No you didn't. You made a pact with the Cetra known as Aeris Gainsborough, but you made no pact with the Chosen One."*
"Yes I did! You're Jenova, aren't you!? DAMN! I knew it was you all along!!"
*"Great. First you think you made a pact with the Chosen One, then you think I am the Calamity From the Skies? Child, you are one confused pup."*
*"Pup?! I'm 28!"*
*"You are still young when compared to everything else....."*
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*"Just shut up and answer my question!!"*
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*"And what is that?"*
*"What is a Sephiroth?!"*
*"You want to know the answer to that question so much, don't you, child?"*
*"Yes I do!! Now tell me!!"*
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*"Dammit! Why won't you tell me!?"*
*"Listen to yourself. You may as well be a baby with the way you're carrying on, demanding things like that." *
*"Well why won't you tell me!? Are you trying to stop me from being hurt!?"*
*"No."*
*"Then why won't you tell me?! I have a right to know!!"*
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*"There you go! Just be the defeatist you are and leave me when I start to get demanding!!"*
*"I would never leave you, child."*
*"Then tell me what the meaning of Sephiroth is!!"*
*"Just as you must endure through life, you must search for the answer to the question."*
*"Is that a no?! How can I know the answer if you won't tell me?!"*
*"Knowing is not the purpose. The act of striving to know.... the act of learning. This is what you must strive for. Otherwise, you will discover the truth, only to deny it."*
*"Why would I deny the truth!?"*
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*"Why?!"*
*"Don't let your fury get the better of you, child. Not while in your current state....."*
*"What?"*
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*"There you go again!! Answer my question, now!!"*
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*"WHY?!"*
"Why, dammit?!" The grey haired man yelled out in frustration, idavertantly severing the telepathic link to the one he had been speaking to.
A sudden jolt of pain surged through Sephiroth's head as he was violently snapped back to reality. He let out a cry of pain as he clutched at his head with both hands, as if almost trying to stop it from exploding. Sweat beaded down his forehead and he heard a loud thumping sound, emanating through his head loudly as he tried to catch his breath once again. Just then, he felt a soothing hand on his shoulder.
"Sephiroth?" came Aeris's voice, concerned and worried. "Are you OK??"
"I'm fine......" Sephiroth said, through his breathlessness. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Aeris said slowly. "You look beat."
"I said I was fine!" Sephiroth snapped defensively.
Aeris was silent, and just looked at the man with a worried look on her face.
Sephiroth turned to face her after a few moments.
"What do you want from me?!"
"Something's distressing you." Aeris whispered. "I can sense it."
Sephiroth scowled, finally giving in. There was not really much point in hiding anything from her. "They spoke to me again......."
"Who did?"
"I don't know!" The man yelled. "All I know is now they're trying to play with my mind!"
"Are you sure it's not Jenova??"
"It can't be...." Sephiroth shook his head in annoyance. "They called you Aeris Gainsborough......"
"They know that?" Aeris looked thoughtful. "Hmm, that's weird. Not even Jenova knows my last name....."
"They claim that I didn't make a pact with you, either."
"That man Reeve brought with him, he had glowing eyes as well....." Aeris thought. "Maybe it's him who is doing this to you."
"Well Strife has been infused with Jenova's cells as well, and he cannot communicate telepathically." Sephiroth scowled. "I know that for a fact through all the times I tweaked with his mind."
"Well, it's no use wondering about it now. All you can do is make guesses based on what they tell you." Aeris said finally. "Next time they speak to you, start up a telepathic link to me. I'll try reasoning with them myself."
"Good, maybe you can get them to leave me alone." Sephiroth sighed. "Maybe you can find out who they are."
"Alright." Aeris said kindly. "Now why don't we go inside? It's cold out here and dinner's nearly ready. I don't really want anything to burn."
"Alright." Sephiroth said, shaking his head slightly. "Anyway, my head hurts. I think this night air is messing about with it....."
Aeris frowned slightly. "I don't think that's it, somehow....."
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"King's knight to......."
"Vincent, pack that game up right now." Aeris scolded the raven haired man as she walked through the loungeroom, headed for the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready!"
Vincent raised an eyebrow at the Cetra girl. "Do you forget so quickly that I can no longer experience what food tastes like?"
"Whoops, I forgot. Silly me." Aeris said apologetically. "Carry on...."
"Now what do you suppose I should do for black's next move?" Vincent asked, directing his question at nobody in particular.
"I said I don' care....." Barret sighed, resting his good hand on his chin. "I haven' been payin' attention ta this game for th' last few hours, so why should I start now?"
Sephiroth paused in the doorway and migrated slowly to Vincent's chess game.
"Hmmm......" he thought, studying the placement of the pieces on the board.
"What are you doing, Sephiroth??" Vincent snapped. "I do not think you can contribute anything useful to this game."
"If you move the black rook up and take the white black square bishop you have in the corner of the board," Sephiroth said after a moment. "Then you can put the white side into checkmate."
Vincent paused for a moment to study the move Sephiroth had just explained.
"You are right...." the raven haired man admitted. "I did not see that move at all...."
"You're not the only one who plays chess around here." Sephiroth shrugged as he sat down opposite to the man. "I'll give you a game if you would like."
"I think that would be interesting." Vincent nodded slowly. "It would be a nice change to challenge somebody that doesn't try to shoot you or break the chessboard after they lose for once." he said, eyeing Barret coldly.
"Alright," Sephiroth nodded. "I accept your challenge."
"Let the game begin, but let me assure you now that you will lose." Vincent smirked, and began to arrange the pieces back onto their starting positions. "Seeing as though you are the white side, I will let you go first."
"Oh no he won't!" Aeris interrupted him sharply. "Dinner is ready, so pack that game away and come eat!"
Sephiroth sighed deeply in irritation.
"And you...." Aeris said, leering at Vincent.
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Aeris said angrily. "Put that chess game away. It's a distraction to others."
"God Aeris, can't you just let up on somebody for once!?" Yuffie cried out suddenly.
"Hey guys." Cloud said cheerfully as he walked in the front door and through to the kitchen that neighboured the loungeroom, his arm linked in Tifa's. "What's happening?"
"Chaos has awakened!" Yuffie squealed, falling off the couch. "We're all going to die!"
"What?" Tifa said suddenly. "What do you mean?"
"No it hasn't." Vincent said calmly. "My Limit is not going to break at any time soon."
"No, I meant that Aeris is serving dinner!" Yuffie yelled. "Like I said, chaos has awakened!! We're all going to die!"
"Oh." Vincent said quietly. "My apologies."
"Somebody go and get that nice man and his friend." Aeris said suddenly. "I made more than enough for anyone who wants some."
"That's right for sure...." Yuffie mumbled under her breath. "Because I can't think of anyone who actually does want some."
"I heard that." Aeris said, leering at Yuffie, who cowered behind the chair in front of her suddenly.
"What's for dinner?" Cloud spoke up. "I'm hungry, I want food."
Tifa batted him across the back of the head. "So blunt, aren't you??"
"Well I am hungry!" Cloud whimpered, rubbing the sore spot on his head where Tifa had hit him. "And I do want food!"
"It's nothing to get worked up about really, Tifa." Aeris giggled loudly. "You should be used to the bluntness of boys by now."
"Well...."
"Isn't that right, Sephy?" Aeris smiled.
"Shut up." Sephiroth grunted.
"See?" Aeris giggled.
"Well?" Cloud whimpered. "What is for dinner?"
"Oh, just a beef and vegetable stirfry, and a soup I whipped up." Aeris smiled. "I've thrown some wholegrain barley into the soup for fibre, because I bet none of you are getting enough."
"Lucky us." Yuffie said bitterly. "Just what we need - precious fibre. You want fibre? Go eat a pair of sweatsocks."
"Now somebody go get that other man and his friend......"
"Who do you mean, Aeris?" Cloud wondered.
"That man who brought you and Barret over here. He owns that small plane parked not too far away from the Highwind." Aeris explained. "His friend is that blonde haired man with the white jacket."
"That guy is not a friend...." Cloud said through his teeth.
"I don't mind." Aeris shrugged. "Just go and get them before they miss out."
"Lucky them." Yuffie mumbled.
"All of you, just stop your arguing and be quiet." Tifa said calmly.
"But she starte---" Yuffie began.
"The lot of you!" Tifa interrupted her. "I'll go get them, Aeris. Don't you worry."
"Thankyou." Aeris smiled as Tifa walked out of the room and began to proceed down the hallway, leaving Cloud and Aeris alone together in the kitchen.
Cloud gave Aeris an uneasy glance as he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ummm...." he said quietly. "I must seem like such a loser to you...."
"Not at all. I think you just got a little confused, especially after how I'd been acting towards you...." Aeris answered, smiling weakly. "Which I am deeply sorry for."
"Don't worry about it." Cloud told her. "Let's just remain friends and leave it at that."
"Alright." Aeris nodded. "Oh by the way Cloud, did Tifa eventually get around to telling you what she wanted to tell you?"
"Oh yes...." Cloud smiled weakly as a faint red mark appeared across the bridge of his nose.
"Well....?"
"She said she loved me...." Cloud said slowly, inadvertently bringing a hand up to scratch the back of his head. "And I told her I felt the same way....."
"Well isn't that just great?" Aeris smiled warmly. "So you two are an item now?"
"It would seem that way....." Cloud said quietly, his eyes drifting downwards to his shoes. "By the way Aeris, I'd been meaning to ask you a question......"
"Oh??"
Cloud looked up at her suddenly. "It was something you said to me while we were alone in the cable-car ride, back at the Gold Saucer...." he paused briefly. "I had just wondered what you meant by it....."
"I said a lot of things on that ride." Aeris whispered. "And all of them could have been worded a lot more subtly. But go on, what were you wondering about?"
"You said 'my heart belongs to someone else'." Cloud told her. "But I never understood what you meant. Are you saying that there's someone you like?"
"Oh, that." Aeris looked away suddenly, thoroughly embarrassed. "Well, um....."
Just then, Tifa appeared at the door with Reeve and his blonde-haired captive in tow.
"Hey guys!" Tifa said, making Aeris jump a mile. "What are you talking about?"
"Not much...." Aeris said, suddenly turning around to face the stove. "I've nearly finished cooking dinner, that's all. Cloud is in here because he's my taste tester, aren't you, Cloud?"
"Oh, um, yeah!" Cloud said, instantly enthusiastic. "Yum yum, Aeris! It's not half bad!"
"Really?" Tifa said, nudging inbetween Cloud and Aeris to get closer to the stove.
Picking up a nearby spoon, she dipped it lightly in the concoction that was just bubbling away quietly in it's saucepan, and tasted it.
"Well....?" Aeris whispered.
"This is quite good, for a beginner." Tifa smiled. "It needs just a tad more salt."
"I think it's fine the way it is. You can add salt to your own later, if you want." Aeris just shrugged. "Now who's going to set the table?"
"Set the table?" Cloud queried. "Usually, Shera just lets us eat in front of the TV, or we all just eat seated on the furniture in the loungeroom. Since when do we worry about formalities like that?"
"Since now." Aeris said, handing him a stack of plates. On the top of the stack, she placed a bunch of knives and forks. "And when you're done with that lot, come back for the napkins."
"Napkins??" Cloud whimpered.
Reeve laughed slightly. "Whatever is the matter, Cloud? You've never seen napkins in your life, have you?"
"I have so!" The spiky haired man defended. "You don't think I'm that much of a slob, do you?!"
"Calm down, Cloud. It's alright, really it is. They're just teasing you." Tifa assured him. "Just go set the table, OK?"
"Oh alright...." Cloud said through his teeth. The man leered at Reeve suddenly. "But no more wisecracks about me not knowing what a napkin is, you got that?"
"Agreed." Reeve nodded, a faint smile on his face.
"Oh, don't you worry, Reeve..." Tifa smiled. "Cloud knows what a napkin is. It's just he's never actually used one."
"TIFA!!!"
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The dogmatic ideals of Cetra.....
the sluggard ways of humans.....
and the instability of the Angel of Death.....
....shall ultimately decide my final destiny.
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Aeris's dinner kicked off without a hitch or a complaint, save for a small whinge from Yuffie, wondering why they were all to be seated at a dinner table like a group of 'creepy loser guys'. Vincent just stayed seated on the couch in deep thought about what to do with his chess game.
"I think this is just pathetic...." Yuffie said haughtily as she folded her arms. "Why do we have to sit at the table like this?!"
"Yes, I must concur." Sephiroth said quietly. "Usually, we sit disorganised around this place and eat in front of the television."
"Well tonight's different." Aeris snapped. "We never do this as a group, anyway...."
"So why start now?!" Yuffie squealed. "The whole group isn't here anyway, because Cid and Red aren't around!"
"You're right." Cloud sighed suddenly.
"Well Cid ain't gonna come cuz he's in the hopsicle." Barret grunted. "And the cat's visitin' him with that Shera chick, so I doubt we'll be seein' them fer a few hours."
"Oh well." Aeris shrugged. "I guess I'll have to save some food for them when they get back."
"Why must they suffer too?" Yuffie grumbled.
Tifa shot Yuffie a look upon seeing Aeris's upset. "Yuffie...." she warned.
Silence reigned as the group continued to eat.
"This just isn't right!" Yuffie exploded suddenly, breaking the silence and startling everyone at the table. "A ninja sitting at the table to eat, like a civilised person!?"
"Are you saying you're not?" Tifa smiled.
Yuffie was suddenly silent, a deep scowl on her face. "Stupid..... idiots....." she mumbled to herself as she began to eat what was put in front of her.
"Now," Aeris smiled almost immediately. "What do you think of my cooking?"
Yuffie immediately grabbed her throat with both hands and pretended to choke as she fell off her chair. Aeris looked upset.
"It's quite good considering what you've come from." Tifa said quickly, trying to repair the Cetra girl's hurt feelings.
"Ngdfffg hfgggg fugghhh......" Cloud said incoherently. He could barely close his mouth, let alone chew.
Reeve smiled faintly. "I think that means he likes it."
"Cloud, you know better than that! Eat with your mouth closed, and don't talk with your mouth full!" Tifa scolded him. "Finish what you've got there and then speak."
Somehow, Cloud not only closed his mouth but was also able to chew and swallow.
"I like it." he said finally, smiling. "It's a lot better than your previous attempts."
"Hell, it's better than instant dinners." Barret offered.
"Uhmm.... it's..." Ruben began uneasily. "..........exquisite."
"What is that man doing seated at the table among us?" Cloud said coldly.
"Well, if he doesn't try to kill us, I don't mind him being here." Reeve said suddenly. "Besides, I'm not going to let him go till he returns Cait Sith."
"Which I will." Ruben nodded solemnly. "Why doesn't everyone come along? I'm sure Cait Sith would like a big welcome....."
"Hmmm......" Cloud scowled deeply.
"This food is just great, Aeris!" Sephiroth said enthusiastically.
"What....?" Yuffie yelped. "Someone actually likes Aeris's cooking?! Arrgh! The man IS insane after all!"
Aeris ignored Yuffie altogether as she grinned widely. "You like it, Sephy?"
"Don't call me that."
"But you like it, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I do. I haven't tasted anything like this before." Sephiroth nodded faintly as he picked up a small piece of broccoli with his fork precariously. He popped it in his mouth and chewed, a smile on his face. "There is so much flavour and texture in food!"
"Well I never knew anyone could get so excited over broccoli." Cloud said, shaking his head. "One would think you've never had vegetables before."
"Well, I haven't really. All I've ever eaten until now were rations from when I was in SOLDIER." Sephiroth shrugged. "And when I was a child, my father fed me on a diet completely composed of a weird coloured fluid."
"Weird coloured fluid?" Cloud wondered.
"Well, I don't exactly know what it was." Sephiroth started to explain. "But it wa---"
"Shinra-Beta." Ruben interrupted him. "It was most probably Shinra-Beta."
"What??" Sephiroth looked at the man suddenly.
"Hojo most probably fed you on Shinra-Beta." Ruben explained. "It was a 'perfect food' designed for all the lab rats that Shinra experimented on. It just contained all the essential vitamins and minerals needed to keep the lab specimen alive and healthy."
"Lab rat.....?!" Sephiroth scowled deeply at the man across from him. "I'm betting you know a whole lot more than you're letting on, Shinra boy....."
"Well the information regarding your upbringing isn't exactly classified any more, you know." Ruben scowled. "If you march over to Shinra HQ in the Midgar Ruins, you might find out something that's being hidden from you....."
Sephiroth stood up suddenly. "Then I must go." he declared angrily. "There are still so many questions I have that need to be answered."
"Then go in the morning, Sephy...." Aeris told him calmly. "It's getting late, and it's really dark outside. Midgar is miles away from here, and flying a plane there at night isn't exactly safe."
"Don't call me that."
"One day won't make a difference." Aeris told him, still calm. "Sit down and finish your dinner."
Sephiroth let out an angry sigh as he sat down. "I suppose you're right....."
"Something's awry here...." Cloud scowled suddenly. "Why are you inviting Sephiroth to Midgar? And why are you asking all of us to go along with Reeve and yourself when you turn on Cait Sith?"
"I'd just assumed Cait Sith would like a welcoming committee." Ruben answered plainly. "And Sephiroth here is probably wondering many things about his upbringing, all of which has been classified information until recently."
"So why is it no longer classified all of a sudden?!" Cloud snapped.
"Who would want to steal the information now?" Ruben asked. "What other company has enough power and money to mass produce soldiers with the power of Cetra? And now that half the world's population is deceased thanks to the Meteor, who would want to??"
"Mass produce people like me??" Sephiroth queried. "Shinra was going to do that?!"
"What else did you think Shinra would do with you?" Ruben shrugged.
"Yeah, But reall---"
Just then, there was an abrupt knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Yuffie squealed, leaping up and knocking her plate to the floor.
"Gee, I can see she's a good house guest...." Ruben commented.
"Cid!?" Yuffie's shocked voice yelled out suddenly from the other room. "What's he doing here??"
"What!?" Cloud choked suddenly, getting to his feet in an instant.
Just about everyone dropped what they were holding, and headed for the front door. In came Shera, Red XIII with Cid riding on his back, and a small lion cub timidly walking inside, practically hugging at Shera's ankles. Red XIII walked over to the couch closest to him and let Cid crawl off his back safely.
"Cid?!" Cloud was the first to speak what was one everyone's minds. "What are you doing here, and why aren't you at the hospital?!"
"F*cking hell!" Cid clutched at his plaster as he sat up. "Don't ask me stupid questions!"
"Even we don't have the answer to that question, Cloud." Shera said crankily. "Cid refuses to discuss it."
"Well, is he going back to the hospital?" Cloud wondered.
"If you even think of sending me back to that hell hole, I'm gonna---"
"Cid!" Shera snapped. "A simple 'no' would have been quite enough!"
"He doesn't sound like he's in the best of moods, does he?" Vincent pointed out, watching them from the other side of the room.
"F*ck I hate you....." Cid cussed as he lay back on the couch, putting a hand over his eyes. "I hate the goddamn lot of you....."
"I thought so." Vincent nodded to himself.
"Isn't there anything we can do for him?" Tifa wondered.
"I can think of one thing." Shera said, scowling slightly as she reached into her pocket and grasped the small object inside. "I didn't want to give them back to him, but I guess I have no choice at the moment....."
As Shera pulled the small object out of her pocket, Cid was immediately quiet. It was almost as if he was seeing God. Tossing it onto his lap, Shera scowled deeply at him.
"I hope you're happy now." She said through clenched teeth as she walked from the room.
"Shera, don't be like that...." Cid cringed.
"What was that?" Cloud said, raising his eyebrows in confusion. "Cid, what did Shera give you?"
"She gave me my cigarettes back." Cid mumbled as he removed one from it's packet and put it in his mouth. "She hounds me every time I light up, damn her. She'll try to take them from me at every opportunity she can get too......"
"Because she cares about you." Red XIII scowled lightly. "You're slowly killing yourself, smoking those rolls of shredded tobacco leaf, you know."
Cid only shrugged as he flicked his lighter on, and lit the end of his cigarette.
"Excuse me biped, but what is that fire thing?"
"Who said that??" Tifa said suddenly.
"I did." came a quiet voice from between Red XIII's front paws. The tiny red cub stepped forward timidly, fluffing up the fur on his back in an attempt to make himself look bigger.
"Oh, it's you again." Cid grunted. "The blabbermouth kitten sh*t."
"I am not a kitten!" the cub growled, backing into a defensive stance. "I am a whole year old, thankyou very much!"
"Hey, why are you getting so upset?" Cid wondered.
"I suppose he has not been desensitised to your sharp tongue." Red XIII scowled.
"Oh, what a sweet little thing!" Yuffie squealed suddenly, spying the young lion cub. "A baby Red!" She made a dive for the cub, but he leaped aside in absolute terror and attempted to bound away. But Yuffie was too quick - she grabbed the cub roughly and hugged it to her chest, giving the baby a crushing hug.
"Help me!" the cub cried out, petrified. "I'm going to be killed!"
"Yuffie!!" Red XIII scolded the girl. "Put him down this instant!"
Yuffie let the cub go. He leaped from her arms, crashed ungracefully on the carpet and dove between Red XIII's legs.
"Look what you've done, Yuffie..." Red XIII said angrily. "You've scared him half to death!"
"How did I do that??" Yuffie whimpered. "I certainly didn't mean to!"
"I know that, Yuffie...." Red XIII said in a softer tone. "It's just, I doubt this cub here has ever seen humans before, let alone being picked up by one."
Yuffie crouched to the floor and smiled weakly at the cub. He looked back at her with frightened eyes and stepped back even further between Red XIII's legs.
"Hey, I'm sorry little guy...." Yuffie said in a soft voice. "I wasn't trying to hurt you."
"You weren't?" the cub whispered. "Then..... why did you grab me and squeeze me so hard that I couldn't get away?"
"I was hugging you....."
"Hugging....?"
"Humans greet each other that way, young one." Red XIII spoke calmly. "It's a sign of friendship, or love..... and sometimes both."
"I do not understand....."
"She was just saying hello." Red XIII said slowly. "Though her methods of doing so are sometimes questionable, Yuffie would never intend any ill-feeling towards you whatsoever."
"Really?" the cub whispered, looking in Yuffie's direction.
"I promise." Red XIII smiled, lowering his head at the girl. "She has no ill-feeling toward anyone here."
"Well.... If you say so, noble one..." The cub whispered. He stepped out from Red XIII's feet timidly and turned to face her, head held high, ready to face the worst. Yuffie moved her hand out slowly, smiling as the cub made no attempt to run when she brought her hand down and began to scratch his head lightly.
"You're so cute...." Yuffie giggled slightly. "Almost as cute as Red himself!"
"Yuffie..." Red XIII smiled, looking to the floor suddenly. "Don't say that....."
"But you are cute, Red!!" Yuffie said loudly, reaching across to give Red XIII a scratch on the head as well. "You're so cute, I wish I could keep you!"
"Wait a minute guys!" Cloud snapped. "Just stop right here!"
"What's wrong, Cloud??" Yuffie asked.
"Where did that cub come from?" Cloud wondered. "And what is it doing here??"
"Only Shera knows the answer to that one, Cloud." Red XIII explained. "And he's here with us now because it's cold and dark outside. It is irresponsible to leave a young child out alone in the cold. Something awful might happen to him. Also, I would like to ask him a few questions regarding himself, and the location of the rest of my species. "
"I am not a child!" the cub snapped defensively.
"You're younger and smaller than myself." Red XIII said calmly. "That makes you a child in my eyes."
"I..... I......" the cub stuttered, trying to think of a comeback. "I can think of nothing to say to that."
"Wait a minute there....... whatever your name is, cat." Ruben spoke up suddenly. "You want this squab kitten thing to stay here, which is a wild animal I might add.... You want it to stay here, just so you can ask it a bunch of questions?"
"I see nothing wrong with that." Red XIII said, confused.
"Shut up, bastard...." Cloud said angrily. "Nobody asked for your input!"
"Well no one asked for that stubborn attitude either," Ruben shrugged. "But we have to endure it anyway."
"Shut up!" Cloud yelled.
"Why?" Ruben smirked wickedly. "Nobody asked me to."
"That does it!" Cloud snapped, rolling his sleeves up and making a dive for the red eyed man. "I'm gonna tear your head off!"
Tifa grabbed him almost immediately. "Cloud, you stop that right now!" she scolded him. "Don't go picking a fight with absolutely everyone that upsets you!"
"But Tifa.....!!" Cloud defended.
"But nothing, Cloud Strife!" Tifa interrupted him. "Now behave yourself! And you Shinra jerk, stop picking on him! You're only encouraging him to get mad, you know!"
"Geez......" Ruben sighed angrily. "Can't I have any fun?"
"You must have some strange ideas about fun." Yuffie snapped.
"Okay okay....." Ruben sighed, throwing his hands in the air. "All I was questioning was why you let a wild animal on board this plane!"
"Well I seriously doubt he intends to harm anyone." Red XIII spoke. "It is rather cold outside tonight, and I do not wish him to endure that. I would not wish that on anybody."
The cub whimpered slightly at the remark.
"So what's your name?" Yuffie asked the cub out of the blue. "Or don't you have one?"
"Oh yes, I have a name." the cub nodded. "Shadrach. My name is 'Shadrach'."
"Shadrach, huh?" Yuffie smiled. "What a strange name...."
"No it isn't." the cub shook his head. "I think your name is stranger than mine any day. What kind of a name is 'Yuffie', anyway?"
"'Yuffie' is the name my father gave me." Yuffie scowled faintly. "I come from a long line of highly skilled ninjas....."
"Ninjas??" The cub asked, not understanding, having never heard the word used before. He decided to let it pass. "Why does the noble one call himself 'Red'?? Doesn't he have a tribal name like mine?"
"Tribal name?" Red XIII wondered. "Well, I do have another name.... the name my parents gave me, but all my friends call me 'Red'."
"Red??" The cub queried.
"Yeah." Cloud nodded. "We found him in the Shinra Building. Hojo was just about to do an experiment on him, so we busted him out of there and took him with us."
"Yes, Hojo named me, 'Red XIII'. A name with no meaning whatsoever to me. I asked my friends to call me whatever they wished."
"So, we called him 'Red', because he didn't like being called a number." Cloud explained. "When we named him that, we had no idea of his other name, but when the opportunity had arisen to call him by his birth name, he was content and actually happy with the current name we had given him."
"Oh......" The cub paused awkwardly. "Um, you called yourself a ninja earlier on....." He looked baffled. "I guess that's the name for your tribe, isn't it?"
"Tribe?"
"This is a tribe of bipeds, isn't it?" the cub wondered, looking around the room at everyone. "You're a collective family of non-related creatures living in the same area, looking after each other for the survival and benefit of each other, aren't you?"
"Well, I guess you could say that." Aeris thought. "We're all living in this small space, and we're not related to each other...."
"I guess you could say we look after each other too...." Tifa smiled. "I have to keep feeding everyone, plus I keep Cloud in line so he doesn't get into too much trouble...."
The cub nodded slowly. "Doesn't your tribe have a name? Are there certain rules laid down that you all have to follow?"
"The group's name is AVALANCHE!" Barret said suddenly. "And everyone's in it, except for that Sephiroth guy and these two dorks." he said, motioning in Reeve and Ruben's direction.
"You think I'm a dork do you, Barret?" Reeve smiled. "Well, at least you're honest." "Aaaeerrrrr....." Barret paused uncomfortably. "Sorry 'bout that, I only meant the Shinra dork."
"I am not a dork." Ruben said, scowling slightly.
"Yeah you are." Cloud said, suddenly leering at the man. "In fact, I'd even go so far as to say tha---"
Tifa slapped her hand over his mouth. "Cloud, what did I just tell you about getting into fights!?"
"Don't you have a tribe leader who makes all your decisions?" the cub spoke again. "Is your leader the one who dominates over everyone?"
"Our leader is Cloud." Tifa nodded. "And although sometimes, he tries to dominate over everyone, I usually knock him back into line with a few words."
"So this noble 'Cloud' is your tribe leader?" the cub queried. "Which one of you is he?"
"I'm Cloud." the spiky haired man nodded, raising his hand slightly. "But I wouldn't exactly say that I'm noble or anything........."
The cub fell to his feet in a formal bow. "I humbly ask to join your tribe."
"You want to join us?" Cloud scratched his head. "Why do you want to do that?"
"Nearly all of you are bipeds." the cub said. "That makes you all offensively powerful creatures. From the short while I've been in your territory, I've been protected from harm, and greeted with affection. I feel safe here, and I feel that I could grow up and be strong among you all."
"Now wait a minute...." Cloud said, making the cub silent. "Why don't you want to be with your own kind? Red here hasn't ever met his own kind, you know. I think he'd like you to show him what you creatures are like."
"I think he'd be better off not knowing. The tribe I came from......" the cub whispered. "I ran away from it because my father killed my mother....."
"Oh, that's just awful....." Yuffie sympathised.
"Me and my sister.... we ran away." the cub lowered his head to the floor. "I have left the others, and I don't wish to return to them. I am a rogue. Please, take me into your tribe and accept me as I am. One day when I am all grown up, I will avenge your very name, and live for all that you stand for....."
"So you came from a tribe, a whole group of lions with fire red fur like yourself?" Cloud wondered.
"Yes, I did." the cub nodded.
"Very well," Cloud smirked, thinking up a plan in his head. "Before you can join us, you must do one thing for me."
"Cloud....." Tifa sighed.
"Take Red here to see your tribe." Cloud smirked.
"What!?" Red XIII yelped in surprise. "Cloud, what are you doing!?"
"Red has never seen or interacted with creatures like yourself." Cloud explained. "Introduce him to your kind first. If you do that much, you're quite welcome to join us."
"Very well, Noble Cloud." the cub nodded. "But before you do that, I have one thing I want you to do for me."
"Oh?"
"I have a sister, hiding not too far away from here." the cub said. "Accept her into your tribe as well."
"You have a sister, too??" Red XIII said suddenly. "Go and call her immediately! She shouldn't be out in this weather either!"
"Alright!" the cub said quickly, and pushed his nose into the front door, making it open. "I'll be back with her real quick!" and with that, he disappeared into the night.
"Cloud, I have to question something you just did...." Red XIII said quietly.
"Yeah?" Cloud turned his attention to the great lion. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you making him face a test before he can join us?" Red XIII whispered. "I came to you as a rogue myself. You accepted me, and I didn't have to do anything. But yet, you are making a child that is much younger than myself confront his greatest fear before he can be considered one of us......"
"Yeah Cloud, what are you doing?!" Tifa yelped. "He's a lost little animal! We should be taking him in for a while, then work on sending him back home!"
"I know that, Teef." Cloud smirked. "Which is exactly what I'm doing."
"Huh??"
"The cub fled from his home because he's upset about something." Cloud explained. "I think if he takes Red along to where his kind live, he'll reconsider wanting to leave his family and everything he knows."
"Or they'll kill him." Red XIII whispered.
"I don't think so." Cloud shook his head.
"He said his father killed his own mother, Cloud....."
"Yes, but what if that's a bluff to get our sympathy?" Cloud sighed. "Come on Red, you want to know what it's like to be with creatures just like you, don't you? This is the perfect opportunity!"
"I'd always been curious about what it's like to be with my kind......." Red XIII sighed deeply. "But my home is here, among my friends. Why would I want to go to be with a group of lions that I've never met before? Sure, it would be nice to know that there's other creatures like myself out there, but if I were to live with them......"
"Red....." Cloud sighed.
The great lion lowered his head to the floor. "I would miss all the places and people I love."
"Red, I'm not making you do anything." Cloud told the lion sternly. "All I want you to do is go meet these lions. I'm not commanding you to leave us, but if you meet them and you want to stay with them, then I'll accept that."
"Oh no, Red's not thinking of leaving us, is he??" Yuffie said sadly, flinging her arms around the great lion. "But I love him!"
"If he wants to leave, that's his decision, and his decision alone." Sephiroth said calmly.
"Yes Yuffie, this is for the cat to decide, without our influence." Vincent spoke suddenly. "Only he can decide what is best for him in the end."
"Oh puke." Cid yawned. "God, can someone pick me up and hurl me into the ocean?!"
"A good friend once gave me these words of wisdom, Red, and I think you should heed them too." Tifa whispered. "You must go only where your heart leads....."
Red XIII had a sinking feeling in his gut suddenly, and it wasn't because Yuffie was squeezing him too hard either.
-------------------------------------------
The night continued without really much more of a problem. Everyone just went about their own way, watching the movie on TV, entertaining themselves, and drifting off to sleep, while Red XIII sat by the front door, waiting anxiously for the baby red lion cub to return.
"Hey Cid....." Yuffie asked the half-asleep pilot. "What's the best thing on TV tonight besides this movie?"
"Umm...." Cid thought hard. "There's not really anything else good on right now. Isn't that stupid? 200 channels to choose from and all of em' suck."
"What are you talking about?" Vincent said angrily. "All television programs are distasteful. Television is distasteful, period."
Cloud smothered a laugh.
"Cid?" Yuffie spoke up suddenly. "Why are you paying for the satellite connection if you think all the channels suck?"
"I'm not." Cid yawned. "I put that decoder box together from an amplifier and one of Shera's old electric razors."
"And it picks up and deciphers the Cable TV reception?" Cloud wondered. "Wow, that's really good!"
"Not really." Cid grunted.
"Well it's news to me." Cloud smiled. "You're going to have to make me one for my house back in Nibelheim."
"Oh that would be good, wouldn't it, Cloud?" Tifa smiled. "Think of all the shows we could watch!!"
"No-one will be making you anything." Ruben snapped. "Shinra needs those customers who actually pay for their Cable TV connection, thankyou! I've got a good mind to shut you down!"
"But you won't, will you?" Cid shrugged, reaching for a cigarette.
"No...."
"Ruben......" Reeve spoke suddenly, making the man sit up. "What made you decide to become the President of Shinra, anyway?"
"I said it before." Ruben scowled. "The people of this planet need someone like Shinra to knock them into line. Without some sort of government, the people run around like lost sheep."
"Is that really why you became the President?"
"Well.... the quality of life on this planet plummeted through the floor after Meteor hit." Ruben sighed. "Half the world's population died in Meteor's storm - just about everyone I knew, all my friends and my family. But we have to move on. We must stand on our own two feet and walk. Midgar will live on....."
"You think you're king of the mountain, don't you?" Cloud growled. "But it's all garbage!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"This planet never needed Shinra! All it ever did was tear lives apart! You say Shinra was powerful before Meteor hit?! Well just look at it now. Try asking any ONE of the people still living there if they feel proud that Shinra is looking after their wellbeing!" Cloud yelled. "Shinra did more harm than good, you stupid idiot!"
"Yeah! Dat's right! If th' Shinra had bin allow'd to carry on wit' their operations, suckin' the blood right out of th' planet, it'd probably be dead now!!" Barret hollered. "Although AVALANCHE made thous'nds of innocent people lose their lives because of us, we still protected th' planet!"
"Hey!" Ruben stood up defensively. "If it weren't for Shinra, there'd be no power on this planet whatsoever!"
"What do you mean?"
"Who do you think came up with solar power??" Ruben growled. "Solar panels on every roof that exists on this planet....."
"Huh?"
"Shinra developed and mass produced them." Ruben smiled. "Thanks to Shinra, this planet has a source of electricity. Sure, it's unreliable and it cuts out sometimes...."
"No way am I gonna thank Shinra for anything!" Cloud snapped. "I still have to pay my electricity bill for those stupid solar panels, and half the time the power doesn't work anyway!"
"The system is unreliable, but it reels in profit." Ruben smiled crookedly. "And that is another reason I declared myself President! To make money!"
"That's dishonest!!"
"You know Ruben, there are more honest ways to raise money in this life, and it's called 'Selling Mastered All Materias that you stole from Cloud'." Yuffie said sternly.
"What....!?" Cloud yelped.
"Uh... nothing." Yuffie bit her lip guiltily.
"You have no shame at all, do you?" Reeve sighed deeply. "You exploit the people of this planet, promising them better lifestyles..... and you take their money."
"People are sheep, Reeve." Ruben scowled. "They were happy with the old ways of living, before Meteor, when they lived in high class city apartments where their every comfort was met. They'll pay just about anything to get their old lives back, and that is all I am trying to do."
"No, you're trying to sham them and take their money." Reeve scowled.
"Yes, but in the process of it, I am actually improving the quality of life for them."
"At a greatly inflated price."
"Who are you to judge how much I should charge?!"
"Look, just SHUT UP!!!" Cid roared.
Silence.
"God, you two would have carried on all night if someone hadn't told you to be quiet!" Cid shook his head angrily. "Now shut up and be quiet. Everyone in this room is tired, and I'm sure they don't want to have to put up with all of your sh*t this late at night!!"
Just then, Shera walked into the room, headed for the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.
"What's all the yelling about, Cid?" she asked.
"Nothing, Shera." Cid answered her. "Just telling these two guys to stop arguing."
"Oh, alright." the woman shrugged. "Does anyone want a cup of tea while I'm going out to the kitchen?"
"Yes please." Cloud said politely.
"What the hell." Cid smiled. "Bring it on."
Reeve nodded. "So long as you don't make it how Palmer liked it, I wouldn't mind some."
"Palmer?" Cloud wondered.
"Palmer was the man responsible for Shinra's Space Program." Reeve explained. "He was rather portly, and.... um......"
"An idiot?" Cid offered.
"Yes." Reeve nodded.
"What was wrong with Palmer?" Shera asked. "How did he like his tea?"
"With lots of sugar and honey." Reeve explained. "And lard."
"Ohhh...." Shera smiled suddenly. "I remember that man. He tried to steal Cid's Tiny Bronco."
"He liked lard in his tea?!" Tifa yelped.
"How about you, Aeris? Would you like some tea?" Shera asked the girl. "Would anyone else like some?"
"Alright." Aeris replied.
"Nah." Barret grunted.
"I always liked coffee better." Tifa answered. "But don't go to the effort of making me some."
"I wish I could take you up on the offer, Shera," Vincent said quietly. "But I can't drink anything any more."
"Ohh, that's too bad." Shera said apologetically. "I think you would have liked it...."
"What's tea?" Sephiroth asked suddenly.
"You don't know what tea is?" Shera asked him. "Well, I guess I'll have to make you some then, won't I?" she said smiling broadly, then made her way though to the kitchen.
Cid averted his attention to the grey haired warrior.
"You mean you don't know what tea is??" Cid said, surprised.
"No, I'm afraid not." Sephiroth shrugged. "Would you care to explain?"
"Well Sephy," Aeris began. "It's a---"
"Don't call me that!" Sephiroth snapped at her. "I would prefer it if you didn't call me that infernal nickname."
"But why not??" Aeris whimpered. "I love calling you 'Sephy'! It's just so cute! A cute nickname for a cute guy....."
"But I am not cute." Sephiroth scowled deeply.
"Oh yes you are!" Aeris snapped, then reached over to pinch his nearest cheek. "Who couldn't love this little face?"
"Aaahh!!!" Sephiroth yelped, jerking back from her, nearly falling off the couch. "Don't do that!!"
Tifa smothered a giggle. Those within hearing distance choked back laughter except for Cid, who howled. Sephiroth just rubbed his sore cheek and scowled.
"Don't do that, either!"
Just at that moment, Shera returned, holding a tray with several cups on it, all had steam wafting from them slowly.
"What's so funny?" she wondered.
"Hey Shera," Aeris smiled. "Do you think Sephy is cute?"
That was it. Everyone in the room lost it. Sephiroth's scowl deepened. Shera laughed slightly with everyone, though she didn't quite know why she was supposed to be. She had to wait a few moments before order was restored.
"Who wanted tea?" she asked finally, placing the tray she had been carrying on the coffee table in front of the group. Everyone who had placed orders each took a cup of tea and went back to watching the movie.
"Aren't you going to take your tea, Sephiroth?" Shera asked him, sliding his cup across in his direction.
"I guess so." the man shrugged.
"Well, what do you think?" Aeris smiled. "Isn't it nice? Doesn't it warm you up?"
"Hang on, I haven't tasted it yet!" Sephiroth yelped. He picked up the cup carefully and sniffed the contents cautiously before taking a tiny sip.
"Well??" Aeris asked.
"It's alright." Sephiroth said, nodding in approval.
"It's alright!?" Cid snapped. "Shera makes the best goddamn tea I've ever tasted, and you say it's just alright!? Go drink tea somewhere else and then try saying that, you ingrate!!"
"Cid honey, calm down...." Shera smiled.
"Yeah, Cid." Aeris spoke up. "It's just his first taste. He doesn't have anything to compare it to yet."
"Hmph....." Cid grunted.
"Hey Sephiroth," Shera said, pausing momentarily. "How old are you?"
"About 28 years old." Sephiroth answered her. "Why did you want to know that?"
"Well usually, most people your age have tasted many things." Shera told him. "But you mentioned just now that you've never had tea before. I just find that a little strange, that's all."
"Well until recently, I've never had the chance to try anything like this...." Sephiroth said, taking another mouthful of tea. "And I have to admit, it is nicer than any fluid I have ever tasted before."
"That's better." Cid grunted.
Shera sat down beside her husband, and settled in to watch the movie with the rest of the group. She wasn't particularly interested in watching the movie, she just wanted the company of her husband and all his friends. Though, the conversations she tried to start were all sort of one-sided, seeing as though the group was fixated on the TV screen. Everybody that is, except for Sephiroth who was so bored that he picked up the TV Guide, covered his face with it and attempted to fall asleep. Aeris giggled at him, and rested her head on his elbow.
Meanwhile, the movie continued. Barret laughed too loudly for Cloud's liking, but Tifa snuggled up to him so he couldn't very well complain that the movie was a totally miserable experience. Yuffie twaddled her thumbs and wished to herself that she had some popcorn to throw at somebody. Vincent folded his arms and looked removed, though he couldn't help but smile a little when the heroine of the story was fatally wounded in the heart and died.
Within the hour, the movie ended. Shera immediately stood up, walked over to the television and turned it off.
"Alright everybody," Shera said sternly. "It's time for the television to go off."
"Shera!" Cid snapped. "I wanted to see what was coming on next!"
"But it's nearly midnight." Shera said sternly. "Time for you all to go to bed."
"But I'm not sleepy." Cloud protested.
"Nonsense." Shera said sharply. "You have a nice warm cup of tea in your tummy. Once you get your feet warm, you'll be out like a light."
"That's true." Tifa smiled. "Cloud falls asleep so easily once he's cosy and warm, don't you Cloud?"
"Don't treat me like a child." Cloud growled. "I'm a full-grown adult, I'll go to bed whenever I want."
"Oh no you won't!" Shera snapped. "Aren't you all going off on another adventure tomorrow?"
"Yes." Ruben said. "We're all going to the Midgar Ruins, so everyone can welcome Cait Sith when he gets reactivated."
"But I thought we were going to take that little cub back to his home. And Red was going with him so he could meet them." Yuffie said loudly. "I thought that's what we were going to do tomorrow, take them back to their tribe."
"No, we're going to the Midgar Ruins." Ruben scowled, shaking his head.
"No, we're going to see Red's tribe." Yuffie scowled right back.
"Midgar Ruins." Ruben said, with more volume to his demand.
"Red's tribe!" Yuffie said back, just as viciously.
"Midgar Ruins!"
"Red's tribe!"
"MIDGAR RUINS!!!"
"RED'S TRIBE!!!"
"HOLD IT!" Shera yelled, stepping inbetween the two. "Wherever you all end up going, you're going to need a good night's sleep!"
Sephiroth yawned momentarily. Shera looked in his direction. "See?? One of your friends is tired!"
"Actually, he's not my friend at all." Cloud interjected.
"Who cares!?" Shera snapped. "The fact that you're all awake means you're keeping him up!"
"No they're not." Sephiroth said calmly.
"Shut up!" Shera yelled. "Just go to bed now before I do something drastic!"
"God, alright!!" Cid said, sitting up. He reached across the side of the couch for his pair of crutches and uneasily got to his feet. "I'm going to bed! Are you happy now, woman?!"
"Cid!!" Shera howled. "Lie down or you'll hurt yourself!"
"F*cking hell woman, first you want me to go to bed, and now you want me to stay put?" The aging pilot began to make his way out of the room. "Make up your goddamn mind!"
Shera followed close behind him. "Cid sweetie, do you need any help?"
"No of course not!" Cid snapped. "I'm not an invalid!"
Aeris watched them leave. "Well? Do you think we should do as she says?"
"It couldn't hurt." Tifa answered. "I mean, it is pretty late."
"Late??" Sephiroth scoffed. "You call midnight late??"
"When you're going to be waking up at 6:30am, well.... yes." Reeve shrugged. "See you later then." he said, and walked off down the hallway to the room he was to be sleeping in.
"Yeah, smell you later." Ruben smirked, and left as well.
Meanwhile, Cloud let out a pained groan. "We have to wake up THAT early tomorrow!?"
"We want to set out pretty early tomorrow morning, and by the time it takes all of us to get organised and ready, I'd say we'd set out by about 8:00am." Tifa smiled. "What's the matter, Cloud? Are you a little grumpy about having to go to bed earlier than usual?"
"Yes I AM!" Cloud snapped. "You can't make me, you know....."
"Awright!!" Barret cheered. "Finally, a REAL adventure. Ahm gonna set my alarm clock real early t'morrow mornin." he said happily, then walked up the hallway to his room.
"Why don't you be more like Barret, Cloud?" Tifa smiled, moving a hand across his forehead, moving the stray strands of hair out of his eyes.
"What, you mean be stocky looking, black, have a gun for an arm on my right hand, and sound like I have a Southern accent?" Cloud mocked. "Yeah Teef, Ahm sure ay c'n rilly doo dat!"
"NO silly!" Tifa said, punching him lightly in the arm. "I just mean that you should be more enthusiastic about going to sleep."
"Why? Sleeping is pointless." Cloud grumbled. "I'm only going to wake up again six or seven hours later."
"Cloud!" Tifa giggled. "Just go to bed!"
"Oh, alright." Cloud sighed.
"Good. I don't want to argue with you." Tifa smiled faintly, and kissed him on the forehead. "Goodnight, Cloud....."
"Oh...." Cloud gave her a cockeyed look. "Come here...." he said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "See you in the morning, Teef."
Cloud and Tifa walked off down the hall, and into their respective rooms, closing the doors behind them, leaving Sephiroth and Aeris alone in the hall together.
Aeris looked at Sephiroth, and smiled.
"Goodnight....." she whispered.
"Yes." Sephiroth nodded.
The two watched each other for just a brief moment or two.
"Umm...." Aeris paused awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"What the hell...." Aeris smiled, then wrapped her arms around him. "Goodnight!!"
Sephiroth was a bit startled - he wasn't used to being hugged by someone else. He smiled faintly as Aeris hugged him tighter, and he had to admit, it DID feel rather nice. Awkwardly, he put his arms around the girl and gave her a sort of rough hug - though he didn't hug her too hard in fear of crushing the girl.
"Goodnight, Aeris." Sephiroth smiled. "Goodnight until tomorrow."
------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back in the loungeroom, a very worried Red XIII sat, waiting. The cub still had not returned back to the Highwind, though he had ventured out hours ago.
Red XIII scowled slightly to himself and thought he was being over-protective. But on the other hand, this cub he was worrying over was barely a year old - and out alone in the night. Why, he could be attacked by the native wild creatures that roamed the grasslands if he wasn't lucky. It was at that moment that the great lion stood up, finally deciding to go after the cub. That was, until Yuffie suddenly came up to sit with him.
"What's wrong Red?" she asked.
"It's Shadrach." Red XIII explained. "He's been gone too long."
"Well," Yuffie said. "If you want to go after him, go on. If you want to do something, do it while you can. It's the only way to live without any regrets."
"Right." Red XIII said, standing up. "Wise words coming from someone so young as you, Yuffie. Are you maturing faster than I thought?"
"Maybe." Yuffie blushed. "But those words of wisdom came from my father. Maybe I'm not as wise as you think."
"No, don't say that." Red XIII said. "Words of wisdom come from your elders. To use their proverbs at the appropriate time is a true act of wisdom."
Yuffie smiled. "Gee, are you trying to give me an ego boost?"
Red XIII chuckled slightly.
Just then, the red lion and the ninja girl heard a loud rustling sound coming from the patch of grass below them. Running out onto the deck of the Highland and looking over the bow of the ship, they saw a light like a candle flame waving around furiously.
"Hey!!" the high pitched voice cried out. "Are you up there?!"
Red XIII smiled broadly, his worries forgotten in a second. He illuminated his own tail and waved it around like a beacon. "Yes!! Come on up!"
"OK!!" the cub yelled. "But you have to put up with both of us now!!"
"Two baby Reds?!" Yuffie nearly squealed with joy. "Am I in heaven?!"
Red XIII laughed loudly. "I think you like us, huh?"
Yuffie tackled the great lion with a hug. "What do you think, Red?!"
-------------------------------------------
"Cloud?"
"Huh?" Cloud grunted, half asleep.
"Hey Cloud?" Sephiroth repeated himself, only slightly louder than before.
"Sephiroth??" Cloud wondered. "Is that you calling me?"
"Yeah."
"That's odd." Cloud said quietly. "You usually call me by my last name."
"Sorry."
"What do you want, you arrogant bastard?!" Cloud snapped suddenly. "I'm trying to get to sleep you know!!"
"I realise that, and I apologise for waking you up." Sephiroth said slowly. "But I wish to ask you a question."
"OK." Cloud nodded. "Shoot."
"The lion is going to see his family and all his kind tomorrow." Sephiroth explained. "And yet, this man from Shinra wishes all of us to go with him to his domain in the Midgar Ruins, where he is holding that robotic creature.... Cait Sith...."
"Yeah?" Cloud scowled. "So???"
"Well I was wondering...." Sephiroth paused momentarily. "Where are you going?"
"Huh?"
"Are you going to go with the lion, or are you going to witness the reactivation of Cait Sith?" Sephiroth asked. "Both events sound equally as important as each other."
Cloud was silent.
"The lion has never seen his kind before. Tomorrow, he will see them for the first time in his life. It will be the most significant thing that has ever happened to him since his own birth." Sephiroth said quietly. "But what happens if his own kind treat him as an enemy? What if they attack him? What if they swarm on him and kill him?"
Cloud remained silent.
"Meanwhile, the man who wants you all to go with him to Midgar, sure, the reactivation of a robotic creature may not sound all that exciting, but what if he has something much more sinister in mind than what he is saying?"
"I don't trust him either." Cloud scowled deeply. "I had my doubts about his motives, just mere seconds after meeting him."
"He gave me a personal invitation to go with him, the very man probably solely responsible for that ridiculous cult." Sephiroth scowled. "What would happen if he really was intending something more sinister? This cult was based on me, designed to make money don't forget. What if he was trying to get at me? I can think of no reason why he shouldn't want to, actually having the genuine article for your religion would prove extremely beneficial....."
"You're not very trusting towards anyone, are you?"
"No, and right now, it seems to be a virtue." Sephiroth answered. "My distrust toward everyone and everything has gotten me this far....."
There was a period of silence for a few moments.
"I will sleep now." Sephiroth said plainly. "Sorry to be a waste of your time."
"No, you aren't a waste of my time." Cloud replied. "You just made me aware of something I hadn't thought about."
"Hmmm." Sephiroth said thoughtfully.
"Ummmm.... Sleep well." Cloud said uneasily.
"Yes." Sephiroth responded.
Cloud's sleepiness all but drifted away from him. A feeling of angst settled in the pit of his stomach as he thought of both scenarios and possible dangers that Sephiroth had highlighted - both were quite legitimate, and Cloud had not even thought to consider either until they were brought to his attention.
It didn't really bother him so much that his arch enemy had been the one to point them out to him - he was more unnerved by the fact that he himself had not even thought of them in the first place. What kind of a leader was that, one that didn't see any and all possible dangers that might threaten his group!? What kind of a leader would do that?!
"Oh man......" Cloud scowled to himself. He felt helpless, not being able to protect his group from both dangers they would face tomorrow. He himself could only be in one place at a time - so how was he supposed to protect the others that went the other way?
Cloud pulled the covers over his head and tried to drift off to sleep. But there would be no sleep for the blonde haired warrior that night.
He couldn't help but feel like he'd let his entire group down.
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To Be Continued..........
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Writer's Ramblings:
*Sighs* I know what I said at the end of the last chapter. Sometimes, I just don't make it that far. I'm sorry! Now, because of me, you're all having to wait till Chapter 12 till the group visits the Midgar Ruins! Waaah! I'm such a bad author! I lie to my readers!!!!
Things like this happen all the time. I just sit here and type, the fanfiction writes itself. It takes control over me, and then I'm finding myself spending every second of my free time writing it, and enjoying it! Ahh!!
Well, until Chapter 12, Cya later dear readers.
- Kat_Aclysm =^-^=
written by Kat_Aclysm
Rated PG: Because I said so. There's probably bad language in here somewhere! (Probably?! More like 'imminently'! Cid is in this story, don't forget!)
DISCLAIMER: Final Fantasy VII isn't mine, it belongs to SquareSoft. Although I own a copy of the game, it is still SquareSoft's, and the great Tetsuya Nomura's idea (he designed all the characters). The plot to this fanfic is mine though. So don't pinch it on me or I'll cry (like you'd care).
NOTE: Read chapters 1-10 before this one. This story probably contains spoilers, so play through FFVII before reading (or I'll bash you).
Stuff in *'s is spoken in telepathy, while stuff in plain italics are just thoughts, unless somebody is yelling.
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Chapter 11 - A Flower For Your Thoughts......
"He's over this way!"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
"Hey!!" Shera cried out, now thoroughly exhausted. "Slow down and wait up for me!"
Shera raced after Red XIII and the little cub as they crashed through the Mideel forest. As to why Red XIII was running, he had no idea. At the moment, he didn't even care if the cub was going to lead them into a trap - all he wanted were answers, and he was not going to let the cub out of his sight until he had some.
Just as the red lion was about to open his mouth and ask the first of many questions he had on his mind, the cub suddenly dashed up ahead and out of sight altogether. Just mere seconds afterward, the cub's shrill voice cried out to the bigger lion.
"I found him!!" he screamed out. "Come over this way!!"
"Found who??" Red XIII wondered, as he continued to run ahead in the direction of the cub's voice. The response that came didn't come from the cub at all, but answered his question all the same.
"F*cking hell!! Do you have to scream in my ear like that?!"
"Cid!!!"
Red XIII heard Shera's desperate cry from behind him suddenly. He ran up with her into the undergrowth, where Cid was sitting, the cub at his side just sniffing him slightly. Shera pushed the cub aside in her frenzy and flung her arms around the pilot as hard as she could. Red XIII just smiled faintly at the scene.
"F*cking hell woman...." Cid smiled, wincing slightly in his wife's crushing hug. "What's your problem? Why are you crying? Why are you so sad?"
"Dummy! That's not it....." Shera said, wiping her eyes. "I'm crying because I'm happy..... happy you're alive."
"Because you're happy?" Cid grunted as he reached out his arms and hugged her. "You cry when you're happy too? You sure are a weird one....."
The small cub just looked at Shera and Cid's display with an essence of curiosity.
"Excuse me....." the cub whispered to Red XIII. "But do all bipeds greet each other in this way?"
"No of course not, little one!" Red XIII chuckled loudly. "Considering their circumstances, a greeting like this is just natural."
"Huh?" the cub looked baffled. "Why put on such a display?"
"Well you see, he is her mate and she's been worrying herself sick over him, because until this moment he was missing. We've been looking for him everywhere."
"Oh." the cub said, suddenly understanding. "I suppose now we shall pick him up and carry him back to your dwelling?"
"Yes, that would be the best thing to do." Red XIII nodded, then turned to Shera and Cid.
"Shera," Red XIII said to her, slightly guilty that he had interrupted her reunion with Cid. "Do we take Cid with us back to the Highwind, or do we send him back to the hospital in Mideel?"
"If you send me back to that hellhole, I'm kicking you all off my plane!" Cid snapped suddenly. "Why, if you even consider it, I'll......."
"Why, Cid?" Shera interrupted him, suddenly angry. "What made you leave the hospital?! You were warm, you were being cared for and you were being waited on hand and foot! What was so bad about that place that made you decide to just get up and leave!?"
"Don't make me discuss that, Shera....." Cid said, subdued.
"And why not!?" Shera snapped. "I am married to you, or did you forget that!? I think I have a right to know!!"
"God, are you deaf, woman?!" Cid barked. "I said don't make me discuss it!!"
"Sorry, I don't know what came over me...."
"Now let's get the f*ck out of here and go home." Cid grunted. "It's cold and I'm hungry."
"Yes Cid....." Shera sighed, picking up his belongings and helping him to his feet slowly. "Sorry Cid......"
"It's easy to tell they're mates now. " the cub whispered to Red XIII.
"And why is that?" Red XIII wondered.
"The male is domineering over the female." the cub whispered. "It's standard behaviour between mates, isn't it?"
"Not in the human's eyes, cub." Red XIII whispered, scowling. "They're supposed to see each other as equals."
--------------------------------------------------
On the deck of the Highwind near the bow of the plane, Sephiroth sat quietly, just staring out at the horizon. He looked up briefly to see if Cloud and Tifa were still up the roof of the ship - they were not. Sephiroth felt a bit unsettled by that - he had not seen them climb down. He quickly shrugged it off though, after coming to the conclusion that they had most likely gone inside where it was warm.
Meanwhile, the biting coldness of the night air didn't seem to worry the grey haired warrior in the slightest - there were more important things on his mind than a feeling of slight uncomfort. Looking upward, a deep scowl grew on his face as his eyes drifted to the unheavenly red body in the sky.
"This is utterly hopeless...... I don't even know where it's going to land....."
*"But YOU already know."*
"Huh?" Sephiroth said suddenly, looking around. But there was no-one in sight.
*"Oh, it's you again. Why must you keep pestering me?"*
*"Because you keep persisting with frivolous questions, and worrying over pointless things."*
*"No they are not frivolous! They are legitimate questions that have been puzzling me many times over! I think worrying about where the Meteor is going to land is definitely NOT a pointless exercise, thankyou!"*
*"But you know where it is going to land, so why bother worrying over it?"*
*"No I don't!!! I don't know where that thing is going to crash down at all!!"*
*"But the one who summons an Ultimate Magic instinctively knows where it's focal point is, do they not? The magic's summoner can also call off the enchantment at any time he or she chooses."*
-
-
-
*"So, unless you didn't summon the Meteor, you know where it will land, and you can halt the magic at any time you see fit."*
-
-
*"Just shut up."*
*"Then listen to the voice of reason, child. Everybody knows that you didn't summon that eyesore in the sky..... but do you?"*
".............yes."
*"Then why do you persist with your stubborn attitude?"*
*"Because the world needs a scapegoat. Someone to blame their problems on...."*
*"Then shouldn't that scapegoat be the Calamity From the Skies, child?"*
-
-
-
*"It is alright. I will not force you......"*
*"I need help......"*
*"Then use the power that which was bestowed upon you when you were brought into this world, child. Just because it is destructive does not mean that it should be abhorred and destroyed....."*
*"Power?? Bestowed upon me? No, you don't understand. My power was taken from me when the Chosen One resurrected me...."*
*"Incorrect."*
*"Huh?"*
*"The Chosen One did not resurrect you."*
*"Yes she did!!!"*
*"Incorrect."*
*"Her name is Aeris!! You don't know her??"*
*"I know her very well. But you made no pact with the Chosen One."*
*"Yes I DID!!!"*
*"No you didn't. You made a pact with the Cetra known as Aeris Gainsborough, but you made no pact with the Chosen One."*
"Yes I did! You're Jenova, aren't you!? DAMN! I knew it was you all along!!"
*"Great. First you think you made a pact with the Chosen One, then you think I am the Calamity From the Skies? Child, you are one confused pup."*
*"Pup?! I'm 28!"*
*"You are still young when compared to everything else....."*
-
-
*"Just shut up and answer my question!!"*
-
-
-
*"And what is that?"*
*"What is a Sephiroth?!"*
*"You want to know the answer to that question so much, don't you, child?"*
*"Yes I do!! Now tell me!!"*
-
*"Dammit! Why won't you tell me!?"*
*"Listen to yourself. You may as well be a baby with the way you're carrying on, demanding things like that." *
*"Well why won't you tell me!? Are you trying to stop me from being hurt!?"*
*"No."*
*"Then why won't you tell me?! I have a right to know!!"*
-
-
-
-
*"There you go! Just be the defeatist you are and leave me when I start to get demanding!!"*
*"I would never leave you, child."*
*"Then tell me what the meaning of Sephiroth is!!"*
*"Just as you must endure through life, you must search for the answer to the question."*
*"Is that a no?! How can I know the answer if you won't tell me?!"*
*"Knowing is not the purpose. The act of striving to know.... the act of learning. This is what you must strive for. Otherwise, you will discover the truth, only to deny it."*
*"Why would I deny the truth!?"*
-
-
-
*"Why?!"*
*"Don't let your fury get the better of you, child. Not while in your current state....."*
*"What?"*
-
-
-
-
-
-
*"There you go again!! Answer my question, now!!"*
-
*"WHY?!"*
"Why, dammit?!" The grey haired man yelled out in frustration, idavertantly severing the telepathic link to the one he had been speaking to.
A sudden jolt of pain surged through Sephiroth's head as he was violently snapped back to reality. He let out a cry of pain as he clutched at his head with both hands, as if almost trying to stop it from exploding. Sweat beaded down his forehead and he heard a loud thumping sound, emanating through his head loudly as he tried to catch his breath once again. Just then, he felt a soothing hand on his shoulder.
"Sephiroth?" came Aeris's voice, concerned and worried. "Are you OK??"
"I'm fine......" Sephiroth said, through his breathlessness. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Aeris said slowly. "You look beat."
"I said I was fine!" Sephiroth snapped defensively.
Aeris was silent, and just looked at the man with a worried look on her face.
Sephiroth turned to face her after a few moments.
"What do you want from me?!"
"Something's distressing you." Aeris whispered. "I can sense it."
Sephiroth scowled, finally giving in. There was not really much point in hiding anything from her. "They spoke to me again......."
"Who did?"
"I don't know!" The man yelled. "All I know is now they're trying to play with my mind!"
"Are you sure it's not Jenova??"
"It can't be...." Sephiroth shook his head in annoyance. "They called you Aeris Gainsborough......"
"They know that?" Aeris looked thoughtful. "Hmm, that's weird. Not even Jenova knows my last name....."
"They claim that I didn't make a pact with you, either."
"That man Reeve brought with him, he had glowing eyes as well....." Aeris thought. "Maybe it's him who is doing this to you."
"Well Strife has been infused with Jenova's cells as well, and he cannot communicate telepathically." Sephiroth scowled. "I know that for a fact through all the times I tweaked with his mind."
"Well, it's no use wondering about it now. All you can do is make guesses based on what they tell you." Aeris said finally. "Next time they speak to you, start up a telepathic link to me. I'll try reasoning with them myself."
"Good, maybe you can get them to leave me alone." Sephiroth sighed. "Maybe you can find out who they are."
"Alright." Aeris said kindly. "Now why don't we go inside? It's cold out here and dinner's nearly ready. I don't really want anything to burn."
"Alright." Sephiroth said, shaking his head slightly. "Anyway, my head hurts. I think this night air is messing about with it....."
Aeris frowned slightly. "I don't think that's it, somehow....."
--------------------------------------------------
"King's knight to......."
"Vincent, pack that game up right now." Aeris scolded the raven haired man as she walked through the loungeroom, headed for the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready!"
Vincent raised an eyebrow at the Cetra girl. "Do you forget so quickly that I can no longer experience what food tastes like?"
"Whoops, I forgot. Silly me." Aeris said apologetically. "Carry on...."
"Now what do you suppose I should do for black's next move?" Vincent asked, directing his question at nobody in particular.
"I said I don' care....." Barret sighed, resting his good hand on his chin. "I haven' been payin' attention ta this game for th' last few hours, so why should I start now?"
Sephiroth paused in the doorway and migrated slowly to Vincent's chess game.
"Hmmm......" he thought, studying the placement of the pieces on the board.
"What are you doing, Sephiroth??" Vincent snapped. "I do not think you can contribute anything useful to this game."
"If you move the black rook up and take the white black square bishop you have in the corner of the board," Sephiroth said after a moment. "Then you can put the white side into checkmate."
Vincent paused for a moment to study the move Sephiroth had just explained.
"You are right...." the raven haired man admitted. "I did not see that move at all...."
"You're not the only one who plays chess around here." Sephiroth shrugged as he sat down opposite to the man. "I'll give you a game if you would like."
"I think that would be interesting." Vincent nodded slowly. "It would be a nice change to challenge somebody that doesn't try to shoot you or break the chessboard after they lose for once." he said, eyeing Barret coldly.
"Alright," Sephiroth nodded. "I accept your challenge."
"Let the game begin, but let me assure you now that you will lose." Vincent smirked, and began to arrange the pieces back onto their starting positions. "Seeing as though you are the white side, I will let you go first."
"Oh no he won't!" Aeris interrupted him sharply. "Dinner is ready, so pack that game away and come eat!"
Sephiroth sighed deeply in irritation.
"And you...." Aeris said, leering at Vincent.
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Aeris said angrily. "Put that chess game away. It's a distraction to others."
"God Aeris, can't you just let up on somebody for once!?" Yuffie cried out suddenly.
"Hey guys." Cloud said cheerfully as he walked in the front door and through to the kitchen that neighboured the loungeroom, his arm linked in Tifa's. "What's happening?"
"Chaos has awakened!" Yuffie squealed, falling off the couch. "We're all going to die!"
"What?" Tifa said suddenly. "What do you mean?"
"No it hasn't." Vincent said calmly. "My Limit is not going to break at any time soon."
"No, I meant that Aeris is serving dinner!" Yuffie yelled. "Like I said, chaos has awakened!! We're all going to die!"
"Oh." Vincent said quietly. "My apologies."
"Somebody go and get that nice man and his friend." Aeris said suddenly. "I made more than enough for anyone who wants some."
"That's right for sure...." Yuffie mumbled under her breath. "Because I can't think of anyone who actually does want some."
"I heard that." Aeris said, leering at Yuffie, who cowered behind the chair in front of her suddenly.
"What's for dinner?" Cloud spoke up. "I'm hungry, I want food."
Tifa batted him across the back of the head. "So blunt, aren't you??"
"Well I am hungry!" Cloud whimpered, rubbing the sore spot on his head where Tifa had hit him. "And I do want food!"
"It's nothing to get worked up about really, Tifa." Aeris giggled loudly. "You should be used to the bluntness of boys by now."
"Well...."
"Isn't that right, Sephy?" Aeris smiled.
"Shut up." Sephiroth grunted.
"See?" Aeris giggled.
"Well?" Cloud whimpered. "What is for dinner?"
"Oh, just a beef and vegetable stirfry, and a soup I whipped up." Aeris smiled. "I've thrown some wholegrain barley into the soup for fibre, because I bet none of you are getting enough."
"Lucky us." Yuffie said bitterly. "Just what we need - precious fibre. You want fibre? Go eat a pair of sweatsocks."
"Now somebody go get that other man and his friend......"
"Who do you mean, Aeris?" Cloud wondered.
"That man who brought you and Barret over here. He owns that small plane parked not too far away from the Highwind." Aeris explained. "His friend is that blonde haired man with the white jacket."
"That guy is not a friend...." Cloud said through his teeth.
"I don't mind." Aeris shrugged. "Just go and get them before they miss out."
"Lucky them." Yuffie mumbled.
"All of you, just stop your arguing and be quiet." Tifa said calmly.
"But she starte---" Yuffie began.
"The lot of you!" Tifa interrupted her. "I'll go get them, Aeris. Don't you worry."
"Thankyou." Aeris smiled as Tifa walked out of the room and began to proceed down the hallway, leaving Cloud and Aeris alone together in the kitchen.
Cloud gave Aeris an uneasy glance as he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ummm...." he said quietly. "I must seem like such a loser to you...."
"Not at all. I think you just got a little confused, especially after how I'd been acting towards you...." Aeris answered, smiling weakly. "Which I am deeply sorry for."
"Don't worry about it." Cloud told her. "Let's just remain friends and leave it at that."
"Alright." Aeris nodded. "Oh by the way Cloud, did Tifa eventually get around to telling you what she wanted to tell you?"
"Oh yes...." Cloud smiled weakly as a faint red mark appeared across the bridge of his nose.
"Well....?"
"She said she loved me...." Cloud said slowly, inadvertently bringing a hand up to scratch the back of his head. "And I told her I felt the same way....."
"Well isn't that just great?" Aeris smiled warmly. "So you two are an item now?"
"It would seem that way....." Cloud said quietly, his eyes drifting downwards to his shoes. "By the way Aeris, I'd been meaning to ask you a question......"
"Oh??"
Cloud looked up at her suddenly. "It was something you said to me while we were alone in the cable-car ride, back at the Gold Saucer...." he paused briefly. "I had just wondered what you meant by it....."
"I said a lot of things on that ride." Aeris whispered. "And all of them could have been worded a lot more subtly. But go on, what were you wondering about?"
"You said 'my heart belongs to someone else'." Cloud told her. "But I never understood what you meant. Are you saying that there's someone you like?"
"Oh, that." Aeris looked away suddenly, thoroughly embarrassed. "Well, um....."
Just then, Tifa appeared at the door with Reeve and his blonde-haired captive in tow.
"Hey guys!" Tifa said, making Aeris jump a mile. "What are you talking about?"
"Not much...." Aeris said, suddenly turning around to face the stove. "I've nearly finished cooking dinner, that's all. Cloud is in here because he's my taste tester, aren't you, Cloud?"
"Oh, um, yeah!" Cloud said, instantly enthusiastic. "Yum yum, Aeris! It's not half bad!"
"Really?" Tifa said, nudging inbetween Cloud and Aeris to get closer to the stove.
Picking up a nearby spoon, she dipped it lightly in the concoction that was just bubbling away quietly in it's saucepan, and tasted it.
"Well....?" Aeris whispered.
"This is quite good, for a beginner." Tifa smiled. "It needs just a tad more salt."
"I think it's fine the way it is. You can add salt to your own later, if you want." Aeris just shrugged. "Now who's going to set the table?"
"Set the table?" Cloud queried. "Usually, Shera just lets us eat in front of the TV, or we all just eat seated on the furniture in the loungeroom. Since when do we worry about formalities like that?"
"Since now." Aeris said, handing him a stack of plates. On the top of the stack, she placed a bunch of knives and forks. "And when you're done with that lot, come back for the napkins."
"Napkins??" Cloud whimpered.
Reeve laughed slightly. "Whatever is the matter, Cloud? You've never seen napkins in your life, have you?"
"I have so!" The spiky haired man defended. "You don't think I'm that much of a slob, do you?!"
"Calm down, Cloud. It's alright, really it is. They're just teasing you." Tifa assured him. "Just go set the table, OK?"
"Oh alright...." Cloud said through his teeth. The man leered at Reeve suddenly. "But no more wisecracks about me not knowing what a napkin is, you got that?"
"Agreed." Reeve nodded, a faint smile on his face.
"Oh, don't you worry, Reeve..." Tifa smiled. "Cloud knows what a napkin is. It's just he's never actually used one."
"TIFA!!!"
---------------------------------------------
The dogmatic ideals of Cetra.....
the sluggard ways of humans.....
and the instability of the Angel of Death.....
....shall ultimately decide my final destiny.
----------------------------------------------
Aeris's dinner kicked off without a hitch or a complaint, save for a small whinge from Yuffie, wondering why they were all to be seated at a dinner table like a group of 'creepy loser guys'. Vincent just stayed seated on the couch in deep thought about what to do with his chess game.
"I think this is just pathetic...." Yuffie said haughtily as she folded her arms. "Why do we have to sit at the table like this?!"
"Yes, I must concur." Sephiroth said quietly. "Usually, we sit disorganised around this place and eat in front of the television."
"Well tonight's different." Aeris snapped. "We never do this as a group, anyway...."
"So why start now?!" Yuffie squealed. "The whole group isn't here anyway, because Cid and Red aren't around!"
"You're right." Cloud sighed suddenly.
"Well Cid ain't gonna come cuz he's in the hopsicle." Barret grunted. "And the cat's visitin' him with that Shera chick, so I doubt we'll be seein' them fer a few hours."
"Oh well." Aeris shrugged. "I guess I'll have to save some food for them when they get back."
"Why must they suffer too?" Yuffie grumbled.
Tifa shot Yuffie a look upon seeing Aeris's upset. "Yuffie...." she warned.
Silence reigned as the group continued to eat.
"This just isn't right!" Yuffie exploded suddenly, breaking the silence and startling everyone at the table. "A ninja sitting at the table to eat, like a civilised person!?"
"Are you saying you're not?" Tifa smiled.
Yuffie was suddenly silent, a deep scowl on her face. "Stupid..... idiots....." she mumbled to herself as she began to eat what was put in front of her.
"Now," Aeris smiled almost immediately. "What do you think of my cooking?"
Yuffie immediately grabbed her throat with both hands and pretended to choke as she fell off her chair. Aeris looked upset.
"It's quite good considering what you've come from." Tifa said quickly, trying to repair the Cetra girl's hurt feelings.
"Ngdfffg hfgggg fugghhh......" Cloud said incoherently. He could barely close his mouth, let alone chew.
Reeve smiled faintly. "I think that means he likes it."
"Cloud, you know better than that! Eat with your mouth closed, and don't talk with your mouth full!" Tifa scolded him. "Finish what you've got there and then speak."
Somehow, Cloud not only closed his mouth but was also able to chew and swallow.
"I like it." he said finally, smiling. "It's a lot better than your previous attempts."
"Hell, it's better than instant dinners." Barret offered.
"Uhmm.... it's..." Ruben began uneasily. "..........exquisite."
"What is that man doing seated at the table among us?" Cloud said coldly.
"Well, if he doesn't try to kill us, I don't mind him being here." Reeve said suddenly. "Besides, I'm not going to let him go till he returns Cait Sith."
"Which I will." Ruben nodded solemnly. "Why doesn't everyone come along? I'm sure Cait Sith would like a big welcome....."
"Hmmm......" Cloud scowled deeply.
"This food is just great, Aeris!" Sephiroth said enthusiastically.
"What....?" Yuffie yelped. "Someone actually likes Aeris's cooking?! Arrgh! The man IS insane after all!"
Aeris ignored Yuffie altogether as she grinned widely. "You like it, Sephy?"
"Don't call me that."
"But you like it, don't you?"
"Yes, of course I do. I haven't tasted anything like this before." Sephiroth nodded faintly as he picked up a small piece of broccoli with his fork precariously. He popped it in his mouth and chewed, a smile on his face. "There is so much flavour and texture in food!"
"Well I never knew anyone could get so excited over broccoli." Cloud said, shaking his head. "One would think you've never had vegetables before."
"Well, I haven't really. All I've ever eaten until now were rations from when I was in SOLDIER." Sephiroth shrugged. "And when I was a child, my father fed me on a diet completely composed of a weird coloured fluid."
"Weird coloured fluid?" Cloud wondered.
"Well, I don't exactly know what it was." Sephiroth started to explain. "But it wa---"
"Shinra-Beta." Ruben interrupted him. "It was most probably Shinra-Beta."
"What??" Sephiroth looked at the man suddenly.
"Hojo most probably fed you on Shinra-Beta." Ruben explained. "It was a 'perfect food' designed for all the lab rats that Shinra experimented on. It just contained all the essential vitamins and minerals needed to keep the lab specimen alive and healthy."
"Lab rat.....?!" Sephiroth scowled deeply at the man across from him. "I'm betting you know a whole lot more than you're letting on, Shinra boy....."
"Well the information regarding your upbringing isn't exactly classified any more, you know." Ruben scowled. "If you march over to Shinra HQ in the Midgar Ruins, you might find out something that's being hidden from you....."
Sephiroth stood up suddenly. "Then I must go." he declared angrily. "There are still so many questions I have that need to be answered."
"Then go in the morning, Sephy...." Aeris told him calmly. "It's getting late, and it's really dark outside. Midgar is miles away from here, and flying a plane there at night isn't exactly safe."
"Don't call me that."
"One day won't make a difference." Aeris told him, still calm. "Sit down and finish your dinner."
Sephiroth let out an angry sigh as he sat down. "I suppose you're right....."
"Something's awry here...." Cloud scowled suddenly. "Why are you inviting Sephiroth to Midgar? And why are you asking all of us to go along with Reeve and yourself when you turn on Cait Sith?"
"I'd just assumed Cait Sith would like a welcoming committee." Ruben answered plainly. "And Sephiroth here is probably wondering many things about his upbringing, all of which has been classified information until recently."
"So why is it no longer classified all of a sudden?!" Cloud snapped.
"Who would want to steal the information now?" Ruben asked. "What other company has enough power and money to mass produce soldiers with the power of Cetra? And now that half the world's population is deceased thanks to the Meteor, who would want to??"
"Mass produce people like me??" Sephiroth queried. "Shinra was going to do that?!"
"What else did you think Shinra would do with you?" Ruben shrugged.
"Yeah, But reall---"
Just then, there was an abrupt knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Yuffie squealed, leaping up and knocking her plate to the floor.
"Gee, I can see she's a good house guest...." Ruben commented.
"Cid!?" Yuffie's shocked voice yelled out suddenly from the other room. "What's he doing here??"
"What!?" Cloud choked suddenly, getting to his feet in an instant.
Just about everyone dropped what they were holding, and headed for the front door. In came Shera, Red XIII with Cid riding on his back, and a small lion cub timidly walking inside, practically hugging at Shera's ankles. Red XIII walked over to the couch closest to him and let Cid crawl off his back safely.
"Cid?!" Cloud was the first to speak what was one everyone's minds. "What are you doing here, and why aren't you at the hospital?!"
"F*cking hell!" Cid clutched at his plaster as he sat up. "Don't ask me stupid questions!"
"Even we don't have the answer to that question, Cloud." Shera said crankily. "Cid refuses to discuss it."
"Well, is he going back to the hospital?" Cloud wondered.
"If you even think of sending me back to that hell hole, I'm gonna---"
"Cid!" Shera snapped. "A simple 'no' would have been quite enough!"
"He doesn't sound like he's in the best of moods, does he?" Vincent pointed out, watching them from the other side of the room.
"F*ck I hate you....." Cid cussed as he lay back on the couch, putting a hand over his eyes. "I hate the goddamn lot of you....."
"I thought so." Vincent nodded to himself.
"Isn't there anything we can do for him?" Tifa wondered.
"I can think of one thing." Shera said, scowling slightly as she reached into her pocket and grasped the small object inside. "I didn't want to give them back to him, but I guess I have no choice at the moment....."
As Shera pulled the small object out of her pocket, Cid was immediately quiet. It was almost as if he was seeing God. Tossing it onto his lap, Shera scowled deeply at him.
"I hope you're happy now." She said through clenched teeth as she walked from the room.
"Shera, don't be like that...." Cid cringed.
"What was that?" Cloud said, raising his eyebrows in confusion. "Cid, what did Shera give you?"
"She gave me my cigarettes back." Cid mumbled as he removed one from it's packet and put it in his mouth. "She hounds me every time I light up, damn her. She'll try to take them from me at every opportunity she can get too......"
"Because she cares about you." Red XIII scowled lightly. "You're slowly killing yourself, smoking those rolls of shredded tobacco leaf, you know."
Cid only shrugged as he flicked his lighter on, and lit the end of his cigarette.
"Excuse me biped, but what is that fire thing?"
"Who said that??" Tifa said suddenly.
"I did." came a quiet voice from between Red XIII's front paws. The tiny red cub stepped forward timidly, fluffing up the fur on his back in an attempt to make himself look bigger.
"Oh, it's you again." Cid grunted. "The blabbermouth kitten sh*t."
"I am not a kitten!" the cub growled, backing into a defensive stance. "I am a whole year old, thankyou very much!"
"Hey, why are you getting so upset?" Cid wondered.
"I suppose he has not been desensitised to your sharp tongue." Red XIII scowled.
"Oh, what a sweet little thing!" Yuffie squealed suddenly, spying the young lion cub. "A baby Red!" She made a dive for the cub, but he leaped aside in absolute terror and attempted to bound away. But Yuffie was too quick - she grabbed the cub roughly and hugged it to her chest, giving the baby a crushing hug.
"Help me!" the cub cried out, petrified. "I'm going to be killed!"
"Yuffie!!" Red XIII scolded the girl. "Put him down this instant!"
Yuffie let the cub go. He leaped from her arms, crashed ungracefully on the carpet and dove between Red XIII's legs.
"Look what you've done, Yuffie..." Red XIII said angrily. "You've scared him half to death!"
"How did I do that??" Yuffie whimpered. "I certainly didn't mean to!"
"I know that, Yuffie...." Red XIII said in a softer tone. "It's just, I doubt this cub here has ever seen humans before, let alone being picked up by one."
Yuffie crouched to the floor and smiled weakly at the cub. He looked back at her with frightened eyes and stepped back even further between Red XIII's legs.
"Hey, I'm sorry little guy...." Yuffie said in a soft voice. "I wasn't trying to hurt you."
"You weren't?" the cub whispered. "Then..... why did you grab me and squeeze me so hard that I couldn't get away?"
"I was hugging you....."
"Hugging....?"
"Humans greet each other that way, young one." Red XIII spoke calmly. "It's a sign of friendship, or love..... and sometimes both."
"I do not understand....."
"She was just saying hello." Red XIII said slowly. "Though her methods of doing so are sometimes questionable, Yuffie would never intend any ill-feeling towards you whatsoever."
"Really?" the cub whispered, looking in Yuffie's direction.
"I promise." Red XIII smiled, lowering his head at the girl. "She has no ill-feeling toward anyone here."
"Well.... If you say so, noble one..." The cub whispered. He stepped out from Red XIII's feet timidly and turned to face her, head held high, ready to face the worst. Yuffie moved her hand out slowly, smiling as the cub made no attempt to run when she brought her hand down and began to scratch his head lightly.
"You're so cute...." Yuffie giggled slightly. "Almost as cute as Red himself!"
"Yuffie..." Red XIII smiled, looking to the floor suddenly. "Don't say that....."
"But you are cute, Red!!" Yuffie said loudly, reaching across to give Red XIII a scratch on the head as well. "You're so cute, I wish I could keep you!"
"Wait a minute guys!" Cloud snapped. "Just stop right here!"
"What's wrong, Cloud??" Yuffie asked.
"Where did that cub come from?" Cloud wondered. "And what is it doing here??"
"Only Shera knows the answer to that one, Cloud." Red XIII explained. "And he's here with us now because it's cold and dark outside. It is irresponsible to leave a young child out alone in the cold. Something awful might happen to him. Also, I would like to ask him a few questions regarding himself, and the location of the rest of my species. "
"I am not a child!" the cub snapped defensively.
"You're younger and smaller than myself." Red XIII said calmly. "That makes you a child in my eyes."
"I..... I......" the cub stuttered, trying to think of a comeback. "I can think of nothing to say to that."
"Wait a minute there....... whatever your name is, cat." Ruben spoke up suddenly. "You want this squab kitten thing to stay here, which is a wild animal I might add.... You want it to stay here, just so you can ask it a bunch of questions?"
"I see nothing wrong with that." Red XIII said, confused.
"Shut up, bastard...." Cloud said angrily. "Nobody asked for your input!"
"Well no one asked for that stubborn attitude either," Ruben shrugged. "But we have to endure it anyway."
"Shut up!" Cloud yelled.
"Why?" Ruben smirked wickedly. "Nobody asked me to."
"That does it!" Cloud snapped, rolling his sleeves up and making a dive for the red eyed man. "I'm gonna tear your head off!"
Tifa grabbed him almost immediately. "Cloud, you stop that right now!" she scolded him. "Don't go picking a fight with absolutely everyone that upsets you!"
"But Tifa.....!!" Cloud defended.
"But nothing, Cloud Strife!" Tifa interrupted him. "Now behave yourself! And you Shinra jerk, stop picking on him! You're only encouraging him to get mad, you know!"
"Geez......" Ruben sighed angrily. "Can't I have any fun?"
"You must have some strange ideas about fun." Yuffie snapped.
"Okay okay....." Ruben sighed, throwing his hands in the air. "All I was questioning was why you let a wild animal on board this plane!"
"Well I seriously doubt he intends to harm anyone." Red XIII spoke. "It is rather cold outside tonight, and I do not wish him to endure that. I would not wish that on anybody."
The cub whimpered slightly at the remark.
"So what's your name?" Yuffie asked the cub out of the blue. "Or don't you have one?"
"Oh yes, I have a name." the cub nodded. "Shadrach. My name is 'Shadrach'."
"Shadrach, huh?" Yuffie smiled. "What a strange name...."
"No it isn't." the cub shook his head. "I think your name is stranger than mine any day. What kind of a name is 'Yuffie', anyway?"
"'Yuffie' is the name my father gave me." Yuffie scowled faintly. "I come from a long line of highly skilled ninjas....."
"Ninjas??" The cub asked, not understanding, having never heard the word used before. He decided to let it pass. "Why does the noble one call himself 'Red'?? Doesn't he have a tribal name like mine?"
"Tribal name?" Red XIII wondered. "Well, I do have another name.... the name my parents gave me, but all my friends call me 'Red'."
"Red??" The cub queried.
"Yeah." Cloud nodded. "We found him in the Shinra Building. Hojo was just about to do an experiment on him, so we busted him out of there and took him with us."
"Yes, Hojo named me, 'Red XIII'. A name with no meaning whatsoever to me. I asked my friends to call me whatever they wished."
"So, we called him 'Red', because he didn't like being called a number." Cloud explained. "When we named him that, we had no idea of his other name, but when the opportunity had arisen to call him by his birth name, he was content and actually happy with the current name we had given him."
"Oh......" The cub paused awkwardly. "Um, you called yourself a ninja earlier on....." He looked baffled. "I guess that's the name for your tribe, isn't it?"
"Tribe?"
"This is a tribe of bipeds, isn't it?" the cub wondered, looking around the room at everyone. "You're a collective family of non-related creatures living in the same area, looking after each other for the survival and benefit of each other, aren't you?"
"Well, I guess you could say that." Aeris thought. "We're all living in this small space, and we're not related to each other...."
"I guess you could say we look after each other too...." Tifa smiled. "I have to keep feeding everyone, plus I keep Cloud in line so he doesn't get into too much trouble...."
The cub nodded slowly. "Doesn't your tribe have a name? Are there certain rules laid down that you all have to follow?"
"The group's name is AVALANCHE!" Barret said suddenly. "And everyone's in it, except for that Sephiroth guy and these two dorks." he said, motioning in Reeve and Ruben's direction.
"You think I'm a dork do you, Barret?" Reeve smiled. "Well, at least you're honest." "Aaaeerrrrr....." Barret paused uncomfortably. "Sorry 'bout that, I only meant the Shinra dork."
"I am not a dork." Ruben said, scowling slightly.
"Yeah you are." Cloud said, suddenly leering at the man. "In fact, I'd even go so far as to say tha---"
Tifa slapped her hand over his mouth. "Cloud, what did I just tell you about getting into fights!?"
"Don't you have a tribe leader who makes all your decisions?" the cub spoke again. "Is your leader the one who dominates over everyone?"
"Our leader is Cloud." Tifa nodded. "And although sometimes, he tries to dominate over everyone, I usually knock him back into line with a few words."
"So this noble 'Cloud' is your tribe leader?" the cub queried. "Which one of you is he?"
"I'm Cloud." the spiky haired man nodded, raising his hand slightly. "But I wouldn't exactly say that I'm noble or anything........."
The cub fell to his feet in a formal bow. "I humbly ask to join your tribe."
"You want to join us?" Cloud scratched his head. "Why do you want to do that?"
"Nearly all of you are bipeds." the cub said. "That makes you all offensively powerful creatures. From the short while I've been in your territory, I've been protected from harm, and greeted with affection. I feel safe here, and I feel that I could grow up and be strong among you all."
"Now wait a minute...." Cloud said, making the cub silent. "Why don't you want to be with your own kind? Red here hasn't ever met his own kind, you know. I think he'd like you to show him what you creatures are like."
"I think he'd be better off not knowing. The tribe I came from......" the cub whispered. "I ran away from it because my father killed my mother....."
"Oh, that's just awful....." Yuffie sympathised.
"Me and my sister.... we ran away." the cub lowered his head to the floor. "I have left the others, and I don't wish to return to them. I am a rogue. Please, take me into your tribe and accept me as I am. One day when I am all grown up, I will avenge your very name, and live for all that you stand for....."
"So you came from a tribe, a whole group of lions with fire red fur like yourself?" Cloud wondered.
"Yes, I did." the cub nodded.
"Very well," Cloud smirked, thinking up a plan in his head. "Before you can join us, you must do one thing for me."
"Cloud....." Tifa sighed.
"Take Red here to see your tribe." Cloud smirked.
"What!?" Red XIII yelped in surprise. "Cloud, what are you doing!?"
"Red has never seen or interacted with creatures like yourself." Cloud explained. "Introduce him to your kind first. If you do that much, you're quite welcome to join us."
"Very well, Noble Cloud." the cub nodded. "But before you do that, I have one thing I want you to do for me."
"Oh?"
"I have a sister, hiding not too far away from here." the cub said. "Accept her into your tribe as well."
"You have a sister, too??" Red XIII said suddenly. "Go and call her immediately! She shouldn't be out in this weather either!"
"Alright!" the cub said quickly, and pushed his nose into the front door, making it open. "I'll be back with her real quick!" and with that, he disappeared into the night.
"Cloud, I have to question something you just did...." Red XIII said quietly.
"Yeah?" Cloud turned his attention to the great lion. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you making him face a test before he can join us?" Red XIII whispered. "I came to you as a rogue myself. You accepted me, and I didn't have to do anything. But yet, you are making a child that is much younger than myself confront his greatest fear before he can be considered one of us......"
"Yeah Cloud, what are you doing?!" Tifa yelped. "He's a lost little animal! We should be taking him in for a while, then work on sending him back home!"
"I know that, Teef." Cloud smirked. "Which is exactly what I'm doing."
"Huh??"
"The cub fled from his home because he's upset about something." Cloud explained. "I think if he takes Red along to where his kind live, he'll reconsider wanting to leave his family and everything he knows."
"Or they'll kill him." Red XIII whispered.
"I don't think so." Cloud shook his head.
"He said his father killed his own mother, Cloud....."
"Yes, but what if that's a bluff to get our sympathy?" Cloud sighed. "Come on Red, you want to know what it's like to be with creatures just like you, don't you? This is the perfect opportunity!"
"I'd always been curious about what it's like to be with my kind......." Red XIII sighed deeply. "But my home is here, among my friends. Why would I want to go to be with a group of lions that I've never met before? Sure, it would be nice to know that there's other creatures like myself out there, but if I were to live with them......"
"Red....." Cloud sighed.
The great lion lowered his head to the floor. "I would miss all the places and people I love."
"Red, I'm not making you do anything." Cloud told the lion sternly. "All I want you to do is go meet these lions. I'm not commanding you to leave us, but if you meet them and you want to stay with them, then I'll accept that."
"Oh no, Red's not thinking of leaving us, is he??" Yuffie said sadly, flinging her arms around the great lion. "But I love him!"
"If he wants to leave, that's his decision, and his decision alone." Sephiroth said calmly.
"Yes Yuffie, this is for the cat to decide, without our influence." Vincent spoke suddenly. "Only he can decide what is best for him in the end."
"Oh puke." Cid yawned. "God, can someone pick me up and hurl me into the ocean?!"
"A good friend once gave me these words of wisdom, Red, and I think you should heed them too." Tifa whispered. "You must go only where your heart leads....."
Red XIII had a sinking feeling in his gut suddenly, and it wasn't because Yuffie was squeezing him too hard either.
-------------------------------------------
The night continued without really much more of a problem. Everyone just went about their own way, watching the movie on TV, entertaining themselves, and drifting off to sleep, while Red XIII sat by the front door, waiting anxiously for the baby red lion cub to return.
"Hey Cid....." Yuffie asked the half-asleep pilot. "What's the best thing on TV tonight besides this movie?"
"Umm...." Cid thought hard. "There's not really anything else good on right now. Isn't that stupid? 200 channels to choose from and all of em' suck."
"What are you talking about?" Vincent said angrily. "All television programs are distasteful. Television is distasteful, period."
Cloud smothered a laugh.
"Cid?" Yuffie spoke up suddenly. "Why are you paying for the satellite connection if you think all the channels suck?"
"I'm not." Cid yawned. "I put that decoder box together from an amplifier and one of Shera's old electric razors."
"And it picks up and deciphers the Cable TV reception?" Cloud wondered. "Wow, that's really good!"
"Not really." Cid grunted.
"Well it's news to me." Cloud smiled. "You're going to have to make me one for my house back in Nibelheim."
"Oh that would be good, wouldn't it, Cloud?" Tifa smiled. "Think of all the shows we could watch!!"
"No-one will be making you anything." Ruben snapped. "Shinra needs those customers who actually pay for their Cable TV connection, thankyou! I've got a good mind to shut you down!"
"But you won't, will you?" Cid shrugged, reaching for a cigarette.
"No...."
"Ruben......" Reeve spoke suddenly, making the man sit up. "What made you decide to become the President of Shinra, anyway?"
"I said it before." Ruben scowled. "The people of this planet need someone like Shinra to knock them into line. Without some sort of government, the people run around like lost sheep."
"Is that really why you became the President?"
"Well.... the quality of life on this planet plummeted through the floor after Meteor hit." Ruben sighed. "Half the world's population died in Meteor's storm - just about everyone I knew, all my friends and my family. But we have to move on. We must stand on our own two feet and walk. Midgar will live on....."
"You think you're king of the mountain, don't you?" Cloud growled. "But it's all garbage!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"This planet never needed Shinra! All it ever did was tear lives apart! You say Shinra was powerful before Meteor hit?! Well just look at it now. Try asking any ONE of the people still living there if they feel proud that Shinra is looking after their wellbeing!" Cloud yelled. "Shinra did more harm than good, you stupid idiot!"
"Yeah! Dat's right! If th' Shinra had bin allow'd to carry on wit' their operations, suckin' the blood right out of th' planet, it'd probably be dead now!!" Barret hollered. "Although AVALANCHE made thous'nds of innocent people lose their lives because of us, we still protected th' planet!"
"Hey!" Ruben stood up defensively. "If it weren't for Shinra, there'd be no power on this planet whatsoever!"
"What do you mean?"
"Who do you think came up with solar power??" Ruben growled. "Solar panels on every roof that exists on this planet....."
"Huh?"
"Shinra developed and mass produced them." Ruben smiled. "Thanks to Shinra, this planet has a source of electricity. Sure, it's unreliable and it cuts out sometimes...."
"No way am I gonna thank Shinra for anything!" Cloud snapped. "I still have to pay my electricity bill for those stupid solar panels, and half the time the power doesn't work anyway!"
"The system is unreliable, but it reels in profit." Ruben smiled crookedly. "And that is another reason I declared myself President! To make money!"
"That's dishonest!!"
"You know Ruben, there are more honest ways to raise money in this life, and it's called 'Selling Mastered All Materias that you stole from Cloud'." Yuffie said sternly.
"What....!?" Cloud yelped.
"Uh... nothing." Yuffie bit her lip guiltily.
"You have no shame at all, do you?" Reeve sighed deeply. "You exploit the people of this planet, promising them better lifestyles..... and you take their money."
"People are sheep, Reeve." Ruben scowled. "They were happy with the old ways of living, before Meteor, when they lived in high class city apartments where their every comfort was met. They'll pay just about anything to get their old lives back, and that is all I am trying to do."
"No, you're trying to sham them and take their money." Reeve scowled.
"Yes, but in the process of it, I am actually improving the quality of life for them."
"At a greatly inflated price."
"Who are you to judge how much I should charge?!"
"Look, just SHUT UP!!!" Cid roared.
Silence.
"God, you two would have carried on all night if someone hadn't told you to be quiet!" Cid shook his head angrily. "Now shut up and be quiet. Everyone in this room is tired, and I'm sure they don't want to have to put up with all of your sh*t this late at night!!"
Just then, Shera walked into the room, headed for the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.
"What's all the yelling about, Cid?" she asked.
"Nothing, Shera." Cid answered her. "Just telling these two guys to stop arguing."
"Oh, alright." the woman shrugged. "Does anyone want a cup of tea while I'm going out to the kitchen?"
"Yes please." Cloud said politely.
"What the hell." Cid smiled. "Bring it on."
Reeve nodded. "So long as you don't make it how Palmer liked it, I wouldn't mind some."
"Palmer?" Cloud wondered.
"Palmer was the man responsible for Shinra's Space Program." Reeve explained. "He was rather portly, and.... um......"
"An idiot?" Cid offered.
"Yes." Reeve nodded.
"What was wrong with Palmer?" Shera asked. "How did he like his tea?"
"With lots of sugar and honey." Reeve explained. "And lard."
"Ohhh...." Shera smiled suddenly. "I remember that man. He tried to steal Cid's Tiny Bronco."
"He liked lard in his tea?!" Tifa yelped.
"How about you, Aeris? Would you like some tea?" Shera asked the girl. "Would anyone else like some?"
"Alright." Aeris replied.
"Nah." Barret grunted.
"I always liked coffee better." Tifa answered. "But don't go to the effort of making me some."
"I wish I could take you up on the offer, Shera," Vincent said quietly. "But I can't drink anything any more."
"Ohh, that's too bad." Shera said apologetically. "I think you would have liked it...."
"What's tea?" Sephiroth asked suddenly.
"You don't know what tea is?" Shera asked him. "Well, I guess I'll have to make you some then, won't I?" she said smiling broadly, then made her way though to the kitchen.
Cid averted his attention to the grey haired warrior.
"You mean you don't know what tea is??" Cid said, surprised.
"No, I'm afraid not." Sephiroth shrugged. "Would you care to explain?"
"Well Sephy," Aeris began. "It's a---"
"Don't call me that!" Sephiroth snapped at her. "I would prefer it if you didn't call me that infernal nickname."
"But why not??" Aeris whimpered. "I love calling you 'Sephy'! It's just so cute! A cute nickname for a cute guy....."
"But I am not cute." Sephiroth scowled deeply.
"Oh yes you are!" Aeris snapped, then reached over to pinch his nearest cheek. "Who couldn't love this little face?"
"Aaahh!!!" Sephiroth yelped, jerking back from her, nearly falling off the couch. "Don't do that!!"
Tifa smothered a giggle. Those within hearing distance choked back laughter except for Cid, who howled. Sephiroth just rubbed his sore cheek and scowled.
"Don't do that, either!"
Just at that moment, Shera returned, holding a tray with several cups on it, all had steam wafting from them slowly.
"What's so funny?" she wondered.
"Hey Shera," Aeris smiled. "Do you think Sephy is cute?"
That was it. Everyone in the room lost it. Sephiroth's scowl deepened. Shera laughed slightly with everyone, though she didn't quite know why she was supposed to be. She had to wait a few moments before order was restored.
"Who wanted tea?" she asked finally, placing the tray she had been carrying on the coffee table in front of the group. Everyone who had placed orders each took a cup of tea and went back to watching the movie.
"Aren't you going to take your tea, Sephiroth?" Shera asked him, sliding his cup across in his direction.
"I guess so." the man shrugged.
"Well, what do you think?" Aeris smiled. "Isn't it nice? Doesn't it warm you up?"
"Hang on, I haven't tasted it yet!" Sephiroth yelped. He picked up the cup carefully and sniffed the contents cautiously before taking a tiny sip.
"Well??" Aeris asked.
"It's alright." Sephiroth said, nodding in approval.
"It's alright!?" Cid snapped. "Shera makes the best goddamn tea I've ever tasted, and you say it's just alright!? Go drink tea somewhere else and then try saying that, you ingrate!!"
"Cid honey, calm down...." Shera smiled.
"Yeah, Cid." Aeris spoke up. "It's just his first taste. He doesn't have anything to compare it to yet."
"Hmph....." Cid grunted.
"Hey Sephiroth," Shera said, pausing momentarily. "How old are you?"
"About 28 years old." Sephiroth answered her. "Why did you want to know that?"
"Well usually, most people your age have tasted many things." Shera told him. "But you mentioned just now that you've never had tea before. I just find that a little strange, that's all."
"Well until recently, I've never had the chance to try anything like this...." Sephiroth said, taking another mouthful of tea. "And I have to admit, it is nicer than any fluid I have ever tasted before."
"That's better." Cid grunted.
Shera sat down beside her husband, and settled in to watch the movie with the rest of the group. She wasn't particularly interested in watching the movie, she just wanted the company of her husband and all his friends. Though, the conversations she tried to start were all sort of one-sided, seeing as though the group was fixated on the TV screen. Everybody that is, except for Sephiroth who was so bored that he picked up the TV Guide, covered his face with it and attempted to fall asleep. Aeris giggled at him, and rested her head on his elbow.
Meanwhile, the movie continued. Barret laughed too loudly for Cloud's liking, but Tifa snuggled up to him so he couldn't very well complain that the movie was a totally miserable experience. Yuffie twaddled her thumbs and wished to herself that she had some popcorn to throw at somebody. Vincent folded his arms and looked removed, though he couldn't help but smile a little when the heroine of the story was fatally wounded in the heart and died.
Within the hour, the movie ended. Shera immediately stood up, walked over to the television and turned it off.
"Alright everybody," Shera said sternly. "It's time for the television to go off."
"Shera!" Cid snapped. "I wanted to see what was coming on next!"
"But it's nearly midnight." Shera said sternly. "Time for you all to go to bed."
"But I'm not sleepy." Cloud protested.
"Nonsense." Shera said sharply. "You have a nice warm cup of tea in your tummy. Once you get your feet warm, you'll be out like a light."
"That's true." Tifa smiled. "Cloud falls asleep so easily once he's cosy and warm, don't you Cloud?"
"Don't treat me like a child." Cloud growled. "I'm a full-grown adult, I'll go to bed whenever I want."
"Oh no you won't!" Shera snapped. "Aren't you all going off on another adventure tomorrow?"
"Yes." Ruben said. "We're all going to the Midgar Ruins, so everyone can welcome Cait Sith when he gets reactivated."
"But I thought we were going to take that little cub back to his home. And Red was going with him so he could meet them." Yuffie said loudly. "I thought that's what we were going to do tomorrow, take them back to their tribe."
"No, we're going to the Midgar Ruins." Ruben scowled, shaking his head.
"No, we're going to see Red's tribe." Yuffie scowled right back.
"Midgar Ruins." Ruben said, with more volume to his demand.
"Red's tribe!" Yuffie said back, just as viciously.
"Midgar Ruins!"
"Red's tribe!"
"MIDGAR RUINS!!!"
"RED'S TRIBE!!!"
"HOLD IT!" Shera yelled, stepping inbetween the two. "Wherever you all end up going, you're going to need a good night's sleep!"
Sephiroth yawned momentarily. Shera looked in his direction. "See?? One of your friends is tired!"
"Actually, he's not my friend at all." Cloud interjected.
"Who cares!?" Shera snapped. "The fact that you're all awake means you're keeping him up!"
"No they're not." Sephiroth said calmly.
"Shut up!" Shera yelled. "Just go to bed now before I do something drastic!"
"God, alright!!" Cid said, sitting up. He reached across the side of the couch for his pair of crutches and uneasily got to his feet. "I'm going to bed! Are you happy now, woman?!"
"Cid!!" Shera howled. "Lie down or you'll hurt yourself!"
"F*cking hell woman, first you want me to go to bed, and now you want me to stay put?" The aging pilot began to make his way out of the room. "Make up your goddamn mind!"
Shera followed close behind him. "Cid sweetie, do you need any help?"
"No of course not!" Cid snapped. "I'm not an invalid!"
Aeris watched them leave. "Well? Do you think we should do as she says?"
"It couldn't hurt." Tifa answered. "I mean, it is pretty late."
"Late??" Sephiroth scoffed. "You call midnight late??"
"When you're going to be waking up at 6:30am, well.... yes." Reeve shrugged. "See you later then." he said, and walked off down the hallway to the room he was to be sleeping in.
"Yeah, smell you later." Ruben smirked, and left as well.
Meanwhile, Cloud let out a pained groan. "We have to wake up THAT early tomorrow!?"
"We want to set out pretty early tomorrow morning, and by the time it takes all of us to get organised and ready, I'd say we'd set out by about 8:00am." Tifa smiled. "What's the matter, Cloud? Are you a little grumpy about having to go to bed earlier than usual?"
"Yes I AM!" Cloud snapped. "You can't make me, you know....."
"Awright!!" Barret cheered. "Finally, a REAL adventure. Ahm gonna set my alarm clock real early t'morrow mornin." he said happily, then walked up the hallway to his room.
"Why don't you be more like Barret, Cloud?" Tifa smiled, moving a hand across his forehead, moving the stray strands of hair out of his eyes.
"What, you mean be stocky looking, black, have a gun for an arm on my right hand, and sound like I have a Southern accent?" Cloud mocked. "Yeah Teef, Ahm sure ay c'n rilly doo dat!"
"NO silly!" Tifa said, punching him lightly in the arm. "I just mean that you should be more enthusiastic about going to sleep."
"Why? Sleeping is pointless." Cloud grumbled. "I'm only going to wake up again six or seven hours later."
"Cloud!" Tifa giggled. "Just go to bed!"
"Oh, alright." Cloud sighed.
"Good. I don't want to argue with you." Tifa smiled faintly, and kissed him on the forehead. "Goodnight, Cloud....."
"Oh...." Cloud gave her a cockeyed look. "Come here...." he said, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "See you in the morning, Teef."
Cloud and Tifa walked off down the hall, and into their respective rooms, closing the doors behind them, leaving Sephiroth and Aeris alone in the hall together.
Aeris looked at Sephiroth, and smiled.
"Goodnight....." she whispered.
"Yes." Sephiroth nodded.
The two watched each other for just a brief moment or two.
"Umm...." Aeris paused awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"What the hell...." Aeris smiled, then wrapped her arms around him. "Goodnight!!"
Sephiroth was a bit startled - he wasn't used to being hugged by someone else. He smiled faintly as Aeris hugged him tighter, and he had to admit, it DID feel rather nice. Awkwardly, he put his arms around the girl and gave her a sort of rough hug - though he didn't hug her too hard in fear of crushing the girl.
"Goodnight, Aeris." Sephiroth smiled. "Goodnight until tomorrow."
------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, back in the loungeroom, a very worried Red XIII sat, waiting. The cub still had not returned back to the Highwind, though he had ventured out hours ago.
Red XIII scowled slightly to himself and thought he was being over-protective. But on the other hand, this cub he was worrying over was barely a year old - and out alone in the night. Why, he could be attacked by the native wild creatures that roamed the grasslands if he wasn't lucky. It was at that moment that the great lion stood up, finally deciding to go after the cub. That was, until Yuffie suddenly came up to sit with him.
"What's wrong Red?" she asked.
"It's Shadrach." Red XIII explained. "He's been gone too long."
"Well," Yuffie said. "If you want to go after him, go on. If you want to do something, do it while you can. It's the only way to live without any regrets."
"Right." Red XIII said, standing up. "Wise words coming from someone so young as you, Yuffie. Are you maturing faster than I thought?"
"Maybe." Yuffie blushed. "But those words of wisdom came from my father. Maybe I'm not as wise as you think."
"No, don't say that." Red XIII said. "Words of wisdom come from your elders. To use their proverbs at the appropriate time is a true act of wisdom."
Yuffie smiled. "Gee, are you trying to give me an ego boost?"
Red XIII chuckled slightly.
Just then, the red lion and the ninja girl heard a loud rustling sound coming from the patch of grass below them. Running out onto the deck of the Highland and looking over the bow of the ship, they saw a light like a candle flame waving around furiously.
"Hey!!" the high pitched voice cried out. "Are you up there?!"
Red XIII smiled broadly, his worries forgotten in a second. He illuminated his own tail and waved it around like a beacon. "Yes!! Come on up!"
"OK!!" the cub yelled. "But you have to put up with both of us now!!"
"Two baby Reds?!" Yuffie nearly squealed with joy. "Am I in heaven?!"
Red XIII laughed loudly. "I think you like us, huh?"
Yuffie tackled the great lion with a hug. "What do you think, Red?!"
-------------------------------------------
"Cloud?"
"Huh?" Cloud grunted, half asleep.
"Hey Cloud?" Sephiroth repeated himself, only slightly louder than before.
"Sephiroth??" Cloud wondered. "Is that you calling me?"
"Yeah."
"That's odd." Cloud said quietly. "You usually call me by my last name."
"Sorry."
"What do you want, you arrogant bastard?!" Cloud snapped suddenly. "I'm trying to get to sleep you know!!"
"I realise that, and I apologise for waking you up." Sephiroth said slowly. "But I wish to ask you a question."
"OK." Cloud nodded. "Shoot."
"The lion is going to see his family and all his kind tomorrow." Sephiroth explained. "And yet, this man from Shinra wishes all of us to go with him to his domain in the Midgar Ruins, where he is holding that robotic creature.... Cait Sith...."
"Yeah?" Cloud scowled. "So???"
"Well I was wondering...." Sephiroth paused momentarily. "Where are you going?"
"Huh?"
"Are you going to go with the lion, or are you going to witness the reactivation of Cait Sith?" Sephiroth asked. "Both events sound equally as important as each other."
Cloud was silent.
"The lion has never seen his kind before. Tomorrow, he will see them for the first time in his life. It will be the most significant thing that has ever happened to him since his own birth." Sephiroth said quietly. "But what happens if his own kind treat him as an enemy? What if they attack him? What if they swarm on him and kill him?"
Cloud remained silent.
"Meanwhile, the man who wants you all to go with him to Midgar, sure, the reactivation of a robotic creature may not sound all that exciting, but what if he has something much more sinister in mind than what he is saying?"
"I don't trust him either." Cloud scowled deeply. "I had my doubts about his motives, just mere seconds after meeting him."
"He gave me a personal invitation to go with him, the very man probably solely responsible for that ridiculous cult." Sephiroth scowled. "What would happen if he really was intending something more sinister? This cult was based on me, designed to make money don't forget. What if he was trying to get at me? I can think of no reason why he shouldn't want to, actually having the genuine article for your religion would prove extremely beneficial....."
"You're not very trusting towards anyone, are you?"
"No, and right now, it seems to be a virtue." Sephiroth answered. "My distrust toward everyone and everything has gotten me this far....."
There was a period of silence for a few moments.
"I will sleep now." Sephiroth said plainly. "Sorry to be a waste of your time."
"No, you aren't a waste of my time." Cloud replied. "You just made me aware of something I hadn't thought about."
"Hmmm." Sephiroth said thoughtfully.
"Ummmm.... Sleep well." Cloud said uneasily.
"Yes." Sephiroth responded.
Cloud's sleepiness all but drifted away from him. A feeling of angst settled in the pit of his stomach as he thought of both scenarios and possible dangers that Sephiroth had highlighted - both were quite legitimate, and Cloud had not even thought to consider either until they were brought to his attention.
It didn't really bother him so much that his arch enemy had been the one to point them out to him - he was more unnerved by the fact that he himself had not even thought of them in the first place. What kind of a leader was that, one that didn't see any and all possible dangers that might threaten his group!? What kind of a leader would do that?!
"Oh man......" Cloud scowled to himself. He felt helpless, not being able to protect his group from both dangers they would face tomorrow. He himself could only be in one place at a time - so how was he supposed to protect the others that went the other way?
Cloud pulled the covers over his head and tried to drift off to sleep. But there would be no sleep for the blonde haired warrior that night.
He couldn't help but feel like he'd let his entire group down.
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To Be Continued..........
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Writer's Ramblings:
*Sighs* I know what I said at the end of the last chapter. Sometimes, I just don't make it that far. I'm sorry! Now, because of me, you're all having to wait till Chapter 12 till the group visits the Midgar Ruins! Waaah! I'm such a bad author! I lie to my readers!!!!
Things like this happen all the time. I just sit here and type, the fanfiction writes itself. It takes control over me, and then I'm finding myself spending every second of my free time writing it, and enjoying it! Ahh!!
Well, until Chapter 12, Cya later dear readers.
- Kat_Aclysm =^-^=