The Dream of Forgiveness
Ch 11: Sephiroth
Don't own FFVII, Square Enix does, but I own OC
"Hello Kiyori.". Chills ran down Kiyori's spine as she looked at the man in front of her. Her blue eyes focused on him, the only sound she could hear was her heart pounding. It threatened to leap out of her chest as she watched him grip the hilt of his sword, his long silver hair blowing in the wind.
There was no denying who it was. Sephiroth stood before her, after years she was standing with her partner again. "Sephiroth, what are you doing here?", Kiyori demanded. "It's been a while hasn't it Kiyori?", he asked, a smirk on his face.
Her gaze didn't falter as she continued to stare at him. He chuckled a little. "I remember that face. Stern as always. You haven't changed.", Sephiroth said, shrugging a little. "Why are you again?", she asked, wanting an answer. Cloud stood with his sword out, ready to strike if Sephiroth even moved an inch.
Everyone in the airship stared at Kiyori, Cloud and Sephiroth. They all watched nervously as the three of them spoke to each other. "I don't know much about Kiyori's past but wasn't she in Soldier too?", Tifa asked Yuffie. A sigh came from the young girl before she spoke. "Kiyori and Sephiroth were partners for a long time when the were in SOLDIER. They were the 'Elite Team' and considered unstoppable. Only handling the most difficult missions.", Yuffie said, looking down at her sister. "Cid, turn on the intercom so we can hear.", Tifa suggested, crossing her arms at the pilot. "Alright alright! I forgot what a demanding bunch you all were!", he yelled, hitting a couple buttons near his steering wheel.
Kiyori stepped inside the mako reactor. "Mother, let's take back the planet, together. I had an epiphany...", Sephiroth said standing in front of Jenova. "Sephiroth!" Zack yelled. Sephiroth started to laugh. "Mother, their here again...you should have ruled this planet. Your stronger...smarter.", Sephiroth said ignoring them completely. "Sephiroth! Have you completely lost it?!", Kiyori yelled at him, not believing what was going on.
"They came...they took this planet away from you...but don't be sad. I am with you now.", he said talking to the statue. Sephiroth reached towards the statue ripping it off and revealed the tube that contained Jenova. "We meet at last... mother.", Sephiroth said. "Mother? Sephiroth what are you-", Kiyori yelled at him. "Come Kiyori... come pay your respects to mother.", Sephiroth said not even looking at her.
Zack had heard just about enough. He walked up toward Sephiroth extending his sword out toward him, placing the blade close to his neck. Sephiroth stayed still for a moment, before turning around quickly, hitting Zack's sword away from him. Metal hit metal with a loud clang. "Sephiroth. I trusted you!", Zack shouted. "You're not the Sephiroth I once know!", Zack said.
"I have been chosen by the planet." he stated matter-of-factly. Kiyori brought out one of her kodachis. "Zack... you should go.", she said, pointing toward the door. "What?! Why?! You're going to need help!", Zack yelled, a little angry with Kiyori. Kiyori turned toward Sephiroth and pointed her sword toward him. "I'll be fine. Just go.", she whispered, not looking at him. A smirk came to Sephiroth's face as he turned to her.
Kiyori jumped and leaped at Sephiroth extending her sword hitting it against his. Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal. Kiyori twisted the hilt of her sword, making Sephiroth lose his grip on his sword. She took the opportunity of his stumble and kicked him, sending him flying into the wall.
Sephiroth pushed off the wall with alarming speed clashing swords with Kiyori again. The weight of his sword was heavy as she fell on one knee to try and keep herself up. She didn't know how long she could fight him, no matter what... she knew Sephiroth was always just a little bit stronger than her.
Using all her strength she pushed herself up and swung her sword at him, aiming for his stomach. He quickly dodged and brought his sword down her arm. She couldn't dodge it fast enough, it almost seemed like Sephiroth was getting faster, faster either that...or she was getting slower. His sword left a large slice on her arm. She winced as blood dripped on the floor from her wound.
Zack suddenly appeared clashing his sword with Sephiroth's. Kiyori watched as they battled near the tank. This was not going to end well and she knew it. Why didn't Zack listen to her? She had to stop it somehow. Sephiroth grabbed Zack's shoulders and shoved him, out of the tank room. Zack went flying through the air, landing on the staircase of the pod room.
That could actually work to their advantage. Kiyori grabbed her sword. Sephiroth ran toward Kiyori she quickly defended herself. He strength was overwhelming as the force of the hit made her back hit the wall. She groaned as she slumped to the floor, her hand on her knee to brace herself as she caught her breath. Sephiroth pointed his sword at her, letting the large cold blade rest against her neck.
She slowly brought her icy eyes up to meet his. "Are you going to kill me, Sephiroth?". Sephiroth didn't answer he looked as though he was contemplating. Sephiroth turned sheathing his sword and walked back up to the tank where Jenova was kept. Kiyori put her hand on the wall for leverage, a little surprised by Sephiroth's actions.
A yell could be heard from outside and she turned her gaze. She gasped when she saw Cloud run toward Sephiroth and stab him in the back with Zack's buster sword. The buster sword going through him and cracking the glass that held his 'mother' Sephiroth grunted in pain and fell to one knee. Kiyori stood as Cloud ran to get away from Sephiroth's blade.
She clashed sword with Sephiroth to distract him from Cloud, allowing Cloud enough time to escape. That was a gutsy move but it actually might have helped them win this battle. Kiyori glance over her shoulder to make sure Cloud was gone. Sephiroth noticed this and kicked her stomach hard making her fall on the floor. She panted softly and tried to sit up but was not quick enough.
He brought his sword down toward shoulder, the blade going all the way through dislocating it. Kiyori screamed in pain as blood poured from the wound. She grabbed the sword by it's blade, holding it back with all her strength. The blade cut into the palm of her hands from the death grip she was holding on it. She brought her foot toward Sephiroth's ankle and kicked, making him stumble back.
Kiyori quickly got up doing a back flip landing on her feet. She winced as her shoulder sent searing pain all the way through her arm. She moved her sword to her other hand, her injured arm not being able to bear the wait of it.
Sephiroth, looking quite angry, was already standing and watching every movement she made. She blocked his oncoming attack but noticed that her speed was slowly down compared to his. She was purely being defensive at this point rather than taking the opportunity for offense when she could. She could see it now. This was the difference in their strengths.
He managed to overpower her again as he pushed with all his strength making her stumble back a little. He grabbing her injured shoulder and shoved her as hard as he could, sending her flying out the room as well. Kiyori landed outside in the pod room, landing with a hard thud on the stairs. She gasped in pain and slowly sat up, she was covered in blood and clothes were ripped.
She slowly stood, using the stair railing to hold herself up as she tried to catch her breath. Her eye focused on Sephiroth as he came out of the room caring Jenova's head. He turned his eyes toward Cloud. "How dare you...", he said narrowing his eyes at him. "Cloud! Use the buster sword, finish Sephiroth off!", Zack yelled from where he lay bleeding on the staircase.
Cloud charged at Sephiroth, clashing swords with him. Kiyori grabbed her sword as best as she could. Cloud was no match for Sephiroth, he was going to need help badly. Sephiroth grabbed Cloud and threw in the room where Jenova was. She heard a loud thud as Cloud landed on the metal floor. He slowly got up as Sephiroth was coming toward him, panting heavily himself. Kiyori ran past Sephiroth pushing Cloud out of the way as Sephiroth's blade went through her side. She grunted in pain and fell on the floor.
Sephiroth pushed his sword into her farther, making her wince. He rose his sword, making Kiyori hang from it like a doll. "You're testing my patience Kiyori.", Sephiroth said. Cloud took the opportunity and kicked Sephiroth, sending him against the wall. Kiyori fell to the floor with a thud.
A puddle of blood quickly forming around her. Her vision was blurry as she struggled to keep conscious. Cloud landed next to her, falling unconscious. He must have been hit by Sephiroth. There was no point. They were not going to win. It was time to give in. Kiyori let her eyes fall, drifting her off into a deep sleep, her body, for the first time, feeling very cold.
"You both intend to fight me?", he asked. Kiyori took out both of her kodachi's. "I have to keep my promise. Even if it costs me my life.", she said. Sephiroth chuckled again and turned to look at Cloud, a frown slowly appearing on his face. "You're Geostigma is gone?... That's too bad.", he stated. Kiyori turned to look at Cloud, very surprised. "What?" she asked with wide eyes. Cloud didn't answer and kept his eyes trained on Sephiroth.
"Sephiroth, what do you want?", he demanded. "The last thoughts of Geostigma. Those remnants will join the Lifestream and girdle the planet - choking it, corroding it.", he said. Kiyori shook her head. "You have to stop this Sephiroth. This isn't what you want.", Kiyori said.
"What I want, is to sail the darkness of the cosmos with this Planet as my vessel - just as my mother did before long ago.", Sephiroth said raising his hand making the sky turn black and the wind picked up even more. "Then one day we'll find a new planet and on its soil we'll create a shining future.", Sephiroth continued. "This planet does not matter."
"No! It does matter. This is our home.", Kiyori retaliated. Her eyes gazed around. A "Black Lifestream" came over the city, consuming some of the buildings. Sephiroth pointed his long sword at Cloud. Kiyori snapped her head back, she stepped in front of Cloud point her sword at him. "Move out of the way, Kiyori.", Sephiroth said not lowering his sword.
Kiyori shook her head. "I told you, I will protect Cloud no matter what.", Kiyori announced. A smirk appeared on Sephiroth's face as he charged toward her. Kiyori leaped into the air and collided her sword with Sephiroth's, pushing him back away from Cloud. Sephiroth jumped away from her, disappearing behind a building and out of sight. Kiyori landed on the ledge of a building nearby. She looked around widely, trying to spot Sephiroth.
Kiyori looked around from left to right, Sephiroth suddenly appeared behind her. Kiyori jumped forward, barely dodging the attack. Cloud, regaining his composure leaped into the air, readying his sword and bringing it down near Sephiroth's shoulder. Sephiroth quickly noticed this and turned, clashing swords with Cloud, sending Cloud flying into a nearby building. Kiyori could hear glass breaking as a cloud of dust expelled from the old building.
Sephiroth turned to Kiyori making eye contact with her. He smirked and then leaped building to building toward Cloud. He was taunting her. She jumped into the building after both of them quickly, her eyes trying to scan around her as heavy dust coated the air.
She took a deep breath and took a step forward, walking around as quietly as she could. Where was Sephiroth hiding. She walked around old office furniture and now rotting potted plants. Her ears perked up when she heard Cloud grunt in pain. Sephiroth must have caught up to him. She quickly made her way toward the sound and watched as Cloud leaped out of the building and towards the outside where the visibility was better. Sephiroth chased after him, Kiyori following suit.
Cloud landed on a nearby building panting, trying desperately to catch his breath. Kiyori leaped across the rooftops toward him...Sephiroth beat her to him. Cloud, barely able to hold his sword tried rapidly to counter his attacks.
With one quick strike, he stabbed Cloud in the chest and lifted him up... just like he had done to Kiyori years ago. The sound of a pained moan came from Cloud filled Kiyori's ears as she appeared next to Sephiroth, he turned to her not expecting her to suddenly appear. She jumped and spun kicking the side of Sephiroth's head. He temporarily let Cloud go but was back to attacking him before Cloud could recover.
Blood dripped from the wounds that Sephiroth was inflicting on him as Kiyori slashed her sword at Sephiroth, making a deep cut in his arm. He turned to Kiyori and grabbed her collar, flinging her toward the building. She landed with a hard thud, Cloud landing not far from her. She watched as he held onto a chunk of a building for support.
Sephiroth had wounded him pretty badly. She snapped her head back to Sephiroth when she felt his blade touch her skin over her ribs. Her reflexes kicked in as she quickly grabbed the sword with both of her hands. Sephiroth jerked his sword back from her grip, slicing her palms open. Kiyori winced as her blood dripped onto the rooftop.
She charged at Sephiroth with all her might, pushing him back a little. Metal quickly hit metal in a furry of attacks between the two. Blood dripped from both of them as they continued to inflict damage on each other, abandoning all defense. All Kiyori could think about was to buy Cloud time so that he could recover a little.
"I pity you.", Cloud's voice spoke. Kiyori took a step away from Sephiroth, her eyes focusing on Cloud. "You just don't get it at all. There's not a thing I don't cherish!", he yelled and with a sudden burst of energy, leaped toward Sephiroth, his sword splitting into different parts.
Kiyori smiled slightly, she remembered him using this technique when she was in SOLDIER. Cloud speared Sephiroth with all his swords preforming his special attack-Omnislash, finally defeating Sephiroth. Black feathers flew everywhere as Cloud landed near Kiyori. A small smile graced her face as she looked at Cloud, he had finally fought his fear.
His sins were forgiven. She reached out and leaned against his shoulder, both of them looking up to see the one-winged man. "Stay where you belong. In my memories.", Cloud instructed to him. Sephiroth smirked down at them. "I will never be a memory.", he whispered and then wrapped his wing around himself.
Black feathers disappeared to reveal Kadaj. He landed back on the metal with a thud. Wincing at the impact, he tried to stand but quickly stumbled forward and into Cloud's arms. "Brother?", Kadaj muttered, clinging to the last bits of life. Kiyori gasped when she felt a couple rain drops hit her face. She felt lighter at the rain started to hit her. She quickly looked around and saw that her geostigma was fading.
She was... being cured? She looked up toward the sky, as a gently rain fell over Edge. "Thanks...Aerith...", Kiyori whispered back down at her arm. She lifted her shirt a little. The black sores slowly starting to fade away, disappearing into her skin, never to be seen again.
End of Ch.11
