X_x rough week for Miss Ti… my boss had taken a week off leaving unexpected work… my grandmother had passed, I have been ill, and now my poor daughter is ill from a mandatory flu shot. *Sigh* here is the latest chapter.. I am sorry if it disappoints, I really wasn't feeling re-reading. I may go over it in the future when my stress levels are down and when I am feeling well. Happy father's day to all the dads out there.
I apologize again..
~Miss Ti
The others had removed their disguises and looked around the boat suspiciously, "There is no way they could have found us." Red sniffed the air.
Yuffie, green in the face pointed down below deck, "When I was.. ump.. down there, there seemed to be .. ugh.." She slid down onto her knees. "Something strange."
"Do you think it's… Sephiroth?" Aeris looked to Cloud.
Cloud shook his head, "I am not sure.. but let's find out." He carefully made his way below deck.
Tifa looked to Aeris, she knelt by Yuffie, "I will watch over her, you, Barrett and Red go and help Cloud"
Tifa nodded and followed the Lion and large man. Below deck, the lights flickered as they rocked with the ship. The sailors and soldiers that were working were slain. Their bodies covered in large cuts… Tifa cringed as she knew they were from the blade of a sword. She embraced a nearby support beam as the ship lurched to the side. She noticed Cloud knelt down to keep his balance.
"These marks… its from Sephiroth's blade." Cloud sighed.
Red shook his head, "We should take caution..."
Barrett moved over to the engine room of the ship, "With all this jerking around… he must be in here. I didn't see 'I'm above."
Cloud nodded and drew his sword. Tifa took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
Cloud charged through first followed by Red, then herself. Barrett held up the rear.
Inside they didn't find Sephiroth, but one soldier standing in the center of the warm room facing the furnace of the ship. Tifa's heart pounded heavily in her chest. Something just wasn't right.
The man slowly turned to reveal his pale face, blood pouring from a blade wound on his neck.
Tifa paled, fear caught in her throat. She wanted to scream and run however while backing away she felt Barrett's chest. Looking up to him she saw that even he was uncomfortable. Recomposing herself she swallowed hard and walked up to stand next to Red. She noticed Cloud freeze in place. Her eyes tracing to where he was looking at, she noticed silver hair melt from the floor. A pale completion contrasted against cold, vicious Mako eyes as the tall figure rose from beneath the floor.
Her heart caught in her throat once more, she fought back both anger and fear. The man before her garbed in black, just how her nightmares remembered him. Sephiroth raised his arms up as if showering her and her friends with his compelling presence. His eyes seemed to be focused on the entirety of the room as his insidious dark voice echoed. "After a long sleep… The time has come…" His blue Mako eyes scanned the room, lingering briefly on each of Cloud's party.
"Sep… Sephiroth" Cloud gritted his teeth.
Sephiroth lowered his arms and tilted his head slightly, he made no move to prepare to attack. A brow arched as he let out a smirk, "… Who are you?"
Cloud swung his blade growling, "You don't remember me? I'm Cloud"
The tall silver haired man seemed to chuckle some. "Cloud…"
Cloud shook his head lowering his guard, "Sephiroth… what are you thinking? What are you doing?"
"The time is now.." Tifa noticed Sephiroth's feet gently raise from the floor… was he… flying? How could he possibly fly?
Cloud's grip tightened on his sword, "What? What are you saying?" Sephiroth!"
Barrett let out a curse in surprise as Sephiroth ascended. The flying man reached into his coat and pulled out what seemed to be a materia held by a hand on a ill grey arm. He let it fall from his hand onto the floor where it began to bubble and grow.
Red growled as it formed into a large monster. Tifa prepared to attack, this monster… it just seemed to be so familiar.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud yelled as Sephiroth flew through the ceiling.
The monster let out a screech, causing the ship to rumble and rock.
"We need to take care of this mess" Barrett started to fire at the monster being careful not to hit the ship. The last thing they needed on top this monster would be to have a sinking ship.
Tifa ran into action placing well timed punches and kicks against the creature. However it proved to do little damage. The skin on the creature seemed to mold into her punches softening the blow.
Red jumped onto a catwalk and raced around, jumping onto the monsters back he begun to bite and claw. Hunks of the creatures flesh were torn off, instantly disintegrating.
Cloud seemed to be frozen in place from where he watched Sephiroth leave. His mind seemed to just go blank.
"Cloud! We need your help!" Tifa called out. She was quickly hit by a tentacle the monster had formed. Her back hit the ship's wall hard knocking the breath out of her. Groaning she struggled to get up however was unable to. She cursed at herself for putting away her cure materia.
Barrett held a hand to his throat; the monster had casted some sort of magic on him. He coughed water pouring from his mouth.
Cloud seemed to snap out of his daze as he ran up and slashed at the monster. The magic spell that was cast on Barrett faded.
Red was flung off by the creatures tentacles, shaking off the pain he ran back in to attack.
The monster wailed out in pain, and soon gazed upon Cloud. A bright beam like laser emitted from its eyes.
Cloud was quick in blocking the attack with his blade, however it wouldn't hold long before it would destroy his sword.
Tifa was finally able to get back up, she ran at the monster casting a quick lighting. Running up to its large body, she yelled out placing a well placed kick at its chin back-flipping off. The beam the monster was emitting faded with the contact.
Cloud swung his blade around and ran at the monster in the same manner as Tifa, sticking his blade into what Tifa would have guessed to be its gut; he dug his feet in climbing up. The blade ran through easily splitting the creature into two.
The monster wailed in pain before it started to disintegrate, leaving the original arm and materia.
Barrett walked up spitting out more water from the aqua lung attack. "Isn't that…"
Tifa nodded, "I've seen this somewhere.."
"It's what disappeared from the Shinra building" Red added pawing at the arm some.
"Jenova… It's the arm of Jenova." Cloud knelt down to get a better look. "So it was Sephiroth."
"What was he talking about?" Tifa looked to Cloud, "He said something about it being time for something."
"The time is now…" Red re-quoted, "What does it mean…"
"I don't get it" Barrett scratched his head, "Can you explain it to me again?"
Cloud nodded, "Sephiroth went off searching for the Promised Land so he could become ruler of the planet… that was 5 year ago. Sephiroth then went and killed the president Shinra… and now we just saw him… He has Jenova with him, his mother. This is what I know so far."
The intercom of the ship buzzed, "We will be docking in Costa Del Sol in 5 Minutes… I repeat."
"Whoa! We gotta hurry and hide somewhere" Barrett ran out of the engine room.
Tifa looked back at Cloud and watched him pick up the red materia. She let a tiny smirk slip knowing that the ninja girl would have kicked herself for missing out on this one. She turned to hide behind a shipping crate and watched the others do the same. The soldiers and sailors that hid from the massacre below deck slowly came down and investigated. They grimly gathered the bodies… Tifa felt horrible, even thought they were Shinra, they were still human like them. No matter whose side they fought for, no matter the cause… the casualties had the same effect on all. Tifa glanced over to see Aeris staring at the fallen men, she could tell the woman was praying for a safe journey back to the lifestream.
The time it took to land went by very slow. Anticipating to be found made her nerves stand on end. The docking bay door finally grinded open. As soon as she was sure that they could leave undiscovered they made it out. Tifa shielded against the bright sun. The warm weather felt great on her skin. The others followed behind her.
"Damn!... Sure is hot here… But I sure feel better now that I can say goodbye to this sailor suit" Barrett crumpled the white uniform in his fist.
Aeris nudge Tifa with a smile, "Aw, that's too bad.. I liked Barrett's sailor suit.."
Tifa let out a giggle, "You could always use it as pajamas.. it looks comfortable"
"Yeah!" Aeris playfully flirted, "It would be so cute!"
"Cute?" Barrett reddened in the face if it was possible for the dark skinned man. "What 'ya mean cute?"
Cloud scratched the back of his head with a smirk, "Ahh… you looked like a bear wearing a marshmallow."
"The hell's that supposed to mean? This happens to be the most comfortable. So everyone just shu'up!" Barrett trudged a bit away from the group.
Tifa turned to some panting coming from behind her, Red looked unwell. "Would you… kindly hurry? The heat… is drying my nose."
Yuffie was kissing the ground happy to be on land.
"Alright enough jokes aside, we'll take a break here and head off.."
"Damn right we take a break" Barrett grumbled heading off to the bar.
"Maybe I should get a tan for once… Which do you like Cloud?" Aeris spoke out grabbing Tifa's attention.
Cloud obliviously thought about it, "I like fair complexions."
"Got it. I'll remember that" She smiled and looked to Tifa, "What are you going to do?"
Tifa thought about it some, "I think I might go swimming."
"Ooh! That sounds good." The girl in pink winked to Tifa and glanced to Cloud whom was listening to them, "Cloud, are you thinking of anything in particular? I believe you might be sweating some."
Tifa laughed a bit as Cloud shook his head heading off.
"Well lets go" Aeris took Tifa's arm.
Aeris had led Tifa to a bathing suit shop. Going through the racks Tifa couldn't help but feel that this was fun however awkward it was.
"Ohhh I really like this one." Aeris held up a cute pink two piece with ties on the sides of the bottoms.
"That would suit you" Tifa laughed some. She glanced down at the current rack she was looking at and sighed in frustration. Of course they wouldn't have her size top.
Moving over to another rack she glanced at Aeris. The taller woman had tried on the swimsuit and looked stunning. Her skin was lighter than Tifa's, the pink complementing and just making the taller woman shine.
Tifa grumbled picking out a solid black two piece and moved to the changing room. The top was a little small; she would have to be careful. She turned looking at herself from the side, loving the cute small heart shaped buckle that decorated one side of the bottom piece. She looked at herself in the mirror more and posed as if for a picture. She didn't find herself glowing like Aeris did. Frowning at her reflection she decided it would have to do. The break was a privilege that they rarely received and she would enjoy it whether or not she looked as nice as Aeris.
Aeris noticed Tifa in her swimsuit and smiled, "Oh that's nice. It looks really cute on you."
Tifa smiled paying for the bathing suit. Aeris was genuinely nice, how could she compete?
Both girls moved to the square of town, Tifa smiled as she noticed Yuffie working part time at a materia shop. Perhaps she should warn the owner that the materia crazed ninja would most likely have other intentions.
The two women moved onto the beach. It was relatively open; a group of girls were surrounding someone she couldn't see.
Tifa moved waist deep into the water. It was cool and crystal clear. Scooping the water to rub onto her skin to adjust slowly she smiled fully relaxed. A wind surfer sailed by giving her a smile. Tifa shook her head instantly knowing what the surfer was thinking and dipped herself into the water. Coming back up for air and to wipe the salty water from her eyes. She looked back to shore to find Aeris was staring at the surrounded person intently.
She made her way back to shore and soon found Cloud approaching.
"Hey, how's the swim?" Cloud smiled to Tifa.
"Water's great! You should join" Tifa returned the smile with her own while moving a strand of wet hair away from her face.
"Aeris? Are you going to swim too?" Cloud questioned.
"Look.." Aeris pointed to the direction of the surrounded person.
Tifa squinted her eyes, she could see a man dressed in a lab coat. He readjusted his glasses while sipping on a tropical drink.
"Is that… Hojo?" Cloud questioned.
"Cloud, you should go and talk to him.." Tifa spoke softly as if Hojo could hear her from his position.
Cloud nodded and moved to do so. Aeris followed, after doubting that she should go, Tifa followed.
A tan woman dressed in a yellow bikini glared at Cloud. "What do you want?"
"I want to talk to Hojo" Cloud folded his arms.
The woman whispered to Hojo. He adjusted his glasses and looked up to Cloud.
"I am busy right now…" Hojo however caught a better look at the three of them. "No wait… I remember you now.. Yes… It's been a long time, Cloud" Hojo smirked.
"Hojo.." Cloud growled some
Hojo waved the girls off and sighed, "Sometimes you just gotta sit back and relax."
"What are you doing?" Cloud asked.
"What does it look like? I am getting a tan" Hojo laid back down on his beach chair.
"Hojo!" Clouds voice raised sounding threatening.
"Hmm.. believe it or not, we are both after the same goal"
"Sephiroth.."
"Did you see him?" Hojo sat up in his chair with a smile. Tifa didn't like how the scientist spoke.
Cloud let out a small nod.
"I see…" Hojo let out a laugh.
"What is it?" Cloud asked. Tifa and Aeris shared a glance both equally confused as to Hojo's reaction.
"Nothing.. I just remembered a certain hypothesis… Haven't you ever had the feeling something is calling you? Or you had to be somewhere?"
Tifa now really didn't like where this conversation was going. Hojo knew something.
"I'll go anywhere Sephiroth is at! I will beat him and put an end to all this!" Cloud clenched his fist.
"I see… This could be interesting… Were you in SOLIDER?..." Hojo let out a chuckle that made Tifa's chest feel heavy, just how much guilt must she endure. "Would you like to be my guinea pig?"
Cloud reached to draw his sword, he had enough of this.
"Oh what now? You are going to draw your sword?" Hojo laughed more.
"Cloud… you shouldn't" Aeris placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Aren't you the Ancient?" Hojo glanced over to Aeris.
"I'm Aeris. The least you can do is remember my name.. Tell me something Professor Hojo. I know I'm an Ancient, my mother told me."
Hojo nodded, ""Oh right, Ifalna, how is she?"
Aeris stiffened some, "You didn't know? She died."
"Oh.. what a shame"
"Professor Hojo… Is Jenova an Ancient? Is Sephiroth an Ancient? Do we have the same blood?"
Hojo seemed to not listen to Aeris, instead he mumbled something… It sounded like.
"Head west?" Tifa looked to Cloud.
"He's… It must mean he's hiding something." Aeris nodded to Tifa.
Hojo fixed his glasses and leaned back on his chair ignoring the group.
Cloud sighed, "I bought us a Villa, we will stay the night and then head west in the morning. I suppose we will stop by Mt. Coral."
