I have some time before I have to go to work, so I'm updating with another chapter. Tomorrow I'm making myself do a little bit of homework (ugh!), so I don't know if I will be able to update tomorrow before I have to go to work, but we'll see. Anyway, on with the chapter. Disclaimer: I don't own FF7 or the characters. I'm just borrowing them. Megz has rights to the title.
Chapter 13
"Do you really think I'm ready for giving protection services?" Jasmine asked, as she walked with Sephiroth to the room where the dinner party was going to be held.
"You've progressed in your training faster than I could have ever anticipated. I think you need some experience to go along with your training." Sephiroth said.
"That's not what I asked." she replied as they came to a stop at the door of the room.
Sephiroth looked at her seriously. "Yes, you're ready for this."
Jasmine gave him a small smile before turning to the door and following him into the room. It was huge, enough room to hold at least a hundred people. There were tables and chairs arranged in the room, so there was room for dancing if people chose to do so. On one side of the room there was a long table for some alcoholic punch and snacks for before and after dinner. She looked up and saw that the ceiling was glass.
"And I want you to stay away from the alcohol."
She looked back towards the long table when she heard Tseng's voice, obviously talking to Reno.
"Yeah, yeah. I know boss. I'll stick to the water." Reno said.
"I'll make sure that he does that." Rude said as Jasmine approached them.
"Thank you Rude. I would greatly appreciate that." Tseng said.
"Jazzie Jaz, nice to see you here." Reno said.
"The party isn't for another day and you're already hitting on me?" Jasmine teased.
"Who wrote the rule that it has to be at a party or dance that a girl can get hit on?" Reno asked.
"That's enough, we're not here for that." Tseng said.
Jasmine took a moment to observe the room fully. "I don't like this room. It's huge and there are a ways for this party to go wrong."
"The president insisted on using this room. Once he makes up his mind, there's no changing it." Sephiroth replied.
"What's so wrong with this room that's making you uncomfortable? We've held parties in this room a few times and nothing's ever gone wrong." Reno said.
"Well, there's the alcohol and glass ceiling." She looked to the right of the room to the row of glass doors. "Are the doors to the balcony going to be open?"
"Yes. The president insists they be open for airflow into the room."
Jasmine turned to see a woman with light red hair and wearing a Turks uniform enter the room.
"Jaz this is Cissnei, Cissnei this is Jasmine." Reno said.
"You're the computer wiz that Reno keeps telling me about. Pleased to meet you." Cissnei said extending her hand.
Jasmine took it. "Same to you. I've also heard a lot about you from Reno."
"Is this your first time to one of these things?" Cissnei asked.
"Yeah." sighed Jasmine.
"Hey, it's not big deal. Intermingle a little with the guests, dance if you want and have fun." Reno said.
"While staying alert at the same time." Sephiroth added.
"Do you have an outfit that is decent, but you can also fight in if necessary?" Tseng asked.
"Yes, I do." Jasmine answered.
"What are you wearing?" Reno asked.
"I'm not telling." Jasmine answered as she left the group and exited the room.
It took a couple of hours for Jasmine to get ready for the dinner party. She had bought an outfit a couple of years ago, but never wore it. She had dug it out to wear to the party since it was something that she could be prepared to fight in, but it was also decent. It was a long sleeved red coat that was short in the front, but it went to about a few inches from the floor in the back. It had black outlining of roses and vines over it. It buttoned a couple of buttons in the front on top. She was also wearing a black spaghetti strapped tank under it with black dress pants. She decided to wear the boots that went a little over the ankle and had a little bit of a heel to them.
She decided to put on a little bit of mascara, eye liner, eye shadow, lip gloss and a little bit of blush. She thought that since it was a bit of a special occasion she could wear a little bit of make up. She ended up leaving her hair down, but curling it in towards her face a little. She knew that Sephiroth wouldn't be happy, but she left her mother's necklace on with the light red jewel. She thought that it accented nicely with the outfit she had chosen to wear. When she was satisfied with how she looked, she headed to the room where the party was to be held.
She got there before any of the guests were scheduled to arrive, just like she was instructed to do. The stage was off to the side of the room for the small orchestra that was supposed to be there. They were warming up and getting their instruments ready for playing. She went to the end of the long table and grabbed a bottle of water.
"We look nice."
She turned to see Tseng approaching her. "Thanks. Do you think it's too much?"
He gave her a small smile. "No. It's nice, but not to elegant."
She returned the smile then looked to the door when she heard people come in. It was Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal. They were wearing what they normally wore, their SOLDIER uniforms.
"I knew I was going to out dress someone." she muttered.
"Don't worry about it, your fine." Tseng said before leaving to attend to some last minute things before the president arrived with his wife, son and guests.
"Heeeey beautiful."
"Don't start Reno." Jasmine said as she looked to her right.
"Fine, be a party pooper." Reno replied.
"I will." She playfully shot back before turning back to the room as the president entered with his son.
"Well, it won't be long until the guests arrive and the party will be in full swing." Reno said.
Reno was right. About thirty minutes later, all of the guests had arrived and the party started. Jasmine relaxed a little after the dinner was over and the guests started dancing and intermingling with each other. She decided not to interact with the guests, but to keep an eye out for anything that could go wrong.
"You're supposed to be having fun, not hanging in the background being a wallflower." Reno said as he walked over to her.
"Maybe you can relax with strangers Reno. I can't. I never have and I never will." Jasmine replied.
"Maybe you can get Sephiroth to dance with you." he teased.
Jasmine just gave him a look that read, don't push it, and then turned her gaze back to the party. She saw that Genesis and Angeal were still engaged with fans of theirs, but Sephiroth was being just as stoic as she was.
"I'll give you fifty gil if you're able to get Sephiroth to dance a dance with you." Reno challenged.
"I might as well pay you now because it ain't gonna happen." Jasmine said.
"I dare you to." he said.
"Oh, you're on." she said. She decided to go the long way around the room so she wouldn't be talked to by anybody or get trampled on by the dancers. She also needed a plan to get him onto the dance floor with her. She passed a group of young girls, around her age, trying to figure out a plan to get him onto the balcony with them.
She smiled as she approached him. "How about a dance?"
Sephiroth slowly turned his head and looked at her. "I would prefer not to."
"It's either a dance or two with me, or a night out on the balcony with that group of girls over there." Jasmine replied.
"I can assure you that won't happen." Sephiroth said as he turned back towards the room.
"Oh, come on. You're the only good looking guy here that's free." Jasmine said as she grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dance floor.
Once she got him onto the floor, she put his left hand on her waist, took his right hand in her left and she placed her right hand on his shoulder. She coaxed him into moving with her in time to the beat of the music, that she silently thanked was slow. It took him a minute to get the hang of it, and when he did he took over leading like the man was supposed to do while dancing.
"How did you know that those girls were planning to try to get me onto the balcony with them?" Sephiroth asked.
"I overheard them talking." Jasmine answered.
"Jealousy your motive?"
"Not entirely." she admitted.
He didn't get a chance to push the issue further. The song had ended and the orchestra was preparing to start a new song. He noticed that Jasmine was starting to walk away, but he grabbed her hand to keep her from leaving. She looked down at her hand then gave him a quizzical look.
"My turn to ask you to dance." he said.
She gave him a small smile. "Alright."
The song was a little bit slower than the last one, but Sephiroth used it to his favor. He brought her a little closer to him and worked their way out of the crowd of dancers. When they made it to the edge of the dance floor, he led her out onto the balcony, which was miraculously empty. When they got out there, they stopped dancing and gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. She felt her face heat up a little, and she looked away from his gaze. He took her hand and gently led her over to the railing of the balcony.
"I thought you said that you wouldn't come out here." Jasmine said as she leaned on the railing facing the city.
"I would rather be with you than with those girls in there." Sephiroth replied also leaning on the railing, but was facing the room.
Jasmine was able to stop the gasp from leaving her mouth as she gazed towards the sky. "You really can't see the stars that well in the city. That's one thing I miss about not living in the country." she said when she thought she had composed herself again.
Sephiroth glanced at the sky before turning to her. "So, what was your reason for asking me to dance?"
"Uh, Reno…made it into a challenge, then a bet…and then a dare." Jasmine answered sheepishly.
Sephiroth looked at her for a moment before replying. "That's one thing I like about you. You're always honest with me."
She looked at him, surprise evident on her features. "You're not angry with me?"
"Why should I be?"
She didn't have an answer for that. She looked out to the city instead, letting the silence stretch out.
"How's your program coming along?" Sephiroth asked, finally breaking the silence.
"I re-represented it to my boss who represented it to his boss who represented it to Shinra. He's getting it fully produced now." Jasmine answered smiling a little.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks." she replied. "Shouldn't we get back inside?"
"We can see the room from here, we're fine." Sephiroth answered.
The silence returned, and it was Jasmine's turn to break it. "Can I ask you a question?"
Sephiroth turned to her and patiently waited for her to continue.
"Have you ever met someone you feel you should know, but at the same time you don't know who they are?" she asked.
"No, but I do know what you mean." he answered. "Why is there someone like that here?"
"Not here, but do you remember when we went to retrieve the computer parts?"
Sephiroth nodded. "Yes, I remember."
"I don't know why, but what he said about having to fight in order to win the war. I heard that somewhere before and I just can't put my finger on it. I feel like I should know who-"
Sephiroth put a hand to her face making her turn to look at him. "Don't worry about it so much." He said as he cherished her cheek. Her heartbeat sped up as he leaned in towards her, but the moment was short lived. A siren started going off and a red light started flashing. They hurried back into the room to where Tseng was.
"Sephiroth, you escort the president and his family to safety. Reno and Rude you stay here with me and protect the guests. Genesis and Angeal you go to the science department and protect the scientists Hojo and Hollander. Cissnei and Jasmine, you two go to the main lobby and find out what's going on." he ordered.
With one nod, everyone hurried to their assignments.
A/N: I'm going to have to leave you hanging there because I'm out of time. I have to go to work so you'll have to wait till the next chapter to see what's going on. I'm sorry, I don't like cliff hangers either, but I have to stop it there. Stay tuned till next time, R&R!