It was a few days before Valentine´s day that Zack´s relentless assault began.
"Please, Please you need to come... You have to!" he begged, huge puppy eyes searching her own.
Lightning knew she wasn´t going to make it out of it this time.
They had apparently planned a trip to Costa del Sol - all of them together - the date they had chosen miraculously coinciding with Valentine´s day. Knowing of their fondness for her least favorite day of the year, she highly doubted that was a coincidence.
No matter how often she tried to explain how much she hated that damn day. It was no use. This time they wouldn´t take no for an answer.
"You´ve never even been to Costa del Sol! You´ve got to see it - please - everybody will be there... Even some of the Turks are coming, you can´t stay behind..." he tried to convince her.
"I don´t understand why you´re always against it in the first place... There will be a party. It will be fun!"
Yeah it would be fun...
For him.
And Aerith.
And Cloud and Tifa.
But not for her.
For her it would just be a painful reminder of the fact that she was alone.
That was all it ever were.
She hadn´t been asked out on a date this year, as usual, and she was fed up with watching those four make out right in front of her nose.
The pink haired female sighed in defeat.
In the end she would have to give in anyway.
Rather do it now then endure this shit much longer...
"I know you´re not exactly fond of Valentine´s day... but... think about it as a holiday! Some days off from work! You´ll love the beach, I just know it." Zack kept going.
"Okay, okay... I´m in."
She found herself crushed in a tight hug the seconds the words left her lips.
"Thank you. Thank you. THAAANK YOUU!" her comrade cried, obviously delighted at the fact that she would for once come along.
The ferry ride from Junon wasn´t fun. It was not that she suffered from seasickness or anything,but the enormous size of the oceans was scaring her. Nothing but a thin layer of metal separating her from the infinite depths of the waters, filled to the hilt with tons of murderous creatures, to her it was not a very comforting though.
They didn´t seem to be the only ones who had chosen to take a trip to Costa del Sol for the weekend. Zack hadn´t promised to much. Upon entering the ship, she immediately spied several members of the Turks, as well as some people from the Weapon Development Department too. It really seemed more like some kind of company outing to her.
She couldn´t help but notice Reno Sinclair´s red hair sticking out in the crowd.
Oh, what a jolly trip this was going to be...
Leaving the main deck as soon as she had the possibility to do so without anybody noticing, Lightning found herself a small balcony next to the liferafts, where leaning against the railing she could finally find some peace.
Feeling miserable, she let her gaze wander over the water´s surface stretching out endlessly in front of her. Nothing but water wherever she looked, the shear vastness of the sea made her feel tiny and unimportant.
"It´s beautiful isn´t it?" a female voice from behind her suddenly ripped her out of my musings.
Surprised, she turned to look into the kind dark eyes of Tifa Lockhart.
"Actually I´m not very fond of it..." Lightning deadpanned.
"Oh... Motion sickness?" the barmaid asked, her expression concerned, as she chose to lean against the railing next to her.
"No... It´s just the huge amounts of water... Filled with bloodthirsty beasts and no land in sight..." the soldier replied somewhat grumpyly.
She wished Tifa´d just leave or at least shut up.
Her prayers weren´t answered.
"Don´t worry!" the girl tried to reassure warmheartedly.
"We will reach Costa del Sol soon! Nothing bad will happen, I promise!" she said in attempt to cheer her up. Her big kind smile reaching her eyes.
What a stupid promise to make, Lightning though.
Nobody knew what could happen.
Promising something that was not to be predicted... This was something only stupid people did.
That girl must have gotten boobs instead of brains...
"Why don´t you come and join the party?!" Tifa invited her to follow her up to the main deck.
Wasn´t she getting that that was exactly the opposite of what the pink haired solder wanted now?
Lightning knew it was well-meant, but she still so wasn´t in the mood.
"Come on this trip is supposed to be fun!" the dark haired girl said, motioning for her to follow.
"Can´t have you sulking around on your own all the time!"
"Okay..."
Deciding to play nice for once, Claire Farron gave a long tired sigh before finally she turned to climb the stairs.
Up on the deck the party was already in full swing. People were getting tanked up already and some were even dancing to the music - and it was hardly 3 p.m.
Lightning could see her comrade Angeal raiding the buffet table at the far away end of the party area, Genesis Rhapsodos accompanying him with a half empty drink clutched in his hands as usual.
Having nothing else to do she decided to join them. No harm done in checking out the buffet, she thought.
"Hey Light. Everything all right? You look a little pale..." Angeal said, popping a handful of sake makis into his mouth as if they were tictacs.
"Motion sickness?"
"No I´m okay" she lied, taking in the wide selection of dishes to choose from.
Tentatvely she picked out a tempura maki, hoping the taste of her favorite type of seafood would cheer her up.
"Need a drink?" Genesis offered upon taking in her slightly depressed condition.
Catching herself scanning the crowd for Sephiroth again, she couldn´t help but decline.
Better keep a clear head today, lest she did something stupid again.
Costa del Sol really was beautiful.
With its bright yellow straw thatched roofs, its inviting inns and romantic promenades it was the perfect destination for any holiday.
It was in the evening that they went down to the little bar at the beach, already stuffed with people, employee´s from Shin-Ra as well as their relatives or friends and also a bunch of local people.
The owners of that bar had obviously taken the motto of the day a bit too serious. Every corner of the little shack was covered in pinks or reds, there were hearts and flowers everywhere.
For Lightning it couldn´t have been any worse.
She had chosen to occupy a seat in the corner, distancing herself from the others as she nibbled at her desert (which had arrived on a heart-shaped plate). All appetite had lost her body it seemed. So would your´s if you were forced to watch Aerith and Zack make out right next to you all day.
She didn´t know why it was bothering her so much.
She guessed she wouldn´t even behave like that if she had a date.
NO! She definitely wouldn´t behave like this in public. Maybe not in private even.
She just hoped this night was going to pass fast.
"Oh come on Light... Why so grumpy?" Cloud began.
He had to be kidding her.
"Please just leave me in peace..." she started, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
"I don´t get it. If you are sick of being alone, why don´t you hook up with someone?" he asked looking at her expectantly.
Had Cloud really just said that?
She noticed Zack break free from Aerith´s kisses for a moment to look up, no doubt interested in his comrade´s reaction, probably looking forward to witness her teaching Cloud a lesson once again.
However she was not in the mood. For lessons that was.
She could only snort at that ridiculous suggestion of his.
„Come on. There´s gotta be someone you like!"
Oh yeah.
That guy had no idea.
„I´m sure we´ll find someone for you! Take Reno for example! That bloke´s been eyeing you since the day you joined SOLDIER. I mean... He even asked you out for a drink right... Maybe you could just... You know... Appologize or something..." Cloud pointed carefully.
From the corner of her eyes, Lightning caught Tifa sending him a warning look.
She decided she liked Tifa after all.
Looking over at the red haired Turk leaning against the wall just a few meters away from their table Lightning shook her head.
No.
Not in this life.
She´d rather spend the rest of her life by herself.
Or would she?
Looking over at the turk in question one more time, she found the cheeky redhead giving her a tiny smile.
Oh no. Did he think that she was trying to flirt with him?!
No!
Never!
She could never do something like that. That just wasn´t her.
Besides she was not interested in Reno anyway...
"Being alone doesn´t mean you have to be all sullen on a day like this! There are plenty of people here who are single and are still enjoying themselves ... Look at Scarlet for example.." Cloud pressed on, indicating the red clad head of the Weapon Development Department who was over at another table, obviously having fun, messing around with some of the Turks.
"Or take Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth... I didn´t see them bring any dates and do you see them sulking around? No." he continued. She couldn´t help but look for the three of them ordering drinks over at the bar.
Sephiroth...
As if she could ever be like him...
Nothing affected him and he didn´t need anybody.
Anybody!
It didn´t seem as if he had feelings at all!
"Nobody will ask you out anyway if you keep sulking around in a corner, threatening to castrate whoever has the guts to talk to you..." Cloud closed.
Lightning guessed they´d never forget about that one.
It was the sight of Genesis, making his way back to their table that triggered her to get up from her seat. Upon seeing his mischievous facial expression and the glass of red wine in his hand she knew they were in for a little poetry reading some time soon. She might as well leave as long as she still got the chance.
"What, you´re going to talk to Reno?!" Cloud blurted in disbelieve, his mouth slightly gaping, the other three staring at her too, surprise evident in all their eyes.
Lightning quickly shook her head.
"No... Of course not! I´m going outside. I think I need a little bit of fresh air." she excused herself, heading straight for the door.
Better a poetry reading from Genesis than one of Angeal´s lectures about pride an honor she thought, as on her way out she spied Angeal Hewley talking to Sephiroth insistently, the latter seeming rather unaffected by his words, as his eyes were fixed on his drink.
She was relieved to be outside again, the sea breeze gently ruffling her hair cleaning her lungs of the dirty air from inside the pub heavy with cigar smoke. She closed her eyes to inhale deeply, the taste of the salty air on her tongue strangely familiar, reminding her of home, Bodhum.
She slowly opened her eyes again to have them drawn to a couple right next to the entry, a young SOLDIER Third Class in his plain blue uniform, passionately snogging his date.
It seemed she couldn´t escape this, no matter where she went.
It was when the two of them suddenly broke apart, that she was caught staring.
She was about to appologize, when the young man gasped in shock and pushing his date away, stepped forward to salute in front of her.
It took her a second to realize that she was wearing her First Class uniform, something that had to be rather intimidating to him.
"I´m sorry - I ... I didn´t mean to neglect my duty, Sir! Uhh... I mean Ma´am!" the young man stuttered, panickingly fishing for words.
Lightning couldn´t help but feel amused, something she didn´t let show, as donning her most intimidating first class expression she forceed her features into an emotionless mask, looking at the little coward in front of her expectantly.
"You were supposed to keep watch?" she demanded, her voice deadly. The kind of voice Sephiroth would have used on her, would he have caught her... Doing what exactly?!
"I... I was just taking a break... I didn´t mean to... I´m sorry... please..." the third class stammered.
Lightning couldn´t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the poor bloke.
She didn´t care what he did anyway.
Deciding she didn´t have anything better to do, she chose to help him out - this time.
"At ease SOLDIER Third Class." she commanded.
"Go inside and have fun, I´ll take your shift form here."
The look on his face was priceless.
He had probably expected a punishment or at least a reprimand, but certainly not this.
She knew, as SOLDIER First Class she wasn´t supposed to be lenient.
But they were young.
And they were in love...
"...Thank you... THANK YOU!" the yound man cried, his eyes wide with surprise, his girlfiriends pretty mouth gaping open in astonishment.
"You don´t know how much I appreciate this... I..." he brabbled.
"Just get that ass of yours out of my sight!" Lightning instructed, making her way down the wooden steps to reach the sandy shore as the both of them hurried into the bar.
Kids...
Finally alone, she sat down to take off her combat boots, feeling the small grains of sand, still warm from the already setting sun against the sensitive skin of her feet.
Oh, how she used to love to walk the sandy beaches back home, barefoot, back when everything had been still alright...
When she had felt lighthearted and carefree...
Back when she´d still been a child.
It seemed eons ago.
General Sephiroth Crescent took a sip from his drink at the bar, watching Lightning, Zack and Cloud from the corners of his eyes as he contemplated what Angeal had told him on the ship.
(Earlier...)
"Why don´t you just talk to her?" Angeal had said. He´d had his head propped up on his hands, his elbows resting on the wooden railing of the ferry´s main deck, the both of them gazing into the distance where the surface of the water seemed to melt into the blues of the sky.
"Huh?"
What was he talking about?
"Yeah... You should just tell her." he said somewhat pensively before turning to look at the general first class, he waited for his reaction with interest.
"Tell her what?" the general asked dryly, without looking up.
He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was leading and he certainly didn´t approve of Angeal addressing this subject at all.
"Tell her about your feelings for her..." Angeal said carefully.
The generak slowly made to straighten up before he turned to face his firend, just staring at him, raising one of his eyebrows in disbelieve.
Had he really just said that?
"Oh come on, spare me this shit of yours... Who are you trying to fool?! It´s written all over your face whenever you look at her..." Angeal declared.
"I´ve been watching this long enough - waiting for you to make a move of your own, but you are just too stubborn to admit it to yourself, are you?"
The general felt his friend getting angry, the burly first class obviously annoyed by his ignorant behavior.
Sephiroth had no idea what to say to this...
Was it really that obvious?
Averting his gaze again the silver haired man felt himself blushing slightly, something that rarely ever happened, as dearly he wished for that ridiculous discussion to end.
But he wasn´t going to fool Angeal was he?
"Come on, it´s Valentine´s day... What better occasion than that to confess your feelings to her?" the dark haired first class suggested, his eyes boring into the side of his comrade´s head.
"She hates Valentine´s day..." the general told him flat out.
"Yeah... You know... cause she is always lonely." Angeal informed, his voice sincere.
"Being lonely is one thing... But being lonely although there is somebody close to you who clearly has feelings for you, just because nobody´s got the balls to make the first move... That´s something else entirely." he said.
It certainly felt like he was being lectured again, but this time Angeal´s words stung.
Because he knew they were true.
Standing at the bar at the beach General Sephiroth Crescent shook his head.
He couldn´t do this. Impossible.
He felt confused and wary about his feelings towards her.
They somehow made him weak. And he hated feeling weak.
Above all things he hated not feeling in control.
And this... This was out of his control entirely.
He didn´t remember when she had become so important, so close to him, in the first place.
Somehow she´d gotten under his skin.
This wasn´t something he should have ever let happen.
The funny thing was just that the more he tried to deny his feelings, the harder it seemed to ignore them.
This was preposterous.
It was crazy.
"Well, I guess I can´t force you..." Angeal said, sounding somewhat resigned.
"However man... I know you´re going to make the right decision" he told him, patting his shoulder in a brotherly way to then leave him alone with his disconcerting thoughts.
From her path on the beach, the sunset looked magnificent.
Blurs of purples, pinks and oranges...
Taking a walk along the shore, listening to the sound of the waves gently calming her restless mind, Lightning couldn´t help but be reminded of Bodhum, of home. It´s white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters almost exactly like those of Costa del Sol.
She felt her chest constrict painfully at the sudden but intense surge of homesickness, a feeling she hadn´t felt in quite some time now.
She couldn´t prevent her thoughts from drifting back to Serah, to her family, as unvoluntarily she tried to imagine what her sister was doing right now.
Maybe she was on a date herself. She was almost 18 after all.
She´s almost 18...
Lightning felt tears stinging her eyes as she let that fact sink in, as she thought about all those birthdays she had missed. She hadn´t seen her little sister in almost 3 years. Serah´d grown to be a young woman now. A woman she didn´t know at all. She might not even recognize her...
Where had she been all this time? How could she not have found the time to visit even once?!
Suddenly she didn´t know.
Yes...She´d ask for a few days off first thing when they´d be back to HQ, She really would!
She couldn´t miss Serah´s 18th birthday. Now the war was over they didn´t need her anyway. Slaying Monsters was all she did these days, thinking about it that way, she guessed they could find somebody else for the job.
Pondering Angeal´s words - he had insisted on giving him a talk again back in there the second Genesis had left for the table – General Sephiroth Crescent stepped out into the warm evening breeze.
He had seen her exit the bar about quarter an hour ago, he knew she had to be around somewhere.
Studying his surroundings he wondered in which direction she might have taken off.
Part of him half wished he wouldn´t find her.
He didn´t know what to say to her anyway.
Shuffling his feet in an irritated way, he realized he felt nervous and insecure. Something he certainly wasn´t used to feeling at all.
Playing with the thought of just going back inside, he was about to turn on his heels when suddenly, her heard the unmistakable sound of gunshots, followed by a bone-chilling scream.
Lightning...
What the fuck was going on?!
Not wasting a second, breaking into a run, the silver haired first class hurried in the direction the noise had come from.
She´d been deeply lost in thoughts, thoughts about home and her past, when there was the sudden noise of a gun going off close to her, cutting the silence, taking her off guard.
She didn´t even realize what was happening as a sharp pain in her shoulder made her grunt out, barely registered what was going on as she tried to turn around, completely taken by surprise, when the second and the third shot hit her square in the chest.
The burning pain in her thorso and shoulder indicating that she had been shot, her brain didn´t seem to be able to process what had happened yet.
Injured nerve ends screaming at her in agony, the excruciating pain blinding her, there was the horrifying feeling of hot blood, pouring out of her body.
Lightning didn´t even register the fourth and fifth bullet, forcing their way into her flesh.
Her knees giving in she collapsed to the ground, feeling like her guts had been ripped apart and pulled out of her body. Her hands jolting to check on her belly and sides, they came up bloody.
Paralyzed by the agony, it took her a few seconds to realize she had been hit there as well.
What was going on?!
Starting to feel dizzy and faint, she panickingly searched for the healing Materia inside the pocket of her trousers. Her blood making its way out of her body at alarming speed, her hands shook terribly and her fingers started to go numb as she struggled to get it out.
Please...
She finally managed to get a hold on it. Bringing it up to use it, it was violently knocked out of her hand and came to a rest about a meter away.
No! Please!
She didn´t have time to retrieve it, as barely a second later she was kicked face first to the ground – hard.
She felt her cheek cut open on the sharp edge of a stone, the green sphere resting only a few millimeters from her outstretched hand.
She might be able to reach it.
Just a tiny little bit...
Her fingertips slipping on its smooth surface, leaving red smudgy marks, Lightning felt the excruciating pain of having all the bones of her right hand broken at once, as she watched her hand being mercilessly crushed under the boot of her attacker, the sickening crack stifled by her tortured scream.
Her injured body barely able to move, she knew she was done.
She could only watch as the boot stomped down again, breaking the softly glimmering healing materia - her only hope - into a million tiny pieces, the once smooth surface shattering like glass, a mako green liquid oozing out of its remains and seeping into the sand, it´s glow slowly fading, just like her life.
She just stared at it. Its once shiny surface now dull and meaningless.
She couldn´t form any coherent thought.
When she died now would she return to the lifestream?
Would her soul be born again - somewhere - in a better place?
She felt the steel cap of her enemy´s boot connect with her side and she could only whimper in pain, her body too weak to scream as she was brutally pulled up by her hair and violently flipped around, so she could face her assasin for the very first time.
She could see the Wutain crest on his shiny armor.
She was starting to feel light headed.
Her vision was starting to blurr, her head lolled weakly to the side.
She knew this was the end.
The agonizing pain now fading to a dull throb, she felt all her memories, all her wishes, her fears, her dreams - who she was - draining out of a hole in her body she couldn´t plug.
She fought hard to stay conscious.
Tried to focus on the beautiful scenery in front of her. The last rays of the dying sun, reflected on the waves, painting the horizon in soothing reds and oranges.
And she couldn´t help but think that Costa del Sol really was beautiful.
She wasn´t granted the view much longer though, as her head was forced to look up again.
Her icy blue eyes were open when the muzzle of the gun was pressed into her forehead.
"For Wutai." a male voice cried out triumphantly.
She couldn´t even see his face through his helmet.
She waited for the final blow, for him to finally end her torment. In her state, unable to defend herself or do anything at all, her vision strangely blurred, she just wished he´d hurry up or otherwise, she feared, she wasn´t even going to live long enough for that bullet to kill her.
She felt herself slip away, waiting for that piece of lead to put her to peace.
Seconds seemed to stretch into hours as she drew her last breaths.
She wondered whether she would even feel the pain - would she even register it or would there just be nothing? - when suddenly her attacker was cut in half by a ridiculously long sword – Masamune.
It was when he rounded another bend that he found her, lying on the ground, broken, in a pool of her own blood. The attacker, unmistakably Wutai, towering above her, General Sephiroth Crescent could tell he was about to take her out.
He had Masamune out and ready in no time in order to prevent the irreversible from happening, cutting the Wutai fighter down with only one swift motion of his weapon´s deadly blade, or rather delay it, he figured, as he took in his former protégé´s condition, the alarming amounts of blood she had lost frightening him, as he hurried to her side.
"I´ve always hated Valentine´s day..." she managed to choke out. "...but this one is definitely my worst..."
She chuckled slightly at the last part, her voice sounding infinitely weak and raspy.
"Shhh... Don´t talk." the general instructed as quickly he took out his phone to call for help as fast as he could. Letting them use the chip inside it to track their position, they assured him to come to their aid as fast as possible.
Talking on the phone he caught a glimpse of the maxed out healing Materia he had given her as a present for becoming First Class, crushed on the floor only a few feet away, useless now.
Shit...
She´d tried to use it.
That bastard had left her no chance to defend herself.
Taking in her trembling form, the general kneeled down next to her, his knees sinking a few centimeters into the soft sand.
He didn´t need to examine her wounds to assess the extent of the injuries.
There was blood everywhere.
Too much blood.
He could tell she was slipping away already...
Her pupils slightly dilated as she was staring at him.
Or rather through him, he thought.
He couldn´t tell.
Having fought in a war, he had seen that exact expression on countless faces before.
He wished he´d never have to see it on this face.
But having no such powers as Angeal´s there was nothing he could do but watch.
The healing materia´s magic, not able to heal his Jenova cell tranfused body, the silver haired first class hadn´t bothered to equip one himself, ever. He was able to mend his injuries on his own anyway.
He had given her this Materia in order for her to save herself whenever the need would arise.
Never had he pictured a scenario such as this.
"Sephiroth..." she called for him, weakly, her voice barely a whisper, breaking at the last syllable of his name.
He knew this tone of voice so well...
It was the one you sported when you were about to die.
He didn´t know what to do, or to say, or to feel.
Those icy blue eyes boring into his, her lower lip trembling, her body shaking helplessly, reaching forward he carefully tried to pick her up in his arms.
Maybe he could just carry her back to the main street?
So they could reach them earlier?
But a soft cry of pain, followed by a sharp intake of breath, her instant reaction to his tentative attempts, told him it was no use.
He decided to just stay there with her then, as carefully he lifted her upper body to hold her close to his in a tight embrace. Her cheek resting against his chest, he just held her while her life was slipping away from her, gently caressing her shoulder and upper arm, he continued to do so even after her eyelids fluttered shut.
He was not going to lie to her and tell her that she was going to make it, they both knew she had lost too much blood, as he listened to her drawing in ragged breaths, as he felt her pulse weaken under his touch.
It took him a few seconds to realize she had just stopped breathing, when her pulse suddenly faded, to then vanish completely.
His chest constricting painfully, it suddenly felt hard for him to breathe.
He didn´t even realize people arriving, a small crowd forming around them, members of SOLDIER and infantrymen as well as turks, coming to secure the vicinity.
And then the medics.
Trying to take her away from him as he refused to let go of her body, limb now in his arms.
Taking in the blood and checking her pulse and eye reflexes, they just shook their heads.
There was nothing they could possibly do.
He did not even register his comrades gathering behind him, watching in horror and he barely heard Zack scream out her name as if from far away.
He didn´t even have the energy to push Genesis and Angeal away when they made him let go of her body - lifeless now.
He stayed there in his spot on the ground completely paralyzed.
It was slowly getting dark now.
He felt Angeal´s hand resting on his shoulder, his comrade trying to comfort him, but he just wanted to push it away.
He realized he just wanted them to leave.
He just wanted to be left alone.
Alone...
That was what he had felt like all his life, no matter how many people present.
That was what he felt like now.
Looking down into his now empty hands, he found them covered in blood - her blood.
It seemed to be everywhere.
If he had just gone outside to look for her...
If he had found the courage to talk to her sooner...
Then all of this...
Then she would still be...
He started to feel light headed.
Unable to move or to do anything at all, he could only watch as the medics put her lifeless body onto a stretcher, covering her under a white linen as they lifted her into their car.
The red emergency lights had been switched off some time ago now. His eyes still fixed on the truck closed doors he was watching it´s rear ligths flash crimson as the engine purred to life, when suddenly, from the corners of his eyes he spied the familiar face of Hojo.
The professor watching the scene with great interest, lurking next to some kind of palm tree he caught the general´s mako eyes with his own bespectacled dark ones.
What was HE doing here?
General Sephiroth Crescent could only wonder.
The creepy old fool looking over at him expectantly, the general could tell he was silently asking for his permission.
And he knew exactly what he had in mind.
Thinking fast, contemplating his options, the silver haired first class gave one of his tight nods.
A sinister smirk made it´s way onto the professor´s haggard features.
He couldn´t let her go...
Not like this...
He could see the man he despised so much talking to some of the paramedics and motioning for some people in lab coats - obviously Shin-Ra scientist - to come over and climb into the back of the ambulance truck.
Sephiroth knew it was wrong but...
What was he supposed to do...
Professor Hojo, making his way to enter on the passenger´s side of the car, for a brief moment he paused to look at the general once more.
Their eyes meeting for a brief moment, Sephiroth could see a wicked grin forming on the crazy old bastard´s face.
He knew he had been waiting for an opportunity like this for ages.
Having Hojo smile like that, it was never a good sign, was it?
Had he really done the right thing?
They arrived back at HQ late in the night the day after the tragic incident on the beach.
General Sephiroth Crescent had kept to himself for the entire journey, ignoring Angeal Hewley´s attempts at talking to him.
He just couldn´t bring himself to care.
The others went down to the hospital immediately after their return to look after Lightning.
Rumour had it she had been brought back to Midgar by aircraft and transferred to the intensive care unit of the hospital shortly after the attack.
But the silver haired first class had watched her die in his arms.
He knew better than that.
Waiting until after they had left, he made his way to the elevators and putting his ID-card into it´s designed slot he was about to press the button with the number 67 on it, when suddenly he paused to reconsider.
No.
He couldn´t keep her up there in the science department where somebody was bound to notice...
No.
Hojo might have been many things. But he certainly wasn´t stupid.
There was only one place he could have taken her...
Rummaging inside his coat´s hidden inside pockets, the first class general produced a little silver key. It´s teeth worn from use he forced it into the tiny lock right underneath the buttons.
There was a soft clicking noise and a little touch screen keyboard appeared.
Checking behind his back to make sure nobody was there to watch, Sephiroth entered the 12 digit code he remembered so well, to then proceed by bending down to bring his eye near to the tiny lens concealed behind the emergency button to get his retina scanned.
"Access granted." a mechanical female voice said and, the doors swiftly closing, the elevator gave a jolt, indicating that it had started its descent, as vibrating slightly, it moved downwards.
Oh how much he hated going down there...
He hadn´t been down there in years.
It took an eternity, but finally the elevator doors slid open and he hesitantly stepped out into the chilly musty air.
He could see his breath misting out in front of him, dark high stone walls greeting him like old aquaintences. There was a shiver running down his spine as he moved forward to enter another 15 digit code, to then watch the three heavy security doors open for him once again, a blinding white light greeting him from inside.
Welcome home, he thought.
Welcome to Deepground...