Listening - Blame Me by Adema (Not all of the lyrics just a few and the pace of the song.)
I'm always gonna be one life behind
That's why I'm all alone
What's it gonna take to make you see
That we are falling apart
I wonder can we throw away the past
I can see through both of us
It's an issue over trust
It's killing me it's killing me
To watch you leave
I can see through both of us
It's an issue over trust
You keep blaming me, blaming me
For what you do to me
www. youtube .com /watch?v=zq1x0gAJnvY
Ok real A.N., well it's not too late this time. And it's two chapters at once! I haven't done that in awhile. It's significant chapters too! I hope they live up to expectation! And well, the story is far from over.
Absentminded Dreamer 1310 - Glad I could answer the questions! And thank you, I liked the little C/Re/Ru action too. Lol an army of meeping cats swarming the lab out for blood! Scientist blood. *shifty eyes*
-siarafaerie-101-miss - Thank you! And here is the updates!
General
2nd Viewpoint
"I… What? Aeris… You're… Dead?" I babbled senselessly and she smiled slightly. But there was something wrong with it. It had an edge. I finally started to take in her appearance, she was wearing a black tank top, cut particularly low, black jeans, with a black leather trench coat, that rivaled Seph's, over it. The black combat boots, caked with dried mud was the real cincher though. My eyes traveled back up to hers, and I couldn't quite believe the glow of mako staring me in the face. This wasn't possible. Aeris died, years ago. We saw her in the Lifestream! I just couldn't understand this at all. Seph looked vaguely confused as well. He must remember to back when I was grieving her. She just looked so different now, but she was still the same person. But now I was noticing subtle physical differences too. She was slimmer, with less gentleness, hard and piercing eyes, visibly chiseled abs, and her arms didn't look like they would feel great to be punched by. Her hair was short and jaggedly cut, as if she had done it herself with a knife.
"Good to see you too Zack, but you can stop oogling me now." I felt a hot blush spread over my cheeks, only to deepen as I took in her devious smirk. Since when could the sweet, little flower girl from the slums make me blush? I was going to try to spin another sentence, but I was interrupted by Xene and Ryuu literally launching themselves at Aeris. "Old hag! We've missed you!" Aeris growled playfully, but still convincingly enough to get the hairs on my neck standing up. She was enveloped by the boys, and I felt a very small pang of jealousy. It was quickly smothered as she threw the off. Quite literally. Xene smashed into the side of a brick building, laughing despite the nasty hit. Ryuu was a little better off as he did some kind of flip and landed in a very Turk like crouch a few meters away.
"Old hag? I'm looking better than both of you put together, twerps. I'm surprised you haven't become cannon fodder yet, kids." Both frowned poutingly as Aeris flipped her hair and smirked. Xene chose to pout the most, oddly since he was usually the more adult one of the two.
"I'm a General now, Aunty Aeris. You can say I'm a kid anymore! Or I'll tell my daddy!" Aeris giggled, closer to her old self now as she played around.
"Oh yeah? A General, huh? Start climbing ranks, baby, and when you get up to me. Maybe then I'll consider you an adult!" I scrunched up my face in confusion. Climb ranks? He's a Brigadier General, how much higher can he get? He can only move up if the General ahead of him dies, resigns, or gets fired. And get up to her? What is she? She couldn't… be…
"Aeris…? What are you exactly?" She turned around startled and obviously affronted. She huffed in disgust for some reason and turned her nose up.
"Well I'm the Four Star General obviously. I'm General Faremis." I felt my body go into shock again as she pulled open her coat to reveal her honors. The inside of her trench was decorated with gleaming metals of honor. She was indeed a decorated General. Seph looked awestruck too. Aeris seemed to find this very insulting and suddenly pointed her arm out toward us, a dark look on her face. A shimmering sword materialized in her hand and was promptly swung into a calculated defense position. "If you think it's so unbelievable, then spar with me." I watched as her eyes changed, turned into cat-eye slits, like Seph's. Her sword suddenly caught on fire and blazed brilliantly.
I watched in awe as she performed graceful, deadly strokes with precision I haven't seen in anyone but Seph. Speaking of Seph, he looked completely floored just like me. When neither Seph nor I went to fight her she dispelled the sword and looked at us again. "Would you like to see Cloud now or are we going to sit here and stare at me all damn day?" Her eyes shifted back, but still held a darkness they hadn't a moment ago. And I could have sworn she shot Seph a glare, but it was so quick it was hard to tell. She turned on her heel and started walking briskly towards a very large building, the tallest in sight in fact.
4th Viewpoint
This woman is dangerous, I can sense it. There's power inside of her that desperately wants to get out. This can't be the same woman we saw in the Lifestream, the gentle Ancient. This woman was a killer, and she has some deep hatred of me for something that I have a feeling has to do with the last life cycle. Yuffie implied I killed her, perhaps she considers me the same as the person who murdered her. That is, if she remembers it.
Her walk held definite confidence and power in every stride. Zackary could feel it too, I could tell by the way he tensed next to me. Xene came over and lifted Lynx out of my arms for the first time since the airship. We were led into the large building, and left and right people were snapping to attention, but this time it was for her and not me. A small pang of jealousy coursed through my veins for a moment. Did I work for everything for nothing if a small woman could replace me so completely? I knew instantly this was untrue, this woman must have worked tirelessly to gain so much respect.
The elevator ride was tense to say the least, Xene and Ryuu didn't seem fazed but Zackary and I certainly felt the frosty air rolling off of Aeris. As soon as the doors opened she stalked forward towards the end of the hall. And as we approached things seemed to slow down. In the commotion with Aeris, I had all but forgotten we were about to see Cloud for the first time in twenty four years. All at once it felt like I was doused with electrified ice water. Zackary had a half hopeful, half terrified look plastered on his face. I was hyper aware of our suddenly racing hearts and shaking hands.
Would he care? Would it be brushed off? Would he hate us for leaving him? Would he understand? Would we be investigated? Would he be suspicious? Would he hug us? Would he kiss us? Would he attack us? The worst things I could imagine were about him not reacting at all. Not caring in the slightest that we're alive and safe. Not seeing any worth in trying to salvage something, anything of our torn relationship.
We finally reached the door, and I had expected a pause, a knock, but what I got was Aeris throwing open the door. My heart suddenly stopped and I gasped quietly for breath as she crossed the threshold. Cloud sat right there, not ten feet away, with his head down looking at papers in his hands. As we filed in, me pretty much dragging Zackary by the hand, he looked up from the work and I felt my heart shatter into splinters as he looked right at us. His beautiful blue eyes, tinged lightly with glowing mako. His soft golden hair, still bouncing lightly on top of his head. His perfect pale, Nibelheim skin still unmarred. His pouty pink lips still full and supple. But his face had still changed. Grown more angular as he lost his youthfulness. And yet… He still looked young. Certainly not thirty, let alone forty. He appeared to be twenty.
Zack collapsed next me, and out of reflex I caught him. Tears trailed down his cheeks, a small happy smile on his lips. I looked back to Cloud to check his reaction, only to find a nearly blank mask. Zack didn't seem to notice, but I did. My heart felt nearly dead, like someone had stabbed it repeatedly.
2nd Viewpoint
He was alive, normal, and safe. It was like the Lifestream had granted my dearest wish. He wasn't any different, a few years older looking but not much. His eyes. Gaia how I've needed to see his eyes. I couldn't keep myself up and Seph had to catch me. I would have thanked him if I wasn't so awed by Cloud. He was perfect, just like always. I sent a little thank you to Aeris in the Lifestream for keeping him safe. I cautiously looked up at Seph to check his reaction, but I was hurt and confused to find him blank. Why wasn't he happy? It was Cloud, our little sunray, our baby chocobo chick. Why wasn't he smiling? I felt his arm tighten around me and I looked back to Cloud. He'd turned to Aeris, Ryuu, and Xene. He walked closer and pulled Xene and Ryuu into a strong hug.
"You're safe." It was all he said, but for some reason it made a jolt run through me. He didn't care that… we were safe? They had been gone… What a month? We've been gone for over twenty years. How could he not rush over to us? Why wasn't he happy? Was I the only one who wanted this to work? He pressed a soft kiss to their foreheads and I felt jealousy surge within me. He whispered something lowly to Aeris and she nodded. She then led Ryuu and Xene out of the room. Leaving us alone.
3rd Viewpoint
My heart felt like it was on warp speed. I had to get them out of the room, I couldn't break down in front of my sons like that. I… I couldn't let them think that I didn't love them or Reno and Rufus. They needed to know they, my family, are my first priority. But still I can't just keep standing here when they are right there. I could tell Sephiroth was… Disappointed. Can't they understand that I have a completely new life? I just can't drop everything to restart something I'd given up hope for over twenty years ago. Zack tears broke my heart and, of course, when all else fails, I shut down emotionally to cope.
I walked back to the front of my desk and leant back against it, and just looked at them for a moment. It was as if they hadn't even left for a day. Perfect… I sighed softly to myself, trying to numb the agonizing pain in my chest that said run to them. I took a breath and looked at them calmly. "You're alive." It was an obvious statement said in a nearly emotionless voice, but at least it was something. Sephiroth tensed and stood up straighter, in his 'when all else fails, intimidate' maneuver.
"Yes, that's quite obvious. The same could be said for you, we were informed you are the General of this army." I frowned slightly as I caught the slight bite to the words. He was angry with me. My heart clenched even further, but I didn't allow it to reach my face.
"You've been gone for quite some time. And yes I am the General of the Neo-ShinRa army. I was also considered for the position back when I was a First Class in the original ShinRa army. I passed up the opportunity, and decided to join AVALANCHE, a terrorist group." I kept my tone level, despite the overwhelming desire to sob. Too bad the mako at these levels damages the tear ducts, which makes it nearly impossible for me to cry unless I'm in nearly excruciating physical or emotional pain. Which I am close to at this point.
Zack let out a tiny sob himself, and I all but broke. "Why don't you love us anymore?" I closed my eyes and looked away from them, Zack's broken question ringing in my ears. Zack and I are connected by spirit, almost the same way Aeris and I are, but different from how Sephiroth and I are connected. It's not surprising he can't handle this. He's looked after me over two lifetimes.
I cracked my eyes open and was horrified to find them getting wet. I haven't cried in eighteen years, since Ryuu and Xene were born. "I… It's not that simple Zack. I'm a father, and a husband. I have obligations to my family and this army. What could I do? Run back to you and abandon everything I've built over twenty years?"
Zack collapsed further in Sephiroth's arms, his hope being crushed and smothered by me. And in that moment nothing seemed more pleasant than the idea of dying. I brought up a hand to my face and rubbed tiredly, moisture finally overflowing. I couldn't take it anymore. I brought my hand away from my face and looked back to them. Sephiroth looked like a stone, and Zack looked like a broken angel. "I'm so sorry." It was whispered, but heartfelt. I stumbled forward, losing my constant grace in the face of salvation. Sephiroth looked surprised as I tripped forward into his arms, grabbing on to him and Zack and hugging them both so tightly I'm sure it must of hurt. Zack wrapped himself around me and Sephiroth finally broke too and did the same. And for just one moment things were ok again.