A/N: This is the beginning of the end, so please read everything even the OC parts because they are important :P.

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Last chapter…

Then, before Aerith even had the time to react, her lips were captured in a slightly possessive kiss. Smiling under his assault, she grabbed a handful of silver hair and hoped Luna's sleep was a very deep one.

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A week later…

Standing between the lifeless walls of the hospital, Tenzen took a glance at his watch, pacing around as he patiently waited for Adoria. Two days passed now since it was officially announced that the raven haired scientist had finally discovered an infallible cure to the Jenova virus. As the days and hours passed by, Kitakaze's health improved greatly, and he himself had been injected with the vaccine. Thanks to that, he was now able to stand up again and think more clearly. Now, without a single doubt, the nightmare was over.

By the end of the week, the authorities planned to have the whole population treated with the remedy, efficiently and permanently eradicating the infection from the surface of the world. Then, an election would be held and the citizens would choose a new governor to replace Williem, who was going to be executed by Adoria herself. To satisfy her sick need for vengeance, she had asked to be the one to pull on the lever that would end his pitiful life. Sometimes, the hidden darkness corrupting her kind heart frightened him.

As he thought about it, the sound of her approaching footsteps was heard and he turned his attention to her graceful form, advancing towards him.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had a few things to take care of" she apologized, giving him a warm smile.

"Don't worry about it" he smiled back, warmed by the spark of life that shone in her dark sapphires.

"Well, we should go now. Follow me"

Nodding, he did as he was told and they entered Kitakaze's new room, where she was being held for observation. Even if she finally awoke from her coma, the girl did not recover most of her natural reflexes and was still trapped in her bed, unmoving. But, at least, the contagion had left her body and her bruises were beginning to heal.

"Hi, Kita" Tenzen greeted, trying his best to keep smiling as his friend's blood-shot eyes slowly turned in his direction.

Now, her previously chocolate irises were discoloured and yellowish, indicating how seriously her body had been damaged by the virus. She would probably have scars as well, everywhere along her small frame, and for the rest of her life. But, no matter how changed scarred she became; he would stand by her side and love her nonetheless.

Not daring to use her cracked, hoarse voice to respond, she simply smiled and nodded, barely feeling the needle that pierced her skin as Adoria injected her with a serum to help the regeneration of her body.

Each time Tenzen came to visit her, he had the urge to reveal his feelings for her, to tell her how devastated he would have been if she died without knowing. But, each time, he stopped himself, knowing her body would not allow her to respond fully. When he told her, he wanted her to smile widely and throw her arms around his neck, allowing him to hold her tightly against him and never let go, to kiss her soft lips and smell the lovely perfume of her dark, silky hair. No matter the time it took for her to fully recover, he was going to wait.

In fact, that was exactly why he had wanted to meet Adoria, and as soon as the examination was over, he left the room and took the occasion to ask her about his decision.

"Tell me…and I want the absolute truth…will she be alright? Will she live through this?" he dared to ask, looking straight in his friend's irises to make sure she could not lie to him.

"Yes, she'll survive. It will take rehabilitation and a lot of care, but she'll make it." The scientist responded honestly, much to the man's greatest relief.

"Good. I can wait, then. When she gets out of this place…I'm going to give her the best surprise she ever got. I'll make sure she smiles like she never did before"

Listening to the passion warming his voice, Adoria smiled contentedly, happy that she was able to realize her greatest wish and destroy Jenova, at the same time allowing her best friends to realize their own. Finally, she achieved the only purpose left in her extended existence.

0o0o0o0o0o

Meanwhile, Aerith and Sephiroth sat in the lounge at Luna's home, as they had been invited by her parents to come for dinner. At first, Sephiroth had protested, but Aerith managed to convince him, by telling him how much it would please Luna. Somehow, for a reason he was very far from understanding, that little slip of a child had come to like him very much, calling him "uncle" simply to laugh straight at his frustrated face. Often, she laid her tiny, raven head on top of Aerith's belly, claiming she could hear Solarith's heartbeat. Of course, he did not believe her, but the flower girl did, obviously. And, as the three of them sat on the couch, the child did just that, grinning as she held unto the flower maiden.

"I'm gonna be Solariss best friend when we grow up!" she exclaimed after getting a "kick in the face" while listening to Aerith's belly.

"Are you sure? She's already trying to kick your ass" Sephiroth mocked.

"Yes, I've already promised her. I'll be there to keep her company, and insult anyone who's trying to annoy her!" the child beamed, sticking her tongue out to irritate him.

"Hmph" Sephiroth grunted, cursing at himself for not being able to hide the slight grin that spread on his lips.

Of course, he didn't like the idea of having Luna around for the next thirty years or more, but he wanted nothing more for her daughter than to have at least one very good friend on which she would be able to count. That, he now realised it, was one of the greatest losses of his own life. But, each time he thought about one day, when Aerith told him Luna probably had a childish crush on him, his blood ran cold and he wished Solarith would choose another friend. When his daughter reached her teens, he would have enough of dealing with her flaring temper without having to endure the hormones of her friend's hot flushes.

'Damn Aerith, I hope you're wrong about that…' he mentally hoped, tearing his eyes as far away as he could from the grinning child.

Of course, Luna would grow up to become a very beautiful young woman, wearing silky black curls cascading down her fragile back, framing her round figure illuminated by clear green eyes. But, she would always be a child to him, and the only woman he ever wanted to approach from now on was Aerith. She was wearing him out enough as it is, and no one would ever be as beautiful and bewitching as her. She was his forever, whether she liked it or not.

0o0o0o0o0

Two days later, Sephiroth stood in his house's backyard, wearing a new outfit made of pure black leather. On the grass next to him lay his old battle wear, as his beloved Masamune was securely sheathed against his right hip. After taking a lot of time thinking about the mistakes he made since he came to Radiant Garden, remembering the moment when he slipped near the path to insanity, he made a decision.

For his own sake, if not for the one of his newly formed family, he had to cut ties to his past as best as he could. In this world, he found peace. Even if he did not quite like it, his sword almost only came in handy when he practiced. In this world, he did not need to fight. When he had fought Marilou and did not cut off her head like he would have normally done, a part of him has realised that he did not need to spill blood anymore. He was free.

Those reasons were why he decided to store his old uniform away, in some place only Aerith would be aware of. Then, when the right moment came, he would give his most beloved and faithful treasure to his daughter. One day, Solarith would be the Masamune's new bearer. Maybe, without knowing that this holy sword ever spilled her own mother's blood, his girl would feel good, holding it in her expert hands. But, his own eyes could no longer ignore the invisible stain spoiling its silver steel.

"Are you sure you want to do this? If you don't change your mind, I really am going to give her your sword" Aerith asked calmly as she reached his side. "And you'll never see your old uniform if I take it now"

"Yes. I already asked Tenzen to make the best sword he ever created, so that I can wield a weapon rivalling Masamune's length and power. I'm positive that he will be up to the task" the silver haired man responded without hesitation. "As for that uniform…well it was about time I got a change, don't you think?"

"Alright, then. But if you ever change your mind…" the flower maiden replied, taking his clothes in her frail hands, frowning as she realised how heavy they were.

"I know, and I won't"

Smiling at him, pride and love illuminating her sweet figure, Aerith nodded slightly and left, taking the last remains of his past with her, ready to hide it and let the flow of time bury their memories, and its dark signification. As her footsteps faded away, Sephiroth's hand found its way to Masamune's hilt. Of course, he knew his ties to his greatest sins still lied by his side, and he should have stored it away, as well. But he just couldn't bear the thought of letting his faithful weapon go. He would keep it until his daughter was old enough to wield it, remembering his past mistakes every time his eyes trailed along its silver blade.

Dark past or not, he just wouldn't be the same without his sword. It was a part of him, just as much as Aerith and his daughter were. As long as he stayed clean…it be would be, too.

0o0o0o0o0

In the hospital, Kitakaze was holding Adoria's arm tightly as she tried to get used to walking again, a task that was giving her some difficulty. But, after surviving to the very end, Kitakaze was not about to give up. She was strongly determined to get out of this damned hospital to smell fresh air again, and this was helping her to move on. Sometimes, when Tenzen came to visit her, she felt a warmth in her chest, reminding her that she still had feelings for him, even if she admitted them long ago and got nothing out of it.

In fact, each time she saw him, he never brought the subject. Maybe he wanted to wait until she got better, and tell her he was sorry but the only thing she would get from him was unconditional friendship. Maybe he did not know what to say, or…he had some plan in mind and waited for his time. But, no matter the answer, she did not want to tire herself by thinking about it. Of course, if he rejected her, she would be sad, and cry, but at least, she was alive.

Right now, the clear, pure Cetra blood flowing through her veins and the healing of her bruised skin were the only things that truly mattered.

0o0o0o0o0

Later that night, Aerith was sitting on their newly acquired couch, her arm encircled with Sephiroth's as they watched a particularly bloody horror movie. As the end of the film approached, the scenes became more and more violent, much to Aerith's dismay. Then, she frowned as a seemingly stupid girl got ripped apart, her entrails gushing down the wound cutting her belly in two. Putting a motherly, instinctive hand on her stomach, she turned her eyes away and took a glance at Sephuiroth's face, only to burst out laughing as she saw to look plastered on his features.

"Good gods will she stop screaming? He should have cut her damned head off already!" the silver haired man spat as the victim's dieing cries resonated through the whole room.

Arching one silver eyebrow as he ignored Aerith's stare, a disapproving look shadowing his figure, Sephiroth watched as another person was savagely eviscerated.

"This isn't even realistic. The director could have forced himself a little"

"Sephiroth…I don't want to know those details" the brunette suddenly declared as she did not feel so amused anymore.

In fact, he was making her quite nauseous.

"What? Oh…I got carried away" he tried to apologize when he finally turned his attention away from the screen to look at her pale, unhappy figure.

Softened by the guilty look touching his face, Aerith allowed a small smile to spread on her lips as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. Immediately forgetting about the movie, he muted the television and held her close, knowing that, a few months before, she would probably have cowered in fear if he dared to say such things in front of her.

"Seph...I've been thinking…you know, since you asked me to get rid of your old battle wear and all…" she tried, obviously uncomfortable about what she had to say.

"Yes?"

"Do you think…we should tell Solarith? About our past?"

"Of course not" was his instant answer.

"But, one day, she might ask about how we came to know each other. What will we do, lie?"

"We'll just add beauty to the truth. She does not need to know about Gaia"

On that note, they stayed silent for a moment as the movie came to an end, but neither of them noticed. Raising her eyes to meet his glowing jades, Aerith caressed the tender skin of his neck, enjoying its softness. Everywhere else on his whole body, like every normal man, his skin was a bit rough, so she enjoyed touching this particular part of him, which felt like satin under her frail fingers.

"Alright…I don't want to talk about…a sword in the abdomen…never ever again" the brunette finally decided, swallowing a lump in her throat as she did so.

"Neither do I"

Then, he pulled her closer to his body, cradling her in his arms as she placed her soft cheek against his chiselled chest, closing her eyes gently.

"I love you. It's strange, but I do" she declared after a moment of pure silence, sighing contentedly.

"I understand. I feel the same way"

Feeling her lips curl against his chest, he could not help but to smile as well.

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