To love an Ancient: An Aeris and Sephiroth story

Chapter 37

Misunderstandings

Disclaimer

Hey Aeris/Sephiroth fans! I apologise for the slow updating, it is due to that darn great game known as Kingdom Hearts and the only reason why I am not on it now is due to the fact that I cannot blooming defeat Sephiroth. Argh! He keeps on attacking me when I am trying to heal, I cannot dodge with him, and he alway keeps on managing to rid himself of lock on to come up behind me and kill me! Oh well, it could be worse....I could be still at the beginning of the Colisseum trying to defeat Squall and Yuffie....

Anyway.... back to this fic

....Now on with the story.......

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"78, 79, 80, 81...." Aeris said quietly to herself, as her eyes searched across the ceilings for cracks or anything out of the ordinary. Her body was laying upon rather uncomfortably across a wooden crates. Her face stared up above her, trying to think of something to do. She was even tempted to goad Sephiroth into another one of their disputes, however she felt it unwise after how he reacted earlier that morning. Sighing deeply to herself, she turned slightly to take a look at the figure that was recently in her thoughts, partially glad that he wasn't aware of her staring, or so she hoped. The swordsman's back faced her, allowing her to have another good look at the warrior's long, silky locks. His form sat cross legged, and his face stared across ahead of him as if in some sort of meditation.

Aeris being the ever curious imp, decided that she had enough of her boredom. She believed that it would be better to talk to Sephiroth and be teased than to be bored out of her head.

Slipping off the wooden crate, she stretched her arms slightly, before slowly making her way to the silver haired man with as quiet footsteps as she could, the sudden amusing thought of catching Sephiroth unaware made her grin slyly in amusement. The thought was broken at the sound of moving leather and a pair of feral emerald eyes looked up at Aeris accusingly for a moment. His face held a look of clear annoyance.

"Aeris, sit down. You broke my concentration." Sephiroth growled, oblivious to the anger that was slowly rising in the young woman, before turning back to his previous position as if he had never moved. Although Aeris expected some sort of harsh remark from him, she couldn't help but feel annoyed with all of the teasing and 'telling offs' she had received from the swordsman and it was slowly wearing away at her patience and kindness. Remaining in her fixed position on the floor, a sudden bout of courage began to swell in her, as she folded her arms, a large frown etched on her lips.

She inhaled a breath of courage. "No." Aeris said softly, and for a moment she thought that Sephiroth didn't hear her. However after a moment, Sephiroth turned to look at her once more. His eyes flashed with anger and a emotion that Aeris believed must have been shock.

"What did you say?" Sephiroth questioned slowly, his voice held an unnatural calmness to it as if awaiting for its time to strike. Aeris' common sense would have told her to tread carefully if she were in her calm and collected state, but she had gone beyond being treated unfairly by a certain silver haired guardian.

She held her ground, keeping her voice as icy as she could. "I said 'no'."

Sephiroth couldn't bite back a growl of anger as he stood up and stalked up to her, his features clearly showing that he wasn't amused with Aeris' words.

"Are you defying me?" Sephiroth snapped, using his towering height to his advantage over Aeris.

Aeris couldn't help but snigger, seeing how Sephiroth was trying to intimidate her and was greatly failing. She knew how Sephiroth thought and no measly glare or fold of arms would cower her away from her right of say. Trying to show her strength of will, she took off her helmet and stared directly into the swordsman's glare. Aeris had learnt from being with Sephiroth for the past few days, that his cold glares were just his normal cold facade of everyday day life and that he wouldn't hurt her even if he was sending death glares at her, or that was what Aeris had come to believe…or hoped at least.

She gave a mock grin. "I think you already know the answer to that question," Aeris stated before adding "or you're not as smart as I thought you were."

The right palm of Sephiroth's hand clenched and cracked. "You're trying my patience girl," he warned, the fire in his eyes slowly grew at the brunette's defiance.

'Never has she acted this way...'

Aeris couldn't help but scoff at his remark. "And what do you think you've been doing to me? Patronising me, forcing me around as if I'm some child that cannot take care of herself!?" Aeris cried out, placing her arms akimbo.

"Then what do you think you're doing now? You are acting like the very kid you are, screaming and shouting when you don't want to do something that could be the difference between life and death!" Sephiroth all but shouted. He had the sudden urge to either shake the girl senseless or stalk off into his own seclusion. But since he had neither choice, he just stared down at the girl which held some much passion in her eyes that he was rather surprised to see.

'Her courage is admirable to me. Never has anyone tried to disobey me. Her Cetra spirit may be reason for this...'

Aeris face began to redden and before she knew it she had sauntered over to the black clad warrior, and in an instant her hand fell back stinging slightly from the impact. Her mouth was held agape in shock with her forwardness as she took a few steps back from the older man in the room. Her courage had long fleeted that she couldn't even look at him in the eye.

"I....I...." Aeris began, her face cowering before she did the only thing that she thought could right her mistake...Cower.

"Oh I am SO SORRY!!" Aeris said, her head bent down as she wrapped her arms around him in a motherly hug. The thought of crying once again creeping back into her mind before fleeing as she felt harsh hand force her none to lightly away from his form.

"Enough Cetra... you have said what you have wanted to say..." Sephiroth said in a voice unlike his own. Aeris heard the swish of leather go past her and watched in surprise as the swordsman began to climb up the stairs and opened the hatchet.

Aeris knew she had to act and that she had to act fast.

"Where...where are you going?" Aeris half squeaked, rushing over to the ladder to get the swordsman's attention.

"........."

"Sephiroth!"

A silent pause. "..... You'll be safe here if you do not let anyone in."

And with a whip of his cape he was gone and out of sight. Aeris felt her resolve crumble as she felt to the ground, as tears began to leak from her eyes that traced their way down her cheeks.

'Has...has he left me?'

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Hey I know this chapter is short but I wanted to type something up since it is My Birthday tomorrow (4th Feb) and I wanted to give all my favourite reviewers something to read. Aeris has finally stuck up for herself but was it really worth it? Has Sephiroth finally left her?

All will be told in the next chapter.

Ja ne

Aer_seph4eva