To love an Ancient: An Aeris and Sephiroth story
6056 words
Chapter 55
Nostalgia is a painful thing
Disclaimer:
...ugh... I do not own FF7...I wish I did though...nah...I have a better wish...I wish that FF7 was not owned by me, but real instead...then I may have a chance to own a real SHB. Oh wouldn't that be fantastic? lol. I put first dibs on Sephy and Yazoo! LOL.
Author's notes
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ...(um...belated Halloween?)...heh...I should say Happy early Bonfire night (for all the Brits out there for the 5th November instead!)
Ahem.
Heh! I'm really glad you guys liked my last chapter. I thought it was a tad too melodramatic...but since I have already revised over it far too many times, I thought WTH, it's good enough...lol. Anywho...this chapter is set in a lower key compared to the raunchiness of last chapter...lol..but there is a slight citrus essence warning for this chapter. Heh... Remember only three more chappies to go after this...Then I'll be moving onto my next TLAA2...heh...the funny thing is I still cannot think of a title to suit Aeris' next adventure...lol...oh and btw, the next instalment will be a lot darker and I may even raise the ratings cos of certain coughlemoncough content and certain themes of possession, obsession, etc etc, not to forget that there will be new characters entering the scene. Hmmm... Aeris will be surely be shocked (NOT TO FORGET DISTURBED) with the next person that comes to invade her life.. hmmm...I guess that bits of this TLAA should be categorised into the R rated section...too .but...ahh...cough...heh...heh...heh...I'll tell you all a little secret..my intentions was to have Riku from KH to be the one to complicate Aer/Seph's relationship...but after watching a certain FF7AC film, I have found a much better replacement...I bet you can guess who...and I know that a couple of you guys already know already.. LOL...
Ahem...
Anywho...
On with the fic! lol. :)
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Midgar Slums... Sector 6
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Putting on her best makeup, and flicking her bangs into perfect position, Milly was ready. Rising up from her mother's bureau and having one more glance in the mirror, the young girl felt ready for the new day. Dressed in her favourite blue dress and matching shoes, the brunette dashed around the house, collecting all the necessary items she needed to put inside her picnic basket. She did not know why, but ever since she woke up, this morning seemed different than any other morning. Of course the house still looked no less like the slum she lived in. The air was still polluted with ash, soot and smoke. The neighbours were still rowing over last night, and the streets were still infested with scary monsters.
But...
Milly had never felt happier.
Her brother Billy had still had not awoken; while her mother was busy bustling in the kitchen; searching for food that Milly had already snatched for 'him'.
'Him...'
He was the one that had made her feel so happy over the last few months.
"Mom! I'm going down to the pipe again!" Milly called, slamming the door shut before her mother had a chance to answer.
The brunette dashed out of her home, and began trailing the same path she had walked every day since she had found him, uncaring of the scenery of random pipes and broken shanty towns she passed. Her dark brown eyes looked down at her carefully packaged picnic that she casually swung at her right side. She just hoped she hadn't forgotten anything. She had brought a small loaf of bread, some butter and cheese, two currant cakes and a bottle of cloudy lemonade. She also brought her brother's wide toothed comb for 'Alex's' long hair, not to forget a couple of daisies from her mother's garden. Although 'Alex' could not vocally respond, she knew he enjoyed it when she brushed his spiky locks, for it sometimes softened his wordless murmurs. She was also aware how he often smiled when she brought him a bouquet of fresh flowers or wore her mother's floral perfume (that she made sure she was wearing today) to please him.
Milly did not think she had missed anything out of her basket, but she knew she had no time to go back to her house now. She was running slightly late and she didn't want to keep her cute patient waiting...
She couldn't help but wonder about him though...
And everything about his past...
'What was his real name...?'
'Where did he come from?'
'How did he get so sick?'
'...And why is his body so scarred?'
'Who would want to hurt him?'
'...And why do his eyes glow in the night?'
'Is he dangerous...?'
'Or is he innocent?'
'Did he once have a girlfriend?'
'Or maybe a wife and family?'
'Or is he lonely…?'
'-----------------'
'And why…?'
'Why does he scream out in the dark at night?'
'Why does he have so many nightmares?'
'Those same words...'
'Cloud...Nibelheim...Mako...Reunion...'
'----------'
'Why does he cry?'
'What did he do to deserve so much pain...?'
'Why does he suffer...?
'Will his mind ever be healed?'
'Will he ever be well?'
'...and if he does awaken...and realises how I have nursed him, fed him...'
'-helped him and healed him. Catered to his every whim...'
'would he then...would he then stay with me...?'
'Would we live together...in a house...not in the slums...but on the upper plate..?'
'Together...forever...?'
'---------'
'...or will he…?'
'-will he leave me…?'
'-to follow his own memories...back to his past?'
'Nibelheim...Reunion...Cloud...'
'...Alex wouldn't leave me...would he?'
'-----------'
Milly soon arrived at her destination, and without knocking, she pushed the torn worn curtain; (the makeshift door she had made encase Alex got sick) before entering the pipe.
"Hey Alex it's me Mi-"
Her basket thumped to the floor.
Milly's brown eyes began to tear as she gazed around the damaged hovel.
It was as she feared...
'Alex...'
The handsome stranger...
..was gone.
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Back to Avalanche...
"Trees and rocks...trees and rocks...rocks and trees...and more trees and rocks..."
Yuffie muttered to herself, as she stared out at the non-changing scenery from the window.
'Boring----ugh...' The ninja groaned, as she shuffled in her seat, feeling queasy and light headed.
She never liked vehicles...
Especially when she was riding in a moving one...
It made her feel claustrophobic...
Feeling not unlike a squashed sardine, in a tiny tin can...
But what was even worse...
Was that on her left, Barret's bulky build seemed to swallow up all her air supply around her...
And then on her right..
Was that red dog-lion...thing...
Not that the Great Ninja Yuffie was scared of it or anything...
'--------------'
But she wished she didn't need to sit by such a strange creature...
Was it even domesticated?
And how could it even talk?
And what was with all those tattoos?
Ugh...
'Why would an animal want to even have tattoos on its body?'
'What is he trying to show off to?'
'His beastly mistress?'
'---------'
'And why does that beast's tail have a flame on the end...?'
'And why does that Barret guy have a gun on his arm?'
'And how does Cloud manage to get his hair so wild and spiky?'
'And why is Tifa so...curvy?'
'Ugh...they're all a bunch of weirdoes...' Yuffie concluded to herself, as she leant back against the leather seat; closing her eyes and lazily dozing to the sound of the buggy engine. But after a while, the feeling of nausea began to rise up her throat, and Yuffie could barely prevent herself from vomiting on the unfortunate victim that managed to get in her way...
Snapping her eyes open once more, the ninja groaned, which turned into a full out moan, as her stomach almost lost all of its contents when Cloud drove over a particularly bumpy area.
"Hey!" Yuffie cried out, as she waved a menacing fist in the air at the blond driver.
"Are you trying to kill us or something Cloud!"
The said blond snorted lightly, before driving over another rough patch.
"HEY! You did that on purpose!"
Her golden haired leader did not reply, and instead began to converse with Tifa who was seated in the passenger seat beside him.
'Jerk...I almost lost my lunch back there,' Yuffie thought irritably as her hands settled over her queasy stomach.
Trying to redirect her thinking elsewhere, the young teen darted her attention from herself, and back towards the windows once more.
The repetition of greys and green was making her feel worse...
'Ugh...if I knew the journey was gonna be THIS bad, then I would have never considered joining this group of misfits...' Yuffie grumbled to herself, more than wishing for this intensely boring ride to end.
'One chocobo, two chocobo, three chocobo, four; five chocobo, six choco-ugh...I'm so boooorreed!'
'I don't think this ride could get any worse-'
BANG!
Yuffie realised then that you should never test the Gods.
There was strange clunk and clatter beneath her.
'What-'
Then the engine let out an unhealthy groan...
'-the-'
The buggy quite literally shuddered, before rolling to an eventual stop.
'heck?'
Black smoke billowed out of the conked out engine...
'Uh... oh...'
Everyone in Avalanche was silent.
It was now official. The driving tin can had broken down.
"Damn it!" Barret and Yuffie cursed together, before turning to look at one another in surprise.
"I guess we'll be walking on foot to Nibelheim..." Cloud said wryly as he gazed up at the clouds of smoke that billowed out of the buggy's bonnet.
"What do we do now Cloud?" Tifa asked, as she turned her large brown eyes upon her leader.
"I don't know these lands well-" the blond began, as he gazed over at the maze of red tinted mountains that panned across the distance. "-other than the fact that we still have at least another day or so before we get to Nibelheim, and we-"
"I'm home..."
"Huh?" All puzzled eyes turned towards Red's vocal outburst.
"Say that again Red," Cloud questioned, unsure if he had heard clearly or not.
"We have broken down outside my home...what luck... we must be blessed by my ancestors." The fire beast purred softly; staring out towards a place, hidden between a valley of rock and dust. A strange smile stretched across his lips as he gazed at the canyon and the memories it held for him. "...I am finally home...after so many years...Cosmo Canyon. Grandfather, I have returned..."
"So why the hell are you just ogling your home doggie? Lets find your Grand-pops and find someone to get this tin can fixed!" Yuffie exclaimed, shattering the moment completely.
"Yuffie don't be so rude," the Zangan warrior chastised, already having an idea of the happiness that Red must be thinking; seeing his home safe, and looking the same even after so many years of being away.
'...but...I...know that will never be the same for me or Cloud when we return to our home...'
To tell the truth, Tifa had no idea what she was going to be like when she returned to Nibelheim. But it made her wonder...Did Nibelheim even exist anymore? She knew it could never look the same like it had those long five years ago after the deadly fires swept through the whole town after 'his' violent massacre... Was her house still standing? Or was her home just ash and snow; devoid of life and plagued with loneliness...Did any of the houses survive the attack? Did anyone still live there or was it overtaken by Nibel wolves and other inferior creatures...? Would she recognise anyone...anything...?
'-----------'
But above everything else, Tifa wanted to know just one thing...
Would the nightmare be waiting for her when she returned?
'Sephiroth...SOLDIER...Shinra...mako...'
'I hate them...'
'I hate them all so much...'
'And I wish...'
"Tifa!"
The brunette visibly jumped in surprise, as her gaze drew from her subconscious and back into reality.
Chocolate brown met mako blue.
The brunette gaped, surprised at how close the blond was sitting beside her; and not only that, he was looking at her with so much emotion that Tifa felt her heart stutter in her chest and her face tint in discomfort.
As much as she liked looking at Cloud...the mako glow in his eyes sometimes really unnerved her...especially when her mind played with her vision, and she could swear she saw acid green flecks of mako within the blond's blue eyed gaze.
"Cloud?"
Her words snapped the blond out of his daze, and the brunette watched her leader's brow furrow in bemusement, as if he was unaware of what exactly had transpired over the last few moments.
That was then Tifa realised another thing.
"Where are the others?" Tifa asked shortly, confused as to why they were the only too left in the vehicle when it seemed only a minute ago that Red, Barret and Yuffie were sitting in their seats.
"The others have left to look around Red's hometown." Cloud answered passively, as he pointed towards the direction of the canyon.
"Oh..." The brunette answered numbly, now realising why the vehicle had become strangely vacant.
"Are you alright Tifa?"
Tifa's face flushed lightly before clearing back to its usual pallor. "I'm fine Cloud...I was just thinking.." she admitted softly, unbuckling her seatbelt and grabbing the blond's offered hand out of the buggy.
"About what?"
The brunette shrugged casually, as she watched Cloud lock up the broken down vehicle, before sheathing his broadsword on his back.
"Nothing really...I just thinking."
Tifa knew her reply was lame, but she really did not want to diverge her anxieties of going to Nibelheim to Cloud at that very moment. Knowing her, if she spouted off her thoughts, she knew she would end up in tears at the end of it, and that was the last thing she wanted to do!
"Hn." The blond nodded, as if he understood.
His response only made Tifa wonder...did Cloud ever think of Nibelheim at all?
'
Was he even worried to return there?'
'And what would happen if...'he'...was there?'
'Was Sephiroth really alive...or were they just following an impostor...?'
'And was it really true?"
'That Aeris was in Sephiroth's possession?'
'-----------'
'Could they even rescue her from that mad monster-?'
'Or would he kill her on spot when they arrive...?'
'If she isn't already dead...'
'--------------------'
"Come on Tifa, our friends are waiting for us."
"Huh?" Clearing her darkened thoughts with a shake of her head, Tifa pushed her nagging questions at the back of her mind.
"Right Cloud." And with that reply, the brunette turned her gaze outwards towards their next destination...
Cosmo Canyon...
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The next day was uneventful, but that fact in itself seemed to be one of the best gifts the planet had ever granted her. After yesterday, all Aeris wanted was a nice long lazy day, devoid of effort and complications. Even now, her memories from last night plagued her mind and soul.
----
"...Aeris I cannot love you..."
"...because the feelings I have for you go beyond this weak human emotion called love."
"Aeris, I shall give you the gift of rapture.."
"we will live in a shining utopia...we would rule over our kingdom..."
'A Promised Land...?'
'Death could never separate us...'
'Can love overcome such a deity... as death?"
"Do you accept my offer of eternity...?"
----
At that moment, Aeris could not find the words to answer Sephiroth's question; for what could she say to one who would offer her such an alarming proposal? His words stole the very breath from her lips and no matter how she tried, she could not utter a single word to reply.
----
'Do you accept my offer…?'
Do you accept my offer of eternity?'
----
Aeris remembered the way Sephiroth's broad smile dimmed, and how his offered hand wavered as the seconds ticked by.
"I..."
She remembered the acceleration of her own heart beat when she realised her stifled silence could be mistaken as rejection.
But...
What had surprised her...
was how...
Sephiroth did not seem angry at her...
In fact...
he seemed satisfied...if not pleased...
...that she was speechless...
as if...
..that was the exact response...
...he had wanted to get out of her...all along?
----
Aeris contemplated that idea to herself. Did Sephiroth realise what he was truly saying? Maybe he did not know the true extent of his offer? Eternity? Forever? Beyond death? Did he not realise that his proposal was not unlike a...proposal of marriage...sans the ring and white dress of course! Aeris mentally giggled to herself, feeling both delighted and light-headed at the thoughts that were running through her head. Sephiroth couldn't have possibly meant that...
'...no...Sephiroth wouldn't want to marry someone like me...'
'...but then...'
'----------'
'...that still doesn't explain what happened afterwards!"
Now that was yet another memory that immensely confused and surprised the flowergirl to rethink on what on earth was going on in her companion's head...
----
After being stunned silenced by Sephiroth's proposal, Aeris quickly retired to her tent, lest she said or did something stupid she would forever regret. Shrugging off her remaining wet clothes and underwear, the brunette crawled beneath the scratchy blankets, uncaring of the material since it was so 'warm' against her cold skin. Aeris yawned to herself, and her eyes slid shut to rest; her mind all but ready to slip into the depths of midnight rapture. That was until she heard an odd clicking noise which sounded strangely like a zip being pulled.
"...Huh?"
It took Aeris a seconds for her sleep hazed mind to clear before she realised that it was the sound of her tent door being opened and shut!
'What the?'
Aeris, let her instincts take over as she pulled her thick woolly blankets over her head in an attempt to hide herself from the unknown intruder. Her first crazed thought was that some field monster had entered her tent; that was until the brunette realised that a monster wouldn't open a tent by using a zipper.
But then she heard a familiar chuckle above her, and Aeris sagged her shoulders in relief.
'Phew...Oh...it's only Sephiroth...for a moment there I thought that I thought I was in trouble since I'm weapon-less and...'
Aeris body suddenly went cold as a sudden realisation dawned within her; and then for a split second, the brunette all but wished that it was a monster invading her tent instead of 'him'!
"Oh my god!"
'No, no, no...This cannot be happening..' The brunette thought frantically, clenching her hands and teeth is sheer apprehension as she heard the sound of the tent flap being closed, blocking the cold winds from entering once more.
'I'm naked!'
Aeris was ready to hyperventilate, especially when she felt 'him' move towards her.
"oh no...please don't come any closer. please don't...' Aeris mentally begged, hoping that if she feigned sleep, then maybe Sephiroth would go away. There was a part of Aeris' mind which questioned why she was so scared of a man that only moments ago she admitted that she had loved. But the brunette knew that there was one thing with kissing and touching the man you loved...but to willingly show off all your 'bits'; warts and all; Aeris did not think she was ready for THAT! To be honest, Aeris was somewhat self conscious of her body, knowing that she wasn't as shapely as other women out there. Of course she knew she was not over weight and that she wasn't ugly...but... she knew she wasn't attractive as other women she had seen in Wall Market, and she knew her figure wasn't as flattering and attractive compared to Cloud's female friend Tifa. To Aeris, Tifa was a perfect specimen of female perfection with her fresh attitude; her strong fighter's figure, not to forget her more than ample bust line that she exploited with her tight fitting clothing. To put it quite simply, Tifa possessed pure sexual magnetism in her very image; however Aeris knew she was nothing like the Zangan fighter. Instead, Aeris preferred to dress more conservatively and not show off the aesthetics of her own body. To her, to reveal your skin so intimately to another, seemed too personal; too mortifying, especially when her heart had barely began the steps to uncovering her own feelings for the silver haired swordsman.
'But Sephiroth has already touched me before, so why should I be bothered if he sees me undressed,...' a part of her mind argued slyly.
'------'
'And it is dark. It isn't like he is going to see anything.'
'------'
Everything was just moving too fast.
Aeris mentally shook her head. She did not have time to think about such things, when she was seconds away from being revealed. She knew faking sleep would not help in a situation like this, and she was too embarrassed to tell him to go away because she was naked! Then there was the final option of ignoring him and hoping that he went away.
'But if he went out of his way to enter the tent, he would probably had a good reason to talk to me...and knowing him...if I ignore him...he'd probably pull off all my blankets and expose me unknowingly...'
And that was the last thing the brunette wanted.
'Maybe he only came in here to check up on me...or something...?'
'...Perhaps if I talk to him, then he'll go away?'
It was worth a shot.
"Sephiroth...what is it?" Aeris asked; her voice muffled beneath the blankets.
The swordsman made no verbal response, nor make any movement. There was no sound in the tent for over a minute, and for a scant moment, Aeris thought that she all but imagined the sound of the zipper..
That was until she heard the shuffle of clothing and thud of leather boots falling to the floor, followed by the metal click of belts clunking down to the ground.
Aeris' breath hitched in her throat.
'Sephiroth?'
Wh-what was he doing?
Her fingers clenched over her beating heart as she felt the swordsman shift across her blankets toward her.
'Oh God...!'
Aeris held her body still as death, her heart thumping frantically at each passing second.
'Please go..please go...' Aeris chanted in her mind, as she clutched the covers with no intent of letting go.
Even in the darkness, Sephiroth's mako enhanced eyes could see the Aeris' huddled form hidden beneath the layers of blankets, quaking despite her best efforts to still her body.
'Hn...'
Sephiroth's lips twitched upwards when he playfully tugged a corner of the blanket that was near the brunette's head and watched as she retreated further beneath the blankets.
"Are you cold Aeris?"
Another teasing tug.
Aeris shivered in response and clenched the item which barricaded her modesty from peeping eyes.
"-----"
Another playful pull.
"You are, aren't you...?"
"-----...go away."
The pulling immediately stopped.
'...has he gone...?'
Cold fingers suddenly touched the skin of her back, and Aeris shrieked in alarm causing Sephiroth's fingers to disappear as quickly as it came. Her sudden exclamation of surprise gave the swordsman enough time for him to sneakily slip his body beneath the warm blankets and alongside a very horrified flowergirl.
Bare skin, touched bare skin.
Sephiroth was silent.
Aeris was silent.
Sephiroth could feel every part of her softness.
Aeris could feel every contour of his muscle across her skin.
It was deliciously unnerving.
Aeris was the first one to speak. "What are you doing here?" She whispered softly.
Sephiroth's arms wrapped possessively around her, as if their only made purpose was to hold her.
"I would have thought it is obvious." He whispered huskily, his warm breaths rustling the hairs on her neck.
Aeris' eyes bulged in the darkness.
"B-but you're naked!"
His chuckle sounded like crushed velvet to her ears.
"So are you..." he replied smoothly, as he moved his head to inhale the girl's hair.
'But...ahh...eeekk...oh...my...GOD!'
Aeris' face paled dramatically as she kept her hands across her breasts, as if such an action could restore her composure.
'Does he mean I...we...tonight...?'
"Aeris...can you please just..." Sephiroth moaned softly into her ear, causing the brunette to shudder in his arms.
"What -" Aeris whispered weakly before being silenced by a sharp nip on her shoulder.
'He couldn't possibly want to...'
'I-I'm not ready...'
'for THAT...'
"Sleep." he muttered lowly beneath her dark locks, squeezing her stomach for emphasis.
Aeris blinked in bemusement as all colour faded from her cheeks.
'O-Oh..he only meant to sleep...'
Gosh she felt like a idiot at that moment, and here she thought that Sephiroth was going to take advantage of her. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
'Gods I am turning into a pervert...'
She felt, more than heard the light rumble of mirth which slipped out of the swordsman's throat, and heated the sides of her neck. Aeris wondered whether or not she spoke her words out loud. She certainly hoped not for she knew she wouldn't be able to get over her embarrassment if she did.
She still couldn't believe it!
He was naked.
She was naked.
In a single tent...
Together...
At night...
'Oh my...'
'Oh gods...'
'It felt really good..'
Aeris listened to the faint winds whistling outside of the tent before being brought back to reality as she felt Sephiroth's lips slip across her throat in a light yet teasing manner. The brunette gasped shortly as she moved her attention to his hands...his bare hands...which were now scant centimetre's from her bare breasts. Aeris did not realise when and how they managed to travel so far up her body without her knowing! Aeris shivered in a mixture of unnerved apprehension; the action causing Sephiroth's arms to tighten around her bare torso. His muscled chest was now flush against her back; his long platinum locks were fanned across her body; while one of his legs had found a way over her thigh and was the main cause why Aeris' face reddened to abnormal proportions in the dark.
She could feel him there behind her...
...and he was...
...so big...
It was far too intimate for comfort...
Aeris was thankful that her face was turned away, for she didn't doubt for a second that Sephiroth wouldn't have been able to see her full blown blush that heated her face and neck, darkness or no darkness.
A few minutes ticked away, and Aeris listened to the silence around them.
If only her heart beat didn't sound so loud...
And Sephiroth's body so warm and enticing...
At that moment, sleep was the last thing on the young Cetra's mind.
Aeris clenched her eyes shut, trying to prevent her rampaging heart from exploding out of her chest, and not letting her body move even the smallest millimetre for fear of touching it further.
"Sephiroth?" Aeris whispered softly, cringing at the obvious waver of unease in her voice.
"-------"
Aeris tilted her head to the side, gaining more courage at the swordsman's silence.
"Sephiroth?"
"-----"
"Seph?"
"------"
"Huh...what the?'
Sephiroth had fallen asleep.
To say Aeris was scared was an understatement. She was so scared to move, breathe or even think lest her mind started deviating into thoughts within the dark unknown.
'Gosh my face must be glowing like a thousand watt light bulb...'
But despite the embarrassment and certainty that filled the brunette's mind, Aeris could help but think...
'I hope he doesn't snore...'
Back to present..
Aeris sighed to herself awakening herself from the memory. Surprisingly enough, Sephiroth had said nothing about the night before. She awoke to find herself alone, knowing he had been there before just from the smell of him surrounding her.
'I guess...some things are better left unsaid.'
But Aeris knew that she would never forget last night for as long as she lived.
And then suddenly, another thought occurred to the brunette.
'Hmmm...so does that mean that Sephiroth is my official boyfriend now?'
Now that really was a strange thought.
So strange, that Aeris decided it was better not to think anymore..
She unconsciously leaned towards her swordsman's back, as their bodies rocked together upon their newly found, yellow feathered companion. It seemed they were both in luck today; for no sooner than they started travelling, Sephiroth spotted a stray chocobo that was being cruelly attacked by a pair of monstrous fiends. Fortunately, Sephiroth managed to save the poor feathered bird just in time, and now they both gained a faithful friend to take them swiftly to Nibelheim.
"Still tired?" Sephiroth asked in a reserved tone, although it was clear that he felt slight amusement at the brunette's actions.
Aeris nodded while pressing her face against the swordsman's back; thankful that Sephiroth had removed Masamune from his back and was now sheathed on his hip.
The chocobo ride let her have time to digress back to last night again. She just couldn't help but remember his proposal.
''Death could never...'
'Can love overcome such a...'
"Do you accept my offer...'
'Eternity?'
'Promised Land?'
What Aeris found stressing was how she had no idea what Sephiroth meant; while at the same time she somehow understood the meaning behind everything he said! Sephiroth had clearly proven that he wanted and cared for her in a highly amorous manner, but still he refused to love her? Not because he did not think her worthy of his love, but because he did not think love was worthy of him! It was really mind-boggling to understand, but where Sephiroth was concerned, nothing was ever simple to understand. It sounded so silly to think how Sephiroth refused to feel the emotions of love...and yet...she couldn't imagine Sephiroth loving anything or anyone. He did not seem the type of person to cuddle and say sweet nothings in her ear on the coldest nights...unlike 'him'...unlike Zack...who made her feel warmth and light with the mere thought of his smile...No...Sephiroth was nothing like Zack...
Zack's voice was so open and light
...while Sephiroth was so dark and mysterious...
However...Zack's touch could be so sweet and gentle...
.But then... Sephiroth's was so fiery...so passionate...and oh so seductive; his fingers could scorch her skin with the slightest touch...and oh his mouth...his lips could ignite the fires of ecstasy in the most frigid woman...
However...
Zack made her feel loved...
Zack had even said he loved her...
But...Zack had left her alone...
.'---------'
And...
Sephiroth said he did not love her...
But then...
'----------'
His words...
'Aeris, I shall give you the gift of rapture..'
'we will live...we would rule...'
"we...?'
'Death could never separate us...'
'...death could not set us apart...?'
'...he would never leave me alone...
'...not...like...Zack?'
As Aeris thought more above the men that had been so closely weaved into her heart and soul, she began to realise how different they were to one another.
No...Sephiroth was nothing at all like Zack...
And...
Maybe...
That was what Sephiroth was trying to explain all along.
Zack loved her...but in the end, he still left her...alone...
But...
Sephiroth...did not love her...
His words returned to her.
'Death could never separate us...'
'Sephiroth would never leave me...even in death?'
' No...' Aeris realised, Sephiroth was nothing at all like Zack...
'But...was that such a bad thing after all...?
Sephiroth was willing to offer her everything...except everything that Zack would have easily given her...
'...Love...'
'I can live without being loved...right?'
'Right?'
Aeris knew that the feelings she held for her former lover; (as much as she pained to admit) was but a shadow of the emotions she felt for the man standing before her now. What was once experienced as love between Zack and herself, was nothing like what she was feeling now. And Aeris could not even describe what exactly were her feelings for Sephiroth were if it could not be defined s love.
Hunger?
Need?
Want?
Lust?
None of those words seemed to truly describe her feelings for her silver haired swordsman... ..so it must be love? But in a way...now that she tried to think over it...love did not seem like the correct word either... So in a way, Sephiroth's words kinda made sense; in a very twisted kind of way.
Once again, Aeris felt herself being jolted back into reality when Sephiroth pulled fiercely on the reins, causing their chocobo squawk into a sudden stop.
"We're here..."
"Huh?" The brunette mumbled incoherently as she removed her face from the swordsman's well muscled back, to stare around at the new setting.
Withered buildings stood etched like a painting forgotten in the folds of time. The hues of grey and dust plagued the cobbled streets and houses, and even tinted the monotonous hues in the skies above. The townspeople hobbled around with their heads down and their faces blank, seeming to move like they possessed no purpose other than to exist. It was as if a shroud of misfortune hovered over the area, suffocating the area with misery and desolation.
To the brunette, the town was...lifeless and void of hope.
It made Aeris feel unwelcome and mentally disturbed at how a place full of living things could be, so depressing. The town seemed to possess no soul. No life. It was dull and dismal; cold and empty and Aeris felt more unnerved with every minute she stared at the melancholy sight.
Aeris knew she did not like the town.
And that was before Aeris lifted her dainty nose to the air.
The breeze smelt unbelievably horrid. It was a stench that so foul and yet so familiar to Aeris that it caused her entire face to cringe in repulsion as she inhaled the putrid scent.
It was the smell of mako.
Aeris wondered how Shinra could manage to corrupt even the most furthest corners of the earth with their power and greed.
The tainted winds fluttered Sephiroth's and Aeris' hair in unison, as two sets of green eyes stared at the morbid town; both travellers having different thoughts in their mind..
Then as Aeris slowly turned her gaze from their destination and to her partner, she watched the swordsman's pensive expression silently, wondering what was going on through his head...
And as Aeris stared into those strange mako depths...
A strange feeling jolted within the back of the girl's mind
And somehow Aeris knew that something was going to happen...
something bad...
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AUTHOR'S NOTES
Oooh, I did an ominous ending. Heh. Light comic relief in this chapter. LOL. Only three more chappies to go...hmmm. Quite a bit happened in this chappie. Hmmm...the mystery pipe man in Midgar has finally disappeared...and I bet you guys are wondering who this mystery guy could be...or not...lol. Heh, Cloud and co have finally made it to Red's home, Cosmo canyon...and before you ask...no, I won't be writing about Cloud and Red's fight with the Gi tribe...ugh...it would just be pointless since it is irrelevant to the completion of Aer/Seph's story and I think most of you guys do remember (if you want to remember) about Red being called Nanaki, his father Seto becoming a statue etc etc...so don't be surprised if I wrap up Cloud and co's journey in a sentence or two (lol )
As for Aer and Seph's relationship...I like the journey they have made together. In a way, there are still so many differences that separate them both...and in a way I think they are both deceiving each other with their own thoughts and feelings they have for one another...
Oh, and don't forget to review. I really do need support to finish this fic arc before Xmas. As you know I AM VERY LAZY so any pressure or death threats to finish this fic would be highly welcome (...Aer-seph pauses to read last sentence...huh...now I know I have lost it...XDDD.)
Anywho...ja ne
Aerseph4eva !
Any questions or comments, you are more than welcome to email me.
