Aeris was restless as she wandered down the hallway to go downstairs for a light fruitade. She wore a
jersey and shorts, along with slippers. Zach was still filling out paperwork for his reports to Sephiroth and Shinra. She
was curious as a cat, and made sure she had some snacks to watch the tape. As she passed Tifa's rooms, she heard her giggle
" Dilly dally" as so many minutes passed, Sephiroth groan out in heated pleasure," Shilly, shally." Then, she could hear
muffled laughter as their lights turned off. Aeris was staring about in the library as she put the tape in her purse by the
door, and she saw Mr. Lockheart sitting down, depressed. Aeris went by, waved gently to Brian as she sat beside him," What's
wrong? "
Brian turned his face to Aeris as she blinked hopefully with her large round eyes studying his carefully. He said.
" Nothing. Just I am a granddad now, and Tiffany isn't here to watch Ume grow up or even meet her dad. Are you going to
baptize her? "
" Why yes, you can come Brian. You worried you can't? Sephiroth is a formidable man. "
" He's part of the problem. He wants to check Tiffany's dojo. She only wanted Tifa there. It's a bastion of her work. She
studied with Professor Crescent that the Temple of the Ancient was pure black materia. She recreated the energy of the Omega,
Oblivion, and Chaos lifestreams to form that dojo. Claudia helped her to do that. Later they had a bad falling out over some
personal matters. When Tiffany was going to present her work to the Midgar Univeristy, Claudia asked to talk to her at the
dojo. President Shinra was there, thanking them for their work. He cut a check to us, which we paid for this ranch, and
to help for Tifa's future. Tiffany was really hurt, she felt Claudia betrayed her, and sometimes,.." Brian gulped dowm some
wine in large gulps." Well, after Tiffany died, our workers said they could see her and Claudia arguing like a loop. I avoid
the place, and why I think Tifa felt she saw her mom's ghost. I don't want to take that from Tifa, but Zach said you are an
expert. "
Aeris bobbed her head as she put her hands on Brian's lower forearm. She saw Tiffany crying to Brian as she
declared," Our lifework! She had to have a fling with President Shinra, and now he's going to bury our work! She would do
anything for herself, and just forgets who helped her get there. She said she saw Mako spawn monsters here, and now our non
Mako energy source was destroyed. All she got was being a secretary for Shinra Science to transcribe notes! That job won't
even last half a year! Dumb, selfish bimbo! I hate her!" Brian coughed slightly as his eyes met Aeris's. " That's not the
worst. We all heard that went into the Shinra Army after Tiffany made their life hell. There's a plot of land where
they say he was buried, either after suicide or being murdered. I never killed anyone and I am not about to either. Tifa would
be ruined if she thought that was true of her mother. Of course, the General already heard why he moved her in here. He wants
to dig to see if Cloud's dad is there. I told him it would be a waste of time and damage the soil. Truth is, I don't
know and Claudia never mentioned again. Maybe for the better." Brian drained the last of his drink, and Aeris
answered softly." Better to find the truth, Mr. Lockheart. Let me lay those ghosts to rest. Claudia and Tiffany damaged their
friendship to fragments. Both aren't whole people anymore. To heal this, they need to reconcile or at least,let go of their
pain to bring closure. Ok? "
Brian hung his head as he dried his wet eyes, " Bless you Aeris." Aeris sighed gently, and she felt far too
much baggage had come in with Tiffany's past. Tifa and Sephiroth both had very checkered pasts from abuse, distrust, and
exploitation. Aeris stood up, as exhausted as she was, and went upstairs to think about the new dilemna of the dojo. She sat
in a comfortable side chair as she watched the fog roll in to Mt. Nibel which she knew Sephiroth already bought." It seems so
ideal. I can see why someone would prefer here over Midgar." Ilfana appeared as Aeris logged into her datapad to check texts
or calls from Zach, Elmyra, or her customers. She read a few texts that Zach was worried over all the revolts that were just
outside Nibelheim. On a whim, she called him as he answered," Oh sorry. I'll be back soon. I got called out to deal with a
trespasser. More stuff that Sephiroth deals anyway, I got this. "
Marle called up to ring Tifa as she raised her voice, " Hun, some of my friends are in town. Kind Shinra isn't
to friendly too." " That's ok, " Tifa replied softly to Merle." I am pretty worn out, now Merle. Aeris is here. We'll talk
about the baptism tomorrow, ok? "
Vincent folded his arms as he met with Barrett. " Aeris is over at the Manor. A small ceremony planned."
Barrett rumbled." That so? Johny now the news say it a chocobo. I hear his voice way Cloud do. He trapped somewhere on Mt.
Nibel. Sephiroth bought it all up. Damn bastard need it for? A ready made cemetery fo his victims? " Cloud tapped his fingers
as he drank his Cosmo Canyon, and clinked his glass to Jesse. " New partnerships! "
Tifa lay back on her bed, listening to Ume's soft exhales as her father purred, and she blinked back tears."I
just feel our happiness will end. He was everything to me, and Shinra is going to have him in a war. Once he dies, they will
take him away like a lab sample to be dissected, cloned, or experimented to improve their data banks. Didn't he give them
enough for their Wutai War? He doesn't even have access to his friends he trained with anymore. Just like why Mom quit after
her and Claudia married. " " Now what I want most is the gift of the goddess." whispered into Tifa's ear as Genesis appeared
to her. She looked at him angrily and shook her head. " Go ask Angeal! He sided with you to sacrifice his parents. You sure
aren't going to ruin ours." She flew as she leapt up to punch Genesis in the jaw as he vanished. She sprinted fast so she was
still silent as she followed his afterimage outside the Manor. Tifa had pulled on her dojo outfit before she bounced from
column to column, quickly as she tracked his aura to outside the gates. Genesis smirked at her while he held his sword
vertically so it glowed a burning red aura, as he spun to her. " Well, if you are going to bear another monster like Sephiroth
I will have the honor of its' slaughter. " Tifa narrowed her eyes at Genesis, she hadn't told Sephiroth this is why she was
tired from lack of sleep. He pestered her in her dreams, and he appeared occassionally to try to disorient her. Her husband
often told her how Genesis would recite the play " Loveless" to no end. She kicked him hard so he thunked to the ground as he
launched himself to gallop headlong with his blade afire. Tifa once again gave him a roundhouse kick as she circled as he
landed stunned, and she grabbed his arm to throw him head first into the thick stone walls of the Manor. She felt her rage
flow as she leapt to kick solidly as she heard bone crack, and grabbed his sword to kick it to shatter. " If you want Seph as
more than a friend, tell him yourself. " She screamed as she pelted her fists on his face, furious that he was why Sephiroth
couldn't sleep well enough to recover from the Mako addiction. Tifa landed on her feet, knees slightly bend as one hand spread
to steady herself. Tifa looked up to see her mother above her, as she now looked more like Minerva entity. Tifa cried out as
she reached to her. Tifa then thought of Ume as alone with her exhausted father, as she ran in fast leaps and bounds back to
her room.
Silently, with her hands wrapped in her apron, Claudia walked over to Genesis, and helped him up as he brushed
past her. She snapped her head back as she said derisively, " No way to treat a goddess if you want her gifts. " Genesis
stopped walking to peer over his shoulder at her, " Excuse me? " An angry roar was heard overhead as the Jade Weapon soared
into view." You recall the Ultima weapon's last entry when Sephiroth into action? Well, that little wench is why these
Weapons are active. She has Sephiroth's Jenova cells inside her from bearing his child. The Planet can read these, so it
triggers a Weapon. If you want her cells, best you kill her or get her blood for a transfusion. Obviously, Sephiroth will
never give you his or if you have her to barter with, will he? " Claudia inquired. Genesis looked at her, irritated beyond
words. A stone tablet appeared into Claudia's hands as she asked quietly, tilting her had as if in maternal affection.
" This tablet is what records the ancient epic, Loveless. I was one of Professor Hojo's research students on this for a
project. If you wish to be the sacrificial hero for Gaia, your destiny will be written eternally as a champion. Genesis
leered at her, and nodded to her plan. Genesis then flew off as Claudia watched him go, thinking she had never met anyone so
pompous aside of President Shinra.
Tifa ran inside up the stairs to see Sephiroth clad in his battle armor, as he faced Tifa in the hallway. She
flicked part of Genesis's sword at his feet as she breathlessly spat." He means harm to us. You might have been his friend.
His envy is never ending Sephiroth. Now there's a Weapon loose. " Sephiroth nodded at her, as he took his Masamune silently
as he left downstairs outside to the doorway, he paused as he said sorrowfully. " I am sorry that this nearly hurt you and
Ume." Tifa ran to him to embrace him so he gasped for air, she kissed him tenderly. " It's ok, go do what you do best. First
class Soldier Sephiroth." Sephiroth met Zach in the outside path, curious that once again a Weapon was active. He vaguely
recalled that Hojo had recently left him a note, predicting this was possible if Tifa had been exposed to the Chaos gene and
Oblivion lifesteam from Tiffany when she explored the Crystal Cave. Sephiroth and Zach went to the Jade Weapon as they
approached cautiously to check the status of its eyes as they both launched attacks with elemental materia so its' eye pairs
closed in defeat. Afterwards, they used their blades to sever it into harmless limbs as Zach wiped his brow. Zach lowered
down to the Weapon's throat as he lifted up his head in sheer disbelief." Tell me if you can't recognize that face. "
" I do. One way is Cloud, more likely Claudia. I will inform Lazard to send this for testing for the origin. "
" Ok, well I will call the Turks, they can clean up this do you say Claudia,and not Cloud? "
" Cloud has been in Midgar and Kalm lately Zach. Where is this intruder you wish me to interrogate? "
" Oh, by the gates, Sephiroth."
Sephiroth went over to the huge gates that were redone in Wutaian temple style. He had become enarmored of
the intricate and artistic presentations in wood and iron. He was recording the details of the bestial attack with his cell.
His mouth gaped silently a bit, it was as if Hojo had admitted he was his father, yet Sephiroth pressed his glove to his brow
as he went to a violent backlash of self repugnance. A smaller man, about Zach's height, about as old as Brian, yet was as
paunchy and aged as Director Palmer, stood to salute Sephiroth with a Cosmo Canyon as he belched with beer staining his suit,
saluted the General, " Hey General, how's the war in Wutai? I am enlisting for Soldier. My wife will be so proud. "
Sephiroth stared back at the middle aged man that had eluded detection for decades, with no paper trail." And you
are? I came to understand you were making a disturbance at 7th Heaven? "
" I am Mr. Strife, live in Nibelheim, married to Claudia." Strife swayed back and forth like a rocking horse. Zach charged up,
already worn and angry from the Weapon's attack, and stressed from Sephiroth and Soldier riots." How the hell do you live with
yourself?! Claudia had to raise Cloud by herself for all their lives. He wanted to join to find you, and then he saw
Sephiroth be so independent and strong, so he tried for that! All you are is a worthless drunk! " Sephiroth's eyes widened as
he saw Zach angrier than he had ever in his career. He put his hand on his shoulder to reassure him, as he said calmly. " I
will take you into protective custody since you were listed as MIA. " Strife bent over, clapped his hands, burped loudly and
pumped his arms as he did a small dance. " How is that babe Tiffany? She and the old lady found a non Mako energy source, a
game changer!" Sephiroth thought grimly, "I set this into motion, to change my fate. My wife triggers Weapons. Ume and her
could be used against me, disposed of by Hojo. Soldier is falling apart, and I am still a bioweapon for the Shinra. I tried
to defy fate by allowing my heart to open to the one being who loved me as I was. All I did was worsen it for those I care for
most." Sephiroth stared at Strife, who was actually behind some bushes, alleviating himself, as Sephiroth's mind disassociated
itself as he walked, dazed to the Manor. An older memory from that escaped fate, manifested itself, clear as Ume's birth,
where he razed Nibelheim to ashes, and later plunged his Masamune into Tifa and mostly her village. He groaned as he thought,
" Burn it pure, by fire. My hell is shared. "
Zach saw Sephiroth's blank face, and serpentine eyes glazed with murderous hate, stared concerned before he saw
Sephiroth flourish his sword as he went to the Manor. He recalled in another life, Tifa had wed him, and he thought angrily as
she contracted Ume to Shinra Science for some obscure reason. Sephiroth's mind rocked back and forth his vision as Lucrecia's
had when her choice was Vincent or Hojo. Sephiroth felt fate had trapped him in Nibelheim, and to free himself he had to use
his blade. He smiled a cold, diabolical grin as he entered to watch the hapless girls, the last Cetra and Zangan's prized
pupil. Genesis's voice whispered. " She didn't say she loved you during your vows. You were used, packaged, produced, and
harvested for your seed like Chocobo greens like a Shinra brand by product. With a slum barmaid no less, great accomplishment
General."
Sephiroth stood by the door, as Aeris terrified by his face, hid behind a gate that led outside. Aeris cupped her hand to
ask for help from Zach and Cloud whom she hoped would reach her in time. Tifa held Ume as she saw the stricken General, to
gently hold him as she wept onto his chest, " Please be alright. I love you, we both do. " Sephiroth saw with horror as Strife
lumbered over to flirt with Aeris and Sephiroth whispered to Aeris." You didn't ask for Cloud here? That's his father. "
Aeris stared speechlessly in mutual horror as Strife swiped every bottle to gulp down as he toasted Sephiroth.