Calamity's Reign: Chapter 9 - Haunted

Aerith sat at a table in the Highwind's dinning room, twiddling her hair silently. Zack sat to her left, head on the table, drool leaking out of his mouth, much to her amusement. Tifa had put him through the ringer yesterday, he was still a bit tired. The rest of Avalanche, save for Cloud and Vincent, were scattered around the room. Angeal and Genesis were off somewhere talking to themselves. Vincent had been the one who was watching Tifa at the moment, and had apparently been watching her all night instead of waking Cloud for his shift, much to his annoyance. He had left a minute ago to go relieve Vincent.

Aerith took a tired sip of coffee. The sleep she got last night hardly felt like enough. There was a bone deep ache that was penetrating all throughout her body. It didn't come from anything physical, but, using every last ounce of energy she had wasn't something that one just sprang back from the next day. On top of that, she had a headache starting. The planet's whispering wasn't helping either, and because she had merged with Holy and became a WEAPON, it was impossible to tune the planet out. Not that it was saying anything important, it was like one of the starving child she used to see in the slums, softly sobbing to itself because of a pain.

Her face fell a bit at that. The planet's pain was extreme. So much of the lifestream had been used so quickly. It was in a weakened state, and while the lifestream could heal over time, this was something that was going to take centuries to recover from. At least Morbunova had left no cells in the lifestream after she had fed it the tainted portion in Mideel. Not to mention, Jenova was apparently finally fully gone from the lifestream, from the planet as well. Well, except for the individuals that contained her cells.

Aerith rubbed her chin in thought. Cloud and Sephiroth bore Jenova cells yes, but, they were mostly the 'S-Cells' which were Sephiroth's version of them. Jenova could not use those two specifically unless they let her. There were still a few SOLDIERs scattered around the planet as well, but, Jenova wouldn't be strong enough to control them. The largest quantity of Jenova cells at this point probably resided in Lucrecia Crescent, and she was still sealed in a mako crystal. Aerith herself could purge the Jenova out of Lucrecia and the regular SOLDIERs, and she was going to make it her mission to do so. After that, Jenova would be finally dealt with and the planet would be Calamity free for the first time in over two-thousand years, baring Cloud, Sephiroth and Tifa of course.

The planet murmured happily at that thought, though, it had misgivings about Tifa, and was terrified of Sephiroth. Speaking of the One-Winged Angel, she couldn't detect his presence on the Highwind, or anywhere in the immediate vicinity. So, he was gone then, for the moment. She was still... surprised... that Sephiroth had fought alongside the others, and even parted ways without resuming his battle. She did threaten him, but, she didn't really think he would just leave without even some kind of offensive action, even if it was just an argument to try and get the last word in, petty as it sounded. At least him being gone would let them focus on Tifa without... wait...

She couldn't feel Tifa's presence on the ship either.

As if on cue, Cloud walked into the room, flopped down in a chair on the other side of Aerith's table, and seethed, "Tifa's gone."

Zack stirred. "H-huh?"

Cloud glared furiously towards the entrance of the room. "Ask HIM!"

Aerith turned to see Vincent walk into the room. "Tifa awoke and left last night soon after I started my shift."

"And you let her go?!" exclaimed Yuffie, "Seriously, she's all messed up in the head right now! The heck Vincent?"

Vincent crossed his arms. "She was fully lucid and aware. I asked her which of her memories were real, and she answered correctly. I saw no reason to hold her against her will."

"Huh?" said Yuffie, "If she's figured that out, why'd she leave?"

"Why'd ya think?" muttered Barret, "Ya think Teef could bare ta face us right now? She needs time."

"But she shouldn't be alone right now!" whined Yuffie, "She could get hurt and..."

Zack coughed. "I went a round with that lady, trust me, the only things on this planet that could hurt her are on this ship, or are Sephiroth."

"And where exactly is Sephiroth?" said Cloud, "Has anyone seen him?"

Aerith spoke up. "He's gone. He isn't anywhere nearby that I can sense, and I'd rather not disturb the planet to locate him right now."

"If he runs into Tifa...," started Cloud.

"If your concern is them running into one another, you need not worry," said Vincent.

"Why?" asked Cloud.

"They left together," was Vincent reply.

Cloud coughed. "T-they what?!"

Vincent shrugged. "I watched them go."

"Why didn't you stop them?!" exclaimed Cloud, "He might have been influencing or controlling Tifa to get her away from us!"

Vincent crossed his arms. "To what end?"

"Oh, I don't know, to influence her to fight us like the Calamity did? Yuffie is right, she's not... at peak condition right now. Sephiroth's influence is the last thing she needs," snarled Cloud.

Vincent merely raised an eyebrow. "A valid point save one thing. There was no mental control between them."

"And how do you know?" demanded Cloud.

"Chaos," said Vincent with a hint of amusement.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Sephiroth is a master manipulator, even without using his powers."

Vincent merely stared at Cloud, who rose to his feet, fists clenched. "I can't believe you'd just let her go with him!"

"Enough," said Aerith, slapping her hand down on the table.

She didn't like to be forceful, but yelling at eachother was and starting a fight was not happening on her watch. "Vincent, for what specific reason did you let her go? You wouldn't have let her go without one."

Vincent shrugged. "Chaos told me to."

"And you listened?" exclaimed Cloud.

Aerith pursed her lips. "You seem pretty indifferent to the whole thing Vincent."

Vincent uncrossed his arms and turned to the door. "Chaos has his reasons, and for once, I agree. I suggest you leave it at that."

Aerith watched him go, extremely unsatisfied with that answer. Chaos wanted Tifa to leave with Sephiroth? She nudged the planet, trying to see if she could get a clue as to what was going on, but the planet merely murmured quietly in pain.

"Jezz... what do we do now?" said Yuffie.

Zack put his head back on the table. "Go back to sleep is my vote. I'm way to tired for this."

Aerith sighed and reached over, putting a hand through his hair. "Me too Mr. Sleepyhead, me too..."

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess, we seek it thus, and take to the sky, ripples form on the water's surface, the wandering soul knows no rest."

Angeal walked over to the side of the Highwind, leaning against the railing. "Act one."

Genesis looked up from his book, a faint smile on his face. "You remembered."

Angeal looked into the sky. "What did Sepheroth say that one time? 'How can i not when you've beaten it into my head?'"

They shared a chuckle before trailing off uncomfortably.

"Why are you out here instead of in there with them?" asked Genesis.

"I could ask you the same thing," replied Angeal.

Genesis chuckled. "The Planet's Champion would most likely prefer to take my head for my involvement in Nibelheim. I'd rather not be near him for the foreseeable future. Not that I don't deserve such a fate. You?"

Angeal shook his head. "That group is of heroes, and I am no such thing. I don't deserve their company."

Genesis nodded slowly. "Neither of us are heroes I suppose. Even my one good deed of fighting the Calamity pales in comparison to the disaster I personally wrought."

He laughed. "How I craved that tittle, how little I understood of what it meant, and what it took to truly be one. Between you, me, and Sephiroth, none of us got it and the Puppy swiped it right out from under our noses."

Angeal smiled sadly. "That he did."

They both stared at eachother for a time. Angeal wondered if now was the appropriate moment. They had talked about old and better times since they had been reunited after the battle against the Calamity, but... they had yet to talk about what had happened that had split them all apart to begin with. That crisis had torn them apart from one another, destroyed the core of their worlds...

Genesis apparently was thinking the same thing. "I never should have told you, never should have asked you to come with me that time at the Wutai Fort."

Angeal snorted. "And leave me oblivious to Shinra's crimes? Leave me to continue being used by them? No thanks."

Genesis rubbed his eyes tiredly. "What should I have done then?"

"Aside from not trust someone in a white lab coat?" asked Angeal with dry humor.

Genesis snorted. "Obviously."

Angeal looked away for a moment. "I... never called you out for it Genesis... but... the SOLDIERs, the people under your command, you..."

Genesis closed his eyes. "Robbed them of who they were, turned them into copies of myself? I could defend the planet from ten Calamities and never atone for that sin."

Angeal sighed. "You... we... shouldn't have just up and left. We were in positions of power within Shinra, somehow, someway, maybe we could have changed things."

"What we could have done in skin Hojo and Hollander alive, throttled Scarlet, disemboweled Heidegger, and shoved the President off the top of the Shinra building," said Genesis dryly.

He looked up into the sky. "The sad thing is? We could have done it to. You, me, and Sephiroth could have destroyed and remade the company. All of SOLDIER would have followed us. Instead? I ran off and became a monster instead of trying to figure out what it took To Be Human."

"We both did," said Angeal softly, "And at least you never made your own apprentice kill you."

Genesis snorted. "Not that I ever took one."

"Genesis, the terror of Cadets and 3rd Class SOLDIERs alike," mocked Angeal.

They both laughed.

Genesis sighed. "At the very least, I shouldn't have turned my comrades and followers into clones. That... even losing myself to degradation doesn't excuse that. I... also should have come to you, come to both of you. If not for your help with my degradation, then to take you with me, but of course, my damn pride and bitterness towards Sephiroth ruined it."

"On that note, how did your degradation get cured?" asked Angeal.

Genesis answered quietly, "The gift of the goddess. A gift I was most unworthy of, but, who am I to question Minerva's will? She saw a use in me, and now I owe a debt I doubt I can ever truly pay. Though, I will try."

He looked to Angeal. "And you? Why did you choose to come back?"

Angeal raised an eyebrow. "Choose? I had my memories and soul reconstructed from the lifestream against my will, and then my Puppy dug his fangs in and practically dragged me back. I only relented to them at the end because frankly, if my mere existence can help save the planet by keeping the other WEAPONs pure, then I have no right to refuse. Instead of being a monster, I am a tool. Nothing more, nothing less."

Genesis eyed him for a moment before snorting. "Bullshit."

Angeal flinched. "What?"

"Was it a mere tool who threw himself infront of Sephiroth to save him? I'm pretty sure the Planet would have preferred him dead so please Angeal, don't even try that route," chided Genesis.

Angeal stared at him for a moment before smiling faintly. "When did you grow up?"

Genesis snorted again. "Sometime between sprouting a wing, degrading, and battling a Calamity midair over a lake of Mako. I can't honestly tell you the exact point."

They shared a smile at that.

"By the way Angeal, did my eyes deceive me, or were you USING the Buster Sword?" jabbed Genesis.

Angeal coughed. "Zack... might have given it back to me and convinced me to use it."

Genesis shook his head. "That Puppy, did you see how casual he was around Sephiroth? That pout he gave him, hah. Your Pup never ceases to amaze me I suppose."

"Never ceases to amaze me either," murmured Angeal.

"Speaking of Sephiroth," started Genesis with hesitation.

"I have no idea how were supposed to even approach him, let alone get him to talk to us," said Angeal with frustration.

Genesis looked a little relived. "So, you wish to bridge the divide as well?"

Angeal scratched his head. "Yeah... but... Genesis, we really screwed up. Making him go insane aside, even before that, what Zack said to me, we abandoned him. Everything he did is on us."

Genesis nodded. "Pride is lost, wings stripped away, the end is nigh. He did admit to wanting to gut me if Lockheart did not kill me."

"I don't even want to know what he'd want to do to me. I'd settle for throttling, but somehow I don't think it would be enough," said Angeal.

Genesis chuckled. "I imagine we'd both be dangling on the end of Masamune if he had his way."

Angeal smiled grimly, but didn't respond.

Genesis flipped open his copy of LOVELESS. "One year. That's all I'll allow him. One year and then, one way or another, we have things to settle between the three of us."

Angeal nodded. "A year huh? Surprised you'd consider waiting that long."

Genesis rolled his eyes. "A year is nothing now."

"And why is that?" asked Angeal.

Genesis snorted. "Were WEAPONs now Angeal. I don't know if you fully understand what that means. Unless we are killed we cannot die, disease and age hold no claim anymore. And even dying in battle, I'm not sure the planet would let us go."

Angeal stared at him, dumbfounded.

"When we have an eternity of service to make up to the Planet, what is a year?" asked Genesis, flipping a page of his book...

Aerith had never had a shoulder rub before, and she was shocked to find what she had been missing out on. She sat on her bed in her assigned room in the Highwind, Zack sitting behind her, hands on her shoulder's tenderly massaging back and forth. Her body wasn't physically tired, but oh did it feel good.

"Better?" asked Zack.

Aerith nodded. "Yeah."

"Ya know Aerith, I was kind of impressed when you did that table-smackdown of yours," said Zack, "Who woulda thought my little flower girl could take command like that?"

Aerith giggled a little. "Command? Please Zack, all I did was get them to not throttle one another."

Zack chuckled. "If you say so."

Aerith could feel his presence go sad. "Who woulda thought it... I... really missed a lot in your life, didn't I?"

Aerith turned her head to look at him. "It's okay Zack."

He slowly shook his head, his hands falling off her shoulders. "I was so close Aerith, I was so close to reaching you."

His face contorted in unusual anger for him. "Damn Hojo, damn Shinra."

"Zack," she said, worry on her face.

Zack clenched his fists. "I should have been there. I should of been there to help Cloud, and save you."

Aerith crawled on the bed and got behind him, doing her best to imitate his earlier shoulder massage. "You were there for Cloud when it truly mattered Zack."

She giggled a little. "And even afterwards, though, I don't know how you feel about him copying your moves and some of your memories."

Zack waved his hands into the air dramatically. "Copyright claims! I'm totally gonna sue Spikey!"

Aerith giggled again. "Oh Zack stop."

He looked back to smile at her for a moment before growing sad again. "I am sorry that I wasn't there for you, and that I made you wait so long."

Aerith wrapped her arms around him and put her head on his shoulder. "I said it was okay Zack. I never held it against you. I was never more proud of you when I learned of what you did for Cloud, for everything that you gave up for him, for your sacrifice."

Zack closed his eyes, a grim look on his face. "..."

Aerith winced, suddenly feeling like she shouldn't have brought his death up. "Zack..."

"I'd do it again for him, but, I wish I hadn't had to, I wish neither me or Cloud had to go through those years of... of... hell, at Hojo's hands. I wish Sephiroth hadn't gone crazy... I wish I hadn't had to kill Angeal. Heck, I never really liked Genesis, but, I wish he hadn't begun degrading either. This whole thing... it's just screwed up. Shinra screwed everything up," said Zack bitterly.

Aerith held him tighter, suddenly feeling like she was back in the church in Sector 5 after Zack had killed Angeal. Being revived didn't take the pain of what had happened away from him. She wished she could just take it all away.

"Well, Shinra's mostly gone now, so, look at this as a second chance for things to get better," offered Aerith.

Zack snorted. "Assuming we don't have those crazy Calamity things raining down on our heads every other day."

Aerith went still at that, feeling apprehensive. That... was a very real thing that the Planet was scared about. The New Calamity had said something about a death call, more of its kind could be attracted to the Planet. The New Calamity had come decently close to winning, if not for Holy and Sephiroth's idea to launch it into the sun, things would have gone a far different and bleak route.

"Sorry," came Zack's voice.

Aerith blinked and refocused. "For what?"

"For sayin that, didn't mean to scare you," he answered.

He gripped her arms around him tightly. "I won't let a single one of those monsters lay a hand on you."

She smiled faintly. "My knight in shinning armor huh?"

Zack beamed. "You betcha!"

They grew silent for a time, sitting there together. Aerith closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of just being alive, being there with him. It had been so long, the word 'comforting' didn't even come close to describing what she felt. The Planet had said that her time when there wasn't a crisis was hers to spend... and... she knew just who she wanted to spend it with.

Her face grew a little red. "H-hey Zack..."

He tilted his head to look at her curiously. "Something wrong?"

She started to grew a bit bashful and nervous. "I-I remember you saying s-something in the lifestream..."

He frowned. "Something?"

Her face grew beat red. "S-something about there being tons of... little Aerith and Zack babies running around if we had stayed alive."

Zack blinked a few times and raised an eyebrow at her, his own hesitation clearly present. "Y-yeah, what about it?"

"Did you mean it?" she asked quietly, "Did you really want to spend the rest of your life with me?

Zack turned between her arms and kissed her faster then she could blink. "Yeah Aerith, I did. I woulda married you, and we'd have tooooonss of little Aerith and Zack babies running around! Little rascals would be everywhere!"

She giggled and hiccuped, her blush growing further. "Well, if that was a proposal, I accept."

Oh that smile on his face, it was like every single care in the world had left him. "Aerith..."

A mischievous look crossed his face. "Guess we have a lot of makeup time to do then!"

Aerith gave a startled yelp as suddenly she was laying down on her back, and Zack was ontop of her kissing her like it was the end of the world...

Yuffie was PISSED! She stormed down to the lower decks of the Highwind, looking for her target. How dare he. HOW DARE HE! He was supposed to be their friend! Yet he... he... she just felt so betrayed!

She opened the final door and stepped into a darkened room. "VINCENT!"

"Yes?" came a soft reply from a black corner.

"How could you?" she demanded, "Tifa needs us and you just let her go with him?"

There was silence.

"Aerith might have put it to a close earlier but I will NOT let it go!" she said through clenched teeth, "Your supposed to be our friend! Supposed to look out for us!"

Again, silence.

"Say something you big dummy emo jerk!" she yelled.

Silence.

"I swear I'm going to steal all of your materia and never give it back!" she threatened.

Silence.

"JUST SAY SOMETHING!" she yelled.

"Something," came an amused voice.

Yuffie was shaking in anger. "Vincent... what the hell is wrong with you?"

"First, little ninja, I am not Valentine," came the amused voice.

Yuffie froze. "C-chaos?"

Vincent, still in his normal form, stepped a bit from his dark corner. His eyes... they weren't gold?

"What the hell?" was all Yuffie could say.

"We exist together now, two half's of the same coin, rather than two corpses in one body," said Vincent-Chaos.

Yuffie was on edge, on the fritz. What the hell did this mean then? Who was in control? And wait... did Vincent even have the protomateria anymore? And since when did Chaos get all chatter-boxy and not rip-out-your-throatey?

"The Goddess asked Valentine to merge with me, and he did," said Vincent-Chaos, "We can exist separately when we so choose, but, at other times its best to share joint control."

Vincent-Chaos stalked closer and stood infront of Yuffie. "What is it that you want 'little ninja'?"

Yuffie stared into his eyes silently for a moment. "Why?"

"Why what?" was the reply.

"Why did you let Tifa go? Especially with HIM of all people?" hissed Yuffie.

Vincent-Chaos seemed amused, again, why the hell was he always looking like he was making fun of her? "Because I chose to."

"Bullcrap!" she hissed, "Vincent would not go along with 'because i chose to'."

There was a sigh and tone change. "Yuffie..."

That was Vincent, she was pretty sure of it. "Answer the question."

"You all seem to think Tifa would be the one influenced," said Vincent.

"Uh, yeah? She did have a giant space bug parasite thingy in her head after all," retorted Yuffie.

Vincent turned and moved back into the shadows before answering, "Perhaps she did, but..."

"But what?" she demanded.

"But you fail to consider that Tifa is not the only one influenced, and that she might in fact be the one influencing, even if she doesn't realize it," said Vincent.

Yuffie stared in the darkness, confused like hell. "Huh?"

"Her mere existence as she is now, even if I would not have wished it on her, changes things, in ways I don't think any of you realize," said Vincent, "None of you were observing Sephiroth as I was when Tifa was being tended to."

Yuffie's eyebrows furrowed. "I... don't understand."

"You don't need to. Tifa is in no danger, just stay out of her and Sephiroth's way for the time being and he will no longer be a threat," said Vincent.

Yuffie was utterly baffled. "Vincent..."

There was nothing but silence.

Slowly, Yuffie shook her head, turned, and left the room, feeling bitter as hell. "Stupid scruffy vampire."

She walked out and down the hall. Whatever reason Vincent had, he could go shove it up his ass. She felt betrayed and miserable. They were a team! A great big group of weirdos that took care of eachother. Yet here he was using Tifa, even without doing anything but let her go when he SHOULD have been looking out for her! What was wrong with him? Had he changed since coming back to life apparently 'merged' with Chaos? Or had she simply never really understood him?

She stopped and bowed her head, feeling dejected and alone. "I can't believe I cried for him when he died..."

Vincent stared silently at the closed door. "..."

The little ninja seems distraught by your words.

Vincent shifted uncomfortably at Chaos's words. "I'm aware."

This is beyond her understanding, beyond any of their understanding. Even the possibility of pacifying Calamity's Child is not something that can afford to be ignored.

Vincent grunted in response.

Perhaps it is even beyond your understanding, for I know what is in your mind. You agree with the choice to have let them go, but for different reasons than I. Tell me, the way he looked at her, did it remind you of yourself and Lucrecia?

Vincent closed his eyes and sighed tiredly.

I believe the human term is 'hit the nail on the head'?

"There is no peace to be found for either of them here," whispered Vincent, "Both of them were used by the Calamities, both of their lives destroyed by events out of their control. Lucrecia's son, and Tifa, both deserve a second chance. If they can give that chance to one another, and find some semblance of happiness, or at least become content, then its more than I could ever ask."

Hmph, and what of you?

Vincent merely tucked his chin, saying and thinking nothing.

Some things never change Valantine, even when one has died and been reborn. The children of the Calamities are not the only ones who have been given a second chance. I suggest you use yours as well.

Vincent kept his mind and mouth blank, merely choosing to listen to the creaking of the ship as it swayed in the wind flying through the air...

Author's Notes:

The To Be Human line by Genesis is a not-so-subtle reference to a Fanfiction by Kittenfair called To Be Human, I highly suggest anyone who hasn't done so go read it.

Also, anyone got any decent ideas for an Aerith/Zack baby name? :D

Yuffie doesn't like Vincent anymore. :(