It was a few days before Valentine´s day that Zack´s relentless assault began.

'Please, Please you need to come... You have to!' he begged, huge puppy eyes searching her own for any sign of weakness.

There was none to be found at all. But still. Lightning knew she wasn´t going to make it out of it this time.

They had apparently planned a trip to Costa del Sol - all of them together - the date they had chosen miraculously coinciding with Valentine´s day.

Surprise, surprise.

Knowing of everyone's fondness for her least favorite day of the year, the pink haired first class highly doubted that was a coincidence.

They had disguised it cleverly by camouflaging it as a vacation. But Claire Farron wasn't stupid enough to be fooled that easily.

Still. No matter how often she tried to explain how much she hated that damn day. It was no use. This time they wouldn´t take no for an answer.

Their plan was clever. And it worked.

That didn't keep her from putting up a fight tough.

Claire Farron hadn't made first class because she gave in easily.

'You´ve never even been to Costa del Sol! You´ve got to see it - please - everybody will be there... Even some of the Turks are coming, you can´t stay behind...' Zack Fair friend tried to convince her.

'I don´t understand why you´re always against it in the first place... There will be a party. It will be fun!'

Yeah it would be fun...

For him.

And Aerith.

And Cloud and Tifa, probably.

But not for her.

For her it would just be a painful reminder of the fact that she was alone.

That was all it had ever been.

Plus she was fed up with watching those four make out right in front of her nose all the time.

Why couldn't Zack Fair understand that?

Lightning didn't know why it was so important to him that she came in the first place. He'd be glued to Aerith's face anyway. Wouldn't even notice were she gone.

'Oh come on please, please, please!'

Jumping up and down infront of her, his pretty sky blue eyes so huge, Lightning worried they might pop, he was yanking at her arm with an enthusiasm that promised he could go on like this for hours.

'PUUUUUHHHHLEEEASSSEEEEE!'

His hight pitched pleading puppy voice started to hurt her ears.

Suddenly giving in didn't seem such a bad idea anymore after all.

Resignated the pink haired female sighed in defeat.

In the end she would have to give in anyway.

Rather do it now then endure this shit much longer...

'I know you´re not exactly fond of Valentine´s day... but... think about it as a holiday! Some days off from work! You´ll love the beach, I just know it.' Zack kept going.

'Please...'

'Okay, okay... I´m in.'

Claire Farron found herself crushed in a suffocating hug the second the words ad left her lips.

'Thank you. Thank you. THAAANK YOUU!'


The ferry ride from Junon wasn´t fun for Lightning. It was not that she suffered from seasickness or anything, but the enormous size of the oceans was scaring her. Nothing but a thin layer of metal separating her from the infinite depths of the waters, filled to the hilt with tons of murderous creatures, to her it was not a very comforting though.

They didn´t seem to be the only ones who had chosen to take a trip to Costa del Sol for the weekend either. Zack hadn´t promised too much.

Upon entering the ship, Lightning immediately spied several members of the Turks, as well as some people from the Weapon Development Department too. It really seemed more like some kind of company outing to her then a vacation. And as if it wasn't all bad enough Lightning thought she'd seen a flash of Reno Sinclair's flaming red hair sticking out in the crowd when she'd made her way to a set of stairs half hidden by an exposee of pretty flowers.

Oh, what a jolly trip this was going to be...

She had left the main deck as soon as she had had the possibility to do so without anybody noticing, and had found herself a small balcony next to the liferafts, where leaning against the railing she could finally find some peace.

She'd been raised at a beach. Yes. She loved the sand, the breeze, the sun. She loved the sea. She really did.

When she looked at it from land.

Boats just weren't her thing. Not at all.

Okay. Maybe she did get a little bit of seasick after all. She did feel a little neauseated, that much was for sure.

Feeling miserable, the pink haired first class let her gaze wander the water´s surface stretching out endlessly in front of her.

Nothing but water wherever she looked, the shear vastness of the sea made her feel tiny and unimportant. Dizzy.

'It´s beautiful isn´t it?' a female voice from behind her suddenly ripped her out of her musings.

Surprised at the unexpected company, Lightning turned to look into the kind dark eyes of Tifa Lockhart.

'Actually I´m not very fond of it...' the first class answered drily.

'Oh... Motion sickness?' the barmaid asked, her expression concerned, as she chose to lean against the railing next to her.

'No... It´s just the huge amounts of water... Filled with bloodthirsty beasts and no land in sight...' the soldier replied somewhat grumpyly as silently she prayed for Tifa to leave or at least shut up.

Her prayers weren´t answered.

'Don´t worry!' the girl tried to reassure her warmheartedly.

'We will reach Costa del Sol soon! Nothing bad will happen, I promise!' she said in attempt to cheer her up, her big kind smile reaching her eyes and lighting up her pretty face.

What a stupid promise to make, Lightning thought.

Nobody knew what could happen.

Promising something that was not to be predicted... This was something only stupid people did.

That girl must have gotten boobs instead of brains.

'Why don´t you come and join the party?!' Tifa invited her to follow up to the main deck.

Wasn´t she getting that that was exactly the opposite of what the pink haired solder wanted now?

Had Zack and Cloud sent her after her?!

Lightning knew it was well-meant, but she still so wasn´t in the mood.

'Come on this trip is supposed to be fun!' the dark haired girl bribed, motioning for her to follow.

'We can´t have you sulking around on your own all the time!'

Why the fuck not, actually?!

'Uhm... Okay...'

Deciding to play nice for once, Claire Farron gave a long tired sigh before finally she turned to climb the stairs again.


Up on the deck the party was already in full swing. People were getting tanked up already and some were even dancing to the music - and it was hardly 3 p.m.

Tifa Lockard did not waste time before joining them. But Lightning didn't follow.

She could see her comrade Angeal raiding the buffet table at the far away end of the party area, Genesis Rhapsodos accompanying him with a half empty drink clutched in his hand as usual.

Having nothing else to do Lightning decided to join them.

No harm done in checking out the buffet, she thought. It might calm her upset stomach.

'Hey Light. Everything all right? You look a little pale...' Angeal said, popping a handful of sake makis into his mouth as if they were tictacs.

'Motion sickness?'

'No I´m okay.' Lightning lied, taking in the wide selection of dishes to choose from.

Tentatvely she picked out a tempura maki, hoping the taste of her favorite type of seafood would cheer her up a bit.

It didn't help too much.

'Need a drink?' Genesis offered upon taking in her slightly depressed condition.

Catching herself scanning the crowd for Sephiroth again, Lightning couldn´t help but decline.

Better keep a clear head today, lest she did something stupid again.


Costa del Sol really was beautiful. Zack had not promised too much.

With its bright yellow straw thatched roofs, its inviting inns and romantic promenades it was the perfect destination for any holiday.

It was early in the evening that they went down to the little bar at the beach, already stuffed with people, employee´s from Shin-Ra as well as their relatives or friends and also a bunch of local people.

The owners of that bar had obviously taken the motto of the day a bit too serious. Every corner of the little shack was covered in pinks or reds and there were hearts and flowers everywhere.

For Lightning it couldn´t have been any worse.

She had chosen to occupy a seat in the corner, distancing herself from the others, the merry drinking, the cheerful conversations, the dancing, the making out, as she desinterestedly nibbled at her desert which had arrived on a heart-shaped plate.

She hadn't really eaten on that boat and she didn't feel like eating now either. All appetite had left her body it seemed. So would your´s if you were forced to watch Aerith and Zack make out right next to you all day.

Lightning didn´t know why it was bothering her so much.

Lightning liked Zack. Liked him a lot. But only in a friendly, comradly, maybe brotherly way. Lightning was now sure of that now.

No matter what had happened between them in the training room at christmas eve and how she'd felt about him at the New Year's party, there was nothing going on.

She didn't really have any feelings for him beyond that. Not really. There was no jealousy burning inside her when she looked at him and Aerith going at it together.

No.

There was nothing like the terrible thing she'd felt when she had seen Sephiroth with his fangirl, like acid rising inside her scalding her innards. Nothing like that at all.

That evening at the boxing match. Lightning didn't even dare to think about it. Didn't even dare to think of him.

For a breif moment she was reminded of new years eve and how she had thought he was going to kiss her. How much she had wanted him to.

She didn't know what had ridden her back then. She must have been dizzy from the fall. Maybe she had hit her head on a protruding rock or something whenshe slipped without even realizing in her panicked state.

She had almost died. She'd thought she would. Her body slipping on the cold wet stone. But then suddenly a moment later instead of tumbling to her doom she'd found herself in his arms. His body against her's had felt save and solid, reassuring. His body heat had felt comforting in the bitter coldness of days spent in storms. She had felt his arms around her.

Their faces had been close she had felt his breath on her skin and they'd been staring into each others eyes.

Still. Now she thought about it, it was ridiculous. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't picture herself kissing Sephiroth. Or him kissing her back.

The two of them behaving like maybe Zack and Aerith did, it was completely out of the question. Was impossible to consider even.

No.

She didn't know what had gotten into her back then. Didn't know what had posessed her. What had ridden her back on the mountaintop at New Years Eve.

Her thoughts carrying back to the annoying individual again and again, Lightning found her eyes involuntaryly scanning the crowd for Sephiroth again.

NO! She had to stop that! Now!

Giving a frustrated grunt, she set her spoon down on the plate a little bit too hard.

She just hoped this night was going to pass fast.

'Oh come on Light... Why so grumpy?' Cloud piped up from her right where he was devouring his desert with a passion that seemed to amuse Tifa to no end.

He had to be kidding her.

'Please just leave me in peace...' Lightning began, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

'I don´t get it. If you are sick of being alone, why don´t you hook up with someone?' her comrade asked looking at her expectantly.

Had Cloud really just said that?!

She noticed Zack break free from Aerith´s kisses for a moment to look up, no doubt interested in his comrade´s reaction, probably looking forward to witness her teaching Cloud a lesson once and for all.

Claire Farron was not in the mood. For lessons that was.

She could only snort at that ridiculous suggestion of his.

Her. Claire Farron. Soldier first class. 'Hooking up' with someone. It was just not going to happen.

'Come on. There´s gotta be someone you like!'

Oh yes. There was...

That guy had no idea...

'I´m sure we´ll find someone for you! Take Reno for example! That bloke´s been eyeing you since the day you joined SOLDIER. I mean... He even asked you out for a drink, right? Maybe you could just... You know... Appologize or something...' Cloud Strife pointed out somewhat carefully.

From the corner of her eyes, Lightning caught Tifa sending him a warning look.

She decided she liked Tifa after all.

Looking over at the red haired Turk in question amusing himself with some of his collegues at a table not too far from them, Lightning found herself cringing in disgust.

No.

Not in this life.

She´d rather spend the rest of her life all by herself.

Or would she?

Suddenly she wasn't sure.

Looking over at the turk in question one more time, she found the cheeky redhead looking up from his drinking game and giving her a tiny smile.

He did have guts. Lightning had to give him that.

Still. Hooking up with Reno Sinclair... She could never do something like that. Or could she? That just wasn´t her...

Besides she was not interested in Reno anyway.

Suddenly she wished she were...

'Besides, being alone doesn´t mean you have to be all sullen on a day like this! There are plenty of people here who are single and are still enjoying themselves ... Look at Scarlet for example.' Cloud pressed on, indicating the red clad head of the Weapon Development Department who was over at another table, obviously having fun, messing around with some guys from the security department.

'Or take Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth... I didn´t see them bring any dates and do you see them sulking around? No.' he continued.

She couldn´t help but look for the three of them ordering drinks over at the bar.

Sephiroth...

Lightning couldn't keep her eyes from snapping to him.

As if she could ever be like him...

Nothing affected him at all and he definitely didn´t need anybody.

Anybody!

Least of all her.

That man was a coldblooded killer.

It didn´t seem as if he had feelings at all!

How could it be that she'd been falling for someone like him?!

That was not rational, or sensible. Was just plain stupid.

'Nobody will ask you out anyway if you keep sulking around in a corner, threatening to castrate whoever has the guts to talk to you.' Cloud finished with his little lecture.

Yeah. Well. Lightning guessed they´d never forget about that one.

It was the sight of Genesis, making his way back to their table that triggered her to get up from her seat.

Upon seeing his mischievous facial expression and the glass of red wine in his hand she knew they were in for a little poetry reading sometime soon. She might as well leave as long as she still got the chance.

'What, you´re going to talk to Reno?!' Cloud blurted out in disbelieve, his mouth slightly gaping, the other two were staring at her too, surprise displayed on all their faces.

Lightning cocked her head meditatively.

'You know what... Maybe I will.'

It made the others stare at her with big wide gaping mouths.

Claire Farron didn't stay to watch them.

Turning towards the crowd instead she felt her eyes searching for a certain red haired turk instead.

And she found him too.

He was still at his same place at the table, was still participating in a game of King's cup with some other members of the turks, curious turquoise eyes looking up at her.

Lightning didn't hesitate. Knew she could not afford it, or she'd loose her nerve. And it was almost instantly therefore, that with long quick determined strides, Claire Farron crossed the distance between their and his table.

'Let's dance.' she ordered as she reached him.

Not bothering to wait for any kind of answer alltogether, she strode towards the tiny dance floor.

The red haired turk looking after her with huge surprised turquoise eyes, he dropped his drawn cards to the tabletop in front of him to follow her example, making his colleague Rude stare after him with sunglasses veiled dark eyes.

It was only a few seconds later that he had caught up with her.

The music box in the corner playing a fancy disco tune that attracted lots of approval, it was with a little bit of difficulty that the two of them sqeezed through the throng of shuffling people to find themselves an empty dancefloor spot.

Suddenly Claire Farron realized she didn't exactly know what to do.

Sure. She had danced some, back at Bodhum. As a kid. Had participated in private dancebattles down on the beaches with Serah and her freinds from the neighbourhood watch. But that had been like a hundred years ago. Had been in her teens.

Never had she actually danced with someone else, well at least not like that.

Not for the purpose of getting to know someone, of finding a potential partner, of feeling each other out.

It was weird in a way, was not like dancing with Zack on new year's eve.

No. Not at all.

Watching the people around her for ideas, the pink haired warrior positioned herself in front of Reno Sinclair and tried out some basic disco dancing moves.

The turk in front of her mirroring her actions instantly, it was with intense turquoise eyes that he kept looking into her's, was smiling down at her that he moved closer.

Oh what had she gotten herself into again?!

Claire Farron wasn't sure.

'I knew one day you'd ask me out, yo.' her dancing partner yelled into her ear so she could hear him over the volume of the music.

Suddenly he was so close that Lightning could smell the alcohol on him, could feel the heat of his body, the brush of his breath on her skin. It felt nothing like it had felt with Sephiroth there on that mountaintop either.

There was a short pause where she was probably supposed to say something in return and then she felt the turk's right hand on her arm and then on her side.

Claire Farron couldn't help but cringe.

'Let's just dance for now, okay?' she said somewhat assertively as quickly she made to step backwards.

It made the cheeky turk's hand's fall away.

'Whatever the lady wants, yo.'

He twinkled down at her suggestively.

It made the pink haired female roll her eyes at him.

Oh what was she doing here? She wondered briefly.

Not only had she given that turk false hopes, she had also resigned to dancing with a man she had absolutely no interest in.

Thank you, Zack and Cloud.

Why had she been even listening to them again?!

Suddenly she longed back for her place there in the corner where she'd been sitting watching Zack and Aerith making out what suddenly seemed hours ago. That and stabbing at her desert.

Well.. At least they couldn't blame her for not trying, could they?

They definitely couldn't.

But no. This definitely didn't work for her. She had been stupid to even try it.

She was taking a step forward, was about to tell Reno exactly that, when suddenly their foreheads bumped together.

'Ouch!' Claire Farron cried out in surprise, looking at the turk in front her with big annoyed eyes.

'Can't you watch out?'

'I'm sorry, yo!' the man in question appologized instantly, one of his hands coming up to touch her throbbing forhead while the other quickly sneaked around her back.

'I thought you were going to kiss me.' he looking down at her with a dazzling boyish grin.

Claire Farron couldn't help but pull back instantly.

'No... Of course not!' she yelled at him in surprise, before she brought her hands to her temples, looked around for a route of escape with desperate blue eyes.

'I'm sorry. This just doesn't work for me.' she quickly made to excused herself.

'I´m going outside. I think I need a little bit of fresh air.'

It was the last thing she managed to get out before hurrying away from him, she headed straight out for the door.

Oh what had she been doing there?

Had she seriously attempted to hook up with Reno Sinclair?

Had she seriously been planning to give it all a try?

Suddenly Claire Farron couldn't help but shake her head, couldn't help but feel stupid and emberassed, ashamed at herself even, a tiny litle bit.

Well. Better a little dancing session with Reno than a poetry reading from Genesis or one of Angeal Hewley's endless lectures about duty an honor, she thought, as on her way out she spied her burly fellow first class talking to Sephiroth insistently, the latter seeming rather unaffected by his words, his eyes fixed on the drink in front of him.

The pink haired female brushed past them quickly, pushed past the decorated swinging doors and out onto the front porch.

Claire Farron was relieved to be outside again, relieved to get away.

Away from Reno. Away from her comrades. Away from all these happy flirting kissing people.

Away from the blasting music, the alcohol, the cigarette smoke.

The sea breeze gently ruffling her pinkinsh hair, cleaning her lungs of the dirty air from inside the pub, she closed her blue eyes to inhale deeply, the taste of the salty air on her tongue strangely familiar, reminding her of home, Bodhum.

What was Serah doing at that moment?

Lightning couldn't help but wonder.

Had she reached the age for dating yet?

Somehow she wasn't eager to find out.

She slowly opened her eyes again to have them drawn to a couple right next to the entry, a young soldier Third Class in his plain blue uniform, passionately snogging his date. A local girl it seemed.

Please, not out here too...

It seemed Lightning couldn´t escape this, the magic of valentiens day, could not escape it, no matter where she went.

Why was everyone so eager at publicly displaying their affection?! Claire Farron couldn't understand.

She probably wouldn't have behaved like that even if she'd had a date.

No. She so wouldn't. There was just no way.

Probably not in a thousand years.

Not even with the man of her dreams.

And definitely not like the two subjects infront of her sucking each other's faces on the front porch of this rundown bar.

It was when the two of them suddenly broke apart, that the pink haired first class was caught staring.

She was about to appologize, when the young man gasped in shock and quickly pushing his date away, stepped forward to salute in front of her.

It took her a second to realize that she was wearing her First Class uniform, something that had to be rather intimidating to him.

'I´m sorry - I ... I didn´t mean to neglect my duty, Sir! Uhh... I mean Ma´am!' the young man stuttered, panickingly fishing for words, as a few droplets of sweat broke on his forhead.

Lightning couldn´t help but feel amused. Something she didn´t let show, as donning her most intimidating first class expression, she forceed her features into an emotionless mask, looking at the little coward in front of her expectantly.

'You were supposed to keep watch?' she demanded, her voice deadly. It was the kind of voice Sephiroth would have used on her, would he have caught her... Doing what exactly?!

'I... I was just taking a break... I didn´t mean to... I´m sorry... please...' the third class stammered.

Lightning couldn´t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the poor bloke and his date.

She didn´t really care what he did anyway.

There was no reason for anyone to keep watch here. Not really.

Lightning couldn't imagine who had given that poor young bloke this ridiculous task but something inside her told her it might have been Genesis.

It sounded exactly like something he would do. Just for the fun of it.

The poor young bloke cowering in fron of her, deciding she didn´t have anything better to do really, Lightning chose to help him out - this time.

'At ease soldier Third Class.' she commanded.

'Go inside and have fun, I´ll take your shift form here.'

The look on his face was priceless.

He had probably expected a punishment or at least a reprimand, but certainly not this.

And she knew, as soldier First Class she wasn´t exactly supposed to be lenient either.

But they were young.

And they were in love...

They were sharing something she would probably never experience.

What monster would deny them their tiny bit of joy in this dark cold godforsaken world?

'Thank you... THANK YOU!' the young man cried, his eyes wide with surprise, his girlfiriends pretty mouth gaping open in astonishment.

'You don´t know how much I appreciate this... I...' he brabbled at her greatfully.

'Just get that ass of yours out of my sight!' Lightning instructed as turning away she made her way down the wooden steps to reach the sandy shore, the lucky young couple hurrying away into the bar behind her.

Kids...

Finally alone, she sat down on the last step to take off her combat boots, feeling the small grains of sand, still warm from the already setting sun, against the sensitive skin of her feet.

Oh how much she used to love to walk the sandy beaches back home, barefoot, back when everything had been still alright...

Back when she had felt lighthearted and carefree...

Back when she´d still been a child.

There on the golden beaches of Costa del Sol it seemed eons ago.


General Sephiroth Crescent took a sip from his drink at the bar, watching Lightning, Zack and Cloud from the corners of his eyes as he contemplated what Angeal had told him on the ship.

'Why don´t you just talk to her?' Angeal had said.

He´d had his head propped up on his hands, his elbows resting on the wooden railing of the ferry´s main deck, the both of them gazing into the distance where the surface of the water seemed to melt into the blues of the sky.

Yes, why didn't he talk to her?

They were in a bar at the beaches of Costa del Sol now, the walls hung with hearts and golden cupids and somehow he couldn't keep his eyes from tracking back to her, his pink haired former student, watching her picking at her desert.

He'd been so immersed in the task of watching her that he hadn't even caught Angeal's last words.

'Huh?'

What was it he'd just said?

'I said: Just go over and talk to her.' the burly first class said again.

Different scene. Same words.

Somehow some things never changed.

'Be nice, invite her to a drink or something. I dunno. Don't make it more complicated than it is. This isn't rocket science.' his comrade said downing his pint of beer in one long relished go.

'No.' the general replied. 'It's infinetly more complicated than that.'

He had already tried that. Hadn't he? He'd already tried to approach her, had tried to invite her for drinks. The thing was she didn't want to. Didn't want to talk. At least not to him.

They hadn't been getting on too well those past few days, those weeks, he was aware.

And what was he to talk about in the first place?

Unlike his comrades he was not a man of many words. And Lightning wasn't exactly the talkative kind either.

It was bound to be awkward.

And if she didn't want to talk to him, there was nothing to say anyway. Nothing she would want to hear at least.

The burly first class gave a snort that sprayed the bar with beer.

'You're only scared to be rejected again.' he said somewhat knowingly.

General Sephiroth Crescent only stared.

Was he? Scared to be rejected?

General Sephiroth Crescent had never been rejected in his entire life. Well not until recently. Would he be rejected again?

He most probably would.

'She hates me, Angeal. And she has every reason to.'

His comrade gave a doubting look.

'You don't know half the things I did to her.' the first class admitted somewhat tentatively.

Yes. He'd hit her, humiliated, taunted her, hurt her.

Now she had the reins. Now she had all the power. She was in control. Now her turn had come to torture him. He was at her mercy, he was aware and Sephiroth didn't like it. Did not like it one bit.

The only ace he still had up his sleeve was that she didn't know, was not aware of it. And now Angeal was urging him to change just that.

'You should just tell her, you know.' the burly soldier said somewhat pensively before turning to look at the general first class, he waited for his reaction with interest.

'Tell her what?' the general asked dryly, without even looking up.

He had a feeling he knew where this conversation was leading and he certainly didn´t approve of Angeal addressing this subject at all.

No. Not in the slightest.

'Tell her about your feelings for her...' Angeal Hewley tried somewhat carefully.

The general slowly made to straighten up. Took a deep calming breath, before finally he turned to face his friend, just to stare at him, one of his eyebrows raised in disbelieve.

Had Angeal really just said that?

'Oh come on, spare me this shit of your's... Who are you trying to fool?! It´s written all over your face whenever you look at her.' his first class friend declared.

'I´ve been watching this long enough - waiting for you to make a move of your own, but you are just too stubborn to admit it to yourself, are you?'

The general could feel his friend getting upset. The burly first class was obviously getting annoyed by his ignorant behaviour.

Sephiroth had no idea what to say to any of this.

Was it really that obvious?

If it was, then why hadn't she noticed? Why hadn't she caught on?

Or was it that she had caught on? That she knew exactly how he felt? And that was the reason why she was acting up like that?

Averting his gaze again the silver haired man felt himself blushing slightly, something that rarely ever happened, as dearly he wished for that ridiculous discussion to end.

But he wasn´t going to fool Angeal was he?

No. He wasn't going to be let off the hook so easily.

'Come on, it´s Valentine´s day... What better occasion than that to confess your feelings to her?' the dark haired first class suggested, his eyes boring into the side of his comrade´s head.

'She hates Valentine´s day.' the general told him flat out.

It made the burly first class shake his head.

'Yeah... You know... Cause she is always lonely.' Angeal informed, his voice sincere.

'Being lonely is one thing... But being lonely although there is somebody close to you who clearly has feelings for you, just because nobody´s got the balls to make the first move... That´s something else entirely.' he said.

It certainly felt like he was being lectured again, but this time Angeal´s words stung.

Because somehow deep inside, he knew that they were true.

What stung even more though was the fact that the female first class of his musings had gotten up from her chair to approach Reno Sinclair, turk extra ordinaire, to drag him over to the dance floor.

General Sephiroth Crescent could only stare.

It was something he would never have expected she would do. Not after everything that had happened between them.

It was ridiculous, preposturous, made absolutedly no sense at all, and still it happened. Right there in front his very eyes.

Had she taken a liking to the unruly turk after all?!

Sephiroth could not believe it. And yet he saw them on the dancefloor. Moving somewhat close together, talking into each other's ears even. It was a rather unsettling thing to watch, was something he certainly wished he would have never had to witness.

'She doesn't seem too lonely anymore.' he choked out over the remainder of his drink.

Finally managing to tear his eyes away from the cruel scene in front of him, it was with rather crestfallen expression that he resumed staring at his hands instead.

'Oh, I wouldn't give up hope yet.' Angeal Hewley said somewhat encouragingly and it was just when he looked up again that he found the pink haired female brushing past them and straight out through the front doors, leaving the red haired turk stranded on the dancefloor staring after her desolately.

'There. You see. This is your moment.' his friend pointed out animately.

Standing at the bar at the beach o Costa del Sol, General Sephiroth Crescent only shook his head.

He couldn´t do this. Impossible.

And not right now. After she had just danced with Reno.

He felt confused and wary about his feelings towards her.

They somehow made him weak. And he hated feeling weak, feeling vulnerable even.

And above all things he hated not feeling in control.

And this... This was out of his control entirely.

The way his heart had clenched up just a few minutes ago when he had seen her there with Reno...

They way he had been longing to be standing there with her instead, to be dancing with her, to have secret whispered conversations with her over the sound of music. Longing for it so hard that it physically hurt...

It wasn't exactly anything he was eager to feel anytime soon.

The pink haired female...

He didn´t remember when she had become so important, so close to him, in the first place. But somehow she´d gotten under his skin. Had done so without him even noticing.

This wasn´t something he should have ever let happen, he was aware.

The funny thing was just that the more he tried to deny his feelings, the harder it seemed to ignore them.

This was preposterous, was crazy.

Still, it simply was.

'Well, I guess I cannot force you...' Angeal said, sounding somewhat resigned.

'However man... I know you´re going to do the right thing.' he told him, patting his shoulder in a brotherly way to then leave him alone with his disconcerting thoughts.


Her feet carrying her further and further away from the bar and towards a copse of pretty palm trees, from Claire Farron's path on the beach, the sunset looked magnificent.

Blurs of purples, pinks and oranges...

Taking a walk along the shore, listening to the sound of the waves gently calming her restless mind, Lightning couldn´t help but be reminded of Bodhum, of home. It´s white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters almost exactly like those of Costa del Sol.

She felt her chest constrict painfully at the sudden but intense surge of homesickness, a feeling she hadn´t felt in quite some time now.

She couldn´t prevent her thoughts from drifting back to Serah, to her family, to all her childhood friends as unvoluntarily she tried to imagine what her sister could be doing right now.

Maybe she was on a date herself. She was almost 18 after all.

She´s almost 18...

Lightning felt tears stinging her eyes as she let that fact sink in, as she thought about all those birthdays she had missed. All those christmas parties. All that time.

She hadn´t seen her little sister in almost three years.

Serah´d grown to be a young woman by now.

A woman she didn´t know at all. She might not even recognize her.

Where had she been all this time? Where had it gone? How could she not have found the time to visit even once?!

Suddenly she didn´t know.

Yes...She´d ask for a few days off first thing when they arrived back to HQ, she really would! The pink haired woman quickly made up her mind.

She couldn´t miss Serah´s 18th birthday.

Now the war was over they didn´t need her anyway. Slaying monsters was all she did these days anyways.

Thinking about it this way, she guessed they could find somebody else for the job. They really could.

Yes. She would be going home. She really would. Finally. She would.


Pondering Angeal´s words General Sephiroth Crescent stepped out into the soft warm evening breeze.

He had seen his female colleague exit the bar about quarter an hour ago. He knew she had to be around somewhere.

Studying his picturesque surroundings he wondered in which direction she might have taken off.

Part of him half wished he wouldn´t find her.

He didn´t know what to say to her anyway. Didn't know how to express any of his feelings, not in a way he could be sure she'd understand.

Didn't know how'd she react, what she would say or do.

Shuffling his feet in an irritated way, he realized he felt nervous and insecure. Something he certainly wasn´t used to feeling at all.

Something he certainly did not enjoy. Not one tiny bit.

If that was what love felt like he couldn't even begin to understand why people bothered with it in the first place.

Playing with the thought of just going back inside, he was about to turn back on his heels when suddenly, he heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot going of in the distance, followed by another.

And another.

Lightning...

What the fuck was going on?!

Not wasting a second, breaking into a run, the silver haired first class hurried in the direction the noise had come from.


She´d been so deeply lost in thoughts, thoughts about home and her past, about Serah and her friends, about her parents, and the sea, and their old beach house, that she didn't even really notice what was going on when there was the sudden noise of a gun going off close to her, cutting the silence, taking her completely off guard.

The pink haired woman in her neat black soldier uniform, she didn´t even realize what was happening as a sharp sting in her shoulder made her grunt out in pain.

Barely realizing what was going on as she tried to turn around, completely taken by surprise, when the second and the third shot hit her square in the chest.

The burning pain in her thorso and shoulder indicating that she had been shot there too, her brain didn´t seem to be able to process what had happened yet.

Injured nerve ends screaming at her in agony, the excruciating pain blinding her, there was the horribly familiar feeling of hot gushing blood, pouring out of her body.

Lightning didn´t even register the fourth and fifth bullet, forcing their way into her flesh.

The shock from the first few ones was just too much.

Her knees giving in, she collapsed to the ground, feeling like her guts had been ripped apart and pulled out of her body - which they probably were.

Her hands jolting to check on her belly and sides, they came up bloody, and not a little either.

Paralyzed by the agony, by the shock really, it took her a few seconds to realize she had been hit there as well.

No, this couldn't be real.

What the fuck was going on?!

An attack? Here at Costa del Sol?

Claire Farron had not even brought her sword.

Starting to feel dizzy and faint, she panickingly searched for the healing Materia inside the pockets of her trousers.

She knew she had brought that one at least. Always wore it on her body, ever since she'd fist layn hands on it.

If only she could reach it...

Her blood making its way out of her body at alarming speed, her hands shook terribly and her fingers started to go numb as she struggled to get it out.

Please, please, please...

Finally she managed to get a hold on it. Managed to wriggle the green glowing orb out of her pants.

Bringing it up to use it, it was violently knocked out of her hand and came to a rest about a meter away.

No! Please!

She didn´t have time to retrieve it. Didn't have a chance.

Inching forwards on her hands and knees, it was barely a second later, that she was kicked face first into the ground.

She felt her cheek cut open on the sharp edge of a stone, felt her already screeming ribcage pressed into the still warm sand, the green sphere resting only a few millimeters from her outstretched hand.

She could see it from a gap between her bangs.

It was not that far away.

She might be able to reach it.

Her body wouldn't move. But she could still stretch out her hand.

Just a tiny little bit...

Her fingertips slipping on the materia's smooth surface, leaving red smudgy marks, Lightning felt the excruciating pain of having the bones of her right hand broken all at once, as she watched her hand being mercilessly crushed under the boot of her attacker, the sickening crack stifled by her tortured scream.

Her injured body barely able to move, to draw breath even, she knew that she was done.

Lying on her belly, frozen, unable to defend herself, she could only watch on helplessly as the boot stomped down again, breaking the softly glimmering healing materia - her only hope - into a million tiny pieces.

The once smooth surface shattering like glass, a mako green liquid oozing out of its remains and seeping into the sand, it´s glow slowly fading, just like her life... Claire Farron simply stared at it. It's once shiny surface now dull and meaningless.

Somehow none of it made sense.

Somehow thinking itself became harder and harder. As did staying coscious.

This was it, she was aware. This was how it was going to end. How she was going to end.

Not in battle. Not in the next wutai war. Not in a mission for Shin-Ra. Not even in the Midgar slums, as she would have anticipated.

No.

She would die right here.

On the sandy beaches of Costa del Sol.

On a stupid Valentine's vacation.

And the last thing she had done was dance with Reno.

Would her soul return to the planet?

Would she become part of the lifestream, Shin-Ra was so mercilessly sucking out of the ground.

Would she soul be born again, someone else, somewhere in a better place?

Or whould she get sucked into a mako reactor, processed into energy?

Lightning didn't know. Well. She was going to find out soon.

The steel cap of her enemy´s boot connected with her side and she could only whimper in pain, her body too weak to scream, as she was brutally pulled up by her hair and violently flipped around, so she could face her assasin for the very first time.

It was no one she recognized.

Just another warrior in just another uniform.

She could see the Wutain crest engraved in his shiny armor.

The gun now directed at her skull though, it looked suspiciously familiar. Reminded her of the ones the Shin-Ra infantryman carried.

Somehow none of it made sense.

The wutai whielded blades. Never had she heard of them carrying advanced weapon technology.

Was she hallucinating?

Probably.

She was starting to feel light headed.

Her vision was starting to blurr, her head lolled weakly to the side.

She knew this was the end.

The agonizing pain now fading to a dull throb, Lightning waited. Waited for the inevitable as she felt all her memories, all her wishes, her fears, her dreams - who she was - draining out of a hole in her body she couldn´t even try to plug.

Concentrating with all her might, Claire Farron fought hard to stay conscious. Tried to focus on the beautiful scenery in front of her.

The last few rays of the dying sun, reflected on the waves, painting the horizon in soothing reds and oranges.

The million grains of salt, glistening mysteriously.

The soft cool see brease, tugging at her hair.

Despirte everything Lightning couldn´t help but think that Costa del Sol really was beautiful. Beautiful just like Bodhum.

She wasn´t granted the view much longer though.

The rough grip of the wutai fighter forcing her head upwards she finally looked up again.

Her icy blue eyes were open when the muzzle of the gun was pressed into her forehead.

They were open wide.

'For Wutai!' a male voice cried out triumphantly.

Lightning couldn´t even see her assasin's face hidden by his wutai helmet.

Coward.

Sprawled out in the sand, her killer's grip the only thing keeping her up now, Claire Farron waited for the final blow, for him to end her torment.

In her state, unable to defend herself or do anything at all, her vision strangely blurred, her breathing laboured, shaky, she just wished he´d hurry up or otherwise, she feared, she wasn´t even going to live long enough for that bullet to kill her.

She felt herself slip away, waiting for that piece of lead to put her to peace.

Seconds seemed to stretch into hours as she drew those last few final breaths.

Would she even feel the pain? Would she even register the bullet hitting her skull or would it be over before she even knew it?

Would there just be nothing?

Those were those last few thoughts, chasing themselves inside her tortured mind, when suddenly her attacker's chest was pierced by metal and his body crumpled, cut in half by a ridiculously long blade – Masamune.


It was rounding another bend of Costa del Sol thickets growing down to the sandy beach, that he found her, the woman from his dreams, lying on the ground, broken, in a pool of her own blood.

The attacker, unmistakably wutai, towering above her, General Sephiroth Crescent could tell he was about to take her out.

He had Masamune out and ready in no time at all in order to prevent the irreversible from happening.

Cutting the Wutai fighter down with only one swift motion of his weapon´s deadly blade, Sephiroth's opponent hit the ground in two neatly seperated pieces.

He was too late.

Taking in his former protégé's condition, the alarming amounts of blood that had gathered around her, the silver haired man realised this hadn't been about preventing anything at all, but rather delaying it.

It was without hesitation that he hurried to her side.

'I´ve always hated Valentine´s day...' the woman on the ground managed to choke out as he fell to his knees beside her.

'But this one is definitely my worst...'

She chuckled slightly at the last part, her voice sounding so infinitely weak and raspy.

'Shhh... Don´t talk.' the general instructed as quickly he took out his phone to call for help as fast as he could.

Talking on the phone in fast clipped words he caught a glimpse of the maxed out healing materia he had given Light as a present for becoming First Class, crushed in the sand only a few feet away, completely useless now.

Shit...

She´d tried to use it. Of course she had.

That bastard had left her no chance to defend herself.

What could she have done?

Taking in his comrade's trembling form, the general moved closer, felt his knees sinking a few centimeters into soft warm sand.

He didn´t need to examine her wounds to assess the extent of the injuries.

There was blood everywhere.

Too much blood.

He could tell she was slipping away already.

Her pupils slightly dilated as she stared at him.

Or rather through him, he thought somewhat numbly.

Suddenly the air felt hard to breathe.

Having fought in a war, having fought in countless battles, he had seen that exact expression on countless faces before. So many faces.

Oh how he'd wished he´d never have to see it on this face. Not on her's.

But having no such powers as Angeal´s there was really nothing he could do but watch.

The healing materia´s magic, not able to heal his Jenova cell transfused body, the silver haired first class hadn´t bothered to equip one himself, ever. He was able to mend his injuries in his own way. No materia involved. There'd been no use for any. Well, not until now.

He had given her that healing materia in order for her to save herself whenever the need would arise.

Never had he pictured a scenario such as this one.

'Sephiroth...' she called for him, weakly, her voice barely a whisper, breaking at the last syllable of his name.

Oh fuck, he knew this tone of voice so well...

It was the one you sported when you were about to die.

He didn´t know what to do, or to say, or feel.

Those icy blue eyes boring into his, her soft pink lower lip trembling, her body shaking helplessly, reaching forward he carefully tried to pick her up into his arms.

Maybe he could just carry her back to the main street?

Maybe they could reach help sooner!

But a soft cry of pain, followed by a sharp intake of breath, her instant reaction to his tentative attempts, told him it was no use.

Movement was not an option now. Not really.

And so he decided to just stay there with her, as carefully he lifted her upper body to hold her close to his in what he hoped was a comforting tight embrace.

Her cheek resting against his chest, he just held her while much too quickly her life slipped away from her. Gently caressing her shoulder and upper arm, he continued to do so even after her eyelids fluttered shut.

He was not going to lie to her and tell her that she was going to make it, they both knew she had lost too much blood.

There was no point in lying. No point in denying.

And so he just sat there instead. Listened to her lungs drawing in ragged breaths, felt her pulse weaken underneath his touch.

It took the silver haired first class a few seconds to realize the woman in his arms had just stopped breathing, when her pulse suddenly faded, to then vanish into nothingness.

His chest constricting painfully, it suddenly felt impossible for him to breathe.

Everything that had happened then seemed to have happened in another world. Another dimension really. Seemed so infinitely far away. Did not really make sense at all.

The legendary war hero kneeling in the sand, he didn´t even realize as people started to arrive, didn't really notice the small crowd that had begun to form around them.

Members of SOLDIER and infantrymen. Turks. Coming to secure the vicinity.

Locals. Tourists. Curious bystanders. Coming to just ogle at them.

And then the medics. Trying to take her body away from him. The silver haired first class refused to let go of his comrade, limp now in his arms.

Sephiroth didn't listen to all the things they said to him, couldn't even hear. Only watched with an odd detachedness as they bent down to check for the woman's pulse and eye reflexes. Felt a weird sense of surreality as they let her arm drop back to the ground as they shook their heads to step away.

He did not register his comrades gathering behind him, watching in horror, and he barely heard Zack scream out her name as if from very very far away.

He didn´t even have the energy to push Genesis and Angeal away when they finally made him let go of her body - lifeless now.

He stayed there in his spot on the ground, lost, completely paralyzed.

It was starting to get dark.

The sun had sunk beneath the waters what seemed a long time ago and the stars were starting to come up. Tiny shiny twinkles dotting a purple darkening sky.

He felt Angeal Hewley's hand resting on his shoulder. His comrade trying to comfort him, it was the only thing that really seemed to come through.

Somehow Sephiroth just wanted to push it away.

Somehow he just wanted them to leave.

Wanted to be left alone.

Alone...

That was what he had felt like all his life, no matter how many people present.

That was exactly what he felt like now.

Looking down into his empty hands, he found them covered in blood - her blood.

His hair, his coat, his pants, his boots.

Somehow it was everywhere.

If he had just gone outside to look for her earlier...

If he had found the courage to talk to her sooner...

If he'd have been man enough to face his feelings...

Then all of this...

Then she would still be...

Suddenly he started to feel light headed.

Unable to move or to do anything at all, General Sephiroth Crescent could only watch as the medics put his comrade's lifeless body onto one of their stretchers. As they covered her under a white linen and lifted her into their car.

The red emergency lights had been switched off some time ago now.

His eyes still fixed on the truck's closed doors he was watching it´s rear ligths flash crimson as the engine purred to life, when suddenly, from the corners of his eyes he spied the familiar figure of Professor Hojo, watching from behind a copse of coconut palm trees.

Even in his current state the professor's presence stood out to him, seemed so foreign here on those peaceful beaches, seemed so wrong.

What was he doing here? Him of all people?!

General Sephiroth Crescent couldn't help but wonder.

The head of the science dapartment watching the scene with utmost interest, lurking in the shadows of the thickets he caught the general´s mako green eyes with his own bespectacled dark ones.

There was a weird excited glint in them, a glint the silver haired first class himself knew all too well.

It was the spark of anticipation.

Suddenly Sephiroth knew exactly what he had in mind.

The creepy old bastard looking over at him as if asking his opinion, the man in the blood smeared leather coat felt his pulse speed up.

Was it really possible?!

Could there really be a way?!

Thinking fast, contemplating his options, the silver haired first class gave one of his tight affirming nods.

A sinister smirk made it´s way onto the professor´s haggard features.

It was only a moment later that he turned away.

Sepiroth's eyes followed Hojo's every move as the man he despised so much talked to some of the paramedics and motioned for some people in lab coats - obviously Shin-Ra scientist - to come over and climb into the back of the ambulance truck.

Sephiroth's heart was beating faster, was hammering against his ribcage really.

He knew it wasn't right. Was wrong in so many way. On so many fucking levels.

But what was he supposed to do?

He couldn´t let her go.

Not yet.

Not now.

Not like this.

Not when there still were options.

Professor Hojo, making his way to enter on the passenger´s side of the car, for a brief moment he paused to look at the general once more.

Their eyes meeting for a brief tight moment, Sephiroth could see a wicked grin forming on the crazy bastard´s face.

Having Hojo smile like that, it never was a good sign.

In this case it was collateral.

The head of the science department had been waiting for an opportunity like this to arise for ages. Had been biding his time, for something like this to happen.

And now it had arrived.

That golden opportunity.

Now there was no turning back.


They arrived back at HQ late in the night the day after the tragic incident on the beach.

General Sephiroth Crescent had kept to himself for the entire journey, ignoring Angeal Hewley´s attempts at talking to him, evading all the other people's downcast glances.

He just couldn´t bring himself to care.

The others went down to the hospital immediately after their return to look after Lightning.

Rumour had it she had been brought back to Midgar by aircraft and transferred to the intensive care unit of the hospital shortly after the attack.

But the silver haired first class had watched her die in his arms. He knew better than that.

Waiting until after the others had left for good, he made his way to the elevators and putting his ID-card into it´s designated slot he was about to press the button with the number 67 on it, when suddenly he paused to reconsider.

No.

He couldn´t keep her up there in the science department where somebody was bound to notice...

No.

Hojo might have been many things. But he certainly wasn´t stupid.

There was only one place he could have taken her. Only one place he could hide her. Only one place where he could do unrestricted reasearch on her without anybody noticing.

Rummaging inside his coat´s hidden inside pockets, the first class general produced a little silver key.

It´s teeth worn from use, he forced it into the tiny lock right underneath the buttons.

There was a soft clicking noise and a little touch screen keyboard slid out of a hidden slot.

Checking behind his back to make sure nobody was there to watch, Sephiroth entered the 12 digit code he remembered all too well, to then proceed by bending down to bring his eye near to the tiny lens concealed behind the emergency button to get his retina scanned.

'Access granted.' a mechanical female voice announced and then, the doors closing swiftly, the elevator gave a mighty jolt, indicating that it had started it's descent, as vibrating violently, it moved downwards.

Oh how much he hated going down there.

How much it cost him, to even enter that code to even touch the key, too even think of those digits he couldn't have forgotten no matter how much he would have tried.

He hadn´t been down there in years. And the truth was even considering setting a foot down there again creeped him out to no end.

But there was no choice. He had to. He had to for Lightning.

If he ever wanted to see her again, that was.

He did.

It took an eternity, but finally the elevator doors slid open and he hesitantly stepped out into the chilly musty air.

He could see his breath misting out in front of him, dark high stone walls greeting him like old aquaintences.

There was a shiver running down his spine as he moved forward to enter another 15 digit code, to then watch the three heavy security doors open for him once more, a blinding white light greeting him from inside.

Welcome home, he thought.

Welcome to Deepground.