Warning!: Sexual Situations present within the chapter

I do not own FFVII characters – though I wish I did. lol

I do own my own character – Jalyne and other originals.

Chapter 58 – The Crater

To say he was angry was an understatement. He immediately called Tseng after Jalyne left, fuming at the revelation that Jalyne dropped on him. Reno paced his apartment, talking excessively and rapidly. He hung up the phone and looked out of the patio doors to the night sky.

How could she just walk out? Did she think so little of their relationship? True, he didn't tell her that Rufus caught Tifa, Barret, Nanaki and Aerith, but he didn't think of it after she reappeared. Jalyne went behind their back and freed them.

Tseng tried his best to calm him but Reno wasn't hearing it. Furious, he plopped on the couch and turned the TV on, hoping to distract his mind. It hurt. He never thought being in love would hurt him. Reno worried for her, afraid she would leave for good. It was selfish, he knew.

Reno should have told her about Avalanche, he realized now. If he could go back in time, he would tell her. But what is done is done. Reno flipped through the channels before throwing the remote down and grabbing his jacket to leave. It was raining out but he didn't care – he needed a drink.

Reno made his way to the bar around the corner intent on thinking upon the situation and finding a resolution. There was no telling how long she would be gone and even as angry as he was, he really wanted to be with her.

It was thunderously raining as he walked out of the building on the way to the nearby bar. As he looked into the dark clouds that were weeping, Reno wondered why she was so…stubborn. He replayed the conversation and hit upon what was angering him. For some reason, Reno didn't like the thought of her loving the sorcerer.

Yes, it happened long before he ever met her, and the jealousy he tried hard to squash, but it irked him. Red spikes plastered to his head, Reno decided the reasoning was because he never had that type of relationship before.

He walked to the nearest bar and ordered his drink, speaking to the bartender for a few minutes. He kept eyes on the crowd, looking at the mirror behind the bar. He was a Turk after all. He lowered his head to stare at liquid gold and concentrated on Jalyne for a moment, trying to reach outward.

There was no such luck and Reno thought about the conversation again. It was true, he struggled with some of the decisions the President would ask of them. He never went against him though, and Rufus was better than he was a year ago. It was the tone of voice that she had when she told him she loved him. It wasn't that she was hiding something, but more as if she was reassuring him and herself.

Reno raised his eyes to the mirror, watching a young brunette start to approach him. He sighed into his whiskey but turned to face her, keeping his features neutral.

"I haven't seen you here before." She commented, extending her hand in greeting. "I am Chery."

Reno smiled, bringing her hand to his lips and laying on the charm, though inwardly he wanted nothing to do with this woman. "Reno."

"Pleasure." She smiled at him, taking a seat with him and ordering a drink.

Reno refrained from rolling his eyes as he wanted to be alone. She was attractive, he noted, but not in Jalyne's league. They made light conversation and Reno hid his boredom behind the whiskey glass. The bartender kept his glass filled and soon the night began to pass quickly with Reno slowly losing his senses and thoughts.

He walked out of the bar with Chery, after settling the bill, wanting a cigarette. She was sending him all sorts of sexy signals and strangely, Reno didn't care. He had other attending issues he needed to figure out. As the rain subsided, the two of them paused outside of the bar, still conversing on nonimportant matters. Reno lit a cigarette and when he turned back to Chery to bid a good night, she kissed him.

Taken aback, Reno gently disengaged her from him and stepped backwards. "Chery." He began. "I'm not interested, yo."

Crack! Reno could see that one coming, and even slightly inebriated, he didn't want anyone. He wanted Jalyne. He lightly rubbed his cheek, trying to maintain calmness.

"You could have said something instead of leading me along!" She huffed and turned back into the bar as he looked after her.

As he made his way home, he paused long enough to narrow his eyes at the cloudy sky, a tug pulling at him that he couldn't place.

Jalyne reached the street with the rain pouring down and her heart heavy. It wasn't an argument, but her heart was heavy. She hated arguing with Reno and failed in explaining her side of things or the reasonings she needed to figure out the situations. She glanced upward at his apartment, debating on whether to go back. The rain plastered her hair to her body and her dress clung to her.

What happened to us? Jalyne thought, leaning against a street light. What led us to this?

Jalyne glanced around and there were a few people trying to hurriedly get out of the rain. She opted to continue walking and headed down the street, lost in thought. She changed into her modified Turk attire once she reached her place and lifted into the sky above the clouds from her patio.

As she glided upon the wind heading west, Jalyne thought of the conversation between her and Reno. There was definitely a better way to go about how she handled the situation, but in this moment she didn't know the answer. As she continued on, Jalyne decided to go to Junon and soon settled on the outskirts of the city. Changing her appearance, she walked into the city to explore and hopefully unwind and think of things.

As she walked the streets of Junon under the night sky, she marveled at what she saw occurring within its streets. Outside of the current situation, Jalyne had only been here once before and it was on official business with Rufus.

She gravitated towards the bright flashing lights, curious as to what type of club or patrons were present. Jalyne paid the fee and entered much to the curious looks of the bouncer. She wasn't dressed in club attire and looked more professional than club going. Jalyne immediately went to the bar to order a drink. As the bartender handed her the drink, she turned to survey the scene as the music blared.

Jalyne felt the pull and closed it off, ignoring her own need to feel her love. Reno was outreaching to her and she sighed before taking the weak drink in one gulp and requested another. It took ten drinks before she was really feeling the effects and moved out to the dance floor, lost in thought but moving to the music.

Truthfully, Jalyne loved to dance and moved instinctively to the sultry tune that was playing. She froze when she felt an arm encircle her waist.

"Keep dancing." A familiar voice whispered as she tried to turn to see who it was. He pulled her closer and she caught a flash of black hair as he leaned down and kissed her mark. "If you're trying to be inconspicuous, hide your markings, Jalyne."

Jalyne visibly relaxed and continued dancing and when the song ended, was led to the bar. She raised her eyes to her dancing companion in question.

"Why isn't Reno here?" Adrian asked her pointedly, raising his drink to his lips.

"It's complicated." She answered quietly. She glanced away before continuing. "I-I did something that I thought was right but was against Shinra."

"Oh?" Adrian reached outward and pulled her chin towards him.

"I freed Avalanche from them." She conceded. "They were going to execute Tifa and the others. I interfered." She paused. "Reno and I had a disagreement about it and I took a leave a absence to figure things out."

"Reno will be okay, Jalyne." Adrian comforted her. "He's resilient and will understand…eventually."

"I didn't do a good job of explaining why it bothered me so much." Jalyne continued sullenly. "And now I'm not sure whether I was right or wrong. Reno said I needed to get off my high horse."

Adrian grabbed her hand to lead her outside. "There's a lot of avoidance that comes into play when you're a Turk, Jalyne. There's also a lot of burying a lot emotion too. Reno understands, though he may be angry at the moment. He's been questioning a few things also, but knows how to hide it."

They continued down the back alley when they were surrounded by a gang of people. Adrian stopped abruptly, stepping in front of Jalyne. "The local underworld." He whispered. "They disagree with me starting the new clubs."

"Adrian…" she started. "This is bad. They look to kill you, yes?"

"They can try." He commented, reaching behind him for his collapsible staff and extending it.

Jalyne put her hands underneath her coat, quietly calling her swords to her hands as the leader called outward to Adrian.

"Tell the lady to leave." He called. "We don't want to kill her."

Adrian turned and nodded to Jalyne, of which she stepped closer to him, playing the role of distraught girlfriend and called tears to her eyes and wailed outward. "Please don't kill him!"

"Tell her to leave!" the leader called out angrily. "Last chance or she'll be a casualty too."

"Who sent you?" Adrian replied.

"Does it matter? Today is your day to learn a lesson."

Jalyne stepped in front of Adrian with her back to the gang, letting her coat flare and the blades glinted in the low light. She reached upward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I can help."

"Last chance!" the thug screamed as the crowd advanced around the duo, tapping his club against his hand.

"Ready?" Adrian whispered, noting her swords and Jalyne nodded in response. He roughly pushed her aside and back. "Leave!" the dark-haired club owner commanded and darted into the mix of gang member, staff whirling around him.

Jalyne slid across the ground from the force of the push and paused just enough to assess the situation as the gang members closed the gap around Adrian. She darted forward, blades in each hand to assist her friend in combat. She dashed to the right, taking out two of the assailants in quick succession as Adrian attended to the left.

More thugs came into the alleyway and Jalyne huffed lightly as she continued to fight, slicing through some as she made her way to Adrian. He was holding his own well, his staff twirling rapidly. A jab to the head of one crushed a skull and Jalyne noted the gash and blood flow from the assailant and quickly spied the sharp blades at either end of the weapon.

Jalyne heard the gunshot with a sinking feeling and turned in time to see Adrian fall to the ground, reaching upward to the left side of his chest and stilled. Her earring pulsed and her anger rose as she felt the call of magic and closed her eyes to let it flow.

"That's what he gets for trying to invade our space. Midgar wretch." The leader sneered and turned to his members. "Take her. She'll be wonderful to play with."

Jalyne smirked at them. "You can try." Her eyes lit up and she threw her right hand back at Adrian releasing revive to infuse and heal him. "You have no idea who you are dealing with."

"Oh?" the leader commented. "I really don't care." He raised his gun to her and fired.

Jalyne followed with barrier over Adrian to allow revive to work and just glimpsed his eyes opening. She raised her sword and swatted the bullet aside, charging the rest of the group and the leader. She glared at the leader and raised her arms outward allowing her power to transform her. Her wings flared outward catching the leader unawares and he stared in awe at the woman in front of him.

A haughty grin graced her features as she wrapped the thugs and their leader with her power, holding them in place. With one thought she rendered the gang useless and stared hard at the commander, gliding forward to him, wings gliding on the air. Jalyne reached outward, lifting him up and to her and trailed a hand lightly down his face.

"Wh-who are you?" he stuttered to her.

"I am what you make me to be." She glared. "A dream or a nightmare – you choose. However, you have not led a promising life." Her right eye glinted and darkened, the deep green within pulling at the leader's consciousness and fears as she reached out telepathically. Jalyne threw him against the stone wall of the alleyway, rendering him unconscious.

She turned to Adrian and noted that his breathing was labored. Collapsing her wings, she rushed to him and cradled his head in her lap, placing her left hand over the wound. The bar owner raised his eyes to the woman who defended him.

Adrian sighed and coughed up blood as Jalyne settled him in her lap. It was a dream, he was sure of it, as he had watched her take out the gang. She was a guardian angel.

"No, I am not." She chuckled quietly. "I am sure that Reno would not appreciate if you died on him." Her eyes closed in concentration on the wound, slowly closing it and repairing the broken body of her friend. "Rest." She whispered. "I'll take care of you."

It was mid week and still no word from their wayward Turk and Reno was getting impatient. Oh, when he gets his hands on her. Though the appearance on the outside was calm, he was anything but on the inside. The President authorized the space program in Rocket Town to attempt to get the rocket in motion with the hopes of blowing meteor out of the sky before it crashed upon Gaia.

Rufus had ordered them to find Jalyne, as she wasn't answering her phone and Reno suspected that he was worried. Finally, he slammed his fist upon the table, garnering everyone's attention as all eyes looked to the red-headed companion.

"Call her, Elena." Reno ground out. "She'll answer for you."

Tseng raised an eyebrow at his second. "You are worried?"

"Aren't you." He scoffed. "Rufus has been trying to reach her. Point blank, we were wrong, yo."

"The President wasn't going to execute them, Reno. He's made that evident."

"Well, she doesn't know that, yo, and the President said to bring her home. We can't do that unless we can find her!"

"It's worth a shot, Sir." Elena admitted. "We don't know if something happened or not."

"Or if she is even still here." Rude inputted.

"She told Rufus that she wasn't leaving."

"And?" Reno scoffed. "That doesn't mean she kept her word, yo."

Tseng leveled a look a him. "Strange coming from you considering your feelings for her."

"She's a Turk." Rude defended.

"And trained well." Elena supplied. "It's worth a shot. I think that I need to do it alone though. She may not want anyone else around."

"We'll wait outside." Tseng stated raising from his chair and led the others outside.

Elena waited a few minutes, knowing the boys would plaster their ears to the door to hear the conversation and she was formulating how the conversation should go. The petite woman reached for the holograph and activated it, waiting.

Jalyne sprang into view as she hovered in darkness. "Elena?"

"Jalyne." The blonde nodded. "Are you okay?"

"Passable." The empress shrugged. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, really." Elena started. "Rufus requests you to come home."

"I know. I just replied to him. It will be a bit though."

"You haven't answered any of our calls."

"I've had…technical difficulties." Jalyne laughed lightly and at Elena's confused expression, she elaborated. "I broke my phone and had to find a new one to get me by."

"How'd you do that?" the petite Turk questioned lightly.

"Ran into…issues with some thugs a couple of days ago. It was hard to find a replacement and even harder to find someone to transfer the data without questions."

"Oh." Elena commented slowly. "When will you return?"

"In a couple of days, I imagine." Jalyne's eyes narrowed catching something within the transmission.

"Jalyne, Reno's worried." Elena whispered. "He's sick over you not being here."

The empress sighed. "It's the Forge." She commented. "He still has to adjust to it. It'll take time."

"You're not worried?"

"I'm always worried, Elena." Jalyne stated. "Part of the role of Empress. It's just…"

"You struggle with what happened with Avalanche?"

"Yes." She confided. "And it is really consuming my thoughts and feelings. I'm no good to you if I can't figure it out. It's like being split down the middle and the other side is gaining strength. I have to learn to control it."

"Rufus wasn't going to execute them, Jalyne." Elena explained. "He expressly told Scarlett to bring them here so he could release them."

Jalyne's eyes widened and she sighed. "Great. That just compounds what I'm feeling and I'll have to eat crowlie." She paused, closing her eyes. "I need to apologize to you all."

"Where are you at?" Elena asked innocently, ignoring the admittance of fault.

"Above the ocean, at the moment." The royal answered. "I'll be in Costa del Sol sometime tomorrow." Jalyne shrugged. "I want to see the beach. The water calms me almost as much as flying does."

"We'll see you soon?"

"Of course you will." Jalyne hesitated, looking at Elena softly. "Tell Reno I love him and I'm sorry."

Elena nodded as Jalyne severed the holograph, noting the tears that drifted down her face. The blonde Turk waited a moment before calling out. "You can come in now."

The boys entered, followed by the President which surprised Elena. "Sir."

"Good work, Elena." He commented and turned to the Second-In-Command. "Reno, bring our wayward Turk home." He paused raising an eyebrow. "I would have words with her."

Jalyne severed the transmission and looked at the terrain in front of her. It was chilly here as she glided over the Northern Cave. She didn't lie to her family, she just didn't tell them that she had to make a stop before heading to the beach.

As she glided over the crater from the northern ocean, Jalyne noted the turquoise glow of the Lifestream. She finally located the spot that marked the wreckage of her ship and descended to it, lightly dropping to the ground. She wouldn't be long here and would then head out to the beach to think about the recent events.

She didn't fib about her phone. It was after the altercations in the alley and she got Adrian to safety and healed his wounds that she found out her phone was smashed. She assumed that with meteor coming that goods were scarce.

Jalyne landed in front of the ship's side door and sent an electrical pulse to disrupt the cameras and sensors that Rufus had placed. She walked into the cockpit, noting that the snow built up even more on the instruments. Blowing and swiping the white precipitation away, she glanced at the knobs and systems, searching for something specific.

She turned to the pilot's chair and closed her eyes, remembering that she put the archives in the console and reached for it, allowing the ship to recognize her biometrics. She pulled out the archive's orb and slid it her pocket. Within those records held the fables of the tearing of Fate and Time. It was worth a look.

Jalyne turned to gaze outward again, the Lifestream calling to her. She walked to the ship's console once more and closed her eyes to listen. She opened them slowly at the quiet rustle of leather and moved her eyes to her left side with a sigh.

"I believe I have stated that you should always watch your back." He whispered to her, leaning down.

She spun swiftly only to be met with a leather gloved hand around her throat which lifted her into the air. She glared at him but remained calm as her fist clenched, stopping time in an outward arch. Her eyes widened as his grip tightened and he smirked at her. He was still within Time.

Sephiroth evilly smiled at her as he tightened his grip around her throat. He wasn't out to kill her, but that was beside the point. He had cast Haste prior to appearing before her. He was ever curious to know why she returned as he thought she disappeared after the last encounter.

Jalyne lightly struggled against him and Sephiroth smiled more, throwing her through the window and out into the snow covered rocks below. She rolled downward, grasping at anything to stop her fall when a root from a tree entered her grasp. It was just her luck that trouble found her. All she wanted was to stop and breathe for a moment.

Sephiroth was on her, Masamune in hand as Jalyne struggled to stand on the cliff's edge. She dove to the left, avoiding the swipe of the sword and rolled, bringing her staff to her hands with a quick snap of her fingers. She raised a brow to him, silently wondering why he was attacking. She wasn't here for a confrontation.

His answering smile sent chills down her spine and Jalyne waited for the next move. He dashed forward, Haste still in effect, and with quick swipes, kept Jalyne backing towards the cliff's edge. Her staff blocked the last stroke and held steady. Jalyne looked at Sephiroth with question.

"Hmm." He commented lightly. "You've changed. There's something different." He commented staring at her eyes. "Have you tamed it yet?"

Jalyne furrowed her brows, thinking on those words. Sephiroth took the opportunity and pushed her back, causing her to slip and fall off the cliff. He watched as she darted upward and followed.

"There is a lot that has changed, Sephiroth." She stated as her staff clashed with Masamune. She slashed him lightly making him back away in defense.

He narrowed his eyes at her, pulling his arm upward and swinging it out, bringing his wing into view. He watched her steadily as she hovered away from him but still faced him, looking at him with a slight haughtiness to her features.

"What do you want, Sephiroth?" Jalyne inquired. "I'm a little busy and don't have time to play with you."

He glanced at the sky, observing Meteor. "There is something more important than the demise of this world?"

"I'll attend to that in due time." She stated.

Sephiroth closed the distance between them, watching for her next move. Her staff swung in front of her low and he blocked calmly. She swung high and the same reaction occurred. He moved behind her as she stayed steady and struck.

Jalyne whirled around, moving just enough out of the way and glared at Sephiroth. "What is with you?" she inquired annoyed. "Leave me alone."

He curled his wing around her, edging her closer and studied her. "I can tell you how to stop it." He whispered to her, eyes traveling to the rock heading towards them.

"I will worry of it when it arrives." Jalyne said, breaking his grasp and moving away. She drifted higher into the sky, hiding within the clouds. She needed to think and wanted to be alone.

The strike came swiftly but she was ready for it, whipping her staff to meet the energy blast and looking alertly around. Jalyne didn't have time for this. Another came from the left and she swiped it aside, anger rising. One more came from below as she glided out of the way.

"ENOUGH!" she screamed out, letting her power blow the clouds away. Sephiroth flew up to meet her, hovering lightly. Jalyne dangerously glared at him bringing both hands to her cross in front of her face, trying to ignore the insufferable smirk that he wore. Her mouth itched upward. "You are not a god, Sephiroth." She commented glancing at his wing.

Jalyne threw her hands outward, bringing her wings to view, much to Sephiroth's surprise and his eyes widened. She hovered there a moment before descending into the cavern of which they battled before. He followed and settled behind her, running his hands over her feathers, inspecting them.

Jalyne dissolved them but stayed motionless, overlooking the Lifestream in thought, confident that he would not attack or strike out. She could feel him move closer and he leaned into her.

"It is a fickle emotion, Jalyne, and not worth having." He whispered. "I can feel it within you. You haven't tamed the darkness yet."

She slightly turned away from him, hiding her shock at his words, and remembered the Lord of Night's same statement. She could feel something different with the Man in Black.

"Perhaps for you." Jalyne answered, turning to face him. "But it is worth it for me."

"He doesn't love you, Jalyne."

"Yes. Reno does." She affirmed and lightly reached out to touch his chest. The spark held her mark. She put it there. "That isn't the issue at hand."

Jalyne turned again to the Lifestream wondering when she would have placed the small spark of hope within him. It was strange to her to be calmly having a conversation with the adversary of Gaia.

"You're troubled with something." Sephiroth stated.

Jalyne raised her head and looked at him quizzically. "It's nothing." She could feel his aura and will pushing against hers.

"You can't lie to me, Jalyne."

"It's none of your concern, Sephiroth." She averted the statement. "I just need to learn not to give a damn in certain situations."

Sephiroth chuckled and looked over her to the Lifestream. "There is so much that these insignificant people of this world don't understand. That is what makes us superior."

"We are not superior, Sephiroth, just different. Especially with our viewpoints." Jalyne commented, moving to walk away when he lightly stopped her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She could feel him trying to break the barriers in her mind and looked at him passively. "Stop trying to root around up here." Jalyne commented, indicating her temple.

"Hmph." He stated in her ear. "I could help you with that."

"What do you want, Sephiroth?" Jalyne inquired breaking the contact and turning to move away. "It isn't like you to have a calm conversation."

"Things change."

As she turned to leave, he pulled both arms behind her, securing her wrists with one hand and lifted her up, balancing her at face level. Jalyne studied his eyes as he held her close. Too many indecent thoughts were cropping up in her mind and she watched as Sephiroth lips twitched upward, moving his other hand to the nape of her neck. He was planning something and she didn't wait too long for the answer.

His chest lightly rumbled as he kissed her.