Chapter 9

Vincent immediately said yes as he looked over at Natalie. "I pledge my allegiance to this cause for ever." he smiled after saying this and blushed when Natalie returned his smile. However, Sephiroth was not so quick to answer.
Lacey sat impatiently in her chair. All stared at Sephiroth then he gave a short simple answer.
"I will not."
Lacey was shocked and almost fainted in her chair, but she kept her composure and this time kept a grip on her wine glass.
"If it must be so," she replied.
With a wave of her hand Sephiroth froze. Tears ran down Lacey's cheeks and Vincent looked questioningly at the man. Suddenly Sephiroth disappeared and reappeared right in front of Zack, tripping him.
"Sephiroth....." Zack stuttered the word. "How.... Why....... Where were you?"
Sephiroth stood up and looked around. "Zack you'll never believe this, but she's back and planning something against Shin-Ra. We must group the troops immediately." Zack nodded and ran off. Sephiroth turned and headed toward the base.
Upon his arrival Sephiroth was immediately put in a meeting with Rufus. Sephiroth walked in Rufus's office and sat down. He told Rufus the whole story except who Lacey was. Rufus made an evil grin and said "Give the rebels what they deserve. We'll show them Shin-Ra's true power."
Sephiroth got up and left a little depressed. He wondered if it was right... What he just did.... He retired to his quarters and thought about her.
The crystal began to glow and send out a blinding light. Suddenly there was a perfect figure of Lacey standing in front of him.

Feeling sad, depressed and betrayed Lacey want to her room and wondered why Sephiroth chose Shin-Ra over her. Then she figured, "Heck, I'm in private. I'll ask him."
She held up her crystal and thought of Sephiroth and suddenly a bright portal was created in front of her and she stepped through, creating an image of her in his room. She looked sad yet free of mind. The projection was about a foot tall and it stood on his dresser, Sephiroth a bit surprised jumped back trying to see clearly. When his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the projection he sat and stared. Lacey 's projection sat, as if on nothing, for the projection just showed her and no objects or the atmosphere around her.
Suddenly it began to speak.. "Sephiroth it's me. I just want to know something. Why? Why did you not stay? I thought you loved me...."
Sephiroth, looking sad, decided to spill the beans, he knew that this woman would never give up until she got an answer so he stood up and being the man he was he began to pace as he spoke. With an edge to his voice he began.
"I do....I mean, I did. But you were gone and I let no one near to me. I can't just give up what I've worked for my whole life. Look, I'm a general. And what about the other students like you? Huh? Am I just going to leave them. You left me now I'm gonna do the same to you."
Tears trickled down Lacey's cheeks and she didn't bother to hide them . The floating projection stood up in a sharp manner and began to reply. "Fine if that is your will. Go on, I don't care. And besides, I never left you. You're the one who forgot. You're the one who stopped believing. The only reason I was gone was because I thought you were worth saving. I thought you were more than the cold hearted man people made you out to be. But I was wrong. And now my heart my soul will suffer for this mistake. I'm gonna watch you always. So you'll never forget. I'll go now. Just remember this general, you still owe me. What is in the past can never be forgotten. And neither will I. That crystal you and I wear bond us forever. But when that is gone as is our love we will both perish for eternity."
The crying, pathetic image of the warrior who once was vanished leaving Sephiroth alone once more. Sephiroth took a blow from Lacey's words.
And he was hurt, though not as much as she was. Her life is now gone. Her heart blackened for all eternity, though both of their immortal souls were lost. They became mortal once more, the crystals bond still held but only by a thin thread. Sephiroth turned to look out the window. He could just barely hear a wolf's cry, a deep cry of mourning -it was the crying of Lacey's lost heart and soul.