Chapter 10: Lucid Dreaming
Tifa couldn't believe what she was hearing, that was the first time anyone has ever said that to her.
"Sephiroth, you've easily mistaken what you felt for Aeris, how do I know you're doing the same with me?" she asked.
"You don't, that's why I want you to trust me. Trust that I'm telling you the truth and what I feel for you," he answered.
"Well, what's going to happen to us, you know, with the plan and everything?"
"I don't know. The dream thing won't work anymore, not with the dreams I already gave them."
"Sephiroth, this won't work, even if I did love you, there's no way we would be able to be together, I'm sorry," Tifa explained.
"I know this isn't the best time to be telling you all of this, but I seriously think this can work. This must be a lot for you to think about right now, so before you think about anything, I want you to eat," he said. Tifa laughed softly and nodded before Sephiroth went and made her some food.
Over the next week, Tifa began regaining some strength she lost in a stupid, unsensible attempt out. She managed to eat most of what she could keep down. Though, it wasn't really mentioned, Tifa kept thinking about what Sephiroth said to her only several days before. She only stayed with him, no more than two months, is it possible to fall in love so fast? It took her almost seven years to realize her love for Cloud. Sure, she felt something different when Sephiroth was near, but was it love? She couldn't tell. Everytime Tifa even looked at him, no longer was there all of the memories of violent and chaotic acts, but only recollections of his body on top of hers, his soft caresses, and soothing touches. Tifa didn't know what to do, this has never happened before, though she had to admit, she didn't think of Cloud once during the course of the week. Sephiroth never asked anything of her, he just simply requested that she rest and eat regularly until she was back at full strength. Although many protests were given, she'd always end up giving in.
One morning, just when Tifa finished her breakfast, she saw Sephiroth sitting in the chair with his index finger at his chin. He must have been thinking profusely.
"I wonder what he's thinking about," Tifa thought," He hasn't mentioned anything about Aeris or Cloud for the past week." Just then, another thought shot through her senses. Surprisingly, it upset her greatly.
"What if he didn't mean a word of what he said before, and regrets ever saying it? What if he wants to take it back and is figuring out how to do it?" She got up from the bed and decided to find out.
Sephiroth had been thinking about Tifa all morning. It's been a week and she hasn't even said anything about his feelings for her. Did she need more time to decide, or did she just want out and was too afraid to say anything.
"That's real uplifting," he thought," I can't think like that, it'll drive me crazy. Still, it's a possibility I have to consider." Even if he wanted to think about it more, he couldn't. A certain object of his affection just happened to interupt his thoughts by sitting on his lap with her side facing his stomach. When he started to acknowlegde her peculiar behavior, she put her fingers on his lips, silencing him.
"What the hell is she doing?" he asked himself. Sephiroth gave Tifa a weird look, but she only rested her head on his shoulder and fitted a lock of his silver hair in her hand, stroking it with the other. Sephiroth couldn't do anything but sit back and watch her. What was she trying to accomplish by doing this? It's not that he minded what she was doing. It was just that it made him a little apprehensive. He didn't know whether she was trying to give him the answer he wants from her or if she was trying to console him for the answer he dreaded. Sephiroth's heart rate went up drastically and he couldn't hide that what Tifa was doing sent his blood rushing through his veins.
Tifa didn't know what possessed her to actually sit on his lap like that, in fact, she hadn't the slightest clue what she was doing now. Somehow, she just did whatever she felt was right. This went on for about ten minutes until Tifa acually decided to speak up.
"Are you thinking about her?" she asked.
"Hmm? About who?"
"You know who."
"Oh... Aeris?"
"Yeah, are you thinking about Aeris?"
"Well it's kind of hard to think about her with you sitting on me," he said.
"I mean, were you thinking about her before?"
"Actually, it's quite the contrary, I was thinking about you," Sephiroth answered, making Tifa look into his piercing green eyes.
"You were?"
"Yes, and Tifa I really want to know how you feel."
"How I feel?"
"I want to know how you feel about me, about this whole situation, and..." he trailed off for a moment, losing himself in her sienna-coloured gaze.
"And what?"
"And this." he answered pulling her face to me his lips with hers. At the moment, Tifa couldn't think, let alone tell Sephiroth how she felt. Her emotions were swirling inside of her, confusing her feelings. What seemed impractical and illogical seemed right and fitting. Yes, what she felt with Sephiroth was completely different from what she felt with Cloud. She had the heart of someone who loved her rather than someone who rejected the incredible emotions that ate away at the very source of her feelings. Tifa finally knew it, it all came clear to her at that very moment. She decided to act on what she denied what was right from the beginning. Sephiroth felt the amount of force coming from Tifa and realized that she was kissing him back; matching him in their passionate, carnal kiss. She didn't say anything and no words were needed to describe what the pair was feeling, complete elation would be a direct understatment.
Sephiroth turned her side around to lock in his hips with hers in their current sitting position. Their lips never left each others as their kiss deepened and Sephiroth slid his hands up her skirt, feeling her curves. She moaned into the kiss and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, pressing him closer to him. His hands still on her hips, Sephiroth stood up, taking Tifa with him and standing her up as well. Just as he was about to undo her top, the door slammed open.
"What the fuck is going on!? If you don't back away from her Sephiroth, I swear by the Cetra I will fucking kill you," a certain disgruntled, spiky-haired hero threatened. Tifa and Sephiroth broke away from their kiss and saw who was at the door.
"C-C-Cloud!!?" Tifa glared wide-eyed.
"Tifa get away from him," Cloud said boiling with rage. Sephiroth guided her away and then faced his rival.
"What is it that you want?"
"I came to take back what's not yours."
"So you're saying that she's just a possesion you own, like a glass figurine to keep on your shelf. Well, I'm sorry Cloud, but she's not going anywhere."
"She doesn't want to be here! You took her by force! Don't you see, your gig is up! What more could you want?!"
` "I want HER Damnit!! And I couldn't care less if she wanted to stay or not," Sephiroth justified.
"That's just a damn fucking shame because I'm not leaving until she comes with me, and if you don't understand, then some blood is about to be shed."
"You're a foolish boy, because the only blood that's going to be shed is yours. So if I were you, I'd take my words into consideration."
"Well then, CONSIDERING I've killed you once before, I think I can kill you again."
"Fine then, if it's a fight you want, a fight's what you're going to get," Sephiroth said as he drew his sword. Both settled into their combat stances and were ready to battle. Cloud charged aggresively, but Sephiroth evaded his initial attack.
"That won't help you!" Cloud shouted as he came in for his second assault. His sword sliced through the air and the tip slashed the side of Sephiroth's cheek.
"Ah shit," Sephiroth muttered, feeling the blood ooze down his face.
"What's the matter? Am I too much for you? C'mon, I expected a better battle than this!"
"Provoking me won't do you any good; it's about time I took my revenge on you!" Sephiroth shouted and manuevered his sword passed Cloud's defense. Feeling flesh tear under the steel, he felt amazingly at peace. Cloud's forearm was now bleeding profusely, but instead of intimidating him, this only made his determination grow. Cloud let out a battle cry and he thrust his sword at Sephiroth's abdomen. However, Sephiroth blocked the potential wound with his sword and the clang from steel meeting steel echoed through the tension in the air. Both were fighting for control of the swords, but Cloud prevailed, causing Sephiroth to stumble backwards. Using this as an advantage to strike, Cloud lifted his weapon to kill him once and for all, his rage blinding all common sense. When he finally felt skin and muscle rip under his sword, his quench for blood had been fufilled. He opened his eyes and saw Sephiroth fall to his knees, but not in pain, in despair. Tifa's body was sprawled on the floor next to Sephiroth. She used her body as a shield for Cloud's attack, which, indoubtably, may've cost her her life. Immediatley, he rushed to her side.
"Why did you do that Tifa? Why?" Cloud cried.
"I'm sorry, but Cloud, I couldn't let you hurt him. You see, I love Sephiroth," she answered, just before passing out. He was absolutely dumfounded, Love? How could she love this madman?
"What the hell did you do to her? Have you manipulated her the same way you did to me? That's sick Sephiroth! UGHHGHHGG!!!! I'll never forgive you for this!! You will die for your crimes, I swear it!!!" Cloud erupted. Sick of these false allegations, Sephiroth grabbed Cloud by the collar and threw him against the wall. Groaning in pain, Cloud watched Sephiroth advance towards him with his sword.
"I would kill you right now, but it seems that Tifa still cares about you, so I'll spare your life. If she dies, it'll be your fault. You just can't accept that it's too late for you to burrow yourself into her life again. Can't you just be satisfied with one woman?" Sephiroth questioned him with the side of the sword almost wedged into Cloud's stomach. Seeing that he wasn't going to answer, Sephiroth continued.
"Oh I see what's going on. I killed the one you love, so you're going to get back at me by killing the one I love, is that it?!"
"What?! LIAR! You never loved her!!"
"Say another word and this sword will go right through your body and into that wall. I want you to leave and I want you to leave right now. You're the last think she needs right now-"
"Last thing she needs?! Who are you to determine who she needs?!"
"I told you to not say another word!" he shouted," You see, there's a major difference between you and me, I seek revenge at the closest possible moment, you choose to wait and think rationally about everything. If she dies, Cloud, I'm holding you personally responsible, and do you know what's going to happen to you if she dies?"
Cloud shook his head after glancing over to Tifa, who was bleeding from the chest.
"What's going to happen is I'm going to kill all those important to you and make you watch as they suffer through slow, miserable pain." Cloud swallowed hard.
"Oh, but that's not all. I'm going to hunt you down and make you feel agonizing twinges run through every single nerve fiber in your body before I drink your blood and eat your flesh for dinner," he threatened. Cloud saw the derangement in his eyes and realized that this was not an idle bluff. He let him go and Cloud took off after glancing back at Tifa's wavering lifeline.
Sephiroth picked up Tifa and laid her across the bed, in which they spent their first night together. As soon as he looked at the wound that was bound on her chest, everything started to sink in. Searing pain made its way through Sephiroth's body and caused more tears to fall freely from his unforgiving eyes. After he carefully bandaged her wound, Sephiroth stood up and looked around the room. This was where he made love with her, this was where they shared all their fights and arguments, this was where they shared their secrets together, this was where...this was where he loved her damnit! Sephiroth kicked the chair which flew into the wall and shattered. Rage still fueling his anger, Sephiroth smashed through the table, threw every possible missile at the wall, and just broke down to his knees and cried out in anguish. How was he going to make her live? He had enough trouble last time, what is he supposed to do now? Wait for something to happen and see if she lives or not? No! That's not how it's going to be? It's all his fault! Everthing was going just fine, we were close, so close, and he waltzes in here and ruins everything. Even if she doesn't die, when I get my hands on him, he's going to suffer unimaginable torture. At the malevolent thought, Sephiroth looked over at Tifa.
"She's going to have to want to live in order to actually pull through," he reasoned," If she wants to live enough, then her body will respond and make her well again." Kneeling next to her body, he found a way to get the message through to her.
"I'll astral project myself into her mind and see what she's dreaming about. Then I'll intervene and tell her..."
Tifa's Dream
Wha-what's going on?
"Tifa?"
"Hmmm?"
"...I'm leaving Nibelheim, to go to Midgar."
"Yeah, all the boys are leaving for the city to look for jobs."
"No, Tifa I'm going to join SOLDIER and be just like Sephiroth."
"Sephiroth? The Great Sephiroth? Isn't it really hard to join SOLDIER?"
"Still, I'm going to join."
"Will you be in the papers if you do well?"
"Probably."
"Then promise me something."
"What?"
"If I'm ever in a real bind, I want you to come and rescue me, okay?"
"Huh?"
"If I'm ever in trouble, my hero will come and save me. I want to experience that at least once."
"But-"
"Promise me!"
"Okay, I promise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How are you going to pursuade her from here? You can't travel back and forth."
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, but you don't know about the gift I've acquired when I was dead."
"And what's that?"
"I have the power of astral projection."
"How did you learn to do that?"
"I picked it up from other dead huys, they taught me well."
"Go on."
"Furthermore, I will go in the Aeris's dream and persuade her there. It's as simple as that."
"And what if I don't cooperate?"
"I think you will, this plan benefits the both of us."
"How does this plan benefit me?"
"I will also invade Cloud's dream, informing him that you are in great danger under my care. This will make him more determined. I will also put other things in there that are in every way favorable to you."
"Okay, hold on a second, even if Aeris did love you, how would you guys be together? Cloud wouldn't allow it."
"That's why I would visit her and convince her that the only way for us to be together was
to run away with each other. She'd write Cloud a letter telling him she needed to be by herself
and that she needed a new life. I know Cloud's values, he'd leave her alone if she truly wished it. Once Cloud rescues you, Aeris and I will be long gone and he'll take you
home to find the letter, letting you and him to live your lives together, uninterupted."
"But how will I know if it's real love? I'll never know if he truly loves me or if I'm just a second choice after Aeris. I-I can't do it, I won't do it. I refuse to be that deceptive."
"Come on, you know you want take my offer. You want Cloud, you need him, this is the
only way Tifa. We're not going to hurt anyone, all we are going to do is make them see who it
is they really want. Is that a crime?"
"Okay, I'll do it."
"I knew you would."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I do have a heart."
"Really, I wouldn't have guessed."
"Goddamnit! Let me finish!"
"You say, I'm a cold, cruel, relentless pyscho that wouldn't know love if it was staring me in the face. But I do know what it is, and I've been waiting for it for so long. Love has always been a natural weakness, always setting up barriers, so yes, I was taught not to love. But hell, I've been able to grasp whatever humanity I had left to remember what it felt like."
"Love you say? I think you misinterpret the word. You don't go off killing the one you love, no matter how crazy you may be."
"Exactly, I'll show you love."
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
"Sephiroth, don't."
"I'll stop if you really want me to, just say it."
"I can't."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"...No."
"Tell me you want me."
"W-what?"
"I want to hear you say, you want me."
"I want... Sephiroth this is wrong, so wrong."
"But it'll feel so right... Now say it to me."
"...I...want you."
"Good, because I want you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sephiroth, th-this is so unfair. Why, why are you telling me this? I've already turned my back on Cloud and my hopes of love with him for one night that we couldn't control ourselves. I want to know why."
"Tifa, I cried, I cried for you."
"W-what? You cried? Sephiroth, I don't think you've ever cried, I never even thought it was possible."
"It's never happened before, but then again, I've never been put in this situation before. Tifa, you have to live, your life is worth so much more than what you've been receiving. I'm still quite aware that you love Cloud, but I can't deny what I feel. You gave me more than Aeris ever had, even if you didn't mean to, I finally know that now. You were right, you don't kill people that you love. That's why I threw that sword Tifa. Because I love you..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the memories, they're too much. Is this what's supposed to happen before you die? Your whole life flashes before your eyes? Wait a minute, that wasn't my whole life, it was just bits and pieces.
"That's because you're not supposed to die," a voice from behind me remarked.
"So it was you lurking in the shadows Sephiroth," I acknowlegded. He stepped closer to me, with his massive cape fluttering behind him.
"Tifa, you're not supposed to die yet."
"And what makes you so sure?"
"Because you have so much to live for and there are people who still need you."
"Like what?"
"Like me. Tifa, I don't think I can say this too many times, but I love you and I want you to stay with me."
"Really, is that true?"
"You don't need to shy away from it Tifa. You admitted your feelings to me before you went unconscious. You told me and Cloud that you loved me. Please tell me that you weren't delirious and meant every word you said."
"There's so much uncertainty in the future, I don't think I'd be able to handle this not being real."
"Tifa that's the problem. You have trouble accepting something that's real because of uncertainty. I assure you, this is as real as it's going to get. Please Tifa, you're going to have to trust me. Do you trust me?"
"Yes I trust you Sephiroth but-"
"What? No buts Tifa, if you trust me, then that's that. I'll give you all of me if you'll give me all of you. Now please Tifa, say what I've been wanting to hear you say."
"Sephiroth...I don't think I'm ready." I looked up at him with my glassy eyes and he embraced me. The warmth from his body radiated through mine and I then I knew, I knew that Sephiroth is what I want and what I need.
"I love you Tifa."
"I love you too... Sephiroth."
Sephiroth broke from his trance and saw Tifa lying there, with her eyes half-open. He let out a great sigh of relief and took her in his arms.
"You have no idea what I've just been through, no idea," he whispered.
"Actually, I think I do," her fragile voice sounded," it's what I've been going through these past few months, yours just came in sharper than mine did."
"I thought I was going to lose you for good this time." He traced his finger along her wound and she grimaced slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm just remembering what I did to you about five or so years ago."
"I remember that too. That's when you branded me."
"Yes, now you're mine to keep for life, don't forget that."
"I don't think I will anytime soon."
"Neither will Cloud," Sephiroth chuckled.
"That's right, he's gone. What did you do to him? You didn't kill him did you?!"she asked frantically."
"No, I just threatened him in a deranged kind of sense," he answered.
"Deranged?"
"I said that if you died, I'd drink his blood and eat his flesh for dinner." At that instant Tifa shuddered.
"That's disgusting."
"You had no idea what was going through my mind at the time."
"No, I guess not."
"But that doesn't matter anymore, because now I'm right here with you. I've never felt so strongly about anything before."
"Neither have I, that's why I was so scared to tell you, because if it wasn't real, I would've been crushed. I wouldn't have been able to handle that."
"We have to surrender ourselves to it, we can't hold back. Otherwise, it's useless to even try." Tifa nodded and pulled Sephiroth closer to her, as if letting him go would make him disappear forever. Sephiroth looked down to her and kissed her lightly on the lips. Not getting enough, Tifa pulled him in with her and deepened their liplock. When they broke away, Tifa just rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know, never in my life I would've expected that this is what I wanted," Tifa sighed.
"That's just the way it goes. Maybe it's turbulence along the way in pursuit of what you want, that actually shows you what you need." Tifa only nodded, too content to even say another word.
"Now say it to me Tifa, you know you want to," he urged her gently.
"I love you Sephiroth..."
Tifa couldn't believe what she was hearing, that was the first time anyone has ever said that to her.
"Sephiroth, you've easily mistaken what you felt for Aeris, how do I know you're doing the same with me?" she asked.
"You don't, that's why I want you to trust me. Trust that I'm telling you the truth and what I feel for you," he answered.
"Well, what's going to happen to us, you know, with the plan and everything?"
"I don't know. The dream thing won't work anymore, not with the dreams I already gave them."
"Sephiroth, this won't work, even if I did love you, there's no way we would be able to be together, I'm sorry," Tifa explained.
"I know this isn't the best time to be telling you all of this, but I seriously think this can work. This must be a lot for you to think about right now, so before you think about anything, I want you to eat," he said. Tifa laughed softly and nodded before Sephiroth went and made her some food.
Over the next week, Tifa began regaining some strength she lost in a stupid, unsensible attempt out. She managed to eat most of what she could keep down. Though, it wasn't really mentioned, Tifa kept thinking about what Sephiroth said to her only several days before. She only stayed with him, no more than two months, is it possible to fall in love so fast? It took her almost seven years to realize her love for Cloud. Sure, she felt something different when Sephiroth was near, but was it love? She couldn't tell. Everytime Tifa even looked at him, no longer was there all of the memories of violent and chaotic acts, but only recollections of his body on top of hers, his soft caresses, and soothing touches. Tifa didn't know what to do, this has never happened before, though she had to admit, she didn't think of Cloud once during the course of the week. Sephiroth never asked anything of her, he just simply requested that she rest and eat regularly until she was back at full strength. Although many protests were given, she'd always end up giving in.
One morning, just when Tifa finished her breakfast, she saw Sephiroth sitting in the chair with his index finger at his chin. He must have been thinking profusely.
"I wonder what he's thinking about," Tifa thought," He hasn't mentioned anything about Aeris or Cloud for the past week." Just then, another thought shot through her senses. Surprisingly, it upset her greatly.
"What if he didn't mean a word of what he said before, and regrets ever saying it? What if he wants to take it back and is figuring out how to do it?" She got up from the bed and decided to find out.
Sephiroth had been thinking about Tifa all morning. It's been a week and she hasn't even said anything about his feelings for her. Did she need more time to decide, or did she just want out and was too afraid to say anything.
"That's real uplifting," he thought," I can't think like that, it'll drive me crazy. Still, it's a possibility I have to consider." Even if he wanted to think about it more, he couldn't. A certain object of his affection just happened to interupt his thoughts by sitting on his lap with her side facing his stomach. When he started to acknowlegde her peculiar behavior, she put her fingers on his lips, silencing him.
"What the hell is she doing?" he asked himself. Sephiroth gave Tifa a weird look, but she only rested her head on his shoulder and fitted a lock of his silver hair in her hand, stroking it with the other. Sephiroth couldn't do anything but sit back and watch her. What was she trying to accomplish by doing this? It's not that he minded what she was doing. It was just that it made him a little apprehensive. He didn't know whether she was trying to give him the answer he wants from her or if she was trying to console him for the answer he dreaded. Sephiroth's heart rate went up drastically and he couldn't hide that what Tifa was doing sent his blood rushing through his veins.
Tifa didn't know what possessed her to actually sit on his lap like that, in fact, she hadn't the slightest clue what she was doing now. Somehow, she just did whatever she felt was right. This went on for about ten minutes until Tifa acually decided to speak up.
"Are you thinking about her?" she asked.
"Hmm? About who?"
"You know who."
"Oh... Aeris?"
"Yeah, are you thinking about Aeris?"
"Well it's kind of hard to think about her with you sitting on me," he said.
"I mean, were you thinking about her before?"
"Actually, it's quite the contrary, I was thinking about you," Sephiroth answered, making Tifa look into his piercing green eyes.
"You were?"
"Yes, and Tifa I really want to know how you feel."
"How I feel?"
"I want to know how you feel about me, about this whole situation, and..." he trailed off for a moment, losing himself in her sienna-coloured gaze.
"And what?"
"And this." he answered pulling her face to me his lips with hers. At the moment, Tifa couldn't think, let alone tell Sephiroth how she felt. Her emotions were swirling inside of her, confusing her feelings. What seemed impractical and illogical seemed right and fitting. Yes, what she felt with Sephiroth was completely different from what she felt with Cloud. She had the heart of someone who loved her rather than someone who rejected the incredible emotions that ate away at the very source of her feelings. Tifa finally knew it, it all came clear to her at that very moment. She decided to act on what she denied what was right from the beginning. Sephiroth felt the amount of force coming from Tifa and realized that she was kissing him back; matching him in their passionate, carnal kiss. She didn't say anything and no words were needed to describe what the pair was feeling, complete elation would be a direct understatment.
Sephiroth turned her side around to lock in his hips with hers in their current sitting position. Their lips never left each others as their kiss deepened and Sephiroth slid his hands up her skirt, feeling her curves. She moaned into the kiss and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, pressing him closer to him. His hands still on her hips, Sephiroth stood up, taking Tifa with him and standing her up as well. Just as he was about to undo her top, the door slammed open.
"What the fuck is going on!? If you don't back away from her Sephiroth, I swear by the Cetra I will fucking kill you," a certain disgruntled, spiky-haired hero threatened. Tifa and Sephiroth broke away from their kiss and saw who was at the door.
"C-C-Cloud!!?" Tifa glared wide-eyed.
"Tifa get away from him," Cloud said boiling with rage. Sephiroth guided her away and then faced his rival.
"What is it that you want?"
"I came to take back what's not yours."
"So you're saying that she's just a possesion you own, like a glass figurine to keep on your shelf. Well, I'm sorry Cloud, but she's not going anywhere."
"She doesn't want to be here! You took her by force! Don't you see, your gig is up! What more could you want?!"
` "I want HER Damnit!! And I couldn't care less if she wanted to stay or not," Sephiroth justified.
"That's just a damn fucking shame because I'm not leaving until she comes with me, and if you don't understand, then some blood is about to be shed."
"You're a foolish boy, because the only blood that's going to be shed is yours. So if I were you, I'd take my words into consideration."
"Well then, CONSIDERING I've killed you once before, I think I can kill you again."
"Fine then, if it's a fight you want, a fight's what you're going to get," Sephiroth said as he drew his sword. Both settled into their combat stances and were ready to battle. Cloud charged aggresively, but Sephiroth evaded his initial attack.
"That won't help you!" Cloud shouted as he came in for his second assault. His sword sliced through the air and the tip slashed the side of Sephiroth's cheek.
"Ah shit," Sephiroth muttered, feeling the blood ooze down his face.
"What's the matter? Am I too much for you? C'mon, I expected a better battle than this!"
"Provoking me won't do you any good; it's about time I took my revenge on you!" Sephiroth shouted and manuevered his sword passed Cloud's defense. Feeling flesh tear under the steel, he felt amazingly at peace. Cloud's forearm was now bleeding profusely, but instead of intimidating him, this only made his determination grow. Cloud let out a battle cry and he thrust his sword at Sephiroth's abdomen. However, Sephiroth blocked the potential wound with his sword and the clang from steel meeting steel echoed through the tension in the air. Both were fighting for control of the swords, but Cloud prevailed, causing Sephiroth to stumble backwards. Using this as an advantage to strike, Cloud lifted his weapon to kill him once and for all, his rage blinding all common sense. When he finally felt skin and muscle rip under his sword, his quench for blood had been fufilled. He opened his eyes and saw Sephiroth fall to his knees, but not in pain, in despair. Tifa's body was sprawled on the floor next to Sephiroth. She used her body as a shield for Cloud's attack, which, indoubtably, may've cost her her life. Immediatley, he rushed to her side.
"Why did you do that Tifa? Why?" Cloud cried.
"I'm sorry, but Cloud, I couldn't let you hurt him. You see, I love Sephiroth," she answered, just before passing out. He was absolutely dumfounded, Love? How could she love this madman?
"What the hell did you do to her? Have you manipulated her the same way you did to me? That's sick Sephiroth! UGHHGHHGG!!!! I'll never forgive you for this!! You will die for your crimes, I swear it!!!" Cloud erupted. Sick of these false allegations, Sephiroth grabbed Cloud by the collar and threw him against the wall. Groaning in pain, Cloud watched Sephiroth advance towards him with his sword.
"I would kill you right now, but it seems that Tifa still cares about you, so I'll spare your life. If she dies, it'll be your fault. You just can't accept that it's too late for you to burrow yourself into her life again. Can't you just be satisfied with one woman?" Sephiroth questioned him with the side of the sword almost wedged into Cloud's stomach. Seeing that he wasn't going to answer, Sephiroth continued.
"Oh I see what's going on. I killed the one you love, so you're going to get back at me by killing the one I love, is that it?!"
"What?! LIAR! You never loved her!!"
"Say another word and this sword will go right through your body and into that wall. I want you to leave and I want you to leave right now. You're the last think she needs right now-"
"Last thing she needs?! Who are you to determine who she needs?!"
"I told you to not say another word!" he shouted," You see, there's a major difference between you and me, I seek revenge at the closest possible moment, you choose to wait and think rationally about everything. If she dies, Cloud, I'm holding you personally responsible, and do you know what's going to happen to you if she dies?"
Cloud shook his head after glancing over to Tifa, who was bleeding from the chest.
"What's going to happen is I'm going to kill all those important to you and make you watch as they suffer through slow, miserable pain." Cloud swallowed hard.
"Oh, but that's not all. I'm going to hunt you down and make you feel agonizing twinges run through every single nerve fiber in your body before I drink your blood and eat your flesh for dinner," he threatened. Cloud saw the derangement in his eyes and realized that this was not an idle bluff. He let him go and Cloud took off after glancing back at Tifa's wavering lifeline.
Sephiroth picked up Tifa and laid her across the bed, in which they spent their first night together. As soon as he looked at the wound that was bound on her chest, everything started to sink in. Searing pain made its way through Sephiroth's body and caused more tears to fall freely from his unforgiving eyes. After he carefully bandaged her wound, Sephiroth stood up and looked around the room. This was where he made love with her, this was where they shared all their fights and arguments, this was where they shared their secrets together, this was where...this was where he loved her damnit! Sephiroth kicked the chair which flew into the wall and shattered. Rage still fueling his anger, Sephiroth smashed through the table, threw every possible missile at the wall, and just broke down to his knees and cried out in anguish. How was he going to make her live? He had enough trouble last time, what is he supposed to do now? Wait for something to happen and see if she lives or not? No! That's not how it's going to be? It's all his fault! Everthing was going just fine, we were close, so close, and he waltzes in here and ruins everything. Even if she doesn't die, when I get my hands on him, he's going to suffer unimaginable torture. At the malevolent thought, Sephiroth looked over at Tifa.
"She's going to have to want to live in order to actually pull through," he reasoned," If she wants to live enough, then her body will respond and make her well again." Kneeling next to her body, he found a way to get the message through to her.
"I'll astral project myself into her mind and see what she's dreaming about. Then I'll intervene and tell her..."
Tifa's Dream
Wha-what's going on?
"Tifa?"
"Hmmm?"
"...I'm leaving Nibelheim, to go to Midgar."
"Yeah, all the boys are leaving for the city to look for jobs."
"No, Tifa I'm going to join SOLDIER and be just like Sephiroth."
"Sephiroth? The Great Sephiroth? Isn't it really hard to join SOLDIER?"
"Still, I'm going to join."
"Will you be in the papers if you do well?"
"Probably."
"Then promise me something."
"What?"
"If I'm ever in a real bind, I want you to come and rescue me, okay?"
"Huh?"
"If I'm ever in trouble, my hero will come and save me. I want to experience that at least once."
"But-"
"Promise me!"
"Okay, I promise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How are you going to pursuade her from here? You can't travel back and forth."
"Yes, I'm quite aware of that, but you don't know about the gift I've acquired when I was dead."
"And what's that?"
"I have the power of astral projection."
"How did you learn to do that?"
"I picked it up from other dead huys, they taught me well."
"Go on."
"Furthermore, I will go in the Aeris's dream and persuade her there. It's as simple as that."
"And what if I don't cooperate?"
"I think you will, this plan benefits the both of us."
"How does this plan benefit me?"
"I will also invade Cloud's dream, informing him that you are in great danger under my care. This will make him more determined. I will also put other things in there that are in every way favorable to you."
"Okay, hold on a second, even if Aeris did love you, how would you guys be together? Cloud wouldn't allow it."
"That's why I would visit her and convince her that the only way for us to be together was
to run away with each other. She'd write Cloud a letter telling him she needed to be by herself
and that she needed a new life. I know Cloud's values, he'd leave her alone if she truly wished it. Once Cloud rescues you, Aeris and I will be long gone and he'll take you
home to find the letter, letting you and him to live your lives together, uninterupted."
"But how will I know if it's real love? I'll never know if he truly loves me or if I'm just a second choice after Aeris. I-I can't do it, I won't do it. I refuse to be that deceptive."
"Come on, you know you want take my offer. You want Cloud, you need him, this is the
only way Tifa. We're not going to hurt anyone, all we are going to do is make them see who it
is they really want. Is that a crime?"
"Okay, I'll do it."
"I knew you would."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I do have a heart."
"Really, I wouldn't have guessed."
"Goddamnit! Let me finish!"
"You say, I'm a cold, cruel, relentless pyscho that wouldn't know love if it was staring me in the face. But I do know what it is, and I've been waiting for it for so long. Love has always been a natural weakness, always setting up barriers, so yes, I was taught not to love. But hell, I've been able to grasp whatever humanity I had left to remember what it felt like."
"Love you say? I think you misinterpret the word. You don't go off killing the one you love, no matter how crazy you may be."
"Exactly, I'll show you love."
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~
"Sephiroth, don't."
"I'll stop if you really want me to, just say it."
"I can't."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"...No."
"Tell me you want me."
"W-what?"
"I want to hear you say, you want me."
"I want... Sephiroth this is wrong, so wrong."
"But it'll feel so right... Now say it to me."
"...I...want you."
"Good, because I want you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sephiroth, th-this is so unfair. Why, why are you telling me this? I've already turned my back on Cloud and my hopes of love with him for one night that we couldn't control ourselves. I want to know why."
"Tifa, I cried, I cried for you."
"W-what? You cried? Sephiroth, I don't think you've ever cried, I never even thought it was possible."
"It's never happened before, but then again, I've never been put in this situation before. Tifa, you have to live, your life is worth so much more than what you've been receiving. I'm still quite aware that you love Cloud, but I can't deny what I feel. You gave me more than Aeris ever had, even if you didn't mean to, I finally know that now. You were right, you don't kill people that you love. That's why I threw that sword Tifa. Because I love you..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the memories, they're too much. Is this what's supposed to happen before you die? Your whole life flashes before your eyes? Wait a minute, that wasn't my whole life, it was just bits and pieces.
"That's because you're not supposed to die," a voice from behind me remarked.
"So it was you lurking in the shadows Sephiroth," I acknowlegded. He stepped closer to me, with his massive cape fluttering behind him.
"Tifa, you're not supposed to die yet."
"And what makes you so sure?"
"Because you have so much to live for and there are people who still need you."
"Like what?"
"Like me. Tifa, I don't think I can say this too many times, but I love you and I want you to stay with me."
"Really, is that true?"
"You don't need to shy away from it Tifa. You admitted your feelings to me before you went unconscious. You told me and Cloud that you loved me. Please tell me that you weren't delirious and meant every word you said."
"There's so much uncertainty in the future, I don't think I'd be able to handle this not being real."
"Tifa that's the problem. You have trouble accepting something that's real because of uncertainty. I assure you, this is as real as it's going to get. Please Tifa, you're going to have to trust me. Do you trust me?"
"Yes I trust you Sephiroth but-"
"What? No buts Tifa, if you trust me, then that's that. I'll give you all of me if you'll give me all of you. Now please Tifa, say what I've been wanting to hear you say."
"Sephiroth...I don't think I'm ready." I looked up at him with my glassy eyes and he embraced me. The warmth from his body radiated through mine and I then I knew, I knew that Sephiroth is what I want and what I need.
"I love you Tifa."
"I love you too... Sephiroth."
Sephiroth broke from his trance and saw Tifa lying there, with her eyes half-open. He let out a great sigh of relief and took her in his arms.
"You have no idea what I've just been through, no idea," he whispered.
"Actually, I think I do," her fragile voice sounded," it's what I've been going through these past few months, yours just came in sharper than mine did."
"I thought I was going to lose you for good this time." He traced his finger along her wound and she grimaced slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm just remembering what I did to you about five or so years ago."
"I remember that too. That's when you branded me."
"Yes, now you're mine to keep for life, don't forget that."
"I don't think I will anytime soon."
"Neither will Cloud," Sephiroth chuckled.
"That's right, he's gone. What did you do to him? You didn't kill him did you?!"she asked frantically."
"No, I just threatened him in a deranged kind of sense," he answered.
"Deranged?"
"I said that if you died, I'd drink his blood and eat his flesh for dinner." At that instant Tifa shuddered.
"That's disgusting."
"You had no idea what was going through my mind at the time."
"No, I guess not."
"But that doesn't matter anymore, because now I'm right here with you. I've never felt so strongly about anything before."
"Neither have I, that's why I was so scared to tell you, because if it wasn't real, I would've been crushed. I wouldn't have been able to handle that."
"We have to surrender ourselves to it, we can't hold back. Otherwise, it's useless to even try." Tifa nodded and pulled Sephiroth closer to her, as if letting him go would make him disappear forever. Sephiroth looked down to her and kissed her lightly on the lips. Not getting enough, Tifa pulled him in with her and deepened their liplock. When they broke away, Tifa just rested her head on his shoulder.
"You know, never in my life I would've expected that this is what I wanted," Tifa sighed.
"That's just the way it goes. Maybe it's turbulence along the way in pursuit of what you want, that actually shows you what you need." Tifa only nodded, too content to even say another word.
"Now say it to me Tifa, you know you want to," he urged her gently.
"I love you Sephiroth..."
