Chapter 7- Follow Me

Aeris strolled idly along the narrow winding path that led through the forest.  Her left hand casually ran through her bangs, her right loosely held Sephiroth's.  The air felt so fresh and clean, like it always smells right after it rains.

" So where did you say this forest was" Aeris asked Sephiroth as they strolled along the forest.

" A forest near Rocket town, how I remember it at least.  My troops and I had crossed through it after it had rained one day, for some reason the memory of it stood out in my mind when you asked me."

The two of them had taken to going on walks to entertain themselves.  Each day they would trade off on who created the area they walked on, the day before Aeris had chosen the area around her old house in the slums. While walking she pointed out where all the people she had known had lived.  When they crossed her church she had insisted upon showing him every inch of the place.

Whenever Sephiroth chose it would always be a place far away one that Aeris probably hadn't seen, as she had asked.  When they walked Aeris would always take in her surroundings with a certain amount of awe.  He loved to watch as her deep green eyes widened at the beautiful views from the tops of hills, how her breath would softly escape from her lungs at deep oranges of the sun setting over the oceans. 

But for both of them every time they took a walk their emotions were mixed with the thought of their inability to return to either the planet or life.  Sephiroth always found his recreations somewhat dimmed by time, never quite as he remembered them. Aeris fought against the memories of her past life that always came back to haunt her. Day in and day out they would both slowly walk hand in hand down the paths struggling against the overwhelming desire to leave the place they were trapped in. 

Tilting her head back and closing her eyes Aeris inhaled a deeply enjoying the delicate scent of the air, no noticing a stone in her path as she did so.  The toe of her boot caught on the stone causing her to stumble and fall flat on her face. As she turned over she found herself covered in the dark mud that made up the path.  Unconsciously she reached up the brushed the hair out of her face, leaving long streaks of mud along the side of her face.  With a frown on her face she looked up at Sephiroth who stood above her with a smirk firmly in place on his features.

" You know, that wouldn't have happened if you had thought about it not happening."  He lectured, his smirk forming a half smile as she pouted.

"Sorry but I haven't mastered this whole place nearly as well has you have." Aeris said in an attempt to defend herself.

"Because you haven't tried. Do you need help up?" Sephiroth asked as he leaned forward.

A plan instantly came to Aeris' mind. " Yes", she said trying to sounds and look angry.

Sephiroth smirked slightly as he leaned forward and gave his hand out to Aeris.  She reached forward took his hand and pulled back with as much strength her body had to offer, willing just as strongly for him to fall face first right next to her.  Caught off guard, and surprisingly overpowered by her willpower Sephiroth found himself pulling himself up out of the mud and glaring at Aeris.

Aeris was laughing hysterically, her eyes were shut to hold back tears.   Sephiroth crawled over to her with the intention of rubbing mud in her hair for laughing at him.  But as he pinned her down she looked up at him, her beauty at that moment astounded him.  A bright smile still graced her features, the tears of laughter glistened in her eyes making them brighter than usual, her hair framed her heart shaped face perfectly.  He found himself staring at her gazing into her eyes.

Aeris found herself equally mesmerized by Sephiroth's appearance.  The feeling of him sitting so close to her his arm around her was so intoxicating.   She became aware of the sound of her racing heart and her every breath.   Every contact with him seemed to be magnified; she felt every strand of hair, every thread of fabric in his clothes, and every muscle beneath them.

As they gazed at each other something suddenly snapped.  Their lips met in a passionate kiss.  Everything seemed to disappear into that moment of passion; the ever-present cloud of depression seemed to clear for that one moment.  One kiss turned to another and another.  The hidden desire they had felt for one another realized with each kiss. 

Slowly, almost painfully, they slowly pulled away from one another. Aeris' eyes were lightly closed, as she would lose the moment if she opened her eyes.  A soft sigh escaped her lips as she leaned her head back and smiled.  When she opened her eyes and once again looked at him they found themselves staring again.  A feeling of content spread over the two for that one moment.

Eventually the moment faded away.  Leaving the two of them sitting in the mud with the despair slowly returning.  Aeris looked down at herself, finding that she was still covered in mud.  Next to her Sephiroth rose to his feet somehow his clothes were completely spotless. 

"It's not fair that you can do that and I can't," Aeris protested as Sephiroth helped her up.  He just shook his head allowing a faint smile onto his lips.  When she looked down her dress was as spotless as he was. 

"Thank you" Aeris said, feeling much better now that she wasn't coated in mud. "Well. Lets go!"  She hopped next to him and grasped his hand.

Sephiroth looked down at Aeris as they finished their walk.  Her naturally happy attitude always seemed to keep him away from that edge of despair that always loomed over the horizon in this odd afterlife.  The way that kiss had felt was unbelievable, yet, something had been off; as if that really wasn't how it was supposed to be.  He had never kissed a person before, and that's what he imagined it would be like, but something had been off, not quite real about it.  He supposed that was why that one moment of passion hadn't continued on to something more. 

What would it have felt like in the real world? In a place where you felt things and did not imagine or try and remember how they would feel.   Again that creeping desire to return built up. There had to be some way to get out of here.

"What are you thinking about?" Aeris questioned, an idle tone to her voice.

Sephiroth looked at her, he couldn't keep anything from her anymore.  No matter what he said she would know if it was the truth or not, it was as if some type of bond had formed between the two of them.

" About here, and how to get out", he felt bad for saying it as he watched her face fall slightly, " I was just thinking that there had to be a way out."

"Well tell me when get it K?" Aeris yawned, " I'm gonna go to sleep"

"I'll stay out here a bit longer" Sephiroth said as he turned his gaze to the stars above.

Aeris smiled at him, he looked so hansom and noble as he looked up at the stars.  She walked over to him and gave him a hug.

"Goodnight", She kissed him on the cheek and turned to go inside.  His eyes followed her to the door.  When she got halfway there she turned, the most beautiful smile he had ever seen in place on her lips.

"Love you," she said across the distance before lightly running the rest of the way inside.

Sephiroth contemplated what she had just said.  A smile came to his face as he returned his eyes to the stars.

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Aeris hummed to herself as she closed the door behind her.  Oh the feel of his lips, she brushed her fingers against hers.  She still couldn't belive she had kissed him like that.  She had never done that with Zack!

"Well look who's here", a sinister voice sounded from the corner.  A scream escaped from her as she swirled to where the voice was coming from.  Hojo sat in the corner away from the light in his classic lab coat.

"Just thought I'd pay you a visit my dear," he said as he jumped to his feet, catching Aeris by the arm before she could get back to the door.

" No no, not yet my dear. We can't have you calling your friend over before we're ready."

Aeris struggled with all her might, using both mind and body, but he was too strong.  She instantly froze as she felt the touch of cold steel against her back. 

"We don't want to be able to actually put up a fight now do we?" Hojo whispered into her ear.

Pain exploded through her torso as a bullet tore through her delicate flesh.  The white-hot pain was blinding, she struggled to breath against it.  Hot tears welled up in her eyes as she looked down and saw the blood seeping through the hole in her stomach.  She felt her legs give out underneath her.

Hojo sneered as the Cetra went limp in his arms.  It was perfect; everything was going according to plan.  Sephiroth would doubtless be here in a moment.  Ughh this building is bothering me. The house disappeared.  Leaving Hojo holding the bleeding Aeris in the middle of the open plain and a stunned Sephiroth across from them. Perfect.

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A slow searing rage began to build in Sephiroth the instant her heard the gunshot.  Now he stood face to face with Hojo as he held the broken form of Aeris by the back of her dress with one arm.  Sephiroth whipped out Masamune and began charging at Hojo.

" Tisk tisk my boy, we wouldn't want to do that. STOP!"  Hojo ordered as he brought his gun up to Aeris' head.  He twisted her head around so that her eyes stared directly into Sephiroth's. 

" You wouldn't want me to have to hurt her again would you?" sneered Hojo, he could nearly taste the perfection in his plan.

Sephiroth stopped dead in his tracks.  He was trying everything he could to heal Aeris, but nothing was working, somehow Hojo was overpowering him.  He felt so helpless as he stood so close to them, yet he was unable to help her.

Hojo jerked her up to his eye level, "See you soon my dear", he fired another bullet into her chest and carelessly tossed her to Sephiroth.  Sephiroth caught her and gently laid her to the ground.  Her breaths were coming in ragged gasps now, yet somehow a smile was on her face.

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From the instant she collapsed Aeris knew she had to ask for the planet's help.  She had been praying constantly since.  The planet had answered her with the way to kill Hojo, for good.  Now she lay in Sephiroth's arms.  She knew that somehow she could live, but then did she really want to live? The possibility of moving on to another place than this was much more enticing. 

She smiled as she looked up at Sephiroth, allowing her life to slip away; she could feel his attempts to cure her fail.  He would follow her and then they would be together in another place.  It all seemed to be perfect.  The thought crossed her mind that she was not thinking clearly, but everything seemed so right, how could it not be? She would leave this place, and then once Hojo was gone Sephiroth would be right behind her.  But what if she really couldn't die here?

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"Seph…I ", the pain forced her to stop for a moment, "I…know what to do"

"Don't worry about it, Aeris, you'll be better soon," an indescribable panic arose in him.  How could she go and leave him here alone? She couldn't die, could she? He didn't notice as she reached out and touched the side of his face.  An instant link formed and the knowledge the planet had given her was transferred to him.  Instantly he knew how to get rid of Hojo.  

"I love you, hurry up and follow me."  A peaceful smile spread across her face as he felt her presence slip away.  Soon he could no longer feel her.  A sudden feeling of emptiness engulfed Sephiroth. He felt chocked by it. The only person he had ever cared about like this was gone.  He found himself physically unable to draw a breath.

"No Aeris, you can't do this to me", he hugged her lifeless form to his chest, bowing his head.  He felt so alone; he wouldn't be able to follow her. He could hardly die in real life, much less in a place like this. His mind was fogged by emotion, he couldn't think straight.

"She wasn't supposed to die", Hojo stated, as if this would make everything better. 

An inhumane rage instantly replaced his agony. Sephiroth looked up at Hojo, his green eyes burned like a fire.  Sword in hand he slowly approached Hojo.  Sadness was so easy to replace with anger; it was so easy to forget his pain when he concentrated on his rage.

Suddenly Hojo was filled with fear.  He could sense that Sephiroth knew something he didn't, that somehow Sephiroth was much more dangerous now than he had been moments before. As Sephiroth slowly advanced towards him he felt more and more like one of his subjects trapped in a cage.   He saw that Sephiroth had every intention of fighting, now there was nothing left to do but to see who was stronger.

As they circled Hojo felt the air around Sephiroth begin to get hotter.  He could feel the rage that was building up. Their eyes locked for one moment before they made their moves. Hojo fired as Sephiroth lunged forward.