DISCLAIMER: Nope, don't own the characters nor the FF7-verse. They belong to Squaresoft.. The question Jenova asks from Sephiroth at the beginning of his little dream sequence, is part of a poem called 'Timon the Misanthrope' written by Kallimachos. Huh. Lot's of stuff that ain't mine in this chapter.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Wow, chapter 10! To celebrate this special event, I'm gonna write a bit longer of a chapter than usually. Sorry the last few have been so short!! I've just been a little busy lately.. I've been thinking about this story a lot though, and I still know where I'm going with this.. Lot's of fun stuff ahead!! Umm.. Sorry I'm making Sephiroth use attacks he couldn't use in the game.
CHAPTER 10.
Don't slip, my foot,
try to avoid all pain.
Dream moments won't refrain
from hurting my sick heart.
Trying to shun the stars,
you crashed from your own course -
ten stars around you smashed,
this path's most glorious.
My mind is sore
because the startlets broke.
Don't slip, my foot -
you, on the tear-slick road.
- Eila Kivikkaho -
"So this is Junon?" Tifa glanced around the small town they had just arrived to. It was very late at night, so they were searching for a place to sleep.
"Doesn't look like there's gonna be an Inn anywhere around here.." Barret yawned.
"Yeah.. But we should get some sleep before trying to enter the military base." Cloud said, his clear blue eyes only half open with fatique. "Maybe one of the villagers will let us sleep in his house.." He suggested.
"Let's go ask then!" Yuffie puffed.
They walked to the nearest house, and knocked on the door. A middle aged man opened his door soon, with a welcoming smile on his face. "Travellers, eh?" The man asked. Cloud nodded at him, and was just about to ask if the man would allow them to sleep at his house. "You're welcome to sleep in here! It's always nice to see new faces around here.." The man said, guessing the thoughts of the tired looking AVALANCHER's. "Not that many people bother to visit Junon anymore, with that military base above us, blocking out the sunlight and polluting the ocean.." The man explained, getting accepting nods from especially Barret.
The villager had quite a big house, many beds and a fireplace. His home suggested he had once had a big family. What had happened to them was a question nobody really wanted to ask. "You sleep now, OK? I'll be at the house next door, if you need me." The man said from the doorway, and then left.
"Aah, a nice warm DRY bed.." Yuffie sighed, as she jumped on top of one of the beds.
"I'm so tired, I think I'm gonna pass out.." Tifa yawned, and sat down on the nearest free bed. She took of her shoes, and placed them carelessly on the floor. "Good night everyone." She murmured, as she rested her head against the soft pillow. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
Barret, Cloud and Red on the other hand, were sitting on their respective beds, exchanging nervous looks. "I wonder where he's lurking.." Barret muttered, and everybody knew whom he was talking about.
"Yeah, kind of makes you think twice about falling asleep, doesn't it?" Cloud told him.
"Ya can say that again!" Barret replied.
"I still don't have any ideas, how we're going to get him to help us.." Red said, his tail tapping the nearby wall.
"Me neither." Cloud admitted. "Well, the most important thing right now, is to get to the military base.. He's likely to be there, where it's most difficult to find him." He continued.
"Yeah.. I just wonder how we're going to get past the guard in front of the elevator? Shin-Ra's still looking for a large group of suspicious looking people.. I suppose we can't just go and ask him to let us in." Red thought aloud, scrathing an itchy section of his fur.
"Let's knock 'im out!" Barret suggested, with an inthusiastic voice.
"The doors cannot be opened from below, he has to call another SOLDIER who then opens the door. If we knock him out, he can't call.." Cloud shook his head, discrediting Barret's idea.
"Then maybe all of us shouldn't go.." Red shrugged, thinking back to the way Aeris had managed to get information from the SOLDIER's at Kalm.
"Yeah, it's a really good idea to send just one or two of us! If Sephiroth goes berserk, there's nothing they can do to stop him. But if all of us went--" Cloud began.
"He'd feel outnumbered.. It's true, he might not be as prone to attack, if all of us went." Red admitted.
"Listen, this is a real problem.. But I'm gonna have to catch me some Z's.." Barret yawned widely, stretching as he was getting ready to go to bed.
"Yeah.. We'll think of something in the morning." Cloud told him and Red.
* * * * *
Which do you hate more, the darkness or the light?
Sephiroth watched completely in peace, as petals of white roses fell down on him from high up, like feathers of some heavenly guardian. He turned his eyes up, staring into the depths of Aeris' eyes. She was holding him in her arms, singing a familiar melody. With every melodious word, Sephiroth saw light green vines grow up the old marble colonnade surrounding the circular platfrom they were resting on. The vines seemed to wrap their arms around everything, and bright coloured flowers blossomed where ever he looked. The nearly intoxicating fragrance of dozens of wild flowers filled the air, and his sences. Listening to Aeris' voice, Sephiroth felt weightless, like he was floating on air. Everything seemed so alive, every colour so vivid and bright. Sephiroth turned his eyes back to Aeris, who was smiling down at him. She was like an angel of light, bathed in heavenly brightness. She seemed to lighten up every shadow surrounding her. The pure white energy of the light hit his eyes painfully, yet Sephiroth couldn't bear to turn his eyes away from her.
"Aeris.." He whispered her name like a prayer.
"Yes?" Aeris' smile grew wider, and Sephiroth felt her fingers running through his silver-coloured hair. It was a touch he had never experienced before. He didn't feel unnerved by it, nor did the thought of her possibly hurting him ever cross his mind. He simply didn't care.. As long as he was here with her, none of it mattered. He hardly even remembered the meaning of the word pain.
"Kiss me." Sephiroth asked, watching her as she giggled at his request. Her eyes shone with life, they were like orchards in the spring. The light surrounding Aeris had become so intense, it was blinding Sephiroth.
"Close your eyes." Aeris whispered, her delicate fingers caressing the sides of his face.
Sephiroth felt her place a butterfly kiss on his forehead, as she leaned over him. The white petals of roses twirled around them, blending the scenery into a storm of silky, shimmering beaty.
* * * * *
Sephiroth!! Jenova screamed.
Sephiroth woke up instantly, raising his head from the floor he had rested it on.
They are close.. The puppet and his friends. Jenova informed him, a warning tune to her voice.
"Oh." Sephiroth said, his voice shaken by the dream he had just woken up from. It had felt so real, every sound, smell, and especially touch.. Sephiroth rubbed his eyes, exhausted by the emotions the dream had awakened.
Sephiroth? Jenova asked.
"They're searching for me, aren't they?" Sephiroth sighed, a look of exasperation on his face. He really didn't feel like fighting anyone right now.
You should go make sure they get on this boat.. He must join us at the Reunion.. Like all the others.. Jenova demanded.
"As you wish, mother." Sephiroth nodded, his eyes closed.
He stood up from the floor, and grabbed his Masamune. Sephiroth raised the sword, and cut the surrounding air with a few precise swings to warm up his muscles. He was so familiar with the Masamune, it didn't require any special concentration from Sephiroth to use his sword. After all, he had fought with it from a very early age. Hojo had arranged him several teachers of fighting and sword-handling, and Sephiroth had practiced rigorously. Fighting had been a welcomed change from experimentation, after all. These days though, Sephiroth had begun to wonder if his interest in fighting was written into his very genes.. He was designed that way. He didn't have a choise..
I'd imagine they're still at the town below.. Jenova guessed, her voice soon fading from Sephiroth's mind.
"I shall look into it." Sephiroth answered, and walked out of the ship. It was so silent at the harbour at night, Sephiroth thought as he looked around him cautiously.
It didn't take long for him to reach the little town below Junon's military base. He only hoped Jenova had been right about her feeling that Cloud and the others were in fact down there. He didn't have the patience to search for them all over Junon. He wanted to go back to the ship and sleep for a few more hours.. These days it seemed he wanted to sleep all the time. He was tired of feeling, experiencing.. Life seemed so vague to him. His all consuming anger was really all that made sence to him anymore. Sephiroth shrugged at the thought; this was not the proper time, he had a mission to complete.
Prowling past the small wooden houses, Sephiroth decided he wasn't going to let the AVALANCHErs outsmart him again. He mentally prepared himself for an ambush, while searching for their group with his eyes. He was quite surprised when he finally found the Puppet and his friends. They were all deeply asleep.. Out of an impulse Sephiroth entered the house they were staying at.
He smirked at the sight of his prey in such a vulnerable state. He could kill all of his friends.. Then why didn't he, Sephiroth wondered, tilting his head to the side. Had he really become weaker, like Jenova said? The others were of no significance to Jenova or her quest.. Whatever the answer was, Sephiroth thought, they were now even. Sparing their lives now meant that he no longer owed anything to them for sparing his life.. Sephiroth's eyes scanned the building. Only then, when he couldn't find her did Sephiroth realize why he had entered the house. He wanted to see Aeris.. even if she couldn't see him. So where was she? Sephiroth wondered, leaving the building. Was she no longer with AVALANCHE? He stared at the ground, a dissappointed look in his eyes. What did it matter, he folded his arms. She had betrayed him. He really, really hated her anyway. But where was she? Sephiroth sighed, kicking at a nearby rock in frustration.
He begun walking towards the beach, his eyes counting the dead branches on his way. He didn't care for anyone. He had stopped caring so many years ago.. Even in SOLDIER, he had never allowed anyone to get too close to his heart. Something always told him he would end up alone, bruised and battered - so why bother? He had seen people, who had served him in his unit for years, die horrible ugly deaths before his very eyes.. and he hadn't even blinked. So why now, why her? Sephiroth lifted his eyes from the ground, and stared at the ocean spreading as far as his eyes could see. The tranquil blue ocean was calm, as if all of nature was sleeping too. Sephiroth sat down on the white sand, and stared at the waves that rushed into shore.
Did you find them? Jenova asked.
"Yes." Sephiroth answered her calmly. "They're asleep.." He continued, grabbing some sand in the palm of his hand. He watched as it slid through his fingers, escaped him.. like time.
Hmpf.. So typical of them. Humans are such weaklings.. Jenova muttered. Are you coming back? She asked.
"If you don't mind, I'd rather stay here a while.." Sephiroth told her.
Fine, son.. But do remember, you must lure them to the boat tomorrow.. Jenova reminded Sephiroth.
"Naturally." Sephiroth's voice was confident.
"Hey mister, who are you talking to?" A young girls voice asked. Sephiroth turned to look at her. She couldn't be more than ten or twelve years old. She was wearing a bathing suit and she had a metallic whistle in a chain around her neck.
"Oh, nobody." Sephiroth smirked at her. He wondered what a young girl was doing out all alone at this hour. Then again it was already so late it was more like early in the morning, he smiled at the thought.
"I sometimes talk to Mr. Dolphin. I know he can't answer me, but it doesn't really matter." The girl spoke.
"Oh." Sephiroth smiled at her wearily. The girl reminded him of a certain someone..
"Oh, what am I thinking, you don't even know my name yet. I'm Priscilla." The girl introduced herself, bowing at Sephiroth. "I live in that house over there. The door is at the end of those stairs, you see?" Priscilla asked.
"Sure." Sephiroth looked briefly in the direction Priscilla was pointing to.
"Why are you sitting here all alone? Aren't you one of those strange people who came here today?" Priscilla asked, her eyes showing no fear towards Sephiroth.
"No, I'm not one of them." Sephiroth shook his head.
"Oh. You're alone then." Suddenly there was pity in Priscilla's voice.
"Aren't you?" Sephiroth asked the girl.
"Well, there aren't any children of my age in this town anymore, so I kinda have to." Priscilla explained. "But I have Mr. Dolphin, so I'm not lonely!" She beamed.
"Being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely.." Sephiroth said, more to himself than Priscilla. He turned his intense Mako-gaze back at the ground, drawing lazy patterns to the sand with his fingers.
Priscilla ran to the ocean, blowing her whistle. A dolphin soon joined her in the water, jumping high from the water. Sephiroth felt suddenly very sad, and sighed deeply.
"Help me!!" Priscilla screamed.
Sephiroth raised his eyes and saw a huge sea-monster, towering the little girl in the water. For a brief moment he merely stared at her, trying to decide whether to help her or not. Then he grabbed his Masamune and ran towards the monster. Killing it would at least momentarily distract his thoughts from Aeris.
Sephiroth raised his long bladed sword, holding it in fighting position. The sea monster growled, turning it's attention from the girl to Sephiroth. It swung Priscilla powerfully with it's tail, knocking the air out of her lungs. Sephiroth slashed at the creature, and it howled in pain. The water by the shore turned purple with the creature's blood, but it's wound seemed to only enrage it further. The creature splashed water with it's scaled tail, trying to hit Sephiroth. As the creature opened it's jaws to bite him, he raised his right palm against it.
"Limited light." Sephiroth said with a smug grin, watching as a blaze of light rip through the creature's tissues within seconds. The entire upper section of the monsters head had vanished, as the column of energy finally fainted into a whisper in the air. The sea monster fell to the ground dead as a stone. Sephiroth stared at it's exposed entrails, floating on the water's surface. He poked them with the tip of his Masamune, a prudent look in his eyes. Now where was that girl? He reminded himself, and scanned the water for her. He noticed her floating in the water on her stomach, her hair spread around her head like a halo. Priscilla's body seemed so lifeless, as the dolphin she had played with earlier poked her closer to the shore with it's nose. Sephiroth walked over to her, and picked up her body. He carried her to the sand, and placed her lying on her back. Then he just looked at her, unaware of what to do next.
"Breathe, you.. human you." Sephiroth told the girl, a little ashamed by the demanding sound of his voice. He knew the girl was drowning, her lungs were probably filled with water. But the idea of touching her seemed so.. disgusting to him, that he wanted to avoid it at all cost. Sephiroth tilted his head as he kneeled next to her, studying her with his eyes. She looked so pale, and cold.. so dead. And even though he had seen many bodies in his life, without feeling sympathy or sadness towards them.. Something seemed to have changed. He felt.. guilty, and somehow responsible for the girl's condition.. Sephiroth sighed, as he tilted the girls head back. He held her nose with his fingers, making a face at the dolphin staring at him from the water. This was so unlike him, so disgusting.. but..
He took a deep breath, and blew the air into Priscilla's lifeless body. It didn't take long for Sephiroth to restore Priscilla's life-force. He pulled back as the girl began to cough the water out of her lungs. Sephiroth realized he couldn't leave her out here on the beach, and since he knew where she lived, he might just as well take her home.
He picked up the girl once more, and began to carry her towards home with an indifferent expression on his face. It was so strange, how different people seemed when they were alive and when they were dead.. The living were filled with hopes and dreams and memories, they were all unique - but the dead were all the same. They were all chunks of rotting flesh.. Whatever it was, that left a person on the moment of their death, was really the thing people missed most about their lost loved ones.. Not really their fysical being or appearance, Sephiroth thought.
He ascended the stairs to Priscillas home, and knocked on the door. A man opened it a while later, looking like he had just been sleeping. "Priscilla, my god what has happened to you!" The man looked very shocked as he grabbed his daughter from Sephiroth's arms and rushed her into the warmth and safety of her home. Sephiroth just turned his back, and decided to return to his mother.
He was somewhat moved by what he had just witnessed. A father who actually cared for his child? Why didn't I have parents like that? What's wrong with me, wasn't I good enough? Sephiroth felt the familiar, old questions gnawing at his heart.
"Hey!" Priscilla's father shouted after Sephiroth from the door of their home.
"Yes?" Sephiroth raised his eyes, and looked at him puzzled.
"Thankyou so much for saving my daughter! She's such a lively girl, she's always getting herself into trouble." The man explained, as if apologizing for the trouble Priscilla had caused Sephiroth.
"It's nothing.. Really." Sephiroth shrugged, not really caring what the man had to say.
"Your parent's must be very proud of you!" The man complimented Sephiroth, then finally returned back to Priscilla.
"Proud?" Sephiroth wondered, as if he had never heard the word in reference to anything but his strength. "..of me..?"
* * * * *
"Another project of yours, Scarlet?" Hojo asked, running his fingers over the smooth metallic surface of a huge war machine.
"Actually, that's a result of Heideggar's brainstorm.." Scarlet laughed, glancing at Hojo from the other side of the machine. She knew Hojo preferred living soldiers over machines.
"Oh. No wonder then.." Hojo laughed at the machine.
"What do you have against robots? They're most efficient, and never let their emotions get in the way of their work.." Scarlet asked.
"Emotions.." Hojo studied the robot. "They're not always such a bad thing.. Properly used, they make a SOLDIER stronger.." He said, correcting the position of his eye-glasses on his nose. "Besides.. A machine has no insticts of survival.. They don't have a life of their own to protect.." Hojo explained.
"A life?" Scarlet laughed. "Your specimen don't have lives.. they merely exist." She shook her head, her red dress swaying as she moved.
"Even so.." Hojo admitted, nodding at the woman, "Isn't it strange how persistently they cling onto it?"
* * * * *
Tifa yawned, turning on her back. She had slept like the dead.. Tifa smiled widely, still drowzy of sleep, and opened her eyes.
"Hi." Sephiroth stared down at her, grinning arrogantly.
"S-Sephiroth." Tifa stuttered, staring at the silver-haired man with her mouth open of shock. She looked around her, and saw the other AVALANCHE members staring at Sephiroth also. The others were too frightened by him to move a muscle, but Cloud seemed to be just waiting for a chance to attack him.
"So where is she?" Sephiroth turned his eyes over to Cloud.
Tifa used the opportunity and tried to punch Sephiroth in the face, but Sephiroth caught her wrist in mid air. He twisted her arm, and Tifa moaned in pain.
"She's not here." Cloud answered him, staring at Tifa shocked. This was not happening, he couldn't do it to her again..
"I can see that." Sephiroth smirked evilly.
Cloud felt hatred towards Sephiroth bubble in his veins. "Let Tifa go." He snarled at his former unit leader. She was struggling in Sephiroth's strong grasp, trying to free herself desperately.
"Aeris was kidnapped." He finally told Sephiroth, surprised to see him instantly drop his guard down. Tifa pulled back her wrist, rubbing it with a scared look in her eyes.
"Kidnapped?" Sephiroth tilted his head.
There was something in his eyes, as if he wasn't completely there. He was insane.. Cloud could only begin to imagine why Sephiroth was interested in Aeris. Maybe he was curious of whether he could corrupt Aeris' innocence or not.. He wasn't too thrilled about the thought of him spending time around Aeris.
"She was taken.. by the assassin sent after you, Zenobius.." Red stepped forward, glancing at Cloud as if to say he wanted to handle the situation on his own.
"And you let him?" Sephiroth's voice was scolding, as if he really cared whether Aeris lived or died. Barret glanced at Cloud, a little surprised expression on his face.
"He teleported." Red explained.
"Oh." Sephiroth nodded at him, wondering what to do with the information he had just received.
"That's really why we are looking for you.. We need you to get her back." Red tried his best to keep his voice as calm and neutral as he possibly could.
"You need.. me?" Sephiroth's voice was amused.
"He'll probably kill her if you don't help us find her." Red said, staring at Sephiroth. Just like he had thought, the arrogant grin on Sephiroth's face was soon replaced by sadness and anger.
"I don't care." Sephiroth snorted at him, annoyed by Red. The red furred creature had managed to break through his mask of indifference, and it made him feel vulnerable and weak. Those were, after all, the two things he'd most loathed about himself..
"Sure you do. That's why you are here." Red kept pushing him, even though Tifa and Cloud were shaking their heads at him, forming silent 'no's with their mouths.
"It's not why--" Sephiroth glared at Red.
"At least tell us where to look for her!" Cloud finally spoke, his anger creeping into his voice.
Sephiroth stared back at him blankly. Jenova was waiting for him, she was expecting him to complete the task she had given him.. But did he really have a choise? If he wouldn't do this now, it might be he'd spend the rest of his life regretting it..
"Fine." Sephiroth finally gave in, "I'll tell you.."
I know you must be dying to know what's going on with Aeris, right? I'll get into that in the next chapter, I promise. I just wanted to write a bit longer from Sephiroth's POV - it's so fascinating. I really hope my flashback-obsession isn't too confusing? (Sorry for any weird language.) And yes, everyone, it's a cliffhanger again!! Am I surprising or what? This is becoming a nasty habit of mine.. Anyway, I hope you keep reading!