DISCLAIMER: I'm still waiting for Squaresoft to hand over everything related to FF7. But since they're pretty slow at that, I'm forced to say Squaresoft is still in possession of Sephiroth. *insert some very loud cursing*
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This story still follows the game, kinda.. Which adds up some horrible thoughts of a possible ending, doesn't it? All's fair at love and war! ..and fanfiction!! I'm still not sure how I'm gonna end this fic, though I do have a few ideas. Heh!! I see my longer chapters are really becoming rather long.. I hope you don't mind. ^_^ Thanks for all the reviews, they always cheer me up!!!!
CHAPTER 15.
If I cried me a river of
all my confessions,
would I drown in my shallow regret?
- Sarah McLachlan -
Aeris opened the door of her cabin, and stepped into the hallway. She blinked lazily, her eyelids so heavy with fatique she had to struggle to keep them open.
"Good morning sunshine." Sephiroth whispered in her ear, startling her.
"Y-you scared me. Again." Aeris looked back over her shoulder, and noticed Sephiroth smiling at her. He was leaning against the the white-painted wall, twirling a white flower between his fingers.
"That was sort of the idea." He smirked, and placed the flower behind Aeris' ear. She watched as he pulled back his hand, covered by his black gloves. When his eyes met hers, it was like an invisible energy flowed between them, making the air sparkle with electricity.
"You seem to be on an awfully good mood." Aeris smiled at him, wondering for how long he had been waiting outside her door for her to wake up.
"Well, it's been a great morning. Too bad you missed breakfast." Sephiroth smirked, his eyes flashing with mischief.
"Hmm?" Aeris chuckled at him, wondering what had happened.
"The look on his face was definately worth a few scales.." Sephiroth rested the back of his head against the wall, and laughed druly.
"..What?" Aeris tilted her head, not understanding at all what Sephiroth was talking about.
"Never mind.. We'd better head up, they've been waiting." Sephiroth turned his eyes at the floor, his amused expression slowly turning neutral.
"We have to leave already?" Aeris sighed, not even trying to hide her dissappointment. It had been so much fun to just spend time with Sephiroth, without having to chase anyone for a change.
"I'm sure Jenova and Zenobius aren't waiting around for us to find them.. So I guess we still have time for that second date." He told her, with his head bowed towards the ground as they walked towards the stairs at the end of the hallway.
"I'd like that.." Aeris smiled at him, wondering if he was thinking about Jenova. She was glad Sephiroth was no longer with her, but she also understood that he regarded Jenova as the all the family he had ever known.
They soon reached the end of the hallway, and climbed up the stairs to the upper deck, where everyone seemed to be gathered already. Cloud gave Sephiroth his usual glare, and then they all sat down on the wooden chairs scattered on the deck. Outside, the weather was perfect. The sun was shining brightly from a clear blue sky, making the air so warm it was heavy to breathe. Aeris couldn't pick out even the smallest gust of wind to cool her down.
"OK, now that everyone's here.." Cloud muttered, wiping a few pearls of sweat from his forehead. "We should split up again, and ask around if anyone's seen Zenobius.. Someone's bound to have noticed him." He figured.
"When we find out where he's headed, we'll follow." He continued, noticing the mocking expression on Sephiroth's face. "What. You've got something to say?!" Cloud snapped at him.
"Oh, nothing much. Just that that's the stupidest idea I've ever heard." Sephiroth smirked at the inexperienced leader of AVALANCHE.
"Oh yeah?" Cloud said and stood up, offended by Sephiroth's comment. Cloud figured Sephiroth was only trying to irritate him, but as much as he hated to admit it, his former unit leader was being successful.
"Yes." Sephiroth said calmly, not even slightly frightened by the threatening sound of Cloud's voice. "Following them is, quite frankly, the worst thing you could do. Since Zenobius knows were bound to follow him.. You'd put us in a position, where we could walk into an ambush. I wouldn't like to be a mouse lured towards the trap." He explained, experience in his voice.
"OK. So you've got a better idea, huh?" Cloud folded his arms, annoyed by Sephiroth. After all that had happened, he was still able to make him feel like a beginner.
"Well.. I'd prefer we are the one's creating the trap." Sephiroth begun, with an expression that suggested he knew exactly what to do.
"And how do we do that? There's nothing we have that Zenobius could possibly want." Cloud still had a doubtful look in his eyes.
"We don't, yet.." Sephiroth explained, "but there is such an item.. 'Tis called the KeyStone. It is what he's looking for.. We just have to make sure we get to it first." Sephiroth finished his speach.
"The KeyStone?" Cloud asked him.
"Yes.. All I know of it, is that it's a round stone.. About the size of a fist. I'll recognize it when I see it." Sephiroth replied quickly.
"Why'd he want some ol' stone?" Barret turned to face Sephiroth. "It is not only a stone.. but also a key." He answered Barret calmly.
"Key? To where?" Aeris asked Sephiroth after a moments silence, a worried look in her eyes. Sephiroth looked back at her strangely. "To the Temple of the Ancients.." He told her, and watched as Aeris' gaze sunk back to her hands.
"Once we find the KeyStone, all we have to do is wait.. Zenobius will come to us." Sephiroth finished, his eyes still locked to Aeris. Cloud glanced at the two of them, who seemed be to yet again lost in each others eyes. He didn't know why, but seeing that made his blood boil.
"Sephiroth might have a point.." Red nodded at Cloud. "I think there's a reason Zenobius is running from us.. We shouldn't be foolish and run into unknown circumstances." He voiced his thoughts.
Cloud sighed and shook his head, feeling like an idiot thanks to Sephiroth. "So let's split up and ask around if anyone knows anything about this rock." Cloud muttered. "Tifa, Red, you come with me. And the rest of you-- We'll meet at the local hotel in two hours, alright?" He said, and everyone muttered something in reply. "Let's mosey." Cloud forced some confidence in his voice as he walked out of the boat to the concrete pier of Costa Del Sol. Tifa and Red soon followed him, both of them thinking about where to start asking.
"Ehrm." Barret cleared his throat, trying to catch Aeris' and Sephiroth's attention. "We ought to go ask people if they've seen any round rocks anywhere." Barret said, a slightly sarcastic tune to his voice.
Sephiroth just glanced up at him, total indifference written all over his face. "I doubt anyone knows anything around here.. We should go to Corel. There are miners there, who are more familiar with rocks." He suggested.
"Why didn't ya say that a moment ago!?" Barret raised his voice a little.
"Aren't I allowed a little fun?" The silver-haired man smirked in reply. Yuffie giggled at the thought of Cloud running around in this heat asking everyone about round stones.
"Two hours hardly means anything.. Besides, it's crazy to travel at noon. You'll only end up sunburned." Sephiroth snorted, stretching his legs on the wooden deck-chair.
"Ya got a point.. It's damn hot around 'ere." Barret sighed, sitting down next to Yuffie in the shadows.
"I'll go get us something cold to drink." Aeris suggested, smiling at the thought of spending two hours doing nothing. Sephiroth watched as she ran back below the deck, most likely heading towards the kitchen located close to the main hall.
"I wouldn't want to be in Cloud's shoes." Yuffie stared at Sephiroth, admiration in her voice.
"Well thanks." Sephiroth smirked, closing his eyes. It was getting a little hot in his black leather coat, so he took it off and folded it next to him on the wooden floor of the deck.
Aeris soon returned with four glasses and lot's of lemonade. "This has got ice cubes, even!" She smiled, poaring everyone equal amounts.
"Thanks Aeris." Yuffie smiled back at her, and took a sip of the cool drink. "Aah.. This is so great." She sighed blissfully.
Sephiroth watched as Aeris layed herself down to the deck-chair next to his. "I think I'm gonna fall asleep.." She smiled widely, as the cool seabreeze brushed against her face.
"That's OK. I'll turn you over in fifteen minutes so you won't get burned." Sephiroth suggested, making Aeris chuckle with her eyes closed. "Oh, keep dreaming mister." She giggled, perfectly relaxed on her chair.
"You know, I've never been on a proper vacation.." She told Sephiroth.
"Oh?" He asked, squinting in the bright sunlight.
"Yeah.. My adopted mother, Elmyra, couldn't afford to take me on a long vacation." Aeris explained.
"Adopted mother? What happened to your real mother?" Sephiroth asked cautiously, almost as if he knew the memory was painful to Aeris.
"She died.. when I was eight. Elmyra sort of promised my mother she'd take care of me." Aeris sighed, her light-hearted voice momentarily heavy with grief.
"How about your father?" Sephiroth asked her. He couldn't help thinking, why hadn't he asked about Aeris' parents before.
"I never knew him. Mum probably told me a lot about him, but I can't remember.. practically anything of the time before my mother's death." Aeris answered Sephiroth's question, wondering why it was so easy to open up to him. She hadn't told these things to anyone..
"Nothing? Because of the shock right?" Sephiroth guessed.
"That's what Elmyra thinks.. I'm not so sure myself." Aeris shrugged. They were both silent a while, basking in the warmthness of the sun.
"Sephiroth?" Aeris finally began talking again.
"What." Sephiroth opened his eyes briefly, and turned his head to the direction of Aeris.
"Nothing." She silenced herself, remembering that Yuffie and Barret were sitting closeby, and probably heard every word they spoke.
* * * * *
"Excuse me, have you heard of a rock called KeyStone?" Cloud stopped a woman on her way to the bar.
"What is this?" She lifted her hand to her hips and stared at Cloud. "Is the weirdo-rock-collector convention in town again, or are you just really bad at hitting on women?" She asked.
"I'm just looking for the stone, alright! It's round and about the size of a fist." Cloud continued to interrogate the woman.
"No, I don't know anything about your precious stone. Would you just leave me alone." The woman puffed as she entered the bar.
Glancing around the holiday-village of Costa Del Sol, Cloud noticed Tifa walk towards him. "Any luck?" She asked curiously.
"None. Zip." Cloud sighed. "All I found out is that there are rocks on the beach if I want any, and that many people around here think that I'm trying to hit on them." He muttered, clearly frustrated.
"Oh, you too huh?" Tifa smiled at him with sympathy in her eyes, and began to wave air to her face with her hands.
"I just hope Red has better luck.. I just can't go back there to find out HE knows where to look for the KeyStone." Cloud sighed, enjoying the shadow of the bar-building.
"This is not a competition, you know." Tifa chuckled.
"Yeah well, especially if they win." Cloud muttered under his breath, and then noticed Red talking to a man next to the materia-booth. They seemed to be having a serious conversation, and Cloud got his hopes up. Maybe they'd have something positive to tell the others.
"I wonder what they're talking about.." Tifa glanced at Cloud before returning her gaze at Red.
"I'm not sure.. Maybe he knows something about the stone." Cloud shrugged, and stared at the dark-brown haired girl without her noticing. He remembered the time he had been so attracted to her.. Back then in Niebelheim Tifa had hardly noticed him, since she was always surrounded by friends. Maybe because everybody liked her, Cloud mused, it had taken him so many years to become close to Tifa.
"He's coming over here." Tifa quickly turned to face Cloud, and caught him staring at her.
Busted! Cloud thought, and swallowed hard. "What?" Tifa smiled, her other hand rested on her hip.
"..Nothing." Cloud fidgeted nervously.
"Hi Red." He turned to Red, glad that the red-furred beast had saved him from further embarrassment. "Umm.. Hi. Am I interrupting something?" He asked Tifa.
Cloud knew he was blushing, but couldn't help it. "No, no.. We were just talking." He coughed, trying to look as neutral as possible.
"Oh? You look awfully rosy.." Red said, a wide grin on his cat-like face.
"Stop teasing him Red, it's just that it's really hot around here.." Tifa told Red, and then smiled friendly at Cloud. Perplexed by the look in her chocolate-brown eyes, Cloud briefly thought if she felt the same way as he.. What did it mean for them? Would he really want to risk their friendship for something more? ..for love?
"Anyway, I just thought I'd tell you something I found out.." Red's voice became serious again.
"About the stone?" Cloud's voice was very optimistic.
"No. All I found about that is that there are rocks on the beach if I want any, and that many people around here think--" Red began, but Cloud interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
"Yeah, I know, that you're trying to hit on them." He finished Red's sentence, heaving a frustrated sigh. "What did you find out then?" Cloud asked.
"Oh, the man over there just got back from Gold Saucer, and while he passed the Corel Reactor, he saw a whole a lot of SOLDIER's patrolling everywhere." Red pointed at the man who had sat down on the stairs of the hotel.
"Really?" Cloud was interested why there'd be lot's of SOLDIER's around here. He doubted Shin-Ra would sent a whole platoon of SOLDIER's just because of a malfunction.
"Yeah.. The SOLDIER's explained to the man there was a Mako-leak at the reactor, but I think there's more to it than that." Red explained, a suspicious expression on his face. As he sat down on his hind legs, his tail began swaying nervously from side to side.
"I think so too." Cloud nodded, trying to figure out what was going on. "I don't think they are looking for us though." He continued quietly, watching out if anyone was listening to their conversation.
"I don't think so either." Tifa agreed with Cloud, "they don't know we've crossed the ocean." She sat down on the stone pavement on the ground, desperately trying to cool herself down by waving her hands furiously in front of her face.
"Well, whatever it's about, at least now we'll know to watch out for them." Cloud nodded at Red, glancing at Tifa concearned.
"We'd better go get something cold to drink.. This heat is too much." Cloud told her.
"How about the Stone?" Tifa asked.
"Come on, we all need a breather.." Red sighed, and walked into the bar closeby.
"Yeah.. I suppose we have time for a little break." Tifa smiled at Cloud, who waited for her to stand up before they walked into the bar.
In a half an hour the walked back to the hotel, and sat down on the stairs to wait for the others to arrive. "Where are they?" Cloud said, and Tifa just shrugged beside him. After a few more minutes of waiting in the boiling hot sunshine, they saw Barret and Yuffie walk casually towards them. Aeris and Sephiroth were walking a few steps behind them, smiling at each other as if sharing some private joke.
"So, did you find out anything?" Cloud asked Barret, noticing Yuffie chuckle at his question. "What's funny?" Cloud asked her, already irritated by the heat surrounding them.
"..Nothing." She sniggered, gritting her teeth to prevent herself from bursting into laughter.
"We thought we ought to head towards Corel.. There are miners there, who know about rocks a lot.." Barret explained, and even he was smiling at the way Cloud, Tifa and Red looked like. They were practically bathed in sweat after running around for two hours.
Cloud noticed the others seemed quite different, relaxed and carefree. "You knew that all along, didn't you." He snarled at Sephiroth, who merely smirked back at him.
"Well yes.. I really did." He said, not even trying to hide the amusement in his voice.
"Let's get going then. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to." Cloud's voice was angry as he stood up from the stairs and walked closer to the towns gate.
"I heard there are lot's of SOLDIER's patrolling around Corel reactor." Red informed the rest of the team.
"Do ya know why?" Barret glanced at the lion-like creature.
"I couldn't say for sure.. The SOLDIER's had mentioned something about a leak.." Red shrugged, and then followed Cloud and Tifa.
They walked through the gate, and began to follow a narrow path leading from Costa Del Sol to Corel. Out in the plains the wind made the walking a little easier by cooling the tired AVALACHEr's. Passing a meadow of tall yellow hay, Sephiroth turned his eyes at Aeris. She seemed to take in the scenery, endless fields of hay swaying in the cool afternoon breeze. "It's like a ocean. See, it looks like waves when the wind makes the hay move." Aeris pointed towards the horizon, where a gust of wind blew the hay against the ground.
"I suppose so." Sephiroth smiled at her briefly, wondering where her limitless energy was coming from. She walked with carefree steps, almost in mid air. She picked up dandelions from the sides of the road, and tied them into a coronet of bright yellow flowers, she then placed it on her head with a giggle. She seemed so thrilled by everything she saw, her head turning to follow every butterfly that flew mindlessly past them. "Oh, look at this!" Aeris gasped as a butterfly sat down on her arm, opening and closing it's light blue wings.
"They're so frail.. One careless pinch and they'd never fly again." Aeris stared at the butterfly, a sad look in her eyes as it began fluttering it's wings and flew away. "I wonder how they still survive.." She thought aloud, glancing at Sephiroth. "I think many people are like that too." She spoke quietly, wondering why she was suddenly feeling a little sad surrounded by all this enormous beaty.
"Aeris.." Sephiroth glanced at her. "Many things that appear weak are in reality quite the opposite. There's danger in beauty, it deceives.." He spoke, feeling Aeris' eyes on him. "Maybe that's why I admire monsters.. For they never hide what they truly are." He said, staring at the ground. In the silence that had suddenly fallen between him and Aeris, the rustling of their footsteps became almost deafening.
"You do know.. I'd never hurt you." Aeris bit her lip as she looked up at him. That strange look in Sephiroth's eyes bothered her, it was the same as back in the forest near Fort Condor. Aeris thought she had managed to convince him they belonged together. No matter what anyone said, she had never felt as strongly for anyone. Sephiroth looked at her, managing to smile at her weakly.
"Never say never." He said, frowning at the pebble road they were walking on.
As the sun began to set, the AVALANCHEr's reached a bridge, built for travellers to cross a gap between two ledges. "Do you think that this bridge will hold together?" Aeris looked at Sephiroth, as Cloud and the others began walking across it carefully.
"Yeah, well.. It should." Sephiroth shrugged, following the others.
"This is so scary.." Aeris said quietly, holding onto the ropes on both sides of the narrow bridge tightly. She tried to avoid looking down, because the river flowing down at the bottom of the breach could be seen though the wooden planks of the bridge.
"Just keep your eyes at the end of the bridge, and you'll be fine." Sephiroth told her, watching as she took nervous little steps on the bridge. "And whatever you do, DON'T look down." He added as a warning.
"End of the bridge.. End of the bridge.. Why is it so far away.." Aeris repeated quietly, shocked as the wind blew her coronet of dandelions down the long fall into the river.
"Just try to keep walking.." Sephiroth looked at Aeris, who stood in the middle of the bridge petrified. "You don't want me to carry you, do you?" He whispered her, his words blending into the wind that made the bridge gently sway.
"Yikes." Aeris tried to maintain her balance, seeing herself fall endlessly towards the ground in her mind.
"Are you OK there?" Cloud shouted from the other side of the bridge, worried about Aeris.
"Yeah.. Just gimme a minute.. so that my feet will begin to work again." Aeris muttered, nodding at Cloud.
"Just relax." Sephiroth whispered, placing his hand on her waist for support.
"You're not exactly making it easier, Sephy.." Aeris whimpered, hearing him chuckle behind her.
"Just concentrate on my voice." He said, pushing Aeris ahead of him. She took a step, her legs as stiff as two wooden logs.
"Remember that blue butterfly?" Sephiroth asked calmly, and Aeris nodded. "I remember a bird, of the same dreamy shade of blue.." He spoke, as Aeris continued walking with small steps. "It was kept in a small iron cage in an office." Sephiroth continued to try and calm Aeris down. "When I was a boy, I thought it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. It sung with such a beautiful voice, even though it was locked up." He said, feeling Aeris finally relax a little. She leaned back against his chest, comforted by his touch. "One night, I sneaked out of my room to see the blue bird. It's cage was veiled by a dark cloth, so that it would think it was night even though the room surrounding it was brightly lit." Sephiroth continued his story. "For some reason I still don't understand, I took the cage and carried it to a balcany nearby." He said, noticing Aeris was walking almost at her normal pace.
"When I removed the cloth, the bird was sleeping, it's head tugged underneath it's wing. I took the bird out of it's cage, and held it tightly between my hands. It was so frightened, I felt it's little heart pound fast against my fingers, as it tried to spread it's wings in vain. It's voice became loud and frightened, as if it was pleading for help." The wind brushed past the bridge again, but Aeris wasn't as scared by the swaying bridge as he had been before. "I walked to the railing and threw the bird into the wind. The bird spread it's blue wings and they held it's weight. I watched as it soared to the sky and flew away. I never saw it again." Sephiroth finished his story with a sigh, as Aeris stepped off the bridge.
After the others saw Aeris was OK, they turned their backs and continued to walk towards the reactor. "Thanks." She glanced at Sephiroth. His touch had brought thoughts to her mind she'd have to soon forget or she'd never be able to look into his eyes again. And as Aeris knew, that was too great a sacrifise for her to make.
"We'll probably set up camp soon.. The sun is setting again." Sephiroth nodded in the direction of the afternoon sun.
"I know..I wonder if it's going to be cold up here in the mountains at night?" Aeris wondered, noticing her legs felt like jello. The thought of crossing the bridge again one day was not very pleasant to her, even though she now felt even closer to Sephiroth. There was so much more to him than anyone, including Sephiroth himself, understood.
"Personally, I wouldn't mind a little cold.." Sephiroth sighed, refering to the heat of Costa Del Sol. Aeris smiled and nodded at him, but for a completely different reason. Cold mountain air was a perfect excuse for her to snuggle close against him, even though she knew all the others would dissapprove.
* * * * *
"They're slow." Zenobius snorted, and threw a rock against a tree stump in the distance. The rock bounced off of it's surface, landing into a small river nearby.
They're just careful. Jenova told him, watching as Zenobius picked up another stone.
"I'm bored.." He sighed, and threw away the rock he had just picked up. Just like the dozens before it, it bounced of the tree stump and landed into the river. "How about I go back and kill that girl?" Zenobius asked Jenova, who remained hidden in the shadows of nearby trees.
It's too soon.. Jenova said with an uncertain voice. We must be careful which move we make next. I suggest we find the stone first.. We'll have plenty of chances to kill that wretched cetra later. She continued with a malevolent voice.
"I guess.. So where do we begin looking for it?" Zenobius asked.
Don't you know..? She seemed surprised.
"I planned to take it from Sephiroth's dead fingers.." Zenobius snarled, angry at himself for being so careless with Sephiroth the last time. He woved he wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
It's best we wait for now.. Jenova suggested. We mustn't let greed cloud our good judgement.. She continued, sighing.
"I can't wait to get my new powers." Zenobius' voice was anxious. "I'll become so strong nobody'll be able to defeat me.." He laughed, glancing at Jenova. "Cheer up, willya?" He told her. "They will all die.. I promise." Zenobius said, a determined look in his eyes.
Heh, finally done!! I've been a little lazy lately, but I'm sure I'll be able to update the 16th chapter sometime this week! So stay tuned for that eh? I'm still not sure if I'm gonna write the infamous Gold Saucer date scene, (I've got some ideas) because it's such a cliché.. What do you think? Umm.. See ya later!! ..and thanks for reading my fic!!!