DISCLAIMER: The characters of FF7 belong to their creator, Squaresoft. The quotation is from a song called 'Acoustic #3' by Goo Goo Dolls.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Wow, it's chapter 20 already!!! Heh!! I've been a little lazy, since this took me such a long time to write.. There's been so much trouble at ff.net, I probably couldn't have updated much earlier. ANYWAY, what I really wanted to say was: I hope you enjoy this chapter!! Sorry for any spelling mistakes!! I try to fix them as soon as I notice any. ^_^
CHAPTER 20.
They painted up
your secrets
The lies they told to you
And the least they ever gave you
was the most you ever knew
- Goo Goo Dolls -
"He's.. right in there." Yuffie pointed towards the door to the library.
"Oh." Vincent nodded at her, and walked to the heavy wooden door. Yuffie watched as Vincent grabbed the handle and pushed the door open, and prepared herself mentally for whatever was to come. Yuffie knew Sephiroth might not be too thrilled to see her, let alone hear the news Vincent had to tell.
"Be careful." Yuffie whispered to Vincent, as he entered the Library.
"Umm.. yes." Vincent glanced at Yuffie awkwardly as he spoke, an uncomfortable look in his crimson coloured eyes. As Yuffie followed Vincent into the dimly lit Library, the first thing she saw was a dark, wooden table. Large volumes of books and old, yellowish papers were scattered on it's surface, everything covered in a thick layer of dust.
"Geez, you'd think Shin-Ra could afford to hire someone to clean up this place.." Yuffie muttered, but soon realized the townspeople were probably too frightened of this place to enter it, no matter how much they'd be payed.
From the lounge of the Library, a narrow hallway led towards the inner chamber of the room. Yuffe glanced at it concearned, noticing a brighter light shine from it's direction. "I think he's over there.." She whispered, and pointed towards the light. Vincent nodded at her, and began to walk carefreely in the direction she had pointed to. Yuffie followed Vincent past tall bookshelves, that edged the narrow hallway. The shelves were stacked with books from the floor level up to the ceiling, and there were also some books lying on the ground, in small piles that had no dust on them. Yuffie swallowed, it was evident Sephiroth was here.
As they reached the chamber at the end of the hallway, they noticed Sephiroth sitting by large, heavy looking table. All the walls of the chamber were covered with bookshelves, yet there didn't seem to be enough room for all the hundreds of books the library contained. Sephiroth, who had surrounded himself with opened books and research material, looked right at home midst all the texts. As his fingers nervously switched pages of a book with green covers, Yuffie noticed he had discarded his black gloves on top of the table. Sephiroth's hands looked so much less threatening without the gloves, clean and neat.
"Uhrm." Yuffie coughed, and smiled a little as Sephiroth jumped at her voice. He had obviously not heard Yuffie and Vincent approach him, but he quickly recovered from the initial shock. Sephiroth turned his head at the voice, and as though by reflex, grabbed the handle of his sword.
"..Yuffie?" Sephiroth tilted his head, such a look of total confusion in his eyes.
"Yeah." Yuffie smiled nervously. Sephiroth didn't seem like his usual self.. Yuffie could only hope he wasn't at a destructive, village burning mood.
"What do you want? Why are you here?" Sephiroth's voice was angry and irritated.
"I.. kinda followed you.." Yuffie fidgeted, trying to gather her courage.
"You're a real jerk if you leave Aeris behind like that, without even saying a word!" She raised her voice at Sephiroth, but he just blinked in reply. Yuffie noticed his rigid posture soften a little at her words.
"Well, I could hardly stay either.." Sephiroth snorted, glancing at the book he had been studying. It was rather fascinating to read, since it was about old Cetra-legends. Sephiroth had been particularly interested in the last Prophecies of Cetra-elders, that dealt with Jenova's return. He had not found out much, and the language was vague, but Sephiroth wished to continue his studies nonetheless.
"Why?! Nobody's driving you away, except you!" Yuffie spoke, finally remembering the man in her company. "Oh yeah, and this weirdo here knows something." She pushed Vincent closer to Sephiroth, and for a moment the two men just looked at each other with little interest.
"Who are you, exactly?" Sephiroth turned his back at the wooden table, and leaned back against it, folding his arms as he took another look at the stranger.
"I'm.. Vincent Valentine." The man nodded at Sephiroth.
"So what's this.. information you claim to have?" Sephiroth's voice was harsh, and he briefly thought how long this was going to take. He was eager to get back to his reading, and hopefully discovering whatever it was he was supposed to do.
"You.. belive Jenova's your mother?" Vincent began, and Sephiroth heaved an exasperated sigh.
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not gonna like this.." Sephiroth thought aloud, as his gaze sunk to the ground.
"Just listen!" Yuffie turned her head from Sephiroth to Vincent.
"You were not raised in a tank.. You had real parents." Vincent began.
"W-what?" Sephiroth turned his head at him, a completely baffled look on his face. Yuffie wondered, if it had been a mistake on her part to decide to tell Sephiroth the truth. If he wasn't insane already, he'd probably be soon..
"You're lying.." Sephiroth snarled, yet didn't make a move to attack Vincent.
"I knew your mother.. her name's Lucresia." Vincent spoke.
"..Lucresia?" Sephiroth turned his head away from Vincent and Yuffie, who were staring at him. "Hojo's wife was called Lucresia.." He tilted his head, as the whole truth was unveiled before his eyes. "Hojo's not.. is he?" Sephiroth stared at the wall in front of him, feverishly hoping that Vincent would somehow prove his theory wrong.
"Yes, he's.. your father." Vincent nodded, an apologetic look in his eyes. "He began injecting you with Jenova cells before you were even born.. And thanks to that, Lucresia died at your birth." He continued, even though Sephiroth turned his back at him and Yuffie, and let out a fit of insane laughter.
"So my mother really did die at my birth? And because of me?" Sephiroth spoke again, his voice filled with so much emotion it was impossible to tell what he was feeling. The absent look in his eyes told that Sephiroth wasn't coping with all the information too well. The last 24 hours had been revolutionary in Sephiroth's life, just like the mission to Niebelheim five years ago.
"It was really because of Jenova.. Her cells somehow drained Lucresia of all her strength." Vincent clarified, yet Sephiroth looked like he hadn't heard Vincent's remark at all.
"I'm Lucresia's and.. Hojo's son.." Sephiroth's voice was neither angry or sad, as he begun to accept the thought. It all made sence to him now. The whispers and silent glares, suddenly they all seemed justified. Why hadn't they told him about Lucresia? Why had Hojo lied about even her name? As the old questions were answered, new one's replaced them - it seemed Sephiroth might never get all the answers.
"Sephiroth.. H-how are you feeling?" Yuffie asked, hiding behind Vincents back.
"Just fine." Sephiroth gave her the iciest glare Yuffie had ever seen, and then rushed out of the room. He held the Masamune tightly in his grasp, and walked at an anger fueled pace past the tall bookshelves.
"Ouchies." Yuffie grinned uncomfortably.
"What do you mean?" Vincent glanced at the teen-age ninja.
"Oh, nothing.." Yuffie continued, her voice shivering nervously. "But I'm thinking maybe this town isn't the best place to be right now." She said, and quickly walked after Sephiroth. Yuffie could hear him walk in the direction of the secret stairway at the end of the basement hallway.
"He looks much like Lucresia.." Vincent spoke, deeply in thought. "Lucresia would have wanted me to raise him.. It is most unfortunate I never got the chance." Vincent sighed and shook his head.
"What do ya mean?" Yuffie peeked out behind the library door, and noticed to her relief that the hallway was empty.
"Hojo's punishment for me.." Vincent raised his metallic arm. "I'm still not sure in what ways he modified me." He spoke with a faraway voice, as though trying to remember something.
"Well, I'm sure it'll come to you." Yuffie rolled her eyes and grabbed Vincent's hand.
She pulled him behind her towards the stairs, wondering is she was now responsible for Sephiroth's behaviour. After all, she had chosen to tell him the whole truth.
"I slept for so long.. The casket is of Hojo's design. I could have slept for decades more, had you not awoken me.. I suppose Hojo did it all, so that I wouldn't interfere. What has he done to Sephiroth..?" Vincent continued to think aloud, as Yuffie pulled him behind her. "Who could harm his own child? ..and lie like that?" Vincent said, as they rose up the stairs towards the room at the end of them. "Lucresia.. I've failed you." He continued quietly, staring off into space as Yuffie reached the end of the stairs.
"Maybe it's not too late, ya know. Go after Sephiroth and make sure he doesn't set anything on fire!" Yuffie proclaimed, and pushed Vincent to walk ahead of her.
"W-what?" Vincent seemed somewhat confused.
"Yeah you know, buildings, PEOPLE, people's dogs.. That sorta things." Yuffie explained, as she rushed down the stairs to the big main hall. She wanted to get out of the Shin-Ra mansion as soon as possible, since the place severely creeped her out.
* * * * *
The sun was already beginning to set, when the AVALANCHEr's were finally closing in on Niebelheim. "Wow. What a beautiful sunset." Aeris gasped. The mountains seemed to magnify the bright colours of red and orange, that cast their glow on the passing by clouds. Little by little the sun sank behind the peeks of the mountains, and the shadows embraced the village closeby, as though they had just been waiting for their chance.
"Something doesn't feel right.." Cloud muttered as his clear blue eyes scanned his hometown.
"What is it?" Aeris asked, wondering if Cloud could somehow sence Sephiroth's whereabouts.
"Is it Sephiroth?" Tifa asked tensely, stepping between Aeris and Cloud. Aeris smiled a little at Tifa's possessive gesture, she was obviously jealous of Cloud. Tifa had little reason to feel that way, Aeris thought, but she could hardly blame Tifa for feeling that way. If Sephiroth ever showed interest towards another girl, she'd feel the same way about him.
"I'm not sure.." Cloud spoke, as his other hand crept up to the side of his head.
"Are you OK?" Tifa asked concearned.
"I'm fine.. Just a little headache, that's all." Cloud said, and seemed to get over his pain. Aeris couldn't help noticing the strange look Tifa shot in her direction though. It was almost like fear..
They walked the short distance to the townsgate, and stopped to take a breather there.
"This is strange.. Everything looks so new." Cloud thought as he glanced around him.
"They've probably covered up the whole incident." Tifa didn't bother to hide her hatred towards Shin-Ra, it was a clear undertone in her voice.
"Why'd they do dat? They scorched Corel too, and it's still in ruins!" Barret snorted, agreeing with Tifa. "I can't see this place is any different.." He continued, and watched as Aeris walked closer to the main square of the village.
"But it is." She suddenly spoke, and turned around to look at the others.
"What do you mean?" Red seemed puzzled.
"I'm not sure.." Aeris thought, trying to make sence of the feeling emanating from the place. "I just sence there's something very special about this place.." She finished, smiling nervously as the others gave her odd looks. "Hehe. I must sound weird, huh?" She blushed a little, embarrassed she had come forward with such private information.
Before Sephiroth, Aeris had hardly ever spoken of the strange forebodings she seemed to get. She knew people would consider her crazy or just childish. Yet she was neither.. Aeris didn't feel comfortable talking about the biculiarities of her character with anyone but Sephiroth, since she knew he'd never judge her, whatever she might say. Of the AVALANCHEr's, Aeris was not that sure.
"We'd better go register to the Inn." Cloud said bluntly, turning his back at the others. They all followed him to the Inn, except Aeris. Her gaze sweeped across the setting sun once more, before she turned her back at it and walked into the mid-sized building. Cloud and Tifa were standing at the register, waiting for the inn keeper to hand over the keys to their rooms.
"Go on ahead, everyone's up there already." Cloud pointed towards the stairs, and Aeris smiled at him.
"Thanks.. I will." She said, and took off towards the stairs. Was Sephiroth here, in Niebelheim? Aeris kept her thoughts to herself. She realized she'd have to go searching for him, before Cloud would lead them out of the village. The others would strongly disapprove, since at least Cloud and Tifa thought Sephiroth had freaked out again. Aeris didn't think the true reason for why Sephiroth had left wasn't quite so simple..
"Hi.. Do you have the keys?" Red asked Aeris, a hopeful look on his face.
"No.. They're still waiting downstairs for them." Aeris smiled, as Red sighed dissappointed. She noticed Barret was also standing closeby, yawning widely. They were all tired after the long walk, but Aeris didn't really feel like sleeping. Her thoughts were filled with strange anxioty, she had a feeling something was just about to happen.
"What's taking so long.." Barret muttered, glancing at the hallway that had locked door on one side of it. Aeris figured the last door was probably the bathroom, and the three before it were the main hotel rooms.
"OK, Aeris, here's your key.." Cloud gave her the room 3 key.
"Red, Barret.. You're in number two." Cloud gave Barret the key.
"So you're alone in room 1?" Red asked, noticing Cloud blush bright red.
"..No.." He said with a quiet voice, fidgeting as Tifa walked to him. Even she looked a little red.
"Oh.. We'll.. go now.." Red coughed awkwardly, and walked into his room after Barret, who was laughing a little at Cloud's embarrassed expression.
Aeris waited for the others to enter their rooms, until she sneaked out of the hotel. Aeris placed her room key to the pocket of her little red jacket, and exited the hotel into the cool mountain air. Darkness had decended quickly, so that the village looked almost eery. The sharp echo of Aeris' footsteps made her feel very lonely on the empty streets. There were no other sounds, even the wind seemed to have quietened down. Aeris folded her arms to prevent her bodyheat from escaping. She paced past the pale, old fashioned houses, and briefly admired at some orchids planted nearby a white picket fence. The paint was peeling off of the wooden planks, nobody seemed to care in what condition the fence was. Aeris' eyes followed the line of white planks until she spotted a small gate, hanging to it's rusty hinges. She walked through the already open gate, and took a long look at the ghostly old mansion located at the end of a trail winding from the gate. It looked so dark, Aeris briefly wondered what secrets it's brick walls had to contain. "Hello..?" Aeris whispered, as she pushed the heavy door open, and stepped into the main hall of the building.
This looked like a place Sephiroth would like, Aeris smiled at the thought. Everything was covered in dust, and she noticed large cobwebs covered every corner of the hall. She shuddered as the door swinged shut behind her, and took a few temptative steps deeper into the building. She couldn't quite remember the story Cloud had told about Sephiroth, since at the time she had been a little preoccupied with other things, but what she remembered was a secret library at the basement of the building. Sephiroth would likely be there, if only Aeris could figure out where the library was. She walked under the stairs into a fully furnished room, glancing around. Aeris noticed a small music box on the small table by the bed. She sat down on the satin sheets, and folded her legs beneath her, as she reached for the box. As she opened it, a ballet dancer began to twirl slowly in front of a dusty mirror, while the box played a beautiful melody. Aeris remembered she had heard the same tune sometime before, maybe while selling flowers. Aeris loved to sell her flowers by the theatre, because she could hear the faint music from the shows they were performing at the large building.
Sometimes when she had been younger, Aeris had hoped someone would once invite her to the theatre shows. She often day-dreamed she was a noble-woman, living on the upper plate of Midgar. In those days, Aeris had felt a little sad, that her life wasn't carefree running from one party to another. Now Aeris was glad that it wasn't. Aeris realized she'd hardly be happier, if she had no other purpose in life than to look pretty and get married. At least with AVALANCHE, she had a chance to actually make a difference. Not to mention, she had met Sephiroth.. For however brief their relationship would turn out to be, Aeris was thankful of the time she had had with him. Aeris smiled sadly and closed the music box, placing it back on top of the table.
"Aeris?? What are you doing here?" Yuffie gasped as she recognized the pink glad young woman.
"N-nothing.." Aeris was too stunned to think.
"Yuffie.. Why are you here? Is Sephiroth here too?" She asked.
"First tell me this: is everyone here?" Yuffie seemed a little worried.
"Yeah.. We just came here this evening.." Aeris answered.
"Oh great. Look, Aeris. We have to find Sephiroth before Cloud does." Yuffie spoke cautiously.
"Why?" Aeris stood up, and dusted her dress.
"Well.. It's a long story. I'll tell you all about it.. While you help me look for Seph." Yuffie muttered.
"He's.. OK, isn't he?" Aeris bit her lip.
"Yeah.. more or less." Yuffie grinned awkwardly. "Come on, now.." She bagan to pull Aeris behind her. As the two reached the main hall of the building, Aeris' eyes went wide with shock.
"Oh my god." She gasped.
* * * * *
"What's that?" A young man's voice asked.
Sephiroth turned his head towards the asker, and studied him with an indifferent expression on his face. "Dargan." He answered bluntly.
"Oh. The western front." The man said then.
"Yes.. We're assigned to protect it, until the reinforcements arrive." Sephiroth continued, as his Mako gaze scanned the small village ahead. There weren't more than ten small buildings in it, and it's location on top of a cliff made it very vulnerable for attacks. In Sephiroth's opinion, Dargan was already doomed. He figured the Wutaian army would rather destroy the holy site located at the center of the village, than give it up for Shin-Ra to control.
"Hey, Sephiroth.." Zack, Sephiroth's trusted liutenant, asked.
Sephiroth twitched uncomfortably, for he preferred his unit members called him Sir or General. Unfortunately Zack was a First Class SOLDIER, which meant he could treat Sephiroth like an equal. "Yes?" Sephiroth asked in a cold voice.
"They don't really expect us to fight against an entire army.. on our own?" Zack asked, a little doubtful look on his face.
"I can't see why not.." Sephiroth smirked.
"But.." Zack tried, puzzled by the arrogant grin on Sephiroth's face. Nothing seemed to ever frighten him. It seemed Sephiroth was beyond such things.. Zack considered such power very fascinating. Zack wanted to become just like Sephiroth, no, even stronger than he.
"Sir. I believe we have company." A female SOLDIER informed Sephiroth, pointing towards the sea. Large warships with beautifully decorated sails flowed quietly towards them from the horizon.
"Wutaian.." Sephiroth muttered. "I suppose they've put those Mako-cannons they stole into use.." He smirked, squinting his eyes in the brightness of day. "They won't attack until night falls.." He told the others, and kept walking calmly.
"Why do you think so?" Zack asked again. He wanted to learn as much as he could from Sephiroth.
"It's easier to hit a target such as Dargan from a far at night.. The glow of the holy earth-shrine is so bright at night, it pin points the location of the village.." Sephiroth spoke calmly. He was used to dealing with inexperienced people, so he knew to be patient with them. To a certain extent, anyway.
"Shouldn't we warn the villagers?" Zack continued his questions.
"And jeopardize our mission?" Sephiroth tilted his head back, and gazed up at the shrine, whose glow could already be seen faintly.
The small temple was entirely built of crystallized mako, that was rare anywhere on the planet. For some reason, Sephiroth felt bad that the monument would apparently be destroyed. "It's best we act as though we haven't noticed them." Sephiroth said, his voice faraway and thoughtful, as he continued to ponder his situation. The rational part of his mind went through battle plans and strategy, while the other half continued to admire the Shrine. It was really quite.. beautiful. The way sunlight hit it's smooth surface, that broke the light in a way that the air surrounding the monument seemed to shiver in an aura of rainbow coloured light. Sephiroth watched, as endless waves of pure energy flowed through the stones. In the next moment, the light vanished, as though what he had seen had been nothing but a vision or a figment of his imagination.
"Sir, is the mission really all that matters? What about their lives..?" The female Soldier who had spoken before, continued. She fidgeted nervously under her blue helmet, as Sephiroth turned his eyes at her.
"Everybody dies at sometime.. And we're at war now. They're the enemy." Sephiroth answered the woman, who then nodded at him, as if to say she understood. She even smiled at Sephiroth, with that look in her eyes many women seemed to have when talking to him. Sephiroth blinked and turned his head away.
Sometimes he wondered, if his grip on reality was loosening. At times Sephiroth felt he was watching a movie, where all the people passed him by, never really noticing him. Sometimes they talked to him and he'd reply, but no matter what, everything was so superficial. He longed for someone to see deep into the innermost chambers of his heart, yet felt horrified at the thought of allowing it to happen.
"I wonder how many more years this war'll take. I mean, as long as I can remember, there's been war." Zack muttered, glaring at the ships in the distance, that seemed to be gloating at the travellers from the safety of their distance.
"Hmm.. I suppose war is something that will always be." Sephiroth murmured, staring into space with a thoughtful look on his face.
"I guess." Zack shrugged. "I'm just glad I'll be going back to my girlfriend for the next vacation." He puffed, as they began to climb the winding little path leading to Dargan.
"You're dating?" The woman officer asked Zack, glancing at Sephiroth briefly.
"Sure. She's called Aeris, we're pretty serious. I figure we'll get married sometime soon." Zack smiled.
"Well, I'm glad for you." The woman told Zack, and they continued to talk casually as they walked.
Sephiroth, on the other hand, remained silent throughout their walk, just like one of the lower rank SOLDIER's, a blonde man whose name Sephiroth didn't know. They glanced at each other in silence, as their group entered the village.
"Cool.. I hear they make teleport powder here." Zack grinned, as he studied the town. He always wanted to appear confident, almost to the point of being outright cocky.
"Only to the one's who know how to use it.." Sephiroth smirked at the man, and their group began to prowl across the main street to the local Inn.
* * * * *
"Zenobius.." Aeris shuddered.
"Well hello there." Zenobius leered. "So where's that poof of a bodyguard of yours?" He asked, raising his sword to a fighting stance. Aeris swallowed, as her eyes wandered from Zenobius to the purple alien behind the black-haired man, hovering inches above ground.
"Sephiroth?" Aeris asked, glancing at Yuffie nervously. "Go, he wants me." She whispered to the young ninja. "Find the others.. Hurry." She added, a pleading look in her emerald green eyes.
"Yes.." Zenobius' expression turned cold at the mention of the silver-haired man, who had won their previous battle.
"He's.. around." Aeris gulped, watching the purple alien that hovered slowly towards her. That must be Jenova, Aeris thought. As the attention of Zenobius and Jenova was at Aeris, Yuffie managed to sneak out of the building un-noticed. She ran towards the Inn as fast as she possibly could, racing up the stairs.
"Cloud, Tifa everybody!!!" She shouted, banging on all of the doors. "Aeris' in trouble!!" She shouted, and finally the sleepy AVALANCHEr's peeked a glimpse at her behind their doors.
"Yuffie? Don't be ridiculous, Aeris is sleeping in her room." Cloud yawned, and rubbed his eyes.
"Yeah.. Where on earth have you been, Yuffie?" Tifa asked the young ninja.
"No time for that now!! Aeris went looking for Sephiroth and now Zenobius.. Hurry!!!" Yuffie panicked.
"Sephiroth? Zenobius?" Cloud blinked, trying to make sence of Yuffie's fast speach.
"Aeris is alone with Zenobius and Jenova, at the Shin-Ra mansion!!" Yuffie explained, hoping that Vincent had already found Sephiroth, and led him back to the mansion as he had promised. "Geez, how can you be so thick!" Yuffie pulled at Cloud's hand. "Aeris might die!" She shouted, finally noticing Cloud pick up his sword.
"Let's go everyone, quickly!" Cloud shouted, and they all ran down the stairs and out of the Inn. As they glanced up at the Shin-Ra mansion, they heard sounds of stuggle from inside the building.
"Oh my god." Tifa gasped, and they quickly ran to the mansion, busting in through the front door. Jenova was chasing Aeris, her long purple tentacles swaying wildly in the air. She moved without making a sound, casting an eery shadow on the dusty floor.
"Ewwwkk!!" Aeris squealed, as she stumbled on a corner of a carpet.
"Hahahaa.. You're killing me! Whatta talent." Zenobius laughed, while leaning against a railing. "Have fun.." He pointed at Jenova, who briefly turned to look at the black-haired man, almost as if to say something.
"Leave her alone!" Cloud rushed towards the purple alien, and slashed at it bravely. She growled in pain, and raised one of her tentacles. Jenova hit Cloud powerfully to the side, sending him against the nearby wall. He gagged for air, since the blow had removed all air from his lungs.
Aeris watched in horror, as the AVALANCHEr's all attempted to fight off Jenova. The few granades Tifa threw at the creature only managed to slow Jenova down a bit, so that Aeris could get up and run to the others.
"Are you OK?" Tifa asked Aeris concerned, a scolding tune to her voice. Aeris shouldn't have wandered off alone, especially at night.
"I'm sorry.. I.." Aeris tried to explain her behaviour, but Tifa just shook her head in response. "Save it for later. Right now we have these two to worry about." She spoke, glancing at Cloud worried. He was about to attack Jenova again, when suddenly he grabbed his head, groaning in pain.
"..urgh.." Cloud mumbled something incoherent, then went stumbling to the ground.
"Leaving already?" Zenobius leered as he noticed the AVALANCHEr's back up from Jenova and him.
"We're gonna kill you for sure if anything happens to Cloud." Tifa told Zenobius in a determined voice.
"Oh.. The puppet." Zenobius glanced at the unconsious blonde man.
"Don't worry.. he'll live to see the reunion." Zenobius muttered. "But as for that little cetra-bitch.." He muttered, rubbing the side of his face where Aeris had slapped him. "I doubt she'll be as lucky." Zenobius snarled, cutting the air with his jade-green bladed sword.
Aeris looked at the black haired man frightened. She could still feel the place where he had touched her, tingling uncomfortably. Aeris felt a strong need to get a shower and wash herself, as though Zenobius' touch had somehow stained her skin. When he had grabbed her wrist and twisted it painfully so that she had been forced down to her knees, Aeris had truly feared Zenobius might.. She shuddered. Such a thought was too frightening, it was best to just forget about it. Now she had friends here, and they'd never let anything happen to her, Aeris smiled gratefully at the AVALANCHEr's. Nothing had happened, she was alright.
"Just leave, Zenobius.." Tifa told the taller man with a troubled look on her face.
"Not before I kill her.." Zenobius said, raising his palm as he begun chanting a powerful summon spell. "Leviathan." He smirked, as a powerful mist of energy appeared out of nowhere, enveloping him under it's cover.
"He's gotten stronger.." Tifa gulped, as she watched Zenobius' spell begin to work. A huge tidal wave of energy, coloured blue like water, rushed against the AVALANCHEr's. The sheer force of the spell send them off of their feet, and down to the ground. As the spell was over, each drop of water vaporated into plain energy.
"..Gaah.." Cloud turned his head with great difficulty, and watched in shock, as Zenobius begun to walk closer to his team. There wasn't a thing he could do to help the others.
"Well then.." Zenobius said, and raised his sword to strike Aeris. Just then, he felt bullets rip through his shoulder. The pain blurred out his vision momentarily, allowing Aeris to get up and escape. She immediatly began chanting her limit-break hit, healing wind, that helped the other AVALANCHEr's recover too. "Who dares to shoot ME!!" Zenobius twirled around, noticing a dark haired man in a red cape, standing in a fighting stance with a silver-decorated rifle in his hand.
"Y-you can't be still alive.." Vincent blinked, staring at the hole in Zenobius' shoulder, that was bleeding furiously. Even as they speaked, however, some strange power was healing him. Vincent noticed Jenova cast Cure3-spell on Zenobius, completely healing him. "Did you really think I could be killed that easily..?" Zenobius laughed cruelly, walking towards Vincent. "God's can't die.." He spoke, as suddenly something took away his breath.
"You're not a god." A deep, refined voice snarled.
Zenobius watched, as a long sharp blade pierced his body, sliding through his back and out of his chest. sHe coughed blood, his muscles jerking at the feel of cold steel sliding through his tissues. As the long blade was pulled out of him, Zenobius fell down to the ground, but miraculously he was still breathing, despite his fatal injury.
"I'm glad you listened." Vincent snorted at Sephiroth, who merely glared at the dark-haired man in return.
"I seriously couldn't care less, whether I'll rot in hell or not." Sephiroth spoke, then glanced at Jenova.
"You lied to me. And you should know, *mother*.. I don't particularly like liars." Sephiroth told her, turning his head to the side as Jenova answered Sephiroth with a series of angry curses.
"I.. will.. not.. be beaten.." Zenobius struggled to get to his feet, and faltered over to Jenova.
"Why won't that guy just die!" Yuffie pouted at Sephiroth, almost as if scolding him for his failure.
"Regen!" Zenobius shouted with a horribly broken voice, his teeth stained in his own blood as he smiled.
"Demi." Sephiroth raised his palm against Zenobius, and watched the spell take effect, stealing Zenobius of his last energy.
"Aargh!!" The black-haired mans eyes were blood-shot, and pearls of sweat rolled down his pale skin. "..You haven't heard the last of me." Zenobius snarled, and pressed against Jenova. After a weary, weak hand movement, the two of them teleported, leaving the stunned members of AVALANCHE glancing at each other.
"I guess I owe you two thanks." Tifa looked at Vincent and Sephiroth in turn, and then rushed to Cloud's side. "Are you OK?" The young woman asked, and helped Cloud to his feet.
"W-what happened..?" He spoke, feeling very light-headed after the brief encounter with Jenova.
"We fought off Zenobius and that alien.." Tifa explained, and walked Cloud out of the building, first glancing at Aeris. Barret and Red followed Tifa, and Yuffie pulled Vincent behind her towards the Inn, where they all decided to discuss what to do next.
Aeris waited by the doorway, watching as Sephiroth stood in a puddle of Zenobius' blood, cleaning his sword with a white cloth. "Do you have to do that now?" She asked him, uncertain of what to say. She wanted to talk to Sephiroth about so much, but she couldn't find the right words.
"It'll be bad for the sword, if I let the blood dry." Sephiroth snorted, not looking up at Aeris.
"Sephy.." Aeris whispered, as he finally sheathed his sword. "Thank you. For saving my life. Again." She swallowed. The closer she walked to Sephiroth, the stronger she felt the almost magnetic field around him, that made her ears hum.
"Don't mention it." Sephiroth said, and took a step out of the blood, as he noticed he was standing in it. "I told you this might happen. You could have died.." He spoke, and turned his eyes at Aeris.
"But I didn't." Aeris told him.
"How about the next time, or the time after that? Zenobius is rather resilient." Sephiroth smirked.
"I don't know." Aeris shrugged, suddenly noticing a little cut in her arm. She walked to the stairs at the end of the hall, and sat down. Sephiroth soon joined her, a slightly worried look in his eyes as he too noticed the slightly swollen wound.
"Oh great.. It looks like I wasn't fast enough for Jenova." Aeris muttered under her breath, rubbing the sore spot gently.
"What I'm trying to say.." Sephiroth sat down behind Aeris, grabbing her sore arm. "You don't owe me anything." He spoke, as he cast a cure spell that tickled Aeris' skin as it worked.
"You shouldn't put yourself in danger for the wrong reasons." Sephiroth said, as he let go of Aeris arm.
"You don't think I'm serious about us?" Aeris turned to face Sephiroth, who still sat behind her, staring down at her face with a quizzical look in his eyes.
"Are you?" He asked.
"Why do you think I came looking for you, all alone?" Aeris rolled her eyes, as Sephiroth stood up and walked towards the exit.
"Sephiroth, wait!" Aeris ran after him, stopping Sephiroth at the doorway. "Why did you leave, all of a sudden?!" She asked.
"I guess I just needed time alone.. To figure out who I was.. and where I belonged." Sephiroth spoke, and leaned his back against the doorframe.
"Oh?" Aeris bit her lip as she looked at him. He looked so beautiful, as the shadows brought out the delicate curve of his lips. "Did you find what you were looking for?" She asked, and reached out her hand to touch him.
"More like it found me." Sephiroth snorted, a sad frown on his lips.
"So no going away suddenly anymore? You're gonna stick with AVALANCHE?" Aeris asked.
"I guess.. Since it looks like I was right about Zenobius and Jenova.." Sephiroth shrugged, smiling as Aeris rose to stand on her toes. She smiled sheepishly, before she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Sephiroths, holding her hand on his neck.
Sephiroth returned Aeris' kiss, enjoying her touch that was as delicate and light as a butterfly. He softly pulled at Aeris' warm lower lip as they parted, opening his eyes. Sephiroth was so captivated by the warm glow of Aeris' eyes, that his gaze remained locked to the bottomless shine of her emerald coloured eyes.
"That was.. nice, wasn't it?" Aeris asked Sephiroth shyly, breaking the silence. She rested her head against Sephiroth's shoulder, perfectly content with just holding onto him.
"It was." Sephiroth awkwardly wrapped him arms around Aeris. He stared at their merged shadows, not really sure if he was supporting Aeris or the other way around.
* * * * *
"I don't understand it.." Cloud rubbed his temples. "Suddenly I just heard this really loud sound in my head, and everything went black.. I don't know what it was." He told Tifa, who was sitting next to him in their room. Barret, Red, Vincent and Yuffie were also gathered into the same room, as they were supposed to hold a meeting.
"It's taken Aeris pretty long to get here.." Red glanced at Yuffie and Vincent, who seemed to be the newest member of their team. The dark-haired man seemed awfully quiet, as he only sat in the corner of the room, keeping whatever thoughts he had to himself.
"She's probably talking with.. him. They've got a lot to discuss." Tifa muttered.
"I wonder if talking's all they do.." Yuffie said under her breath, and then smiled apologetically at Cloud and Tifa, who were staring at her shocked.
"I can't believe Zenobius was so resilient.." Red began the meeting. "I wonder if he can be killed at all." He continued.
"I guess the key to killing Zenobius is to kill Jenova first.." Cloud shrugged.
"Yeah, you might have a point there." Tifa nodded, agreeing with Cloud.
"The only problem is, we don't know where they are, exactly." Cloud sighed. He had been tired to begin with, but after the recent battle, he was quite frankly exhausted.
"I guess it's OK to assume Jenova and Zenobius are still headed towards the Temple of the Ancients." Red guessed.
"Yeah.. I wonder why they want to go there so bad." Tifa thought.
"Sephiroth knows, that's for sure." Cloud snorted, not thrilled of the idea of asking him anything. "There's not much more we can do right now, than to get a ride to the Temple and figure out the rest from there. So we're still headed for Rocket Town." He then yawned.
"Sure. I guess we should all go to bed now, huh?" Barret suggested, and took a step towards the door, just as Aeris was about to enter.
"Where's.. uh.. Sephiroth?" Tifa asked, figuring they'd be stuck with Sephiroth for the rest of their journey together. She might as well try and get used to the idea.. Cloud didn't seem too thrilled though, even if Sephiroth had kind of saved his entire team from the hands of Jenova and Zenobius.
"He's.. in my room." Aeris blushed bright red.
"Oh." Cloud stammered, not getting why anyone would be able to sleep with a raving psychopath like Sephiroth in her room. Then again, Cloud thought, Aeris didn't see Sephiroth the way he did.
"So he's with us?" Barret asked, a doubtful undertone in his voice.
"Yes." Aeris smiled sheepishly. "Don't hate him, please.. We're sort of dating." She confessed, and everyone except Yuffie, Tifa and Red blinked at her in response. Aeris' words were not exactly a surprise to anyone, but this was the first time Aeris had come publicly forward with their relationship. That must've meant they were serious, Tifa thought.
"Aeris.." Cloud begun to protest, but didn't know what to say. They had warned Aeris of Sephiroth a million times, she just didn't seem to listen. So it didn't really make any difference, Cloud mused, whatever he'd say Aeris would still want to be with Sephiroth.
"I know you're worried, and everything.. But I'm really happy." She beamed, a day-dreaming look in her eyes.
"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into.." Cloud sighed, silently accepting there wasn't much he could do to chance Aeris' mind. If she had decided not to give up on Sephiroth, she most likely wouldn't. Cloud had rarely met such a stubborn woman.
"Well then. I guess I'll see you all tomorrow, right?" Aeris smiled.
"Yeah.. Let's meet at the town square, at noon?" Cloud suggested, and everyone nodded in silent agreement.
"Sure. Goodnight everyone!" Aeris chirped, and paced quickly towards her room that was further down the hallway.
"She's almost too happy." Tifa looked at Cloud, and they exchanged a look. "I wonder what's he doing to her.." She though, making Cloud's lips draw into a smile.
"Yeah.. She's got to be under somekind of a spell." Cloud smiled.
"Definately." Tifa returned his smile, and they watched as the others left their room, and closed the door behind them.
* * * * *
"Sir, they're coming!" A man dressed in a blue SOLDIER uniform told Sephiroth.
"Oh." He spoke, and walked out of the Inn.
"From what direction?" Sephiroth asked.
"From Wutai.. They're using the bridges, Sir." The man spoke quickly and nervously, just like most people when adressing Sephiroth.
"Why haven't you burned the bridges as ordered?" Sephiroth asked, his voice neither angry or accusing. In fact, he didn't seem concearned at all.
"Sir, according to our unit leader, they can be used as a strategic advantage. He fordibbed their destruction." The SOLDIER explained, raising his hand to his helmet to salute his superior officer.
"Very well.. Thank you." Sephiroth told him, and watched as he nodded and left. It seemed the Wutaian wanted to have one last desperate try to claim back this holy land from Shin-Ra, before destroying it. Sephiroth turned to Zack, a thoughtful look on his face. "Gather a platoon to go with you.. I imagine these six left will be enough to protect this village." Sephiroth told him.
"Where to, Sephiroth?" Zack seemed puzzled.
"To meet the Wutaian army.." Sephiroth smirked.
"But-- We can't defeat them on our own!" Zack told him.
"You won't have to.." Sephiroth said. "I imagine they know already that they're fighting a losing battle.. Just take out their leaders and the rest will most likely surrender. Who would want to die for nothing.." He spoke, signaling with his hand that Zack should go do as he was told.
"Aye Aye Sir." Zack smirked back at Sephiroth, and went off to collect the men required for the assigment.
Sephiroth wandered out of the Inn, enjoying the anxioty in the atmosphere. Everybody was glancing around them, wondering what was going on and why there were so many SOLDIER's in town. Sephiroth didn't show much interest to the villagers, instead he went over to the Shrine, and studied the beautiful engravings on the crystallized Mako. The people of Dargan sure knew how to make a Temple look beautiful.
"This Shrine's a monument to an Ancient war.." An old woman spoke, her voice shivering spitefully, as her eyes studied the beautiful building. "It's over 2000 years old.." She continued. "But look, it never crumbles of age, and rain does not smoothe these sharp corners.." The woman said, walking over to Sephiroth. "Even wind cannot touch it, it's of harder substance than any simple stone.." The woman explained.
"There must be something harder than it, since these engravings were made to it's surface." Sephiroth snorted, touching the stone. He thought he saw a small flame, flickering inside the rocks surface.
"Some say the stone's were created that way.. As though these words were written by the hands of god." The old woman coughed, correcting the warm scarf on her shoulders. "But there is nothing divine about this Temple.. Is it not to be worshipped." She said, finally leaving Sephiroth alone with his thoughts.
He decided to relax in the shade of the small building, and then return to the Inn to instruct the remaining men. Still, even as Sephiroth tried to concentrate on his battle plans, the words of the old woman echoed in his mind, as though there was some deeper meaning in them, just below the surface only he couldn't see it. Whatever it was, Sephiroth shrugged, he'd have to forget it.
I promise you, this sickeningly sweet stuff is far from over!! This chapter turned out to be a little shorter than I had planned (can you believe it!!), but that just seemed like such a good place to end this one. In the next chapter, the journey towards Rocket Town continues.. I'll probably write a few funny scenes in it too!! (Please forgive me my weird sence of humour.) Review me, I love to read your comments on my writing!! (Especially the good comments. *major hint on what to write in your review*)