DISCLAIMER: Heh!! Finally I can say I own something, no it's not the characters that still belong to Squaresoft, but the little poem at the beginning of this chapter. I wrote it. Hahahaa!! Didn't that feel good. 0_o Umm.. Didn't mean to gloat about it.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'm so dissappointed ff.net is down for two weeks! This means you'll have one major update then, probably like four chapters!! Hmm, anyway, moving on.. ^_^ I hope you can make sence out of this story? I try to think how I'd feel when reading this for the first time, but it's difficult for me to know how you understand this.. (So please, if you spot any biculiarities, I'd like to know about it!) I'm sort of trying to entwine the past, present and future of Aeris and Seph, and at the same time, move this story forward.. You'd think I'm incredibly stressed out? Well I'm not. As strange as it is, this is my idea of fun. ^_~
CHAPTER 21.
The most radiantly glowing
eyes of your love
nobody could replace
The passers by look at him and see nothing
but pale shades of grace.
- Miras Dragonfly -
"Dear tv-viewers, before we move onto tonights movie, we have the head of Shin-Ra's war department, Mr. Heideggar here in the studio with some news." The announcer said, catching the attention of Elmyra and Aeris, who were sitting on Elmyra's bed watching television.
"I wonder what's that about." Elmyra thought aloud. "I sure hope they've not declared another war.. It hasn't been that long since Wutai surrendered." She glanced at Aeris as she spoke, noticing a slightly worried look on her face.
"Well then.. Good evening." Heideggar began his speach by clearing his throat. "There's been an accident at the Mako-reactor of Niebelheim. As a result, General Sephiroth whose SOLDIER unit was assigned to fix a malfunction in the reactor, is missing in action and presumed dead. We are however, in the process of solving the problem so further casualities should be avoided.." Heideggar began to read from a paper sheet in his hand.
"The General's dead?" Elmyra blinked. "Hmm.. I wonder if there are some structural problems with the reactors.." She thought, as a small picture of Sephiroth appeared at the upper right corner of the TV screen.
Aeris stared at him for long. "A man's dead.. I can't believe they just continue talking about the reactors like nothing's happened." Her voice seemed a little upset. She stared at the small picture for as long as it was posted on the screen, trying to memorize each feature.
The General's expression was unreadable, as he just stared into space with the most sad, beautiful eyes Aeris had ever seen. There was something cat-like in their shape, some wonderful veiled secret.. She felt charmed by his appearance. To think that he was dead, Aeris shook her head and sighed, it felt horrible. Sephiroth couldn't have been much older than twenty. How could anyone be ready to die so young? At a point where all of life was supposed to be ahead of him, some cruel twist of fate had taken his life. Soon Heideggar left the studio, and the movie began, as if nothing had happened. Aeris however, felt a little empty inside as though some part of herself had died with the news. It was silly.. Usually news of people's deaths didn't bother her, because Aeris knew they would return to the Planet and be reborn. But there was something about the General's mesmerizing gaze, that made Aeris wish she had had a chance to meet him. Now it was too late..
"What's wrong dear? I'm sure Zacks fine, even if he hasn't yet answered your letter.." Elmyra smiled reassuringly, misunderstanding the sad frown on Aeris' lips.
"Yeah.. I'm sure he is." Aeris sighed, and tried to concentrate on the film.
* * * * *
Aeris pushed the door to her room shut, and watched a while at Sephiroth's back. He was standing by the window, gazing at the surrounding scenery. "A penny for your thoughts." She told him, from a polite distance.
ephiroth smiled at her in silence, and pressed his back against the wall next to the window, still maintaining eye contact with Aeris.
"So.. Are you gonna tell me about it any time soon?" Aeris asked him, sitting down on the window-sill.
"About what?" Sephiroth asked, smiling as innocently as he could.
"Oh, please. You so know what I mean.." Aeris chuckled, enjoying the look Sephiroth gave her.
"Do I have to? Isn't there some way to avoid this subject?" Sephiroth raised a brow, a lopsided grin gracing his features.
"Nope. I'm afraid not." Aeris shook her head, smiling as he sighed. "Well.." Sephiroth walked to the bed, and sat down.
"I killed my mother." He snorted, the tone of his voice almost nonchalant.
"W-what?" Aeris looked at him with her eyes wide. "But.. Jenova was.." She stammered.
"Jenova's not my real mother.. I'm the son of Hojo and Lucresia." Sephiroth explained.
"That crazy scientist is your.. father?" Aeris' voice was moved. She wondered how Sephiroth could ever cope with having such parents.
"Yes.. Lucresia was his wife, she died when I was born." Sephiroth told Aeris, his eyes locked to the beige carpet on the floor. "I killed my own mother.." He spoke, his voice suggesting he was still trying to get used to the idea.
"Don't blame yourself.." Aeris told him.
"How could I not?" He glanced at her.
"Listen.. You don't think I ever blamed myself for my mother's death? I watched her die!" Aeris told him, not intending to raise her voice at Sephiroth, but doing so anyway. The memory of Ifalna, lying on the cold stone stairs of a train station, still moved Aeris deeply. "But growing up with Elmyra, I realized sometimes horrible things happen without any reason.. There's nothing you could have done to stop it from happening, Sephiroth.." Aeris smiled at the floor sadly, almost embarrassed of being so straight forward with him. "Please don't hate yourself.." She said shyly, finally looking up at Sephiroth again. He was sitting in silence, his beautiful eyes shining more radiantly than Aeris had ever seen.
"Sephy.." Aeris walked over to him, and sat next to him, pulling the silver-haired man to her embrace. "It's OK.." She told him, closing her eyes as she held Sephiroth.
"I was a killer on the day I was born.." He said thoughtfully, and pulled back a little. Aeris felt tears burning in her own eyes too, as she saw the deeply sad look in Sephiroth's eyes. Yet he couldn't cry.. It was as though he had forgotten how to express such deep sorrow. Aeris watched the light blue curtains in her room, sway gently in the cool evening breeze. She turned her eyes back at Sephiroth, and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, trying to put all her admiration for him into the touch. As their eyes locked again, they both smiled sadly.
"So now you know.." Sephiroth said, and didn't escape Aeris touch. She rested her hand on the back of Sephiroth's head, and dug her fingers into his hair.
"And I'm glad you told me.." Aeris whispered him, and placed a kiss on his hair too. She was surprised he was suddenly so docile, almost to the point of being plain vulnerable. She realized it would be easy for her to harm him, yet at the same time she knew she never could.
"Why were you behaving so weird before..?" She asked him, deciding it was best to keep asking him questions for as long as he felt like answering.
"..Jenova.. She.. told me things." Sephiroth spoke, and Aeris felt him twitch uncomfortably. She backed up on the bed, and Sephiroth leaned back, resting his head on Aeris' lap. "She can reach me, telepathically.." Sephiroth explained, blinking lazily as Aeris caressed the sides of his face.
"..Why didn't you tell me?" Aeris bit her lip as she thought back to the way he had behaved. "What did Jenova say?" She guessed whatever it had been, it had something do with her.
"It wasn't really because of anything she said.. I guess I was just afraid." Sephiroth glanced up at Aeris, a slightly nervous look in his eyes. He was not used to telling anyone of his weaknesses, and even if he knew Aeris wouldn't harm him, he still looked like he was waiting to be punished for having emotions.
"Of what? Me?" Aeris smiled, feeling Sephiroth relax a little more.
"Of hope.." He said then, and frowned to himself. "There's nothing more painful than to lose all hope.. I just couldn't go through that again." Sephiroth explained.
"I'm not going anywhere." Aeris assured him, understanding the hidden meaning behind Sephiroth's words, "As long as you want me.. I'll be around." She spoke with a soft, caring voice.
"Don't say that unless you mean it." Sephiroth lifted his gaze at Aeris, and smiled at her mischievously. "I might never let you go." Sephiroth spoke, a little surprised as Aeris layed back next to him.
"Why, that sounds nice." Aeris smiled, and crossed her fingers with Sephiroth's gloved hand. "Listen.." She turned to her side, and watched as Sephiroth turned his head to face her.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Are you tired?" Aeris looked at Sephiroth quizzically.
"Not really.." He answered, raising his brow. "Oh, don't gimme that look mister, it's nothing like that." Aeris giggled, and noticed Sephiroth smile at her, showing his perfect white teeth.
"What?" She asked, curious of what had caused his sudden light mood.
"I love to hear you laugh.." Sephiroth smiled again, and closed his eyes briefly.
"Well thanks. But seriously.. I don't feel like sleeping." Aeris told him, a little excited tune to her voice. "So what's fun at Niebelheim? Maybe we could go do something." She asked Sephiroth, figuring he might know someplace they could go. The memory of Zenobius and Jenova had completely been erased of Aeris' memory, and she wasn't afraid of running into them while she was in Sephiroth's company anyway.
"You know, I'm not really the person you should be asking that." Sephiroth snorted.
"Oh yeah. The.. thing." Aeris grinned awkwardly. The events that had occurred five years ago were still a taboo between them, something not to be mentioned. "Tell me about your childhood then.. Let's have a real heart to heart talk." Aeris suggested, and Sephiroth gave her a look that told he'd rather fight Zenobius and Jenova again. Finally he gave up with a sigh, noticing Aeris wasn't going to stop prying about his past.
"Well.. I was raised at Shin-Ra headquarters.. To become the greatest SOLDIER the world had ever known." Sephiroth snorted, a slightly bitter tune to his voice. "I was beaten a lot.. I don't really know what to tell." He added quietly.
"Who took care of you?" Aeris asked, determined to find something about his past that was worth remembering. After all, she had already shared many such memories of her own with Sephiroth.
"..Nobody." Sephiroth shrugged, and laughed coldly. "I had caretakers, when Hojo wasn't around.. But even when he was.. You couldn't really say he took care of me." He explained. "He liked to experiment on me.. See how much time it took for me to heal from different injuries, how much blood I could lose before I lost consiousness.." Sephiroth explained, feeling Aeris snuggle against him into the crook of his arm.
"And my caretakers.. They all treated me like a regular monster.. Hojo made it very clear to them, that I was not a normal child, so I should not be treated as one either. All I ever did was practice sword handling and martial arts, study and run from one experiment to another.." Sephiroth said, and listened to Aeris' calm breathing. "Except.." He suddenly fell silent, as he found a disturbing, large hole from his perfect memory.
"What?" Aeris turned her head.
"..Nothing.. I guess. It'll come to me." Sephiroth shrugged.
"I feel sorry for you.. You didn't deserve such a life." Aeris voiced her thoughts.
"Aeris.. I didn't tell you this so that you'd feel bad.." Sephiroth turned to look at her. Their eyes locked, and Aeris felt a strong urge to kiss him. The though embarrassed her, since she was raised very old fashioned.
"Then why did you.." She asked, raising her head a few inches from the blanket.
"..You asked." Sephiroth murmured, right before he kissed Aeris.
* * * * *
"OK, everyone's here except Aeris.. and Sephiroth." Cloud thought, glancing up at the window of Aeris' room. He couldn't see anything, since the light blue curtains were pulled over the window. "I really don't like this." CHe sighed, and shook his head. He was still trying to accustom to the thought of Sephiroth and Aeris dating. He couldn't help wondering, what on earth could they possibly have in common. Their relationship would never last, and Aeris would end up heart broken, Cloud was sure of it. Yet there was little he could do to change Aeris' mind.. And the last thing Cloud wanted was to ruin his friendship with her over Sephiroth.
"What's taking them so long..?" Tifa thought, glued to Cloud's side. Red and Yuffie shared a knowing look, figuring Sephiroth and Aeris were not the only ones having an office romance.
"Hey Vinny, I wanted to ask you.. Where'd ya find Sephiroth?" Yuffie turned to look at Vincent.
He sighed, rather irritated by the nickname the young ninja had given him. "At the mountains.. I suppose he was on his way to the reactor." Vincent explained, his gaze wandering from Yuffie into the horizon.
"So what did you guy's talk about?" Yuffie continued, curious of how exactly Vincent had convinced Sephiroth to return.
"The past.." Vincent mumbled, not interested in sharing his thoughts. He was not really sure as for why Sephiroth had returned himself. He thought he had not said anything of particular interest to Sephiroth. All he had really talked about, was Lucresia.. Vincent felt he owed it to the love of his life to tell Sephiroth everything about her. Still, he wondered if he had ever done it without Yuffie's encouragement. After all, who was he to alter the paths of fate..
"So whaddya think? What's at the Temple of the Ancients?" Barret asked.
"I'm not sure.. Bugenhagen was pretty vague about it." Red answered him, and shook his mane. "He just mentioned some object with ultimate destructive power used to be kept there.. And even that was just according to a myth. Who know's what we'll find." He continued then.
"Object of ultimate destructive power? That definately sounds like something Zenobius and Jenova might want." Cloud muttered. And Sephiroth, he added silently in his thoughts.
"Do you think maybe we should ask Sephiroth.. After all, he was pretty close with Jenova. Maybe he knows something.." Tifa suggested, and smiled at Cloud.
"Yeah.. You're right." Cloud sighed, not too interested in talking with Sephiroth. The former SOLDIER General was very good at making Cloud look bad.
"What I gather, Shin-Ra wants the object too.. I wonder for what purpose?" Vincent spoke, turning everyone's heads. They had grown used to the fact that he rarely spoke his mind.
"I don't want either of them to get it!" Cloud snorted.
"Yeah man, whatever the reason, it can't be anything good!" Barret shook his gun-arm, anxious to leave for Rocket Town already.
"Isn't it a beautiful morning?" Aeris chirped as she walked out of the Inn. She looked like she was walking on air, so happy and carefree. Sephiroth soon followed her, less giddy but still far more relaxed and at ease than usually.
"Yeah.. If you've had your breakfast already, we should get going.. We've still got these mountains to cross." Cloud told her, glancing at Sephiroth suspiciously. Even if he wasn't a threat anymore, it was still weird to see him in this town. For a brief moment, Cloud thought he could smell the thick smoke of burning houses.
"I'm ready." Aeris answered the blond haired leader with a smile, and placed her back-pack on properly. Slowly they walked across the quiet streets of Niebelheim, up towards a sign on a lamp post that pointed towards the Niebelheim Reactor. "What's on your mind?" Aeris smiled up at Sephiroth, as they walked behind everyone.
"This town.. It's strange." Sephiroth spoke, and noticed Cloud and Tifa glance at him. "There aren't any children, anywhere." He shrugged, wondering why such a little detail bothered him so. He was a trained SOLDIER though, and figured it was just a habit he had picked up over the years. In battle, you could never be overly cautious.
"Now that I think about it.. I couldn't see any either." Aeris glanced up at Sephiroth, a little bit concearned.
"I wonder why that is." Sephiroth looked at her, puzzled by why he had shared such a meaningless thought, before he had figured out it's importance.
"I don't know.." Aeris wringed her brow, obviously troubled. "I senced something about this place.. I'm not sure was it something good or something bad." She explained.
"Oh? An instinct, huh?" Sephiroth gave her a lopsided grin. He felt a little bit inferior to Aeris - but it didn't really bother him as much as it might've before.
"Shin-Ra practically owns Niebelheim.." Cloud joined in on their private conversation, glaring at Sephiroth as though he was to be blamed for everything that was wrong in the world.
"I suppose it's possible Shin-Ra's got some operation underway here." Sephiroth snorted, turning his head away from Cloud. He didn't want the man ruin his day, that had started out so well.
"Those goddamn Shin-Ra idiots.." Barret muttered, as they paced up the narrow path winding up the side of the steep mountains. It was difficult and dangerous to walk towards the peeks, since there were treacherous cliffs and slippery rocks everywhere. Also, the vast cave-system dug into the side of the mountain made the mountains look like a large ant-hill, with many cave-openings leading to inner chambers and pathways.
"I'm glad we have a skilled guide with us." Cloud smiled at Tifa, and then gave Sephiroth an icy glare. Their situation was to put it mildly, difficult.
Aeris sighed, as she studied Sephiroth's thoughtful expression. His eyes remained locked to the path they were walking on, yet she couldn't help wondering what was going through his mind. Sephiroth would never admit it, but she knew he felt guilty for what had happened five years ago. And Cloud and Tifa never let Sephiroth forget, how much they hated him. They refused to even give him a chance to atone for his sins. Still, he just walked calmly ahead, no emotion evident on his features. Aeris couldn't help but admire such self-control. She herself had never been good at hiding emotions. Everybody always read her like an open book. They walked ahead in charged silence, feeling the sun warm up the cold stone ground under their feet.
* * * * *
"Kyahahaa!" Scarlet laughed, raising her hand to her hips. "How pitiful.." She sighed, and watched as Heideggar consulted some engineers. He was so desperate to find out why his latest war-machine wasn't working properly. It just stood still, it's heavy metallic head tilted forward. Scarlet took a few steps on her high-heeled shoes, and as she circled the machine, she read a name painted with white letters to it's side.
"Barracuda-577?" She snorted.
"Trust me, this'll be the biggest thing since the Mako-cannons." Heideggar gave Scarlet a look, as he opened a panel at the back of the Barracuda. "Can you imagine a whole platoon of these babies?" He said proudly, punching in new orders to the machine. He then closed the open lid, and waited for the machine to begin to work. It let out a quiet hiss, and then fell silent again.
"No, quite frankly I can't." Scarlet smirked, throwing back a few loose strands of her blond hair, that was tied onto a neat bud at the top of her head.
"He who laughs last laughs best." Heideggar glared at Scarlet, but as she turned her back at him, he kicked the machine forcefully to the side.
"I imagine." Scarlet glanced at Heideggar, swaying her hips as she rose up the stairs that led out of the war department test hall.
"Damn." Heideggar muttered, and turned his angry gaze at his engineers. "Come on, don't just stand there like a bunch of morons, do something. Calculate!" He shouted, marching nervously back and forth after he heard the door close after Scarlet. "I have to get more funds.." Heideggar muttered.
* * * * *
"Wow.. Now I get why they call it Rocket Town.." Yuffie stared long at the huge old rocket, tilted to the side. She wondered how come it was still up at all.
"Yeah.. The Shin-Ra 26.." Cloud muttered, and signaled for everyone to follow. They entered the town, that seemed a lot more lively than Niebelheim. People were standing around, talking and exchanging the latest gossip, and children were running around with their dog. From the direction of a bar, they could hear loud singing.
"Sounds like Karaoke night.." Aeris shuddered.
"Bad experiences?" Sephiroth glanced at her amused.
"Uh-huh." Aeris nodded.
"They've begun pretty early.. The sun's still high up.." Yuffie muttered, glancing in the direction of the bar.
"Yeah." Cloud said. "Look, we'd better split up and ask around who owns the plane.." He then suggested. "Tifa, Red and Barret, you're with me.. The rest of you.. We'll see ya later?" Cloud glanced at Sephiroth as he spoke, sencing he was the next in rank in their group.
"I suppose." Sephiroth smirked, and then retreated into the shadow of a building.
"Well then.." Tifa sighed, and tapped Cloud's shoulder. "Come on, we should go.." She spoke quietly, and slowly their small group parted from Sephiroth, Aeris, Yuffie and Vincent.
"Great." Yuffie muttered. "So shouldn't we go ask people.." She turned to Sephiroth, automatically sencing he was now their leader.
Sephiroth felt a little uncomfortable with the position he was suddenly in, as he had grown used to just following the others instead of leading them. "Fine." He muttered his reply. "Let's start from that house." Sephiroth pointed towards a small, old looking building that had an old man standing at the front of it, staring at the Rocket.
"OK." Aeris smiled at him, and they walked in silence to the man he'd pointed out. She was curious to see how Sephiroth behaved as the leader..
"Does anyone own a plane in this town?" Sephiroth asked the man coldly, and as the old man looked up at him he turned as pale as a ghost due to Sephiroth's threatening appearance.
"Y-yes. Sir." The man spoke, and pointed at a building with a shaking finger.
"Thankyou." Sephiroth nodded respectively, and then began to walk towards the building the old man had pointed to. Aeris just stared after him baffled.
"You gotta admire his attitude. No small talk." Yuffie's voice was a little bit admiring, as she strode after Sephiroth. "You didn't really expect him to make friends?" She snorted at Aeris' expression.
"No.. I just.. he's so.." Aeris tried to think of a good word for Sephiroth's behaviour. "..Efficient." She said then, and watched as Sephiroth knocked to the door of a building. She had expected him to be as sweet towards the older man as he was towards her.. Aeris briefly thought if this was what Sephiroth hadn't wanted her to see. Still, even if he was a little rude, she didn't think any less of him.
"Sephy, I'd better handle this." Aeris said, and set herself in front of the door.
"Yes?" A brown haired woman smiled, as she opened the door.
"Mm.. Excuse me, but we're wondering if you could help us.. Do you own an aeroplane?" Aeris asked.
"Well, not me exactly.. The Captain does." The woman spoke, and then smiled. "I'm Shera." She introduced herself and shook hands with Aeris. "He's not here right now, but you're free to come in and wait. I'll make you a cup of tea while you're waiting." Shera spoke.
"Oh, you don't have to do that." Aeris smiled at the woman.
"It's no trouble, really." Shera spoke, and signaled the others to follow her into the building. Aeris glanced at Sephiroth, who didn't seem offended that Aeris had done all the talking. Actually, Aeris thought, he seemed kind of relieved.
"So, why are you interested in Tiny Bronco?" Shera asked, as she walked over to the kitchen sink.
"..Excuse me?" Aeris blinked. She had no idea what Shera was talking about.
"Oh, I meant the plane.. The Captain named it Tiny Bronco." Shera explained, and she and Aeris shared a smile.
"Of course. Do you need help with that?" Aeris asked.
"No, don't be silly, you just take a seat." Shera shook her head, and pointed towards the kitchen table. She quickly went through her cupboards and grabbed four cups, spoons and some sugar.
"Well.. We wanted to ask.. Captain.. If he could give us a ride.. to Mideel." Aeris spoke. Shera chuckled at her answer, shaking her head as she put the tea-kettle on the stove. "What?" Aeris asked her, wondering why she had thought there was something funny in her words.
"Cid.. The Captain I mean, isn't that keen on doing favours.." Shera explained, and shrugged. "But I suppose you can always try.." Her voice suddenly turned a little heavy with sadness. She finished making the table ready, in complete silence. Yuffie and Aeris exchanged looks across the table, wondering what exactly Shera's relationship was to this mysterious Captain. Was she his wife? It seemed the most likely option.
As Shera turned to Sephiroth to poar him a cup of tea, Aeris realized how completely out of place Sephiroth looked like. He was gritting his teeth, trying to resist the urge to get up and leave. Aeris could almost sence his discomfort. An image of him suddenly getting up and running through the nearest wall with a scream entered her mind, making her giggle to herself.
"What." Sephiroth glanced at her, then turned his gaze back at the teacup. It was a delicate, blue-decorated porcelain cup that looked expensive. He tilted his head as he tried to decide whether to take off his gloves or not. He had no idea how to function in these sosial events. The only thought in his mind was to withdraw into solitude, where his inexperience would not be mocked.
"Are you gonna drink that?" Aeris smiled at Sephiroth, who was reluctantly removing his black gloves.
"I suppose." He mumbled, and stirred the cup lazily, concentrating his eyes to the deep orange coloured liquid whirling in the cup.
"So.. Where is the Captain..?" Aeris asked Shera, who finished poaring the tea, and took a seat by the kitchen sink.
"..I figure he's at the local bar." Shera sighed. "Ever since the space flight's failure.. He's.." She silenced herself, as though speaking the words was too hard for her. "He was supposed to be the first human in space.. It was Cid's big dream." Shera explained. "I think a part of him died with that dream.." She shook her head, and then gave Aeris a weak smile. "Look at me, rambling to complete strangers.." She scolded herself, and watched as Sephiroth quickly finished his cup of tea. It was probably still burning hot, but Sephiroth was desperate to get out of the situation he had gotten himself into.
"Umm.. I think I'm gonna go for a walk.. See if I can find the others." Sephiroth muttered and nodded at Shera to say thanks.
"OK. Have fun." Aeris smiled at Sephiroth amused. She thought he looked cute, a bit less composed than usually.
"..Yes." Sephiroth said tensely, and marched out of the front door quickly.
"Excuse me, but I couldn't help noticing how much your friend looks like General Sephiroth.." Shera looked at Aeris quizzically, waiting for her to confirm her suspicion.
"Yes.. Well.. He sort of.. is the General." Aeris fidgeted, uncomfortable with the direction their conversation was going to.
"Really? I thought he died a few years back.." Shera looked at Aeris surprised.
"No, he was just presumed dead. Later it was discovered that.. he wasn't." Aeris tried to explain, though even she herself wasn't sure of what had happened. She reminded herself that she should ask Sephiroth about it one day.
"I can see that." Shera chuckled. "Well then, you've finished your tea? I wish I had something else to offer you, but I'm afraid the times are hard.." She smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, we're quite alright." Aeris smiled back at her, as Yuffie and Vincent rose from the table.
"Come, you can wait in the living room.. I'm sure the Captain will be here shortly." Shera walked ahead of Aeris, to the small living room located very close to the kitchen. "Here it is.. If you'll excuse me, I have to go take care of the dishes.. You just make yourselves at home." She gave the threesome a friendly smile, before returning to the kitchen.
"So now we just wait?" Yuffie sat down on a sofa a little bit frustrated.
"Yeah.." Aeris sighed, and sat down next to her.
* * * * *
"Who the hell are you?" A man with platinum coloured hair and blue eyes asked.
"Are you the Captain..?" Cloud asked him, extending his hand.
"Yes..?" The man shook hands with Cloud, glancing at Cloud's friends suspiciously.
"We've heard you own an aeroplane." Cloud explained. "We'd be really grateful if you could give us a ride to Mideel." The blond haired leader quickly added.
"Grateful?" The man snorted. "Look, I'm the famous Cid Highwind, I'm supposed to be the first human in space! Not anyone's friggin' private pilot! You got that?!" He continued, lighting up a cigarette.
"You we're supposed to fly that Rocket?" Tifa joined in the conversation.
"Yeah, goddamn right I was! Without that idiot Shera I'd have been up there already!" Cid muttered.
"Shera?" Tifa asked, but Cid completely missed her question. A large shadow passed over the local bar, continuing it's journey southwards.
"..Geez.." Barret peeked a glimpse at a large airship, passing the Rocket Town quickly.
"Look at that.." Cid wondered. "Now with a ship like that I could be someone's private pilot." He mumbled, as the Airship gained more altitude and dissappeared into a large white cloud. "I wonder where they're going.." His voice was a little bit bitter as his eyes wandered to the tilted old Rocket. "They sure the hell don't wanna hear anything about restarting the space-program." Cid said, and finished his cigarette.
"They're probably going to Mideel as well.." Tifa told Cid.
"Really? Why the hell didn't ya say that earlier?" Cid's eyes went wide with surprise. "It's been a while since I've managed to talk to the Shin-Ra executive bastards about my Rocket! It's still in working order, but they just refuse to even try to launch it.." He seemed to have suddenly cheered up, and stood at the doorway with a thoughtful look on his face. "Come on you idiots, don't just stand there, let's go take a look at my plane!" Cid proclaimed, and marched towards a building nearby the rocket launching-pad.
"Shera!" He shouted as he entered his home.
"Yes?" A brown haired woman stood in the kitchen, washing dishes.
"Make some tea, we've got guests." Cid explained, and pointed at the AVALANCHER's in his company.
"Urgh. Sure." Shera sighed, as she dried the cups that had just been in use.
* * * * *
"Palmer.. It's been a while." Sephiroth smiled smugly at the short, rather weighty man who trying to get into the cockpit of Tiny Bronco.
"..G-general?" Palmer glanced behind him, and lost his balance on the plane's wing, stumbling down to the ground. "Hahahaa.." Palmer laughed nervously, his small eyes scanning the surroundings for any other AVALANCHE members. After all, he had heard Sephiroth had joined the infamous resistance movement. "They said you had a breakdown.." His voice was somewhat paranoid, as if he wasn't sure what was happening was real. He quickly stood up and drew a large rifle from a bag he had with him. "I'll be famous if I kill you.." Palmer muttered, and pointed the barrel of his gun towards Sephiroth.
Sephiroth just sheathed his Masamune, performing a relatively easy movement to warm himself up.
"Hahahaa.. See if you can survive this!" Palmer was about to fire his rifle, as Sephiroth cast a shell-spell against the bullets. "Darn." He laughed, his eyes unfocused as though he had really lost his mind.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead, as Palmer tried to fire at Sephiroth again. He watched at Sephiroth's prudish expression, as he placed his sword behind his back, twirling it with grace and precision. Sephiroth spun around and raised the Masamune, then wielded the sword against Palmer, carving his his body fiercely. "Urgh.." Palmer pressed the wound with his hand, and took several potions to cure himself. Sephiroth, who was getting a little bored with such a weak opponent, plunged at Palmer, staking his heart with the Masamune's cold steel blade. "Blurp. Hahaa.." Palmer muttered, his body jerking against the blade before turning limp.
Sephiroth pulled out his sword, and performed his victory move elegantly. Then he turned his back at Palmer's body, who was lying in a puddle of his own blood, and walked towards the back door of the Captains house. He should probably tell the others that Shin-Ra were after the plane, for whatever reason.
* * * * *
"So you're the AVALANCHE?" Cid asked Aeris. They were both standing close the back door. He had found Aeris, Yuffie and Vincent sitting around in a room nearby, and as the others had left to see Cloud and the others, Aeris had stayed to chat with Cid. She was curious of him, since she figured he might know something of Sephiroth's past.
"Yeah.." Aeris smiled at him.
"Shit.. Is it true that the General is with ya?" Cid asked.
"Yes, he is." A wide grin spread on Aeris' face. It seemed, whenever she heard Sephiroth's name, she couldn't help smiling.
"I remember once seeing that freak." Cid said under his breath. "They say he's a magnificent fighter, but a hell of a cold person.." He explained.
"Maybe he was.. But he's really changed a lot, he's like a completely different person now." Aeris smiled reassuringly. She also explained to Cid she was changing Sephiroth's old SOLDIER ways, and that there was nothing to be feared about Sephiroth anymore.
"Aeris?" Sephiroth opened the back door and entered the room. He was holding the blood-dripping Masamune in his left hand, clutching it's handle as though seeking comfort from the sword. "Palmer from Shin-Ra tried to steal your aeroplane." Sephiroth told Cid, assuming he was the Captain Shera had been talking about.
Cid gave Aeris a look. "Well Aeris, good luck with that changing him business." He told her with a grin.
"Oh Sephy, what did you do!!" Aeris looked shocked.
"Well.. I sort of.. killed him.. a little." Sephiroth fidgeted, watching as Aeris folded her arms.
"Haven't we discussed this killing your weaker fellow man thing?" She said, standing on her toes.
"Y-yes.." Sephiroth stared past her, a guilty expression on his face.
"You can't keep killing people!" Aeris told him, the tune of her voice softening slightly. He looked so genuinely sorry, Aeris thought, she felt bad for shouting at him.
"But he attacked me first." Sephiroth mumbled.
"..Hmm.. Well.. I guess it's OK to defend yourself.." Aeris smiled at him, she suddenly felt like a mother scolding a naughty child. "But Sephiroth.. Your first instinct shouldn't be to kill." She rested the palm of her hand to cup his face, and their eyes remained locked for a long time.
"Uhrm." Cid cleared his throat loudly. "I'm gonna go inspect the goddamn plane now.." He said and stepped out though the door.
"Sephiroth.." Aeris turned to the silver-haired man, who had fell silent after the lecture he had gotten from Aeris. "You know this doesn't mean I hate you." Aeris told him, as she sat down on the sofa. Sephiroth followed her example, heaving a sigh.
"You're sure?" He asked her, turning his head to face her.
"Yes. I'm very, very sure." Aeris smiled, and leaned over to Sephiroth.
"And no making out on my sofa!" Cid warned from the doorway, making Aeris blush bright red.
After a few little repairs, Tiny Bronco was ready to take off. All the AVALANCHEr's cramped up in the small space reserved for passangers, while Cid took his place on the pilot's seat. "Are you ready?" Cid shouted over the roar of the planes engine.
"Yes!" Cloud and Tifa answered him in unison.
"Well, then we're off!" Cid announced, and rolled the plane into a clearing from which he could take off. Slowly the plane gathered more speed, and after a few bounces it lifted into the skies.
"Yikes." Aeris clinged onto Sephiroth, as she looked down at the houses and people, looking smaller and smaller.
"So you're going to Mideel?" Cid shouted, and steered the plane towards south.
"Yes, that's right!" Cloud shouted back at him, his voice a little hoarse after all the shouting.
"It shouldn't take long with this little baby!" Cid seemed very proud of his plane. "It's easier to land in Mideel with a smaller plane.. I imagine we'll get there before Shin-Ra." He spoke.
"Great!" Tifa answered, and then they all fell silent, and just tried to enjoy the scenery passing them by. They were flying quite low, so everything was still clearly visible. The wind blew hard against them, pulling back everyone's hair. They passed vast green plains, and a narrow shoreline before reaching the ocean. The waters surface broke a little of the air currents the plane created.
"This is kind of scary." Aeris glanced at Sephiroth, who seemed completely peaceful. He just stared at the huge masses of water, moving restlessly below them. She snuggled closer against him, happy as she felt him absent-mindedly wrap his arm around her shoulder.
"Look, there's the island!" Cid curved the aeroplane towards a green spot in the distance, that grew larger and larger as the Tiny Bronco approached it.
"It looks like a regular jungle.." Aeris muttered, as she stared at the inpenetrable, dense forest, and at the tall treetops filled with lush vegetation, vines and large, bright coloured flowers.
"Where the hell can we land?" Cid muttered, as he circled the sky. Suddenly the plane jerked powerfully, and a loud explosion was heard. As the AVALANCHEr's looked behind them, they noticed the entire tail of the plane had gotten blown off, and something down below kept firing at them, even though Tiny Bronco was losing altitude rapidly. "We're going down!!" He shouted horrified. "Hold on to something!!" Cid warned, as the plane crashed against the treetops, it's wings breaking off as they hit against thick tree branches.
Well then, chapter 21 is finished.. And I did a major cliffhanger!! Umm.. In this chapter was one of my alltime favourite flashbacks. Not really because I wrote it so well, but because it was sort of fun to think about. I mean that little Aeris/Elmyra scene at the beginning of this chapter. I wanted to add it into this story from the beginning, but this was the first spot it actually fit in. Well, untill next time!! ^_^ Bye!!