DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or the FF7-verse. They're Squaresofts. Seriously guys, if I owned Sephiroth do you think I'd be spending my time writing this? Nope, don't think so. ^_~
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Wow, over 70 reviews! I'm positively impressed! ^_^ This chapter is again, very sappy but I don't think there are many angsty bits in it? Most of it just makes you wanna say: Aww.. And that was really my intention. So expect something very A/S:y! Because the plot will also move forward quite a leap, this is one of the longest chapters I've written so far. I'm sure none of you mind though. ^_^ Enjoy the chapter and don't forget to review! My dream of getting 100 reviews may not be as far ahead in the future as I had thought.
CHAPTER 29.
A nourishment of
tenderness
That blossoms to the touch
Flaunts a devastating beauty
That can haunt a life so much
- Donna Lewis -
"Sephiroth!" Aeris exclaimed, while running to her boyfriend.
As Clouds attention was distracted to her, Sephiroth took a step back, pressing his hand against the furiously bleeding wound in his chest. He was losing a lot of blood, and it made Sephiroth feel dizzy and light-headed. He stumbled to the ground, just in time as Aeris got to him.
"Cure2!" She cast the spell in a state of shock, her hands trembling as they got stained in Sephiroth's blood.
"Aeris.. You're alive." Cloud gasped, and the others took cautious steps closer just as perplexed by the very much alive woman before their eyes. Aeris didn't pay any attention to Cloud, as she quickly repeated her spell. The wound on Sephiroth's chest healed slowly, but he didn't regain consiousness.
"Why?! What reason do you have for attacking Sephiroth like this?" Aeris lifted her gaze from Sephiroth to Cloud, but remained crouched to Sephiroths side. All the AVALANCHEr's saw the tears in her eyes, but they were all too stupefied by her sudden appearance to react in any way.
"Aeris.. you're alive." Cloud gulped, having momentarily forgotten the events that had taken place in Wutai.
"Thanks to Sephiroth.. He cured me.. And this is how you repay him?" Aeris frowned, and glanced at Sephiroth. He was breathing calmly, with his head rested against the light green grass.
"In Wutai.. Sephiroth.. killed a lot of innocent people.. Including Yuffie's father." Cloud explained, and he and Tifa shared a quizzical look. Aeris obviosly didn't know the whole truth of what had happened to her, and Cloud wasn't sure if he should tell her or not. Who wouldn't be disturbed to find out of one's own death?
"I don't believe that! He wouldn't!" Aeris denied the thought with shaking her head. "Besides, he's been with me for the last 24 hours.. So he couldn't have killed anyone!" She defended Sephiroth, but none of the AVALANCHEr's missed the small amount of uncertainty in her voice.
"Sephiroth went crazy again, after--" Tifa spoke up from beside Cloud, silencing herself as she realized what she had nearly blurted out.
"After what?" Aeris asked, glancing at both Tifa and Cloud in turn. She could sence they were keeping something from her, and she didn't like it much.
"Aeris.. You died." Tifa finally revealed, taking a step closer to Aeris and Sephiroth, who was still lying on the ground unconsious. The dark-brown haired girl had a deeply concearned look on her face, just like the others had too.
"What?" Aeris gulped, not believing her ears.
"You were dead.. We had no idea it was possible to revive you, yet here you are.." Cloud told her, feeling strange when speaking those words. He had never been in a situation quite like this before.
"No wonder he was so weird then.." Aeris bowed her head down, staring at her boyfriend deep in thought.
She was clearly referring to Sephiroth, Cloud thought, and briefly wondered what exactly had happened in the second temple they were all standing in front of. "Aeris, we can't let him keep killing. Sephiroth's had plenty of chances to change, and we all feel that--" The tune of Cloud's voice turned very serious, as his thought returned to the things he had seen in Wutai.
"Don't kill him, please?" Aeris looked at Cloud, a profoundly sad expression on her face.
"Aeris.." Cloud sighed, wondering if he could forever keep doing things the way Aeris wanted. What if giving in would mean another village would get destroyed? Cloud wasn't sure if he was willing to accept the possibility of it ever happening again.
"I know.. I do feel horrible for all those poor people.. but.." Aeris frowned, as her gaze returned to Sephiroth. He looked like he was only sleeping, peacefully unaware of the people wanting his life. "I love him.." She spoke quietly, smiling at Sephiroth. Especially Tifa and Cloud grinned at each other awkwardly.
They both knew, Aeris would hardly tell them unless she was serious. Cloud thought it was amazing that even after all that she had found out about Sephiroth, Aeris still liked him. He had silently hoped that once Aeris would see what Sephiroth was really like she'd realize her mistake; obviously that wasn't going to happen.
"I wish I remembered how I got here.. Maybe Sephiroth didn't even do it all?" Aeris continued thoughtfully.
"It was him all right.. I recognize his style." Cloud snorted, refusing to even consider the possibility of Sephiroth being innocent.
"But it doesn't make any sence.. He didn't seem angry at all." Aeris looked exasperated and tired.
"He should die for what he did." Cloud spoke again, and the harsh tone of his voice caused tears to re-appear in Aeris' eyes.
"No, you can't! I won't let you!" Aeris shook her head, speaking in a somewhat frightened voice. The thought of losing Sephiroth was probably so foreign to her, that the mere mention of such an option was terrifying to her. "He said he was in a rush.. Why would he stop and slaughter a whole village worth of people?" Aeris wore a lopsided grin on her face, as she brushed a lock of Sephiroth's hair away from his closed eyelids.
"Maybe Jenova told him to do it, who knows.. The fact is he's a killer." Cloud sighed.
"Zenobius!" Aeris' expression brightened up. "What if it was him!" She suggested. "Jenova could've told him how to frame Sephiroth!" She continued, and the AVALANCHE members glanced at each other quizzically.
* * * * *
~Wake up..~ A voice whispered in Sephiroth's ear. His eyelids fluttered open, and even though the surrounding room was veiled in darkness, he recognized the place immediatly. He was back at his cabin, on board of the huge airship Highwind.
"Why bother." Sephiroth sat up, and noticed his injury had healed completely.
~What a strange question coming from you.~ The voice sounded amused.
Sephiroth sighed, and jumped down from his bed. He walked to the large window on the other side of the room, and stared out at the clouds flowing by. "Not really." He sighed, feeling restless for no apparent reason. Usually Sephiroth was able to relax better alone than with anyone, but now the strange uneasiness wouldn't give him a moments rest.
~Aren't you the one who only a day ago begged us to save the life of the last cetra?~ The voice stated, and Sephiroth just turned his back at the light streaming in through the window.
"Would you just leave me alone." He snorted, feeling annoyed by the voice. It seemed just as he had gotten rid of Jenova's voice, another deity had taken her place.
~That is no longer an option.~ The voice turned serious.
"No longer?" Sephiroth whispered, taking in a deep breath. His bare feet felt cold against the floorboards.
~Jenova wishes her dead.. You shouldn't let her go to the city of the Ancients alone.~ The voice continued.
"Why'd Aeris want to go anywhere on her own? She knows of Jenova.." Sephiroth thought aloud, and the answer came to him before the voices of the cetra continued to speak within his mind.
~We fear she's rather~The voice began.
"Stubborn.." Sephiroth snorted, and involuntarily a smile curved his lips up.
~Yes.. You must not let her walk into Jenova's trap.~ The cetras voice warned.
"So what do you want me to do? Kill Jenova? Zenobius?" Sephiroth turned around, and walked into the darkest corner of the room.
~You will know.~ The voice replied mysteriously, then vanished without a trace form his mind.
"Oh, thanks for nothing." Sephiroth snorted, and sat down in an armchair. He had the whole of the night left to figure out what to do.
"Sephiroth?" He suddenly heard a voice from the doorway. Sephiroth lifted his gaze and saw Aeris, peeking in from behind the door.
"Come in." He told her, and she entered the room quickly.
"I thought I heard some noises from here, so I assumed you were awake.." Aeris explained as she pressed the door shut.
"Oh, I just woke up." Sephiroth cleared his throat, and stood up from the chair he had been sitting in.
"Sephy.. Jenova's not talking to you anymore.. is she?" Aeris asked cautiously, while walking closer to him.
"No.. She's not." Sephiroth shook his head, and then pressed his back against the large window. His shadow was cast long past Aeris who was now standing only a step from him.
"Good." Aeris smiled awkwardly, and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. It was only now that Sephiroth saw her hair was loose, falling down her back in wild, tangled curls. Aeris wasn't wearing her usual dress either, but instead a worn looking pale pink nightgown.
"Oh, this is just something I found from the closet. You like?" She grinned, and twirled around to show the loosely fitting gown. Sephiroth just smiled at her in silence, and Aeris returned the smile nervously.
"I.. made Cloud bring you back here." Aeris explained, pointing towards the bed with her hand, blushing visibly even in the sheltering dark.
"Oh." Sephiroth nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable at the thought of a girl rescuing him like that.
"It wasn't you.. who did those things at Wutai ..was it?" Aeris asked in a small voice, just wanting to hear the words from him.
"It wasn't me. I'm guessing Zenobius killed them." Sephiroth confirmed her suspicion.
"Thought so." Aeris nodded. Then the two were quiet a long time.
"So, I guess I should go back to bed huh?" Aeris grinned. She couldn't understand why she was suddenly feeling so nervous around Sephiroth.
"Maybe you should." Sephiroth just nodded, and then the two stared at each other a while longer.
"They told me about.. the me dying thing." Aeris broke the silence again.
"Oh." Sephiroth just said.
"So.. I just wanted to tell you.." Aeris bit her lip, and took a step forward.
"You're so beautiful." She whispered, and ran her fingers over Sephiroth's lips.
"Aeris.." Sephiroth groaned, and avoided her by moving further into the shadows.
"Just listen.. I want you to know this!" Aeris grabbed Sephiroth's hand gently, and waited for him to turn his eyes back at her. "I wish I knew how to console you.. For you are the single most perfect creature I've ever met." Aeris told him, and even though the colour of her cheeks turned into a more deeper shade of red, her voice never quivered.
"I'm fine." Sephiroth spoke in a neutral voice.
"Sephy.. you're not." Aeris shook her head. "You've been miserable most of your life, haven't you?" She asked him, and he didn't answer.
"Why do you hate yourself so much? What drives you to do these things?" Aeris continued to speak, while pressing herself against Sephiroth's bare upper body. "Why can't you just.. stop punishing yourself and accept me? Accept us.." Aeris whispered, and placed a tender kiss on the side of his throat.
"Hey.." Sephiroth lifted Aeris' chin with his fingers, and looked at her for a long time. "What if tonights all we'll ever have?" He murmured, and then walked to sit at the edge of his bed. "I promised the cetra you'd never get sick again.. And if I'm with you--" Sephiroth began, but fell silent as Aeris walked over to him, and sat down next to him.
"I know." Aeris just said, and leaned closer to Sephiroth. She kissed him, and pulled back for a moment. "But when they told me I was going to die.. There was only one thing I missed of life." She whispered, and dug her fingers into Sephiroth's hair.
"So why fight it." She added with a grin, and kissed him again.
* * * * *
"So let's assume it was Zenobius.. Where is he now?" Cloud walked back and forth in the conference room of Highwinds.
"With Jenova probably." Tifa shrugged, and glanced at Red and Barret who were also sitting around the long table located in the middle of the room.
"I dunno.." Barret sighed.
"I'd have thought they'd use the Black Materia.. After all they have it now. Why would they go through all that trouble to frame Sephiroth?" Red asked.
"Maybe because of Aeris..? She's the last cetra.." Cloud tried to make sence out of the situation. "I just don't get it!" He raised his voice, and stared at the three others in the room frustrated.
"Why would they go after Sephiroth? Bugenhagen said Aeris was the only one who could stop Jenova.. So why not just attack her directly?" The blonde leader asked.
"Maybe they wanted to get Sephiroth out of the way and since Zenobius was unable to do just that.. They came up with this new plan." Tifa suggested.
"Nah, I gotta feelin' there's more to it than that." Barret shook his head.
"I just wonder what the Shin-Ra are up to." Red muttered.
"Yeah, as if our situation wasn't difficult to begin with.." Cloud muttered, and sat down next to Tifa.
"We should go to sleep too.." Red yawned. Yuffie, Vincent, Cid and Cait Sith had already left the meeting to go to bed. All the emotional turmoil had made everyone rather tired. First Aeris had died, then Wutai was destroyed and suddenly Aeris was alive again.. It was a lot to think about.
"Yeah.. But what are we going to do next? Go after Jenova and Zenobius? Or Shin-Ra? And I'm still not sure that it wasn't in fact Sephiroth who killed all those people." Cloud sighed, and glanced at Tifa.
"I'm sure things will look a lot more clearer in the morning." She smiled back at him, and the foursome got up from their chairs and walked to the door of the conference room.
* * * * *
"Sephiroth, are you asleep?" Yuffie knocked on the door of Sephiroth's room. After a while she heard someone stumble to the door and open it up. Sephiroth glanced at Yuffie suspiciously.
"What." He asked bluntly.
"I feel I owe you an apology." Yuffie began, and noticed Sephiroth wasn't wearing anything else except the covers from his bed; he had wrapped them around his waist.
"Is Aeris in there?" Yuffie tried to peek further into Sephiroth's room, but he held the door closed.
"..No." Sephiroth said, the most guilty expression on his face.
"Hey, I just wanted to say.. I'm sorry I thought it was you. Who had killed those people I mean. I should've known it was Zenobius." Yuffie grinned sheepishly, noticing Sephiroth gave a look at someone standing right behind the door.
"Stop it." Sephiroth hissed, and Yuffie heard Aeris giggle. "OK, yeah.. Apology accepted." Sephiroth turned back to Yuffie, battling against a certain someone pulling at the covers tied around his waist.
"Well I'll leave you two alone now." Yuffie smiled, and turned from the door. As soon as the door closed, Yuffie heard someone bump against it. She rolled her eyes, thinking it was kind of sweet that after everything that had happened, Sephiroth and Aeris were still together. Yuffie found it a bit difficult to believe she could ever feel as strongly for anyone. She silently promised herself, she'd never get married.
"Yuffie?" Red yawned, as he walked towards his cabin on the narrow corridor.
"Oh hi. I was just about to go to bed." She explained, frowning. It hadn't been longer than a day since her father had died, and whether Yuffie wanted to admit it or not it had been a big issue to her. Her father and her homevillage had been reasons for her joining AVALANCHE, and Yuffie realized, their demise was now her reason to continue fighting in it. She wanted to revenge what had been done. If Zenobius had killed her father just to get back at Sephiroth, Yuffie intended to be the first one to pay back for it.
"So you're feeling better..?" Red asked.
"Yeah, I think so." Yuffie nodded at the cat-like creature.
"There's a meeting in the morning.. at 10. Don't miss it." Red told her. "I was just about to go tell Aeris--" Red continued, while walking to Aeris' door.
"She's not there." Yuffie grinned.
"No?" Red looked baffled, until a giggle was heard from the direction of Sephiroth's room. "OK.. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that and just go to bed." He sighed, and entered his room.
"Hey Red, does Cloud still believe it was Sephiroth?" Yuffie asked.
"Well, you know him." Red sighed, and closed the door to his room. "Good night." Yuffie heard him mutter, as she was left standing alone in the hallway.
"What's good about it." Yuffie muttered, and finally admitted she'd better try and get some sleep.
* * * * *
"Good morning.." Aeris chirped into Sephiroth's ear, and when he finally opened his eyes he found himself staring at Aeris. Her cheeks glowed in a rosy red shade, and the first beams of the morning sun reflected from her wavy, golden curls that framed her face. Sephiroth thought she looked breathtaking, but didn't say anything.
"What's the time?" He cleared his throat, and rubbed his tired eyes.
"Hmm.. Ninish, maybe?" Aeris smiled. She was fully dressed, but continued to rest aside Sephiroth on the bed. Aeris seemed almost exceptionally energetic, and Sephiroth was almost expecting her to drag him out on a morning jog around the upper deck of Highwind.
"Good." Sephiroth sighed, and rested his arm on his eyes, to block the sunlight from hitting them. "I hardly closed my eyes the entire night." He confessed.
"Oh really?" Aeris smiled. She climbed up to sit on Sephiroth's stomach, and looked down at him with a mischievous grin on her face.
"I feel like I conquer the world." Aeris sighed, and drew lazy lazy patterns on Sephiroth's skin.
"Did you have breakfast already?" Sephiroth finally lowered his arm, and peeked a glimpse at the woman who was looking down at him adoringly.
"No." She grinned a bit ashamed. "I.. couldn't. What if they heard us?" She blushed.
"..Was it really that good?" Sephiroth asked, a bit undertain look in his eyes.
Aeris' eyes glazed over from the mere memory of the previous night. "Yeees.." She sighed blissfully, and then gave Sephiroth a strange look. "Was I.. I mean.. I haven't.. Except once before.." Aeris tried to ask, and extremely embarrassed look on her face.
"You were perfect." Sephiroth smiled, and brushed a loose strand of Aeris' hair behind her ear.
"Thanks." Aeris smiled back at him.
"I only asked because.. you looked so strange last night.." She bit her lip, slightly concearned.
"I'm just worried about you, that's all." Sephiroth yawned, admitting he'd have to wake up. "I'm older than you, I should know better.." He continued, in a apologetic tone.
"You're not my guardian, you're my boyfriend. And I can, believe it or not, think on my own." Aeris wringed her brow, and then leaned closer to Sephiroth's face. He smiled awkwardly, for the womans weight on top of him felt rather pleasant, even to such an extent Sephiroth considered missing the breakfast. And maybe the meeting afterwards.
"Do you want to come with me for breakfast already?" Aeris rolled down from on top of Sephiroth.
He glanced at her somewhat displeased, but Aeris missed the look. "I'm a little hungry.." She sighed, while staring at the ceiling.
"In a minute." Sephiroth smiled and pinned Aeris to the thick mattress of his bed.
"Sephy!" Aeris giggled, as Sephiroth moved to hover on top of her. He leaned down to kiss Aeris, and it lasted a considerably long time. "Mmm.. On second thought.." Aeris murmured, and ran her fingers past Sephiroth's jaw. He stared down at her a long while, as though trying to decide what to do next.
"No, we should go.." He mumbled in a dissappointed voice, and rolled back to his side of the bed. Aeris watched as he stood up and got dressed, and grabbed a black shirt lying nearby the bed. He didn't bother to button the shirt, as he just walked around collecting pieces of clothing all over the room.
"Whoever gave you the promission to walk around looking like that.." Aeris chuckled, and Sephiroth made a face at her.
"Have you seen my..?" Sephiroth noticed Aeris lift the materia-bracelets with her fingers. "Thanks." He mubled while attaching the battle equipments to his wrists.
"You know, I almost feel normal right now." Aeris stood up from the bed, and walked to stand in front of Sephiroth. She began buttoning his shirt, and Sephiroth just watched her work with a somewhat ashamed look on his face. Memories of last night still ran so clear in his mind he was having problems looking at Aeris without recalling her aroused panting.
"So.. We're still on tonight?" Aeris asked, glancing at Sephiroth with a serious expression on her face.
"Oh, definately." Sephiroth answered her, and they both burst into laughter.
"I've got a feeling this'll be one long day.." Aeris grinned at him while walking towards the door.
"You think..?" Sephiroth followed her only a step behind her, as they left his room and entered the corridor.
"Everyone's probably down there already." Aeris thought aloud.
"Stop worrying." Sephiroth glanced at her. "I can handle Cloud." He continued, and Aeris rolled her eyes.
"That's what I'm afraid of." She shook her head in despair.
They walked down the set of stairs, into the main hull of the airship. They could hear the warks of their black chocobo, who had been taken to the stable located on board Highwind. As soon as the two of them opened the door leading to the conference room, the people already in it fell silent and stared at Aeris and Sephiroth.
"Way to go guys." Yuffie chuckled, and at that moment Aeris hoped the earth would open up and swallow her.
"You had sex with him? What's wrong with you." Tifa looked at Aeris quizzically, but she was way too embarrassed to answer or explain.
"H-how did you know?" She stammered, pressing her back against Sephiroth's chest, as though searching for refuge.
"Well, that whole 'Oh god yes' stuff we heard throughout the night kinda gave you away." Tifa smirked sarcastically, but atleast she didn't seem angry.
"Could we just get this breakfast done with so that we can get to the meeting, please?" Cloud interrupted, and Aeris sighed thankfully. She just didn't feel comfortable talking about such intimate issues with anyone, especially since she knew the others would more or less dissapprove.
"OK, good." Cloud coughed, and glared at Sephiroth. "Yuffie found some.. signs of a teleport spell, so it's reasonable to assume.. Sephiroth fought with Zenobius as he said." Cloud spoke, and Aeris smiled at the look Yuffie gave him. Aeris was glad she was back with her friends, despite the on-going conflicts. She sat down next to Red, and Sephiroth followed her example.
"Soup..?" Sephiroth winced in disgust, as he checked out the dishes that were spread on the long table. Aeris gave him an angry look, and for a while they held each others gaze.
"We think it's best we go talk to Bugenhagen again, about what to do next. We have no idea where Jenova is.." Cloud began the meeting, while still eating.
"Grandfather might also have some idea of what Shin-Ra's up to. I fear we didn't find out much, while we were at the forests near Mideel." Red nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, except that.. We know Jenova wants to use the Black Materia and become invincible.. So why hasn't she done that already?" Aeris turned to look at Sephiroth, figuring he might have an answer.
"She can't.. Not before the reunion." Sephiroth explained, while gathering some bread and fruits to eat.
"The what?" Cloud blinked, but Sephiroth just ignored him.
"Jenova needs more strength.. Not anybody can summon a force powerful enough to injure the planet." Sephiroth continued to speak.
"Aeris told me something of this, while you were searching for her cure.." Red cleared his throat, and suddenly everyone fell silent again. It was awkward to have a dead woman in the room, alive.
"Hey, so I died. Big deal." Aeris tried to break the atmosphere, but she wasn't very successful. Even Sephiroth stared into the distance in thought, as though re-living the memory. "It's not going to happen again.." Aeris continued, and noticed the looks exchanged by Tifa and Cloud.
"Aeris.. You're with him. I mean.. How can you be so sure?" Cloud asked in a small voice, clearly not wanting to hurt Aeris' feeling by telling exactly what he thought of her relationship with Sephiroth.
* * * * *
"I wonder what am I going to say to Bugenhagen?" Aeris thought aloud, while sitting at the back of hers and Sephiroth's chocobo. She had wrapped her arms around his waist, holding tightly onto him as they continued their journey towards Cosmo Canyon. After landing the Highwind to an area nearby, the AVALANCHEr's had caught a few more chocobos before heading out for the town.
"I mean, Red will never forgive me if I cause the poor man to have a heart-attack. It's not like Bugenhagen meets dead people everyday, you know." Aeris sighed. "I never knew dying would get me so many new.. disturbing problems." She continued, and noticed how quiet Sephiroth had been for the last few hours. After changing back to his battle-uniform, Sephiroth had hardly spoken a word. Even the look on his face remained rather cold despite the carefree chattering from Aeris' part.
"And why oh why am I cursed with always falling in love with the most stubborn, proud SOLDIER men?" Aeris sighed dramatically. "What's wrong, Sephiroth?" She asked, and felt Sephiroth twitch unnerved.
"Nothing." He mumbled, never seeing Aeris form the same word with her lips as he answered.
"We're almost there." Sephiroth told her, and pointed towards the lights of Cosmo Canyon, that were clearly visible in the darkening night.
"Great." Aeris said, noticing his rather clumsy attempt at changing the subject.
"If this is about what Cloud said, I'm telling you he's.. just wrong!" She pouted a while at Sephiroth's back, wondering what thoughts were going through his mind.
"It's not that." Sephiroth glanced at her over his shoulder, and then steered their black chocobo towards the stairway to Cosmo Canyon.
"What then?" Aeris asked, feeling a little perplexed by Sephiroth's behaviour. There always seemed to be something in him she could never quite grasp.
"You'd tell me if you were leaving for.. somewhere, wouldn't you?" Sephiroth asked.
"What kind of a question is that? Of course!" Aeris chuckled. "Why do you think I'd leave anywhere? I'm exactly where I want to be.." She thought.
"I just.. Don't want you to take chances for me." Sephiroth continued, without making his thoughts much more clearer to Aeris.
"Hey, Aeris! Wait up I wanna talk to ya!" Barret hastened the speed of his chocobo, and soon reached Aeris and Sephiroth.
"What is it?" Aeris glanced at Barret concearned. She wanted to find out what was bothering Sephiroth, but Aeris was certain she'd have time to discuss the issue later.
"Mr leader thinks he just saw SOLDIERs.." Barret spoke in a low voice, while glancing around him suspiciously.
"So?" Sephiroth snorted.
"But they were headin' away from Cosmo Canyon.." Barret continued, and Aeris thought about what it could mean. She'd hate to walk into a town destroyed by Shin-Ra. What if they had killed Bugenhagen? Or captured him? As Aeris glanced at Sephiroth he seemed to be just as concearned.
"We'd better not waste any time in getting there.." He muttered, and Barret rode further ahead, to pass the news to Yuffie who was riding at the front of their group.
"Do you think.. something's happened? Couldn't it be they were just passing through?" Aeris asked Sephiroth, hoping he would just laugh at the question and assure her it would be OK.
"I suppose it's a possibility." Sephiroth nodded thoughtfully, but he didn't sound too sure.
Even if Sephiroth could fight SOLDIER's no problem, it would make things very difficult for them if Bugenhagen had been captured. They needed his knowledge of the Planet to find Jenova and Zenobius. At the base of the stone stairs that led into the town dug inside a mountain, Aeris and Sephiroth got off of their chocobo. They walked at the end of the rather large group of AVALANCHEr's, right behind Cait Sith. The strange creature had also been behaving rather biculiarly, Aeris thought. He had been very silent almost to the point of being outright mysterious. Now as they walked higher up, Aeris couldn't help noticing the cat was playing with his megaphone as though wanting to say something.
"Is something wrong?" Aeris asked the creature.
"N-no." The cat answered, and shook it's paws furiously.
"Oh, isn't this my lucky day. Two residents from denial-land, all to my personal self." Aeris smiled, and grabbed Sephiroth's hand. It felt comforting to hold onto his larger hand, since Sephiroth's presence always made Aeris feel so safe.
"I was just thinking about.. what the Shin-Ra were up to. I don't think they ever visited Cosmo Canyon at all." Cait Sith spoke, and his suspicion was verified as the AVALANCHEr's entered the perfectly normal looking town.
People were walking around care-freely, some were even sitting by the camp-fire. Behind it there seemed to be quite a queue forming inside the item-shop. Aeris noticed a rather drunken man falter out of the bar located below the Inn. "Everything sure looks OK.." She smiled relieved.
"..Good." Cait Sith grinned awkwardly, and then glanced at both Aeris and Sephiroth in turn. "Hey, do you two want me to give you a fortune?" He asked.
"Oh sure!" Aeris clasped her hands together and smiled. Sephiroth on the other hand, looked more or less annoyed by the thought.
"Just give me a moment.." Cait Sith began wobbling from side to side, as though dancing some difficult yet ridiculous looking ritual. "Here goes!" He exclaimed.
"You should think twice about getting married." Cait Sith announced, and Aeris blushed immediatly.
"H-how do you know about that. We haven't told anyone." She whispered frightfully.
"You're getting married?" Cait Sith seemed equally surprised. Luckily none of the others were within hearing-range, so Aeris' secret was safe. For now.
"Hey, get up here! We've explained everything to Bugenhagen!" Red shouted from a small distance away, and Aeris and Sephiroth glanced at each other.
"After you." He smirked, and waited for Aeris to begin the ascent towards the upper floors of Cosmo Canyon.
"Stop looking at my--" Aeris began scolding him, but silenced herself as she noticed Cloud and Tifa walk towards them.
"It looks like the Shin-Ra haven't been here at all, they were just passing by. So we really don't have any idea what their mission was all about." Cloud explained Aeris, and managed to glare at Sephiroth in between talking.
"Niebelheims the only other town in that direction.." Sephiroth sighed, as though stating something obvious. And quite frankly, he was.
"What could they want from Niebelheim?" Cloud looked puzzled.
"Maybe there are more Jenova cell-samples there? I collected most of them, when--" Sephiroth fell silent, as the look on Clouds face turned more and more angry.
"It's strange Jenova can be chopped up to a dozen pieces and still she'd remain alive." Sephiroth added thoughtfully, and Aeris noticed Cloud snort at his words.
"I'd like to see about that.." He muttered, while backing away from Sephiroth.
Ever since the battle between Sephiroth and Cloud, the two had been acting as though the fight had never ended. Aeris wondered if Cloud could ever learn to tolerate Sephiroth. Shrugging at the thought, Aeris followed the AVALANCHEr's as they climbed the stairs to reach Bugenhagens house. As soon as they entered the place, Aeris saw Red and Bugenhagen talking casually. As the old man saw Aeris, he looked genuinely shocked.
"I heard from Nanaki that you had been resurrected.. I just couldn't believe it." Bugenhagen muttered, and walked closer to Aeris and Sephiroth, standing at the back of the group of AVALANCHEr's. The others moved aside to give the old scientist room.
"Good job." Bugenhagen glanced at Sephiroth, who seemed even more upset with the attention than Aeris was. Yeah, I died. Could we please move on? She said, but only in the silence of her thoughts.
"Hohohoo.. It would appear we and the Shin-Ra have the same goal. To get the Black Materia and destroy Zenobius and Jenova. But we can hardly believe Shin-Ra wouldn't use the materia for their own benefit. Therefore.. It is best you go get it from Jenova and her chosen one yourselves." Bugenhagen suggested, and most of the people in the room nodded in agreement.
"There's just one problem.. We don't know where Jenova is." Cloud spoke up.
"I believe she'll be in the north.. Where the lifestream is rather close to the surface of the earth." Bugenhagen explained, walking in circles. "During the last incident involving the Black Materia and Jenova.. A huge crater was formed." Bugenhagen pulled out a book filled with maps, and when he found the one portraying the northern continent, the old man pointed at a strange circular shaped rock-formation at the northwest corner of it.
"So you think that's where she'll be?" Cloud continued his interrogation.
"Yes.. I'm quite positive. Ho ho hoo." The white-haired old man replied, his spirits clearly lifted by Aeris' return.
"OK people! It's best we spend the night here and return to Highwind in the morning." Cloud suggested, and everyone agreed. They needed some rest, before the big fight ahead.
"Hey Sephy.. Where are you going?" Aeris asked the silver-haired man who was walking in the opposite direction from the Inn.
"I'm just gonna go for a little walk." He explained, and Aeris wringed her brow. She had a feeling there was a reason for Sephiroth's sudden need for solitude. Usually when he was battling against his demons he preferred to sulk alone. Aeris understood it was difficult for Sephiroth to ask anyone's help since there had never been anyone to offer it to him. She hoped he would not always push her away, but at the same time she didn't want Sephiroth to feel pressured.
"OK. I'll see you later then." She smiled, and Sephiroth just nodded at her in silence before dissappearing to the darkening night.
"Feels weird doesn't it?" Yuffie asked, when she had reached Aeris' side on the door to the Inn.
"Tell me about it. It's not like you visit the place you died at often." Aeris chuckled.
"Anyway, I heard an interesting rumour.." Yuffie began, and stopped Aeris by grabbing her arm.
"Are you really getting married with Sephiroth?" She asked.
"..Yes." Aeris finally admitted, an uncomfortable grin plastered on her face.
"I'm cool with you know, you dating him but.. Are you sure about the marriage thing?" Yuffie asked.
"Well what can I say, I'm into pyromanical-killer-wannabe-gods." Aeris shrugged.
"Hows that for a perversion." Yuffie muttered under her breath, as she followed Aeris into the Inn.
"I just know I want to be with him always.. Even if he can be a regular jerk at times." Aeris clarified, and smiled happily. She was missing Sephiroth already. It felt weird when he wasn't around, like a piece of her heart was gone with him and she was only barely alive..
"OK, I get that him being a jerk part.. But why would you want to go from crisis to crisis? 'Cos that's what your life's gonna be like, if you're with Sephiroth." Yuffie sighed.
"I guess, whatever my life'll be like.. I'll like it because I'll share it with him. You understand?" Aeris said, while opening the door to her room.
"No, I don't really." Yuffie rolled her eyes and walked further down the corridor to the door of her room.
"Good night Yuffie.." Aeris smiled, wondering how well the young ninja seemed to be coping with the death of her father. Maybe she was like Sephiroth, bottling up her emotions until they finally bursted out all at once.
* * * * *
I knew I'd find him here, Aeris thought. She had wandered into the Library of Shin-Ra headquarters, hoping she might find Sephiroth there. After all, she had seen him reading there on a few occasions. Aeris figured he liked the stillness, and the smell of old, dusty books. The relatively spacious room had rows of bookshelves, and a small reading chamber at the corner of it. Aeris had sneaked rather close to the end of the room, and she was watching Sephiroth from behind one of the bookshelves. His favourite spot seemed to be by the window, where a weak draft grabbed locks of his hair and twirled them in the air. At times Sephiroth turned to face the light breeze, enjoying the feel of air brushing past his skin. After a moments hesitation, Aeris stepped into plain view. She was certain she knew Sephiroth better than any of the other children did, but there was still something very frightening about the boy's appearance.
"Hello." Aeris stammered, and squeezed her fingers nervously, as Sephiroth raised his eyes from the book he had been reading. His gaze was so cold, it sent shivers down Aeris' spine.
"What do you want." Sephiroth muttered bitterly, and turned his eyes back at the book. Now that the long, silvery bangles of hair no longer shadowed his features, Aeris noticed the bruising on the side of his face. The boy seated not far from Aeris wasn't that much older than her, but in his eyes was not even a hint of joy or playfulness. It made Aeris sad, that such a rare, precious person had been forced to endure so much suffery at such an early age. All that there appeared to be left in him was darkness and cold.
"H-huh?" Sephiroth didn't have time to react, as Aeris suddenly wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug.
She felt his entire body turn tense at her proximity, but at least he didn't push her away. Aeris briefly thought, how strange it was that a thing that was so common to her seemed to overwhelm Sephiroth completely. Without saying a word, she rested her chin against Sephiroth's shoulder and breathed in his scent. It was as though for the short while the hug lasted, Sephiroth couldn't function at all. He just sat in his place, blinking lazily, until he finally broke loose and backed away from Aeris' reach.
"Don't touch me." Sephiroth only said, trying to appear angry even if his voice was clearly shaken. Aeris just looked at him, unsure whether she should smile or apologize. The only thing in her mind was, how good it had felt to see a more human side in the boy everyone was so frightened of.
Heh what senceless fluff. Umm.. That flashback right at the end of this chapter was the last of it's sort, from now on they'll concentrate more on Aeris' and Sephiroth's later years. I'm sure you'll find them just as intriquing. ^_^ Hopefully I'll be able to break out from this lazy mood I'm in, and update the next chapter soon. Believe it or not, I've still got a few twists planned for this plot. I like to think I'll be able to surprise you!