DISCLAIMER: Give me Sephiroth.. Give me Sephiroth.. *tries to send a telepathic message to Squaresoft* ^_^ Thanks to Chocobo Goddess for a little inspiration! While reading a scene from your story I got an idea for this story too. (By this I refer to the talk Sephiroth has with Tifa.) Also I'd like to thank Riye for giving me an idea.. But more about that in the next chapter! ^_^ (Wow, a cliffhanger in a disclaimer. I've really surpassed myself this time!)
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ooh! 80 reviews and counting! I'm just ecstatic! :D Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments! I suppose I don't have to tell you I'm pretty close to the end of this fic? I'm going to try and write these last few chapters to the best of my ability! Umm.. What else.. Oh! There will be a major surprise in this chapter, that will shape the rest of 'Pieces of Us'. So this will be one of my more emotional chapters. Hopefully you'll like it! There'll be lot's of A/S:y scenes! WARNING: The degree of sweetness in this chapter can cause giddy behaviour and temporary insanity that can manifest as a sudden need to hug everything in sight. Proceed with caution and know that you have been warned.
CHAPTER 31.
That is the land of lost
content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.
- A. E. Housman -
The powder snow rustled beneath the soles of Vincent's shoes, as he walked at the side of the main group. The sun had reached the highest point on the sky, but it's warmth didn't seem to reach the frozen ground. The endless glaciers that formed a good half of the northern continent, were surrounded by tall peaks of mountains. Everything looked so white, even the sky on which a few greyish clouds flowed slowly, as if too heavy to move. Every once in a while, Vincent saw braches of trees or a rock peeking out from under the heavy blanket of snow.
"Do you remember how little it used to snow in Niebelheim?" Tifa asked Cloud. The blond haired man was walking at the lead of their group, with Tifa and Red just a step behind him.
"..Yeah." Cloud answered, in a somewhat uncertain voice.
"Oh, you just have to remember! All the kids used to throw sleet at Mrs. Richards, the shopkeepers wife?" Tifa reminded, but Cloud didn't seem to remember any better. "It was the winter before my mum.. died." She continued, and her voice trembled.
Vincent turned his attention away from Cloud and Tifa, and noticed Cait Sith, Yuffie and Barret whispering to each other. Behind them and Cid, Aeris and Sephiroth were walking in silence. Their expressions were more or less neutral, and the dark-haired man couldn't help but wonder why. Aeris had been revived, they were together again and the only thing standing between their relationship - Jenova - would soon be eliminated. They had a real chance at a future together, something Vincent could never have with his true love. At times Vincent still wondered, why he had been so cruelly stripped of the one light in his life. Hojo had doomed him into the lifelong darkness of night.. So it frustrated Vincent to see the way Aeris and Sephiroth still had doubts about each other.
"Yo Vincent.. Is it true what Cait Sith's been mumbling', that the General and Aeris are gonna get married?" Barret asked in a hushed voice, clearly not wanting his words to reach Cloud's ears.
"What? I've not heard anything of the kind." Vincent cleared his throat, surprised by the question. He glanced at Cait Sith, who was talking with Yuffie about something he couldn't quite hear. The creature never even noticed Vincent's quizzical look, so the ex-Turk returned his crimson gaze at Barret.
"Oh.. I sure hope there ain't anythin' to it, Sephiroth ain't the husband type, ya know?" Barret continued, glancing at Aeris and Sephiroth. "I'll tell ya one thing though.. If they're gettin' married, they sure hide it damn well.." He grunted and then moved further away from Vincent. The former Turk was left alone to wonder, if there was any merit to Cait Sith's claim. Maybe he had spoken about it with Aeris? Vincent decided to have a talk with Aeris when they'd arrive to Icicle Village.
Unlike the others, Vincent wasn't so quick to judge the marriage. He wanted to believe there was a chance for Aeris and Sephiroth to avoid his fate. Vincent knew there was hardly anything worse than to continue one's life with nothing but regrets, and forever relive the same moments of happiness as well as misery. Sometimes when waking up, the pain of finding out those sweet dreams were nothing more than fading whispers of sleep still brought tears to Vincents eyes.
"Icicle Village should be at the end of this upward road." Cloud said, and raised his hand to block out the blinding light of day that dazzled his eyes.
"Finally!" Tifa smiled at him.
As all the AVALANCHEr's began going through their travel plans, Vincent was forced to break his silent reverie. It was difficult to concentrate on anything, when a hyperactive teenager practiced her victory moves just a step away.
* * * * *
"You shouldn't have come." Lucresia gasped, as she pulled open the door to her home. It was Vincent Valentine, a member of Turks she had met at Shin-Ra headquarters. The handsome, dark haired man was also her secret lover, whom she always woved never to see again.
"Why not? Are you afraid of your husband?" Vincent asked, handing a beautiful crimson coloured rose to Lucresia. She accepted the gift, for even though her house was located on the upper platform of Midgar, she rarely saw flowers as fair and delicate as the red rose she now held in her hand. It had a weak scent, one that reminded her of her mother. She used to cut a new rose out of her garden every day, and plant it into a crystal vase on top of their livingroom table.
"I do not fear him, love.. I fear what it could mean, if he ever found me in the arms of another. I do not wish him ill." Lucresia sighed, and stepped aside from the door to let Vincent enter her home.
"I can understand any man would go crazy of jealousy, if he had a lady as fair as thee.." Vincent murmured, as he followed Lucresia to the innermost chambers of her house. She finally halted to stand in front of a picture-window, and stared out at her small garden, bathed in the moons blue shimmer. By the pond, a statue of a chocobo mother with it's chickling stood still, frozen to the moment where they had arched their long necks to drink. Looking at the statue always made Lucresia sad for some reason. She knew the beaks of the mother and it's chickling would never reach water.
"I've always liked the poet in you, Vincent.. 'Tis as though you saw the world the same way I do.." Lucresia sighed, and held her eyes in the garden.
From that window she could see the edge of Midgar's plate, where the tall walls surrounding the sectors rose. She could never feel at home in a city that seemed more like a fortress. Lucresia wore her ebony-black hair in a neat bun, from which a few long curls fell down the sides of her face. Lost deep in her thoughts of home and her family, who had all died when Lucresia had been but a young girl, she began playing with a lock of her hair.
"I want nothing from you but your love.. So why must you torment me so? Why do you say; it's best we part now, if your only intent is to re-appear on my door?" Vincent asked, grabbing Lucresias hands.
"Forgive me.. For I cannot choose between you and the man that is my husband in marriage.." Lucresia frowned, and lifted her eyes to meet Vincent's gaze. "It is as though you asked me to choose water over fire.." She turned her back at Vincent, walking deeper into her dimly lit home.
At the far corner, a small distance away from a few bookshelves and the coffee table surrounded by leather couches, was a heavy wooden writing desk. Lucresia stopped to it, stroking the tables cool surface with a thoughtful look on her face. "Water drowns.. and fire burns.. Yet both are essential to life. How could you ask me to give up either?" She whispered, and for a moment the only sound in the room was the calm, synchronized breathing of the two lovers who stared at each other across the room as though from two sides of an insurmountable ocean.
* * * * *
Delicate, light snow swirled down the vacant streets, and at times the wind dashed it against the windows and walls of cozy looking log cabins. Large icicles dangled from under the eaves' of houses as if defying gravity, gleaming in the afternoon sun like the clearest of glass. Frost covered the branches of trees like sugar icing and a thick layer of pure white snow hid the ground from view. The small holiday resort of Icicle Village looked like it had been taken from a postcard or a painting.
"Wouldn't it be fun to make a snowman?" Aeris looked up at Sephiroth, smiling excited. She couldn't wait to buy herself a pair of warm mittens and a scarf, and go out in the piquant, cold winter air.
"A snowman?" Sephiroth glanced at Aeris, looking rather amused.
"Or we could go try out one of those.. snowboards?" Aeris suggested, looking like she would burst if she wouldn't get a chance to play with the snow.
"There's still time.. The weather looks clear enough." Sephiroth shrugged, not bothering to hide his reluctrance. Aeris looked at him, and sighed deeply. Sometimes he was quite frankly, hopeless.
"Listen up!" Cloud cleared his throat, standing by Tifa's side. "The storm is approaching us, so we'd better not head for the valley until sometime tomorrow." He began, but Aeris held her attention in a small group of children throwing snowballs at each other. Aeris smiled to herself, noticing the warning look Sephiroth gave her.
"Throw one of those things at me and you'll be drying your clothes 'till the next week." He muttered, and Aeris giggled.
"Oh yeah?" She glanced at him and smiled. "I wouldn't mind drying up next to your soaked-self." She grinned.
"You couldn't touch me." Sephiroth glanced at her, smirking.
"No?" Aeris lifted her hand to her hip, and stared at Sephiroth quizzically. "I beg to differ." She murmured, and Sephiroth smiled back at her as if to say he accepted the challenge.
"..That's why I think we should use any spare time for training and preparing for the battle against Jenova." Cloud continued, and Aeris blushed a bit as she realized she had missed a good half of what the leader of AVALANCHE had been saying.
"Don't worry, you didn't miss a thing." Sephiroth whispered in her ear as he walked past her, and a wide smile spread across Aeris' face. She watched Sephiroth enter the item shop, built inside a two-storey log cabin. Aeris noticed the eyes of Cloud, Tifa and Cid followed his sudden departure too, but they didn't comment on it, possibly because it was so ordinary for Sephiroth to behave as though he and Aeris were the only ones travelling.
"You really expect us to spend the perhaps last evening of our lives training? Get real." Yuffie snorted, and kicked at a nearby block of ice.
"Anyway.." Cloud glanced at Yuffie, before continuing his speach. "We should keep an eye on any SOLDIER troops.. They don't usually patrol on areas this isolated, but we can expect them to want to do something to get the Black Materia back to their hands." He told the others.
"So what do ya think we ought to do?" Barret asked.
"Yeah, should some of us go and check if there are any Shin-Ra troops around? 'Cos I sure don't want to wake up with a guns barrel in front of my face." Yuffie joined in the conversation, and Red grunted something along the lines that he agreed.
"Cid, couldn't you organize something?" Cloud asked the platinum haired pilot, who was standing at the back of the group.
"Why the hell do I have to? Why can't you bloody do it?" He countered, and Cloud felt like blushing. In the cold air everyone looked rather rosy, so nobody noticed.
"Come on, just take Yuffie and Barret with you and walk around - I doubt you'll even see any SOLDIER's." Cloud shrugged.
"I don't wanna go! Why can't Red go instead of me?" Yuffie complained.
"I was supposed to go through the maps with him." Cloud frowned.
"Hey, I can go." Tifa smiled, and Yuffie bounced up and down relieved.
"Yay! Where's the nearest restaurant? I'm starving!" She exclaimed, and ran off.
"Tifa, are you sure about this..? Maybe you shouldn't." Cloud protested, but Tifa shook her head.
"I can take care of myself. And like you said, it'll be like a walk in the park. We won't probably run into anything more dangerous than a few Jumpings or a pack of Bandersnatches." She explained.
"But I.." Cloud continued his protest, but Tifa just walked to Barret and Cid, completely ignoring him.
"Let's go then! The sooner we leave, the sooner we get back." Tifa told them, and the two men nodded at her before the three of them walked towards the path that circled Icicle Village.
"Thanks for listening." Cloud snorted, and then turned to Cait Sith, Aeris, Vincent and Red.
"I think I'm gonna go look for Sephiroth.. Don't forget to reserve rooms for all of us." Aeris smiled sheepishly, and then walked towards the item shop Sephiroth had entered only a moment ago.
"Well then I think.." Cloud said, as Red and Cait Sith began walking towards the Inn. Vincent followed them in silence, looking like he wasn't too interested in honing his battle techiques either.
"Hey! The meeting's not over yet! I still meant to talk about the valley and the snowstorm and.." Cloud fell silent, as he found himself standing alone on the main street that wound across the small holiday resort. "Nobody ever told me being a leader would be quite like this.." He muttered to himself, and then ran after the others in the direction of the Inn.
* * * * *
As Aeris pushed the door to the item-shop open, the bell placed above it jingled merrily. She soon noticed the saleswoman, sitting behind the counter. The young woman with brazen coloured hair only glanced at Aeris before returning her eyes at the other customer in her store. It was Sephiroth, who currently had his back turned to the door. He was turning the pages of a catalogue, through which it was possible to order custom made materia-bracelets. Aeris smiled to herself, and resisted the urge to try and sneak up on him.
"I never knew you were that big on bracelets Sephy.." She spoke up, and giggled as Sephiroth jumped at her voice. He glanced at her over his shoulder, and smirked.
"It's not for me." He said, and quickly Aeris turned her gaze to her bracelets. They were old, and the gold paint had woren off of them from more than one spot. Also, the sides of the slots were covered in scratches.
"I was going to buy new ones." Aeris pouted.
"Sure you were." Sephiroth just smirked, and turned to the next page of the catalogue.
"I'll take these." Sephiroth dropped the catalogue on top of the counter, and the small woman sitting behind it was startled by the loud sound.
"Umm.. the model 1409?" The saleswoman checked, in a frightened voice. Sephiroth just gave her a look.
"O-Ok then.. How about the decoration?" She asked.
"Try this." Sephiroth handed the woman a white piece of paper.
"Oh.. It's.." She mumbled, and then added the design to the orderform. "I'll just take these to the weapons store.. You can collect the bracelet from there tomorrow morning." She mumbled, and ran off.
"You didn't have to be so rude.." Aeris shook her head, as she walked up to Sephiroth. "I think she was attracted to you." She grinned.
"Hmpfh." Sephiroth denied the thought, and closed the catalogue before Aeris saw the model he had chosen.
"Anyway, now that we're here.. I feel like doing some shopping." Aeris smiled.
"Oh?" Sephiroth said, leaning against the counter.
"Look at all these clothes!" Aeris said, dissappearing behind clothes displayed on a horizontal bar. There were two long bars, a few shelves and a table on the southern wall of the shop, and at the western corner there were the fitting rooms and a revolving stand on which there were miscellaneous items, like potions and antidotes.
Suddenly Aeris peeked from behind one of the racks, and looked Sephiroth over. "You might wanna reconsider that black with black look." She said thoughtfully.
"..Over my dead body." Sephiroth said, terrified to see Aeris pull out a pink, fluffy sweater. Aeris noticed the look on his face, and giggled.
"This is for me!" She explained, and didn't miss the sigh of relief Sephiroth heaved. "Oh, what a cute cardigan!" She said then, and pulled the cherry red piece of clothing out.
"I wonder who's going to pay for all that cuteness? After all they charge a fortune for clothes in places like these." Sephiroth asked, and Aeris winced at him.
"You wouldn't mind borrowing me some money?" She asked. "I'll pay back, I promise!" Aeris continued, a pleeing look on her face.
"Fine.. It's not like I need much cash anyway." Sephiroth shook his head, and glanced at the small window located next to the door. The saleswoman was walking back, probably to tell how much the bracelet would cost.
"Yay!" Aeris beamed at him, and quickly returned to rummaging through the racks. "This kind of reminds me of something I used to do with my best friend.." She added, and smiled warmly at the memory of Kiara.
"You actually did this for fun?" Sephiroth glanced at Aeris, disbelief written all over his face.
"What, shopping is fun! All these neat things!" Aeris pointed at a collection of glass objects rested on top of a small table nearby.
Suddenly the bell jingled, as the woman with brazen coloured hair re-entered her store. "OK, that'll be 61.000 gils." She stated, and Sephiroth lifted his bag on top of the counter. Not much later, the whole amount of money was there in a tall pile.
"Wow. You never told me you're rich." Aeris gasped. She doubted she had ever seen so much money in one place.
"You think I'm rich? You should take a look at Hojo's bank account. You could run a small country with his salary." Sephiroth snorted, disparaging his wealth.
"Nevertheless.. Thanks. I don't think anyone's ever bought me such an expensive gift." Aeris smiled, feeling her cheeks fluster.
"Well, it's a small price to pay for keeping you alive." Sephiroth shrugged, and for a moment Aeris just looked at him, wondering whatever she'd done to deserve him.
"So you need some money for the clothes?" Sephiroth broke the awkward silence.
"Yeah.. I guess." Aeris winced again, feeling awkward for having to borrow money from her boyfriend. She had always believed in not accepting expensive gifts from anyone, but after meeting Sephiroth all her rules of dating had flown straight out of the window.
"Are you going somewhere?" Aeris asked, as Sephiroth grabbed his receipt from the saleswoman.
"I'd like to take a walk before the storm and maybe--" Sephiroth began, and Aeris nodded at him understandingly.
"Kick at a rock while pretending it to be Cloud?" She asked, and Sephiroth just smirked. "Go on, I'll be fine." Aeris shooed him towards the door.
"You're sure?" Sephiroth asked, his head still peeking in the store from behind the front door.
"Just go already!" Aeris laughed, and blew a kiss in his direction.
"Back at ya." Sephiroth grinned, and then dissappeared from view. Aeris just smiled a moment, before returning to her shopping. It didn't take her long to find a pair of cherry red mittens and a scarf of matching colour. Aeris went through all the racks, before accepting she'd probably not find anything else worth buying.
"I'll take these." She placed all her purchases to the counter, from which the saleswoman put them to a bag she then handed to Aeris.
"That'll be.. 17.000 gils please." The brazen-haired woman said, and Aeris swallowed hard as she pushed the 15.000 Sephiroth had left for her over to the woman, adding her own 2000 to the amount. She knew it was a lot of money, but Aeris felt each piece of clothing she had bought would serve a purpose and were absolutely essential.
"Thankyou and come again." The woman smiled widely.
No wonder, Aeris thought, it had been a good day for the woman saleswise. After all, how often did a one single customer buy nearly 80.000 gils worth of clothes and accessories? Feeling a little guilty after her shopping spree, Aeris headed for the Inn so that she'd be able to change. In the lobby, Cloud and Red were trying to decide who'd sleep in which room. Especially the room number one seemed to cause some dispute.
"I'm the leader, so it's logical--" Cloud began his argument.
"Oh, so we have ranks now?" Red grunted.
"No, but.." Cloud fell silent.
"Hi guys." Aeris smiled when greeting her friends.
"Oh hi. Aren't you supposed to be with Sephiroth?" Cloud asked, and Aeris shook her head as a no.
"He said he wanted to go do some.. training stuff." Aeris grinned.
"..How ironic. Of all the people, he follows my suggestion.." Cloud snorted, not seeming particularly amused.
"Anyway, I just came to dump all these clothes I bought." Aeris lifted her shopping bag, and Cloud handed her one of the keys.
"Say no more. It's room number four." He explained, and pointed towards the stairs.
"Oh, thanks." Aeris smiled, and turned towards the stairs, on which a large, detailed carpet was rested. "One more thing.. You didn't happen to see in which direction Sephiroth went? I'd need to talk to him about something." She asked, when she had almost reached the stairs.
"Sure.. He took the path that leads to the forest over there, at the base of a mountain." Red answered and Aeris thanked him with a smile.
"Huh? You never said you saw him go there." Cloud looked at Red baffled.
"That's exactly why I deserve room number one." The red-furred creature said, as he grabbed the room key from Cloud's hand.
"Hey, doesn't leadership mean anything to you guys anymore? This is not a democracy!!" Cloud protested and ran after his teammates.
* * * * *
Sephiroth stood still, staring at a tattered, grey leaf that somehow held onto a branch of a tree. The wind treated it roughly, trying to pull it loose. The wind grew more violent, blowing midst the forest of leafless trees. As he turned on his heels to walk back to the Icicle Village, he felt something hit against his back. It was snow, a few resistant flakes stuck to Sephiroth's hair despite his efforts to remove it.
"Gotcha!" Aeris laughed, taking support from the nearby treetrunk, since she was laughing so hard she had difficulty standing in the slippery snow. "Right in the target!" She giggled, while trying to brush off the snow that stuck to her new cherry-red mittens and scarf.
"You're going to pay for that." Aeris heard Sephiroth mutter, with an expression that remained obscure to her. Still there was no mistaking the very amused smirk, when Sephiroth picked up a handful of snow.
"Waah!!" Aeris ran in the opposite direction, towards spruces that offered her better cover. She ducked just as Sephiroth threw his snowball at her, and it flew past her. "You missed!" Aeris giggled, still huddled under the spruce.
"No I didn't." Sephiroth tilted his head, and his smirk soon grew into a wide grin.
"Huh?" Aeris wondered, as suddenly the heavy snowcover on the spruce's branches fell on top of her, leaving her standing in a pile of snow filled with dark green needles and small twigs. "Thanks Seph." Aeris sighed, as a lump of snow fell down from on top of her head.
"It was my pleasure." Sephiroth grinned, while helping Aeris out of the snow. "You're right, that was fun." He said, and Aeris gave him a look.
"I was just going to go slide that hill over there. But now that you're here, I thought.." Aeris pointed towards a small sled, that she had pulled behind her from Icicle Village. When Aeris lifted the handle at the end of a cream white string that was attached to the sled, Sephiroth realized where she was going with it.
"You know Aeris.." Sephiroth grabbed the string, and Aeris beamed at him. She quickly sat down on the sled and waited for Sephiroth to start pulling at her towards the hill. "Sometimes I feel like you're taking advantage of my inhuman strength." He groaned, and walked between two treetrunks on a narrow path that was visible even in the thick snow.
"Don't be silly. But do you think you could maybe run?" She asked, and giggled.
"And besides.. Sliding down a hill is such pointless activity. What sence is there to walk to the top of an earth formation such as that hill, just to get down again?" Sephiroth sighed, and shook his head. A few silvery bangles gleamed in the sun, reminding Aeris of feathers.
"That sounds like the talk of a man who's never slid down a hill." Aeris smiled, knowing she was right.
* * * * *
Cait Sith sneeked out of the hotel, and quickly ran across the icy street to a deserted house. There was no room for carelessness, so he was very careful not to let anyone see him as he entered the building.
"Hello?" Cait Sith spoke into his PSM, hearing the connection crackle. A loud sound grated on Cait Sith's ears, as the person in the other end began his transmission.
"We hear you, loud and clear. What's the status report." A voice asked.
"The snow storm will prevent them from leaving tonight." Cait Sith answered quickly, fiddling with his megaphone. It didn't seem right anymore, to report on the AVALANCHEr's whereabouts like this, but he had little choise.
"And the General?" The voice asked.
"He's with them. Still." Cait Sith said, wondering why the Shin-Ra were so interested in their ex-employee. Maybe they still felt threatened by Sephiroth? Cait Sith wondered, if the Shin-Ra would show as much attention to him, had he stayed with Jenova.
"Who ever knew he was such a compliant person beneath.." The voice snorted, sounding more annyed than puzzled.
"I wouldn't know, Sir." Cait Sith sighed. He quietly decided, like so many times before, that this would be the last time he'd give in to the demands of his superiors.
* * * * *
"Thanks for letting me borrow this." Aeris handed over the handle from which one pulled the small wooden sled, to a light-brown haired boy.
"No problem lady." The boy answered shyly, and ran away with his sled.
Aeris watched after him, and then turned her eyes at the setting sun. She had left Sephiroth's company to return the sled, fearing his presence might frighten the children into hiding. Now that that was done with though, Aeris wanted to find him as soon as possible. She walked past two houses, and the narrow path between them, reaching the outskirts of the small village. She soon noticed Sephiroth, who was seated on a bench located at the back wall of a log cabin. The bench looked delicate in comparison to the building next to it, and it stood out of the view just like Sephiroth did. No matter where he went, a man like him was bound to gather glances.
"What's up." Aeris asked, as she sat down next to Sephiroth on the frozen bench. His eyes were lifted from the ground, as he glanced at Aeris. A smile softened the harsh look on Sephiroth's face, that soon returned neutral again.
"You're going to have to try a little harder than that." He said, and grinned. There was a strange, sad look in Sephiroth's eyes, but Aeris didn't notice it. "OK then.." She smiled, and thought about how to reframe her question.
"Oh great one, would it strain thee to lift this veil of secrecy that torments my ignorant soul?" She tried, and noticed Sephiroth glance at her with a wide smile on his lips.
"Huh? You've been hanging out with Vincent?" He asked, half joking but part serious.
"Why, are you jealous?" Aeris teased him, and moved a little closer to him on the bench.
"..No." Sephiroth grinned sheepishly, while Aeris rested her head against his shoulder.
"Liar liar pants on fire." She muttered, and heard Sephiroth chuckle at her words.
"Hey! I'd watch it if I were you." He said, and wrapped his arm around Aeris.
"Mmm.. I'm sure you would." Aeris smiled, and glanced at Sephiroth's concentrated expression.
The setting sun dyed the snow in shades of orange and pale red, and made the shadows of trees grow longer. Some of them reached their skinny, lean fingers to the shelter under which Sephiroth and Aeris sat in silence. Feeling each subtle move his body made, Aeris felt a deep sence of peace in her heart. There was no need for words, since there was nothing that could possibly make the moment more memorable. When her eyes met the pasific green glow of Sephiroth's gaze, Aeris smiled and thought how alive she felt like.
"I take it all this touchy feely business means we're still going ahead with the wedding?" Sephiroth asked, managing to break Aeris perfect daydream moment.
"Oh definately. But first we save the Planet from the brink of destruction." Aeris sighed, almost casually even though her words were nothing of the kind.
"Which leads to my next subject.. Let's not invite Hojo." Sephiroth grinned, facing Aeris.
"I'm liking that plan." Aeris smiled back at him, and for a moment they just stared at each other from so close their breaths met and mingled before fading to the wind.
"But we'll have to invite mum. I suppose she'll have to give me away, since my dad.. can't." Aeris said, and at the mention of the father she never knew Aeris' expression turned to a bit darker tone.
Sephiroth noticed the change in her mood, but had difficulty finding the right words. Nobody had consoled Sephiroth in the times he had missed his parents, so he was clueless as to how to help another in a similar situation. He could hardly give Aeris the same instruction he had given himself: don't be such a weakling. "I guess inviting Elmyra means you'll have to tell her about us." He spoke, trying to sound as compassionate as he could.
"Duh! Really Sephy, sometimes I worry about you.." Aeris giggled, and glanced at Sephiroth. "Have I mentioned she doesn't like SOLDIERs?" She continue, and shook her head. She had to admit, telling Elmyra would be quite an ordeal. Her mother didn't want her to marry a SOLDIER, and especially not a high-ranking one.
"So she doesn't like me. Big deal." Sephiroth stated, and Aeris frowned at him in response.
"It's important for a girl that her mother likes the man she's going to marry. After all, Elmyra's going to be your mother-in-law.." Aeris explained, and Sephiroth just sighed.
"So what are you going to tell her? Shouldn't we be planning some elaborate coverstory?" He suggested, and Aeris just smiled back at him.
"Maybe. I was kinda leaning towards the old 'telling the truth' method." She confessed with a sheepish grin.
"Yeah, well that has worked fluently so far.." Sephirth smirked, clearly being sarcastic.
"Good point. So it's the 'let's lie our heads off' method then?" Aeris smiled.
"That might work." Sephiroth replied, and leaned a bit closer.
Snow had begun to fall silently, and the small white flakes blurred the log cabins burried in the snow drifts from view. Grey, heavy clouds had begun to gather on the sky, hinting the snow storm might start any moment now. Still the two figures huddled close to one another never noticed. "It's worth a try." Aeris smiled, shivering as her frozen lips met Sephiroth's warmth. His breathing felt like a southern breeze against Aeris' skin, and images of green, lush fields of blossoming flowers filled her mind. Even in the nippy cold, she could feel the sun reach it's beams to every cell of her being, and she basked in the dry wind that blew against her back.
* * * * *
"You should tell him." Tifa glanced at Barret.
"I don't wanna." Barret responded, shaking his head violently.
"We have to. Cid's expecting us to do something and we can hardly go to the Inn and tell Cloud. That would ruin everything." Tifa explained, and glanced at the silver-haired man sitting alone on a bench. "I wonder where Aeris is?" She thought aloud.
"I dunno.. Why can't you ask 'im?" Barret muttered.
"Fine, I will." Tifa said in a determined voice but with every step she took towards Sephiroth, she felt her courage dissappear.
"What." Sephiroth glared at the two, looking almost annoyed by their presence.
"Umm hi. Where's Aeris?" Tifa asked.
"She went back to the Inn. I said I'd follow her in a minute. You've got something to tell her?" Sephiroth asked, and stood up. The former SOLDIER-General looked even more threatening, as he walked to stand right in front of the significantly shorter woman.
"..Nothing much. It's just that there's this little crisis.." Tifa fidgeted, feeling extreme uneasiness. She couldn't help but wonder, how Aeris could be so close to Sephiroth without fainting or developing a serious case of nausea.
"What crisis?" Sephiroth stared down at her, his eyes glowing with Mako.
"The Shin-Ra are keeping an eye on the hotel.. I don't know how they found us or what they want, but we shouldn't let them know we know about them until we find out why they are here." Tifa spoke quickly, and took a step back from Sephiroth.
"So you want my help? The others are bound to be at the Inn.." Sephiroth continued, amazingly he had managed to make some sence out of Tifa's fast speach. But then again, Sephiroth was probably used to listening people talk to him in a nervous, fast kind of way.
"I guess." Tifa glanced at Barret. "Cid's keeping an eye on them.. We should get back there soon.. He can't fight a whole division of SOLDIER's on his own." She explained, pointing towards a spot in the horizon.
"Well, lead the way." Sephiroth smirked, and with great difficulty Tifa turned her back at him and followed Barret as they began their walk.
"So, what do ya think them Shin-Ra vermin want?" Barret asked Sephiroth.
"Isn't it obvious? The Black Materia.. It could be they're waiting for us to get our hands on it, so that they'll be able to steal it from us without having to do any work for it." He answered.
"But why send a whole division of SOLDIER's just for that?" Tifa asked, hearing Sephiroth chuckle coldly at her words.
"You of all people should know.. Kind of ironic the things they most fear are their own creations?" Sephiroth commented, and a charged silence landed between the three AVALANCHEr's. Sometimes it still startled Tifa to think that the monster who had haunted her worst nightmares was now travelling in her company. Even if Tifa had Cloud for support, she still felt it was weird to be around Sephiroth. Until now, she had been very successful at avoiding situations where she could be left alone with him for long periods of time.
"We shouldn't be out here for too long.. The storm is beginning." Sephiroth said, looking at the snow that appeared to be falling sideways due to the fierce wind. It was hitting against a signpost too, swaying it back and forth in rhythm.
"Man, is this the perfect timing or what." Barret groaned, folding his arms in an attempt to keep warm. It did him little good though, thanks to his metallic gun-arm. Despite the many times the biculiar weapon had saved Barrets life, he still preferred he had been able to keep his own arm. The gunshot wound that had forced the arm to be amputated, had occurred during the burning of his hometown Corel, and the bitter memory of that day gave Barret more strength. He was determined to live through the battle against Jenova, just to see Shin-ra's defeat.
"What the hell took you so long?" Cid hissed from behind a ridge. The earth formation offered perfect cover from the small temporary base of Shin-Ra's, outside which many SOLDIERs stood in guard.
"What the hell are they doin'?" Barret said, puzzled by the sight of SOLDIERs pinning the tents to the ground with large, metallic bolts.
"Preparations for the snowstorm perhaps?" Sephiroth muttered, not sounding very interested in anything the Shin-Ra were up to.
"You brought HIM?" Cid glanced at Tifa quizzically, and she just grinned sheepishly. "Anyway.. They have a smaller airship in there.. I thought I saw that Heideggar idiot inspecting the troops." Cid gave the others a briefing as to what they had missed.
"I wonder if the President's in there.." Barret snarled, his eyes locked to the small base.
"We could just go in there and check it out.." Sephiroth smirked, and the others glanced at each other without him noticing.
"Yeah right." Tifa sighed, and shook her head in exasperation.
* * * * *
Aeris sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the only window in her room. Snowflakes were frozen to it's surface, blurring the view from sight. She could hear the storm rage outside, as the wind moaned against the ceiling. Aeris wrapped the blanket from her bed more securely around herself, and pulled her feet up from the cold floor. Sephiroth's few minutes had lasted for two hours already, and the uneasiness in Aeris' heart was beginning to build. She couldn't stop herself from going through all the possibilities as to what could have happened to him, and each one caused new goose-pimples to appear on her skin.
"Aeris, are you awake?" A knock was heard from the door. Aeris jumped down from her bed and walked past the dressing table to the door.
"Hi Vincent." She managed to smile.
"Can I come in? There is something I feel we must discuss.." Vincent explained, and walked in past Aeris. He walked all the way to the sofa at the far corner of the room, and sat down on it.
"So what is it?" Aeris asked, as she returned to her bed.
"You shouldn't worry about the General. 'Tis most likely he's found refuge at one of the buildings." Vincent began, but Aeris felt there was more he wanted to say. The look in the mans crimson coloured eyes was restless, as he began talking again. "In any case.. I heard a fascinating rumour." He said.
"Oh?" Aeris blinked. She hadn't thought Vincent to be the rumour-spreading type.
"To put it short.. I heard you and Sephiroth are planning an engagement." Vincent began, and Aeris couldn't pick out anything angry or disapproving about his demeanour.
"Does everyone know?" Aeris winced. She knew telling Cloud about everything would be a difficult thing, so Aeris preferred it was her who told him and not someone else.
"I'm not certain.. Cloud doesn't know. I don't think Tifa or Cid know either." Vincent answered her.
"So what do you think about it?" Aeris asked after a moments silence. She wasn't exactly sure what Vincent thought of her relationship with Sephiroth.
"Is my opinion of any significance? You should do what you feel in your heart is right.." Vincent said, not giving her a straight answer.
"I know what I feel.. And I think I know how Sephiroth feels too.. But.. sometimes the future frightens me. What if we won't survive the battle against Jenova? What if everyone will react badly?" Aeris began to talk, playing with the corner of her blanket.
"If we told you not to marry Sephiroth, would you listen?" Vincents voice turned a bit lighter than usually.
"..No." Aeris grinned, "but I wish my friends could be happy for me.."
* * * * *
"Huh, whatta weather!" Barret snorted, as he pushed open the door of an empty, deserted log-gabin. Tifa, Cid and Sephiroth soon followed him into the entry hall of the building, and shut the door behind them. Outside the storm had reached it's peak, the foursome had seen the wind break frost-bitten trees into half.
"..What is this place..?" Tifa thought, as she got a good look around the place. From the lobby, a set of stairs led to the basement floor. Behind the reiling that surrounded the entrance to the staircase, was a tv-screen and some computers, all covered in dust. Some yellowish newspapers lay abandoned next to them, as well as an old coffee mug. The room looked like someone had left in a hurry, leaving most of his possessions behind.
"Looks like a scientist lived here.." Sephiroth muttered, as he walked to the computer. A small green light flickered below the screen, indicating the machines were still in order.
"You'd know." Tifa snorted, noticing the gloomy expression that appeared on Sephiroth's face.
"That storm could go on all night.. I'm gonna go to sleep.." Barret yawned, and walked down the stairs. Cid soon followed him, and the two men dissappeared to the basement floor.
"Aren't you coming." Tifa asked from the railing. Sephiroth stood by one of the computer screens, punching some numbers into it. "Sephiroth?" Tifa asked again, finally catching the silver-haired mans attention.
"In a minute." He grunted, keeping his eyes glued to the screen. Curiosity appeared to have won control over the ex-General, as he began browsing through the house owners files.
"OK." Tifa said, and stared at Sephiroth for a long time. A year ago the thought of spending a night in the same house with him would have been enough to make Tifa scream of fright, but now as she began the descent to the basement, she felt almost comfortable.
"..Ifalna..?" Sephiroth froze, as he read the name that had appeared on the computer screen. It seemed to be a link to some videofile, but Sephiroth hesitated to push the 'enter' button. The name sounded vaguely familiar to him.. But from where? Was this the home of one of the people he had killed? Sephiroth wasn't sure he wanted to know. What if pressing that button would change his fate once again? Ignoring the nervous beat of his heart, Sephiroth finally pressed the button. Quality of the picture was poor, but at the centre of it, a woman sat on a chair.
"This isn't very scientific.." She laughed, as the man that had attempted to adjust the camera ran into view.
"But dear.. Won't it be nice to watch these later?" The man laughed, and sat down on a couch nearby.
Sephiroth listened to the pair talking, and the feeling of distant recognition only intensified. From where did he know that woman? Sephiroth thought about it long and hard, but couldn't figure it out. The man looked somewhat familiar too.
As Sephiroth leaned closer to the picture, he noticed something strange. Ifalna looked remarkably like Aeris. She was about her age too, only slightly older. Her hair curled the same kind of way, and the shape of her face.. "..It couldn't be." Sephiroth stopped the video, uncapable of watching it any longer. "..What.. does it mean?" He supported his weight on his hands, and leaned against the table. He wished he could ignore what he felt, but it was impossible now. Sephiroth was sure he had met Ifalna somewhere. The more he repeated her name in his thoughts, the more familiar it sounded like. Was she related to Aeris? Was she.. the mother Aeris claimed had died when she had been eight? His heart racing, Sephiroth bowed his head down, holding his eyes tightly closed.
"I would've been.. thirteen.. When it happened.." He said to himself, and tried hard to remember. Sephiroth knew he had spent his childhood at Shin-Ra headquarters, but remembered only fragments of his life there.
"Are you.. OK?" Tifa asked. She had returned upstairs, as she had heard Sephiroth mumble to himself. Tifa thoroughly hoped he wasn't about to flip out, since they were imprisoned to the small building until the storm outside would seize. Watching the way Sephiroth shook his head, Tifa had to admit he looked like a machine overheating with information.
"Go away." She heard Sephiroth mutter, as he walked to another computer and began flicking through the files on it. Tifa wished Cloud was with her for support, but she took a few steps in Sephiroth's direction in spite of his threatening behaviour.
"Could you just tell me what's wrong..? Maybe I can help." Tifa said, hardly believing she was really offering her help to Sephiroth.
"..Why can't I remember..?" Sephiroth said to himself, as though he hadn't heard Tifa's offer.
"Remember what exactly?" Tifa asked, fearing the answer might be: why I'm not killing all of you.
"What I was doing when I was thirteen.. Or twelwe.." Sephiroth glanced at Tifa quizzically, and then returned to his feverish search for something.
"I think whoever lived here.. knew me. And maybe Aeris too." He suddenly explained, and the look on Tifa's face turned curious.
"That's a weird coincidence. Us running into you, and ending up at this very house.." Tifa thought aloud, and noticed Sephiroth nod in her direction as if to say he had thought about the same thing. Tifa felt like wincing, as she suddenly found herself having a normal conversation with the man she had once hated more than anything.
"What makes you think that the person who lived here knew Aeris?" Tifa asked, and watched as Sephiroth opened a picture file of a woman named Ifalna. The woman had emerald green eyes and chestnut coloured hair, and even though her nose was a bit different and the shape of her eyes more narrow, there was no mistaking the similarities between her and Aeris.
"That's.." Tifa gasped, and walked to the monitor. "That's unreal." She spoke, and glanced at Sephiroth.
*Rediscovers her self-control* Huh, that was BAAAAD. Anyway, this was a nice chapter, wasn't it? I put a lot of thought into constructing it, which probably explains the massive length. Hopefully I'll get around to writing the next chapter soon.. Well.. Please review! ^_^ I tried to leave enough questions open to keep your interest up!