Aeris, Aeris, you stupid girl. Why are you coming? Why? You know Hojo wants you. You know he will experiment on you and abuse you and hurt you if he catches you. What could you possibly do against him? Against Talya? Against Minerva? I know you are a Cetra, but I know also that you are weak. You can heal, but can you fight? No... They will capture you when you get here. You are walking into a cage, Aeris. Please, don't come. I don't know why I called for you. I did not mean to... I did not mean to...
Sephiroth sighed. I do not want you to get hurt. I know how it feels, and I know that you are not as strong as I am. And you do not deserve it, as I do.
Yes, she does, Jenova hissed in his mind.
He ceased his pacing and leaned against a wall. Don't start with that again. I've had enough of it.
Doesn't she anger you, though? Wasn't there a reason why you killed her? You could have been the ruler of this planet! You could have had them do whatever you wished for you! You could have been infinitely powerful, a god! But she ruined it, and you are reduced to this pitiful existence. Don't you hate her for that?
No, he replied, shaking his head. I would not have been happy. I would have been more lonely than before.
You are still lonely. You always will be. You could have at least had whatever you wished.
You are wrong. If it weren't for Hojo, I could be free. Aeris accepted me. I regret killing her. That is why I brought her back.
You don't regret it. You enjoyed killing her.
"No!" he exclaimed aloud, his angry voice piercing the silence. "I did not! I did not want to!"
Yes, you did. I distinctly remember you bragging and laughing about it to me. You were thoroughly pleased with yourself, and you kept talking about how much you enjoyed the power. So you see, you would have been happy had you become a god.
Sephiroth sank down to sit on the cold tile floor. "No," he murmured, shuddering. "I did not want to. I would have been miserable. I did not want to kill her, I did not want to become a god."
You know I am right. You don't remember, but you know it. And you don't like the fact that you enjoyed killing, do you? But, that is what you were created for, to be an efficient killing machine. I wanted you to be happy with the power you could have, but the Cetra ruined it.
"She did. But I am glad she did so."
Now that you have recovered, though, we can try it again. Minerva could help us. She would, if you asked her to. We could destroy the humans and kill the Cetra so she would not stand in the way...
"She stopped Meteor using the Lifestream," Sephiroth commented absently, continuing to speak aloud rather than in his mind. He did not care who heard him. Minerva could hear either way.
Then we will keep her alive. We will take her with us. How would you like that? She could be yours and the two of you could rule the world together.
"She would not like that."
We could let her friends live, and anyone else you wished. Hojo would die, of course. How would you like that? To live among Aeris and her friends and to be able to do whatever you liked?
He thought for a moment. Would it be so bad? To kill all the insignificant people who meant nothing to him or to Aeris? But he thought of Katrina, of Elder Hargo, of Kari, and he knew that there were more people like them. There had to be. Those who murdered and kidnapped and destroyed and raped were only the minority, and he would have to be the leader of that group. "No, I could not. There are too many good people in the world to kill so many..."
...what if you killed those who did wrong, and spared the rest? Would the world not then be a utopia? You could be the bringer of justice, inspiring fear in the hearts of all those who wished to do wrong. Would that not make up for your earlier sins?
"But... Aeris would... I am one of those who has done wrong. I deserve to die for it. And yet Aeris does not wish me dead..."
You are a special case, of course, because your intent was to cleanse the world of evil. If she truly means such things, she understands that you did not know that not all humans were evil. Of course you were angry with them, after how they treated you.
"I cannot wash my hands of that killing by killing even more souls, no matter how black they are. None can be as black as mine."
What does that have to do with justice? So you were a little off the first time. You were given a second chance.
"By whom? Your cells?" he spat. "A murderer does not prove his good by killing other murderers."
Then what does he do?
Sephiroth frowned. What would Aeris do? "...he gives them a second chance."
And what if they choose not to take it?
"I... I don't know."
Hmm... now, what would Aeris say? Jenova asked, mocking.
"I don't know," he repeated.
And you know her so well... she sneered. You see? Much of what you think about her, you have made up. You only had one true conversation with her, and simply because she told you what you wanted to hear, you decided to like her.
"I knew her when I was small..."
Not any better than you know her now.
"Do you really think she'd be able to hide what she really was at such a young age?"
You would have been able to, had you wished to.
"I am different from her. My body and mind developed more quickly."
How do you know that?
Sephiroth blinked, then shook his head. "She could not fake that. It is not possible."
In any case, my son, why not kill those who are flawed? What is the point in having imperfections in this world? And would the Planet not appreciate more souls to help the Lifestream along its way in healing the wounds the humans have created?
"You are the cause of the largest wound on this Planet. You are the one who keeps it from healing."
And who told you that? The Cetra? Elder Hargo? No one told you that. You made it up yourself from all the things you were hearing. The only reason the Planet cannot heal itself is because Shinra's Mako reactors were consuming the energy it needed. There is no reason why I cannot exist on this Planet without causing it harm.
"...you are making that up to deceive me."
Why would I choose to do such a thing as that, when telling you the truth is all I have ever needed to do in order to convince you of the right course of action.
"And what exactly are you proposing to do?"
Kill the flawed humans, leaving only the perfect ones to create the next generations. There is no point in letting the imperfect beings taint their race. The deaths of the flawed will give energy both to you and the Planet, letting you become even more powerful. Then we can take the throne that will await us and rule over all the pure who remain. If you wish, you can even take that Cetra as your queen.
Sephiroth scoffed loudly. "What constitutes 'perfection'? Where do you draw the line?"
Those who have committed murder, certainly, and other such physical crimes.
"You are aware that I am among them?"
But you are superior to them. Their rules do not apply to you.
He lay back on the floor, placing his hands beneath his head and staring up at the blank ceiling. "I was under the impression that they were superior to me. I thought that I should beg their forgiveness, rather than punish them for crimes less than mine."
You do not need to beg forgiveness. You were forgiven the moment the Planet allowed you to live once more. There is no need for you to wash your hands; they are already clean. You paid for whatever crimes you may have committed when you died.
"Then I was not forgiven to make the same mistakes again."
But it isn't the same. You will do things differently this time.
"I was planning on it, but you seem to think differently."
True, I would prefer to wipe out every last one of them, but I am willing to compromise...
"Compromise? I have no intention of killing anyone but Hojo."
You are aware, of course, that I alone could cause significant destruction? I could even kill you off, my son, if I wished to. If you refuse to go along with this, I will simply wipe all of you off the face of the Planet and become a goddess on my own. That would be nice, but I would be awfully lonely.
He sat up, frowning. "I cannot allow you to do that."
Then are you going to accept my proposal? I'm not asking much. Together we will destroy the imperfections of this world and rule a paradise.
"No, I will not accept. I'll kill you."
You will fail trying.
"Then I would prefer to die knowing I attempted to stop you, rather than join you and kill countless humans."
But you see, if you join me, then you will be saving thousands of them, because if you do not, there is no reason for me to let any of them live. You are the one who wishes to spare them. If I must kill you, I see no point in it.
"Why do you want me to help you, if you could do it on your own?"
You know the meaning of loneliness, don't you? I would not want to be the only inhabitant of this Planet. And there will come a time when I must die, and there would be no one left here. I have no desire to destroy all sentient life on this world.
"Yet you would do it anyway, if I refused to aid you?"
Necessity. They do harm the Planet, afterall. If we kill even a hundred of them, we replenish the Lifestream and allow the Planet to heal its wounds.
"Since when have you cared about the Planet?"
If it dies, I am deprived of a second home. And this time, I have no means of leaving.
Sephiroth stood and began pacing back and forth. "You are being selfish. If I joined you, you would kill everyone anyway, despite my own wants."
Since when have I attempted to deny my son the things he wants most? Last time, I let you lead, let you move towards the throne of power, towards godhood. I was merely your guard, to be called upon for aid and advice. But you failed. They destroyed you. So this time, I will take the lead and we shall succeed. But I will only take your wishes into consideration if you choose to accompany me. Otherwise, you stand in my path.
"But, Mo-" He stopped himself and his eyes widened at the slip. The thought that he had almost called her by that name filled him with revulsion; he shuddered, and began his pacing again. "Jenova, I cannot let even those who have sinned be killed. And I certainly cannot be the one to kill them. I will stop you."
How? Minerva is keeping you from using any of your talents. You do not remember them anyway. He perceived a mocking smile. You don't even know where I am! How do you expect to kill me when I am only a voice in your head. Your voice, I might add. I wonder, she continued amicably, as on a new, amusing train of thought, since you cannot remember seeing me, how do you even know I exist? Perhaps you are imagining these things? The impression of laughter, he felt it ringing inside his mind.
"Of course you exist. Too many people know of your presence; Minerva even hears you, as I do."
Well? Perhaps there is a Jenova somewhere. But that does not mean I am her, and that she is speaking to you now. You could be imagining many of these conversations. How would you know the difference between reality and illusion? How do you know that I am not just another part of you? Perhaps you have two personalities.
"What are you going on about? There is no way that you could be a creation of my mind. You are too complex for that. And it is simple to tell the difference between reality and illusion."
Oh? Is it now? You remember how... no, you don't, do you? Well... Cloud once thought the same, but he had taken another's identity and transposed it over his own, creating someone new. Why could you not create the new persona, while keeping the old one? When you read those reports, perhaps your mind created me in your distress and confusion.
"But how could you be considering these things, if you are merely a creation of mine? How could you be aware of them, if I am not?"
Simple, really. If the consciousness of it was suppressed, as well as this persona, for some time, then we have the same origin, do we not? Awareness would then shift to me. It is an interesting concept, don't you think? Perhaps you truly are insane.
"Impossible," he scoffed. But the seeds of doubt were planted, as Jenova had intended, and he began to wonder how much of what he really perceived to be truth actually was. Jenova spoke of aiding the Lifestream to heal the Planet. Wasn't that what the Weapons had done? something inside him that still remembered asked. Did they not kill humans to help the Planet? They were the ones who helped to destroy Shinra, who led it towards its downfall by attacking Midgar and Junon.
Yes, that's a good point. The Planet did try to do the same thing I am proposing. What is wrong with taking up the work it left off? Cloud and the others destroyed the Weapons who were attempting to destroy the humans. At times, it even seemed as though they were protecting us. The only reason the Planet wished us dead then was because what we intended involved its injury and possible destruction. No matter, what we wish to do now involves no such factor. Our ambitions can only benefit it from any side you take.
"Then, if the Cetra are linked to the Planet, why did Aeris condemn such actions, by us, and by the Weapons? Why does she view human life as a good thing, rather than a virus?"
She enjoys their company. She lets this petty emotion get in her way. But you, my son, you wouldn't understand that because you are above such emotions as those. You don't need them. You shouldn't bother with thinking of Aeris. She may be a Cetra, but she has little regard for the Planet's wellfare when it does not coincide with her own.
"You think the same, do you not? You wouldn't care about the Planet if it meant you couldn't kill the humans."
True, but in the overall picture, why should that matter? Not everyone can be selfless. In fact, I can think of no one who is. It is only natural for me to think of myself and take advantage of certain situations. Why try to hide it?
He frowned, ceasing to pace the room. "But... I cannot think of anything I want for myself. I want Aeris to be free, I want the Planet to be healed..."
Trying to act selfless on me? Think, and tell me what you truly want.
"I want..." What do I want? "...want to... see..." The words were coming slowly, and unbidden. He had no knowledge of what he was saying. "...Aeris... I want to see Aeris again," he finished. "And...... I want to be... forgiven. By everyone, not just her."
And why do you seek their forgiveness?
"Because they hate me."
...so if they forgave you, it would mean that you had won a victory over them? Is that what you want?
"No," Sephiroth replied. "Their hatred distances me from them. I do not belong in this world, where they all despise me." He closed his green-tinted blue eyes.
"You know the Professor won't like you being out here," Talya said, frowning and folding her arms beneath her breasts.
"I know," Sephiroth replied. "But I wanted to see the sun for once."
"That's what windows are for," the Turk said flatly, looking around.
"I suppose... but this is so much nicer." The boy was seated cross-legged on the grassy lawn near a small pear tree. He leaned back and stared up at the clear blue sky, marveling at each fluff of white cloud that floated past.
"I don't see what you find so interesting out here."
Sephiroth sat up. "You seem unusually irritable today. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You can tell me," the boy coaxed. "It isn't as though I have anyone else to tell it to."
"I told you, it's nothing!" Talya snapped, her frown deepening.
The boy stared at her for a moment. This was unusual behavior for her, but he wouldn't push anything. He got to his feet and wandered to the front gate, leaning on it. He knew better than to open it, so Talya remained silent. There were a few children playing near the well in the middle of the town. They looked only a little younger than Aeris, who he learned had turned four only a few days before he had first seen her. But it had been months since he had last spoken to her. The Professor had forbidden it. It worried him that he never caught her in the hallways. It made him think that perhaps he was calling for her, too.
One of the children noticed him and Sephiroth gave a slight start. The young boy straightened, peered at him curiously. Sephiroth tried a smile, and the boy's eyes widened, almost appearing frightened, then he turned away to continue playing with the others. Sephiroth frowned, then turned to Talya. "You can stop sulking now. I'm ready to go back in."
"I'm not sulking," the Turk muttered as they walked back inside.
"...just as their fear once made me an outcast."
I see. Is that why you don't want to kill? Because it will only make them hate and fear you more? But why do you need their acceptance? Why do you need to fit in amongst so many people? Is one or two not sufficient?
"I suppose... but who would they be?"
Minerva, certainly. And myself, of course. And, if she truly is what you believe her to be, Aeris.
"She would not want me to kill so many..."
I told you, she is selfish. If she cared more about the Planet, she would approve of your killing people because it would help the Lifestream to heal the Planet.
"But she does not approve."
Why should that matter so much to you? Jenova snapped irritably. I don't understand it.
Sephiroth flopped back on the hard mattress of his bed. "Neither do I."
What if she did approve? Would you agree to my plan then?
"Perhaps." Yes.
Think on it. If you can find no answer of why you desire a word of sanction from her, then I expect you to concur with me then. Do we have an agreement?
Sephiroth refused to answer.
I need a definite answer soon.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked, his tone indifferent, his eyes an unreadable blue-green.
Because things seem to be moving in a direction that is quite favorable for us.
"How so?"
I cannot tell you, because I am uncertain of where your alliances lie. You might find a way to use the information for your own purposes.
He smiled slightly. "Afraid of little me? I thought it would be so easy to kill me."
It would be. But I would prefer not to.
The smile disappeared. "Very well then. I will give you an answer when I remember enough."
Then I will see what I can do to make that happen more quickly for you.
Sephiroth scoffed and closed his eyes again.
The boy walked down the hallway in the basement, calmly eyeing the shadows, more because they were there than anything else. He had been down this way so many times that he was no longer afraid of what might lurk in the dark. In fact, he wasn't even sure he had ever been afraid.
But this time, he strode purposefully to a tall, ominous-looking wooden door off to one side of the passage, in which his eyes showed a particular interest. He had no intentions of continuing on to the lab. He reached out a slender hand to try the handle. Locked. What was in there, he wondered, that needed to be locked up?
Stepping back, he glanced along the hall in both directions to make sure no one was watching, then moved towards the door, paused for a moment's concentration, then simply walked through. Once on the other side, he shook his head, as if to clear it, then looked around in the darkness. His blue-green eyes were the room's soul illumination. The door to it fit snugly, allowing no light to peek through any cracks. But his Mako eyes let him see well enough even in near-perfect darkness.
There were five coffins in this room, the four in the corners of the room opened and revealing ravaged skeletons. Scattered bones spilled over the edges of the coffins; skulls and their torn bodies lay in haphazard piles against the far wall, cobwebs and remnants of clothing clinging to them for all they were worth. In the center of the room, one coffin sat untouched by all the decay and destruction surrounding it. It was not nearly as dusty as everything else here, and he could distinguish old fingerprints in what dust there was. He did not know how or why he felt as such, but his instincts told him that someone was alive in that coffin, despite the impossibility of their being no air to breath, no food here in this locked room, no water, nothing.
His actions neither bold nor timid, he strode to the coffin and knocked on its lid. No answer. He knocked harder, louder. Sharp metal digits slid from under the lid to push it aside a crack. "Who is it?" inquired a soft voice that sounded as though it had not been used in ages.
The boy blinked. Despite the claw that had grasped the lid, the voice sounded human. "Sephiroth, sir," he answered, not knowing why he added the respectful title. He paused, as if contemplating his next action. "...what are you doing in there?"
Silence answered him for several long minutes before the man spoke again, a faint, undefinable emotion in his voice. "...Sephiroth...? You are Lucrecia's son...?"
"Yes." Sephiroth frowned slightly. "Who are you?"
"No one of consequence."
"No, really. I want to know," Sephiroth insisted. "And why are you in there?"
There was a slight movement of the metal fingers that suggested uncertainty, indecision. "My name is Vincent. I am here because it is my punishment."
Vincent... Valentine? So many questions began racing through his mind: Was this man his father? Could he get him out of here? The lock was double sided, and he had never used his magic on anyone but himself. But, first and foremost... "Why don't you come out of there for a moment? So you can tell me what you did to deserve this kind of punishment."
There was a long pause-perhaps he was contemplating whether or not to trust him. The hand pushed the lid aside, slowly, though Sephiroth felt that it was from reluctance, not because of weakness. The man inside sat up, then stood and leapt over the side of the coffin to land on the stone floor. The swift motions did not startle him; his appearance did. This man was tall, even from Sephiroth's rapidly growing height. His build was slender, yet the boy sensed a strength about him, and... something else. The black clothing and vermilion cloak only added to the feeling of foreboding, and the sharp crimson gaze was intense, causing discomfort even in Sephiroth.
The boy refused to look away however. Oddly enough, Vincent looked as though the boy's appearance startled him just as much and for a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Finally, Sephiroth felt a need to restate his question. "...why are you locked in here?"
"I... abandoned your mother," Vincent admitted reluctantly. "I did not stop the experiment."
"...you mean me?"
"Yes. It was your experiment that killed her."
Sephiroth frowned. "I am sorry then."
"It is not your fault..." It was mine, whispered the unspoken sentence that Sephiroth perceived. There was an awkward silence. "...how did you get in here?"
Blinking, the boy glanced towards the door. "I... walked through..." Vincent tilted his head in question, and Sephiroth beckoned for him to follow as he strode back to the wooden structure. Hesitating only a moment, he grasped Vincent's flesh arm and pulled him through the door. Sephiroth looked at him on the other side, in the dim light that seemed now incredibly bright, and watched his reaction. He squinted first, at the brightness, but his overall expression was one of surprise. Not the surprise that Sephiroth could do it, it seemed, but that he had taken Vincent with him.
"...like that," Sephiroth added finally.
Vincent nodded, regaining his composure. "I see," was all he said.
"I want to ask you something," the boy began, waiting for the man's nod before continuing. "Are you my-"
"Sephiroth!" the Professor cut in. The boy started. He hadn't even heard the man approaching! "What do you think you're doing!?" Caught off guard, he could only look behind him at Vincent, who was out of Hojo's sight behind a curve of stone. Vincent's crimson eyes narrowed as Hojo stepped into his view. The Professor glared back at him, then grasped Sephiroth tightly, painfully, about the shoulders. He willed himself not to squirm in the scientist's bony grip and managed to look him in the eye. Sephiroth was actually the taller of the two now. "You are not to speak to him again, you understand!?"
Sephiroth nodded.
"Let the boy do as he pleases, Hojo," Vincent said quietly; spoken softly because, Sephiroth thought, he did not want his anger to be too obvious. "It is the least you could do." For her.
"Shut up," Hojo snapped, releasing the boy. "It's not your place to decide what happens to him."
"Something tells me she would have preferred my treatment of him to what you are doing." The boy watched the two silently, sensing a strange rivalry between them. Why? And why did Vincent speak of Lucrecia to the Professor, when Sephiroth had never heard Hojo utter her name.
"The boy was always under my possession," he snorted. "It doesn't matter what she wanted anymore. She's dead."
Vincent's eyes glowed visibly brighter at this, his anger almost tangible as he growled, right hand going to his side, beneath his cape. "It sickens me to hear you speak of her death so casually. I should have always known it, that she meant nothing to you."
"What are you doing?" the Professor demanded of him, jerking his head angrily towards Sephiroth. "Do you want him to know everything? Get back in that coffin where you belong!"
The taller man's gaze was murderous, yet somehow regaining it's calm at the same time. "I was never instructed to stay where I was. I remain because I must."
The Professor muttered something to himself before he nearly shouted, "Get back in there! You are not to interfere again, you hear!?"
Vincent shook his head calmly, but firmly. "I want to speak to the boy, if only for a few moments." Hojo opened his mouth to protest, but suddenly found himself held at gunpoint. He shut his mouth and nodded stiffly. A moment later, he turned away, heading back to the lab and slamming the door shut behind him.
After the Professor had left, Vincent lowered his gun, looking thoughtfully at Sephiroth. "You have your mother's eyes," he murmured quietly.
Sephiroth looked up at him with equal interest. "You really did love her, didn't you?" He found himself noting the man's age. He appeared only thirty at the oldest. He wasn't old enough to be his father. But if he was undead, perhaps he didn't age.
Vincent nodded slightly. "Someone has been talking about me...?"
"Talya mentioned you once, a while ago," the boy answered. For some reason, he couldn't seem to ask if this man was his father. It was too awkward.
"She has changed, then." He glanced at the closed laboratory door. "Don't believe a word Hojo says. He is a liar and a killer. It is best if you leave him as soon as you can." Sephiroth nodded. "I must go."
The boy blinked slightly. "...why?"
"I cannot stay here. My alterations... will not allow it for long."
Sephiroth frowned in confusion and tilted his head. "What do you mean? What do you do in there?"
"I sleep," Vincent replied simply before pulling a key from his pocket and fitting it to the lock. He slipped inside the room, closed the door behind him, and locked it once again, judging from the soft click.
The Professor had been gone for a few days, off somewhere to get information and possibly a new specimen. It mattered little to Sephiroth where the scientist went, as long as he was gone. He entered the library and looked around. He had already read all of the books that had nothing to do with Hojo's experiments; read the rest and the Professor would find out. He was sure of it. But now, he did not care. Hojo was on his way back and it had set the boy-nearly fifteen-in a bit of a panic.
He wanted to figure some things out for himself, but Talya never gave him much of a chance. It was only until now that he had torn away from her watchful gaze. Actually, he had cast a new spell on her-he wasn't sure exactly what it was or where he had gotten it from-but he knew that it would keep her unconscious for several hours while he looked around. When she woke, she would think that they had been having a sparring session of some sort. Just take one of her memories from a few weeks before, warp it slightly and, well, there you go. Part of him felt disconcerted from the prospect of it, but the overwhelming response was, 'She's done worse to me.'
Sephiroth shook his head and turned back to the laboratory section, the part with books that held records of specimens and experiments, the part he was finally going to venture into. His eyes scanned the titles, looking for code that looked promising. He did not know his own number.
A cluster of titles caught his eye-VV-01, TK-02, and a long string of characters-L-P1-S-A02-C01. The first two were easy, due to the initials. Vincent Valentine and Talya Keagan. It didn't surprise him too much, that Talya was a specimen of Hojo's. He would have to ask her about it later. It would make her jump, but that would be all in the fun of it. What vexed him, however, was that they both seemed to belong together, judging from the series of the numbers, yet he hadn't sensed anything similar between them.
The last one, though, that one was harder... It only took a moment longer for everything to click into place. Lucrecia, his mother, he decided. She was his parent, thus the P, and the last bit of code was his. This must have been the record of his growth before he was born, inside of her womb.
He studied the end of it carefully. The A stood for the fact that he was an Ancient, supposedly anyway. A part of him felt as though there was some mistake to this conclusion. He ignored it. What was the C? He didn't know. But he was the first in that line. Second Ancient... that meant Jenova was marked as the first.
Sephiroth shook his head and scanned for his own code. He found it quickly enough, but he was amazed at the number of books marked with that heading, along with the volume number. There were shelves and shelves of them. He glanced to the left, saw that there were kept the volumes of books on Jenova, almost as many as his own. The level of obsession was absurd.
He pulled one of the newer ones off the shelf, took note of the date-about two years ago. He flipped through the pages. By the time he had finished the first section-which took only a matter of minutes; he could read very fast at this point-he was appalled at the propaganda used in the document. It was as though Hojo had written it trying to make the reader believe false truths. Perhaps he did want things that way. But why? What was the point?
Sephiroth knew that if he himself had read these books-assuming they were all written in this fashion-without prior knowledge of the experiment, then he would have gone insane. Perhaps that was the idea, came the sudden thought. But he already had prior knowledge. Reading these things now would have no effect on him. He frowned and put the book away. He looked again at the massive number of books on the shelves, then turned away, looking around the lab. As his eyes fell on the pair of Mako chambers in the corner of the room, it dawned on him.
Hojo is going to clone me. Sephiroth froze where he stood, staring at the two glass cylinders. After a moment, he pushed up the sleeve on his right arm to peer at the tattoo on his shoulder. A clear number '1' was printed there. So that he would never be mistaken for one of the others. One of the clones. He shuddered and quickly pulled the sleeve back down to cover the tattoo.
Aeris had been doing her best to keep herself occupied when the door opened. She knew it could only be one of two people and she knew what that meant. She had tried hiding before, however, and she knew also that it would do her no good. She glanced at her mother and saw the fear on her face turn to surprise, yet the fear lingered. The seven-year-old followed her mother's gaze to the door and blinked, her face, too, registering surprise, as well as a faint recognition. Her fear, contrary to her mother's, vanished.
The boy who entered was quite tall, especially from Aeris's position on the floor. She had to crane her neck to see his face, which was startlingly delicate, framed by silver bangs. The eyes were a brilliant blue-green and though they showed nothing more than indifference, the small Cetra did not fear them in the slightest. He seemed familiar, and she struggled to remember his name. S... Se...
He turned, as soon as he had entered, to close the door. The boy faced her mother once more, not sparing the child a glance, but did not venture further into the room. Only then did he show any sign of uncertainty, shifting slightly and remaining silent, eyes fixed on Ifalna.
"What... what are you doing here?" she asked, finding her voice.
"I came to help you escape," he answered levelly.
Ifalna blinked. "Why?"
"...you cannot remain specimens for the Professor any longer."
Aeris's mother shook her head. "No, I mean, why should you care about us?"
The boy seemed surprised this time, and he glanced at Aeris-I don't want them to hurt you anymore-almost involuntarily. "Why shouldn't I? I am not like the Professor, or Talya."
"But you're... you are the Crisis from th-"
"Don't, Mom," Aeris interrupted, her voice pleading. "He's not." She saw the boy watching, appearing amused.
"But he-"
"He's not!" she exclaimed, a bit louder than she had intended, and clamped a small hand across her mouth, eyes going fearfully to the door. The three were silent for a long moment.
"I do not have much time," the boy said softly. "Now, do you agree to let me help you?"
Ifalna's face showed only suspicion and worry as she moved closer to her daughter. "Why now? We've been here for three years with you and you've only just decided to help?"
He seemed on the verge of saying something, eyes straying again to Aeris-I heard you crying in the hall yesterday. I had forgotten how terrible it felt; I don't let it bother me anymore. I'm sorry I did not act sooner. So sorry-but he stopped himself and said instead, "The reasons don't matter. I will help you whenever you consent, but... the sooner, the better."
"All right... if I'm to believe you, how do you expect to help us?"
He shifted uneasily. "I can... transport you far from here. Far enough away that he won't be able to find you, should you choose a good enough hiding place."
Aeris's mother reached down for the girl's hand, and she stood, taking it, as her mother held her close. "What do you mean... 'transport' us?"
"With magic," he answered slowly, doing his best to keep Ifalna's gaze. "It's the same spell I use to move around the mansion without them knowing."
"Why didn't you enter that way then?"
"I did not wish to startle you..."
Ifalna frowned worriedly. "What guarantees do I have that you won't... hurt us in any way?"
"Only my word. I only wish to aid you. It is no trick; the Professor has nothing to do with it."
"I still don't trust you."
Aeris tugged on her mother's arm and looked up at her. "But Mom, why not? Can't you tell he's telling the truth?"
"Aeris, dear..."
"Lemme just talk to him? Please?"
Sighing, Ifalna nodded her consent. Aeris let go of her hand and walked to the boy, staring up at his face.
"Sit down, you're too tall," was the first thing she said, pulling on his arm. He complied with a surprising obedience, and she promptly sat down near him. "Now..." She blushed a little. "Sorry... forgot your name..."
"Sephiroth," he replied.
She nodded. "Right." Aeris paused before she went on. "...you be coming with us?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I cannot."
"Why?"
Sephiroth shook his head. "I can't tell you. You would not understand." His eyes were bluer than she remembered them being, but she supposed it didn't matter. The anxious expression was more important-If I stay, perhaps he'll be satisfied with me. Perhaps he won't care to search for you. Perhaps I can keep you safe, by staying behind...-
"...oh," she said sadly. "I hope you'll be okay."
"I will. It... it's you I'm worried about."-And still am.-He blinked, looking down, then shook his head quickly. "You are only a little girl, after all."
Aeris smiled reassuringly. "I'm a big girl. I c'n take care of myself."
He returned the smile, just a little. "You haven't changed a bit."
She got to her feet again, and his gaze followed her. "...will I see you again, d'you think? After we leave here, I mean?"
There was a slight pause before his answer-I don't know. I hope so. But I don't want to give you such an uncertain answer. If it pleases you to see me...-"Of course."
"Okie." Aeris shuffled back to her mother as Sephiroth stood behind her. "So can we go, Mom?"
"I... suppose it'll be all right." Ifalna was reluctant, but Aeris sensed a faint surprise and maybe... something that told her her mother would trust Sephiroth now.
"Do you need time to prepare?" the boy asked, eyes once again unrevealing, as was his voice.
"Come again tonight, if you can," Ifalna answered after a moment.
"Thanks so much, Sephy!" Aeris beamed.
"It is nothing," he replied.-It's the least I can do for you. I wish I could go with you and protect you along the way, but my place is here for now. I... wonder what it's like out there? Find out for me, please?-Sephiroth attempted a smile, then shifted slightly, murmured something, and disappeared.
"Wow..." Aeris murmured once he was gone.
"I wonder... what that boy is thinking?" her mother said quietly.
The girl seated herself on the floor, but couldn't sit still for long, now that she had something so wonderful to look forward to. "What d'you mean? He just wants ta help us, doesn't he?"
"Aeris, dear, I can't understand why one of his kind would help two Cetra..."
"Doesn't matter that we're Cetra or that he's... whatever he is. He still cares."
Ifalna smiled slightly. "I do hope you're right."
"I am," Aeris answered firmly, smiling back more broadly, her child's voice strangely calm and self-assured. "I just hope the Professor doesn't find out about it..."
"Is something wrong?" Sephiroth queried, watching Talya pace the room, barely managing to keep from laughing aloud.
"Aeris and her mother are missing," she answered, stopping to glare at him, as if it was all his fault. Of course, it was, but she didn't know that. "Hojo was ranting at me all morning."
"What does he expect you to do?"
"Find them, of course. I told them that if I left, there'd be no one to guard you."
"And?"
"He told me to shut the hell up."
"I see."
"You don't care, do you?"
"On the contrary, this may be the best day of my life."
"It amuses you to see me like this, does it?" she snapped at him.
"Quite," Sephiroth replied. "But it is also nice to know they managed to escape from here."
"You aren't jealous of them?"
He shrugged. "I don't know what it's like out there; I cannot be jealous of the unknown. My place is here, in any case. Still, I am happy for them."
Talya sat down backwards in her chair. "You didn't even know them," she said. "It's not like you to care about strangers."
"Any 'specimen' of the Professor is kin of mine."
"Even the monsters he keeps in Midgar?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled minutely, and it seemed that a little of his mockery was aimed at himself. "Especially them."
"Sometimes I wonder about you," Talya commented, shaking her head. She got up and started pacing again. "I'd like to ask for your help in finding them, but I doubt you'd ever agree to it."
"You're right," he concurred lightly. "I wouldn't."
She sighed. "And of course it won't matter how much torture we put you through because you're superhuman and you can take all that shit."
"Right."
Talya stopped to eye him suspiciously. "You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with this, would you?"
"Hmm? How could I have?"
"I don't know," she said, throwing up her hands. "But I don't see how they could have disappeared like that. And I know you; this is exactly the sort of thing you'd do to get back at Hojo. No wonder you're so amused. Don't you feel proud of yourself?"
"My only regret," Sephiroth said, smiling and putting his hands behind his head as he reclined, "is that I did not think to help them."
"Then you knew they were leaving? And you didn't tell me?"
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. Oh, how he enjoyed playing with her. "Why would I?"
Her eyes widened. "You're on their side?"
"Of course! Why in the world would I take sides with people who abuse me for existing?"
Talya flinched. "You know, of course, that Hojo isn't going to like this..."
The boy smiled. "I know."
"You don't care?"
"Not really." He sat up, serious for a moment. "However, I don't see why you have to tell him everything."
She shrugged uncomfortably. "So, if you knew about it, how did they escape? Where did they go?"
The smile of amusement returned. "They vanished into thin air."
"Don't play games with me," Talya scolded, annoyed at his light-hearted mood.
"I didn't think you'd believe me. That is the most amusing part of this story-that you wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth."
She folded her arms, face stern. "All right. So tell me what really happened."
"Certainly," he replied, wondering exactly what he was doing. Did he want to rub it in Hojo's face, the fact that he was only staying because he felt like it? He had to keep the Professor satisfied until Aeris and her mother found a good hiding place. Then, perhaps, he could leave... "I did help them escape. I used a spell to send them far away." Of course, with his power, he wondered if that were really a good idea. People with his power tended to abuse it. And who was he to defy that law of human nature? But... I'm not human. ...Even if he didn't follow it, no one would ever accept someone like him.
Talya raised an eyebrow, daring him to state this as the absolute truth. "Oh, really?"
"Yes, really," he continued. "Would you like me to show you? Because you obviously do not believe."
"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously.
"This," he said, and promptly disappeared. He reappeared a few moments later from behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
Talya whirled around, green eyes blazing as she stared up at him. "How did you do that!?"
Sephiroth shrugged. "Ask Hojo. He is the one with the library on me in the basement."
"You mean you've read those?"
"Every... single... one."
Growling in anger, she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him out the door until he managed to regain his footing and follow her voluntarily. "Come on," she said gruffly. "I'm taking you to see Hojo."
"Why?" he asked simply, knowing how much it would hurt her. Aren't I being vicious today? he commented to himself.
"Because you've broken just about every rule there is to break here."
"No. I mean, why do you insist on telling Hojo. I know you don't like your job."
Talya stopped, glaring at him, but he could tell her words were the truth. "If I don't do it, I lose it, and then Hojo'll get someone else who does it better."
Sephiroth held her gaze silently until she had to look away, tugging him on down to the lab where Hojo was working. The boy no longer smiled by the time they reached the Professor, but he was not afraid either. He looked down on the scientist with a strange arrogance which he almost never possessed in the repulsive man's presence.
"What is it?" the Professor snapped as he turned to face them.
Talya shoved Sephiroth forward slightly, but his stance barely faltered. "He's broken about a million rules today. He helped the two Ancients escape and he's been reading the books from your library." ...so she's an Ancient. What am I then? At the opposite end of the scale?
"How?" Hojo demanded.
"I don't know. Some spell or other that he uses to get out of his room whenever he likes."
The Professor turned to Sephiroth. "If you could help them escape, why are you still here, hmm?"
No answer.
"Tell me! I know it has to fit into your little plot somewhere! You don't do things without reason."
Sephiroth only smirked.
"Talya..." Hojo said in a growl, stepping back. "You know what to do."
"Yes, Professor..." she replied, reluctance heavy in her voice. Sephiroth did nothing to defend himself, ignoring the pain of the blows and thinking only that he was glad to spare Aeris from this kind of life. She obviously deserved better, and he was proud to have given her that chance. For now, it didn't matter what happened to him.
It had been a week since Sephiroth had first heard of the war with Wutai. True, it had been going on for months, but no one cared to tell a mere specimen. The Professor had transferred him to Midgar after he had helped Aeris escape. It had been two years since then. He hadn't seen Talya in almost as long. He had other guards, some of which spoke to him, others that didn't. Most had learned that they would rarely receive an answer. He found it strange that some still tried to carry on a conversation, but perhaps those that did had nothing better to do. Long shifts must have been boring for them. Sephiroth was used to the hours of silence.
What he was not used to was being unable to remember things as clearly as he used to. Everything was fuzzy and vague. Even Aeris he remembered as the only kind person to him... a little girl whom he had helped to escape with her mother and... that was all. Talya was the Turk who had guarded him, even though she did not want to. She had spoken to him as a friend sometimes. And that was all he remembered of her. He strongly suspected Hojo of doing this, though how, he did not know. That was why he wanted to leave... going to Wutai, he thought, would be an excellent way to fight the Shinra and get back at Hojo. To see him fighting for the enemy... Sephiroth smiled at the thought of the temper tantrum the Professor would throw.
Perhaps... that was why Hojo was slowly erasing his memories. It had started perhaps a month ago, imperceptible at first, but gradually it grew harder and harder to recall anything... Shinra wanted him to fight for it. With him on their side, of course they would win the war. He didn't want that to happen. Shinra, with complete domination over the world? No. Perhaps he would have chosen to fight on Shinra's side when he was younger, but now he refused to have anything to do with it.
He would have to leave now, before his memory got too bad. Sephiroth glanced at the guard who stood watching him, nearly dying of boredom. A simple sleep spell... and the guard's eyes closed, his body slumping down against the wall, sliding to the floor. The boy smirked and thought for a moment of where he would go now. The problem with teleporting oneself, he thought, was that one had to have some idea of what certain places looked like. He could not remember how or where he had sent Aeris. It no longer mattered, though.
On a sudden thought, he moved to touch the sleeping guard's face, as though he could absorb memories of places from the man's mind. The strange thing was that it seemed to be working. The man hadn't been outside of Midgar, but that hardly mattered. Sephiroth thought of the place farthest from the Shinra building, and he was there. He smiled, ignoring any odd stares he received from the handful of nearby people, and walked onwards out of the city.
The young man opened his eyes and found himself staring up at a wooden ceiling. Where am I...? He closed his eyes once more. He was lying in a bed, that much he could tell... it felt comfortable enough, but that wasn't important.
"Are you awake?"
His eyes shot open again. Why hadn't he noticed someone else was in the room? "Hmm," he forced out.
The woman leaned over him, and he turned his head slightly towards her. She appeared middle-aged, most likely a housewife with a few children. "You certainly are a handsome one," she commented.
He pushed himself up on one elbow. "Where am I?"
The woman leaned back in her chair and gestured with one hand. "This is Kalm. My husband found you just south of town, unconscious and in an area frequented by monsters, so he brought you back here."
The boy nodded and looked around the room. It seemed only a little higher class than most small towns, as a small painting hung in a wooden frame on the opposite wall, and a patterned rug covered much of the hardwood floor.
"If you don't mind my asking, son, what were you doing out there? We couldn't find a mark on you..."
"Hojo..." he muttered, and the response surprised him. Who was Hojo? What had he done? He shook his head in confusion.
"What was that?"
"I don't know..."
"Can you say your name for me?"
"Se... Seph... Sephiroth."
She frowned, concern playing on her face. "Can you remember anything else?"
The young man thought for a moment. My mother is Jenova. She died during childbirth. My father... does not matter. I came from... somewhere... to escape from... something... No... I wanted to... join SOLDIER. What is SOLDIER? ...a part of Shinra, a major power company. Yes, that's right. But... as to what happened before I awoke... "Yes, a bit," he replied evenly.
The woman smiled encouragingly. "I'm sure you'll get your memory back in time." He sat up, sliding his legs to the floor. His feet were bare, he noticed, as was his chest. He was wearing only a pair of loose black pants.
She blinked. "Don't you want to rest a little longer? I don't think you should be up and about after whatever incident that made you lose your memory..."
"I will be fine," Sephiroth answered. He found it strange that while he could answer any question about the world around him, he could not recall a single thing about himself, besides his name, his desire to join SOLDIER, and his mother.
Goddamn you, Hojo, for doing this to me. He blinked again as he stood. Who was Hojo? he asked himself again. Oh... that's right... he was the head of Shinra's science department, taken over from the late Professor Gast. Had he known Gast? ...yes, he had. He had known him. And he was a much better scientist than Hojo could ever hope to be.
"My clothes?" he queried, making it sound very much like a command.
"Over there," the woman responded a little too quickly, pointing to the top of a dresser, where a small pile lay neatly folded, all in black. She was watching him uncertainly. Sephiroth took them, immediately pulling on the shirt. He spotted his boots on the floor by the same piece of furniture, and quickly put those on as well.
"Where do you intend on going?" she asked him.
"It is no concern of yours."
"My, aren't you the grateful one?" was the indignant response.
Sephiroth glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "What have I to thank you for?"
"It was my husband who brought you to shelter, and I've spent hours of my time watching over you. And you tell me I don't have any right to know what's going to happen to you when you leave?"
He studied for a moment, and couldn't help a smile of amusement. "Very well then. You have my thanks, if that counts for anything. As to where I am going... I am certain you will hear of me soon enough. There is no need for me to tell you."
"With that huge sword you had with you... you should join SOLDIER. I'm sure they'd appreciate your help, what with the war and all."
Sephiroth nodded in agreement. He would join... and make his way to the top, if only so he could show them all... show them what? How strong he was? Why would he care what they thought of that? No... perhaps he did care. A little. He wanted to prove to them that he wasn't a weakling. That he wasn't about to remain subdued anymore. Prove it to who? Was it Hojo? The thought made him frown. Perhaps yes, perhaps no. He could not remember. But there was a bitter resentment in his heart towards this man he could not remember meeting. And also, to the rest of the world. He wanted to join SOLDIER... so he could unleash that anger. He may not have cared about the reasons behind the war, but he would fight in it on whatever side he could. Transportation to Wutai would be hard to come by... best to stick with Shinra, then.
"Where is my Masamune?" he queried finally.
"Hmm?"
"My sword."
"Oh... downstairs. You're lucky you were close enough to town he could go back for it. Had to practically drag it here."
Sephiroth inclined his head and started for the door.
"No goodbye?"
Turning back to her with a hint of mockery, he bowed slightly. "Goodbye. And thank you." With that, he continued down the steps, taking up the Masamune in one fluid motion, and strode out the door without a backwards glance.
Pitiful, he thought, watching the newest SOLDIERs practicing. Sephiroth stood in the corner of the training room, unnoticed by the young men; they concentrated soully on their battles. But as soon as a pair of them finished, their eyes fell on him, and one walked over to him.
"What are you doing here out of uniform?" he asked.
"I am not a SOLDIER," Sephiroth answered.
"Then why are you here in the first place?"
"I go where I please."
The boy looked him up and down. "You don't look like you work for Shinra..."
"No."
"What?"
"I don't."
The young SOLDIER's eyes widened. "How the hell...?"
Sephiroth understood exactly what he wanted to know, and answered simply. "I entered through the side door and took the stairs."
"Must be security's field day... All right, come on."
He did not move.
The boy hesitated. "Well?"
"You expect me to come willingly?"
"Well... you're not armed and I am, so yeah."
"What makes you think I am unarmed?"
The SOLDIER snorted. "You think knives are gonna be any match for a heavy sword?"
"They would be, if I had any."
"Then what do you have that you think you can beat me with?"
"Hands."
The boy scoffed. "You're crazy." He grasped Sephiroth by the arm, turning to go. "Come on. I'm takin' you up to the prison level."
The silver-haired man did not move.
"I said come on."
"I heard you. I choose not to leave."
"I didn't say you had any choice in the matter."
"No, you didn't. But when I can kill you in an instant, I do not believe you have much authority over me."
"Great Gods! Just cut the shit already and move."
Sephiroth smiled. "Make me."
"Fine, I will!" he replied, turning to call over the boy he had been sparring with, who had been watching with a slight grin. "Help me with this guy, will you?"
"Sure thing."
The two of them tried to physically pull him along, but he threw off their hands and remained in his corner. "I am not leaving until I wish to."
"What do you want, being here?"
"...honestly? To join, although what I see here isn't very encouraging." If I was in charge, I would train them better.
"You want to join? You've gotta work your way through the ranks, like everyone else!" The boy had drawn his sword. The other followed suit. "You wanna stay? Fight us for it then!"
In five seconds, they both lay on the floor, one's blade held casually in Sephiroth's right hand, the other's trapped beneath his foot. "Pitiful," he commented.
Another young SOLDIER approached him hesitantly. "That was awesome... And you say you're not a member? Talk to the General; I'm sure he'd enlist you in a second!"
A few others clustered nearby as Sephiroth stepped back, allowed both trainees to pick themselves up off the floor, and handed them back their swords.
"Come on," one of the older, more experienced boys said, gesturing. "I'll take you to speak with the General." Sephiroth followed him, a tiny smile of satisfaction on his face. Everyone in the room stared after him; he could feel their eyes on his back.
"Out of my way. I'm going to see my mother."
"Sephiroth!!"
He ignored the boy behind him. The footsteps barely registered. He had long since forgotten the SOLDIER's name; it no longer mattered to him. Sephiroth could not remember leaving the mansion or even the stairwell, but he suddenly found himself outside the gate and assumed he had. In a sudden flash of anger-anger at these humans for stealing everything from him-he flung a fire spell at the nearest house, watching the flames as they spread quickly from one roof to the next. He smiled at the thought of their occupants' suffering.
On hearing the first scream, he set the next row of houses on fire. He saw a person run from a house, and the Masamune appeared in his hand, becoming a part of him as surely as any limb. He swung the blade, severing the man's head from his body, sending blood spurting from the gaping wounds. He watched as the body fell limply to the ground, and the head rolled a little ways before stopping. Blood ran down the steel of his sword-smooth, slippery, beautifully crimson.
More people ran from their burning homes, and Sephiroth cut them down as well, reveling in the blood and the flickering, blazing, dancing light of the fire. He turned finally, when no more people came to fall before his blade, and strode directly through the flames of some fallen structure. He thought perhaps it had been a well.
The flames licked at him, at his clothes, but they did not harm him. He could feel the pain, but it was beyond harming him. He wanted the pain; it had always been pain that made him feel alive, and it was today of all days that he wanted to feel alive.
He crouched in wait above the praying girl, watching, waiting. She seemed so innocent, Sephiroth mused.
But she's not.
Isn't she? Her face, when he'd seen it before, had been so familiar... but he could not place it. One of the people he had known before his enlightenment, perhaps. Her eyes were beautiful. She was beautiful. He smiled. She would be so much more so in death. However, he would have liked to steal her away, to take her from those human morons; they obviously did not treat her with as much respect as they should have given to a Cetra. If only she hadn't decided to summon Holy in order to stop his plan, then he would not have to kill her.
She's a traitor to our race.
I know, Mother, I know... Still... it is a pity, her being the last of the Cetra, besides us.
What are you waiting for anyway? Kill her now, before she finishes.
He shifted slightly, adjusting his grip on the Masamune. I want the puppet to see this. I know he believes he has some sort of attachment to the girl. I want to see how he reacts.
And that's all?
I have to have fun sometimes, Mother.
All right... if you must...
He noticed a familiar blond making his way down the crystal staircase, and he smiled again. There he is now... As Cloud approached the praying Cetra, he drew his sword, slashing towards her and stopping only an inch from her face before letting the blade drop.
What are you doing?
Playing with him. If he fears himself, he will be much easier to control.
Are you quite finished yet?
Fine, fine... He leapt from his perch, twisting the Masamune so its point would drive straight into her. He saw her head lift slightly, eagerly, and the materia in her hair gleamed more brightly than before, carrying now a blue-green hue, the color of his eyes. He was too late, but he had too little desire or resistance to stop his fall now. The girl was going to die for no reason at all. He could tell, through the sight of the puppet, that she was smiling. Good. At least she would be happy in her final moments.
Sephiroth lifted the blade imperceptibly as he neared the floor and then drove it down into her, through her, a smooth, practiced motion. He paused for a long moment, watching the first of the blood slide down the point of the Masamune, watching the girl slump forward, her posture no longer serene, only limp and lifeless. He drew the blade from her body slowly, stepping back, watching the arch of her back with a smirk, and then she fell. The puppet rushed forward to catch her before she hit the stone floor, kneeling by her with a hand supporting her back, the other hovering over one of her still ones that had broken free of the other. The girl's head flopped back, exposing a long, slender neck, around which was tied a black ribbon. Her eyes were lightly closed, her mouth still faintly smiling.
She did look beautiful in death. Sephiroth smiled, but made himself look away, to the droplets of blood which his blade slowly absorbed. The puppet was angry with him, and he was replying, but he barely paid any attention to his own words.
You killed Aeris... A voice inside him murmured anxiously. Why? Why?
She was a traitor. She wanted to save the pitiful humans.
But... don't you remember her at all?
What do you mean?
She was the first one to care about you, maybe the only one, but she was too young to remember. You should, though. You helped her, and now you've killed her. She trusted you once, and you betrayed her!
Oh? It is her fault she died. If she had not decided to summon Holy, I would not have had to.
You didn't have to kill her for it...
Then what was I supposed to do?
Spare her, like she would have done for you.
...it's too late now. There is nothing I can do about it now.
You could bring her back! You know you could.
But I need that energy!
For what? the voice asked bitterly. Your plan to become a god? Well... if you don't mind killing that many, I suppose one life is of no consequence to you, no matter how important she used to be to you.
He scoffed silently. I have need of no one to care about me.
Why do you hate them so? What did they do to you?
They stole it! Everything!
Only a few of them. The others are innocent. Why must you destroy them? Why must you slaughter the innocent for your own selfish purpose? Even then, you won't be happy.
What are you talking about? he thought angrily as he pushed off the ground and into the air. He no longer needed to be here. Jenova flashed past him to attack the puppet; he ignored her. Of course I will.
You won't! You're just telling yourself that. All you have ever wanted is to belong somewhere, and now that you've discovered they will never accept you, you tell yourself you do not need them afterall, that you never needed them. And now you are punishing them for crimes their ancestors committed, not them.
So what? Their lives are unimportant.
What of Aeris?
The Cetra girl? She is quite beautiful, yes, but she means nothing to me.
You don't regret stealing her life?
No. I rather enjoyed it, actually.
Monster...
Hm. Call me what you wish. If she truly meant what you say, then she has changed. And if she has not, she deserved better than this life. She should be glad to return to the Planet.
......you waited, though. You stalled.
What? I just wanted to have my fun.
You didn't want to kill her. You waited until you knew she would succeed in her summoning. You wanted her to call Holy, didn't you? You want her to stop you from doing this, don't you? Please tell me that Jenova made you kill her, and that is the only reason.
If it makes you shut up, then yes, she made me.
...I see. You really are cruel. You are a freak, a monster, just like the ones in the reactor... no, ten times worse than them.
Shut up. The humans are the ones who have wronged me. They are the ones who must be made to suffer now. I am merely bringing them the justice they deserve.
Sephiroth opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. I... did that?
Yes, my son, you did.
He shuddered. And... I enjoyed it...
Yes. You see, you never really cared about her. You killed her because you wanted to-you did not care at all about whether or not she summoned Holy. So, if you've killed her before, what difference does it make to take the lives of people who truly and absolutely mean nothing to you? Why not deliver their souls to the Planet for cleansing?
But... am I really the one to do such things? Perhaps I could before, but not now. Not after receiving their condemnation.
Would you rather I choose Minerva to slay them?
No!
Oh, so then you do want to kill them?
......some of them, perhaps. They were cruel to me. But I was crueler.
They left you alive to suffer. You ended their pain swiftly.
And augmented that of the survivors.
...if you had succeeded in your plan, none of them would be alive now to suffer.
And I would be all alone.
I would be with you.
I don't want your company.
Then who do you want by your side? Who is it that you say you long for?
Someone who understands me.
The tone of the voice in his head was flat. Like Aeris?
...maybe... Yes... I don't know...
Why?
I have... only spoken to her four times, haven't I?
Yes.
Perhaps... perhaps I am only putting the traits I've always wanted in a... in a friend... into her, even though I barely know her. Only because she is kind to me. No... she speaks the truth to me. I think that is the only reason why I like her. She does not lie.
...looking back, I think you are mostly right. But, you remember, she spoke to you that one time because she was afraid in your silence. She wanted Minerva to take her instead of you so that you could rescue her. She said it would work better that way. She was being selfish.
She was right.
Perhaps. But much of what she says is in her own self interest. As a child, she even asked for your help, for your assurance.
Then why did she try to comfort me? Why did she tell me that I had a good soul, that I was kind? Why did she liken me to herself?
To make you less frightening. She was right about the kindness, though. You are too kind.
If I was, I would not have killed so many.
I will admit I pushed you to do it, and you did not have as much control over the matter as you may have liked... but it was you who put an end to it. It was your kindness that was your undoing.
What do you mean?
Oh, you don't remember that part yet?
What part?
Nothing... I want you to see for yourself.
I... I wanted to die, didn't I?
He felt surprise register. Yes, you did. You regretted killing so many. You wanted to just give up and let Holy do its work...
But you wouldn't let me. You made me keep fighting... but it was half-hearted. I let them kill me. I let Cloud and his friends beat me, when I could have easily cut them down with one blow.
Yes.
......then why are you wasting your time on me, if I'm such a weakling?
Oh, I don't think I'm wasting it.
Then you expect me to join you?
Yes.
Sephiroth sighed. "...and if I refuse... you will destroy them all..."
Exactly.
"So... either way, people will die..."
Fewer will lose their lives if you agree to join me. I will spare them for your sake.
"I do not wish to kill anymore."
But can't you see how much you enjoyed setting fire to Nibelheim? Picture the beautiful flames in your mind, and the chorus of screams, and the blood on your sword. Tell me: wasn't it wonderful?
"Yes," he found himself whispering. "No! No..."
And think of when you killed Aeris. Was she not beautiful in death? You repeated that to me many times, and to yourself. You said it gave you power to cut down such a traitor.
"Traitor? No... we are different. If anyone, I am the traitor..."
But you enjoyed spilling her blood. Try to deny it.
"I... did, didn't I? I cannot deny it. But it sickens me."
Why should it? You cannot have changed that much...
"And what if I have?"
You haven't. It is temporary. You'll soon be back to your senses again.
"I don't want to kill anymore. No more deaths by my hands..."
It does seem a pity though, to waste your best and only skill. You were such an efficient killer.
"I know."
"Sephiroth?"
He blinked; it was Minerva. He sat up and stared at the adjoining wall for a moment. How much had she heard? "...yes?"
"...she is talking to you, isn't she? Trying to convince you to kill the humans for her?"
"...yes."
"What is her leverage this time?"
"She says that if I do not agree, she will kill all of them... but if I join her, she will spare those I favor..." He moved closer to the wall, anxious for an answer that would supply him with a third choice, one in which no one would have to die.
"Do not pay her any mind. She needs you to make her plans work. If you do not help her, she can do nothing against you."
Minerva is only resentful because she is trapped here and has not the strength to escape. She hates the fact that she would have to ask for help from anyone, especially me.
"Shut up," Sephiroth muttered.
There was an awkward pause. "...I wanted to... apologize, to you, because I cannot say it to them..."
He blinked and wished that he could see her face. "Apologize for what?"
"I tried to resist it. I tried... and failed." A sigh, and a hint of self-mockery entered her voice. "Aeris's friends? Sent to rescue you? Severely injured. Captured. And it is all because of my weakness."
Sephiroth nodded, accepting this. "You... tried... at least..."
"'Tried' counts for nothing," Minerva snapped harshly. "I should have known I am not strong enough. I am a fool."
He could not reply; he was not Aeris, could not comfort her. Aeris... "I think... that Aeris herself is coming."
"What does she hope to accomplish? She will only get herself captured, and then everything is lost."
"I don't know..."
Silence. Sephiroth, my son...
"How did you get to be so strong, with her speaking to you all the time...?"
"...I learned very early never to trust anyone. She did not speak much in my early childhood, and by the time she had real conversations with me, I was old enough to reject her opinions and lies."
"Does she ever let up?"
"...she is being relentless with you, isn't she? Keep hold of your sanity and your convictions. Do not let her change them in any way."
He shifted uncomfortably, looking down at his hands with a frown. "I am afraid that I am not strong enough for that. Last time, I......"
"Hold on. Aeris... will be here soon. And then she can help you."
"I wish she would not come."
"As do I."