So go out and make strong your stance,
'cause you're the best of them.
Just breathe out and in,
hold me again,
'cause then you're off to them like the rest of them,
you're gone.
And I'll wait,
I'm fine here I could wait,
I'll wait till you get here.
~"Out/In," Remy Zero
The other Cetra hung far back from him, but Ifalna strode boldly onward, stopping only a few feet away from him. Gods, he was a beautiful man. He lay on his back with one knee up and his head tilted slightly to the side. His gloved hands were folded loosely across his stomach. He wore all black in contrast to his fair skin and fine silver hair. His black lashes were lightly closed, his delicate features smooth and free of pain. He looked so innocent. This was not a man capable of killing without a second thought. This was a lonely boy who had lost his way.
He frowned suddenly and shifted, struggling to consciousness. He opened his eyes and immediately sat up, looking around and trying to get his bearings. But what could he possibly recognize in this field of flowers? Confusion showed faintly on his face.
"This is the Promised Land," Ifalna explained gently.
Sephiroth looked up at her, and she found that she had trouble holding that bright blue-green gaze, even though it was devoid of any harshness. "You are... Aeris's mother?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered. "Ifalna."
He nodded and climbed to his feet, eyes going past her for a moment to notice the other, much more reluctant Cetra. "Why am I here?" he queried. "Is this where I am to be judged?"
She shook her head slightly. "I'm not certain, but this is where you are staying until the Planet finishes dealing with Jenova."
"What... do you mean?" he asked uncertainly.
"Did you think it would be easy to accept a foreign being into the Lifestream?" Ifalna sighed. "If it weren't for the fact that you are the merging of Cetra and Jenova, then the Planet would have eagerly let you live."
Sephiroth's face gave nothing away as he nodded and looked again to the hesitant group of Cetra beyond her. "So it needs me to act as a bridge. I understand." He paused. "Strange, how one such as me should end up in the Promised Land. I had been expecting Hell."
"The Planet had to draw you even closer to itself so that Jenova could follow as far as the Lifestream, I think."
"Would it have worked if I had not died?" Sephiroth asked.
Ifalna shook her head. "I don't know. This has never happened before..."
He nodded again. She sensed that his questions were only a faint curiosity, a distraction. Finally, he let some emotion slip into his voice and asked, "How is Aeris?"
The woman looked away. "...grief-stricken, but determined as always."
"That sounds like her..." He paused. "She said before... that she was watching us... Could I...?"
She turned back to him, briefly searching his face. Sorrow had set itself in his face, his voice, his mannerisms, however hard he tried to hide it. His eyes in particular seemed to show the endless depth of it. "Yes, you can watch her. I think she would be just a little happier to know it; I'll ask the Planet to tell her when it can."
Turning, she motioned for him to follow, but one of the Cetra stood in her way.
"Let us pass, Narsa," she said sternly.
"You're going to just let Sephiroth go where he pleases?" he demanded. "Here, in our Promised Land?"
"Yes," Ifalna replied levelly. "Why, do you have some objection to that?"
"Of course I do! And I'm sure I'm not the only one; just the first to protest it. They treat you with so much respect because you were the last full Cetra and Aeris's mother, but what of it? You're about to lead Sephiroth, the man who nearly destroyed everything we hold dear, into our last refuge."
"Have you seen nothing that he has done this third life?" she asked him, noting how Sephiroth refrained from offering a single word in his own defense. "He has just died again to save everything we hold dear, the lives of those on the Planet, life of our beloved Planet itself. Is it too much to ask that he be allowed to watch his beloved? He has saved us our own, but we deny him even the right to watch her?"
"But, Ifalna," Narsa went on even more vehemently, "what good he has done certainly doesn't amount to enough to redeem him of the devastation he caused! He was the one who freed Jenova to begin with, he was the one who called Meteor and put the Planet that much closer to death, and let us not forget that he was the one who killed his 'beloved.'"
"It is not your place to decide whether his good deeds redeem his sins."
"Then whose is it? Yours!?"
"No, not mine. You know it has been decided that all of those whom he has affected are to argue and decide. And I note, Narsa, that you are not one of them."
"And I find it incredibly foolish and unfair that you should decide to ignore the opinions of the rest of us. Do you think you have no need of an observer unswayed by emotion?"
"What a fine, unbiased specimen you are, Narsa," another Cetra said as she joined the two debaters and their silent charge.
"Saerni, surely you cannot agree to allow this monster into our home..."
She did not speak to either of the two Cetra, but instead turned to Sephiroth. "They've been ignoring you for quite some time now. I wonder: what do you have to say for yourself?"
The swordsman bowed his head respectfully. "I ask only that this matter not be centered on me. If it would lighten Aeris's burden, even a little, to know that I am watching her, then that should be enough. If it did not involve her in such a way, I would agree with Narsa."
"But what good could it do the poor girl to know that he was watching her?" asked another woman as she joined them. "I should think she would find it unnerving."
"Have any of you ever been in love before?" Ifalna asked quietly.
Narsa and the other woman exchanged glances. Saerni watched her placidly. She felt Sephiroth's steady gaze on her back.
"I suppose not... so you can't claim to understand it, or to know what a wonderful comfort it is to have your love protecting you. Even the knowledge that they are watching you is enough to bring a smile. What I wouldn't give to have that comfort once again..."
Saerni laid a hand on her shoulder. "Ifalna, my friend..."
She shook her head slightly, and was about to say something to dispel her worry when Sephiroth spoke softly.
"What do you mean?"
She turned to look at him. "Aeris loves you, or didn't you know?"
The swordsman blinked once, a mix of emotions flashing across his face too quickly for her to identify anything besides incredulity and hope. "...but she never said..."
"She did. She tried to tell you, as you were dying, but... I suppose you were too far gone to hear her..."
His expression shifted then to pure agony. "Gods, and I've left her alone... Once already she has been separated from her love, and now..." He lowered his head, shutting his eyes. "How can she bear it? The Planet will let me return to her, won't it? It must let me go back..."
Ifalna felt compelled to lay a hand on his shoulder and peer upward into his face. He looked down at her miserably. "It is not ultimately up to the Planet whether you live again... So I will do what I can for you and my daughter both, all right?"
Sighing and doing his best to compose himself, Sephiroth nodded. "I am deeply grateful to you."
"Well, come on. Let's go see how she's doing now."
Sleep began to slip away from her, and in her lightening drowsiness, she thought, It was just a dream, a terrible nightmare like the others. Please, let it be a dream. But she shifted slightly as she opened her eyes and became painfully aware of the injuries she had sustained.
Aeris closed her eyes again, wishing away this shock of reality, calling after sleep's retreating form. In vain. With a noise somewhere between a sigh and a whimper, she forced herself to concentrate on the complex healing spells needed to mend her wounds. Several minutes later, she felt considerably better, but practically ready to go back to sleep again. Despite her body's fatigue and the inviting lure of sleep's oblivion, however, she doubted she could manage it.
She rolled herself out of the bed and sat on the floor for a moment, staring blankly at the pair of worn brown boots that lay haphazardly near her. Recognizing them as her own, Aeris grasped them and roughly pulled them on, making a mental note to buy new ones some time or other.
The Cetra started for the door, intent on finding out what had been done with Sephiroth's body, but stopped upon catching sight of herself in a small mirror on the wall. She stared at this, too; this unrecognizable visage caked with dried blood and dirt. Her hair was a mess. On second thought, perhaps she had better shower first.
She frowned; she did not want to take the time. Her desire to know what was going on was too urgent. So instead Aeris hurriedly cast a light water spell on herself, quickly followed by an air spell. The magic left her feeling very cold and slightly more drained, but clean enough. Her hair was still a mess, but she could bother with it later.
Leaving the room, she strode down the hall as quickly as her tired limbs would manage. It was just barely dawn, she noted on emerging into the sunlight. The sky in the east seemed clear and pale. The western sky was still clinging to darkness. Storm clouds perhaps would have been better, but this emptiness would do well enough.
She found Vincent sitting alone at the Candle, and sat down wearily beside him. He did not glance at her, but she knew he noticed her.
"Vincent..." Aeris began, trying to keep her voice cold. She did not want to let her grief show, but she could not manage warmth right now. "How are Yuffie and Nanaki doing?" she asked first.
"Fast asleep last I heard," he replied. She was thankful that he did not try to offer her comfort. Any kindness from anyone, and she felt she might break down again.
"That's good..."
Vincent cast her a glance. "You should be resting, too."
"I know," she answered. "But I woke up and I really don't think I could get back to sleep."
He nodded slightly and looked back at the fire.
"What... what did they do with Sephiroth's body?"
The slightest of hesitations. "Rude and Minerva carried him up to the observatory. That is where they put the gatekeeper's body also."
"Oh..." Aeris fumbled through her numbed mind, searching for something to say. Hadn't Sephiroth often told her she always knew exactly what to say? She wished it was true. "How is everyone else reacting?"
"Lucrecia was devastated at first," he said quietly, "but your words gave her hope. She is fully confident in the ability of his victims to forgive him... Minerva is the worst off now, I think. She is not so optimistic. I think, though, that she will be all right, as long as her coldness does not succeed in pushing Reno away."
Vincent paused. "...Katrina cried for quite some time, but she is optimistic also. Not as much as Lucrecia, but she will pull through. The others are simply morose and quiet, whether from sorrow or respect for you--or both--I cannot say. Cloud and Tifa seem surprisingly sympathetic to Sephiroth's situation."
She managed a little warmth in her voice. "Well, that's better than I could have wanted. I half-expected Cloud to be happy that Sephiroth was dead..."
"You know he is not that stubborn."
"Yes, I know. But it's hard to be logical right now..."
"Just so you know," Vincent added gently, "Cid is staying here until you decide on a destination. He had been planning to leave this morning, but he does not want to leave you here now, if you do not wish to stay."
Aeris nodded. "I understand." She closed her eyes for a moment. "I think I've already made up my mind."
He glanced at her, but did not pursue an answer.
"What about you and Lucrecia?" she asked, hoping she was switching to a more cheerful topic.
"We are headed for Nibelheim. Lucrecia wants to get married there, once we've settled in."
She smiled faintly. "Will I be invited?"
"Of course," Vincent replied.
"Hopefully I'll be feeling better by then so I won't make everyone else gloomy with my presence..."
"Aeris..."
The Cetra shook her head before he could go on. "Nevermind that. Where will you be staying in Nibelheim?"
"The old Shinra mansion, most likely."
"You'll have a good deal of work to do," Aeris said doubtfully. "The place is a mess, and infested with monsters, isn't it?"
Vincent shrugged. "I do not mind the work. It used to be quite beautiful before Hojo let it fall into disrepair. Besides, we have no wish to bother the villagers with requests to stay in their homes or to help us build our own."
"If they're kind people, they'll want to help you no matter what you decide on..."
"Most of them moved to Nibelheim as Shinra's employees, deceivers. I am not counting on their hospitality."
Aeris frowned. "I've known a lot of people who once worked for Shinra, Vincent. Only some of them were truly bad, and I think they were inherently so. You, the other Turks, Zack, Cloud, and... and Sephiroth... You're all wonderful people. The villagers of Nibelheim may surprise you."
He nodded. "You are right. Even so... I find myself hoping they leave us be."
"Tsk, tsk," she chided. "Make some new friends, Vincent. Isolation isn't healthy, even if it is with your love."
"I hope you remember that as well, Aeris," he told her, fixing her with his penetrating red gaze for a brief moment.
She shifted uncomfortably and looked down. "I just feel like... I have to get away from everyone. I love you all dearly, but..."
"You would rather not have to live with us every day and end up helping us with our problems. I understand. But do not alienate yourself completely from us, all right?"
"I won't," she assured him.
"Hey, guys," Reno greeted, sitting down beside Aeris with his legs sprawling.
"Hi, Reno," Aeris replied.
"Hello," Vincent said curtly.
The Cetra glanced around, noting Minerva was not with the redhead.
He grinned, noticing. "Yeah, I got kicked off."
"Off where?"
"The ledge," he replied, jerking a thumb over his shoulder, towards the canyon's wall. "Gotta give 'er some time alone, don't I?"
"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Aeris asked, remembering what Vincent had told her.
Reno nodded. "Oh, yeah, she'll be fine. Besides, I rather like having my head attached to my body."
She couldn't help but be amused.
"Aha! A smile!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "Didn't think I'd see one of those on your face for a while yet."
"It's hard to stay solemn around you, Reno," she told him.
He shrugged. "You're one of the few people who'd say that. Minerva, Elena, and Rude do a pretty good job staying solemn with me. Even better being angry, especially in Elena's case."
"You do tend to invite anger," Aeris admitted, "but we love you anyway."
"Gee, thanks, Aeris," he replied, putting an arm around her. "You're the greatest, you know that?"
She rolled her eyes and removed his arm from her shoulders. "Minerva might be watching, you know. Wouldn't want her getting jealous, now would you?"
"Aw, but Min knows I love her. I'm not allowed to comfort a girl in mourning?"
She stiffened, all trace of amusement leaving her eyes. "Reno... Don't."
He ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry," he muttered.
Vincent got to his feet and started for the steps, pausing near the redhead. "Try to be a gentleman and avoid joking about tender subjects." He looked at Aeris. "I am going back to Lucrecia's room. She should be waking soon."
The Cetra nodded. "Go ahead. I'll see you later."
"Later," he agreed, turning down the short stairs and striding towards the inn.
"...gentleman?" Reno wondered.
"It's just what it sounds like, Reno," Aeris told him.
He shot her a look. "I know what it means." He paused, relaxed. "Anyway... um... Wherever you're going from here, me and Min wanna come with."
She blinked. "What?"
"We want to come with you."
"But Reno, what about--"
"Rude, Elena, and Reeve? We can pay 'em visits or vice versa. Doesn't matter. And neither does anything besides that. We're not about to leave you alone."
She sighed. I had wanted to be alone, but... I need someone to cheer me up and someone to talk to, or I'll go crazy. Still... "I suppose there's nothing I can say to dissuade you?"
"Nope. Notta thing."
"I hope you know you'll be following me into exile..."
"We figured we might."
Aeris sighed again, then smiled tremulously. "Thanks, Reno. It... it will be nice to have some company."
"No problem," he replied.
Cid was still clearing the last wisps of sleep from his mind as he stepped out into the sunshine. He cursed it under his breath for being so damn bright, then started for the Candle.
"Hey, Vince," he called, seeing the man walking towards him, away from his destination.
"Good morning, Cid," Vincent replied, slowing. "I told Aeris of your plans, and she said she has already decided. It looks as though you may be able to leave today afterall."
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes. Check with her to be sure if you like."
"Yeah, I will. How's she doing?"
"She is coping well, it seems, as long as she can avoid talking too much about Sephiroth... Reno even got her to smile."
"Well, yeah. She's Aeris, afterall."
Vincent studied him for a moment, then strode silently past him. Cid watched him until he disappeared into the inn, then shrugged and headed for the Candle.
"'morning, Aeris," he greeted, leaning against the rock edge behind the Cetra and the redhead.
She turned around. "Good morning, Cid."
"I hear the Highwind may get to fly today."
She nodded. "That's right. As long as everyone else is ready."
"Well, if they aren't," he said gruffly, "I ain't waitin' around for their sorry asses."
Aeris shook her head at him. "Really, Cid, what would Shera say?"
The pilot ran a hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly. "Come on, you know I don't mean it."
"I know."
"Anyway." He straightened and turned to Reno. "Hey, kid, you're still young--you wanna run and tell everyone who wants to leave that I'm headin' out in about an hour?"
Reno grinned and hopped down from the platform. "Sure thing, old man," he replied before heading off.
"I ain't that old!" Cid called after the Turk. He turned back to Aeris. "Ah, hell... How'd we ever pick him up?"
"Well, he is Reeve's friend, and mine," she answered. "He's only teasing anyway."
He grunted. "Where're you headed anyway?"
She made a vague gesture. "I wanted to visit Midgar first."
"And then?"
"You don't have to worry about anything after that, Cid. We can travel by chocobo."
"'We'?" he asked, a little relieved to know that someone was going with her.
Aeris hesitated. "Reno and Minerva are coming with me. And Sephiroth, of course."
"You're gonna lug his body around?"
She lowered her gaze, and he immediately regretted asking the question. Goddamn insensitive fool. "I... I can't just leave him here. I don't know when he'll come around, and I want to be there when he wakes."
"If Lady Luck's feeling kind, that'll be sooner rather than later. And I really hope she's feelin' kind."
"Thank you, Cid."
He scratched his head. "Eh... 'welcome. Anyway, I'd better see to the Highwind. Make sure she's all in check."
"Anxious to get going?" she asked.
He grinned. "You guessed it."
Aeris waved a hand, smiling faintly. It was good to see her smile. "All right, get going."
Cid nodded. "Yeah, and you get packing. I'll see ya later."
"I will. Bye."
He turned and headed for the gate. Finally! He was going home! Not that he didn't like being with all his old friends, but he really missed Shera. Absently, he fingered the tiny box in his pocket. Thank Lady Luck Tifa had wanted to help him pick it out; Cid didn't have much taste in jewelry, and certainly not rings.
He wondered briefly if Shera would even accept... Afterall, he had treated her pretty bad for a long time. Of course she still remembered it. Was it a little presumptuous to think that she would forgive him for all that, even though she'd always taken it without question?
Cid shrugged it off. If she rejected him, she rejected him; it'd just be her getting back at him for acting like a goddamned idiot. He already owed her about a million times over. Spotting the Highwind in the distance, he quickened his pace. Hell, he'd rather ask her sooner and get it over with.
Aeris brushed his silver bangs out of his face, her green eyes filled with a deep sadness. "Come back to me soon, love," she whispered. She straightened, surveying her work--she had bandaged most of his wounds and mended the worst tears in his clothing. She refused to simply leave him as a corpse, as the others seemed content to do. She also refused to wear the black garb of mourning; the Cetra was dressed now in her pattern-trimmed brown skirt and her green top.
She bent down to retrieve her bag, which contained her other garments, most of which were in dire need of mending, some old materia bracelets, and the report Vincent had written for her about her parents. Aeris turned from the room, taking a deep breath to smooth her expression. She did not want to look as though she could die of grief. She did not want to worry her friends. She had to be strong.
She kept her gaze lowered to the ground before her feet, however, not wanting anyone to read the sadness there. She bumped into Rude as she stepped outside and stumbled backwards. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed softly, looking up.
Rude shook his head. "It's all right." He hesitated. "You wanted to take Sephiroth's body with you?"
"Yes..." she answered uncertainly before comprehension registered on her face. "Oh. Were you going to carry him for me?"
He nodded silently.
She managed a slight smile; it was slowly becoming easier to brighten her expression. Her outward appearance was slowly becoming separate from how she felt inside. Had Sephiroth gone through the same thing? "Thank you..."
Rude looked away. "It's the least I can do..." he murmured.
"No one has to do anything for me... I'll be all right..."
"But everyone wants to help you, Aeris." The mere use of her name seemed incredibly personal coming from him. She realized she had never heard him refer to her as anything but 'the Ancient.' "You don't deserve solitude."
Aeris looked down at her feet. "I know. But until he comes back..." She shook her head and looked back up. "Don't worry about it."
Rude nodded slightly and carefully stepped around her to head up to the observatory. She stood there for a moment, then continued down the steps.
Katrina was leaning against the gatepost, looking out across the canyon, but no one else was there yet. Aeris was surprised; her time in the observatory had seemed like an eternity.
She joined the girl, shifting the weight of her bag. "Hello, Katrina."
"Hi, Aeris," she answered, turning. "How are you doing?"
"I'm all right... But, you aren't leaving, are you?"
Katrina shook her head. "No, no, I'm not. I'm just waiting here to see people off."
Aeris nodded. "I thought you would stay. You seem quite at home here. Have you found a job yet?"
"Yeah, actually. Elder Hargo said he'd been looking for an assistant--he's not very organized, you see--and I told him I'd like to take the job. I get room and board and not much else, but it's a start." She grinned. "Besides, I get to sort through all his notes and old manuscripts. How cool is that?"
The Cetra smiled faintly. "It sounds lovely..."
"I'll write you if I find anything interesting, okay?" Katrina offered.
She nodded. "Sure. I suppose you'll have to send it to someone in Bone Village, and I'll check in there every-so-often. I doubt anyone will want to make the trek north just to deliver a letter."
"It's not that far to where you're going, is it?"
"Well... we'll see." Aeris pulled the girl into a light embrace. "Take care and be sure to visit every now and then."
"You, too," Katrina replied, a bit surprised at the hug but returning it whole-heartedly.
The Cetra withdrew, turning her gaze to Yuffie as the girl shuffled up, her own bag slung over one shoulder and Nanaki at her heels. Both of them looked miserable. "What's wrong, you two?" Aeris asked gently.
The ninja looked up. "Oh... nothing... It's just..."
Nanaki took over. "She belongs in Wutai, and I belong here. The distance between us is too great for our liking..."
"I'm sure you'll be able to keep in touch," Aeris told them, not certain she had it right. "And you can spare a few days every now and then to visit each other, can't you?"
"Well, yes," Yuffie conceded. "But... oh, nevermind." She turned to Nanaki. "Look... I'll call you every day, all right?"
He rubbed his face against her leg. "All right. If you forget, I will call you."
"I won't forget," she told him, a little indignant. She knelt down to give him a quick hug, then straightened and turned to the other two by the gate. She looked a little embarrassed.
Aeris smiled to set her at ease. "I hope Cosmo Canyon and Wutai will become as good friends as you two are."
Yuffie grinned. "Yeah..."
The four shifted their attention to Reno and Elena as they headed towards the gate, arguing as usual.
"...don't see why you're going off with Aeris," Elena was saying.
"Hey, it's not like I help to pay the rent or anything," Reno said. "You can live without me."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is the point?"
"You--you'll be isolating yourself from everyone and everything!"
"I'll have Min and Aeris, and it's not like we're keeping anyone from visiting. Hell, you could probably come along if you wanted."
Elena threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"No, I don't," Reno stated flatly, casting her a glare of annoyance.
"It's not that hard to understand, Reno," Yuffie interrupted. "Elena's just saying she 'n' Rude'll miss you."
The two Turks stopped and stared at her, then looked at each other. Reno suddenly burst out laughing, while Elena blushed furiously and glared at him. "It's not funny, you moron!" she cried, kicking him.
"Ow!" he yelped, hopping back. He stopped laughing and glared back at her. "What was that for?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Can't you be serious for one second?" she demanded.
The redhead faltered, then sighed and let his face fall into a slight frown. "Okay. What is it?"
Elena blinked at him, surprised by the change in demeanor. "W-well... Yuffie's right. You're m--Rude's best friend, and... I'll miss you, too, if you go with Aeris. If it was Midgar, or Costa del Sol, or someplace close, I wouldn't mind, but the City of the Ancients is a hellova long ways away!"
"Hey, calm down," Reno said gently, putting a hand on her shoulder.
She pulled back angrily. "Calm down? You don't even know when you're coming back!"
Undaunted, he stepped closer and put his arms around her. This gesture seemed to surprise her too much for her to resist. "It's not like I'm going to drop off the face of the Planet, Elena. Sure, it's far away, but it's not an unbridgeable distance. And I've got your number."
"B-but..."
"No buts," he went on, firmly but gently. His tone impressed even Aeris. "I'm going with Aeris. It's not that big a deal, so please stop acting like it's the end of the world." Reno grinned, drawing back and ruffling her hair. "Besides, aren't we supposed to be hating each other?"
"Oh, Reno..." Elena said, shaking her head. "You're hopeless."
"Indeed," Minerva commented wryly, coming up behind them. The pair jumped a little, not having noticed her approach.
"Oh, hi, Min," Reno greeted, the sweet, gentleness gone from his manner as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You ready to go?"
She nodded. She seemed to notice the change, but her face conveyed no disappointment. Aeris thought it likely she had already witnessed that other side of the Turk many times. "Of course."
Tifa and Cloud joined the group, exchanging tentative greetings.
"What about you, Aeris?" Cloud asked uncertainly. "Where are you going now?"
"I'm headed for Midgar," she answered, "to see Elmyra, and to gather any of my things that might have survived Meteor. And then I'm going North."
"North?" he asked, frowning.
"Yes. To the City of the Ancients."
His frown deepened. "Alone?"
"Me an' Min are going with her," Reno cut in. "And we're staying there with her for a while. I've heard the place is in pretty bad repair. Besides," he went on with a glance at Aeris. "Someone's gotta carry Sephiroth..."
"Is Cid going to take you there?" Tifa asked just a little too quickly, eager to carry the topic away from the dead man.
It was Aeris who answered, her voice quite steady. She could tell the others were surprised. "He's going to drop us off at Midgar. We can walk to the Chocobo Farm from there." She faltered a little. "Do you mind us taking a few of your chocobos again?"
Cloud shook his head. "Not at all. Take as many as you like. We can breed more."
"Thank you, Cloud. I know you probably don't agree with what I'm doing..."
"No, I do," he interrupted quickly. He sounded oddly younger than usual. More innocent. Maybe it was because the hate and suspicion were gone from his eyes. He hadn't even raised a word of objection to Reno's accompanying her. "I'm not sure I understand, but it's not like I can stop you from doing anything once you've made up your mind. I'd go with you, but..."
"But you've got your own life to take care of," Aeris finished, smiling faintly at him. "I understand. This is my little bit of foolishness. I... he promised me he would come back. So I'm going to wait for him. I don't know how long I'll be able to do it... And I know I'm going to be lonely, but I can't abandon him. I can't move on with things and have him recover to find me tangled up in something else..."
"Aeris, I'm sorry..."
She shook her head. "You had your reasons. I don't blame you at all. Tifa needs you. I can survive without you. It's probably better this way."
Tifa shifted uncomfortably. "Aeris... I don't know how to say this, but..." She sighed. "Well, you're a lot stronger than any of us, but even you have to have your limits. Don't hesitate to rely on your friends if you need us."
Aeris smiled. "Thank you, Tifa. I'll try to remember that."
The last few who were leaving with them came to join the group gathered at the gate, Vincent and Lucrecia in the lead, Reeve a little ways behind with his Cait Sith waddling along at his side, and Rude coming last with Sephiroth's body over his shoulder. He seemed to be having some difficulty carrying the man's weight, and Aeris wondered briefly how Reno planned to manage. Unless he had meant Minerva.
Seeing that everyone was ready to go, most of those who were waiting turned to head down the steps, the latecomers following them without a pause. Aeris lingered there, hesitant to go.
"It's nearly been an hour," Reno prompted. "Cid's probably getting impatient."
She nodded, bent down to give Nanaki a brief hug, and turned to go follow the rest of the group.
He bounded after her, getting ahead of her on the steps. "Wait!" he hissed, wincing a little at the animal sound of his voice. "Give this to Yuffie?" he implored, pawing unsuccessfully at one of his feathers.
Aeris knelt down, carefully removing the ornament from his mane. "All right, I will," she said, smiling. She lowered her voice confidingly. "Is my dear Nanaki falling in love with a human?"
He lowered his head, covering his muzzle with his paw in embarrassment. "Do you think she knows?" he asked anxiously.
The Cetra stroked his mane. "If she doesn't, I think she'd like to. But I won't tell her. Unless you want me to, that is."
Nanaki shook his head. "That is my duty." He straightened, trying as ever to act adult. "Now go and catch up with the others. I would not want to keep you too long."
"Take care of yourself, Nanaki," she said as she stood and turned down the steps.
"And you as well, Aeris."
She hurried after the others, slowing only when she caught up to Reno. He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow as she lowered her skirts.
"You all walk too fast!" she admonished, looking up at him.
He grinned. "Some of us are just anxious to get home."
Aeris nodded. "I know, though I'm not sure I've ever felt that way."
"Not even when I was chasing after you?" he asked.
"That was different. That time I was afraid, and my house was a safe haven, not really home."
"So where is home for you?"
"The City of the Ancients," she said.
Reno shook his head. "How is that your home? It's been abandoned for thousands of years, and you hardly spent any time there alive."
"It's the home of my people," Aeris replied. "And it's isolated, away from derision and misunderstanding, away from the crowded towns that drown out the song of the Planet, away from the people who worry too much about me." Her gaze wandered ahead to Cloud and Tifa.
"So it's a hiding place," the redhead concluded.
She sighed and shook her head. "No, it's more than that. It's... home." She smiled sheepishly at him, embarrassed at her lack of words to articulate.
He shrugged. "Whatever. Maybe I'll figure it out when I see you in it."
The phrasing sounded odd, but she understood. They were silent for the rest of the trek to the airship. Aeris was the last to climb up the ladder to the Highwind. Reno, Minerva, Elena, and Yuffie were still on the deck when she reached it. The others had retreated inside the hull. It was clear that Yuffie intended to stay out here, but the others were only waiting for her. She waved them on and moved to join the young ninja at the rail.
Once the others had gone, she drew out the feather and held it out to Yuffie. "Nanaki wanted me to give you this."
She blinked, and her eyes widened a little. "But... he earned this for saving the Planet... It's too great an honor for him to..."
Aeris shrugged a little and did not withdraw her hand. "He said to give it to you. I think you've done plenty to deserve it."
The ninja took it uncertainly, but with a firm grip lest it blow away. "I guess I'll just have to repay him when he comes to visit Wutai..." she murmured wonderingly. "It's really me who should be giving him things, you know. I have a lot to make up for..."
"What do you mean?" the Cetra asked.
"You remember how I used to torment him when we were younger," Yuffie said with a frown. "He forgave me for it, but I still wish I could do something for him as an apology..."
"I think your friendship is enough for him," Aeris said gently.
"You think?"
She nodded.
The ninja grinned. "It means a lot to me, too. Too bad I have to go back to Wutai with my lazy dad and that bratty Shake... The kid only gets worse as he gets older."
"Nn."
"Sorry," Yuffie said. "I'm just venting."
"It's quite all right."
"Say... do you think there's anything I can do? You know, to help Sephiroth?"
Aeris frowned, watching the land below as it slowly began to recede from them. "You're not dead, and you haven't been hurt by him, so I think not..."
"Sure I've been hurt by him--my mother died defending Wutai from him. Doesn't that count?"
"I suppose..." she agreed. "But I actually died by his hand, and I have no say in determining the verdict. At least, I don't think I do."
Yuffie frowned, clinging to the railing with her free hand as the Highwind gained speed. "That's not fair. The living should have a say in it, too."
The Cetra blinked a little. "You're right." She sighed. "I'll try to talk to the Planet about it when I get to the City, but I'm not sure it will be able to listen. It's busy right now."
"Busy with what?"
"Jenova doesn't want to die, I guess. It hard enough for it to accept a soul that didn't originally belong to it."
Yuffie nodded. "I guess it would be."
"...would you really stand up for Sephiroth?" Aeris asked softly.
"Yeah, of course. He seems like a really nice guy. Shy and morose, maybe, but nice." She winked at the Cetra. "He's cute, too. I can see why you like him."
She laughed a little in spite of herself. "Thank you, Yuffie. He is cute..."
The airship stopped at Costa del Sol first, and Cloud and Tifa stopped just before the ladder.
"Goodbye, Aeris," Tifa said, giving her friend a quick hug.
"Bye, Tifa," she replied. "Thanks for everything..."
The brunette smiled and disappeared down the ladder.
Cloud hesitated, running a hand through his shock of blond hair. "See you, Aeris..."
She nodded, stepping up to him and kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Goodbye, Cloud."
"You make that sound so final," he said regretfully. He really did seem younger.
Aeris smiled apologetically. "It feels final to me... but visit if you like. I'm sure I'll appreciate the company."
"We'll be sure to do that," he said firmly, then followed Tifa down the ladder.
Yuffie leaned over the railing, waving broadly to them. By this time she had carefully tucked the feather away in her journal to make sure it didn't get lost.
The next stop was Junon, where Elena, Reeve, and Rude were getting off. Reno came out with them to bid them farewell. Elena seemed eager to be off, or maybe she was just embarrassed by the scene she had made at the gate and didn't want to make another with some sappy goodbye.
Rude and Reno exchanged nods and curt goodbyes before Rude, too, climbed down the ladder. Reeve unceremoniously tossed Cait Sith over the railing, then turned to Aeris. "I'll see you later, Aeris. You still owe me a date, don't forget."
She smiled a little. "I won't. Come by sometime and I'll oblige you."
He grinned, turned to Reno. "See you, Reno. Take care of her."
"'later, Reeve. Look after Elena for me."
"Sure thing." Then Reeve turned and climbed down the ladder to join his two friends. Reno joined the two women at the railing. None of them spoke.
The Highwind stopped next outside the ruins of Midgar, nearest to Sector 5. Minerva came out onto the deck, Sephiroth's body over her shoulder. Her slender body certainly did not look as though it should be able to bear his weight, and certainly not in that fashion. She said nothing, merely started down the ladder, going carefully, one rung at a time.
Aeris turned to Yuffie, giving her a hug. "Tell me all about Wutai," she said. "I want to know how well you rule it."
The ninja grinned. "I will. And you keep in touch, too. Tell me if Reno's acting up to much and I'll come kick his ass."
The Cetra looked pointedly at the redhead. "You hear that, Reno? You had better watch yourself."
"Hey, I've got Minerva," he said, holding up his hands. "I wouldn't dream of bothering you."
Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Sure... Just get going."
"Yes, ma'am," he said, starting down the ladder.
"Wow, obedience," the ninja commented.
"You do have authority," Aeris told her. "Not that Reno usually respects that..."
"Anyway... You just tell me if there's anything I can do for Seph."
The Cetra nodded. "I will. I'll see you later, Yuffie."
"Bye, Aeris!" the ninja called after her as she headed down the ladder.
She joined Reno and Minerva on the ground, finding the former wearing a stupid grin and the latter looking none-too-pleased.
"What?" Aeris asked.
"You've got nice underwear," the redhead told her. Minerva sighed.
The Cetra flushed and put her hands on her hips. "What was it you just said about not bothering me?" she asked.
"Hey, it's a compliment!" he protested.
She turned him around and gave him a light shove. "Get moving. No more comments about my underwear."
"Ow, hey..." Reno glanced at her over his shoulder, but started towards Midgar. "Say, would you give Sephiroth this much of a hard time for saying something like that?"
"Sephiroth is too much of a gentleman to make lewd comments," Aeris told him, a few paces behind him. Minerva trailed after them, silently bearing her burden.
"Oh, yeah, the 'gentleman' thing again. Guess I should look into that, huh?"
"Yes, maybe you should. Minerva might appreciate it."
The redhead had sobered by the time they reached Sector 5. Aeris did not stop at the church this time, but continued on to her old house, allowing herself a small cry of joy when she found that her flowers were no less vibrant than they had been. She walked up to the door, hesitating, then turned the knob and stepped inside. Reno followed her to the door, but Minerva hung back, looking around.
"Mom, I'm home...!" Aeris called.
"A-aeris!?" Elmyra gasped, turning to look at her.
She smiled faintly. "Yes, Mom, it's me... I..."
She could not get out a word of explanation before her foster mother had her in a tight embrace. "Oh, my dear Aeris! Barret was kind enough to tell me that you were alive again by some miracle, but I could hardly believe it! How are you doing? Are you all right? And what of Sephiroth, who revived you?"
"Slow down and let me answer," Aeris said breathlessly as Elmyra drew back. "Yes, I'm all right--more or less. It's a long story... You see, Professor Hojo captured Sephiroth and we had to free him, and then kill Hojo... And then we had to kill Jenova--the Crisis from the Sky--because she was a danger to the Planet... And..." Her voice faltered. "And..."
Elmyra blinked rapidly, trying to take this in. Reno was left more or less ignored by the open door. "What is it, dear?"
The Cetra lowered her gaze. "...Sephiroth died in the battle......"
Her foster mother frowned. "Well, that's not so bad, is it? He revived you, certainly, but he was the one who..." She trailed off.
Aeris was shaking her head. "You don't understand. He's different. The Sephiroth who killed all those people--that wasn't the real him! Sephiroth is kind and understanding and... He was the one who freed my mother and me from the lab, he was the one who brought me back, he was the one who traded himself in to Hojo so that I wouldn't have to suffer, he was the one who died because he tried too hard to protect me from Jenova..."
"What are you saying?" Elmyra asked, sensing there was more.
"I love him," she answered simply.
The woman blinked. "You love him? You love Sephiroth?" She sounded skeptical.
Aeris nodded. "Yes. I love him. I know it sounds crazy, but you haven't met him. You don't know him like I do. He's a wonderful, wonderful person..."
"Was," Elmyra corrected softly.
She shook her head emphatically. "The Planet says that it's letting his victims judge him. He might come back. He promised me he would."
"I... see."
The Cetra frowned. "Please, Mom. You know what it's like, don't you?"
Elmyra nodded. "Yes, I suppose I do... You're going to wait for him then?"
"Yes," she answered, glad that her mother understood.
"Are you going to stay here?" Her gaze went past her to finally notice Reno. "With your... friend?"
Aeris shook her head. "I'm sorry, Mom. I don't think I could bear it. I mean... I don't want you worrying about me constantly. I don't want anyone worrying about me. I just thought that it would be cruel not to even visit you..."
"What about your friend?"
"I'm going along for comic relief, ma'am," Reno said with a winning grin.
Elmyra frowned in disapproval.
"This is Reno," Aeris cut in quickly. "And yes, he's mostly coming along to cheer me up. Minerva's coming too..."
"Minerva?"
"Yes. I think she's outside. She's, well... Sephiroth's sister and Reno's girlfriend."
"I didn't know Sephiroth had a sister..." Elmyra remarked.
"There's a lot nobody knew about Sephiroth," Aeris told her.
Her mother nodded. "I suppose so," she agreed. "Will you be staying here long?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't think so. We've got a ways to go and I don't want to be travelling much at night."
"Where are you headed?"
"The City of the Ancients," Aeris answered. "It's just north of Bone Village."
"I don't presume anyone lives there..." Elmyra said.
"No, not really. But no monsters either. You don't have to worry." Her gaze wandered towards the stairs. "Is any of my stuff still here?" she asked.
The woman nodded. "Yes... I didn't throw anything out..."
Aeris smiled faintly and hurried up the steps to her room. It looked just as she had left it, everything still neat and in its place, her floral comforter appearing as though it had been hurriedly smoothed. She recalled the day she had hurried to leave before Cloud, so that he would not leave without her...
Shaking her head, she heaved up the mattress, retrieving the old diary she had kept hidden there. She smoothed the covers again, then turned to her nightstand. She took only her brush, and the few spare ribbons there. After a slight hesitation, she opened one of the stand's drawers, pulling out a slender book--a children's book. It was a fairy tail for little girls to be sure, but Elmyra had read it to her once when she was a child, and she had kept it close from there on after, rereading it every now and then, even when she was older.
A misunderstood peasant girl, locked away in a dungeon for no reason but her abnormality. A young guard, innocent and pure, who stood by her cell day after day and talked to her, learned to love her. One day, he stepped into the cell and confessed his love and kissed her, and she sprouted a pair of glorious wings. He bid her fly far away, but she took his hand and carried him with her.
A fairy tail. A book for little girls.
But Aeris loved it all the same. She tucked it away in her bag with the other items and hurried back downstairs. She embraced Elmyra once more. "I'll come visit longer when Sephiroth comes back," she promised. "I'll introduce the two of you."
Her mother nodded, though she still seemed a little unsettled at the thought of her daughter being in love with Sephiroth. "All right, dear. Take care." She cast a look towards Reno and lowered her voice. "And watch out for him. He'll be trouble."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about Reno," Aeris answered just as softly. "He and Minerva are practically inseparable. He's only like this now because she's having trouble dealing with Sephiroth's death..."
She turned and stepped outside, Reno just ahead of her, finding Minerva sitting on the little bridge over the stream with Sephiroth's body laid on the ground nearby. She looked up as the others came out, and quickly got to her feet, retrieving her brother's corpse.
Elmyra had come out behind Aeris, and she watched uncertainly. "Is that... Minerva...?" she asked.
The Cetra nodded. "Yes, that's her."
"...she looks young."
"Seventeen."
"How old is Reno?"
Aeris looked to the Turk.
"Huh? Oh, twenty-seven..."
Elmyra did not seem to acknowledge his presence, only his answer. "He's a little old for--"
"Mom," Aeris interrupted chidingly, "I assure you that age doesn't matter much. Reno's immature and Minerva's very precocious. They're perfect for each other."
Minerva actually blushed a little, but the color did not affect her blank expression. She turned back towards the way they had come, obviously ready to go. Reno walked to her side, exchanging a few quiet words with her and grinning all the while.
Aeris smiled a little at the two, then turned to Elmyra. "Well, Mom... It's time we headed off. Bye."
"Goodbye, dear."
She gave her foster mother a short wave, then turned to join her friends and head back out of Midgar.
They reached the Chocobo Farm in the early afternoon, gratefully accepted a small meal from the ranch's owner, and led two golden-feathered chocobos out into the sunlight. Minerva placed Sephiroth's body on one, and Aeris climbed up behind it. Reno and Minerva rode the other chocobo, the girl looking somewhat uncomfortable with the closeness and the redhead looking just a little too pleased.
Aeris insisted on stopping at a flower shop in Bone Village to pick up a few packs of seeds and tell the shop owner--who apparently knew Katrina--that the girl was safe and sound in Cosmo Canyon. Then they went on into the Sleeping Forest, dismounting and leading the chocobos by the reigns. Reno led Aeris's so that she could lead the way more easily. The trees seemed to come alive for her, though she had no music to wake them with and night was falling fast.
She paused at the crest of the slope, just outside the Forest, and looked down upon the City of the Ancients. A huge, circular, stone-roofed building marked the center, and a path led out from it, branching into many others leading to homes shaped like spiraled seashells, walls worn thin and cracked by wind and water. In some places, spiraling white structures led upward only to end at nothing, looking like the bones of some great creatures bleached white by the sun.
The City itself was situated on a wide, flat island in the center of a lake that looked as though its surface had never been anything but ice. The lake looked like a sliver cut into the earth by some giant claw, leaving the sides of it as rocky cliffs.
The wind picked up, blowing fiercely at her and making her aware of how cold she was. She started down the steep path of overlapping discs that curved around and downward. It straightened out as they approached the City.
Aeris paused again when the path split. The left and the right paths both led to various shell homes and then curved around into the great building. The central path led straight on into the building, running past the lake which Cloud had placed her in and from which Vincent had carried her to be revived by Sephiroth. Sephiroth... She remembered how unnerved and frightened she had been to wake and look into his blue-green eyes and wondered how that could have been, for now she longed for the feel of those same eyes upon her.
By the lake's shore was the lonely shell house adorned with the bone-like shafts winding around it. Inside that, she knew, lay the crystalline staircase that led down, down, down into the place suspended in nothingness, the place where the altar sat, the place where Sephiroth had killed her. She felt faintly thankful that he had stabbed her from behind; she did not want to know how his eyes had looked as he killed her.
"Are you okay?"
She shook herself and glanced at Reno. "Yes... I'm all right. I just... have some very strong memories of this place."
"You're sure this is where you want to stay?" he asked.
"Yes... This is the only place I truly belong in. My death bed and the place of my rebirth..." She shook her head again and smiled at her two companions. "I'm sorry. Let's go."
Aeris turned and, taking the right fork, walked down the path and into one of the shell houses. Her companions followed a moment later, though she paid them little attention. This house was in the best shape of any of them, without any holes in its curved walls. She climbed up the ladder to the upper floor where three beds occupied the small room.
Blue globes adorned the walls, their light throbbing gently. She passed her hand near one, feeling a murmur of voices compressed in an instant. It was enough to tell her that the Cetra were in an uproar... Perhaps Sephiroth truly had gone to the Promised Land. That would certainly be enough to stir them up.
She set her bag down beside one of the beds, sat down to tug off her boots, and flopped back onto the mattress. Minerva walked past to lay Sephiroth's body on the far bed, then found an empty stretch of wall and leaned against it. Reno tugged at her arm, expression teasing. She shook her head at him, and he shrugged and flopped down onto the remaining bed.
Aeris smiled in faint amusement, then closed her eyes. It was cold inside, too, but not as much as outside. There was a blanket beneath her, she realized, and she roused herself enough to crawl underneath it before closing her eyes again.
Is watching you, the Planet clipped abruptly.
"Sephiroth?" she asked, more loudly and eagerly than she had intended. To her right, Reno sat up and looked at her questioningly. Minerva watched her also.
Yes. Call out. Does not know can hear you.
"Is he...?" Her eyes brightened hopefully.
Hush now. Am busy.
"Wait!" she called. "I wanted to ask you something."
A hesitation. ...ask.
"Yuffie said she wanted to help Sephiroth somehow..."
Not dead.
"I know, but shouldn't the living have some say in his fate as well?"
...will see what can do. Count on nothing, but know that Yuffie not only friend who wants to help.
"Thank you, dear friend."
Friend... the Planet murmured, as though testing out the word. It sent a smile, then left her.
"What was that all about?" Reno asked once he was certain she was finished.
Aeris started, having completely forgotten about her companions. "I was talking to the Planet..." She sat up and slid out of bed. "I wonder..." Leaving the two of them quite confused, she headed back down the ladder and slipped outside, forgetting her boots entirely.
"Sephiroth?" she called softly into the wind.
A hesitant reply. Aeris...?
She smiled broadly. "It's so good to hear your voice..."
I'm sorry. If I had known, I would have said something sooner...
"That's all right. The Planet said you were watching me...?"
Yes, that's right.
"Are you in the Promised Land then?"
Yes. I met your mother; she said she would defend me.
Aeris nodded. "She told me that much... I wish I could defend you, too..."
I know.
"Try to defend yourself, too, all right? Knowing you, you'll probably speak against yourself instead..."
I will do my best. But it is hard...
"Just think of all the things you've done for me, and especially in this past life. And... and remember that I love you."
There was a long pause. It is... so wonderful to hear you say that... I...
She smiled. "I wish I could have told you sooner..."
It is all right.
"Do you know anything more about your trial?"
Not really. I did, however, meet a few very angry Cetra who did not want me to be here. Ifalna was kind enough to convince them to let me pass.
"So that's what all the commotion was about." She stifled a yawn; she did not want to retire to bed. She wanted to just stand here in the cold and feel Sephiroth's voice in her mind.
You should rest... he said hesitantly. You still haven't recovered from the battle, and you have been travelling all day.
Aeris sighed. "All right, but you had better be there to talk to when I wake."
I'll try.
"Good night, Sephiroth."
Good night, Aeris... Sweet dreams.
"...of you," she added, smiling.
I suppose, he said, sounding a little embarrassed.
"See if you can talk to me in my sleep," she told him, heading inside and climbing back into her bed, pulling the blanket snugly around her.
All right, he answered just as she was drifting off. She fell asleep with a soft smile on her face.