The shadows of Mount Nibel
Yuffie burst out laughing at Cloud, who, exhausted after his trip inside the Gi cave, was asleep head first on the steering wheel. Barret just sighed in defeat, lifting the young man to sit him on the back seat, Cait Sith being on the recharge in the trunck. Then, all of a sudden, Nanaki came running down the stairs.
- Wait! Wait! I have to go with you!
Tifa smiled and offered him a seat, and to her surprise, the red beast curled against the blond, saying that it would prevent a bloodshed. Both Tifa and Aerith 'humphed' indignantly, glaring at each other as they sat down. Nanaki explained why he decided to join, to see the world, to understand the world. The ride was uneventful, Cloud did not wake up at all and for once it seemed that he was sleeping peacefully. Yuffie, however, found the ride too bumpy and complained almost all the time, until Barret finally got the best of her in a curve. After that, the silence fell. The summit of Mount Nibel was slowly enveloping them.
*******
- It can't be… Nibelheim should be burnt to the ground!, exclaimed Tifa, It should be- Cloud? Cloud are you alright?
- This… is much more terrible than anything I could have imagined, the blond whispered
- Wha? You mean that Shinra covered the incident?
Cloud nodded silently. They decided to go for a tour, and with awe they discovered that everything seemed in place, and the people there were swearing nothing happened in the last past years. This was very strange. As strange as the black cloaked men roaming around the town. Most of them were completely insane, rambling and raving the same words over and over again… After settling themselves at the Inn, the blond looked out the window, staring at the huge mansion up north; the Shinra Mansion. He felt drawn to it, and the more he was staring, the more he felt detached from himself.
- Earth to Cloud!, yelled Yuffie, Gawd!!! If you still tired, go t'sleep…
He did not answered, just walked quietly to his room and closed the door. A soft click was heard as the door locked, but the blond did not seem to be bothered at all.
- I finally have some time for you…, a soothing voice called, Come to me, handsome…
Cloud's arms opened to welcome that presence once again. Sephiroth let the younger man embrace him, then allowed him to unzip his pants. Cloud, completely lost within himself, drawn by a inside force, by a strong flame since long forgotten, kneeled before the silver haired man. Sephiroth, however, did the same, brushing his gloved hand across the blond's cheek.
- Look at me… Lover…
Then he tilted Cloud head up and bent down to claim his lips, pushing him toward the bed, almost ripping off his pants on the way. The blond mewled, falling lifelessly on the mattress as the taller man devoured his throat, leaving trails of burning kisses along the way to his chest. The room seemed much more welcoming all of a sudden, the dimmed lights, and the soft, wonderfully arousing feeling of satin on his bare skin… Thin black ribbons wrapped around his ankles and wrists, tying him to the bed, to the mercy of Sephiroth sweet torture. A barrier shattered and Cloud hissed, arching his back to brush his now aching erection to Sephiroth's. That tongue was driving him crazy. The silver haired angel bent down to capture those soft lips again, parting his lover's buttock to settle his aching member in front of this tiny opening.
- Say my name…
- Sephiroth…
- Yes… Louder…
- Sephiroth!!!
Suddenly they were merged into one again, Cloud drowned by the force of pleasure, locked away from his own reason. The satin restrained him, enveloped him wholly, taking him high to the spiritual spheres through a powerful dance. All he was hearing was soothing words of undying love, a need of help. And the warmth of a feeling he thought he would never taste again… He trashed and screamed as Sephiroth made love to him, murmuring mysterious orders through this sweet talk. But Cloud did not care, for his whole being was craving and crying out for him, and only him, in a desperate need.
- The Mansion… come to the Shinra Mansion…
*********
Nanaki entered the small bedroom. Since an hour, now, the blond seemed awake and crying and had woken up the most of the gang. Only Tifa was still asleep and the red lion had be delegated to go and see what was going on. He pushed carefully the door and looked to the bed. Cloud was turning and tossing. By the way he was breathing, he was certainly having a terrible nightmare. Hoping on the mattress, he pushed his cold nose under his ear to wake him up. Strange… what is that odd smell? The blond's eyes opened, confused and unfocused.
- Cloud? What is going on? You're raving in your sleep again…
- Who's there?
- It's me… Red, the beast answered, Do you know where you are?
- No!!! Daddy Ro! 'm scared!!!
I see… He's dreaming awake… Something tells me he's not totally himself right now. He curled himself against the blond boy and, miraculously, Cloud closed his eyes to return to a peaceful sleep.
********
The Shinra Mansion still looked as creepy as it was in Cloud's memories. And foremost, he felt /he/ of all people should not be in there anymore. Something was wrong. Barret and the gang insisted on searching around to find some /treasures/, so he was stuck in there. In a lobby, they found a strange note, written by professor Hojo, talking about a Turk locked in the basement. Cloud succeeded in finding the safe number, unleashing the wrath of another specimen. But the safe did not only contained a monster, but also a key and a summon materia. In a way, it was very profitable. Now they had to find the basement. The blond knew very well where it was, though he did not know why. If possible, the basement was even more dangerous. On their way to the library, they opened a locked door, supposing that it was there the Turk was. But upon entering the room, they discovered with horror that it held only coffins, and only one was still closed. And a strange moaning was coming from it.
- I-I'm not too sure on that one…, whimpered Yuffie, Let's get out of here!
- That place gives me the creeps!, added Tifa
- Why don't you go see, Spikey-head?
- I must admit, started Nanaki, that I am not reassured…
- I predict a very, very unlucky day!!!, moaned Cait
Aerith just hide herself behind Barret, making Cloud sigh in defeat. He walked very slowly toward the coffin, cracking the lid open. His eyes widened in surprise; he expected to see a monster again, but it was a young man, maybe in his twenties, laying asleep on the red velvet. He was dreaming, sometimes twitching. He was cloaked in red, the rest of his uniform was black like his hair. He softly poked the sleeping man, who snapped his red eyes open and leaped out of his prison. The rest of AVALANCHE retreated in fear in the far corner of the room.
- Why did you disturbed my sleep?
- You were having a nightmare…
The man sighed heavily, settling himself back in the coffin.
- That place itself is the beginning of a nightmare… This is my punishment for the sins I committed. Though I appreciate your kindness, I cannot accept it.
- Indeed, whispered Cloud, That place is the beginning of a nightmare… Sephiroth had gone crazy here and now he is trying to find the Promised Land…
- Sephiroth? You know Sephiroth? Do you know a woman called Lucrecia?
Cloud shook his head.
- I just know he is with his mother, JENOVA…
The stranger leaped again to land at few inches of Cloud's face.
- Never say that again! JENOVA is not Sephiroth's mother! Lucrecia gave birth to him, therefore lost her life doing so… More nightmares shall come to me that I previously had now, for I could not save her nor help her son… I shall return to sleep and let the nightmares swallow me whole.
And with that he shut himself again in the coffin. Cloud tried to get him out, but failed, so they left, going for the library instead.
*********
- CLOUD!!!!!
- What do you think you're doing, pathetic little fool! Touching me with those dirty hands, not pure enough, you're not worthy of touching me!
- Urgh!!!!!
Cloud was hurled against a shelf, Tifa and the others could do nothing for him, since Sephiroth had cast a wall to prevent any exterior help. The silver haired man bent down, his face only an inch away from Cloud's, before cupping his chin with his gloved fingers.
- The reunion… North past Mt. Nibel… If you wish to find out, follow me…
The hand closed around his neck and Cloud began to choke. However, he could see the great warrior hesitate a little… but it didn't last long. The ex-General howled him to his feet hitting him hard with a swift punch in the stomach, making blood come out of the blond's mouth. And a maniacal laugh filled the air as he finished him by sending a materia square in the middle of his chest. Cloud doubled over, panting with difficulty. The wall was destroyed as Sephiroth flew out of the Mansion, and AVALANCHE gathered around their injured leader, casting a cure spell to heal him, but Sephiroth was very strong, and they had to support him to leave that creepy place.
Cloud was coughing and wheezing, could not breathe correctly and blood was still running down his throat. He suddenly forced Barret and Yuffie to stop, doubling over to vomit blood, and he collapsed on his side, holding his stomach painfully. Aerith, Tifa and Red were suddenly around him, asking him question after question, when a golden claw settled on his shoulder. The others reared back, fearing the wrath of the stranger, but the man only closed his disconcerting red eyes to murmur few words that AVALANCHE recognized as a Cure 3 spell. After few moments, he uncurled, taking deeper breaths and testing with his hand the area. Finally, the blond opened his eyes.
- Thank you Ae… ??? Anyway… Thank you, er…
- Vincent, the black haired man replied, Vincent Valentine. I only want to know one thing; if I go with you, will I meet a man named Hojo?
- Probably…
- Then, I'm pleased to meet you. But remember: he's /mine/.
End
Author's notes
Aaaaaah! It's goooooooood to be back!!! You cannot know how hard it was… Luckily, I had Sephy and Cloud to take care of me while I was sick… And I thank all the people who wished me to get well, your reviews really helped me. And Lauren, you are the best friend I've ever had. I hope you liked the lemon! Anyway, prepare for a major turn of event… Another love affair? Yes, yes, yes!!! Vincent and Cid will make acquaintance… And maybe even drink something else than tea together…
Sephiroth: Htress… Did I smelled lemon again?
Htress: Mayyyyyyybe.
Cloud: Oh gosh… I'll never forget that day…
Sephiroth: YOU WERE THERE?!?!?!?!?
Cloud: Believe me, I did not want to!!!! It was arousing, though, now that I think of it…
Sephiroth and Htress: CLOUD!!!
Huh… Anyway… Next chappie: When the unexpected happens…
