Chapter 33
SOLDIER Meeting
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or it's characters; all OC's are mine besides some names.
A/N: Hey, I'm finally back and man was Florida…hot…and the drive down there was so long you wouldn't believe it. I've been to more states in the past week than I've been to in my entire life…9 different states, to be exact. Oh, OH!! And there is a MAJOR surprise in store in this chapter. I asked Juzu what she thought about it but I bet she'll be surprise too! Anyways, enough of my jabbering, you're all probably anxious to see this chapter, so…here it is. Enjoy!
SOLDIER Meeting:
The hot afternoon sun burned down onto the canopied forest, which did little to blocks its bright assortments of burning light. The forest was a beautiful sight until one found the once small lush clearing beyond the dense trees and plants. The clearing in just a matter of days had gown more than triple in size and all life had been whipped out. The once grassy ground was overturned with dark red/brown dirt that had black ash streaks and blotches caused by extreme heat pressure and fire.
Now, in the cover of the forest near a clear running stream the beings responsible for the destruction of the clearing were sleeping. Curled up together the two lay upon the soft grasses of the forest floor, together for whatever warmth or protection they felt they needed in a land such as that.
Sephiroth slowly opened his eyes; his vision was still blurred from sleep but he could tell it was late in the afternoon. He waited till his vision cleared then decided it was about time to get up. He began to move when he realized the slight resistance from his chest down. He tilted his head to see…
'Daitona, she's right next to me.' A slight smile came to his lips as he unconsciously ran his fingers through a few stay locks of her hair. Her head rest gently on his chest and one arm wrapped around him as if to make sure her comfortable pillow didn't go anywhere while she slept.
She didn't stir from his touch or his prior movements; she slept soundly. 'She's really wiped out,' Sephiroth thought. 'Going four days without a regular sleeping and eating pattern is hard on ya and it's starting to take its toll on her. Maybe it'd be better if we just took it easy today and rested?' His fingers untangled from her hair and brushed against her cheek. Daitona made a soft sound in her sleep and tightened her arm around him burying her face deeper into his cape/coat.
Sephiroth bit his lower lip; Daitona had no clue how she was making him feel and he knew she wasn't going to get up until she was ready too. It felt right to Sephiroth, having Daitona there like that…'if only she were mine…' Sephiroth shook his head slightly and frowned. 'Where did that thought come from?…and I were hers…' Daitona stirred now; he held his breath until her eyes slowly opened and looked up at him.
"Good morning," she greeted tiredly with a yawn.
"Morning?" he smiled down at her. "Not quite, more like afternoon and by the looks of it, late afternoon."
"Oh…" Daitona frowned. "I haven't kept you from getting up too long, have I?"
"No, not at all. I just woke up myself," he assured her. "I was going to let you sleep longer, sorry for waking you."
"Don't worry about it, we should probably get back to the training before we have to go back for Tseng," Daitona sighed; Sephiroth shook his head at her. "What?"
"We'll rest today. I'm tired and I know you are too," Sephiroth hesitated then grinned, "and I'm sure you'd like to have a good hot meal. Not these military rations we've been living off, I mean a real meal."
Daitona gave him a weird look. "If you expect me to cook you have another thing coming…" she stated in a voice of pure warning.
"No, no! Nothing like that." Sephiroth laughed at the past memory that came to mind…
Sephiroth strolled down one of the wings of the Shinra building trying to find the new class Daitona had been assigned to…her last class had ended rather suddenly when she blew up one of the Shinra vehicles and her instructor just disappeared into thin air…Surly Daitona had nothing to do with that even though she hated the mans guts…
Hojo and the military had thought a simple cooking class would be safer for Daitona and everyone else and now that's what Sephiroth was looking for.
From down the hall there was noise…then it grew into angry yelling. Sephiroth rounded the corner to find the military cook yelling in red face anger at his young friend. Daitona just stood there taking the verbal abuse until she caught site of the silver haired boy coming up behind the 'teacher.'
"Are you even listening to me?!" the teacher shouted it Daitona's face.
She averted her gaze to stare into the soldier's eyes. "No, I'm not," Daitona answered coolly, Sephiroth shook his head and came up to stand beside Daitona's now condemned instructor.
The next day when Sephiroth went to check up on Daitona's class again, he heard yelling. But this yelling was very different from the day before. This yelling was frantic. The sound of a door hitting a wall carried through the halls then the slight stench of something burning.
Sephiroth quickened his pace and as he rounded the corner thick black smock poured down the hall from a particular room and the fire alarms started to go off. Daitona's teacher staggered backwards out of the room, his left sleeve was in flames and he was flapping it around wildly trying to put it; it in all reality he was just making things worse. Then out came a non-too happy class followed by a very unhappy Daitona.
Her face was black from smock and ash as wall as her favorite white shirt and pants. Her hair was badly singed and smocking in a few places where it had obviously caught some flames and she had put them out.
It had taken more than an hour to put out all the small fires. An entire section…that particular wing and the ones above and below it had to be completely redone from smock and fire damage. Afterwards Daitona was just given an extended session in her sword techniques. In that spare time she perfected the use in sword combat and took up a few other weapons. She was never allowed near a kitchen or cooking supplies again.
"How about I cook for you instead?" Sephiroth offered.
"YOU can COOK?!" Daitona's eyes lit up instantly.
"Why yes, I do believe I can." He smiled at her simple childish pleasures; it was always the little things that most people take for granted that made Daitona happy. "Now, alls you have to do is to tell me what you would like for dinner?"
Daitona arched one slender eyebrow. "Oh, so what's on the menu? I thought all we had were our military rations?"
"True," Sephiroth admitted, "but you can have anything you want besides rations tonight."
"Fine." Daitona let go of him in favor of crossing her arms with a determined look on her face. "I want a big, juicy, tinder stake that is cooked to medium/well in a tasty marinating sauce. For the side, I want chocolate ice cream and pealed/sliced apples."
Sephiroth huffed and rolled his eyes. "No ice cream, but I'll see what I can do about the rest of that."
"Fine."
"Fine"
They were both silent for a few minutes.
"Well?" Daitona asked impatiently.
"Well, what?" Sephiroth responded indifferently.
"I thought you said you were going to get me dinner?"
"I did"
"Than why haven't you moved an inch since you said that?" Daitona pressed.
"Because you haven't moved," he answered simply.
Daitona thought about that and the silence returned between them, then she gave a soft 'oh.'
"Uh-huh," Sephiroth hummed in amusement. Daitona gave him a sharp jab in the ribs with her finger then started to get up. Before she made it to her knees Sephiroth grabbed her around the waist, encircling her entirely, and pulled her back down on top of him.
They remained silent and unmoving for some time, and just looked onto one and another's eyes. The thought Sephiroth had had before crept back into his mind. He wondered what it would be like if he were with Daitona. Not how he was then, but to really be with her.
Daitona's whispered voice easily penetrated his thoughts. "Such thought are not becoming of a SOLDIER."
Sephiroth cleared his head of all thoughts and looked back up at her. "Maybe not, but then again…I don't really care." He lifted his head from the ground to close the short distance between their faces, then sought out her lips.
When he kissed her this time, Daitona thought proudly to herself that he had not caught her off guard nor did the action startle her now. His lips were soft against her own, he never took too much nor did he demand more than she was willing to give. His touch was filled with tender passion and it was starting to make her feel weird.
Sephiroth slowly backed off and rested his head back on the ground. "Unbecoming, and you're no better than I am," he teased.
Daitona rolled her eyes and lightly kissed his jaw. "So?" Sephiroth grinned lazily. "Now, let me up, you…have to catch dinner."
Sephiroth huffed, loosened his grip around her then rolled pushing her beneath him. "And catch dinner I will…" he assured, now looking down at her.
"When?" Daitona asked narrowing her aqua-green eyes. Sephiroth was making her feel really small, and that made he uncomfortable. At the back of her mind she wondered why she'd never noticed how much more he'd grown than her; when they had first met they were both around the same size, but now…
"I wanted to talk to you first," he stated becoming serious. He rolled over and sat upright on the ground next to her.
"About what?" Daitona asked while sitting up herself.
"This relationship and our friendship. You're the only friend I can say I've had and is still alive since childhood even though I was almost eleven when I first seen you. I'll never forget then, you stood up for me, besides Pr. Gast you were the only one who had ever done that for me. Even more, I didn't even know you then and you stood up to Hojo for me. I hold you in the highest respect as a SOLDIER and as a good friend…my best friend." Sephiroth paused. "I've heard of other people's relationships that began like this and in most all of them…they ended in disaster, not all but a lot of them. I don't want to loose our friendship because I like you for more than a friend…"
"I see," Daitona stated softly in thought; she had never thought of the consequences of their growing relationship. "No worries…right? You're the only true friend I've ever had too, remember? I could never truly hate you…it's just not in my nature to hate those who are like family."
"You think of me as 'family'?" Sephiroth asked in surprise.
Daitona frowned then shrugged it off. "I guess so, as in a good friend…I guess…"
Sephiroth came closer to her so that he could rest his forehead against hers. "Thanks." He kissed the tip of her nose then looked into her glowing eyes. He chewed at his bottom lip and his heart threaded to leap out of his chest once more. Where were his nerves when he really needed them?
Daitona gave him a weird look as he sat back in a thought, but what about she did not know. She could tell he was going to say something but then why was he being so hesitant in saying it? She waited quietly for him to say what was on his mind or for him to decide against it and get going.
Sephiroth finally took a deep breath and decided to get it over with. It wasn't the first time he had thought about this but he hadn't expected to ever have the need…oh, how he'd he rather not ask so soon but the need was too great at this point. She had listed to his worries and had reassured him on a few of them…but this would wipe them all out.
"About what I was thinking earlier…" he started and paused. 'Why am I so damn nervous? This is Daitona for god's sake!' "I told you what I fear about happening to our friendship. God I never thought this would be so hard," he sighed.
Daitona tilted her head to the side a bit. "Well, why don't you just say what's on your mind and we'll go from there?"
Sephiroth laughed softly and shook his head. 'If only I could be as forward as she is sometimes…' "What I'm trying to say is…will you marry me?"
Daitona didn't react, she blinked and tilted her head back somewhat in an awkward manner. "I beg your pardon?" 'He couldn't have possibly just said that. I'm hearing things…I have to be hearing things…' Sephiroth repeated himself and this time Daitona's reaction was nearly chocking on the air she was breathing then one of shock.
"You don't have to answer me now," he assured softly at seeing her response. "It's just…"
"You love me…" she said not really listening to him anymore but she had hit that one right on the nose. She fought to regain her composure then straighten; she was quiet until she knew she would be able to speak without making an idiot of herself.
It was then that Sephiroth thought of what her answer might be…I she were to say yes…he had no clue to how'd he feel, certainly very happy…he did love her after all. But if she were to say no…he didn't know if she had the same love for him as he had for her and he shouldn't be surprised if she didn't, though he was fairly sure she did feel something for him but weather of not it was love or not…'gods she could make me the happiest man alive or break my heat in one word…'
"You've certainly caught me off guard there," she spoke finally; Sephiroth waited for her to continue. "I would have never dreamed of the day you would ask me that question, I never knew you had such strong feelings for me…if you're absolutely sure this is really what you want, then…yes."
Sephiroth nearly chocked; he coughed a few times to make sure he could breath then spoke. "But is that what you want?" he had to be sure. "I don't want you to marry me just because that's what I want…thought I must say…"
"Sephiroth," Daitona interrupted. "Since when have you know me to go along with anyone without being forced when I didn't want to? I've always had this thing for you but I never had the mind enough to voice what I felt. I may be forward with most all people, but when it all comes down to MY feelings…most of the time I'd rather not have people that close to know how I feel. I'm like you, I don't want to be hurt."
"You're right…that's why I have learned to not care and to not let others onto how I feel…except you. I trust you more than any other living person."
"Same here…but I've never let you really know how I feel…sure, I have my moments but then again…so does everyone else. I never knew you thought of me other than a trusted friend…until you kissed me, but even then the feelings I had for you I kept tucked away firmly…yes Sephiroth…I'll marry you because I want too, not only because you want me too."
Sephiroth realized he had been holding breath and smiled at her after taking a breath. He moved forward and kissed her lightly on the lips before standing up and offering his hand to her. Daitona took his hand and he helped her up.
"We should go back to where we left Tseng then I'll see to you getting what you wanted for dinner," he promised; Daitona nodded in agreement then helped gather what little supplies they had. After that was done they headed out of their makeshift camp and headed back down the path that had lead them to that clearing four days earlier.
****
Tseng sat in an uncomfortable silence. Two SOLDIERs had shown up and were now waiting with him waiting for Sephiroth and Daitona's return. Luck for him these SOLDIERs had met up with the Shinra officer named Otto, he remembered Otto was the other officer besides Sephiroth and Daitona. Otto had told them about the Wutain boy so he was not killed on the spot when the SOLDIERs arrived and questioned him.
They had decided the Wutain boy's story was accurate so they sat and waited with him in silence. He hoped the two Shinra officers would be back soon, this was the forth day and they had promised to be back.
The sun blazed at its hottest, the afternoon was growing into evening when the two people they all had been waiting for finally showed up. The two SOLDIERs quickly snapped to attention and saluted the two officers.
"What's all this?" Sephiroth asked and saluted them back then gestured to be at ease.
"Sir, I am 2nd class SOLDIER Gabon Kin`yobi," the one with black hair announced; Daitona thought he had really pretty baby blue eyes. They weren't hard and cold like most of the SOLDIERs, she could still read his as if they were a book; thus she knew instantly that these two were here to tell them something…
"And I'm SOLDIER, 1st class, Santee Bijutsukan." This one had dark strawberry blonde hair and deep forest green eyes. "General Anton sent us to give you two a message. Several of the other commanding officers have been killed and new ones are being assigned by the day. Both of your ranks have been moved up due to experience. Captain Sephiroth, you have been moved up to the rank of Colonel. First Lieutenant Daitona, your rank has been moved up to be one level below the Colonel to Lieutenant Colonel."
"Is that all?" Sephiroth asked.
"No sir," Gabon spoke. When you get to the coast, the friendly Fort Chatawa is located there. You are to report to Commander Miguel there. Daitona, the better part of you cadets will be staying there, you are to pick out the best and those will be the ones who'll stay and fight in your squad. Twelve other cadets from other troops will join you and you will also be given charge of a commando unit that consists of twenty 1st class SOLDIERs that have been trained in the most elite. Sephiroth, the same goes for your SOLDIERs except you will be given a troop of 120 1st and 2nd class SOLDIERs."
"Fort Chatawa will have all the supplies you need to restock," Santee informed. "Commander Miguel will give you further orders when you arrive…may I ask a question of you two?"
"Shoot," Daitona responded.
Santee cleared his throat. "How in the world did the three of you escape Wutain Commander Mifune and what are you plans from here?"
"That's two questions," Daitona pointed out smartly then shrugged. "To answer the first…"
'Don't tell him Mifune is your uncle,' Sephiroth voice came to her in warning as she spoke.
"You see Tseng here? Well he's the son of the General back at that last fort…whatever it was called, I forgot…" Daitona frowned at the loss of memory. "Anyways, he was able to lead us to safety. I posed as a Wutain myself. As for your other question…Fort Natic is right ahead of us, right?"
"Yes ma'am," Santee confirmed. "General Otto has told us that you two may attack the fort alone but…isn't that a little far fetched? All do respect, but that's crazy. How would it be possible for any two people to conquer an entire fort on their own?"
"Sephiroth and myself aren't just any ordinary people. You just sit back and watch the fireworks. Were you two supposed to accompany us?" Daitona asked.
"Yes ma'am," Gabon answered with a nod.
"You will not go within a mile of that fort when we go in to attack," Sephiroth stated coldly. "That goes for you too Tseng. What Daitona and me are going to do there will be very dangerous, and none of you three need to be caught out in that and be there to distract us. Is Otto heading for Chatawa?"
"They were nearly there when we met them sir," Santee reported. "When is this attack to take place?"
"How far are we from Natic?" Sephiroth asked. He was thinking over battle strategy quickly, tonight they would have to plan…but he promised Daitona dinner and she'd get it if it were the last thing he did. He wasn't about to just go start breaking his promises to her.
"Almost 18 miles sir. Gabon and myself have been near enough to examine their defenses and have an extremely rough estimate of their numbers."
"Good. We will plan out a strategy tonight after dinner and if we need, tomorrow also. Tomorrow will be spent preparing and resting up. For now, I have to go hunting, I've made a promise and I mean to keep it. Why don't you two test your skills with Daitona for a while, you're bound to learn something from her or vise versa," Sephiroth suggested.
"Yes sir," the two SOLDIERs said in unison.
Sephiroth turned to Daitona and made a gesture for her to follow him. "I'll be right back. You three stay here and get ready for that spar."
Sephiroth turned and headed back to the wood with Daitona following a step behind. Once they were a good distance away Sephiroth stopped and turned back to face Daitona.
"Don't let them out of your sight and watch yourself around them," Sephiroth warned.
"Why?" Daitona asked in confusion.
"Those two are only in SOLDIER to become Turks. They are ruthless fighters that will do whatever it takes to win. Don't make your spar with them serious, otherwise it may turn into a fight to the death even though they are allies."
"What ever you say. So, how long do you think this will take you?" Daitona questioned.
Sephiroth thought for a bit. "Maybe an hour, two at the most." Sephiroth wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her against him for a quick kiss. He grinned at the startled took on her face then moved away. "I'll be back soon…don't let those two idiots beat you. Show them what you're made of…without killing them or hurting them…too badly."
Daitona grinned in response. "Oh, Don't worry. I take real 'good care' of them until you get back."
Sephiroth shook his head and went his own way while Daitona went back to the camp where the other three were waiting ready for a spar. Daitona had to locate her armor then get it on. She was reluctant in the act of putting her military boots back on but she did anyways remembering her lesson that taught her why it was important to wear shoes.
She pulled on her black armored vest and zipped it up to her neckline, then came her armlets on each arm. Lastly, she pulled on her thick armored gloves and locked them in place around her wrists; they were very similar to the ones Sephiroth wore except notably smaller and the part around the wrist weren't made so big. She checked her swords and the few materia she did use, satisfied, she stood up to assess herself one last time.
She shook her head and turned to Gabon and Santee. "I guess I'm ready. I haven't really used these swords lately so lets take this slowly first, ok?"
The other two agreed and smirked when she lead the way to a clearing that would fit their purpose. She didn't like those looks and she wasn't going to take it much longer. Daitona heard them talking and Tseng come in on her defense, but as the saying went; men will be men. Daitona smirked to herself. She'd take care of their doubts about her abilities real quick and they wouldn't be grinning too much longer. Sephiroth hadn't exactlly came out and said it but in her own mind he was telling her to put them in their place and to do it quickly. She had seen the results of other methods and the most direct had always worked out the best.
Daitona stopped in the clearing and drew out one of her swords. She loved the confused looks on the two SOLDIER's faces as her sword grew in length as it was pulled from its sheath. To the eye, the long blade could never fit properly into the dagger-sized sheath yet that is where the entire thing had come from.
"How…how'd you do that?" Santee stammered.
"Magic." Daitona again had that childish ring to her voice. She did a few warm up before she started; purposely making her movements sluggish and at some points sloppy and even messing up. She was leading them on to that her skill was either really bad or really rusty.
Tseng frowned at the female Shinra Officer. Something was wrong, Daitona always moved quickly and with perfection. There was no way skill like that could go that far down hill in just a matter of days…or weeks. He pondered this until he finally seen through what she was doing, but he still couldn't figure out just WHY she'd put on such an act. Surly she didn't need to throw them off guard in order to beat them…did she?
-End Chapter 33-
A/N: So, am I rust at this stuff after no computer for a week? I sure hope not, but anyways…what do you all think is going to happen in this spar…and how was that little surprise. Does it need to be changed at all? Let me know what you all think, I do aim to please.
One other thing, the last names I used were in Japanese so they really wouldn't be suited for a last name if you knew what the words meant but I wanted to tell… Kin`yobi -Friday, and Bijutsukan – art gallery…ok, so I could see someone with the last name Friday considering that was my first grade teachers first name but art gallery…no way…but the word said in Japanese sounded neat so there.