Chapter 43
Temporary Refuge
Disclaimer: …don't own don't sue; I'll kill if anyone takes my characters or the ones given to me by anyone else. Ask if you'd like to use them. Lyrics at the end belong to Metallica. Two different songs that really didn't go together.
A/N: Ok, I'm hoping that this will tie all loose ends till the final battle of the godforsaken Wutain War. I have a feeling that the title of this chapter will not go with this chapter completely because I'm almost certain that it's going to be long…at least longer than the last two! A lot is going to happen so if anyone thinks things went too fast let me know and I'll see how to fix it, any suggestions are very welcome. The lyrics at the end may not make any since at the time until the next chapter…and I'll apologize now for it. To some it may be very sad and I probably will not put an authors note just for that reason. The lyrics really don't go together but I like them and I think they say some things…so lets get this started now…
Temporary Refuge:
The elderly Wutain doctor yelped when approaching the fiery young Shinra Officer once more. He sighed and decided to give up trying to give her a proper examination; instead he dug into the thin folder he help of information he had gained on this patient and pulled out on sheet of paper.
"Well…Mrs.…?" the doctor asked then looked up at the golden-haired girl sitting before him. "You didn't put your name down on any of these forms…"
"Should've I?" she growled and would have said more if not for the silver-haired man sitting next to her.
"Hush," Sephiroth hissed. "Daitona," he answered for the doctor.
The doctor scribbled down the name provided by the younger man then preceded to look over the paper he had pulled out of the folder. "Well Mrs. Daitona…you are pregnant, that is without a doubt. I estimate by these results they you are about two months into it…give or take a few weeks."
Daitona growled and sunk further into the chair she had been sitting on. 'Why me? Why now?! Gods I should have know better…I knew full well what could have happened and now it has.'
"Don't worry, we'll figure out something and your uncle has already agreed for us to stay here until we figure out an agreeable plan of action," Sephiroth whispered so that only Daitona could hear him.
The ignored doctor cleared his throat loudly to regain the young couples attention once more. "Daitona, from what I've gained from my examination you really need to get some rest. You seem very stressed right now and if you don't do something about that you may run into some health problems during your pregnancy."
"UHH!" Daitona stood quickly, glaring murderously at the older man. "Would you shut up already?! I've head enough of you, are we through now?"
Sephiroth sighed heavily in exasperation and stood slowly.
"Umm…yes, yes you can leave now but…I have to ask if you'll be getting the proper care here or elsewhere…?" The poor old doctor gulped at the icy glare in the teen's eyes.
Daitona silently walked by him and out the door not giving a second glance back. Sephiroth shook his head, he knew Daitona was getting really fed up with this treatment, but it couldn't be helped at the moment.
"I must apologize for her, she's not normally like this. This was rather…unexpected," Sephiroth put it lightly, "and as you can see she is rather upset about it right now."
The doctor shook his head. "I take it you're the father since you're the one here with her. It may not be entirely her fault being short tempered, it goes with the condition she is in. Good luck." Sephiroth raised one slender eyebrow at the doctor. "Raging hormones and so young, she's going to be a real hot head for a while. I hope for your sake she really likes you."
Sephiroth stared at the elderly doctor a full minute before giving a nervous laugh. "Thanks doctor…not too many are this, um…brave to get around her like that." Sephiroth gave a slight wave of his hand then followed in the direction Daitona had gone minutes ago.
****
"Why are you so upset? It can't be that bad of a thing, and I already said you could stay here. Neither of you have to go back to Shinra, I'll make sure of that myself. I have an entire legion backing my orders and if that weren't efficient enough I'm more than sure I could get more," Mifune sighed at his angry niece.
Daitona drew her lips into a thin straight line and growled. "Stop treating me like a baby, I can take care of myself! I don't need anyone to protect me, I don't need anyone making sure I'm okay, and I DON'T NEED ANYONE BABYSITTING ME!"
Sephiroth sighed shaking his head. It had been two days since the visit to the doctor and it hadn't helped Daitona's temper one bit and to add to that she wasn't sleeping well. He gently pulled her to him by the waist and held her there staring intensely into her glowing aqua green eyes.
"Daitona," he spoke softly. "You're tired, you've gotten less sleep than normal. Don't be upset over this, it's not entirely your fault. I knew as well as you the consequences of our actions and we both decided not to heed them. I am as much to blame as you are, and I'm not worried about this. You're stronger than this, I know you are."
Daitona looked him in the eyes, there was wariness in hers now. "But what about Hojo?" She sounded tired.
Sephiroth sighed and hugged her to him protectively. "I won't let anyone hurt you or our baby, I swear on my life."
"Don't say that," she sighed, her eyes were becoming heavier by the second as her exhaustion was finally allowed to take root. Her eyes slipped closed and she leaned more heavily against her husband.
Sephiroth frowned with a sigh then looked to Mifune. "She's so worried…she hasn't been able to sleep very well. But she's right to worry…if Hojo ever found out she was pregnant he'd have her brought back to Midgar on his order…but if he ever found out that she was pregnant with my child…he'd be here in a heartbeat dragging her back to Midgar for what ever experimental reasons he could conduct during the time she carried the baby."
"It looks to me, Sephiroth, that you haven't gotten much sleep yourself. You've taken a lot of abuse from her in the past three days. Why don't you take her back to your room and get some rest. The halls should be quiet so you both should get a good sleep. Would you like me to send someone down to wake you for dinner?" Mifune asked rubbing his temples; Daitona had given him a headache.
"Yeah, that sounds good…and thanks, for everything. I don't know what Daitona would do without an uncle like you…if you hadn't showed up the other day, or if you had been any later…" Sephiroth shook his head sadly, closing his eyes.
"It's no problem. Believe me, if my sister were still alive she'd royally kick my ass if I had treated her only daughter any other way. That little girl," Mifune nodded towards Daitona, "is more like my sister than I thought possible…but her looks had to have come from the Divine One."
"Well…I'm going to take her back to the room now and get some rest myself." Sephiroth stooped and gathered Daitona fully in his arms and lifted her up.
Mifune nodded and watched after Sephiroth as he left.
**** -4 days later-
"Alright, you both need to listen closely if this is to work since you both want to stay with Shinra…for the time being. First, Daitona, what are you going to do once this war is over? You can keep you pregnancy hidden from your soldiers, but you know at some point you're going to start showing it," Mifune stated seriously.
Daitona nodded her head. "I know…I haven't thought that far ahead yet," she admitted, Mifune nodded in understanding.
"That's perfectly alright…for now. I don't want you getting hurt, that's the bottom line of my concerns right now. If nothing else you both can always come back here," the Wutain assured.
"But until then," Sephiroth spoke up, "I don't think you should be fighting any battles period." He raised his hand to stop Daitona's objection before it had a chance to escape her throat. "You're off your game at the moment, I understand that now."
"What am I suppose to do then? Shinra's not just going to sit around while one of its top fighters isn't fighting," Daitona stated sarcastically.
"You still have a responsibility to train the cadets and I'm sure there are some slackers in the new squad you've been assigned to. There won't be as much danger to you doing that and you'd still be doing your job." Sephiroth nodded after the lasts words escaped his mouth.
"And what of when battle arises?" Daitona persisted.
"You'll stand back with me and we'll give orders from the back of the lines. I hate doing this but I wouldn't leave you there to be alone."
Daitona sighed. She really wasn't up to arguing with him at the moment so she silently gave in to his plan. Sephiroth gave her a sympathetic look and rubbed her slender shoulder for reassurance.
"So that's what you two are going to do? What of when she starts showing her pregnancy, than what?" Mifune asked.
"You've already said we could come back here…we'll abandon Shinra at that point. Hopefully by then this war will have ended so when everyone is returning home we won't be missed for months." The younger man didn't sound so sure about that, but Mifune decided not to question it any further.
"One more thing. Daitona, you are going to need to get checked up by a doctor more regularly now, you know that. You need to find one doctor and stick with him, it's not a good idea to just keep picking someone at random."
Daitona looked at her uncle then groaned thumping her head on the table before her. 'Why me? I never asked for all this?"
****
"Where've you two been? We've been looking for the both of you for three weeks now," General Anton asked as the two lower class generals walked into the new camp stationed near Fort Dal'fa.
"We ran into the enemy, sir. We came to the fort at the time it was being occupied by the Wutain's. We encountered many problems in taking the fort back. After killing Wutain General Neka we were both captured by Commanding General Mifune. Daitona posed as Wutain and successfully devised out escape from his camp," Sephiroth reported; Daitona remained silent. It had taken them a while to come up with a believable story then get all the facts straight.
"Is that so," Anton asked gruffly. "Well, while you two were absent Otto was killed by the Wutain soldiers that escaped from Dal'fa…"
There was a loud cracking sound then a huge crash from somewhere on the other side of the camp. After that had subsided, obnoxious laughter filled the air.
Anton gritted his teeth. "That, Daitona, would be one of the members of your new squad. Five of them made it here. The others will be heading to the Wutain capital under the command of another officer."
Daitona's eyes narrowed as the laughter from before got closer. She almost recognized that laugh, but from where? "Who is that?"
Anton was about to answer when the owner of that laugh came into Daitona's view and her eyes grew wide.
Crystal blue eyes, rumpled uniform, long, unkempt, flaming red hair…that could only be one person in Daitona's mind.
"YOU?!!!"
The laugh stopped and the taller solder laid a hand on his chest. "Me?"
"You jerk! You helped hold me when the bastard Mark beat me!" An evil gleam came into Daitona's eyes at that instant.
"Wha?" The Turk in training's eyes grew wide as a memory of the visit to President Shinra's office years back. "You…" he stammered.
"Ohh, we're going to have fun buddy," the young officer growled cracking her knuckle.
"Reno, what the hell did you just do over there?" Anton snarled at the young Turk.
****
"Oh come on though guy. I thought you were better than that," Daitona taunted.
Reno dragged himself from the ground. "Damn SOLDIER! You're so hipped up on Mako you blood is pure fuel! None of us Turks have had that blasted treatment!"
Daitona narrowed her glowing eyes. It had been a month since she acquired her five new soldiers and by far Reno was her favorite to 'train'. Right after the last conversation with Anton, an enemy attack broke out and he was killed leaving Sephiroth as the new four-star general and Daitona as his second in command.
The past two weeks the small squad of about 100 traveled closer and closer to Wutai's capital city where Lord Godo would meet for hopefully the final confirmation. Everyone was sharpening their skills because they started running into more and more Wutain patrols and their numbers were getting bigger. In all the little scuffles, Daitona had stood back with Sephiroth giving out orders and occasionally attacking using magic.
But at the moment…Reno looked like he wanted so more from his commanding officer. At that moment Tseng stepped in and glared at the redhead.
"You're a fool," Tseng stated coolly. "You keep up this way and she'll kill you. You haven't been here long enough to know Daitona's full strength and capability."
"Why don't you shove it, Wutain Boy?!" Reno snarled and received a fist in the face by that same 'Wutain Boy.'
"Yeah, you show him Tseng," Daitona laughed then sighed, she was getting tired again. That was happening more and more often and it bugged the crap out of her. "Why don't you two spar for a while…I need to go talk with the General."
"Sure thing," Tseng smirked then took the sword Daitona offered him as she left the small clearing just outside of their current camp.
Daitona slowly walked in silence in search of Sephiroth, all of a sudden she wasn't feeling too good. She walked into the camp looking a little green in the face, but none of the SOLDIER's dared to say anything as she walked to the other end where Sephiroth and her slept.
Sephiroth was looking over the blade of Masamune when Daitona trudged over to him then sat down rather quickly. He looked at her in question. "Not feeling good?"
"Not at all," she grumbled and lay down so that her head was on his lap.
Sephiroth sat his sword aside and put his ungloved hand on his wife's forehead. "You don't feel warm…if anything you feel a little cool. You're not cold are you?"
"No."
"Then…it's that?" Sephiroth ran his hand so that it rested on her belly. She was becoming fuller around the area but not so much to let anyone know she was pregnant. "Six weeks plus two months…give or take…three and a half, give or take. With the way you're filling out now I'd have to give the army about three more weeks if that. We can't let anyone know."
"I know…I'm going to sleep now," Daitona yawned.
"Go ahead. I'm not going anywhere fast."
"I love you Sephiroth…"
"I love you too," Sephiroth sighed.
****
He watched the young general walk through camp with a slow step, his darkened aqua eyes followed her all the way to were the head general sat. He knew many more things about that particular person, some that she'd kill for his knowing. So far he had remained unnoticed by her senses, during her wedding to the silver-haired one…and during the time spent at her Uncles mountain base.
He had been surprised when he found she had any other family besides the other most like her…he was glad when Daitona had finally, reluctantly, agreed to her husbands plan of action, but what they didn't know was that there was a back up plan that he himself would carry out if needed.
But the time was not right, not yet…as spoken from the silver-haired one had spoken softly to the young Divinian…if only she knew how important she was.
That human she has come to love…there is something different about him, something oddly familiar. Something he knew his sharp mind shouldn't have overlooked. Whatever the difference, it no longer matters. He is one with you as you are with him; one such as you has not been properly educated in your other heritage. I'm afraid that is because of the humans. Had they not ran of the only one with the knowledge you might not be in this situation now. One as young as you should have never found a mate…but then there's that human side to you again.
The soldier sighed as he went through his thoughts. There were so many things he had to do, wanted to do…he sighed heavily and sat down on a nice, sweet smelling patch of grass. He didn't much care for the SOLDIER uniform he had inherited but he couldn't let himself stand out.
'My dear, I know you can hear me even as you dream. Listen and listen well, these senses I have are very acute, even to yours. And I sense something bad will happen very soon. Be prepared for anything that may happen when you arrive at the Wutain capital city next week. Be alert, I know of the state you are in and…if anything happen know this. I'll always protect you…I never meant for anything to happen to you all those years.'
He sighed and watched the young general in her sleep. She stirred a bit and had a troubled look on her face. 'Yes, all those years in the lab I could have prevented but I refused to stand up to those people…those same people I nearly destroyed before you were born. It was my fault your mother Sasha died…if this final battle to come…if I have to I'll come to you. You have my word, but if my senses are false, I want you to go back to your mother's brother. I trust Mifune from what I have seen of him. Sleep well…little one.'
The man stood in a fluid motion, his long hair swirling around him. He disappeared into the surrounding woods before any could catch a glimpse of him…
****
Hours later Daitona woke to an already darkened sky and the air getting cooler. She sighed and sat up slowly.
Sephiroth sat the map he was looking over aside and looked at her with a slight smile. "Feeling better now?'
Daitona put a hand to her head with a somewhat confused look on her face. 'Yeah, I feel fine but I had the strangest dream."
"Oh?" Sephiroth arched an eyebrow.
"Yeah…the voice was so familiar…something from my childhood memories but I can't seem to put a name to it." Daitona frowned as she tried to think of the owner of the voice but came up with nothing. "Anyways, the illusion I saw was so real. I could see the entire camp, then there was a man sitting over there." Daitona pointed to a tree that had a nice patch of grass growing under it."
"Go on," Sephiroth stated, interested in what this voice had said to her.
"Well, it told me a lot of things. He was watching us from over there but I couldn't make out any detail of him. He told me the final battle is close and to be prepared for anything when we get to Wutain's capitol…in a week."
"In a week? That's what I was trying to figure out when you were sleeping and I was thinking close to five days, but a week sounds just as good," Sephiroth commented.
Daitona was silent in thought wondering if she should tell him about the warning or not.
"What warning?" Sephiroth interrupted her thoughts.
Daitona sighed. "He said that I should be careful, and that he sensed that something bad was going to happen."
"That doesn't sound good."
"No, but the weird thing is he said that if I got in trouble he'd make his presence know and protect me…" Daitona frowned; she hid the thoughts about the rest the voice had told her from Sephiroth.
In the dark see past our eyes Pursuit of truth no matter where it liesGazing up to the breeze of the heavens
On a quest, meaning, reason
Came to be, how it begun
All alone in the family of the sun…
So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for War
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore…
****
-End Chapter 43-
A/N: I don't know, I guess the lyrics go ok but you can tell they're not from the same song. I'm sitting here listening to the Two Towers sound track and thinking of the next chapter and the music just goes with what is to happen. Noacat asked me to make them cry…sorry, I can't remember who, and well see how the next chapter does with that request…bye guys.