Chapter 45
Sorrowful Endings
When a man lies he murdersSome part of the world
These are the pale deaths which
Men miscall their livesAll this I cannot bear
To witness any longer
Cannot the Kingdom of Salvation
Take me home
-Metallica-
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy. All OC's are mine, thank you.
Sorrowful Endings:
"Please…" Her dispirited plea drifted faintly in the wind that had seemed to come from nowhere to drowned her failing voice.
All feeling in her chest ceased to be, all she knew was the agonizing pain and the creeping chill in her limbs. But she pushed on, she didn't want 'him' to see her, not now…not when…she shook her head to rid herself of such shattering thoughts. Her vision blurred in and out of focus and her head and thoughts were becoming more and more detached by the second.
When a fallen limb from a tree caught her foot unexceptionally she fell to her knees, she had no more strength to summon to pull her weakening body back up. A painful shutter passed through her cooling form as realization sat in with such bitterness. This would be her final resting place…he'd surly find her.
Darkness blurred her distorted vision, it promised of a paradise never known to her in her lifetime. All her life had brought her was pain and wanting, there was the only exception of her loved one…the man she had married and had carried his child…gods the child would die with her if it hadn't already.
She was getting so cold; she used what strength she had left to carefully lay herself down on the ground though she knew if she'd just fallen she probably wouldn't have felt it. The darkness…she fought it off, the thought of the child's health in her mind. Crystal like tears ran down her cheeks that were drained of all color at that point.
"Please…someone help me…I don't want to die,' She sobbed knowing no one would hear her cry. She was loosing to the strengthening darkness, just as she began to submerge her consciousness a shadow came over her of a figure her eyes refused to make out.
A flow of white then the darkness completely consumed her.
"I promised to protect you…I'm sorry it had to be this way." The tall figure stooped low and gently scooped up the bloody and barely alive figure that was his daughter…
****
Sephiroth closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, it was a formal surrender from Lord Godo himself. He was going back to Midgar though nothing awaited him there. It had been days since the start of the battle and then a brief siege of the capitol city they finally fell to Shinra.
The armies had already begun to disperse and be sent back to the main continent, back to Junon Training Center and Midgar. He was set to leave on the next airship out, but his heart longed to stay. He wanted to find Daitona…his practical side, his mind told him there was no way she could have lived from those wounds long without the proper care, but his heart…it refused to believe she had died. They'd come so far and hadn't suffered any life threatening injuries…but why now, and the very last battle?
He stood on that very same hill just then, now stained crimson and littered with the dead. The smell was whipped away by the same breeze that he had found soothing days ago but now threatened to chill him to the bone, but he didn't care, his eyes were searching…
'Where could she be? She was hurt to badly to have gotten very far…' Sephiroth's heart ached at the reminder of the wounds Daitona had acquired…and he had left her…left her there to die alone. 'It's all my fault.' Those words rung through his head as he bowed it in shame. 'Why could I have left her? There is no way she could have been thinking straight when she told me to leave.'
The silver-haired warrior lifted his head once more, his eyes bright as she scanned the blackened area where he had last seen his wife. There were no bodies at rest in the area…no signs or clues of where she could have went. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. 'Why did this have to happen…she warned me, she knew, so WHY did we come here?…'
Sephiroth was snapped back into reality when his sensitive hearing picked up the sound of someone approaching him from behind. He twirled around ready for anything, but immediately straightened at seeing an ordinary SOLDIER.
"General Sephiroth, sir?" The SOLDIER was a bit intimidated by the general's hateful gaze and he swallowed hard before continuing. "Sir, the airship that is to transport you back to Junon is ready to leave."
Sephiroth sighed heavily and walked slowly back the way he had come without a word to the SOLDIER.
****
Days later Sephiroth was called back to Midgar by the president himself, something about filing a report on the actions he took in the during the Wutain War. He mounted his black chocobo and rode the short distance over the mountains to the city. He was in no hurry to get back to that city, no doubt Hojo had more say in his return to Midgar than the president…but then again what else could he have expected? He had left Midgar almost a year ago and had probably really ticked the scientist because he was loosing his prized 'specimens.'
As he rode through the slums of the city he wondered if Hojo and the President had already been informed about Daitona…if they hadn't…he was looking forward to reporting that. Sephiroth shook his head of all thoughts as he neared the Shinra Tower and ascended to the upper plate.
He reached the Tower quickly; there were troopers there waiting for him and took the black birds lead as their General dismounted. Sephiroth tilted his head back a little taking in the sight of the gloomy tower before him. The troopers saluted, though their leader didn't seem to notice, then lead the chocobo to the holding pins. Sephiroth sighed heavily shaking his head once more; he seemed to be doing that more often now that…that 'she' wasn't around. He had immediate orders to report to Hojo's lab on arrival, according to the SOLDIER he passed on his way into the building. He was in no mood to put up with the crusty old scientist, especially just after the death of his best…his only friend…and most of all the only one he had ever loved. He never felt such pain before as he felt just then. Something had been lost to him and he'd never get the chance to see her again, he didn't want to believe that fact but his mind was winning over his heart now; it had been too long. Daitona had meant a lot more to him than he had ever let onto. He desperately wanted to believe what she had said…that in took more to kill her than that, but his mind…the logic of it all was too much.
Sephiroth walked into the building and straight into the spacious elevator. Hojo wasn't going to be happy about the loss of Daitona… 'What the hell do I care if Hojo is happy or not? He never cared how either Daitona or myself felt…this is all his fault anyways!' Sephiroth thought with venom. He thought back to the day they had left for Wutai. 'She didn't even want to go…all she was to Hojo was another experiment just like me. This was her release from this plain of hell that Hojo himself had created for her.'
Sephiroth's eyes stung with a liquid he had not felt threaten him for days now. The loss of Daitona had stirred something in him…feelings he hadn't had since childhood. The warm liquid building at the rims of his brightly glowing eyes threatened to stain his cheeks and all he could do to stop them was to close his eyes to try to keep it at bay. Hojo claimed that he wasn't supposed to have emotions anymore but then…what was it he was feeling now? What had he felt for Daitona, he knew what he thought but 'Shinra's Brightest' seemed to think he couldn't feel such things?
He quickly composed himself when the elevator dinged and the door slid open with a hiss.
Hojo was there waiting and the instant anger was plain on the scientists face. "Where's the girl?" he snarled.
Sephiroth sighed. "She's not here."
"What do you mean she's not here?! Where in the hell is she?!" Hojo yelled.
"She, has a name! Daitona, and she didn't come back because she was killed in our last battle! The wounds were fatal and she died in my arms!" That wasn't entirely true but what did he care, it was close enough to the truth. "She was forced to go even though she didn't want too, and now she's dead; so Ihope you're happy!"
"Where's her body?" Hojo narrowed his eyes, he didn't think Sephiroth was telling the truth then again…Sephiroth was never know to be a liar.
'He acts like Daitona's life is no big loss!' Sephiroth's anger was boiling. He clenched then unclenched his hands in an action to try and calm himself; it didn't help much. "We couldn't find it after the battle's conclusion. I had no other choice than to leave her body where it was during the battle; I still had orders to see out the success of the battle and war."
"How could a corpse get up and walk away?! You didn't look hard enough!" Hojo sneered.
"I shouldn't have had to look," Sephiroth murmured. "I don't know. I went back myself and she was gone. It's not like you ever care and you still don't." Without another word, Sephiroth turned and stalked out of the lab.
A deep annoyed grunt game from behind Hojo. The scientist turned back to see Shinra, who had been listening from his office. "So the girl is dead? What a shame, she was quite the looker too. It seems to me our young General had feelings for that girl. Do you really think she's dead though?"
"Not a chance in hell," Hojo stated knowingly. "Daitona can take a lot more abuse than a human and I'm given to believe the weapon's of this planet are incapable of killing such a being. That's only speculation…and I think your right. I think Sephiroth did have a thing for her, too bad she's not here now. I'd have a perfect…and half willing mate for her."
"What about Sephiroth's claim that she passed away in his arms?" Shinra questioned and let out a puff of smoke from his cigar.
"He was mistaken. I never said that she didn't get hurt though. She probably passed out."
****
Days later Sephiroth was called back to Hojo's lab for an examination; he went though unwillingly. He rode the short ride in the elevator in silence; his mind cleared of all thought because he knew they'd all end up back on 'her.'
The elevator opened and he walked down the short hall to Hojo's main lab. The surroundings he stepped into were all too familiar. Huge cylinders framing the otherwise featureless white walls. High shelf's stood as a library in a corner though there were more instruments and vials on the shelves than books. The books that did sit on the metal shelves were thick and old; Sephiroth recognized several of them being Hojo's notes from when he was just a small child.
Hojo turned away from a small specimen holding cell at hearing the clang of Sephiroth's armored boots on the hard floor. A cruel smile crossed his features as he met the young general in the middle of the room beside the all too familiar metal examining table.
"Well Sephiroth, I see you have finally made it, though you are late, I'm not one to complain right now. Take off that hideous coat and lay down here," Hojo ordered not waiting for Sephiroth to say anything. He turned his back and went to his, still, messy desk.
Sephiroth rolled his eyes in irritation, he had better things to be doing than playing guinea pig with the idiot scientist. But he had gotten orders directly from the president so he pushed back his annoyance and removed his cape-coat after carefully taking off the straps of the harness carrying Masamune. He effortlessly hopped up onto the examining table, sliding his feet to the end then laying down on his back. He stifled a hiss as the cold metal met the warm skin of his back.
Hojo came back wheeling a machine that Sephiroth recognized. He wasn't sure what it was called but he knew it took 3-d graphic pictures and imputed them into a computer…the images took was thin enough to show every layer of his tissues and deep enough to nearly look into his bones.
Without a word Hojo turned the machine on and went back to his computer to watching the images that came up, he wanted to be sure that no real damage was caused to his prized specimen while at work. It took about half an hour to complete and Hojo found no real flaws to be concerned about. A few of Sephiroth's muscles had little tears but that was natural when exercising.
He took a small vial from his desk and filled a syringe with an all to recognizable liquid. Going back to Sephiroth, Hojo injected the small amount of Jenova/Mako sample into the younger man's arm.
"Sit up," The black-haired scientist instructed.
Sephiroth did so with some difficulty, his arm was burning and he could feel where the injection was and where it had been. His vision blurred for a brief second then cleared.
Hojo started to examine the muscular makeup of the young general; he hadn't been so well toned when he had left for Wutai. He made his way around to Sephiroth's back and stopped at seeing a few light scars on his shoulders. He traced them with his bony fingers then asked: "What happened here?"
Sephiroth turned his head enough to see the light scars and memories that he tried to block came back…
He remembered that night right after their wedding. She had been scared and uncertain of what he was going to do…he had told her he wouldn't stop…and he hadn't. Her nails had dug into his back drawing blood but he hadn't cared at the time. HE had caused her as much pain as she was trying to cause him…
"So?" Hojo crossed his arms at the young man's silence.
"An enemy got the best of me before I killed him. He scratched me in an attempt to stop his untimely death," Sephiroth lied. It was the best he could come up with in such short time.
Hojo lined up his fingers with the several scars…they were closer together than his bony fingers would go; he narrowed his dark eyes at Sephiroth after stepping in front of him once more. "Those are Daitona's fingernail marks…what exactly were you two doing to cause her to scratch you like that?"
Sephiroth turned his head away refusing to meet those probing dark eyes. Hojo grinned inwardly, so his son really did have more than just a little crush Daitona…much more from the looks of it. 'He probably got her pregnant then faked her death to keep me away from such a child…' Hojo nearly laughed, he'd have a team searching Wutai or her before nightfall…
****
Some weeks later Sephiroth had assigned a new second in command to him and he was ordered to the Junon Training Center once more to evaluate the new recruits.
He had already scared off a hand full of the recruits, but he didn't have the time or patience to tolerate people who couldn't stand still in his presence. On the outside, Sephiroth had grown cold and distant to people, while inside, his heart was steeling itself against any further emotions that would hurt him like Daitona had. She had been his only link to human emotions…ever since childhood he came to realize. The voice that had seemed to disappear because of her…came back.
But he so longed to see her childish antics again, to be able to kiss her hey way he loved doing, to be able to have a normal conversation once more, to have someone who wasn't afraid to speak their mind to him, someone who'd put him in his place when he got too head strong. His skills had ceased to improve due to the fact no one could push him the way Daitona had.
'Daitona, for some reason everything always comes back to you love. I so miss you, my heart longs and cries for your face. My mind is shattering by this voice you shoved away unknowingly. You meant so much to me…and truthfully I was looking forward to our first child…'
"Sir, Commander Diaz wished a word with you," a SOLDIER interrupted Sephiroth's thoughts, and not just any SOLDIER.
"Well tell Commander Diaz, that he can come and find me himself, Zack," Sephiroth sneered. He wasn't meaning to be mean to the only other person who had made an effort to become his friend and…in a way was.
"Yes sir!" Zack knew better than pushing the General's buttons on this day, for on this day a month ago was when the only person Sephiroth had ever been friendly towards, was murdered.
From what rumors said, she died in his arms bleeding to death, and Sephiroth didn't take it too well. She was second in command then…Zack had seen her…he'd even been under her command for a while and it was her that had given him his chance in SOLDIER…he had seen her that day, he'd never thought it would be the last time he'd see her alive. If he hadn't seen her for himself he'd never had thought the Great General Sephiroth could have the feelings for another…or love for that matter.
Her name was beyond his memory sadly…he really wished he could remember more about her but she was just like the general…distant, but what he could remember was she was beautiful. SOLDIER had left its mark on her though by the end…she had looked tired and really didn't appear to be looking forward for that battle. Her knowing eyes were bright, but had been void of emotion towards all…except the General, he had been the same way…
****
Time passed unbearably slow for Sephiroth. His heart was growing heavier from the loss he just couldn't get over, and colder because he never wanted to feel for another…he'd always be loyal to Daitona no matter what plane of existence she was on…by the day his attitude towards others became increasingly sour and was completely uncaring towards others.
He walked away after Zack had departed and ran into someone…his blazing emerald eyes locked with that of frightened gray. The young SOLDIER tried to apologize for something that he didn't know what when Sephiroth's second in command came to his rescue after have ran to deliver Sephiroth's last message.
"Yo, Seph! Aren't you supposed to have the day off? Why are you still hanging around here terrorizing the lower SOLDIERs anyways?"
Sephiroth turned to spiky black-haired SOLDIER, allowing the frightened SOLDIER to make his escape.
"Hey man, you need to lighten up a little. Everyone's already scared shitless of you, why make them piss their pants too?"
"Watch your tongue," Sephiroth warned distastefully. He hated people who cussed like that. "You want me to lighten up, then how about I make you a deal? I'll lighten up the instant my friend comes waltzing through those door again." Sephiroth pointed to the main entrance doors as he spoke.
Zack sighed. 'HER, its always her. She has really left an impression on the general.' "I mean no disrespect sir, but isn't it time to except her death and to move on. It's not fair of you to carry out your frustration on the SOLDIERS and recruits. It's been three months since she died…I don't think she's coming back, but if she does…" 'How can a dead person come back? Oh well, that's besides the point…' "Would you want to be like this?"
"Daitona was my best friend," Sephiroth growled dangerously and narrowed his brightly glowing eyes.
"I saw her that day…" Zack said softly bowing his head in respect, he knew he was pushing his luck but he had to try something to change the Generals attitude. "The way you looked at her…the way she returned the look. I've known love and I could see it plainly there. Maybe you only loved her as a friend, I don't know. But I do know how it feels to loose one you care about. Do you really think she'd want you to act this way to her death?"
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes even more. "You do not say her name," he stated slowly. "Did you really respect her that much?"
"I respect you."
"You don't understand." Sephiroth started to turn his back but Zack caught his shoulder.
"Because you don't let me," he stated quickly then crossed his arms over his chest; he was actually getting somewhere this time. "How can you possibly hope anyone to understand you with the way you treat them?"
"The way I treat them?" Sephiroth repeated with a snort. He really didn't care for how he treated people…no one had cared when he was treated badly as a child so why should he care now?
"Yes!" Zack chimed tensing his hands in a motion to emphasize the one word.
Sephiroth relented and gave a rare half smile. "You're a good man Zack. Not many people have gut enough anymore to confront and speak their mind to me. Thank you…I think now…I was right in picking you for Daitona's position. You're right, she wouldn't want me to hurt anyone…except for maybe Shinra or Pr. Hojo. Daitona hated them with a passion."
Zack was wondering if he was really hearing Sephiroth right…he wasn't being cruel. "Say, you still have the day off, what are you doing?"
"Nothing. I never have anything to do anymore," Sephiroth answered dully.
"Why don't you come into the city with me. I'm sure you'll find something that'll interest you."
"Why not? I've never really taken the time to look over Junon. Lead the way." Sephiroth gestured Zack forward with a wave of his hand.
Zack cringed inwardly; he didn't quite trust someone like Sephiroth following behind him, but he wasn't going to tell the general that. That would put him back in square one again and he wasn't sure if he'd have the nerve enough to face the silver-haired man again with the subject.
'Who would have ever guessed Sephiroth was so mean because of some girl?'
****
-End Chapter 17-
A/N: Not the End, haha!!!! But…I want you all to read Destiny of the One Winged Angel by Erutan Xiku. It's a really good story by a first time author and the detail in it is just great! I'm loven it! Anyways…you'll all find out what came to be of Daitona…