Chapter 48
Getting Closer
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy. All OC's are mine, thank you.
Getting Closer:
First Class SOLDIER Hadrian Wells, blue eyes, a veteran soldier who was close to his mid forties-was instructed to assist the young General Sephiroth shortly after he had left with the newly appointed second class SOLDIER.
He'd been in the service for years and had been assigned to Hojo for some amount of years so he'd had a chance to see the general's true nature and he wasn't happy one bit about him enlisting in the military. The boy was dangerous enough without the knowledge of swordplay, he didn't need anymore than that but Hojo had insisted. The best he could do about a bad situation was to put a lower class trainer in charge of the boy's military training.
Even then, Sephiroth excelled with a brilliant handling of the legendary sword Masamune. Then 'she' came along. He'd thought that her existence was only rumor but one look told him she was the daughter of the Divine One; she had nearly ruined his plan when she became Sephiroth's sparing partner…though it mattered little now. Sephiroth had made it to General and the girl was supposedly dead. And good riddance.
He noticed at that instance that the halls the General was leading girl down weren't the ones leading to the discipline room. His slightly glowing, icy blue eyes narrowed as he followed the sound of their footsteps. Some time later he was wondering aimlessly, there was no more sound to be heard from either of them. He searched for some time, finally he became irritated and was about to round a corner when he finally stumbled across them.
Sephiroth was holding the female SOLDIER tightly in his arms kissing her…and she was responding to him with equal enthusiasm. Hadrian herd his breath hoping they hadn't noticed him and ever so slowly crept back around the corner. He let out his breath slowly as to not make anymore sound than he had to then cautiously peeked around the dark corner.
Sephiroth was speaking softly to the girl, Hadrian couldn't help but think he'd seen her before but he couldn't think of where; Sephiroth obviously knew her very well. Their fearless general had never been subject to falling for any woman no matter how beautiful, why this one then? That look in his brightly glowing aqua eyes had never been witnessed by anyone before, that look of love…but was someone like him really capable of such an emotion?
Hadrian had his doubts about the general but there was no mistaking it…he did 'feel' something for that girl. Quickly he searched his mind for a name…Dayten. Yeah, that was here name! Then an idea came to him making him grin. What would Hojo say to this newly developed relationship of Sephiroth? HE was quite sure Hojo would be just tickled about this news.
As quietly as he could he left the maze of halls fully prepared to expose the general and his 'girlfriend' to the professor.
****
Hojo walked through his lab to a bank of computers with a newfound interest. A former SOLDIER who use to work for him had called with information regarding Sephiroth's 'slight' interest in one of his SOLDIERs.
He sat down in a comfortable chair and a spun around to face the computer monitor. He commanded the computer to open cadet listings then imputed the information provided by his source. The computer hummed at it searched for a description that matched what Hojo had requested.
Impatiently, Hojo tapped his fingers on the desk until the screen changed and one name came up: Aramose, Dayton.
He moved the mouse to select the given name then read over the information provided from the first day she registered for training. "No history, no parents to speak of, no home town…the right date of birth. Could she have really come back on her own?" Hojo pondered to himself as he reclined in thought.
He smirked at the notion. "Daitona was smart…but I don't know if I should take this as being smart or ingenious. Would she have really come back and been hiding right under their noses all along?" Hojo laughed at the notion. "She most defiantly would and if she's got half the relationship with Sephiroth that I think she has, then there is no doubt about it."
Dark eyes read over the profile once more and he frowned at the vague information given. All cadets were required a picture to go into their profile, but this one had none…and there was no further information. No comments on test scored, nothing on her progress in training; she had a completely clean slate!
'No "normal" person could do that…then again Daitona is far from normal,' Hojo mused. He was slowly convincing himself that the girl Sephiroth had been with was his lost project. He suddenly let out a cackling laugh that echoed off the empty lab walls. He'd just have to see this girl for himself. If she really was Daitona…he laughed once more rubbing his bony hands together in thought of what he could do with her now…
****
Sephiroth slowly woke to a sound that kept echoing sharply through his head. He growled as sleep left him and the sound persisted in its annoyance. He opened his eyes and looked at his alarm clock. 5:45 A.M. Damn it what's that noise?'
He nearly slapped himself when a knock. Who in their right mind would be pounding on his door at this time of day…especially on his day off?!!
Sephiroth was about to move out of bed to go snarl his irritation at whoever was at his door but found he had company. He was confused at first until he remembered the past days events. 'Daitona.' He smiled fondly at her and stocked her loose hair.
She growled softly in her sleep and curled into a ball shivering slightly from having the covers pulled back to about her waist.
Another louder knock came and Sephiroth's head snapped around to glare at it. Whoever it was, was on the verge of waking Daitona and making the general mad. Carefully he crawled out of his large bed and pulled on a pair of pants. He took a few quick, long strides out of his room, and through the living room to the door. He snapped his wrist, noiselessly unlocking the door then snatched it open, already wearing a hateful look.
"You better have good reason for bothering me SOLDIER," the angry general snarled at the young man before him.
The soldier gulped and took a hesitant stride back. "S-sir…I was sent to re-report that that SOLDIER you disciplined yesterday…well, she's gone. She never went back to her quarters last night…"
Sephiroth stared at the poor soldier so long that he started sweating profoundly. "Do not worry about it. She is under my command. I gave her leave from duty today. I am not to be disturbed by anymore such unimportant matters today, do you understand?"
"Y-yes sir!" The soldier quickly saluted then little less than ran away from the general's room.
Sephiroth sighed as he silently closed and locked the door. He quietly strolled back into his bedroom and stopped dead in his tracks. He'd seen that look in his wife's eyes before and he knew she wasn't happy.
His aqua eyes stared into her aqua-green ones, he'd obviously unintentionally waked her; as he recalled, Daitona had never really been a morning person. He shook his head slightly and made his way back to bed and lay back down next to her propping up on one arm.
"I'm sorry," he said gently and cupped her face in is free hand. "Someone noticed you missing and though it was important to let me know. I've informed him that you have the day off. So if you'd like you can get a few more hours of rest before we really have to get up."
"Why didn't I know I had the day off?" Daitona lay back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Plus, you didn't wake me…you got up and this room is really cold even with a blanket."
Sephiroth smiled and laid down covering her. "Then I'll just have to warm you back up won't I?"
****
Hojo moved quickly around his lab. His flight to Junon was to leave at noon. It had taken about four days to arrange this flight and he wasn't going to miss it. He had to know if the girl really was Daitona…
****
"Damn it!" Sephiroth gasped as he quickly jumped back from the blades he could hardly see anymore. If it hadn't been for the sun reflection off them he wouldn't have seen them at all. "You've gotten better," he noted.
"My dad was a real jerk when it came to training. I couldn't lay a finger on him and barely ever got on the offence. He was really good so I had to be faster," Daitona explained as she tested her swords in her hands again.
Sephiroth noticed she kept doing that as if she'd never held them before. "Is there something wrong with them?"
Daitona frowned and looked down at the twin swords she held. "No, I just haven't used them for a while and they just feel lighter than I remember them being."
"Ah, I see. So are you ready to go to the presidents party tomorrow night?" He jumped forward though his swing was quick it held no strength, thus letting Daitona know that this spar was coming to an end.
She blocked and allowed herself to be kept in the defensive. "I hope you weren't planning on me wearing anything other than my normal attire." She blocked, crossing her swords then attempted to disarm him by shoving Masamune down and to the side. It didn't work but she really hadn't expected it to.
"No," Sephiroth admitted. "It's just we'll have to go to Midgar tomorrow morning." He blocked the two swift blades taking a step back on the dirt training ground.
There were a few SOLDIERs watching from afar, not wanting to interfere with the general's training.
"Midgar you say?" Daitona lowered her swords and straightened. "Good, there's a guy there I've been wanting to meet. He said he'd polish my swords up all nice and neat for me. I can leave them with him while we're at the party…"
Daitona fell silent as Sephiroth's new second in command jogged into the arena area and up to the two of them.
Zack looked at the soldier Sephiroth had been training with and instantly recognized her as Dayten. He nodded his head respectfully to her then turned a serious look to Sephiroth.
"I thought you'd like to know that Pr. Hojo just arrived on the last airship from Midgar…he was looking for you…" Zack turned his dark eyes back to Daitona. "…and you." He frowned, that feeling that he should know here kept on nagging at him.
"Something wrong? I didn't do anything," Daitona stated smoothly.
Zack shook his head…his eyes suddenly grew wide as he looked at her, back at Sephiroth then quickly back at her. "Y-you! I knew I knew you! Dayten was close but just didn't seem to fit! You're HER!"
Daitona stared at her accuser then laughed. "HER? You know how many 'hers' there are in this lousy world?"
Zack shook his head. "No, you're 'her'!"
Daitona made a show of bowing deeply. "Daitona Aramose, at your service dear sir. What could I do for you today?"
"Nothing, but don't let Hojo know that! Sephiroth wouldn't be too happy and he's almost as scary as you are when he's mad." Zack laughed and without any real reason he gave her a big bear hug. "So what have you been up to? You were gone for some time you know, had him worried sick."
"In a coma," Daitona answered simply then narrowed her eyes. "If you value the usage of your arms I'd advise to let go of me."
Sephiroth smirked as the spiky-black-haired officer let go of his wife, Zack had always liked Daitona even though she'd been a superior to him and was about two years younger.
"Was that really necessary?" Daitona growled.
"Aw, come one! You know I'm just glad to see you again…why didn't you tell me who you were?" Zack looked at her curiously.
"Because I enjoy deluding people into thinking I'm someone else." She sighed at his expression then smiled shaking her head. "No, I just didn't want my true identity getting out before I was ready for it and I really don't want everyone knowing I'm back…though that almost doesn't seem to matter anymore because Hojo is here. Why IS he here?"
Zack shrugged. "An informal visit. We didn't even know he was coming until he showed up on the airship and he's looking for Sephiroth right now."
Sephiroth sheathed his sword, frowning slightly. "Go back to my room Daitona, Zack, make sure she gets there without being noticed and stay there…keep her entertained until I find out why Hojo's here."
Daitona glared at her husband. "And what's that suppose to mean? I don't need a babysitter; I'm fully capable of taking care of myself!"
"Yes, yes I know." Sephiroth was looking past her to the main entrance of the facility they were in…as if expecting Hojo to come stocking in at any moment which no doubly he would. "I'm not worried about you I'm worried about my apartment. I know how you get when you have nothing better to do; you like rearranging things. I'd like to be able to find my socks tomorrow morning."
Zack laughed and Daitona punched Sephiroth in the arm. He laughed and jumped back before she got the chance to get a good shot.
"Be good, I should only be an hour or so."
Daitona sighed and nodded; Sephiroth nodded back then watched as his wife and second in command left through the doors closest to the officer's quarters.
****
-End Chapter 48-
A/N: Well…I think the next chapter will conclude "In an Different Time and Space." I think, but there might be one more after that, not sure yet, depends how many new ideas I get. Until the next chapter! Oh! And don't forget to check out the new story me and Aloria are writing together. It's not posted yet but will be called "Wayward Sun."