Sleeping with her Enemy

Desolation

Do you see what you do to me?
You ain't got time for it now
Do you think, that I'll ever be?

Aeris looked towards the setting sun, the beach was peaceful and had tranquility about it which she had never before seen in a place since her visit to the city of the ancients, in those golden sands she heard the planet sigh and the sound brought her comfort, yet she could not help but hear the tinge of sorrow held within the sound that echoed.

Looking down towards the horizon she saw Tifa strolling silently along, the last rays of light bouncing off the tears that glistened on her face, to Aeris her friend looked so beautiful as she watched the sun disappear slowly beneath the waves, but to see such beauty suffer with such sorrow made her heart ache.

She frowned what was the matter with Tifa?

She'd been this way for a while now, odd and perversely withdrawn, but only on moments when she thought she wasn't being watched or when she thought she could get away with it, Aeris was an ancient so in tune with her surroundings that she noticed how her friend would often wonder away from the group to have her moments of sadness away from prying eyes.

There had to be something that she wasn't telling them, some secret that she was keeping, there was something within her that she did not want her friends to know, something that made her suffer night after night when she tossed and turned and called for something nobody could guess or understand.

But what could it be? And why was she keeping it?

Aeris had always considered Tifa a true friend, but she also considered to be one of her confidantes, someone she could confide her troubles and worries to with no fear of judgment or reprieve, to know that her trust was not fully returned was a blow to the brunette's heart.

She hoped that Tifa knew she had people about her who loved her, who were concerned for her and would be there for her should she need some form of release, she had to know that watching her try to secretly fall apart was causing her friends to worry about her, especially Cloud, he'd been in love with Tifa for so long he felt her distance a particularly hard blow to his heart.

Watching as the raven haired woman sank softly to the wet sands her head bowing almost in defeat Aeris felt as though her insides would crush under the enormity of the emotion she felt, she felt not only the planets sudden cry but Tifa's overwhelming sorrow.

How long would her friend go on before she eventually cracked, surely she had to realize that bottling everything inside was not the way to go, that pretty soon she would crumble from the pressure of trying to remain aloof and unfazed.

Aeris wanted so desperately to help her friend but how could she help Tifa when Tifa wouldn't help herself.

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Vincent toyed with the idea of going to talk to Tifa after spying her walking alone, but worried that such an act might give Yuffie the wrong idea and that wasn't what he wanted, he knew how possessive and jealous his little ninja could get, especially since she knew that Vincent had once harbored a crush for his curvy friend.

Turning his gaze away he spotted Yuffie sat on a nearby rock her eyes downcast and her face expressionless.

The wind ruffled lightly through her hair giving her an air of innocent fragility, Vincent smiled as he walked over to her placing an arm around her small body she was neither innocent nor fragile but to him she would always be like spun glass, in need of his protection and his love no matter how strong she appeared to be, Yuffie turned into his embrace sighing contentedly at the warmth he offered.

"I'm worried Vincent" she said her voice wobbly with emotion, her eyes seemed almost haunted as she looked again and he wondered if his assumption that she was not so fragile had been on the mark, he knew all too well how easily the human race could fracture and with sadness shown so clearly on her face he wondered if she was near her breaking point.

"she'll be alright love," he said stroking her hair in a soothing motion making her feel sleepy, he wanted to sooth the fears she held within herself away, he sat down and he shifted closer to him.

"I hope that you're right" she whispered.

The truth was he couldn't really say that Tifa would be alright, she had been so different the bright vivacious woman he had always known her to be, it was like a shadow of her former self walked talked and lived in her place.

Every one at one time in their life had fancied themselves in love with Tifa, even Barret and Cid had given her hidden glances, so she was special to the group as a whole, but not only was she special but she had always been integral, raising morale, always the first one to get involved with a laugh, a smile and a well aimed punch.

Something ate at her everyday and the fact that none of them knew bothered Vincent more than anything.

He looked down at Yuffie, her eyes were closed and her deep even breathing signaled that she had fallen asleep the frown she had worn only moments before replaced by a smile of contentment as he sheltered her smaller body from the winds.

He was so lucky to have her in his life, so glad that he had met her that she had fallen for him just as he had fallen for her; she'd touched him in ways he had never imagined being touched before.

Now he only hoped that someone could reach and conquer Tifa's inner darkness just as Yuffie had conquered his.

She was lost in her memories, the words he had whispered against her lips on the last night she had seen him flashed vivid in her mind.

Flashback

"You make me so happy do you know that" Sephiroth said teasing the lose tendrils of her hair as they stuck to the moistness of her skin, her body glowed from the aftermath of their love making and she giggled when he tickled her breast with the ends of her hair, she looked at him in from beneath her lashes her face becoming serious.

"You do the same for me" she whispered and then the sobs had came shaking her delicate frame as he held her in her arms.

"What's wrong?" he asked pulling her back from him so he could look at her she reveled in the concern she saw in his face but it could not appease the pain that had cut through her, the tender moments between them had always been her undoing for she wished to god that they never had to end.

"Is it worth it" she sobbed at him trying desperately to nestle closer, needing the warmth of his embrace, she didn't want to feel the cold she knew she would feel if he was not there, didn't want to imagine what her life would be like if he was no longer a part of it.

"Listen to me" he said pulling her close again, his hand stroking her raven hair soothing her with his concern and his obvious affection.

He thought for a moment before he spoke

"I wouldn't change a thing about now, even though I know that we can't always been together" he kissed her hair, she held her breath when she heard the words, they were heartfelt and she knew he was not lying in what he said, she also knew that she would never change the way things were, even if they only had mere seconds with each other she would have still held on to what they had

"Just always remember, when you're with your lover a heartbeat can last a lifetime, but when your alone a minute can seem like an eternity."

She had looked up at him a smiled breaking through the tears; it was going to be all right it was going to work out fine, all that mattered was the here and now, that she was living a lifetime within his arms and holding onto it with all she had.

Sighing contentedly she had slipped into a comfortable sleep knowing she was with the man she loved and that everything was all right.

End Flashback

But it hadn't been all right you left me her mind screeched, he hadn't even said goodbye, hadn't even stayed until she had awoken to tell her the reason he could not stay.

"Oh Sephiroth" she cried his name carrying on the wind away from her lips, she fancied she heard a sigh echo on the winds in response but she had long ago given up hope that her questions would be answered, but still she continued to voice them, still carried hope within her heart.

"Why did you leave me alone?"

The darkness fell like a suffocating blanket covering everything as the sun finally set.

And still she didn't move, she felt at peace here with the waves lapping over her feet, it was as if they understood what it was she was feeling inside when nobody else could, as if they could carry away her sorrows with the tide as it receded.

The wind which caressed her face offered her a stinging cold sensation on the patches that were still damp from her tears.

But it comforted her, the sensations reminded her she was here, she wasn't merely a shadow, she was live flesh and blood, she could feel things, it didn't matter if it was only pain or sorrow or a in futile hope, it reminded her of why she needed to carry on, of the promise she had made within her very heart.

"Sephiroth I love you and I will find you".

She sank down onto the sands letting the warmth the sun had left envelope her in its warm embrace like his arms had always done. Let the wind sooth her as it kissed her hair like his lips, and soon she was fast asleep.
She never saw the eyes that watched her from atop the nearby cavern or the look of longing that was etched on the face of the person they belonged to.

From his vantage point high atop the cavern he could see her, even in the dark his eyesight was impeccable, but he knew that even if he lost his sight that he would still be able to see her that her beauty would always tantalize and hypnotize him in a way that no other had.

His angel his love

"I never meant to hurt you" he said and saw her sigh as if she had caught his message, he longed for her to open her eyes and see him there, to show her that she was not as alone as she always imagined herself to be, that on nights when he had the strength to do so he watched over her as she slept, it was the only time she slept peacefully.

He wanted to touch her, to assure himself that she was real, but he knew that it was beyond his limitations at the moment.

He longed for the day he could once again hold her in his arms, but how could he when his soul was not his own until nightfall, and even then it would never fully belong to him, not if stayed where he was, even if he were to escape there was no guarantee that they would be together, he wouldn't place such a burden upon her.

He cursed under his breath, he had been damned he'd known that ever since he was a small boy, but still he had been unable to resist the temptation of her love, and now they both paid the ultimate price.

If only he had stayed away from her all those years ago, then she would be free to live her life rather than merely try to exist it, he knew what it was she felt, could sense each and every emotion as though they were his own, and lived through the same hell every day since he had left her.

"I'm sorry my love" he whispered and in a flurry of silver he was gone leaving Tifa to sleep in innocent abandon.

Cause all I ever wanted's so far gone
And if I had my chance, I'd go along

You're making me fall down
I'm falling down again
I wish you could fall down
Can you catch me darling?

Lyrics from Falling down by Goo Goo Dolls

Here's another chapter for you to sink your teeth into. Hope that you enjoy it, thanks for the reviews so far and I hope that I manage to keep your faith in my talents.

Angel – Wings XxXxXxXxX