A/N: Sorry for such a long wait. I had to play at the seniors graduation and march at the parade (Memorial Day) and I was just busy.... no time to type. I hope you like this chapter. It's going to be a major turning point.
To dark dragon 00: I'm glad you like it!
To Albhed Nightmare: Does it get better? I'd hope so because I fight a lot of writers block for it
To GigGo3z: I think Tifa's cool but... in this chappy someting happens...
To Dr. P: Yay! You signed in hehehe. I hope I don't disappoint yah guys, the story is taking a lot of time.
To RIKKU: Well since yer on Chappy one... read ch 2-15 to find out... duh?
To dear dolphin: I know, some chappies change in length and stuff... I promise they will get longer (3 days left of school! w00t!)
To Emrelle Elendal: Actually I was wondering hehehe. Well grab a box of tissues....
Losing Yuna
Yuna awoke first, yawning and stretching out her arms. The sun was shining, and the sky was cloudless. It was going to be a perfect day. And what was better, was she was still in her bed on the Celsius. "Couldn't beat us, could you?" she looked over to Aeris, who was still sleeping soundlessly. Don't think you've won so easily, hissed the sinister voice in her head, making Yuna cringe.
"Don't listen to him," said Aeris, one eye open. She groaned, sitting up. "No matter what they say, they can't win."
"Right," Yuna nodded. She stood up, walking over to the mirror. Her stomach lurched. "Dammit!" she cried.
"What's wrong?" Aeris inquired, following her. After looking in the mirror, she looked at her clothes. "Oh heavens..."
On both Aeris and Yuna's pajamas, there was drying blood. "How did this happen?!" Yuna demanded. She walked into the bathroom, ripping off her clothes. She turned on the shower, frustated. You'll never win, Sephiroth snarled. Yuna spun around, swinging a fist. She heard him whisper in her ear. She knew she did. It was almost as if he was standing right behind her, for she could nearly feel his breath against her neck, sending a shiver down her spine.
Tears formed in her eyes. If Tidus hadn't come back... she thought silently, scrubbing dried blood from under fingernails. No. She could never think that. If he hadn't come back I'd still be miserable. We'll find a way. Her thoughts were interrupted by Aeris' knock on the door. Yuna turned off the shower, and began to dry herself off.
"Yuna, are you okay in there?"
"I'm not okay. I'm alive, if that's what you want to know."
"Well good. But I just talked to Buddy over a transmitter. He says neither of us left the ship in any way, shape, or form. Shinra had Commspheres watching the Celsius."
"How is that possible? We didn't leave, and we're both still alive. No one else was on the ship..." Yuna gasped slightly, looking in the mirror.
"What?"
Yuna touched the skin on just under her collarbone. There was a strange black marking. "Just a minute," she said, dressing quickly in a long black skirt and a green and blue plaid flannel t-shirt. She walked out, looking at Aeris, who had also changed and showered. "What's this?" she asked, pulling on her collar to show Aeris the mark. "I think I saw this mark in your book last night."
The flower girl's eyes became wide. "That's a symbol from my book, yes."
"Meaning?"
"Good question."
"You don't know?" Yuna sighed.
"No clue. I can look it up later, but right now we have more important things." Aeris touched the mark, and it began to glow. It left a glowing residue on Aeris' finger. "I don't know how Sephiroth and Seymour managed to..."
"I don't know either," Yuna shook her head, following Aeris off the Celsius. "But we have to find out what happened and who they did it to."
Yuna and Aeris were greeted outside the village by Paine, Tidus, Buddy, and Shinra. Lulu and Wakka would be busy with Vidina; Rikku and Gippal were, of course, incapable of helping; and Brother was watching his sister carefully. "Any ideas?" Aeris asked.
Yuna smiled to herself. In the few days Aeris had been around, she had already made friends with everyone, and everyone loved her. She was so sweet. And she had brought Tidus back. Yuna glanced at him, her heart fluttering. She didn't know if she could ever repay her for that. Finishing off these two might start, she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone mention the Time-Porter.
"No one around here is hurt," Shinra explained, "You two must have opened the portal and stepped through time."
"How will we know where to look?" Aeris heard herself ask.
"I can open it again. It automatically opens to the last time traveled to. Then we can ask around," Shinra said.
"Sounds like a plan," Buddy said.
Paine, Buddy, Shinra, and Aeris went ahead, letting Tidus and Yuna to peace. Yuna cocked her head to one side. Tidus seemed distracted by something. "You okay?" she asked.
"Huh?" he looked at her, "Oh... yeah. I'm just a little tired. How about you?" Tidus asked. Almost hesitantly, he took her hand, and they started walking.
"I'm fine," she said, a little worried. Tidus looked away again. Yuna felt hurt. She knew he wore his feelings out on his sleeve, and he was showing her that he was afraid. Of her. Afraid of her being a monster. Not that I blame him... she thought to herself. "Just remember..." she said as they came to the Celsius. "It's Sephiroth and Seymour... not me and Aeris."
Tidus nodded slightly. He gave her shoulder a squeeze as they walked onto the bridge. "It's just a little hard."
Yuna understood. She knew he still only half believed her, but it made her feel a little better that he wanted her not to worry. When they got to the bridge, the look on Aeris' face told her exactly where they had gone through the Time-Porter.
"Yuna," Shinra said quietly, "Look."
Through the door, they saw Cloud, Red XIII, and Yuffie standing in Aeris' church again. They were weeping around three newly buried graves. "Who is it?" Yuna asked softly.
"Cid, Barret, and Tifa," Aeris whispered. Tears were streaming from her eyes.
Paine set a comforting hand on Aeris' shoulder. "We'll get those bastards, don't worry."
We'll get them... we keep saying that. But will we ever succeed?
"Are you going to go through?" Buddy asked.
Yuna and Aeris glanced at each other. "Yes," Yuna nodded. "We have to see if they know." Silently, the hetrochromia and emerald eyed brunettes stepped through the Time-Porter, alone.
Cloud was knelt over his wife's grave. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I don't know what came over me. I should have never suggested..." he closed his eyes, unable to continue.
Yuffie was sobbing uncontrollably. "I can't believe they'd do this!" she wailed.
Red XIII was trying to comfort her. He was obviously failing. "Yuffie, it's going to be all right," he told the ninja.
Yuffie looked towards Aeris and Yuna. "How could you?" she wailed louder.
"Why would you kill them?" Red demanded.
Cloud turned quickly, wiping away his tears with his hand. "Damnit Aeris... I don't know why I said those things but... why did you do this?"
Aeris closed her eyes, taking in the words. Her body trembled steadily. "I... couldn't stop him. I knew it was happening. I saw..."
"Aeris," Yuna whispered. She shot a glance towards Cloud. "What did you tell her?"
"You said that I told you two to kill them," Cloud said darkly.
"You didn't. Seymour and Sephiroth did," Aeris said.
"Sephiroth?!"
"He's alive?!" Yuffie cried.
"They've become stronger," Aeris said, mostly to Yuna. "They took your reaction to Rikku and Gippal's assault and now mine to this. And they will use it to revive themselves fully."
"Aeris... how do you know?"
"He's the one talking," Aeris whispered. She stared at the floor, almost looking past it.
"What are you talking about?" Cloud demanded.
Yuna rubbed the black Ancient mark on her chest. It hurt, almost burned. "Long story short, Sephiroth and another dark man who is dead have possessed our bodies and have the ability to attack people while we sleep. Got it?" Yuna said, irritated.
Yuffie looked at the two brunettes. "We have to find a way to get rid of them!"
"No shit!" Yuna snapped. "You think we want these bastards with us?!"
"But you have no choice," cackled a dark voice from Yuna.
Aeris glared at Yuna. "Don't let him take over!" she cried.
"Come on Aeris," spoke Yuna. Her eyes were no longer their emerald-sapphire but silver-teal. "I'm suprised you could fight this long. Yuna still tries to fight but her flaw is her lover."
The ninja pulled out her shuriken, ready to fight. "Who the hell are you?!"
Yuna laughed. "Yuffie, you had no chance in fighting me five years ago. If it wasn't for Cloud, I'd still be alive, and you'd be in the ground with your friends."
"Sephiroth..." Cloud growled.
"Hello, Cloud," Yuna spat. "I see your emotions still run you, just like all the pathetic people I had to kill to find Yuna."
"Yuna!" cried Tidus. He ran in the church, sword drawn. "Get out of her!"
The High Summoner trembled, "No..." she said, "you can't get her back..."
Aeris pulled out her staff, "Sephiroth, you know that if we kill Yuna, you die too!"
"Exactly," stated Yuna simply. "So, who's going to kill Yuna?" She smirked as they lowered their weapons. "I knew I had to find someone who no one would dare try to kill. Yuna is perfect. Everyone loves her."
Tidus closed his eyes. He felt so helpless. He had to save Yuna; but how?
"Don't worry Tidus," the Sephiroth-Yuna spoke. "She wants you to know, that she will kill me."
The blitzball player glared at her. "Yuna will. She won't let you win."
Yuna laughed. It was almost sickening to hear that dark laughter come from the young woman who had saved Spira, more than once. "Let's go Aeris. We still need to break you down." She spread her arms, her body emitting a bright aura.
"No!" Aeris shouted, but she couldn't stop the light from taking her.
After the light faded, both Sephiroth-Yuna and Aeris were gone, leaving the group in silence.
A/N: Up to this point, the story has mostly been in Yuna or Aeris' POV so now that both are gone, everyone's POV is going to be put in. Keep reviewing!!