Chapter Four: Duel of Truth

Sephiroth was in a bad mood. He was even more snappier than normal today and kept himself isolated. It could be seen in his fighting, as well, since his swings were more fiercer and if he were training with somebody else he could probably kill them. And of all days...One of the fighters named Artiel had to bug Sephiroth.

A white cloth swiped over Masamune's curved blade. Sephiroth was cleaning his sword and sitting in the bleachers trying to let his inner-seething calm down. This anger wasn't from Riku about the other night, but of his past that came back to torment him. Every time he thought about Hojo and the harsh things he said to him Sephiroth just became more and more snappy and tried to think of something else...But no, the past would not allow that.

"Hey, Sephy-boy." Artiel came striding up the steps, trying to look all cool with his spiked up black hair and black and red clothing with shin guards and half gloves. Sephiroth's teeth gritted at that name and he absent-mindedly corrected Artiel.

"It's Sephiroth. It would be best if you remembered that."

"Yeesh, what's up with your moody-ness?" Artiel was just putting more coal into Sephiroth's fire.

"You. Now go away, I am trying to think."

"Aww, c'mon, I only came up for a friendly duel." Artiel grinned in his cocky way. People started to watch the two and Sephiroth exhaled loudly, his hand stopped cleaning Masamune and placed the cloth aside, those hues coldly glared at Artiel. "Friendly duel? I don't do friendly duels. Come back to me when you're ready to actually spar."

"All right then, lets spar." Artiel wouldn't give up that easily.

"You are an amateur and waste of my time."

"You scared?"

Sephiroth growled. "Never." The One-Winged Angel then stood up and walked down the steps with Masamune heaved over one shoulder, Artiel was almost nothing compared to Sephiroth: A young, cocky, warrior who was just trying to get attention and got it by asking for a duel to the greatest warrior known to the Olympus Coliseum. The fighters started to gather and watch as Artiel came down the stone steps and stood before Sephiroth who placed Masamune at his side, making it look like it was sheathed but really wasn't.

"All right Sephy-boy ready when you are!" Artiel wasn't a swordsman but a spear-man and would unlatch his halberd from his back and twirl it around, then, settle the end of it on the ground with the halberd's sharp end pointing up at the clear sky. Sephiroth placed his weight back and forth against his legs, he started to lurk a circle around Artiel.

"Well? You gonna attack or not?" Impatience of youth, Sephiroth noted when Artiel said that and kept a hawk-eye upon Sephiroth. Artiel, however, didn't notice that through this lurking Sephiroth got closer and swiped Masamune through the air within the fastness like lighting. Artiel could only stumble back and hit his back up against one of the four pillars in amazement. But, regaining his wit Artiel then pushed off of the stone pillar and leapt at Sephiroth with a heaving blow to his shoulder.

Sephiroth easily dodged it by side-stepping to his left, twirling on a heel, and making Masamune slash while doing so and caught the halberd into a lock of weapons. Sephiroth was half-way turned to Artiel and easily twisted his wrist so he could get out of the lock first and pushed Masamune against the pike making Artiel stumble back once again. Artiel gritted his teeth and kept on that grin.

"Pretty good for an old man." Artiel remarked.

"You're just skill less." Sephiroth bluntly stated and leapt back allowing his wing to help him get that extra air. Artiel blinked and started to copy Sephiroth's stalking movement. However, Sephiroth stood up-right and gestured with his skintight gloved hand to "Come at him" while saying: "Come here." The tone of Sephiroth's voice was the greatest of taunts and could inflame any warrior's will to attack him. Artiel being a weak-minded warrior was within the trance made by the words and charged at Sephiroth.

Through a outbreak of black and blue feathers Sephiroth had vanished. Artiel skidded to a stop and frantically looked around. Everyone gasped and was wide-eyed, any regular of the Olympus Coliseum would know what this move was...

"Sin Harvest."

Through a gesture and swipe of a hand the off-red color of Sin Harvest hovered over Artiel's head, then, disappeared leaving the youth to fall unto his knees helpless and coughing for air, like he had just ran a mile or more without stopping. His halberd dropped with a ringing clang next to him and Sephiroth lowered his hand. Booted feet swiftly walked up to Artiel, then, pointed Masamune right under his chin.

"You are an arrogant fool. What slight idea made you think you could beat me?" Sephiroth bitterly said, making sure to say it out loud for everyone to hear and embarrass Artiel even more. However, passed that flicker of triumph was anger and malice, and a yearning to kill. Sephiroth then raised Masamune upward and was about to do the finishing blow to Artiel's head, all the warrior could do was look up in horror.

"STOP!" Riku's voice echoed, his feet quickly running down the steps and to Sephiroth. The One-Winged Angel ignored Riku's plea and raised Masamune higher. Riku couldn't believe it, Sephiroth was willing to kill this man in a friendly spar! Running faster Riku leapt off the last step and skidded in between Artiel and Sephiroth just before Sephiroth was about to slash down.

Riku closed his eyes and winced before anything happened.

Everyone took a sharp intake of breath.

Masamune never connected, Sephiroth had stopped it in time to only come to Riku's neck by two centimeters. Riku slowly opened his eyes and looked straight into Sephiroth's own eyes which greatly matched Riku's, yet, they showed something Riku had never seen in them: Terror. Sephiroth lowered Masamune, and like a flash his eyes turned into true hate.

"Why did you step in the way, boy?" Sephiroth asked, in his most acidic tone.

"You can't just kill an innocent man!" Riku protested.

"Oh really? Then, all that killing I have done before I came to this accursed place must be all a nightmare. All the bloodshed must have been!" Sephiroth then placed Masamune over his shoulder. "Never, ever get in my way like that. Do I make myself clear?" Old habits once again, Riku glanced about, people were staring but he still nodded. Sephiroth then stalked off.

Artiel stood up, but barely, he needed to support of the nearest pillar. Running up was a nurse and helped Artiel to walk off to the Curing Room. Riku watched in despair. If he didn't run fast enough Sephiroth would have killed Artiel for no real reason. And what he said...

All that killing I have done before...

Done before?

Riku couldn't really make it connect. Sephiroth...A killer? Well, saying it in his mind it did sound correct and explained why Sephiroth was so cold and unemotional. Riku wanted to know more, now. Why Sephiroth was a killer. Was he a hired killer, or on his own will? So many questions started to grow in Riku's head.

Sephiroth coursed his fingers through his hair, then held his head. Right now he was sitting at his table, trying to breath out the rage from both Artiel and Riku getting in the way. Sephiroth wasn't getting over-sensitive that he could have killed the boy but just the fact that Riku got in the way -- For someone he didn't even know! "Stupid boy..." He muttered then pushed his chair back to leave, but, something was in the doorway.

Riku.

Arching a thin eyebrow Sephiroth moved to a side to get passed Riku, but, Riku moved to that side as well. Sephiroth groaned then folded his arms over his chest. "What's the matter with you?" He asked Riku, the teenager boy pointed accusingly at Sephiroth.

"I want to know a few things. Like...About your world and what you did on it. Were you really a killer?"

"It's nothing to concern you, boy." Sephiroth replied, then, tried to move to the other side but Riku followed his actions still blocking Sephiroth's only exit. "So," Riku began. "You did kill! But why?" Sephiroth didn't reply this time he only took Riku by the shoulders and pushed him aside then walked down the corridor. Riku only caught up and followed. Sephiroth stopped and turned to Riku.

"Seeing how you won't leave me alone...Yes, I did. I've killed dozens. I've ruined people's lives." One in particular...Strife. Sephiroth dismissed the idea on telling Riku about Cloud and went on. "At the time I loved it, I felt invincible because I was. But still...I love it. Now, leave me be." Sephiroth gave Riku one last glare then swiftly went down the stairs. Riku quickly turned to Sephiroth.

"How can you like it?! Are you some heartless being?" Riku yelled making Sephiroth stop on the last step and half-way turn his head up to the boy, under the shade those mako irises could clearly glow.

"Yes, I am." With that said Sephiroth kept walking and left Riku alone and mixed with emotions. A mixture of confusion, sadness, and frustration. Then, Riku remembered the other day when Cloud had talked to him again...

"Sephiroth and I go far back. We used to know each other...And he's only slightly changed."

So, Sephiroth has always been this cold brute with no soul, no heart. Well, Riku wasn't finished with Sephiroth and after some hesitation he ran down those steps for Sephiroth. Riku had to push his way through the crowd of fighters then finally jogged into the lobby entrance and peeked around -- No sign of him. Riku then pushed open the lobby doors to the entrance and slowly walked down the small steps and unto the sand, but still, only a quell and no sign of Sephiroth.

"You're persistent, boy." Sephiroth's voice rang from behind. Sharply turning to him Riku saw Sephiroth leaning easily on one of the pillars near the entrance doors.

"I just want answers. Cloud said he knows you, but you said he was nobody. Why did you lie?"

"Because he's nobody to me."

"Did you ruin his life, too?"

Sephiroth sighed. He despised this whole questioning game. Yet, after a long pause Sephiroth reluctantly nodded. Riku stepped closer, wanting to know more. "Why?" He asked the ex-general who looked away from Riku and kept his gaze upon the ground. He had to tell the boy everything, now, to the very beginning...

"I was once a general, the greatest out there because I had no mercy and much knowledge on battle plans. Cloud was a young boy when he joined the army and went under my command and his soon-to-be-friend Zach. Zach was a SOLDIER -- The best warrior right under a general, I was Zach's mentor as well as Cloud's since the boy looked up to me for courage and strength. Then..."

Sephiroth trailed off, the memories slowly flowing back into his mind. Riku intently watched him, wanting to know more. Sephiroth exhaled then went on.

"Then, all three of us had a mission together. A village named Nibelheim was being terrorized by neighboring monsters from the Mako Reactor nearby --"

"Mako Reactor?" Riku asked.

"Yes. This liquid used as power on my world...And used to inject SOLDIER's with to enhance their ability to fight. You can tell that they were injected with it because their eyes glow. Now...Once we got there I soon found out Cloud was from Nibelheim, he seemed happy to come back home. By the next day we ventured over the Nibelheim Mountains to this Mako Reactor, our guide was a young woman named Tifa. Very spunky, which annoyed me. Zach and I went in and Cloud stayed behind to make sure Tifa didn't do anything stupid to get us all killed..."

Once again he trailed off, but this time looked like he wasn't going to finish. Riku blinked.

"Then what happened?"

"...We..." Sephiroth was actually choked on words. "We found the problem and went back to Nibelheim...However...I started to go insane..." Sephiroth swiftly glanced to Riku then back to the ground with his reminiscing expression. "At first I thought he lied to me, only to make me even more mad...Then...I locked myself into Nibelheim Mansion reading every book known to man...On...The Jenova Project."

"You've mentioned that before..." Riku noted, Sephiroth nodded and swallowed.

"Once I knew everything about the Jenova Project it all dawned on me -- I was an Ancient, a being that once ruled our world with great magic and knowledge, I thought I was one of the last living Ancients and became angry...And burnt Nibelheim down. I almost killed that girl Tifa, and injured Zach."

Riku lowered his gaze, he was shocked with Sephiroth's story. But, Sephiroth had to tell him everything. "Cloud took up Zach's sword and threw me into the Mako pit below us...Yet...I lived and came back for revenge...I killed the president of the power company I was general for...I summoned a giant comet to wipe out our whole world...And killed someone Cloud dearly loved. However, in our final duel he stabbed straight through me. I lived, obviously. He stopped the comet named Meteor and it all finally came to me like a flash: I was no Ancient. I was...A science experiment. Now that you know the whole truth you can leave me be."

Riku didn't budge but only studied Sephiroth's eyes, the expression of hurt were passed Riku's eyes and Sephiroth only looked away. "Didn't you hear me? Go away." Sephiroth spat out, but, Riku only stepped closer trying to surpass Sephiroth's anger and trying to uncover a heart Riku knew Sephiroth had.

"Who lied to you?" Riku asked, Sephiroth only pushed off the pillar and leapt down from the platform that the pillars were on and stood in front of Riku, just gazing down at him, then walked off while saying: "My father."

A/N- Once again to FF7 fans -- I know Sephiroth didn't survive when Cloud threw him into the Mako pit, however, I didn't want to go into the long explanation that Sephiroth came back however it really wasn't him but more of his past mind since the mako wouldn't let him die or rather his memory. -lets out a long sigh- See? I would have to explain all of that, so, instead Sephiroth just "survived" both fatal hits. So, yeah, I've altered his story a tad.

On a last note: I wanna give a thanks to my friend Rob who actually made up the name given to Artiel. Thanks Rob! =D

Gah! Wait! I am so rude...I wanna give a thanks to Merielle for reviewing, and the same for previous readers! -nod, nod- Thank you, thank you, thank you.