Chapter Six: The Whole Truth

"You see," Sephiroth began. "That girl that I killed and Cloud loved dearly...Her name was Aerith. Now, I have just been informed that she is here." Sephiroth cocked his head lightly over to the bench where Leon now sat. Riku glanced back to Leon and back to Sephiroth, puzzled.

"How?"

"She lived, obviously." His cold manner started to creep back into his tone.

"...What are you gonna do?"

"Leon is going to see me after the tournament," Sephiroth stood up, regaining his wit again. "You're coming along, boy." Riku blinked, why did he have to come? This wasn't really his problem, he frowned on the idea.

"But why? Isn't this between you and Aerith?"

"...Technically." Sephiroth tightened his gloves which were graced with small wings, demonic ones under the forearms. "However, it would be best if you came." Sephiroth then stepped back out into the bright sunlight and to his previous seat. Riku just stood there and turned on a heel when Sephiroth brushed by, and blinked. Technically?...Riku shook his head and walked back to his seat as well.

"And now the match you've been all waitin' for," Phil stood upon his small podium near the arena exit and lobby entrance with his bullhorn. "The last match that'll decide our next hero! Our fighters will be: Cloud Strife and Sephiroth!"

Sephiroth stood once his name was called and casually walked unto the tiling that would make up the battle square, through an easy movement one of his gloved hands reached up and brought Masamune downward. He stood in one corner, his fans cheering him on and his enemies not cheering at all. Once Cloud came up, in his metal jingling manner, he propped Buster Sword into a defensive position and had one foot farther out than the other.

"Just like...Old times." Sephiroth whispered under his breath, and awaited when Phil would lower down his arm to start the face-off.

Phil gazed at both fighters, ready with swords, then swiftly thrust his arm downward.

The duel began.

Cloud circled Sephiroth and Sephiroth circled Cloud. That smirk upon Sephiroth's face taunting and just like the last time they dueled -- Within their Planet's core, with Cloud trying to save the Planet from the dreaded Meteor. It was all like de-ja-vu, however, this time Sephiroth made the first move. He swerved to a side and slashed downward with Masamune, Cloud wasn't expecting this sudden move and got nicked within the right shoulder, he retreated backwards and winced.

"Loosing your touch, Strife." Sephiroth commented casually, then charged forward into a stabbing thrust for Cloud, but the spiky haired warrior was ready this time and brought Buster Sword into a slant downward to protect his torso, Masamune scraped against Buster Sword then came out of the lock. Cloud then slashed Buster Sword upward but Sephiroth leapt back and brought Masamune into a hammering move.

The heave was so hard on Cloud's sword that he accidentally dropped it and looked to Sephiroth with shock in those dark blue eyes. Sephiroth grinned and crouched down to swipe one leg across Cloud's legs and made him trip. Sephiroth could now kill Cloud.

"This is all for the agony...And pain...And embarrassment you put me through, Strife. This final blow will be my vengeance--" Sephiroth was cut off.

"No! Sephiroth, stop!"

It wasn't Riku this time...It was her. Aerith. She hopped down the stairs and came to a stop a few feet away. People watched in awe and in confusion. Tears stained Aerith's cheeks and veiled her green eyes and she looked coldly to Sephiroth. He picked up his head to meet her teary gaze with Masamune at Cloud's throat, Cloud just stared at Aerith with his mouth partially open.

"Please," Aerith sniffled. "Don't kill him."

"I should kill you both." He replied venomously.

"No! Not when he knows nothing about his past..." It was a weak come-back, but Aerith couldn't act strong anymore. Cloud was here, Sephiroth was here. And so was he. It was too much of an emotional burden and more tears came down her face. Sephiroth blinked and looked passed Aerith to Riku, who was standing up ready to pounce on Sephiroth if he were to try anything to hurt Cloud then his gaze returned to Aerith. "I don't care! Strife needs to repent for what he has done, and I am here to make that happen!" Sephiroth pressed Masamune harder into Cloud's neck, Cloud stayed perfectly still so the tip wouldn't plunge into his throat.

But, Aerith snapped. Soon her right hand was clenched up into a fist then she would thrust her arm forward and stretch her palm out making a small fire ball spit out and hit Masamune's blade, Sephiroth absent-mindedly let go making Masamune clang against the ground. Everyone gasped. No one has ever seen Masamune fall to the ground. Sephiroth turned to Aerith and was quickly in front of her, ready to choke her. But his hands never met her neck.

"Phil," He called, still glaring down at Aerith. "The tournament is over. Everyone can leave."

Phil was speechless, but clearing his throat he then yelled his commands to the spectators. "All right you heard the man! Tournament's over!" People muttered to themselves, but, started to get and file out into the lobby and for the entrance/exit. Phil, too, left Sephiroth with these matters while shaking his head. Cloud stood up and progressed behind Sephiroth but Aerith shook her head.

"Strife, Leonhart, you stay here. Riku, Aerith, come with me." Sephiroth cocked his head and walked up to Masamune, gently picking it up and placing it over his back, he then started to walk for his cell but stopped when Aerith stayed put and so did Riku. "Well? Come along!" Sephiroth was becoming irritated. Aerith sighed and started to walk towards him but Cloud caught her wrist.

"I don't trust him." He whispered Aerith turned her head to him, taking in all of his features in which she missed so much and gave him a faint smile.

"Don't worry...Riku, come on." She called gently to Riku, he reluctantly followed Aerith when Cloud let go of her wrist and eyed Sephiroth.

Yuffie stood in Sephiroth's way with her shuriken ready and the nastiest glare she could conjure up on her perky face. Sephiroth blinked, finding it amusing this girl would up against him. "You, too, stay here. Best not to get into this." He suggested and kept walking, but, Yuffie still stood her grounds. He stopped right in front of her and sighed. Aerith stepped up next to Sephiroth.

"Yuffie, please, don't worry." Yuffie glanced to Aerith with worry then side-stepped, but, growled at Sephiroth.

"If you try and hurt them I'll seriously kick your butt!"

Sephiroth only nodded and kept walking with Aerith and Riku trailing behind him.

Yuffie ran up to Leon, who still coolly sat on the bench but his hand gripped his Gunblade the whole time but now his hand relaxed. Cloud turned to Yuffie and Leon and then went to retrieve his Buster Sword. Yuffie looked beyond worried and bit her knuckles.

"What if he's going to kill her?!" Her voice was shaky, Leon only glared until they vanished into the darkness of the entrance to the fighters' dwellings and then looked up to the distressed ninja/thief.

"This is Aerith's problem and she seems to know that Sephiroth won't hurt her. I doubt Sephiroth would bring Riku along if he was going to kill her."

"You mean..." Yuffie trailed off. Leon merely nodded.

"Yes. They're going to tell Riku...Everything."

Cloud overheard while he still stared off into the darkness of the mouth...He knew of it and it was another thing to hate Sephiroth for. Along with Professor Hojo.

Sephiroth sat at the end of his bed and allowed Aerith to sit in his desk-chair and gave the extra one to Riku to sit in and sit near Aerith. Riku was very confused now that he didn't know what to ask first. Sephiroth held his head in his hands then pushed back his bangs and exhaled loudly.

"Boy, I haven't told you all of it. There is something I left out because I didn't want to tell...But now I am left with no choice," Sephiroth's eyes changed from frustration to truth and being solemn. Riku just stared back, absolutely silent. "You see, Aerith is an actual Ancient. The only one left and I was bound on a mission to kill her, however before that, before I went insane Professor Hojo -- My father -- Wanted to use her in his scientific studies."

" -- Riku, one time he captured me and wanted to use this insane plan of his. At the time Sephiroth still worked for ShinRa, Inc., the company his father worked for. Well...He wanted to make a child born of an Ancient and his own creation -- A person injected with Jenova cells. Do you know of the Jenova Project?"

Riku nodded when turning to Aerith. She nodded.

"Hojo was successful, but, the "father" went off on a mission two days later and I escaped, but couldn't bring the child along since he was hidden away...I felt so horrible. Then, five years later, that father was reported to be alive again..." Aerith trailed off, for everything seemed to dawn upon Riku's face all at once.

"Sephiroth...And you? But...He tried to kill you!"

"That's when I was insane, but now clearly stable." Sephiroth added.

"I don't get it...Are you saying...That I'm from your world? I'm this creation Hojo made?" Riku asked, his icy blue eyes glancing back and forth to Sephiroth and Aerith, their expressions un-easy and they re-averted their eye sight from Riku's. Riku held his own head, then remembered: His hair was just like Sephiroth's, his eyes were too. His pale complexion matched Aerith's and so did his kind yet determined heart...

It all connected.

But...Riku wanted to deny it, he did not want to accept this at all. He bowed his head even lower and closed his eyes trying to think of Destiny Islands -- And his parents there; he noted in his head that they were two brown haired people with a more darker complexion from the island sun. "How?" Riku asked, his eyes still closed and his voice weary.

"You were still very young when our world was swallowed into Darkness, luckily you survived somehow and Fate brought you here...After all of this time. Riku?" Aerith blinked and reached out for his shoulder, those delicate fingers resting upon it and gently stayed there then let go. Riku was silent, then slowly opened his eyes and dropped his hands from his silvery hair. Sephiroth looked away and folded his arms over his chest. Riku peered over to him.

"That's why you let me stay here...You knew that I was--" Riku couldn't say it, after a moment and a swallow he was able to, though. "...Your son." Sephiroth only slowly nodded and stood up, dropping his hands into mild gestures.

"Indeed, but, it would be best if you go with Aerith and her friends." Sephiroth looked at the boy, only a slight hurt in those mako-eyes. Riku rose to his feet, ready to argue.

"No, I want to stay here. Now I know everything I want to know more--"

"Riku, listen. I wasn't made to be a father. I was made as a experiment for Hojo to show off, and to kill -- Nothing more, nothing less. Go with Aerith by tomorrow morning." Swiftly kneeling down and placing a gloved hand on Riku's shoulder Sephiroth then whispered to Riku. "...She'll take care of you, son."

Riku studied Sephiroth's mako eyes -- A mirror reflection of Riku's own irises. It was a long quell, one of those awkward moments and time seemed to stay still with only the flickering torches and candles giving off light, but everything was now visible. So clear. Yet, everything was still shrouded in darkness, too. Riku wanted to know more -- Get to know Sephiroth as a father rather than that man who took him and never seemed to lighten up. He wanted to know about Aerith, as well, but more than anything...He just wanted to stay with Sephiroth.

"Fine." Riku murmured, Sephiroth let go of his shoulder and stood up with a faint smirk his gaze raised up to Aerith who was on the verge of crying -- But kept it all in.

"You may now leave." Sephiroth simply stated, so cool and casually. Riku bowed his head, Aerith stood up and silently pushed the chair back under the office and waited for Riku at the door way.

"Come on, Riku. Give Sephiroth his time." Aerith gently said, Riku nodded and followed Aerith out into the corridor. Sephiroth despairingly sat down back unto his bed with a long exhale of breath through his mouth and slid Masamune slowly off of his back placing the legendary sword upon his lap, his right hand absent-mindedly reached over to his bed-post and grabbed a cloth and started to clean the sword which got dusty from it's fall.

A/N- ... I'm such a loser. When I was making the ending of this chapter Suteki Da Ne (FFX) was playing and I started to get a little teary eyed, because the song made this chapter so dramatic. xD Anyway, allow me to explain a few things: I did some math and found out that Aerith would have been only sixteen when she...Uh...Gave birth to Riku. Well, you see, I didn't want to make a self-created character since it wouldn't be that dramatic, so, I stuck with the concept that Hojo made Sephiroth and Aerith...Y'know. I'm not a huge Seph/Aerith fan, either! (Cloud/Aerith all the way!).

Now, for the thank you's:

DemonSurfer

Zanisha

Hikari-die

Smiley-Chan

Darkdancer

Viktor Mayrin (Wanna give you a personal thanks for applying to the Advent Children RP, as well.)

Lo and behold this isn't the end! Just a few more chapters. ;-;