Sephiroth groaned. He tried to sit up but found difficulty in doing so. He heard voices. They seemed close yet distant.
"Hi, dad. You know you don't have to look over him all the time," said a feminine voice.
"I know, I just think I should be there when he wakes up," replied a masculine one.
Both were familiar.
"What's going to happen?" asked the feminine one.
This time a third voice answered; an unfamiliar, feminine voice.
"Only time will tell. We'll see how he first reacts, then we'll decide."
"But mom, he deserves a better life," said the first one.
"Yes I know. But does he deserve you?"
"Dad! I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do, I may not be able to read my minds or the Life stream, but I'm not stupid. You're constantly taking care of him."
"I feel bad, he's so alone, always has been. And I'm just a very caring person."
"Fine."
Sephiroth gave up listening and gave in to the persistent sleep.
Sephiroth finally awoke, feeling refreshed. He examined his surroundings. He seemed to be in a small glowing room, with a few chairs and the bed he was lying in. Everything was a light green. As he looked out the window he notice the sky was even green.
He then noticed his clothing. He no longer was wearing his black SOLDIER uniform, but a pair of navy sweat pants and a white sleeveless top.
He sat up. He noticed there was a pair of blue sandals near his bed and put them on. He left the room, noticing that his masamune was nowhere to be found.
The elders were discussing the young man's fate, when he entered the hall. They all peered up.
Ilfana spoke first: "Come Sephiroth sit down."
"Leave me alone, you are all evil and corrupt. I am the only true Cetra, I and mother."
Suddenly darkness came over him and he remembered nothing. He gave in to the darkness.
Aeris walked into the room where Sephiroth was sleeping. She felt so bad. The Cetra took away his memory, they were going to give it back, cleansed of Jenova, but she still felt bad. It was like taking away someone's soul, but it was the only way. They were going to tell Sephiroth the truth. They were going to tell him the whole truth about his life, but in little increments.
Today they were going to start, giving him the memories of his first seven years. Aeris expected it to traumatic, since he must have had a bad childhood, from what her father had been telling her.
She sat down on a light green chair, where she had been sitting a lot lately. You should hate him, she thought. But he's helpless, Jenova easily controlled Cloud, so it was easy for Sephiroth to be controlled, too. Look at him, he looks so innocent. A tear fell from her eye. His own father turned him into this. He must be so lonely. But he killed you!
"Aeris?"
Her mind's ongoing battle was interrupted by her father's voice.
"We're going to start soon."
"Ok dad."
He sat down beside her.
Some of the elders came in to start the procedure. It went swiftly without error. A green mist filled the room and Sephiroth's eyes opened up; they were the eyes of a child.
"P...P...Professor Gast?" he asked questioningly.
"Yes my boy, I'm here."
"Where am I?"
"A special safe place."
"W...Where's Hojo?" said a frightened voice.
"Don't worry, he can't harm you here."
"Who is she?" he pointed towards Aeris.
"She's my daughter."
"She's pretty," he whispered to Gast.
Aeris overheard and she blushed.
Sephiroth cocked his head to one side, studying her.
"She looks familiar."
"From where?" Gast questioned.
"From long ago...there was a woman like her...and a baby." The memories were flooding back with recognition of that night, long ago, a night that changed lives. "The woman had been sobbing, she woke me up. I went to see who it was. It was a beautiful woman, with long brown hair. She was in Hojo's lab. I went up to her and asked her what's wrong? She was cradling a small baby in her hands. She said that her daughter was frightened. I knew how she was feeling. I asked her what their names were. She replied her name was Ilfana and the child was Aeris. I told her her daughter was beautiful. She told me I was. I looked up at her with surprise; no one had ever said any kind words to me, ever. She asked me what my name was, I told her. She told me what a beautiful name it was, I again looked at her in surprise. Staring into her deep green eyes, it was like looking into her soul and she was looking into mine. I saw love, and pain. She saw only loneliness. We both took pity in each other. I told her I would help her escape. She told me she'd take me with her. In the middle of our conversation Professor Hojo came in. He was talking about how easy it was to dispose of you. (A tear fell from his eye) Since he had not seen me, I ducked and ran into a corner, unnoticed. He went up to Ilfana. So, you think you can protect your darling little daughter from your fate? You can't! All your efforts are futile and pointless, you should just tell me where the Promised Land is. Never, she replied and spit in his face. Hojo retaliated by slapping her in the face. I wanted to so badly to interrupt and protect her, but Hojo could overtake me and I sat back thinking up a plan in my head. Hojo and his assistants left the room, after being called by the President. I returned to Ilfana. We must go soon I urged. I led the way and Ilfana followed close behind. I knew the lab like the back of my hand, growing up there. I knew every corner, every room, every entrance and exit, and every hidden passage. It was Hojo's escape passage, how ironic. I let Ilfana go first and turned back to urge me forward but I froze. Hojo was coming down the hallway back to his lab. He quickly noticed and I slammed the hidden panel shut. I only hoped that she would get away and her child would be safe. I received quite a beating for that one. No food for a week, they pretty much locked me away for 8 days. Only let me out to go to Hojo, to receive more injections and beatings. But it was all worth it, they got away. I call tell (he turned towards Aeris) you're her, you're Aeris."
Aeris had been sitting there, listening attentively. Tears were streaming her face. Every so often she left out a slight sob. He had saved her, the same man who killed her, saved her and her mother. When Sephiroth turned towards her, she couldn't help but ran towards him and hug him. She cradled the large man in arms, all the while they were both crying.
Gast left them together content. Ilfana never mentioned Sephiroth to him and he wanted to talk to her about it. He was glad he helped his wife and child when Gast couldn't. Maybe he did deserve Aeris.
Aeris and Sephiroth clung together in a tight embrace for a while. Aeris looked up into his eyes and he looked down at her.
"You're still beautiful."
She blushed.
There was a silence that seemed to last an eternity. Their faces were so close. Aeris withdrew hers.
"You better go back to sleep, you have another big day ahead of you."
"Good night."
"Night."
Aeris walked out of his room and shut the door. You almost kissed him! She couldn't believe. He was an adult, but with a memory of a seven year old, that made her feel awkward. She wondered how he would feel after he got his entire memory back.
"Hi, dad. You know you don't have to look over him all the time," said a feminine voice.
"I know, I just think I should be there when he wakes up," replied a masculine one.
Both were familiar.
"What's going to happen?" asked the feminine one.
This time a third voice answered; an unfamiliar, feminine voice.
"Only time will tell. We'll see how he first reacts, then we'll decide."
"But mom, he deserves a better life," said the first one.
"Yes I know. But does he deserve you?"
"Dad! I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do, I may not be able to read my minds or the Life stream, but I'm not stupid. You're constantly taking care of him."
"I feel bad, he's so alone, always has been. And I'm just a very caring person."
"Fine."
Sephiroth gave up listening and gave in to the persistent sleep.
Sephiroth finally awoke, feeling refreshed. He examined his surroundings. He seemed to be in a small glowing room, with a few chairs and the bed he was lying in. Everything was a light green. As he looked out the window he notice the sky was even green.
He then noticed his clothing. He no longer was wearing his black SOLDIER uniform, but a pair of navy sweat pants and a white sleeveless top.
He sat up. He noticed there was a pair of blue sandals near his bed and put them on. He left the room, noticing that his masamune was nowhere to be found.
The elders were discussing the young man's fate, when he entered the hall. They all peered up.
Ilfana spoke first: "Come Sephiroth sit down."
"Leave me alone, you are all evil and corrupt. I am the only true Cetra, I and mother."
Suddenly darkness came over him and he remembered nothing. He gave in to the darkness.
Aeris walked into the room where Sephiroth was sleeping. She felt so bad. The Cetra took away his memory, they were going to give it back, cleansed of Jenova, but she still felt bad. It was like taking away someone's soul, but it was the only way. They were going to tell Sephiroth the truth. They were going to tell him the whole truth about his life, but in little increments.
Today they were going to start, giving him the memories of his first seven years. Aeris expected it to traumatic, since he must have had a bad childhood, from what her father had been telling her.
She sat down on a light green chair, where she had been sitting a lot lately. You should hate him, she thought. But he's helpless, Jenova easily controlled Cloud, so it was easy for Sephiroth to be controlled, too. Look at him, he looks so innocent. A tear fell from her eye. His own father turned him into this. He must be so lonely. But he killed you!
"Aeris?"
Her mind's ongoing battle was interrupted by her father's voice.
"We're going to start soon."
"Ok dad."
He sat down beside her.
Some of the elders came in to start the procedure. It went swiftly without error. A green mist filled the room and Sephiroth's eyes opened up; they were the eyes of a child.
"P...P...Professor Gast?" he asked questioningly.
"Yes my boy, I'm here."
"Where am I?"
"A special safe place."
"W...Where's Hojo?" said a frightened voice.
"Don't worry, he can't harm you here."
"Who is she?" he pointed towards Aeris.
"She's my daughter."
"She's pretty," he whispered to Gast.
Aeris overheard and she blushed.
Sephiroth cocked his head to one side, studying her.
"She looks familiar."
"From where?" Gast questioned.
"From long ago...there was a woman like her...and a baby." The memories were flooding back with recognition of that night, long ago, a night that changed lives. "The woman had been sobbing, she woke me up. I went to see who it was. It was a beautiful woman, with long brown hair. She was in Hojo's lab. I went up to her and asked her what's wrong? She was cradling a small baby in her hands. She said that her daughter was frightened. I knew how she was feeling. I asked her what their names were. She replied her name was Ilfana and the child was Aeris. I told her her daughter was beautiful. She told me I was. I looked up at her with surprise; no one had ever said any kind words to me, ever. She asked me what my name was, I told her. She told me what a beautiful name it was, I again looked at her in surprise. Staring into her deep green eyes, it was like looking into her soul and she was looking into mine. I saw love, and pain. She saw only loneliness. We both took pity in each other. I told her I would help her escape. She told me she'd take me with her. In the middle of our conversation Professor Hojo came in. He was talking about how easy it was to dispose of you. (A tear fell from his eye) Since he had not seen me, I ducked and ran into a corner, unnoticed. He went up to Ilfana. So, you think you can protect your darling little daughter from your fate? You can't! All your efforts are futile and pointless, you should just tell me where the Promised Land is. Never, she replied and spit in his face. Hojo retaliated by slapping her in the face. I wanted to so badly to interrupt and protect her, but Hojo could overtake me and I sat back thinking up a plan in my head. Hojo and his assistants left the room, after being called by the President. I returned to Ilfana. We must go soon I urged. I led the way and Ilfana followed close behind. I knew the lab like the back of my hand, growing up there. I knew every corner, every room, every entrance and exit, and every hidden passage. It was Hojo's escape passage, how ironic. I let Ilfana go first and turned back to urge me forward but I froze. Hojo was coming down the hallway back to his lab. He quickly noticed and I slammed the hidden panel shut. I only hoped that she would get away and her child would be safe. I received quite a beating for that one. No food for a week, they pretty much locked me away for 8 days. Only let me out to go to Hojo, to receive more injections and beatings. But it was all worth it, they got away. I call tell (he turned towards Aeris) you're her, you're Aeris."
Aeris had been sitting there, listening attentively. Tears were streaming her face. Every so often she left out a slight sob. He had saved her, the same man who killed her, saved her and her mother. When Sephiroth turned towards her, she couldn't help but ran towards him and hug him. She cradled the large man in arms, all the while they were both crying.
Gast left them together content. Ilfana never mentioned Sephiroth to him and he wanted to talk to her about it. He was glad he helped his wife and child when Gast couldn't. Maybe he did deserve Aeris.
Aeris and Sephiroth clung together in a tight embrace for a while. Aeris looked up into his eyes and he looked down at her.
"You're still beautiful."
She blushed.
There was a silence that seemed to last an eternity. Their faces were so close. Aeris withdrew hers.
"You better go back to sleep, you have another big day ahead of you."
"Good night."
"Night."
Aeris walked out of his room and shut the door. You almost kissed him! She couldn't believe. He was an adult, but with a memory of a seven year old, that made her feel awkward. She wondered how he would feel after he got his entire memory back.