Chapter 6:

The Avengers

"Do you think you killed her?" Anima asked Luben as we took a short break.

"I don't know. If I did, she died of blood loss," Luben sighed. We sat in silence for several minutes before Anima looked up at Sephiroth and I.

"So what exactly were you two doing out so early this morning?"

"Just… you know, taking an early morning stroll," I smiled innocently.

"You always were a bad liar," she replied almost automatically. That was another thing I admired about Anima: she could see through nearly any lie. She was good for Luben. If I told him that Anima had somehow gotten him pregnant instead of him making her, he would believe me. Luben was extremely gullible. Anima bore holes into me with her steely gaze. Sephiroth finally turned to me.

"I guess she's got us," he shrugged. He slowly pulled off his left glove to reveal his wedding ring. I took mine from the pouch and slid it back on my finger as he explained. "We screwed each other last night and decided to get up early this morning and marry each other. Happy now?"

"You WHAT?" Anima screeched after a moment of stunned silence. She began pacing out of anger.

"We love each other, Anima! You know, if Luben wasn't such a coward and you didn't spend every dime you have on Final Fantasy crap, you'd have had a ring on your finger five years ago when you first moved in together!" I snapped.

I didn't realize the mistake I made, even though I had always known better than to make remarks about her Final Fantasy addiction whether I meant it or not. She stopped moving and lowered her head. She refused to look at me. Her shoulders began to tremble and I knew then that I struck a nerve with Anima. I could tell that she was on the verge of tears. I had never seen her cry, and suddenly felt like a total bitch. I turned and ran into the woods, my own eyes filling with tears.

"Michiko, come back!" I heard Sephiroth call. I refused to look back as I ran blindly.

"Let her go," Anima replied just loud enough for me to hear.

I hated them all with each second that passed. Each step I took brought forth a fresh burst of rage. I don't know how long I ran, but I didn't stop until I came to a small stream. I collapsed between two tree roots. A few minutes later, I heard them calling me. I avoided calling attention to myself and cried myself to sleep.

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I woke up several hours later. Dusk had begun to fall, and I was feeling miserable. I decided to find my friends and apologize. I could see a clearing in the woods that boasted a light a short distance from my hiding spot. I crept to it and realized that it was my group. I was about to enter the campsite when I realized that something was terribly wrong. I noticed what it was as I crouched by the edge of the woods and saw myself sitting on Sephiroth's lap with his arms around me.

"Takako, you little shit," I muttered. She was seducing Sephiroth by pretending to be me.

I watched as Sephiroth pushed her up and entered one of the small tents Anima had brought. There were two: one for her and Luben, one for Sephiroth and I. Anima and Luben went into their tent a few minutes later and left Takako sitting there alone. It would have been so easy to shoot her, drag away the body, take her place, and pretend that nothing had happened. Unfortunately, Takako began to enter Sephiroth's tent the same moment I reached for an arrow, and I wasn't about to chance hitting him. Rage surged through my body as I watched the tramp undo the front of her tunic and show off her chest for Sephiroth. I noticed a dagger hidden in the back of her pants and realized her plan. I listened to his laughing and her giggling as the tent closed and was suddenly filled with a fury that I never knew I possessed. I was at the tent in what felt like three steps and, before I knew what I was doing, I had ripped open the front of the tent to find Takako lying on Sephiroth and the two of them trying to undo the other's pants. She shrieked and leapt to the back corner of the tent as Sephiroth drew Masamune.

"Get out of here, Takako!"

"She's Takako, not me!" I yelled. I prepared my bow and arrow. Sephiroth was faster; he leapt at me and shoved me out of the tent.

"I said leave us the hell alone!" he cried. Takako crawled out and wrapped her arms around my lover.

"Go ahead and kill her, my sweet," the imposter muttered in his ear, adding a sly smile in my direction.

Sephiroth charged again. I managed to shoot my bow in such a way that he was forced to drop the sword with only a small scratch to his hand. I took the opportunity to tackle him and force him to the ground. When I had him on his back, I sat on him and forced my hands on his elbows to keep him from flailing. Anima and Luben were out of their tent and watching. They didn't know which of us to attack. I looked deep into those cat eyes and I thought I saw them soften. Before they filled with anger again, I did what was probably the bravest thing I've ever done.

"You'll thank me for this," I whispered. With one swift movement, my hands went from his shoulders to his neck and my lips were practically glued to his. Sephiroth began to struggle a little, but as he recognized the feel, his muscles relaxed. They tightened again, but this time in such a way that he embraced me and returned my kiss.

"No! I was so close!" Takako moaned. The last living image I had of her contained a piece of metal stuck through her bare chest. As the sword was removed, Takako gazed at me with hate and fell to the ground, never to bother us again.

I didn't feel any sorrow when my twin died. I was glad she was murdered. She was not a good person, and I wanted to have no more to do with her. We buried the body before going back to bed. Sephiroth and I waited to return to our tent. When we were sure Luben and Anima were fast asleep, we began what would be our one-night honeymoon.

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"I don't believe I almost made love to your sister," Sephiroth muttered as we woke the next morning. The sun was just barely rising, and the ground was still covered in fog. Sephiroth's arm was wrapped around me so tightly, I thought he was going to make me throw up.

"I forgive you," I sighed softly.

"I love you," Sephiroth whispered into my ear. He kissed my neck as he pulled his clothes on.

"I love you, Sephy," I smiled.

"Sephy?"

"You don't like it?"

"Eh, not particularly," he shook his head. I, too, stood and dressed. Anima and Luben left their tent at the same time we did.

"Morning," I nodded.

"Hi," Anima replied. We looked at each other for a moment and then turned away.

There was something special about our friendship. Between all of the insults and mean things we've said to each other during the fifteen years we've been friends, I don't think we've ever verbally apologized. We make nonverbal agreements to forget about what we quarreled about and, over time, actually forget why we were mad in the first place.

The four of us packed up the tents and supplies. As the fog finally disappeared completely, we were heading north to Kauko. With all the running we were doing, we were closer than we thought we'd be at that time. None of us saw hide or hair of Cloud, Vincent, Yuffie, or Tifa for three days. We decided to spend two nights in one cave in particular. We were so tired, none of us wanted to stand guard. Sephiroth and I merely laid next to each other for a long time on the first night. My blanket was under us and his cloak was covering us. I listened to his heart, just as I had done the past few nights. He finally began dozing when I began crying a little.

"You okay?" he whispered as my tears hitting his chest woke him back up.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just don't believe what's happening to me. This is the last thing I ever thought I would be doing in my entire life," I sighed. "I was also thinking about what would happen when we find the portal. I don't want to lose you."

"I'll come back."

"I want to go with you," I muttered.

"No. If Cloud follows me, I'll have to fight him when we get through. I don't want you getting hurt. I'm sorry," Sephiroth moaned. He held me closer to his heart and shut his eyes. "I'll always be there with you. When you're lonely, listen to the night wind for my voice. Try to remember my heartbeat when you long for me as you slumber. I'll give you strength if you ask for it. My eyes will always be watching you. I promise."

"And you can expect the same from me, my love."

He never heard the statement. He had fallen asleep just after his short speech. I kissed his shoulder and soon joined him.

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"Come out, Sephiroth!"

"How could he find me? I thought we covered our tracks too well to be followed," Sephiroth gasped as we packed our supplies two mornings later. Cloud was waiting at the entrance. Fortunately, we had slept in an adjoining 'room,' so he couldn't see us.

"I know you're in here! Tifa's dead! Are you happy? Come out and fight like a man!" he called.

"Guess we're all murderers, huh?" Anima whispered as we laid close to the ground.

"They're in here!" Yuffie yelled. She was standing right outside the corridor and had a shuriken ready. We stood as she prepared the throw. "Try getting this out of your stomach, Sephiroth!"

She threw the large star at the same spot the arrow had pierced. Sephiroth was ready this time. He drew Masamune, hit the star back at Yuffie, and finally managed to hit her. She let out a painful scream as the shuriken edge hit her stomach and pinned her to the wall across the cave. Yuffie released a very wet sounding gasp before her eyes closed and she went limp. Blood was pouring from her mouth as Cloud and Vincent ran to her. When Vincent saw the damage, he turned to us and shot his pistol at Sephiroth. He ducked, and the bullet hit a very weak column that seemed to hold up the entire cave. The cave trembled and rocks began dropping from the ceiling.

"Run!" Sephiroth cried in fear. We didn't need to be told twice. We all hurried to the entrance. Vincent followed us, but Cloud refused to go. He pulled Yuffie from the wall and carried her to the back of the cave to find a way out. The entrance was blocked by the time she was free, anyway.

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"Let's not do that again," I panted. I looked over at Vincent's limp body. He had been hit on the head by a falling rock just as we got out, and he was out cold. "Do we take him with us or leave him here?"

"I say take him," Sephiroth sighed. "We could use him to bargain with Cloud."

"I brought some rope," Anima muttered. She went to tie his hands together. Unfortunately, the movement woke him up. Shoving her aside, he stood and looked around for Sephiroth.

"Where is he?" Vincent asked. I noticed then that he wasn't there. Vincent held his gun ready.

"I'm right here," Sephiroth said from behind him. Sephiroth grabbed Vincent, knocked his gun away, and pinned him against a tree, the sword against the pale throat. "One more sound out of you and this sword might just slip."

"You wouldn't kill me," Vincent whispered. "Remember who injected you with those cells to give you your strength?"

"I wouldn't care if you were my father," Sephiroth hissed angrily, but he lowered his sword anyway.

"Give me my gun and I promise, I'll lead Cloud away from you."

"You're coming with us," Luben said, waving the pistol and trying to get on Vincent's nerves. He was good at annoying people.

"I don't have a choice, do I?" he muttered after looking around at us for a few moments.

"Actually, you do. You either come with us peacefully or suffer a slow and painful death," I said with a slight smile. "You decide."

"I'll come with you," he sighed in a defeated tone. He sat on the ground and laid his head in his hands.

"Get up," Sephiroth kicked him, causing Vincent to fall over and literally eat dirt.

"Don't hurt him. Just because he's a hostage doesn't mean we have to treat him poorly. Jeez," I rolled my eyes and helped Vincent up. I never told anybody, not even Anima, but Vincent was my favorite male hero. At least, out of the guys from game seven. We made him carry most of our supplies as we set off around the cave. We had planned on walking through the cave and going out the back, but now that we couldn't get back in, we had to go around.

"Where exactly were you heading?" Vincent asked as we sat for lunch. He nibbled a banana as he waited for our answer.

"We were going to Kauko to find a portal that will send Sephiroth home," Anima explained. "It'll close in about two weeks, I think. I don't even know exactly how long we've been going anymore."

"Me neither," Luben sighed. We finished eating in silence. As we began walking again, Vincent asked me to walk with him in the back. Sephiroth eyed us suspiciously as we talked.

"Why are you helping him? You do realize how evil he is, right?" Vincent asked, glancing at me with blood-red eyes.

"I know he's evil. I also know that before he went to Nibelheim and discovered the Jenova Project and who he is, he was one of the good guys. I think there's still some good in him. It's probably very deep inside him, but he wasn't born evil," I sighed. I smiled a little. "Besides, he could probably undo the madness that overtook him with a few therapy sessions."

"Ha," Vincent laughed a little at the thought of Sephiroth lying on a couch in a shrink's office. "I don't know how right you are, but I'm glad to see that he's found someone willing to be so kind. He's never really had much kindness given to him, even when he was under our care."

We walked quietly for a few minutes. He finally noticed the ring on my finger.

"I see you're married. Is your husband kind?"

"With a few sessions with a psychiatrist, he'll be the sweetest of men," I hinted. Vincent's eyes went wide when he realized who I meant.

"Sephiroth?" he gasped in disbelief. I nodded. Sephiroth came up to us and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, glancing at Vincent with hate. Vincent only smirked and chuckled.

"I never would've thought I'd see the day when you went soft enough to actually marry someone."

"At least I've managed to find someone who loves me," Sephiroth snapped in retaliation. I could tell that Sephiroth was looking for an excuse to harm Vincent.

"Knock it off, both of you," I growled. "If either one of you tries to start something again, I don't care who starts it, I'm going to kick your ass."

I think I scared both of them, because from then on they walked in silence.

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Suteki da ne, futari te wo tori, aruketa nara… Ahem. Sorry, listening to Suteki Da Ne right now. I downloaded that and this awesome fan version of the ending theme today. I actually cried when I listened to it because it's so accurate and I can picture the end so clearly… really sad ending for anyone who hasn't finished FFX... Sniffle… 'The people and the friends that we have lost, or the dreams that have faded… Never forget them.' Yuna's last words in the game… Yeah. Anyway, replies. Right:

DarkFeruil: Thanks for the review and siding with me on the war between SV and I. More power to us! And of course, other readers. Keep reading, and I hope to see some stories by you on here!

Soul Vagabond: Yeah, I noticed that. So what if he has a heart of black ice? He can still think a woman is hot. I don't think what Michiko said to Anima, by the way! Those aren't my thoughts! I'm just as crazy about FF as you! Oh, and according to FF Online, Advent Children is now slotted to release in trumpet fanfare 2005! That's right! I'm really starting to get pissed about this FF7AC thing… Oh, and did you see Cinematech Tuesday night? It was a tribute to Nobuo Uematsu. I taped it if you want to see it. One Winged Angel, Dancing Mad, and Liberi Fatali are on there!

Kizna1200: That's okay. I hope you had fun. The Cloudy thing that Tifa says is because they like each other. Okay? The arm thing wasn't supposed to be funny, but I'm glad someone was amused.

Mediciner: Yea, no more stress ball! That Advent Children thing, as I told SV, didn't go out on Saturday like I said. Sorry! First it was coming out last Tuesday, then Saturday, then this past Tuesday, and now I think one store said Friday, and now FFOnline says 2005! Wah! Anyway, my mom said the ship or plane or whatever is being used to get copies over here might keep getting delayed for some reason or another. I don't know, but I'll let ya'll know when it finally comes out.

Just so you all know, I might not be updating either story until August. I'm leaving on the 24 to visit family for two weeks and don't know if the next chapters will be ready before then. If they are, I'll update. I'll try to write while I'm gone so I can update once I get back. Thanks everyone!

NINJA MAGE