7. Twisted Little Star

Sephiroth had the pleasure to see Aeris turn even a deeper shade of red as his words sank in.

"A-a kiss...?" She stuttered with a look on her face like he'd asked for something much more daring than a simple kiss. It was no big deal, Sephiroth told himself, not certain why the idea itself seemed so irresistible when it had first entered his mind.

"Surely that is not too much to ask when I risk having my hair braided," he drawled leisurely, lifting a hand good-naturally to show his generosity.

The former general hoped he appeared more relaxed than he really was as Aeris glanced down at the cards she began shuffling again, considering.

Finally meeting his eyes again, Aeris nodded with a smile. "Deal. Now get ready to be defeated, general! I am going to leave you in my dust!"

Sephiroth chuckled at her confidence, getting slightly more comfortable as he suddenly felt more focused than he had been since his first war. "You'll regret those words, flower girl... I wasn't the ShinRa army's undefeated poker champion for nothing!"

Aeris halted her shuffling and gazed puzzled at him, "but... strip poker in the military...?"

"Yeah, well, almost a quarter of my army were female, so it made it a heck of a lot more interesting," Sephiroth explained with a shrug, "that's enough. Start dealing."

She seemed to hesitate, then obeyed. "Taking advantage of having female subordinates, Sephiroth... That's not very nice..."

Sephiroth frowned with offence, remembering too well how he had to make it a habit to check his sleeping quarters not for reptiles and bugs like the others, but for love struck soldiers. "I have never made any of my soldiers do anything they didn't want to themselves!"

Starting, Aeris met his eyes again and instantly took his hand. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean... Of course you wouldn't do such a thing. Forgive me..."

Sephiroth held her gaze for a while, making sure she really did believe his words, then relaxed and picked up his cards. "Yeah, well, it was mostly the female soldiers idea anyway, as they got as bored as us. It just made it all more tolerable. When you risk your life everyday for weeks, even a trivial game of poker could make you feel alive..." He tensed slightly at the compassion he saw in her eyes, knowing she probably read how much he'd grown tired of wars in his tone of voice, but Sephiroth forced himself to focus on the cards on his hand.

Hmm, two kings, two nines and a three.

Glancing up, Sephiroth studied her face as Aeris was looking at her cards, and he let his gaze linger to seek for a revealing sign of what she had.

The silver haired man smiled slightly as he noticed she had at least mastered the art of a neutral face, and returned to his cards.

Okay, two pairs weren't a bad place to start at, and he had nothing to loose by giving up his three of spades.

"One," Sephiroth declared, tossing down the useless card.

He saw her glance curiously at him, then Aeris placed down two cards of her own. "I'll take two."

Two? That could mean a lot of things, but three equal would beat his two pairs...

Sephiroth fought a frown of his face, suddenly feeling a tinge of fear at the prospect of pig tails or what worse was. No, stay focused, he scolded himself, you haven't lost yet!

The single card was dealt, and he hesitated a heart beat before picking it up. Holding his breath, Sephiroth glanced at it, then placed it among his others before gazing over at Aeris. Her face was impossible to read as she too placed her new cards among her old ones.

"Well?" Sephiroth asked nonchalantly, lifting his chin.

Aeris shrugged, meeting his eyes coolly. "You want me to go first?"

The former general shrugged as well, "ladies first."

"Very well," she smiled slightly, "there's no changing the outcome anyway." And Aeris placed her cards down with their faces up.

Sephiroth blinked.

Her triplets would beat his two pairs...

He slowly put his cards down, but triplets did not beat two kings... and three nines. "Full House."

Sephiroth had won.

Aeris was staring at the cards, her mind racing to understand what had just happened, and she could feel Sephiroth's eyes resting on her.

Oh dear Planet... she'd messed up big time now...! When she'd seen her three tens, she'd been certain she would win! How often do you get such a good starting hand?! Aeris swallowed hard, feeling horribly nervous. It was strange. She should be feeling fear and reluctance, but the only feeling she could recognize was nervous excitement. It wasn't like she had never been kissed before, but...

Slowly raising her eyes to meet his reptilian gaze, Aeris drew a shivering breath. "You won..."

Sephiroth gave a slight smile, "yes."

Like he had told her he would. Aeris suddenly got the feeling that when Sephiroth set his mind to achieve something, his will was strong enough to make it happen.

"So..." Aeris nervously gathered up the cards, staring down as she absently began shuffling them, "so, uhm, you..." Her words trailed off as his hand landed gently over hers, halting her movement. Feeling herself blushing again, Aeris raised her eyes to look at him. He was smiling. Not in his usual condescending way, nor with gloating malice, but with something else... Something that made her heart race and she had to remember how to breathe...

Slowly his hand lifted from hers and traveled to touch her cheek, and Aeris was unable to move or speak. His eyes were hypnotizing, his touch warm and his mere presence awe-inspiring.

"I will only accept my prize if it is bestowed willingly," Sephiroth declared silently as his fingertips moved over her features in feather light caresses.

Aeris drew a shivering breath before she leaned slightly towards him, "I know."

She felt his hand move agonizingly slow behind her neck, and urged her even closer. The world had simply faded away and she was drowning in his eerie eyes...

Tilting his head slightly, Sephiroth leaned forward as well and she could feel the warmth from his lips as he seemed to give her a final chance to back out by stopping a mere inch from her. That was all it took. Aeris moved her hands up to land on his upper arms and absently noted how warm his skin was before moving her lips to his.

The first contact a mere brush, a trying motion.

Aeris smiled embarrassed, praying she wouldn't pass out and ruin the moment.

Then Sephiroth pulled her closer with his hand behind her neck, and met her lips fully.

Oh dear Planet, Aeris thought as she melted against him. Her ancestors had warned her about his insanity. They had warned her about his cruelty. But they never warned her about this! The feeling of gentle, teasing kisses.

His lips were impossibly soft she thought irrationally. How could someone like Sephiroth, lean and muscular like a feline, have such lips?! How was it possible for someone like him to steal her will away, making her tremble as he deepened the kiss and made her clutch his arms harder.

The world didn't matter anymore and all Aeris was aware of was him. How long did it last? She did not know. When had her hands traveled up to go behind his strong neck? She had no idea. But it all felt so... incredibly right.

Only when Sephiroth let one arm slide around her, urging her closer to him, and it resulted in a slight start of pain from his wounds did Aeris return to her senses.

Reluctantly pulling back slightly, she placed a trembling finger to his lips as she gave him a shaky smile. "I... I think you're in no shape to take liberties, mister, and nor would I allow such a thing." Aeris felt him draw breath to object, and his slightly hazed eyes told her he was about to declare he was in excellent shape for all kinds of liberties she would allow. Blushing deeply, Aeris tapped her finger lightly against his lips to halt his words, "don't."

She saw a flicker of confusion in his eyes, and she let her hand move over to trail along his jawline in a caressing gesture. Aeris studied his face as he silently let her move light fingertips over his cheekbone, and she felt a strange sense of panic come over her.

No, this couldn't be right! His face wasn't supposed to wake such feelings inside her! His kisses weren't meant to make her strangely restless and dreaming of more! It wasn't him she was supposed to look forward to talking to when a new day began! She was in love with Cloud!

Her eyes danced with confusion and pain, and she closed them in defeat as Sephiroth could sense her distress and reached out to caress her cheek comfortingly. Tilting her head against his touch, Aeris took a gentle hold of his wrist to hold is hand there as she finally dared to meet his eyes again.

For once his gaze was open and honest, showing her too clearly the gentle soul still alive inside him after sleeping for so many years and Aeris turned to place a kiss inside his palm.

"Oh, Sephiroth," she sighed frustrated, feeling even more guilty at the added confusion in his eyes. Things were too complicated already. And Sephiroth surely did not need this burden as well.

Aeris released him and got up to gather their cups, "want another cup with chocolate?"

Sephiroth shrugged, "sure." And she could feel his eyes resting on her as she left the room...

That night Sephiroth hardly slept at all. He tried telling himself it was because he'd slept more these last two days than in years, but knew in reality it was because every time he closed his eyes he saw her face. Kept reliving the moment when her lips were against his. And the strange, almost accusing, look in her eyes as she pulled away from him. The silver haired man sighed wearily, rubbing his eyes. He hated being weak like this. If he'd been his old self, Sephiroth could simply have marched to her room and demanded an explanation! Smirking, Sephiroth let his hand fall to the madras again. Who was he kidding? Wounded or not, he would still have been hiding under the covers like a coward. He, who had fought countless battles, lead great armies into war and emerged victorious, was afraid to ask what that look in her eyes was. Was terrified it wasn't what he against all odds hoped it was. His mind told him it was impossible, but the thought wouldn't leave him. Could someone actually care for him? There had been no reason for him to save her life, any more than there was a reason for her to save his life in return. But he had. And she had. It had to mean something, didn't it? What if it was just his imagination?

Sephiroth closed his eyes hard, knowing Aeris was exactly the type of person to save someone's life because she felt sorry for him. That thought was even worse. He didn't want her pity, dammit! He wanted her! Her silly candy-raids! Her completely un-appropriate snow-ball fights, in which she refused to admit defeat! He wanted to dance with her again, in a real ball-room with real music this time. He wanted to spend a day with her without anything on their minds besides enjoying that very day. Enjoying life.

As each thought passed through him, Sephiroth turned even more depressed. It was useless to torture himself like this...

Closing his eyes hard, the former general decided it was better for everyone if he just snuck out of town just before dawn and by doing so; Aeris would be free from him. Free to return to her friends. Free to ease her worrying about them that she tried so hard to hide from him.

Finally drowsing, Sephiroth failed to noticed the random thoughts of aggression and violence that seeped into him. It would be so easy to just get up now and set out on a hunt for the blonde puppet that lead the annoying group. With all of them dead, Aeris would have no other choice but to stay with him! Yes, it was still not too late! He could tear their cozy little gang apart, and remain victorious with Aeris by his side as Meteor came crashing down to bestow him with powers greater than anyones!

Frowning, Sephiroth squirmed slightly in his semi-sleep, but the thoughts just kept on comming. A darkness was slowly engulfing him, and it got harder to breathe by each second. It was so dark... Sephiroth knew if he screamed, no one would hear him. He was alone. That was when he noticed the faint glow of light above him, and Sephiroth gazed up at it. What was that? Something told him it was a light of hope. His only hope. Staring at it, the light got bigger as it drew nearer, and soon light flickered over him as the flames danced around the object. His salvation. His destiny.

Sephiroth woke up with a start, panting for air as he tried to calm down. The silver haired man ignored the pain as he sat up, feeling how weak he was, but refusing to acknowledge it. His legs trembled under him, but he forced them to obey...

Aeris opened her eyes abruptly. Something was wrong. Sitting up, she gazed around in the darkness of her room, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Then she went ice cold. Sephiroth!

Jumping out of bed, she dressed quickly and ran down the hall. Oh please let him be alright, Aeris thought as she reached out and knocked on the door to his room. No answer. Her heart began to thump hard with panic. "Sephiroth...?" Aeris knocked again, then hesitatingly opened the door. Peering inside, she found his bed empty. Just as she was about to turn and run down-stairs, she noticed the light dancing on the walls and Aeris took a step inside the room. Gasping, she placed a hand over her heart and trembled. Aeris saw Sephiroth stand in front of the window, his back towards her, and the burning light from Meteor in the sky made his shadow dance on the floor. "Sephiroth...?" Aeris whispered meekly, the shock of seeing Meteor making her numb with fear. She could only watch as she saw Sephiroth slowly raise a hand to place it against the window, almost as if he wanted to touch the burning object in the sky. "Sephiroth...?" Aeris tried again, taking a step towards him. Was he even aware of her presence? Was he once again in Jenova's control? Had everything been in vain? No, she refused to accept that! Starting slightly as Sephiroth let his hand sink, Aeris gathered herself and stepped up beside him.

His eyes...

Aeris slowly reached out and touched his shoulder, gaining his attention.

Sephiroth gazed over at her, his pained eyes flickering. So much guilt and pain.

"I didn't... Why... I only..." He trembled and gazed back at the burning object in the sky, "Meteor... Everything is going to die because of me..."

Letting her hand rest on his shoulder, Aeris stepped closer as she wanted nothing more than to take away the pain in his eyes, "it's not over yet." She started slightly as the former general sank to his knees, hiding his face in his hands.

"What have I done...?" Sephiroth whispered in agony, having realised he'd once again been used as a tool of death and destruction. Had his life no other value? Was there no other reason for his existance than to kill? If Jenova was a disease, then he had to be a virus as well.

Aeris kneeled down beside him, hesitating before she slowly wrapped her arms around him, "Sephiroth... " She closed her eyes as he leaned slightly against her, and she felt the shivers running through him. "It's going to be okay..."

A harsh snort was heard from the resigned form, and Sephiroth opened his eyes to look at the flickering light on the walls from Meteor, "how is that possible...?"

"Jenova still has to defeat Cloud and AVALANCHE," Aeris declared silently as she gazed at the lights as well, but she felt him tense slightly.

Sephiroth felt a twinge of irritation at her mention the name of that puppet, grumbling grumpily; "How do you know they're not dead yet?" He'd messed up again, and the puppet got to play the hero again!

Frowning, Aeris played with a lock of silver hair, "because I would know. And I believe in them."

"In him, you mean," Sephiroth muttered and pulled away from her. He gazed absently up at Meteor through the window, and Aeris wondered if Cloud defeating the former general so many years ago was the reason for the obvious dislike or... if there was another reason...

She shook of her thoughts and decided to focus on calming down Sephiroth and give his soul a little peace. "You should get back to bed. It must be painful for you to walk around like this..."

He didn't even look at her, the fire of the burning Meteor reflecting in his eyes.

Stroking away a lock of silver hair from his face, Aeris gave him a faint smile as he finally met her eyes, "you aren't supposed to be moving around. You're wounded, remember?"

There was a look in his eyes that warned her that he was scheming something.

"Meteor is going to hit Midgar first, you know," Sephiroth declared in a challenging tone.

Aeris felt a chill going down her spine, leaning back slightly. "How do you know that...?" There was only one way he could know the Meteor's destination...

The silver haired man gave a razor sharp smile, "she told me."

She? Aeris felt fear settling in her stomach as she realised. She was Jenova. "What...?"

"That's right. Jenova spoke to me tonight. She wants me to kill you and return to her side," Sephiroth declared as he held her eyes calmly. Waiting for her to recoil in fear obviously.

Aeris lifted her chin slightly, instinctively knowing she'd reached the point where it would be settled. Sephiroth was going to choose his side. "So what's you decision?"

He watched her with something reminding of a wry smile, then suddenly began to get up on his feet and she started before reaching out to help him.

"I'm not just going to sit here and hope that dunce will get his act together and saves the day," Sephiroth sneered through the pain, gaining his balance before returning to glare at the Meteor.

Sephiroth was not going to just sit back and wait. No, he'd never leaned back to let anyone else do the work in his entire life, and this was not a good time to start doing that! If the puppet and his gang were taking on Jenova, then he could minimize the damage Meteor would do when the blonde messed up!

"I'm going to Midgar," he declared in a calm voice, barely noticing Aeris grasping his wrist.

She shook her head, eyes filled with fear. "Sephiroth, you can't! Your wound! You'll die if you try to travel such a distance in your condition!"

The words amused him. "I'll be fine," Sephiroth gingerly touched his bandaged chest, hissing softly at the pain. A few more sudden movements and the stitches would tear open... "Besides, I'll pick up some Restore materia on the way."

Shaking her head again, Aeris refused to release her grip on him, "but why? Why are you going to Midgar? You are no doubt the greatest warrior on this planet, Sephiroth, but not even you can stop Meteor with your sword...!"

Sephiroth's ego soared happily. She thought he was the greatest warrior on the planet? Which he was, of course, but her opinion obviously meant more to him than he'd realised. "But at least I can tell that idiot Rufus that Meteor is going straight towards his office, and get as many people out of there as possible." The former general sighed tiredly, rubbing his eyes. "But all is depending on wether or not they can stop mo... Jenova. If they can't stop her, then it won't matter where we run." That was when he noticed the silence and that Aeris was staring at him. Glancing around, Sephiroth made sure there wasn't any strange monster she was staring at behind him, and focused a puzzled look on her. "What?"

Her eyes were filled with emotions, and she was smiling. Smiling so warmly it made him uneasy.

Shifting nervously, Sephiroth frowned, "what?!"

Aeris giggled, stroking his arm apologetically. "I'm sorry, it's just... You're risking your life to save those people..." She tilted her head with that warm smile again, "that is quite amazing, you know."

Sephiroth huffed embarrassed, "yeah, well, I'm responsible for this mess, so..." He turned to walk over to the door, biting back a pained groan. Every breath he took felt like fire raging through him. His legs felt weak and oddly powerless.

"I'm comming with you!" Aeris declared, and he shook his head firmly.

"I'm going alone," Sephiroth knew very well he would not return from this trip and he didn't want her to be in danger. Strange. He was worried about the very girl he'd killed not too long ago. But so much had changed since then...

Aeris stepped up in front of him, blocking his way with a challenging look. "Oh yeah? And how, exactly, are you going to stop me? Besides, I'm going to make sure you don't get yourself killed. Someone's gotta see that you take your wounds in consideration and not run into a fight with the first monster you come across!" She actually met his eyes defiantly, not shrinking under his most authoritative stare. Dammit, was he loosing his touch?

"Aeris," Sephiroth began, meaning to appeal to her reason, but then she gave him a gentle shove and the world exploded in pain. Gasping, he took a step back and raised a hand to hover over the bandaged chest, not quite daring to touch the painful area.

Aeris sighed regretfully and tried an apologetic smile. "See? If I could, I would try to persuade you to wait a few more days, but I know you wont listen. You need me, Sephiroth, like it or not. And I'm going with you, so deal with it!"

Drawing careful breaths as it felt like fire was burning inside his chest, Sephiroth raised his gaze to meet hers and hesitated before giving a weak nod.

"Good. Now you stay here, while I check out what kind of transport we can get, ok?" Aeris didn't really wait for an answer, but skipped out the door and closed it behind her.

Sephiroth waited a few seconds more, just to make sure he could move without passing out. Testing, he figured he could at least make it over to the bed and sit down without blacking out. The former general eased down on the bed, holding his breath, and only dared to exhale when properly seated. How was he going to make this trip? Bah, it wasn't like he had any choice. If he didn't do anything, he'd be dead anyway. Sephiroth glanced over at Meteor and felt that twinge of fear again. He could just about taste the malice radiating from it. The same empty intent to destroy that radiated from the creature he'd called mother.

Shuddering, Sephiroth averted his gaze from their future doom and stared absently down at the floor. There was no way he was just going to wait around for the puppet to save the day! He was the reason for this mess, so he was going to do something if he was to be able to live with himself at all! The silver haired man glanced at the door again, silently wondering what Aeris was doing. She'd mentioned transportation, and he had to admit she had a point; there was no way he'd manage to walk the distances he used to in his current condition. But the thought of a bumpy chocobo ride seemed even less tempting...!

"Before you freak, hear me out, ok?" Aeris requested while holding the door open for Sephiroth, as he stubbornly refused letting her support him as he walked.

Glancing suspiciously over at her, Sephiroth paused in the door-way. "What do you mean...?"

Then a cheerful wark caught his attention and Aeris drew a deep breath as the former general's face snapped over to glare at the two golden birds waiting out in the snow. Here we go, she thought, seeing how Sephiroth was counting down to a massive explosion. "Sephiroth, you're in no shape to walk!"

Sephiroth waved a dismissive hand towards the two chocobos, "those things will kill me so I'll take my chances!" His eyes widened even more at the sight of the sleigh that was being pulled over towards the huge birds. "Oh, heck no!"

Closing her eyes briefly, Aeris then walked over and placed a hand on his upper arm. "Sephiroth, it's the only way! It's either this, or we don't go at all!"

"Bah! You can't stop me," Sephiroth huffed, then eyed her hand warily as it traveled up his arm to round his shoulder and pause by his collarbone. One poke or shove and he would be a pained ball of Sephiroth on the snowy ground.

Aeris raised an eyebrow as she met his eyes, knowing it would among the most horrible things that could happen to him if she'd make him collapse in front of the people watching them.

Seconds passed, a silent war raging between them, and Aeris bit her lower lip excited when Sephiroth finally yielded and turned his gaze away.

"Fine!" He muttered angrily, then reached out his hand towards the north. "Masamune!"

The sword. Aeris had forgotten about it. It had been left behind in the ice cave, as she'd been focusing completely on getting the badly wounded Sephiroth back to the town. He wasn't seriously meaning they were going back there to get it?

No sooner had she thought about the non-tempting possibility did something flash metallic in the distance. Something that was comming closer by each second at an alarming speed. It couldn't be...?

Starting slightly as his hand clenched around the hilt, Aeris stared in awe as Sephiroth caught the Masamune mid-air. Master and sword was reunited once again. A bond stronger than distance. "Wow," she declared eagerly, "no wonder you don't worry when you keep forgetting it all over the planet!"

In the middle of a dramatic air-cutting, Sephiroth flinched at her words and sheathed the sword demonstratively. "I don't forget it! I just... Well, never mind that now! The feather-brains are ready, so let's just get going!"

Giggling silently, Aeris followed him over to the sleigh. It looked so pretty and comfy! Painted blue and silver, with thick blankets just waiting to be snuggled in. And the sound of the grumbling Sephiroth climbing painfully on board only made her giggle again. She turned and waved goodbye to the people she'd gotten to know, especially the elderly lady at the inn. The one who knew who Sephiroth was, and who'd known Aeris' father.

Getting in as well, Aeris easily stole the reins from Sephiroth, who protested surprised, but was firmly ignored. She gave a final wave to the town-people, then put the chocobos in motion.

Biting back a jab of pain, the former general glared annoyed at her, "and what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm driving. What does it look like?" Aeris smiled sweetly at him, even more amused at the sour look on his face. "Do you even know where we're going?"

Sephiroth gesticulated faintly, "south, I would suppose would be the logical way. And the reason I'm asking is because you're going north!"

Nodding, Aeris let the chocobos continue in their own pace. They knew where they were going. "And by going south, we would arrive in Bone Village, correct? And then what...? Do you plan to swim over to the main lands?"

Sephiroth blinked. He hadn't thought that far... It wasn't like he was just possessing a clone this time... and he was wounded as well. "Point taken," he finally muttered, "so where are we going then...?"

Aeris gave him a secretive smile, "it's a surprise!" The dry look he sent her made a desert appear moist. "Oh, alright!" Aeris rolled her eyes, "you're no fun! Fine, we're going to see the Chocobo Sage!"

"The what?" Sephiroth asked, never heard of such a man before.

Aeris glanced over at him, "rumor says there is a man who lives in this mountains that knows everything about chocobos, and even has several that can cross mountains, rivers and even oceans!"

An uneasy feeling settled in Sephiroth's stomach, "a rumor? You're leading us into the ice mountains because of a 'rumour'?!" The former general was generally on a mutual dislike level with the big birds, and was not very keen on meeting their master.

"No one has actually met him, but I know he exist!" Aeris declared, gazing bright eyed into the horizon, the cold bringing a slight colour in her cheeks.

Sephiroth swallowed back his poisonous remarks, and merely closed his eyes as he leaned his head back. His wound was throbbing and Meteor's presence was constantly flickering in the back of his mind.

Hours melted together and passed in a blur, and Sephiroth numbly realised the trip was harder on him than he'd thought it would be. Aeris had fallen silent as well, and he knew it was because she was worried about him. How strange to have someone fretting over his well-being...

Sephiroth was soon asleep most of the time, once waking up in the middle of the night to find Aeris curled up against him as she'd fallen asleep too. He wondered briefly if he should take the reins to make sure the damn birds didn't run off a cliff, but it seemed like they knew where they were going and it was far more tempting to just let his arm slide around the slender form so close to him. Aeris sighed softly in her sleep, and Sephiroth gave a drowsy smile as he corrected the blanket around them. When she was close like that, his mind was finally at peace. Sephiroth could finally relax...

He had no idea how much time had passed, but when he woke up again it was bright daylight. Blinking tiredly against the brightness of the snow, Sephiroth realised the chocobos had stopped. It was probably that which had woken him up, and he glanced down as Aeris stirred beside him.

"Looks like we're here," Sephiroth said quietly as she glanced up at him, having seen the small house a few meters away.

Aeris sat up, yawning as she stretched. "I fell asleep...?" She rubbed her eyes before glancing around and lit up at the sight of the house. "The Chocobo Sage! I knew he was real!"

Sighing at the loss of the warmth her closeness provided, Sephiroth then motioned towards the house. "Let's find out, shall we?"

Aeris got out easily enough, but Sephiroth quickly discovered that all those hours in the same position did not sit well with his body. His joints just about creaked and his wound ached infernally! Swallowing down the pain, he managed a strained smile to Aeris' quizzical look. He didn't want her fuzzing over him now, feeling a twinge of curiosity at who was the owner of a house in the middle of nowhere. If Aeris knew how much pain he was in, he had a strong suspicion she would tuck him in the sleigh again and force him to wait there. He was the great general Sephiroth! He could take a little pain!

Aeris was skipping happily in front of him as they approached the house, and Sephiroth let one hand rest on the hilt of the Masamune just in case. You could never be too careful in this world...!

Sephiroth held his breath as he watched Aeris knock on the door, and they waited...

"Yes...?" A voice croaked, and Aeris started with excitement.

"Excuse me, sir," she chirped, "we're looking for the Chocobo Sage..."

The door opened and a tiny man with a huge hat, and maybe even bigger beard, peered up at them as he leaned on a strange looking cane, "looking for who, did you say?"

Aeris smiled brightly, everything in her telling her that this was the man they were looking for. "We're looking for the Chocobo Sage. We were told we could find him here."

The old man scratched his neck, "I have never found anyone besides me here and I've lived her for many years..." He then tilted his head and measured Sephiroth behind dark glasses, "what's wrong with the boy?"

Sephiroth forced himself to straighten and walked over to hover beside Aeris and shot a menacing glare at the little man, "nothing is wrong, old man. Are you the Sage or not?"

The tiny man suddenly stuck out his cane and poked at Sephiroth's shoulder.

With a barely restrained cry of pain, the silver haired man would have fallen to his knees if Aeris hadn't supported him.

Traipsing inside, the tiny man declared they should enter and escape the cold, "as it looks there is a lot wrong with the boy!"

Sephiroth leaned heavily on Aeris as he drew shivering breaths and tried to will the pain away, while sending a murderous glare after the man, "I may not like chocobos, but I violently HATE that man!"

AN

This one took a little more time as I've been away a couple of days, but am back and writing again now!

As always I have to thank you reviewers! You're the best, and I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as well so feel free to review your opinion!

Chapter 8 is not too far away, so stay tuned!