Fatal Melody

"Come on, please?" The young SOLDIER begged from across the desk. His palms were clasped together and his fingers were intertwined as he laid his fist on the desk. The boy's icy blue eyes were glowing with eagerness and his spiked jet-black hair seemed to bounce with his emotion. An irritated sigh escaped the silver haired warrior as he rubbed his temples.

"No Zack, I don't have the time." The General replied dully. His glowing feline-like eyes were analyzing a tidy stack of papers in front of him. His head was slightly bent over as he skimmed though the assignments causing his two bright silver bangs to cast shadows over his eyes.

"But Sephiroth, you said-"

Sephiroth snapped his head up and glared skeptically at the younger SOLDIER. "I said nothing of the sort."

A diverted grin crept up across Zack's his face. "What afraid of a little alcohol, general?" He teased cocking an eyebrow.

"Zack, don't start I'm warning you." Sephiroth hissed dangerously narrowing his eyes. There was an awkward silence until Zack rose his hands up in defeat and slouched back into his cushioned chair.

"Fine- you win, but it's Friday! What are you going to do the whole night? Work?"

"That's exactly what I intend on doing, if you don't mind."

"Ah you're useless, you can't even go out drinking with your best friend. Not once!" The brunette exclaimed.

Sephiroth focused back down to his paper work. "Who said I was your best friend?"

"I did, three days ago." Zack smiled confidently as he held up three fingers.

"Would you do me a favor and get out, commander?" Sephiroth growled looking up from his work briefly.

"Hmm… Only if you promise that you'll meet me at Joe's Bar at nine thirty sharp, in sector five, remember that." He stated smoothly as he leaned back and cushioned the backside of his head with his hands.

Sephiroth suspired. "If I go will you leave me alone?" He asked impassively.

"Of coarse I will!"

"Good. Now get out." Sephiroth snorted pointing a leather-clad finger towards the door.

Zack sprang up from his chair excitedly and darted over to the door. "Alright! See ya around, Sephy!" He chirped as he slammed the door behind him.

"It's Sephiroth!" The general roared clutching his fists and slamming them on the wood desk. Zack's laugher echoed through the walls.

-

Gasping for breath the young pink-clad woman scampered franticly down the dark narrow streets of the Midgar slums. Her oversized brown boots clicked against the pavement and her worn thin dress whipped with the passing wind. Her emerald eyes were wide with panic and alarm. The young woman's braided chestnut hair beat against her back with each painful stride she took.

This was her life, running in fear. Nothing seemed to change for her. Ever since she was five she's been escaping from the greedy hands of Shin-ra Inc. But they would never stop trying to catch her. She was the last of her kind, of an ancient race called the Cetra.

They were once guardians of the planet, until they went extinct leaving Aeris the very last. Cetra possess abilities no mortal can possess. They have foresight, sacred healing powers, and a remarkable connection with the planet. When Cetra die they aren't reborn like all other life, they actually are sent to a peaceful land called the Promised Land, land of eternal happiness.

Shin-ra wants to reach this land and drain it of all its mako energy, but they are not aware that it doesn't have any mako. Aeris has tried so hard to explain, but they refuse to listen and they aren't going to stop chasing her until she tells them where find it.

Aeris whipped around the corner of a building and ran down a dark abandoned alleyway. Weak and out of breath she leaned against a cold brick wall. She closed her eyes and placed her hand over her heart, waves of dizziness came over her like several stabs in the head. Aeris breathed a weak whimper before her knees gave out under her and she toppled to the damp cement ground. She was just barely conscious.

"Aeris…" A warming, but strong voice echoed in the back of her head.

Aeris's body started quivering rapidly as she gripped her head tightly, straining to hear.

"…P-Planet?"

"…Child, get up…"

"I can't."

"I sense great danger not far; you need to get out of here..."

"But, dear friend-"

"They're coming for you."

"Planet, I know. But can't- can't move."

"Hush… Relax yourself, Child..."

"Hey look, there she is! See 'er on the ground?" A hushed voice ripped though her thoughts.

"Run, child run!" The voice was turning frantic and more distant by the second.

Aeris snapped her eyes open and sprung up onto her feet, her heart was racing. Aeris's eyes caught sight of two male figures at the end of the alley. One man had spiked fiery red hair and two light blue eyes. A pair of sunglasses tamed his red hair out of from his eyes as they sat on his upper forehead, he was wearing a wrinkled and unbuttoned Turk suit with a missing tie. The other was much taller and had darker skin. The sunglasses he wore covered his eyes completely and the suit he had on was buttoned and unflawed.

Aeris's eyes darted around the alley for any chance of escape, but no avail; tall brick walls were boxing her in at all sides. She took a weary step back, and then another nearly tripping over her feet in the process.

"Please-"

"Come on Ancient, this goose chase ends here." The red-haired Turk stated taking a step toward her.

"Where's Tseng?" Aeris asked shakily but sternly while taking another step back.

"The boss? Heh, the president found out about your little 'relationship' with him so Tseng was taken off this assignment. Now we're assigned to capture the last remaining ancient, and that would be you. No hard feelings though, babe. It's our job, we have orders." The red head continued with a cocky smirk.

Aeris felt anger start to boil within her replacing the fear. What relationship is he talking about?

"What are you talking about? We were never in a relationship!" Aeris yelled clasping her hands tight. The taller Turk remained unmoving and emotionless while the other arched a red eyebrow and advanced a step closer.

"You're a pathetic liar, Ancient-"

"Reno, stop it. Just grab her and let's get out of here." The dark skinned man muttered under his breath.

"Oh come on, Rude! You're no fun!" Reno exclaimed looking back at him.

"…" Rude crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head.

Thinking fast Aeris jumped in a sprit catching both of them by surprise. She ran past the bewildered Turks and headed straight. There was a bitter moment's silence between the two Shin-ra employees. Rude watched the girl as she disappeared into a large crowd of people.

"God damnit!" Reno yelled infuriated as he spit out his cigarette and stomped on it.

"Hmm…"

"Don't even say it, Rude!" Reno barked.

"Wasn't gonna."

-

"Two hard ones please!" Zack announced placing a handful of gill on the counter top. "Keep the change, ma'am." He winked then smiled a cocky grin, showing a row of perfect white teeth. The young blonde hostess flushed red then turned and walked off.

"Ah, I love Fridays. You?" Zack asked as looked over at Sephiroth. He was currently occupying himself by drumming his fingers on the counter and was gazing out the window. His eyes looked distant and weren't focused on anything in particular.

The bar was nearly full with drunken Shin-ra employees. They had all kept their distance from the general; none of them even had the guts to cast a quick glance at him. There had been many rumors going around that if you were to just look at the legendary warrior you would probably end up loosing a limb from his six-foot long sword called Masamune. Most of these rumors were just lies and exaggerations but some however, were indeed true.

It had started raining no more then ten minutes ago. At first it was just soft drizzle but now it was pouring hard. Thunder crackled piercing roars from above.

"I'm going outside." Sephiroth lifted himself off the barstool. Zack's eyebrows knit together.

"Why?"

"I'll be back." He sneered.

"But-"

Sephiroth snapped his head to the side, peering over his shoulder and glared at Zack angrily.

"Heh, have a good time…" Zack gulped and scratched the back of his head.

Sephiroth turned back and resumed walking; the floorboards creaked under him with every step. All the Shin-ra employees looked down at their feet when Sephiroth passed them. He pushed the wood door open and stepped outside, the chimes from the dangling bell rang as he shut the door behind him.

"Jeez, what's eatin' him?" Zack muttered shrugging.

- - -

Sephiroth stood motionless in the pouring rain. His eyes where glowing a soft green as he gazed into the distance. His long sliver hair was sopping wet and sticking to his back. Sephiroth's eyes scanned the area suspiciously. Everything seemed to be quiet besides for the patter of the rain falling onto the concrete.

He was about to turn around, but something smacked head-on into him and the person was sent flying backwards. The person whimpered as they hit the ground, but Sephiroth didn't budge and inch from the impact.

He looked at the person on the ground and noticed that she was in fact a mere slum girl. She looked about seventeen and was wearing a mud stained pink dress. She was slightly pale and her brown hair was tied into a loose braid. The girl was breathing in harsh shallow breaths and made no attempt to get up. The girl looked as if she'd been running for countless hours.

Aeris groaned as she rubbed her head, then looked up at what she had carelessly bumped into. She was met with the sight of a tall gloomy figure with long silver hair stopping just below his waist. His eyes had narrow slits for pupils and the iris was illuminated with bright green. Aeris gulped and she felt her throat go dry. Something about this man was eerily familiar, and for some reason this man frightened her greatly.

"I- um, I'm very sorry sir, I- I'm just careless sometimes." Aeris uttered, getting up off the wet cement ground and looking away from his intense gaze.

Sephiroth remained silent for a moment and narrowed his eyes in response. "Who are you?" He asked with coldness not looking away from her.

"I'm a flower girl." Aeris responded uneasily, the icy tone in this voice startled her beyond belief, and telling him her name would only make things worse.

Sephiroth snorted and turned around.

"Who are you?" Aeris piped up curiously. In an instant the wind picked up and started to whip and howl, Aeris's teeth started to clatter and she was starting feel herself go nub; on the other hand Sephiroth stood perfectly upright, not affected by the harsh cold and wetness. The rain poured only harder and the pats on the ground were now load claps.

"…No one." And with that Sephiroth walked aimlessly into to the darkness, disappearing from sight.

To be continued…