Sephiroth looked out into the everlasting sea. The waves continued to crash over and over into the hull of the small vessel. The sea was truly a beautiful thing. No, not beautiful. It was useful for travel. Everything had a use. Things that weren't useful for practical matters were useless. Beauty was useless. It didn't seem so bad though, now. It made him feel good. Was that useless, too? Feeling good? Happiness? What was the purpose of his life...
Well, obviously, there was some purpose. The Planet must have felt so. His body was reanimated... no clue as to why. There must have been some good reason, though. Somewhere out there. In life's sea, it was easy to get lost. He knew that better than anyone. So many times he had been lost. This time would be different, though. He'd find what he was looking for, no matter what diversions came his way. Perhaps...
Perhaps he had been reanimated to pay for his sins. To pay for being weak. He was pretty emotionally weak for such a man of high stature. That is... if he was a man. Could a monster such as himself be considered a human being? Even now, as he claimed to be changed, he nearly killed another man. Why? Shiro had been angry for letting his brother die in the icy cold mountains of Nibelheim, and for burning the town to the ground. Was it not his fault? Of course it was his fault! Everything was his fault. He should've let Shiro go. He should've... he should've let Shiro get his revenge. He deserved the pain.
Sephiroth laughed now. His voice couldn't be heard beyond the crashing waves. Hmm... "A storm is coming." He shrugged. A storm... a perfect symbol for his arrival to the mainland. As usual, he would darken every place that he entered. Maybe... maybe if he was a better person, he could have refused to kill for Shinra. He could have prevented the atrocities that would soon occur after the war was won. After all, Wutai rebelled for freedom, didn't they? Why did Shinra fight? Control. It was always about control.
Sephiroth's platinum hair wavered with the waves. The cold air could be easily felt, burning his face. It was nothing. Sephiroth was used to such pain. The harshness of winter was nothing to him. Rain. It began to rain.
"Get off the deck! This isn't a regular storm!" An average soldier. Blue uniform. He was weak. Ha, ha, ha. Sephiroth was arrogant now, but what if the ship toppled into the endless sea? Ha, ha. What a perfect demise for the strongest man ever to live. To be destroyed by a silly storm! As Sephiroth slowly turned towards the soldier, the kid looked like he had seen a ghost. He was just a boy. No doubt he had not been in the army for long. Yet even so, everyone knew of the legend of Sephiroth.
"S-S-Sephiroth? You are..." The boy shook his head. "My apologies sir! But you look quite a bit like General Sephiroth! No time for that, though! This is a hurricane, and you need to get inside immediately. Please follow me." As Sephiroth knew, everyone would try to make up excuses to themselves. If the boy had been in a rational mood, he would've easily determined that he could be none other than Sephiroth because of his tattoo. Black number one. No one else in the world had that tattoo. Even if they did, they would not have the defining features such as his elegant blade or his long, beautiful platinum hair.
Sephiroth followed him reguardless into the interior of the ship. "Do me a favor, kid. Leave me alone and don't mention me to anyone." Sephiroth sat behind a couple of boxes. They were filled with... ha, reactor parts. Perhaps they were making a reactor in Rocket Town? Doubtful. There was little mako there. He didn't know the ships destination, but he assumed that because the ship was originally docked at the northern continent, that these parts were meant for that icy land. Why should he even be thinking about that? ...It didn't matter. The kid was still staring at him.
"You're really him, aren't you? You are... Sephiroth. A victim of society... how tragic." The boy grinned.
"Victim of society, huh? You're quick to make that judgement. Sephiroth is dead. Why do-"
"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone."
"Josua, what the hell are you doing? Get back to work! We have to repair the ship. It's leaking." A commanding officer was screaming orders at the boy. It seemed strange, but Sephiroth took this time to sleep in all the racket. Strange yet again that no one noticed Sephiroth when he was on the dock. Security was too lax. If Sephiroth had been commanding this vessel, things would've been different. Real different. But why did he keep thinking of such fruitless things? None of it really mattered. Pehraps it was just boredom.
Tifa looked down at the floor again. There was so much on her mind. It had been hard to keep going after almost dying on the day of Meteor... And there was only one day left of relaxation. Then they would be moving on again. Back on the mission of Avalanche. For a long time, they just sat together in silence.
Cloud finally broke the calm."So, Tifa, we go back tomorrow... but... you know, if we could just stop Shinra... we'd have a permanent vacation. We could finally settle down, you know? It'd be nice, wouldn't it?"
"Yea..." She didn't really feel like talking, or for that matter, doing anything. Complicated feelings came to her as returning Avalanche was not far away. She would be risking her life again. And Cloud's. It would've been so much easier to settle down now. Yet who knows what would happen if they didn't do anything.
"Here in Kalm. It's such a peaceful town. However..." Cloud sighed, uneasy. "We have tough times ahead of us. Tifa, I don't think I would've made it up to here without you... you know what I'm saying? It's you that's kept me going. You were the only person who ever cared about me back then."
"Back then?"
"Back then, I got by with only scraped knees..."
"What are you talking about, Cloud? Stop being silly." Yet even as she said this, she grinned for the first time in days. Stupid Cloud. She wanted to be sad, sorrowful. But Cloud always had to make her smile or laugh. Why couldn't she control herself? Now was the time to be sad.
"When I was weak. The other kids would play their games without me. I was always alone. I don't even think you liked me that much. Ha. We weren't even close. Yet I grew attached to you, Tifa. A one-sided love. You listened to me, sometimes."
"Of course I liked you, in my own way." Tifa sighed. She wondered what he was getting at.
"Nobody ever listened to me. My mother was too busy telling me how I needed someone to take care of me. Exemplifying the fact that I was weak. My late father got himself killed in that fruitless war with Wutai." Cloud sighed. "You listened, though. You let me vent to you. Even though you really didn't seem to care about me one way or another, you listened. Without thinking of you, I would've never made it through soldier. Well, actually, I failed at that too. But... I kept going. Even when I wanted to die, I kept going because I knew if I could just be strong, you might like me."
"Being strong has nothing to do with love, Cloud."
"I don't know about that, Tifa. I doubted you'd ever date a loser like me. No one liked me. I was alone. I had to be stronger, so people would listen to me. It's like the rich and poor, Tifa. Rich girls don't marry poor guys, and strong people don't marry weak people. It's just the way of life." Cloud was obviously an emotional wreck. He never let out so much of himself like this.
"You're opening up to me. Strange. Anyways... I disagree with you, Cloud. You were never weak. Even if you were..." She looked towards the ceiling. "That's not why I like you, Cloud."
"Why do you like me, then?"
"Because you are you."
"So..."
Tifa nodded, her brown eyes glancing down to the wooden floor again. She didn't know what to say.
"Things are going to better from now on, Tifa. It'll be easier this time. We have support, and... he's not here this time to screw everything up." Cloud nodded. They both shared a deep hatred for Sephiroth. He burned their hometown to ashes. The anger that was inside of them, the need for revenge, had not subsided, even as Sephiroth lay dead in Lifestream.
"Yes, he's finally gone." She grinned as if it just happened, even though it was over a month ago. It was a bitter glee. "I really, really hated him Cloud. He took everything from me. Everything except you." She glanced up, and gave Cloud a hug.
"I hated him too. It's because of him that I can't go to my hometown without screaming. I wish... I wish I could go back to Nibelheim... I wish we could live in your house, Tifa... but there's so many bad memories there. They taunt me, they tell me how weak I am, how I'm nothing to you... and how you'd never want to live with me."
"That house... it lies, Cloud. Because..." Tifa stumbled over her words, almost saying something she had never said before.
"Yea... we made it this far together, right? I haven't let you get hurt since that time..." Cloud grinned and Tifa smiled. That memory was behind both of them. They had talked about it already, and agreed that it wasn't Cloud's fault. Even though everyone else thought it was. He remembered it like it was yesterday. Tifa's mom died, and she went up the mountain by herself, being the silly kid that she was. She thought her mom was just over the mountain. That's what everyone told her when her mother died. Mount Nibel held the worst memories imaginable to both of them. Sephiroth's insanity began there, but not only that...
The bridge snapped. Tifa fell into a coma. Cloud had followed her and saved her life. Yet, everyone in Nibelheim blamed Cloud. He shouldn't have let her go! That was the day Cloud decided he had to become stronger. The day he decided to join soldier, so he'd be strong enough to protect Tifa.
They talked alot... hours each day. Memories, fantasies, secrets, fears... Shinra... The only thing they hadn't talked about was what happened on the day of Meteor. They both dodged the subject of Aeris and Holy. Whenever they mentioned Sephiroth, they had to mention how much they hated him. He had no conscience.
"Cloud, when we do finally defeat Shinra... I want to live here with you here. In Kalm. I don't think I'll ever be able to live in my house again. I love it here. And..." For weeks, Tifa had been trying to say it, but it wouldn't come out.
"Yea... this would be a nice place to settle down. Yea... about Shinra..." Cloud slowly went back into that topic. "They are pretty hurt from Diamond Weapon's attack. But they are still a powerful Empire." Cloud stopped for a moment.
"Empire?"
"They choose not to use that word, I know. But that's what they are. An Empire that is growing stronger each day that we don't act... and..."
"Go on." Tifa encouraged him.
"I'm not sure what our next move is going to be. We have to stop Shinra, though. We only delayed the death. Red told us when we dropped him off at Cosmos Canyon... that the planet still cried. But I really don't know what to do against Shinra now. They are so powerful. We can't just go around blowing up reactors anymore... you know what happened when we did that. So... so what can we do to them that will have a major influence on them... without hurting innocent people?" Cloud sighed heavily, and paused again, out of breath.
"I think you should save that question for everyone tomorrow... if everyone shows up, that is. They came back last time... but they knew if they didn't come, they'd die in a few days anyways. This time, everyone has a chance to go back to a peaceful life. We keep fighting because... we're the heart of Avalanche. Red will come too, I know. Cid guaranteed he'd come back. But what about Yuffie, Vincent, or Reeve? Or Barret... what if he decides to stay with Marlene? Everyone has discovered how nice they can have it... years of peace. I'm afraid they won't come back this time."
"I'll save the question for tomorrow. And I know everyone will come back. They have an obligation to. We're a team. Avalanche... I know they will all come back Tifa. Don't worry about it." Cloud stroked her hair silently as she smiled back to him.
"Alright, I trust you." Tifa giggled. It'd be nice meeting the others again... even if it meant leaving the peaceful life behind.
"And I have an announcement about Reeve to make tomorrow, as well... it's not the right time to tell you now."
"So, who is the new President?" Tifa wondered anxiously.
"Scarlet has made herself new President as an addition to being head of the Weapon Manufacturing Department. Reeve himself has kept in contact with me up until a few days ago. So I know who the head of every department is. As well as a few other facts. Have I succeeded in making you exceedingly impatient about tomorrow?" Cloud grinned, hoping he did.
"A little... I will still miss this peaceful town." Tifa glanced at the floor, avoiding his stair.
"Yea... I guess I will too." Cloud couldn't disagree there.
"Well... we should start packing, and then get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow... best be prepared for it." Cloud was talking like a leader again, no longer speaking as a comforting friend or companion.
"Yea... alright Cloud... guess it's time to stop being so selfish... after all, we have to play our part in Avalanche. Guess I'll start packing..." Tifa walked over to her dresser, and began taking things out...
In Rocket Town
"I'm leavin' tomorrow... yea..." Cid sat back in his chair, uncomfortable and displeased. It was really hard to talk to Shera after all that had happened. He'd been such a jerk to her for all these years. And for what? Trying to save his unworthy life?
"Are you sure you have to go tomorrow? Maybe everyone else wants a longer vacation..." Shera looked directly at him with a pleading look. It only hurt Cid even more to know that she wanted him to stay. He felt so worthless.
"Yes, I have to fuckin' go tomorrow... Shera, you know I wish I could stay. But the battle with Shinra ain't over. Those numbskulls need me. They'll crash my damn ship if I don't, hah hah..." Cid tried to lighten the mood with humor. Didn't make him feel any better.
"Sorry... I'll miss you, Cid. Please come back when you can. I'll wait for you." Shera sighed. Only a month. And he had to go again. Maybe someday, Shinra wouldn't exist. And the Captain would be happy again.
"Shera, you shouldn't... even bother waitin' for me. I'm glad you will, but... Shi', all the years I've been treating you like this. For fucking what? Saving my life... I wouldn't blame you if you left with the next guy you met." Cid rolled his eyes.
"No, I wouldn't leave for anyone. The mission probably would've been a success. So what if that thing blew up? You wouldn't have even needed to go down there if I hadn't failed the first mission. Cid, I'll gladly live the rest of my life trying to help you." Shera honestly gave all her true feelings into that. The memories were horrifying.
The preparations for the rocket launch were ready. Yet she was not satisfied with the results on one of the tanks. The eighth one. Right in the engine of the rocket. She was there... trying to fix it. She didn't mind dying. She was doing her best to let the Captain have his dream succesfully. Yet he cancelled the launch, saving her life. Ever since then, the Captain treated her poorly. And she felt that she deserved it...
Yet recently, the rocket launch was restarted to send a bomb at the approaching threat called Meteor. The rocket had Huge Materia stored in it to enhance the explosion. It was the most powerful explosion Shinra could muster.Cid took the rocket to space. It was his dream to be the first man to go to outerspace. He also needed to steal the Huge Materia. It was far too valuable to be destroyed. The explosion was too dangerous.
However, Shinra put auto-pilot on the rocket. They were all stuck on a flight to death. There was no turning the rocket around. Avalanche raced for the escape pod, and then the eighth tank blew... falling on top of Cid. Everyone, including Shera, moved it off him. She had saved his life, and been right all along. He hated her all his life for being down there, when it turned out that she was right. The tank really was malfunctioning. That was when Cid's attitude first started to change towards her.
"Don't fuckin' get it, do you? You saved my life twice, now. When you were tryin' to fix that damn thing on the rocket, and then when you moved it off my worthless body. Damn, Shera. You don't have to sit around here serving me like a damn slave. I can't believe I spent so many years making you think it was your fault. I had my dream, Shera. And it almost cost me my life, that it did. And then you saved my life so I could live to tell about my dream. I owe everything to you, Shera. I could say... I ruined your life. So stop fuckin' being so nice to me, and acting as if you need to be my servant." That had to be the longest speech he'd ever given to Shera.
"Cid... I'd gladly do it anyways, because... I love you." Shera quickly averted her eyes, looking at the kitchen. Blushing, she tried to quickly change the conversation. "Would you like some tea?"
"No, I don't want no fuckin' tea... Just relax on my last day here, alright?" Cid muttered. He was glad she changed the conversation. He didn't exactly know what to say about that. Love... Couldn't be worse than that movie, Loveless. Hah hah.
For a few minutes, they both sat silently, looking around at the bookshelf, the kitchen, the table, the chairs. Anything except eachother. It was extremely awkward.
Cid really blew it... and the only reason Shera was still around was because she was as fucking stupid as ever. Stupid to stay with him. Stupid to... love him. Just plain fucking stupid. If she had any sense, she would've left him the day the rocket launch failed. He was the best pilot in the world, yet ironically, the coldest person in the world as well.
"I meant it, you know..." Shera finally came up with the courage to bring it up again.
"Yea, you're as stupid as ever, Shera. Tryin' to stay with me. Should've left me the day I started treating you so badly." Cid cursed himself under his breath.
"And you are just as tactless." Shera giggled. She'd defintely changed since Cid had been nicer to her, although she still acted like a damn servant. She was happier now that he had lived his dream of going into space. That mattered so much to her.
"Well, I just... don't know what to say Shera. I guess I love you too. If I didn't, I guess I'd be crazy. Since your the only person in the world crazy enough to take this abuse." He shrugged.
"You guess?" Shera asked anxiously.
"Well... yes... I love you, alright!? Fuckin' hell... Shera, I'm gonna miss you too, but, I gotta say one more time... I'm so sorry." Cid stood up.
"I really don't mind. You don't have to keep apologizing. Please, stop."
"Well, you should mind. Anyways, I'm gonna go out to prepare the ship... make sure those idiots didn't screw anything up. I'll be back in a few hours." Cid began walking towards the door, while hearing a soft goodbye.
Cid walked sadly through Rocket Town. Every few steps, he'd hear someone greeting him. Hey, Captain! Yep... he was known as the Captain by everyone in this town. As he walked past the old wooden houses and through the grass, he thought about many things. Mainly, his guilt about Shera. But since he said I love you... another thought came.
The grass swayed side to side while hitting his boots. He wanted to marry Shera. A thought he had once laughed at. A thought he had once said... gave him the chills. Now he wanted to do it. But he couldn't. He had to go back with Avalanche. Although he of course did not want to.
Cid looked up at the huge airship. The Highwind. He had built it himself so many years ago. It was his gateway to the skies, and yet at the same time stole his freedom. It kept him from staying with Shera.
Cid wondered what it would be like... once Shinra was gone. He could be with Shera, and who knows. Kids... hah hah. Even if marriage didn't give him the chills anymore... the thought of having kids always would.
Yes, that thought would always give him the chills. Cid climbed up the ladder, slowly getting up to the grey, plain deck. The ship was kind of depressing. Compared to the grassy lands below him, anyways.
Author Notes
You know, it's really hard to keep writing this. No one ever reviews or gives me feedback. I have no idea if I'm good or not... kinda makes me think, what the hell am I writing this for? Seems only two people ever bother telling me that they actually read it. Oh well, I guess it's just an old habit. Gotta see this fic to the end.