Author's Notes: Thanks guys for the support! Especially to my old readers that still hanged around to read my work. (Wheee! I love you all!) I've been having problems trying to upload my story and keeping all of my formatting. It's driving me crazy! So if anyone has any ideas on how to fix this, please email me.

As for the reviews...wow. Thanks guys! Never thought my writing would still be ok after three years of not writing anything. If anything your reviews have only encouraged me to write more and try to improve! Oh yeah, I apologized for my last work if it was short, that was rushed.

The usual, the fanfic depicts AeriSeph (though there won't be so much of it right now, maybe after a few more chapters) so please if you don't like it, don't read it. Reviews are welcome, Flames are not.

Disclaimer: I don't own FF7. I don't own Squaresoft. However, all original characters belong to me. If you take them, I'll take your kidneys as payment.

Vile Rose
Chapter 5: the Magician
By Silver Countess

Infiltration hardly seemed to be Sephiroth's expertise. Sneaking around like a common thief was NOT one of the things he was good at. He was a General, not a spy! All these thoughts flipped through his head as he waited under the cover of darkness to get where he had to go to. It was surprising that after all this time, his access codes still worked.

It wasn't long when Sephiroth finally reached the Professor's laboratory. It was dark and strangely unguarded. Well not so strange, since Rufus Shin-Ra's presidential inaugural was going to start tomorrow. Every able SOLDIER, guard or any man in uniform would have to participate in the opening march and parade of his honor, which now meant the Shin-Ra building is going to have a skeleton shift tonight.

Rufus would have wanted it that way...Sephiroth realized as he sat down in front of a computer terminal. He took out the special keycard Rufus had given him and the disc. Upon inserting the keycard, he realized that he had access to a lot of files, some of which he was tempted to read on, remembering what he had gone through under Hojo's tender, loving care.

"Try not to lose sight on what one's supposed to be doing."

Sephiroth sighed when he heard that voice. "I'm not THAT distracted."

There was an amused chuckle from the presence in his mind and it was gone, leaving him alone again to resume what he was doing. Sephiroth inserted the disk and just downloaded whatever it was inside the computer that was related in anyway to the Cetra and the weapons department. Most of the reports didn't seem to be much, but still made him...uncomfortable just the same.

There was even a plan by Hojo to combine his genes with that of the Cetra. He didn't even want to imagine what that would be like. It was almost half an hour later when he got all the information that he needed, taking out the disk that had the files and sliding in the next one that contained a computer virus.

He uploaded that one in and waited for it download on it's on. Once it was finished, Sephiroth took it out. He looked at the PC and took out his Masamune, just to make sure everything was destroyed as requested...

Aeris was regretful that they had to leave the chocobos behind. She sighed as she climbed down her mount. She gave one last pat on the chocobo's behind and watched it run through the swamp and back to the Chocobo farm.

"So it's through this cave then Fort Condor before Junon?" Barret said, looking at Cloud.

"Yeah, the trip will take us at least one and a half to two days estimate," Cloud has just released his chocobo when he replied. "We'll be stopping over Fort Condor first then we'll head out to Junon. From there we'll try to catch the next boat ride to Costa del Sol."

"Then it's a long arduous trek to Cosmo Canyon," Tifa was looking at Aeris when she spoke, the barest hint of a smile on her lips. "It will be difficult if you aren't used to roughing it."

Aeris wasn't stupid enough not to catch on to what she meant, and she could feel her temper rise along with her magical power. She was more than a little tempted to wipe her expression off her face.

"Temper, temper...there will be more opportunities to deal with her later...For now you need to focus," the voice warned her. "I feel a source of power near here...you might want to look where it's coming from. It might be of some use to us."

"In which direction?"

"North from this mountain range..."

That was something to at least think about. Aeris gave Tifa a smile, which seemed to irritate the brunette even more when she didn't seem to react at her little jibe. Cloud however didn't seem to notice what was going on and instead went and reassured Aeris.

"Don't worry about the trip, Aeris. We'll try to make the trip less stressful for you. We're not really rushing aren't we?" he looked at Red XIII who growled in agreement.

"I'd like to take this time to stretch my legs a bit," the feline agreed, and was about to add something when he began sniffing the air. "Hmm...what's this...something or rather someone besides us is here..." He began to sniff on the ground and toward the entrance of the cave. He suddenly began to growl.

Cloud followed him, motioning the others to keep quiet and stay where they were as he followed Red. "Who is it?" he asked quietly, looking around carefully behind a huge boulder as the beast moved forward and into another area.

"Tseng..." the beast replied. "I can smell him...he's close by." Cloud nodded his hand on the hilt of his sword as he suddenly heard footsteps and voices just ahead. He took a peek behind a boulder and indeed he found the head of the Turks a level below them and holding a strange device in his hand that resembled some sort of transmitter.

"Any sign of her, Elena?"

"No sir," a female voice replied as another Turk emerged from one of the other caves.

"Well keep searching, Hojo isn't very happy that two of his prized specimens have escaped the laboratory," Tseng replied, and looked on the monitor in his hand. "No matter, the transmitter that was implanted on the Ancient is still active...she's just within our area..."

"Yes, sir," the woman obeyed, but before she could do anything there was a loud beep that repeated itself over and over. The woman took out her communicator and answered it. She looked a bit surprised as she turned to Tseng. "Sir, I just received orders from headquarters that we're needed in Junon."

"The president's little inauguration, how can I forget...?" Tseng replied sarcastically as he pocketed the device. "We'll go back for now. We can always follow up on the Ancient later."

Cloud waited as the two Turks left, and didn't move until they were sure they have left the cave. Cloud didn't want to believe what he just heard about the implants, but it would prove to be something that could endanger their group.

"We should tell the others," the beast said, his tail flicking behind him a little warily. The thought of returning to the laboratory did not suit the feline.

"Yes, but I'm rather worried about Aeris and that implant they mentioned. We need to find a way to get rid of it," he replied, concern marring his handsome features as they began to walk their way back to the others.

Red seemed amused at his sudden concern and chuckled. "You seem fond of that girl..." At that Cloud had the decency to turn away, a light red tinge on his cheeks.

"Yeah...well it's hard to explain. I can't help but feel that there's something special about her..."

Completing the task had proved a lot easier than he would expect, Sephiroth mused as he looked at the card in his hand and at the sign in front of the bar. Blue neon lights flashed the name, "Blue Dagger" and already he noted the place looked packed, mostly by young people, and by people who wished they were young.

The entrance of the bar was guarded by a bouncer, who was big, burly and bald. He wore all back and enough metal piercings to be mistaken for a chain fence. He was denying entrance to two teenagers in punk hairdo and was glowering at them.

Sephiroth paid the two no heed, as he practically brushed them aside, one of them was about to retort until he saw the seven-foot long sword strapped to his back and thought better of it. The bouncer however, wasn't impressed and glowered at him as he held out a hand, "This club is only through by invitation--" he stopped as he noticed the card.

Sephiroth gave it to him, and the bouncer took it, flipped the card and gave it back. He stepped aside to open the door to allow him through. "Step in. She's at the back." The two teenagers protested at how easily Sephiroth got passed the bouncer, but the huge man paid them no heed as he allowed the silver haired general through.

Once inside, he noted that the interior looked much better than the one outside. The music was pretty loud, and he had to fight his way through the mass of bodies gyrating to the music as he approached the bar.

The bartended looked young, and he had been eyeing Sephiroth (not to mention the 7 foot katana strapped to him) a little nervously when he arrived. He has just finished fixing a drink when he saw the silver haired general approach. "Good evening, sir, would you like a drink?"

"I need to go to table 12," he showed him the card. The bartender hesitantly looked it, looked at the card then back at him. He seemed a little surprised and more than a little relieved.

"The table is at the back," he points to the tables at the corner of the room. "She's been waiting for you."

He gave the man his thanks and approached the table, carefully sidestepping a rather drunk couple. Once he got there, he noticed two tables, one surprisingly owned by a very drunk and very unconscious red haired Turk. Four bottles of what looked to be beer and one bottle of vodka where on his table and they were all empty. He was also snoring loudly. On the other table was a woman, in a grey trench coat watching over the drunk Turk with a bemused expression. She had long black hair that reached to her waist, accentuated by a snowy tress that danced on her cheek. She was holding a glass of martini, smiling as he approached.

"Sephiroth, please, take a seat," she motions to an empty chair beside her. Sephiroth took it and sat down. "Care to share a drink with me?" she didn't wait for an answer as she called for a waiter who was just hovering behind her. "Two more of this if you please?" Sephiroth noted that she had a very sensual voice, like velvet with just the slightest hint of steel. There was also an air of sophistication around her....and of death. It was...a strangely familiar presence, one that he had felt before.

He propped the Masamune against the table, as he pulled out the two disks and the keycard. "I came to fulfill my end of the bargain," he told her flatly. This caused the woman to smile up to him, long slender gloved fingers reached for them.

"That was a very quick job..." she replied. "I give you and on behalf of Shin-Ra company my thanks." Then she gave a slight frown, tugging at the disks. "Maybe if you could let go now?"

"Not so fast..." Sephiroth gave her a cool smile, putting back the diskettes into his pocket. "Only if you tell me what I need to know, Mrs Shin-Ra." There was a slight pause and a brief rather surprised look. She suddenly gave a soft velvety laughter, amusement twinkling off her violet eyes.

"Ah, you humor me so...but of course, we owe you that much," she gave him another smile, more sincere now than the last one. The waiter finally arrived with their drinks and a bowl of nuts. "Though I am impressed, what gave me away?"

"For one I know Rufus to be the untrusting sort, especially around women. You'd have to be someone very, very close to him, to be allowed to work directly with him," He took the offered glass and took a sip. "Second, I felt your presence the last time. You have an air that is difficult not to notice."

The woman seemed pleased at his answer, and was also quite impressed. "Well now, I guess I should begin by introducing myself," she offered her now gloveless hand. "My name is Sylvia Valentine. I'm not using my husband's name...."

"My pleasure," Sephiroth responded automatically as he shook her hand. Her handshake was firm, and he noted that her hand wasn't as silky soft as that of a pampered woman, and her grip was rather strong. "Isn't Rufus bothered with that?"

"Bothered? The man was positively livid when I first suggested it," she laughed as she pulled her hand away. "It took a little explaining on my end for him to finally agree, but only if I promised never to take this off," she held out the gold band on her finger. "But really, I don't think my marriage is what you came to ask, no?"

"Hardly."

"Then speak up," she replied. "Ask, and I'll try to answer as much I can...or what I am allowed to."

She was honest at that point at least. "I need to know what else you plan to do with Aeris. I know that Rufus has other plans not to exploit the Lifestream, I saw the files on his desks," he was carefully watching her, trying to gauge her reaction. She didn't seem bothered, if she was, she kept her emotions carefully hidden behind that serene disarming smile. "And I doubt he'll be giving her to Hojo for experimentation. I need to know his plans, especially if this will hinder my mission."

She took a long sip, her gaze thoughtful. "Actually I was worried of the same thing...of your intentions and what it would do to our plans," she replied finally. "I'll be frank. We have no intention of harming or endangering the Cetra. However we do need her cooperation. Her people have the technology and magic that would aid us to replace the old Shin-Ra ways. Technology that Orion has unearthed and studied."

"You need her alive," he echoed. "But what are your guarantees that Hojo won't harm her?"

"I can't say the same for Hojo and the rest of the money grubbing leeches, but on our side you can be rest assured that we won't do anything harmful to her." She gave a soft tired sigh as she continued. "Rufus had the right idea not to just trust anyone in Shin-Ra. Everyone there wants something, and if Rufus doesn't give in, he knows that some of these people have the power and the resources to kill him or kill the company. He can't risk that. Right now he's looking for people he can trust, and find a way to quietly dispose of people that aren't."

Things were becoming clearer now, and Sephiroth had to admit that he had underestimated the young president yet again. Rufus needed to find a way to make his people powerless, and to find a way to make his company independent from them. Once their source of power was destroyed, it would be a lot easier for him to simply fire them without fear. Of course all of his grand schemes seemed to hang on the Cetra being alive and cooperative.

Sephiroth placed the diskettes and the keycard on the table. The woman looked at them and took it. He was about to stand when he felt her hand restrain him. He looked down and found her eyes locked against his.

"Now that you know our plans, just let me remind you that whatever your intentions are, I pray they will not interfere with ours," she added quietly. "But if by chance you prove to be more of a hindrance, I will personally find a way to get rid of you."

"You're threatening me?" Sephiroth didn't know if he should be impressed or not at her audacity, but her smile told him without words that she meant every word.

"I know you're a powerful man to be able to rise back from the dead, however..." Sephiroth felt something, some kind of magic, emanating not from her but from something in her person. A weapon perhaps? He wasn't so sure. But the magic he sensed wasn't something he was familiar with. "I have my means to make sure you don't come back. Please don't take this personally, this is business after all."

"Just nod your head and agree. Now is not the time to 'butt heads'—as you call it—with someone who can deliver their threat." Sephiroth recognized the voice, and simply gritted his teeth and nodded.

"I'm so pleased that we understand each other then," she smiled as she slipped something into Sephiroth's hand. "This is a special device developed by our R&D department. We use that to track special ore deposits and Materia but you can also use this to track down Ms. Gainsborough. It's quite independent of the implant so you needn't have to worry."

Sephiroth looked at the device then at the woman who now resumed finishing her drink. Then without another word turned and left the bar.

Sylvia watched the man leave, her smile widening as she looked at the seemingly unconscious Turk. "Get up, Reno. I know very well you're awake. I hope that little conversationwould help alleviate some of your worries."

The red haired man opened one sleepy eye and stretched. His blue eyes were clear as the sky and without any indication of the usual glazed expression found on drunks. "Heh. Yeah well, you never know with him."

"Well at least we know he isn't actively trying to kill her...so you wouldn't have to worry so much," she replied, as she stood up and smoothed down her coat.

"As much as I really appreciate what you did back there, I think we should get going." Reno replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I don't really want to explain to the Prez why the missus isn't home yet."

"Tsk. You worry too much. The night after all is still quite young and there is still much to be done."

Aeris feet were killing her by the time the group finally arrived at Fort Condor, they had rushed to get here after discovering the implant on her. She wasn't a slob, but she wasn't physically active either. This kind of hike was horrible. She hated what it would be like when she had to walk to Cosmo Canyon. But all through out the trip, she never did complain, bearing her difficulties with grace and dignity. Especially when Tifa had been acting very solicitous, always asking her if she was tired or if she needed any rest.

Still it was an experience. She was able to use some of her new found abilities without being so obvious. She had learned to enhance material by attuning herself to it, turning her into a powerful spell caster, and a very adept healer.

It also felt nice to know that somehow, even when she wasn't physically strong as the others, she knew what she did mattered, that she was actually an asset to the team and not a hindrance. Something even Tifa grudgingly have to admit that it was nice to have a good healer around in a fight.

But right now she was just glad that the journey was over. She was tired, and a bed right now sounded so good that she almost didn't notice the strange moans from inside. She almost thought she was hearing the voices of the Ancients again, if it wasn't also heard by the rest of the team.

"Seems like some guys got into a big fight, judging from the sounds," Barret commented.

"Well it's already dark to tell for sure, so lets just get inside and see if anybody can tell us what happened," Cloud then began to lead the team inside, and up the rope ladder that was lowered for them to use.

Once inside Aeris immediately saw that this was the source of the moans. The place was littered with the injured. Some of them were in the cots, and the others were in thin mattresses on the floor. There was one wailing woman at a side as she now held the dead body of what was probably her husband. Meanwhile harried looking medics went from one patient to another trying their best to help as many patients as they can, but it wasn't enough.

The symphony sounds of the injured and dying brought a strange reaction to Aeris. A part of her savored it, found pleasure to hear the anguish and the suffering. The more she heard of it, the less angry the voices of the Ancients became. It was as if, the human's suffering was slowly pacifying them, bringing her relief.

But a small part of her, the part that still remembered what it was like to suffer, and knew love in the arms of the people who had cared and raised her, there she found pity and compassion.

"Cloud, why don't you and the rest go and get some rest? I'll see what I can do to help here," Aeris quietly said, her gaze still on the injured.

Cloud looked at her and then nodded. "Alright, but try not to push yourself too hard. We really need to get to Junon and find someone to get rid of your implant," he gently reminded her. "It'll be another day's walk and it's already night time so you best get some rest, soon."

Aeris nodded, approaching one of the injured men lying on the cot. He would be a rather handsome fellow, if his face wasn't contorted in a grimace of pain. But in her eyes, seeing him in such a state made him the most beautiful creature in the world. Already he had bandage wrapped around half his head and the bandage around his arm needed changing.

She reached for him her fingers gently caressed his injured face while her eyes feast at the sight of him as she whispered. "It's alright...everything is going to be just fine..." She murmured words of power, the green healing materia in her wrist glowing as he was suffused with magical energy. She concentrated, the magic slowly mending bone, muscle and flesh.

The young man stared at her, his eyes wide with amazement and fear, realizing suddenly that the pain was slowly going away, being replaced by a sensation that was ...pleasurable. Aeris opened her eyes, her smile gentle as she lovingly unwrapped the bandage around his head and right eye. A shaky hand reached for his face, expecting to find blood or a wound, but not only did his fingers only touched unmarred flesh, he could see again. He turned to gaze at Aeris, expression filled with awe...

Aeris smiled.

He was dreaming.

He saw himself inside the ruins of an old yet beautiful church. Sunlight was streaming in through the remaining glass stained windows, shedding light on the various patches of flowers. The air was warm, like that of a summer's day and a soft breeze seemed to blow from somewhere. The place felt...holy, and strangely enough he felt at peace there.

It was then he heard it, the sound of a child crying somewhere in the distance.

Sephiroth followed the source of the disturbance, which led him straight to the altar. Behind it, he saw to his surprise to see a young girl, who looked to be around seven curled up behind it. The little girl heard him approach and briefly stopped crying to look at him.

She was a rather pretty girl. Deep mahogany ringlets framed a rather cherubic face, as wide teary green eyes look up at him. She sniffed, and stared at him but said nothing. She looked familiar though but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before.

"Are you lost little girl?" The girl shook her head but didn't speak. Sephiroth tried again. "What are you doing here?" The little girl stood up, revealing a rather muddy pink dress and scrapped legs.

"I lost it," she sniffed, rubbing her eyes as she looked around the garden. "I lost it here...I can't find it anymore."

"What did you lose?" Sephiroth asked her, trying to be gentle and not to be as intimidating as possible. The girl bit her lip and her eyes watered. Sephiroth was afraid she would start bawling any minute.

"Mommy's treasure," she replied. "I lost it...and I can't find it anymore!" She suddenly went to one of the flower beds and began to search through the soil. Then suddenly the light of the sun was suddenly disappeared, and the air inside the church felt cold...stale. The shadows became longer, darker. As if the shadows were slowly becoming alive.

The girl suddenly stopped digging and looked at the church doors. Her eyes were wide, frightened.

"Are you alright...?" Sephiroth approached her, and turned to look at the direction she was staring at. The double doors of the church were partially closed, one door was still bolted the other one was creaking open by some unknown breeze. The shadows on the door seemed to grow, reaching to the flower bed nearest to it and to his shock watched as the roses slowly began to wilt. Then he saw it, tendrils of shadows peeking through the door as if trying to get inside. His hand went to the hilt of his sword when he realized that he was unarmed.

"Please," the girl suddenly turned to him. "You have to help me. You have to find Mommy's treasure for me. You have to!" she began to beg staring at the door then at him. "Please, find it before she does!"

Aeris woke up just as the sun just rising over the horizon. She felt refreshed, and energized despite the fact she had stayed all night assisting the medics with the injured. She had never felt this good for as long as she could remember.

"Aeris?" Cloud was already awake, looking relieved when he saw her dressed up and ready. "I thought you'd still be asleep. I heard that you were helping out all night."

She giggled. "I was. But I'm ok now. See? I told you I'm not as frail as I look!"

Cloud chuckled. "That's great. The others are just waking up, so they'll be heading downstairs for breakfast in a while."

"Okay, I'll meet you guys down there. Just need to finish packing some of my stuff," Aeris replied. Cloud nodded and went on his way.

She hummed a soft tune as she finished packing, humming still as she stepped out, smiling as she encountered the young man she had helped save last night. He was standing there almost as if he had been waiting her to come out.

"Good morning, Ms. Aeris," the young man, by the name of Brent greeted her. "Lovely day, isn't it?" She saw his smile and his worship filled gaze, and noted with some amusement that all of the people she had helped last night held the same expression as she passed.

"Yes, yes it is," Aeris laughed as she made her way to the galley. Today seemed such a lovely day indeed...

Wahh, I still have no internet. I am at a café. Very expensive...Oh yeah I need an editor.