Author's Notes:
1. Later on, I'm briefly gonna describe a coat. You know the one I'm talking about, and if you don't, you really need to play Kingdom Hearts. Or see it here: http:bonusweb.idnes.cz/obrazek/sephiroth1.jpg
Chapter 8: Reunion.
Sephiroth stood his ground, heart pounding, eyes glowing, both hands holding the hilt of Masamune close to his cheek. His eyes drift shut, vision unnecessary. He was distinctly aware from the sounds heavy, animalistic breathing, that he was surrounded by a broad circle of monsters, and that was as it should be. After all, he needed the Gil.
He waited calmly, as they watched him, wary. Then one of them lunged at him, teeth hunting his jugular, but in a burst of feathers, he was gone. He appeared again, outside the circle, lunging amateurishly with his blade – after all, they were only monsters, they wouldn't know he was baiting them. Another flash, three more feathers in the air, and he was elsewhere on the perimeter, teasing with his blade, causing them to back away from him, close the circle, yet still underestimate him, as he never once hit them.
In another burst of feathers, he was suddenly within the circle, without so much a smile, he raised one arm, and pillars of flame shot from the ground. The monsters were gone without so much as a dying scream. He sheathed his sword, and smiled, revelling in the thrill of a battle one, and the knowledge that he, albeit only slightly, had cleaned up the world of Jenova's filth.
After picking up all the Gil the monsters had left behind, Sephiroth looked up to see that Kalm was within sight and, as he walked the last few yards to his destination, he thought on what the day had brought.
He had woken up at daybreak and, as he recollected the 'conversation' he had the night before, he searched around the streets of what had been Midgar for anything that might be of use. As he had suspected, there was a large amount of low level Materia lying around, from what have must have been a huge gathering of the Lifestream, considering what had been done to this place; he suspected all the powerful stuff had been taken by merchants and the like. Nevertheless, he had some useful Materia; Enemy Lure, Enemy Away, Enemy Skill, Barrier, all low level, but useful in a bind. Besides, no use letting it go to waste.
As he left Midgar, he equipped Enemy Lure and Barrier to his Masamune, and it dawned on him. A second chance with Aerith… so she was alive. Though a second chance for what, he wasn't sure. Oh well, he would find out soon enough.
So the journey passed quickly, most of the time, disposing of monsters, taking the money that came with that, and while he wasn't fighting, he sifted through his memories of his past life. Then something strange occurred to him. He remembered things he shouldn't, oh, all the memories were about him, it was just that he couldn't possibly have remembered them. For example, no one could say, from memory alone, who their parents were.
Sephiroth walked into Kalm, and promptly ignored all the gazes fixed upon him. It wasn't often one saw a pale, white haired man, walk topless into town, arms scarred, carrying a ridiculously long sword. Looking quickly around, operating mostly from memory, it didn't take him long to find an armoury, and a shop selling clothes. He went to the former first, and on entering, was met with a stunned, brown eyed gaze, on a man that could be described simply as 'burly.'
"Ah… hello there, s-sir, how may I help you?"
"I want mail, mythril. Do you have any?" Sephiroth was never the type to mince words, he knew what he wanted, and he had places to be.
"Ehh… of course, sir!" The smith had quite clearly forgotten himself for a moment, but he regained his senses, and went about making his sale… money was money, after all, "We've got mythril, and in any colour, you want it in, at that, what –"
"Black. Show me." His voice wasn't exactly threatening, it was simply… impatient. The sword, however, was threatening.
"Heheh… as you wish, sir." He was gone and back in a moment with a blackened mythril mail vest, that he thought should fit the white-haired man. He handed it to the customer, and watched nervously as it was weighed by strangely slender fingers for a swordsman, examined, then accepted.
"How much?"
"One hundred Gil."
"Done," it was an effort for Sephiroth to retain his surprise as he handed over the money, assuming to himself that the Planet must be much more peaceful now, for armour to come so cheap, "Nice doing business with you. Farwell." Sephiroth slipped on the vest as he left. Things were going well.
His next stop was the clothes store, into which he walked with his usual confident stride, and stopped as he noticed a young woman, not much older than himself, that must have been the owner. Strangely, unlike the man before, this woman took his appearance in stride perfectly.
"Hello there, how may I help you?"
"I need a coat. Black. Full length," and then, as an afterthought, his eyes drifting momentarily to his arms and hands, "and some black gloves. Leather."
"Very well, we've got quite a selection, I'm sure we can find something that'll suit you, if you just follow me."
Something about the ease with which she accepted him seemed to keep Sephiroth in a relatively amiable mood, and he followed wordlessly, eyes catching sight of a long black coat, trimmed in crimson, that seemed to flare and fork out at the bottom, as if tattered.
"That one," he said, and made his way over to it, searching through the coat's of similar ilk behind it, for one that would fit him, then slipping it on wordlessly, "How much is it?"
"Three hundred and fifty Gil."
"Very well, and gloves?" The price was nearer to what Sephiroth had expected, after all, in peace or war, people still needed clothes.
"Over here by the counter, sir," She walked to the counter, and Sephiroth followed, eyeing the various pairs, settling a pair of plain black leather gloves that fit his hands.
"How much are these?"
"Thirty five Gil."
"Here you are, and thank you."
"Thank you sir, have a good day."
"You too." Sephiroth walked out, dressed, wondering where he would go next. The answer came in the form of gossip heard in passing…
"Would you believe the nerve of that guy, prancing around like he owns the town, someone oughtta show him who's boss!"
"Hah! But who would? Would – you – mess with someone like him – he's got a gun where his right hand should be, I me-"
Sephiroth promptly looked over in the direction of the conversation, and saw what looked to him like a couple of punks who could use some respect. No matter, they might be able to lead him to where he needed to go, so he interrupted.
"The man with the gun-arm, where does he live?" His voice calm, level.
"Uhh," that voice was cold, and not the kind the kid figured he should answer to, but then again, someone like that was probably the kind that could mess with Barret Wallace. So he gave the white-haired stranger directions.
And that was how Sephiroth came to be at the door to the home where Barret, Elmyra and Marlene were staying. He knocked lightly at the door, and waited calmly for the door, until the door was opened, left handed, by a familiar man.
"What the….?"
Meanwhile, Aerith trudged her way eastwards across the East Continent, clutching her staff tightly against her, glad for her Materia, as she had already had to fight her way through five monsters. It occurred to her that this journey would be much easier if she had caught a ride at least part of the way, but the Planet had hinted in its usual, vague manner, that it was vitally important she make the journey on foot. She wondered why, as she trudged on, and on…
Elmyra Gainsborough had learned a lot about people in the years she had raised her adopted daughter, Aerith, and later, been looked after by her and it occurred to her that Sephiroth wanted to die. By watching what had transpired, she had learned that Sephiroth had been dead, killed by Barret, for killing her daughter, Aerith. Strangely, when the door opened, Barret had aimed his gun, and Sephiroth raised his hands, then handed over his sword.
She had been shocked, of course, at the news, but not enraged, everything had happened too fast for that, but living with a Cetra had developed her a resistance to shock at the unnatural, and that too faded after a while. She would hate him, except that what she saw now was a good… albeit very strange, man. She would be in tears, but she had had plenty of time to come to terms with the loss of her daughter. Still, she would not soon forget the conversation they had had on meeting.
"Barret."
"Sephiroth! How?! We killed you!"
"I don't know, though I suspect that the Planet brought me back for one reason or another." His voice was so calm, as if he was never shocked, or this situation was normal.
"The Planet?! Why, damnit?! You killed innocents, summoned Meteor… you killed Aerith!" Barret's arm was shaking with rage, eyes filled with hatred.
"I know. I'm sorry. That's why I'm here." Sephiroth winced at the last accusation, his voice grim, serious, but controlled as ever.
"…What?"
"I won't make any excuses… but I was not myself before, I hurt a lot of people, and I've come to make amends." That he saw no other reason for his new life was unspoken, and Elmyra doubted if Barret picked up on it.
"You came to make amends? You kiddin'? You killed Tifa's pa, burned Nibelheim to the ground, killed Aerith, what could you possibly give any of us to make up for what you did?!"
The answer had been so simple, "My life. If you want to kill me, do it. Use my sword, if you like." There was hope in his eyes, and his lips curled into a tiny smile at the irony in his offer, to be killed with the very sword with which he had committed so many offences.
The two stared at each other for nigh on five minutes, Barret's right arm shaking, the gun aimed directly between Sephiroth's eyes. Elmyra stood and walked calmly over to Barret.
"No, Barret… you'd only become like he was. Don't do it," she turned to Sephiroth, "We can't give you what you want, but you may as well stay for some tea, you must have come a long way. Take a seat, I'll go put the kettle on." There was strain in her eyes, but she knew what was right, and she would stick to it. Understanding flickered between her gaze and Sephiroth's as they met.
"Y-yes… thank you, Miss…?"
"Gainsborough."
Sephiroth's eyes widened, and so did Barret's – very few people ever got to see Sephiroth shocked.
Currently, Elmyra sat to one side as Barret and Sephiroth sat conversing, the three of them sipping occasionally at their mugs.
"I don't know what it is, but something is stirring in the Planet, there will be trouble ahead." Sephiroth said quietly.
"What kinda trouble?" Suspicion lingered in Barret's voice.
"I couldn't say, but I would think it wise if you gathered your old friends. I am not certain, but I think you will be needed."
"I can't just up an' leave, Sephiroth, I have a little girl to look after."
Sephiroth sighed, thinking for a moment, "Well… then I will attempt to tell Cloud. It seems fitting."
"Yeah, I guess that'd be best."
"You wouldn't, perhaps, know where he is?"
"…" Suspicion was clear in Barret's eyes.
"If I was going to hurt them I would beat the information out of you." He wasn't boasting, simply stating fact, and Barret knew it.
"Mideel."
"Thank you," Sephiroth hesitated for a moment, then, "also… I don't know if I should say this, but… I think Aerith may be alive, as well."
A faint click was heard and suddenly Barret's gun arm was aimed at Sephiroth's forehead, "That's too far, Sephiroth!"
"It's the truth."
Elmyra was now standing, one hand bringing Sephiroth's gaze to meet hers with a force that few people dared use around the man.
"I suggest, young man, that there are some things that one should never lie about. Do you honestly think my daughter is alive?" Her eyes filled with the suggestion of tears and a hopeful gaze.
"I cannot be certain, but I strongly suspect it is the case, yes." He tried, with relative success to conceal the hope in his own gaze.
"But you killed her! I saw you do it! How could you think that?!"
"Calm down, Barret, please…"
"I am not disputing that she was dead… I was dead too. And I'm alive now, if the Planet granted me a new life, it more than certainly should have granted her the same. There are… other reasons also, but now is not yet the time for me to explain. I don't doubt that Aerith will look for Cloud… and the Planet will guide her, so she will eventually end up in Mideel. If I am correct, you will be reunited with her soon, but we can only hope." The entire time he spoke, he met Elmyra's gaze.
"Thank you." Elmyra smiled, wiping a tear from her eyes with one hand.
"I should be going now. I… thank you, Miss Gainsborough, for your hospitality. And once again, I am…sorry… Farewell." He rose, turned, and left, eyes on the floor.
"It was… a pleasure, Sephiroth, goodbye."
And so time passed. Sephiroth made his way south from Kalm, towards Mideel. Aerith travelled East from Junon to the Chocobo Ranch. Both were long journeys that would not be completed in a single day and so day turned to night, and night to day, until, at length…
Aerith was worn, wary, and though she normally stronger than this, scared. She was about half way to the Ranch, and already she was almost out of supplies. More importantly, however, she was currently faced with a lupine-looking monster, and was far too tired to use her magic. She backed away slowly, gulping, and the monster lunged…
Sephiroth had set himself a tasking, yet manageable pace on his march to the southern coast of the continent, his journey already planned out perfectly in his head, he had been travelling two nights, and in two more, he should be at the coast. He heard a scream. Well, more a cry of pain, really, than a scream.
He set out into a run, to see what was happening, his right hand leaping to his sword's hilt, ready to draw. As he drew closer, recognition dawned in his eyes.
Aerith let out a cry as she failed to back away in time, one of the monster's claws catching her leg, tearing her dress, drawing blood. She fell onto her behind, and backed away, clutching her staff, a last defence, eyes wide as adrenaline flowed through her, aware that these may be her last moments. The monster reared onto its hind legs, ready to deliver the final blow…
And none came, instead, Aerith's eyes witnessed the eerie re-enactment of a memory in which she had played a very different role. Our of nowhere, a shadow appeared behind the monster, several feet of steel, curved, graceful, protruding through the monster's ribs. A moment of silence, then, with a cry, the monster disintegrated into a red haze, and Aerith saw what stood behind it.
"Sephiroth."
"Aerith." Sephiroth twirled his sword lightly, calm as ever, not about to let anyone know how glad he was that he hadn't been too late, he sheathed his sword, and offered a hand to Aerith.
"Thank you… oh, gods, thank you!" her voice was slightly hysterical from the fear and adrenaline that had recently rushed through her, as she took his hand and, with his help, pulled herself to her feet. She slumped forward against him lightly, gripping the hem of his coat softly.
"Thank you, Sephiroth…so much…" too glad to be alive to acknowledge how strange it was to be saying those words.
"It's… okay, Aerith. You're safe now." He had no idea what to say, feeling decidedly awkward, loosely draping his arms around her, hoping to calm her down.
"I-…"
"Hush, Aerith, just relax for now." They had a lot to talk about, and Sephiroth strongly suspected they would go through a lot of hardships, soon enough, but she deserved some rest, and he would make sure she got it…
-End Chapter 8-
Author's Notes:
1. F-cking finally! Aside from the fact that they've finally crossed paths, you have no idea the crap I went through to write this! My comp randomly restarted itself at one point, then refused to connect, and kept crashing, making me restart, and constantly losing sections of various length here and there. I'll probably have been through more by the time this gets to fanfic.net . (I've just backed up all my important files – I'll probably have to format to get back online.) As such, you'd better all read and review!
