... these are my words that I've never said before. I think I'm doing okay. And this is the smile that I've never shown before ...
So Far Away - Staind-----
He should not have done that.He paced an agitated path before the entrance to the cave, raging furiously at himself. He had given into his desires, and had actually kissed that girl, that Cetra -
That human, a part of him added.He had actually kissed that human. No matter that he had surrendered to his mortal urges, or that if Mother ever found out she would undoubtedly disembowel him; he could not erase the feel of her lips against his: pleasing, soft, fulfilling. With a frustrated growl he whirled about and struck the cliff wall with one gloved fist. The impact shuddered pebbles loose, and they fell about him, clattering. He turned and closed his eyes against the onslaught of reactions his body was experiencing due to his hasty and altogether unwise decision. Visions of striding into the cave and claiming her as his own swam through his mind; it was with savage effort he restrained himself. He was muttering obsceneties under his breath when the soft scrape of her footfalls against the rocky ground alerted him that she was emerging. He turned to watch her, while telling himself that he was in control of his body and his emotions. The very sight of her served to prove immediately how very disillusioned he was. The expression on her face was wary, and bemused, and she refused to meet his gaze. Her heightened color did nothing to hide her state of apprehension; he knew she was reliving the kiss just as much as he.
How did he feel about it? He wondered suddenly and irrationally. Was she affected in the same way as he? Had she enjoyed it? Reining in his stampeding trade of thought with a will of iron he almost imperceptibly shook his head. He did not care how she felt, and from this point onwards whatever he felt was just as irrelevant. And so he hardened his gaze; made it cold and hostile, and fastened it on the girl."May we proceed?" He asked, the cutting sharpness of his tone enough to bleed by. She stiffened at his words, and he could almost see her hackles being raised. She did meet his gaze then, and the angry venom in that one look would have stilled a lesser man. Sephiroth fed off of her rage, and his lips curved in the mocking, condescending grin she knew so well. He let his own righteous fury flow through him; fury at himself for being so weak, fury at the girl for doing this to him. He beckoned the girl to follow, and began picking his way down the slight incline towards the pool where he had found her. He heard her irritated intake of breath, and then her own hesitant sounds of descent. He moved with purpose, determined to drive these unwanted emotions and discoveries out of his system. When he had reached the bottom and stood close enough to the waterfall that its mist rose up around him he stopped and turned, watching as the girl closed the distance between them. He observed how she moved with care, obviously still in pain from her fall and the poison. Steeling himself against the wave of concern he felt, he snarled at her, "Move faster."
Her eyes flared; remarkably expressive here where they glinted in the full light of day. "I'm trying!" She snapped back at him.He snorted, turned, and began walking again. They spoke very little over the course of the next few hours. He kept up a steady pace as he led them out of the forested foothills and towards the awaiting plains. She followed with no complaint, although he knew she was still not at full strength and that the pace he set must be taxing. Despite his spiteful mood he stopped often, allowing her to regain her strength before continuing on again. Once they reached the plains travel became easier. Come night fall they had traversed a fare distance, and Sephiroth knew that tomorrow would find them in Junon. He called a halt as the sun sank below the horizon, leaving the world bathed in dusk. He had found them a small copse of trees to spend the night in, and as the girl sank back against the trunk of one he used his power to create yet another fire. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the rough ridges of the bark. Studying her discreetly by the light of the flame, he noticed the way weariness caused her face to become lined and drawn, and had to clamp down on the concern that sprang to life.
I will not feel, he thought fiercely, dangerously. I will not.From an inner pocket he withdrew a small pouch full of dried fruit and meat. The girl's eyes opened as he tossed it at her, and she caught it one handed. She murmurred her thanks and began to eat. He did not watch her and instead focused intensely on the fire. When she had finished she leaned her head back again. He stood abruptly, and said tonelessly. "Sleep. I won't be far from here." He waited only long enough to see the acknowledgement on her face before whirling around and stalking off into the trees. He left the small grove and walked aimlessly, thinking of anything but the frail piece of mortal flesh that waited so temptingly behind him. So focused on battling his infatuation that he was suitably surprised as the breaking light of dawn broke over the land. He had not strayed far from the trees, and when he had arrived back at the fire she was already awake and on her feet. The cold glare she levelled on him dared him to make any comment; he merely smirked and motioned for her to follow.
Midmorning found them within sight of the sea; the gleaming, moving endless blue mass stole a sigh from Aerith's throat. They followed the line of the ocean while staying several miles inland, and before long the looming harbor city of Junon rose before them. As they neared, Aerith eyed the city in trepidation; the enormous cannon Junon was famed for protruded almost obscenely over the scenic waters of the ocean. It was a garish piece of technology amidst the natural beauty of nature. Her trepidation became awe as they entered the city itself; the cannon was massive, large on a scale she had never before seen. Her attention, as they walked through the underpart of Junon, focused on an area that looked very similar to the slums in Midgar. Feeling apathy she watched small children chase a ball down a path as they passed several buildings. Sephiroth led them through the small cluster of buildings and brought them to a halt before a large steel door. Sephiroth, having done this before, pressed the switch to open the doors and led Aerith onto a large lift. As the door noisily slid shut behind them the lift began to rise, shuddering and moaning. Sephiroth was silent, and Aerith chewed her lip in apprehension. She knew that from here they would be on their way to Jenova, and that realization made her increasingly frantic. As they reached the top, the doors slid open, and they stepped out of the lift into the streets of Junon.They were bombarded immediately by the sound of music. Aerith, paying closer attention, realized it was the sound of a marching band. They were also besieged by crowds of people, swarming around them, chattering excitedly, watching the street before them. Sephiroth looked unexpectedly disconcerted about the turn of events, and seized Aerith by the arm before slowly edging around people to head down the street. Aerith had no choice but to follow unwillingly, but their progress was dismally slow. The sounds of the band grew louder, and Aerith craned her neck to see over the heads of everyone surrounding her. "The President!" A great cry went up all around them, and people surged forwards as a convoy of vehicles rounded a corner and drove down the street towards them. Sephiroth's grip on Aerith was broken as they were pushed and pulled; in a desperate, instinctive rush Aerith darted and wound her way through the crowd, half expecting to feel arms haul her back. Nothing came however, and using her small stature to her advantage Aerith wove her way down the street, keeping in the centre of the swarm. She was both exhilarated and frightened, and though she had no indication in the slightest of where she was going she continued all the same. Finally she reached a point where the crowd lessened, and seizing her chance she fled headlong down the street. More people where lined up along the road further down, and she quickly ensconced herself in the middle of this new crowd. She paused for a minute, standing behind a very obese man, to catch her breath. She watched people pass by, and abruptly her heart caught in her throat as she recognized one dark haired girl.
Tifa!Aerith cried out her name desperately, thinking it of no use, but Tifa's head whipped around at the sound of her name. Aerith pushed free of the people and ran quickly to the other woman. Tifa was smiling, and laughing, and as she wrapped Aerith in her own embrace Aerith knew certain relief.
She had found Tifa. And with Tifa would be Cloud ..."What happened to you?" Tifa shouted over the noise.
"Not here," Aerith yelled back. "Let's go somewhere else."But as she raced after Tifa, she could not shake the dark shadow which lurked so menacingly over her joy at finding the others. Sephiroth would be furious, and his search would be relentless.
Cloud ...She would have Cloud, and hopefully it would be enough.