Author's note: Thanks for reveiwing! This chapter is kinda lame, an imformation chapter. You do, however, start seeing hints of a relationship forming between Sephy and Tifa. YAY! Oh and yes, it is a little bit commical, seeing as it does reveal Tifa's inner thoughts.

Disc: Don't own it.


Chapter Two:

Surely, I hate you.


Sephiroth wasn't here to hurt me. Not physically, anyway. Just being around him though made me sick with disgust, gave me the heavy feeling of mistreatment. How was I, Tifa Lockhart, sworn enemy of Sephiroth and a had-been Avalanche member, supposed to trust this villan.

When I was younger things were different. I had all the trust in the world. You could say I had a small obsession with the silver-haired man now sitting on my couch. I didn't know any better.

Cloud would take me by the hand late at night and we would look at the stars. It would be cool out, and I secretly longed for Cloud to wrap his arms around me. He never did. Somehow, Cloud always found himself talking about Sephiroth, even back before Cloud had ever become a SOLIDER. I saw how much Cloud envied Sephiroth, how much he wished to be like him. I thought that maybe if I knew as much about SOLIDER and Sephiroth as he did, he would be interested in me. I tried to find out as much as I could, but my plan never seemed to work. Cloud just ended up joining SOLIDER and leaving me behind, not sure of what our realationship had really ment. I am still not sure what it is now.

Most people find that sad. I am living with the guy and I still don't know exactly where we stand.

My attention once again focused on the murderer sitting across from me. The throbbing in my head seem to slow as he placed paper beside him. If this man did not want to kill me, what did he want? What the hell did he want?

"Here.", he said, throwing a vial of green ooze at me. It landed in my lap, and I looked at it, wondering what it was for. Poison, perhaps?

"It's just medication, you fool of a girl. Drink it."

This comment aroused a deep anger inside of me. I hated rude guests. Especially ones that have caused me harm.

I drank the emerald ooze reluctantly, as I was tired of feeling Sephiroth's eyes on me, waiting like I was some sort of child. The medication tasted poor and bitter as it coated my throat.

It worked, though the taste did leave me nauseous for awhile. I felt revived, new. The throbbing was gone and my vision was clear. I could now see him clearly, sitting there, his eyes still fixated on me. His eyes. His amazing eyes. They belonged to someone who was gentle, caring, and loving; Certainly not the scum that I saw before me.

"What the hell do you want, Sephiroth."

His name passed my tounge like a curse. I said it in such a way that even I felt myself shiver.

His gaze removed itself from me, he now turned to look out a window. It was dark out, not like a cloudy-dark, but it was fully night. Had he been here for that long?

"I had come seeking Cloud. I found that he was not here. I did, however, find you here. I have come seeking...", he said slowly, his words seeming almost painful to him at this point, "..assistance.", he finished, his eyes darting back to me.

At this point, I began laughing. I didn't know what had come over me, but laughing just came easy at the time. The Great Sephiroth asking his enemies, ones who supposedly destryoed him mind you, for help. It was a beautiful thing. A laughable thing.

I could see him getting annoyed, his mako eyes forming into tiny slits. What could he possibly need help with? I tried to pull myself together.

"What is it that you need assistance with?"

Once again, his words seemed to flow painfully.

"I had thought Hojo to be dead. It seems as if both Hojo and I have survived. I fear that Hojo has been chasing me, trying to clone me. He plans on attaining power this way, a bunch of Sephiroth clones all obeying him. I've sworn not to let this happen."

He paused, looking at me. Looking through me. Trying to search me for thoughts. It was a strange feeling. I, however, sat silently, waiting for more of the story to reveal itself.

"I know what you think of me. I know how you dislike me so..."

"Dislike you? Surely you should know, I hate you.", I voiced loudly, cutting him off. His lips pressed themselves together, as if he were about to yell.

"I know how you hate me.", he agreed through clenched teeth, "That is not the matter at hand. We can't let Hojo gain this power that he desires.."

His eyes flickered. I felt myself looking at him again. This man was beautiful, down to every finger. It was a shame that he had such a lousy attitude.


A smirk once again spread across his face as he caught me, looking him over like a young star-struck little girl. I felt myself blush, but continued to look. I then casually turned away, as if nothing really interested me.

"Are you all willing to help me?"

I didn't feel right speaking for my friends. I didn't feel right trusting him. Somehow, I did. #!&$, I did.

I guess I was under his spell. Sephiroth was a convincing person. I you hadn't known about his past, you would surely invite him in off the streets and ask him to stay for tea. After Sephiroth had you alone, he would beg you to do his bidding. You would agree, not knowing what you are getting yourself into. A smirk would grow upon his face and you would be trapped. He had control.

Maybe it is something that he picked up from JENOVA. I once heard she was a convincing little !#$&.

Oh, that's right. She was.

"One question, Sephiroth."

I just had to ensure myself. He nodded, as if waiting to see what stupid question I had come up with.

"How do I know...how do I know that you don't secretly support this or something? How do I know that you wouldn't like to be cloned, with a whole army to do your dirty deeds?"

Come on, it was a valid question. I didn't know if the guy was still crazy. Maybe he wasn't JENOVA crazy, but the guy was still creepy.

He shook his head. I could swear I heard a faint laugh escape his perfectly sculpted lips, but I might have imagined it.

"I am Sephiroth. I am the only one. I will give no one the chance to become as great as I."

I should have known that he was a stupid, egotistical, jerk. I trust him completely.

He continued.

"If you are wondering, I am no longer influenced by JENOVA in any way. My body had been enhanced by her being, and that does remain the same, but I was changed. Once she lost her grip on me, I slowly returned to sanity as my body healed itself from the attacks of you and your friends. I feel as if I now owe a debt to the world, and stopping Hojo is only part of it. I am the man I was before...everything."

His words sent a silent shiver sown my spine. This was the Sephiroth I had once be obsessed with as a young girl. Not the monster I had thought him to be. Did I mention he was dead sexy?

At this thought, my PHS went off loudly.

I scrambled around looking for it, only to see that Sephiroth had picked it up from the small table beside him. He reached it out in my direction. I grabbed hold of the PHS, wondering who could be calling at this time.

My hand brushed against Sephiroth's, sending another slight shiver down my spine. Again, a smirk from him. It ws like he knew everything I was feeling, everything that I needed. My eyes closed themselves. I was feeling almost comferted next to him.

Only one other person had done that to me. That was Aeris. How could I relate someone so pure, to someone so evil? (Yes, I still believed Sephiroth was evil, only because that "debt" that he owed hasn't been repaid as of yet...)

The PHS went off again, and I quickly snatched it from Sephiroth and stood. I needed to focus on something else, and this call had come at precisely the right moment.

"Hullo?", I said into the PHS, hoping for the call to be important.

"Hey Tif. You sound tired, did I wake you?"

Cloud. I was talking to Cloud, and I was standing right beside Sephiroth. It would only be weirder if Cloud were here in person.

"No, I'm awake. Um, you okay?"

I turned to see Sephiroth listening intently to my conversation. I was growing to see just how rude the new Sephiroth was.

I don't know what came over me then.

I kicked Sephiroth, the great Sephiroth, in the shin and turned to walk into the kitchen. What right did he have to listen to my conversation.

I guess maybe I wasn't thinking at the time.

"Yeah, I'm ok. I was just calling to tell you I will be back soon. Maybe tomorrow night."

As I reached the kitchen a cool hand spun me around. His face was inches from mine, and he looked angry. I tried not to let my fear show. I just stood there, Cloud waiting for a reply, and Sephiroth wanting to kill me slowly. His eyes were hard.

He then loosened his grip on me and he placed his lips next to my ear. I wondered if he could hear my heartbeat. It felt as if my heart would explode at any moment. I began to shake, feeling Sephiroth so close.

"I'd advise you not to do that again.", was all he said, as he walked to sit back down.

"Tifa, you there?"

"Yeah! Yeah I'm here, Cloud!"

"So I'll see you tomorrow? I'll come get you in the bar, try to get you off work eary."

"Yeah, yeah. Bye, Cloud."


I sighed deeply and ended the conversation. I then walked back over to where Sephiroth had been, to see him looking out my window. Silver whisps of hair were moving in the wind as he rested his elbows on the edge of the open window.

I walked over to the window beside Sephiroth, looking to see what he had been looking at so intently. He was looking up at the stars. He looked as if he was trying to figure out some mystery, some unknown language, as if he were seeking a sign of some sort.

"Before, I never had the chance to understand what beauty was. Before JENOVA was controlling me, I didn't care about anything but myself.", he said, still looking at the stars. "Once she had me, I cared about JENOVA, and I still cared only for us."

His voice sounded sad, regretful. I felt sad for him.

"Now I see the world. I understand."

I didn't know what to say. I felt stuck. I felt stupid.

I placed a hand on his broad shoulder, looking to the stars like him. Maybe he had changed.

"The stars are beautiful.", was the reply I came up with. Good one, Tifa. I could act like such a little girl sometimes.

I felt him turn to me. He looked at me as if he were looking at the stars. It made me feel good, like I was special. It was a feeling that Cloud had never given me, one that I had wished for, but never recieved. I couldn't, however, let myself fall deeper into his spell.

I looked away and found myself opening the door.

"Well, I guess I am going back to bed. You can leave now.", I said coldly, waiting for him to leave.

"You would kick me out after I helped you, Tifa Lockhart?"

The words made my heart melt. I was always a compassionate person. It sucked.

"Fine. Would you like to come out on the porch with me? You can see the stars much better.", I said, smiling.

He nodded. We walked out onto the porch and I began looking up.

"Well, g'night Sephiroth.", I giggled, running back into the house, locking the door. We both ran over to the open window, and I luckily got there first. I closed the window and waved at him through the clear glass.

I swear to you, here and now, a smile spread across his face. He had been outsmarted, and all he could do was smile.


Please R&R! I hope you like the story so far!