Journey Seven – Kusanagi

Somewhere dark

"I see." Bellima snorted as she crossed arms. "That Astaroth went into Akagi to kill him."

"Patient Bellima." Calmly replied the white stranger. "We would not know whether he successfully got the objective or like he is as the Fallen Angel, kill that One Winged Angel for his feast."

"His feast? More like his dessert after his main course, Master." Ryoujin sarcastically remarked with no interest in Astaroth.

"But Master is right, you know." The crimson stranger happily alleged with a crackle smile. "If Astaroth managed to somehow capture him in his own ways, then it might been easier for us to open the path to Lost Eden!"

Before the battle

"Before I go and get rid of this bugger, can I make a promise to you Aerith?" Sephiroth calmly asked as he was about to dive into the crimson river.

"Yes, but why making a promise now?" Aerith puzzlingly replied, not understanding what on Gummi's name he's doing.

"If I was alive after that, have you dream about walking on the clouds?"

"Yes I would, if only I have a pair of wings."

"You don't need to. I'll take you to the moonlit sky, where I'll show you can walk on the clouds and we'll dance behind the moon to our hearts' contents. Is that a promise?"

She nodded. "Okay, but you'll better not let go of my hand!"

Lukia Canal, Akagi

Aerith prayed with all her heart that Sephiroth will keep his promise, as well as surviving from Astaroth's wrath.

As for Astaroth himself, he was enjoying getting the chance to torture poor Sephiroth. He didn't care for that loathsome fool's scream, nor seeing 'his girlfriend' being a pansy to protect.

"…Sayonara One Winged Angel – Bringer of Misfortune and World Destruction!" And he clutched his victim's bone that was connected to Sephiroth's wing. However, something was wrong as the Fallen Angel felt it was burning inside. "WHAT IS THIS SEARING BURN I CAN FEEL?"

Aerith couldn't understand the situation about this, but she felt something warm on her right hand.

Why's the compass so bright? She thought as she looked at the wonderful object glowing brightly. Hang on; is it reacting with Sephiroth's pain and…me? I don't understand this!

Suddenly, the compass was so intense, she closed her eyes as she hold on tightly to the dragon's head. As for Astaroth, he felt that Sephiroth's body was too hot to handle as the Fallen Angel let go of him rather rapidly, much to his disgust that he didn't killed that One Winged Angel in the process.

"His body, what the hell is he for a One Winged Angel?" Astaroth snarled, but what he found the most shocking was that Sephiroth was standing still, despite being horribly injured, reaching his right hand 'to call' Masamune from the bottom of the crimson river and his left hand, where he 'called' another sword as it was magically appearing. And his eyes…his beautiful emerald green iris were replaced with pure white ones, furthermore that on his left hand when it finished appearing, it looked like Masamune's appearance, only except it looked more golden, the handle was shaped like an angel wing. Astaroth couldn't believe what the One Winged Angel was carrying on his left hand.

"That's…Kusanagi?" He snarled to Sephiroth, though only silent as he got on to his offensive position with that named sword and Masamune. "…The Sword that the Archangel Michael wields? That's im…" Unfortunately, the Fallen Angel nearly lost concentration as the One Winged Angel was right out in front of him, with little time for defence, causing much damage than he did to him.

"Why did you wield a sword that only the Archangel Michael possesses?" Astaroth tried asking him, as he defending himself with Muramasa and Murasame just in the nick of time, but because of Sephiroth's somewhat 'God-like' strength and agility powers thanks to his combined swords of Masamune and Kusanagi, he was struck hard on to the gondola; despite that Aerith was on board closing her eyes not knowing she would be the next victim!

Sephiroth!

Out of the blue, this female voice, sounded familiar to his mother, came through his mind, urging him to rescue Aerith from the accident he will be producing and that made his pure white iris turning back normal to his emerald green ones, resulting Sephiroth back to 'conscious'; noticing that he had this strange sword labelled 'Kusanagi', but anyway sheathed that to his right hip of the hamaka 'belt' as well as Masamune and went straight down to the gondola; reaching Aerith on time, before Astaroth 'broke' the magnificent boat into two and sank.

Aerith opened her eyes, believing that the compass's light died down, but what she got instead was Sephiroth, though covered in bruises thanks to Astaroth's 'Lucifer's Feathers' Attack holding on his arms.

"Sephiroth!" That was her only exclamation by surprise. "You're injured!"

"It doesn't matter; I've had worse in battles at Olympus Coliseum." Sephiroth calmly replied. "Besides, are you…?" Then the pain, his wounds that endured from Lucifer's special attack, started to scream from his mouth and after a few moments on the air, to which Aerith was unaware of, fell unconscious with her in his arms…until both individuals were caught safely by a large 'hand' with strings attached literally.

"What on earth…Eliza!" Aerith shouted as she looked at the dark skinned woman with her puppet strings on her fingers on top of the building, grinning that they are safe.

"Whew!" Eliza replied with a sigh of relief. "Alda and I thought you're dead meat with that weird guy, but it's a good thing my hobby as a puppeteer since childhood has paid off!"

"So, where the heck Sephy and I landed on?"

"Why, you're on the hand of Shirahime!" And she was right; they were landed on what was a beautiful Geisha's hand only all of her face, kimono and limbs were covered in pure white, except for her black hair and cherry lips. "Whoa! Sephiroth's really in need of medical attention! What happened?"

"Sephy got into a fight against this weirdo, who calls himself Astaroth and he nearly killed him. Then all of a sudden, he went berserk and attacked him at full speed, before rescuing me from danger. I wonder what happened to him."

Silence was only there for a few moments and appearing from the crimson river with Muramasa and Murasame at the hands ready for a final strike, Astaroth, with a face that could only describe as a madman, came rushing towards Sephiroth's position.

"THIS IS ONLY A WARMUP, ONE WINGED ANGEL!" He cackled loudly. "HOWEVER, THIS TIME YOU'LL BE MY FEAST!"

"Guess again, Fallen Angel!" shouted a familiar voice that only applied to Eliza, Aerith and possibly Sephiroth. In addition to two gunshots were heard; resulting Astaroth blocking the oncoming bullets and forced to make a detour. In a short time Alda landed herself on Shirahime's giant shoulders behind the two main protagonists. "You've just entered my trap with my Crane and Sparrow!" With her double guns, namely from the names she 'christened', in a good fashion, she whipped them from her back and began firing at that guy in a black robe. The Fallen Angel, though guarding himself with his two swords and felt a little pissed, had no choice, but to retreat the battlefield.

"THIS ISN'T OVER YET ONE WINGED ANGEL!"

After the disappearance of Astaroth, the humanoid girl packed her Crane and Sparrow behind her back and turned around to see those 'two lovers'.

"Oh dear." Alda was remorse with the One Winged Angel's critical condition. "We've better to take him to a hospital in Second Eden as soon as possible!" And the other girls nodded.

"Ugh, where am I?" Sephiroth asked with a drowsy voice as his eyelids began to open slowly. He was back in a familiar place, where he met Jehovah – a field of roses and in the middle, there she again. Jehovah herself walking towards him.

"You've been unconscious in Second Eden for about a week." The little girl replied calmly with a smile.

"Second Eden? I thought I was in Akagi with Aerith." He gradually stood up with a little help from Jehovah's hand and walked together in a never-ending path surrounding the roses.

"I want to ask you a question and you'd better not make some cryptic answers!"

Jehovah giggled softly upon his request. "Okay, then. If you say so."

"Why did that other sword appear at my second hand? I think its name is 'Kusanagi'."

The little girl stopped walking, followed by him, as her expression of happiness gradually faded. "'Kusanagi'? You don't mean the Archangel Michael's sword?"

"What?"

"Sephiroth. That Kusanagi you're holding is actually belonged to him, the legendary sword that only he could wield. He used that, along with the Yata Mirror and the Holy Magatama of Yasakani to seal the path to Lost Eden for many eons or so."

"But if you say that this sword only wields to him, then why did it appeared at my hand?"

"Hmm, I may not be a mystic or a Cetra from Terra, but I do not know about that. However, I have a theory that might be connections between you and the Archangel Michael himself." Suddenly, the individuals can hear some machine noises that was from outside the dream field. "It's time, you should wake up back to reality. Until then, see you soon Sephiroth."

"Wait! I still don't understand about Kusanagi and other info!" Unfortunately for Sephiroth, he saw a black blanket covering the field of roses as Jehovah disappeared from nowhere.

Saint Maria of Eden Hospital, Second Eden

Why am I in the dark and how come I can hear some machines? No wait, Jehovah told me I'm in some hospital in Second Eden for a week.

He wanted desperately to open his eyes from the darkness the surrounded everywhere. He did; he opened his eyes slowly and Sephiroth was in a room that brightly coloured in white and silver, with a large window with many futuristic buildings and a sea, next to the buildings. The sky was still in dark and yet, the sun was just about to rise. Then he turned his attention to the bed he was lying on and sleeping for at least a week; unusual for any hospital bed, he was on the most comfortable one with a cover of duvets warming his body and limbs. Then he looked and touched the hospital clothes he wore – white cotton pyjamas, shirt and trousers combined, well at least he didn't get to wear one of those horrible dress. He looked at his arm wondering why did his 'fighting' arm was in need of a bandage.

And at that moment, he sat up gently only slightly to be restricted by the machine's needles and that strange equipment that was stuck up to his nose, though thankfully he pulled it out; he saw Aerith at the end, sleeping like an angel and next to her was a scattered collection of journals and books, detailing on the history of something.

Sephiroth was about to wake the sleeping girl, when rudely interrupted, the door opened automatically and came a man, though dressed like a typical doctor, his face is anything but. Scruffy brown hair, with an unshaven, yet handsome face and wore glasses and the fact he was looking at some records.

"Right, let's see how's our…FOR THE LOVE OF EDEN, THAT BLOKE'S ALIVE!" calmly remarked, but then inexplicitly exclaimed the scruffy doctor, resulted Aerith waking up slowly and looked at him.

"Huh? What's going on, doctor?" She asked in a dozy voice. "Any good news on Sephiroth?"

"Umm, actually he's right behind, sitting up straight."

"Uh, really?" At that instant, she jumped in surprise that Sephiroth was sitting up right in front of her, not understanding what on earth why she and that doctor were looking scared.

"Is there something wrong with me, being unconscious for around a week or is it that I have a black wing on my back?" He asked with a confused and frustrated look.

"Umm, it's neither of those questions." Replied the doctor with some after shocks. "Anyway, we haven't met each other, so I'm Doctor Jack Depp Senior or just call me Doctor Depp."

"Umm, right." Sephiroth could feel a large sweatdrop was appearing behind his head. "So, is there anything wrong with my health, since last week?"

"Well, you've got a lot of scratches all over your body, your right arm's a mess; hence we've bandaged those, in addition your legs got paralysed temporarily for a little while. The wing behind your back is okay, so it require little medical attention. Other than that, you're fine, except you have to remain on a wheelchair for a while and Gods know how long your legs going to be all right – maybe hours, day, months or even years."

"Bugger! Now, how am I supposed to walk now, since you say my legs are now numb?"

"Well, at least you can get on a wheelchair and let Miss Gainsborough help you push on it." Depp laughed nervously.

"Erm, okay. There's one more request I would like to make?"

"Sure, fire away."

"When can I leave this hospital ASAP? I hate it staying here doing nothing!"

City of Serapha, Second Eden

Sephiroth was glad he got his Japanese attire and his knee-length boots back at his possession, though he felt uncomfortable he was stuck on a wheelchair and Aerith, struggling to push the wheelchair thanks to his black wing.

"Uh, Sephiroth, isn't there an easier way to get rid of your wing?" Aerith remarked with some struggle, while pushing the wheelchair in a jerky way.

"What? I like my wing!" Sephiroth snapped as he looked at her.

"Yeah, but if I continue to move, I might accidentally placed you in a hospital again."

"Sigh, fine." And finally for Aerith's sake, he closed his eyes, furthermore as if it was done by magic, his black wing disappeared, ensuing that she was finally relieved that she can see, where on Second Eden she's going.

Serapha – a city with nature surrounding the futuristic buildings and holographic advertisements. Technology is so advanced, it would make Hollow Bastion seem out-of-date. The two individuals, well one on a wheelchair and the other pushing it, were in amazement and walking at the same time, observing many people doing daily lives. Teenage girls out window shopping for the latest fashion and a family going out for lunch. By the time they were going up to another section, via an automatic ramp, they saw a familiar figure running towards them.

"Aerith! Sephiroth!" Eliza exclaimed as she reached them, followed by Adrian, who was on the verge of falling asleep in the city. "So, what do you think of our world, huh?"

"Well, it sure looked more technological advanced than Sephiroth and my worlds back at the Heart Star System." Aerith nervously replied, as if she looked at someone who was obviously overconfident. "So, where are you and Adrian going to anyway?"

"Well, we're about to go on the Yeager Enterprises Research and Development building, from which I work here as a Co-Chief of Project Y, just to check on YESHUA's condition. Don't worry about the disability issue, Sephiroth; our building has all access by lifts. Wanna come with us for a tour and then after that, the whole city?"

"Uh, sure. Just where is your workplace, Eliza?"

"Follow Adrian and me."

"Are we there yet, Eliza?" Adrian groaned as his eyelids were proceeding to 'dreamland'. "You woke me up too early!"

Yeager Enterprises Research and Development Department Building, Second Eden

After a surprising quick trip via an 'auto-pilot bullet tube' train, the 'party' arrived at the entrance to the building that would automatically took them to the second floor. Once out, a group of females, whose uniform is a bit similar to Eliza's only her uniform was red as opposed to blue, came running towards her, as if they wanted her autograph.

"Co-Chief!" They greeted.

"Oh, hello there girls." Eliza happily said, while Aerith and Sephiroth were left confused and Adrian falling asleep, at the same time as standing slant on the wall. "So, what's the situation?"

"Eliza, you'd better see the Chief right away!" exclaimed one of YE's employees "And who are those people, apart from Adrian sleeping like a baby?"

"Oh, them? The woman dressed in tones of red is Aerith Gainsborough and the guy who's on a wheelchair is Sephiroth."

'YESHUA's ROOM' – Yeager Enterprises building

Godammit! Where the hell is Eliza? The young man thought to himself as he brushed his shoulder-length dark brown by his pale-skinned hand. Then he heard a door opening and prompted to turn around to see his Co-Chief, her friend Adrian and two other people to whom he never met.

"There you are, Eliza!" He exclaimed as he hugged the Co-Chief. "So, how did YESHUA suffer like this? I thought we've tested this two years and show no sign of major damage, but this!"

"Well, yeah." Eliza explained rather nervously when she met her work-partner. "Andrew, there was a slight problem when we've took off from Terra and this wasn't in a practice field!"

"So, you mean that damage he took was real and we're about to be financially crushed by Bach's dad again? And who are those people you brought? Did you gave them a lift without permission?" Apparently, Andrew was pointing at Aerith and Sephiroth rather rudely.

"Hey, it was Bach's idea to give them a lift!"

"Erm, excuse me." Aerith interrupted the two 'Chiefs' "Andrew is it? I haven't met you before, so sooner than squabbling Eliza, let me introduce myself and him. I'm Aerith Gainsborough and this person on the wheelchair is Sephiroth and we're from the Heart Star System!"

"Yeah that's – HEART STAR SYSTEM!" Andrew snapped in surprise, not noticing the silvered-hair person and his chestnut-browned hair companion.

"Uh, why did you snap all of a sudden, just now?" Sephiroth asked in a state of confusion and then was shaken as the 'Chief' appeared in front of him very quickly and was shaken hands, obviously on the left hand, by the same person.

"Oh wow! I've finally met someone who isn't from our Theophilus Star System! It's a great pleasure meeting you!"

"Uh, yeah. Aerith, help…huh?" Unfortunately for the One Winged Angel, he was very anxious that the gentle woman from Hollow Bastion was also shaken hands by Andrew, after his welcome gesture.

"And you…I've never knew a girl from the Heart Star System can never be so much beautiful. I've heard H.S.S girls can have variations depending on which planet they were from."

"Uh…that's very interesting, but can you stop shaking my hands now, you're scaring me!" shockingly exclaimed Aerith as she couldn't let go of Andrew's hands.

"I forgot to tell you guys, but Andrew's really obsessed with meeting real-live people from other Star or Solar Systems than Theophilus." Eliza explained with some nervous expression.

"I can see why." The silvered-hair replied with the same expression as Eliza.

A few seconds later and Andrew went back to 'normal' after shaking hands with Aerith he turned attention to Eliza when he turned on the projection screen.

"We've finished repairing YESHUA (along with financial debts increase), but then we also adding a new component to him." He explained with some calm around, though the opposite can be said to Eliza.

"What! I've never ordered that!" She exclaimed as she wasn't aware about an upgrade to YESHUA's powers.

"Neither do I, but the director ordered us to either add a component or both of us get the sack."

"Sigh. Fine! Just get on with the information about this 'new component'!"

Andrew, after pressing a few buttons on the holographic keyboard, showed her, along with the unusual observers, a picture of the cyborg, along with the 'new component'.

"This is the new component that was specifically made for him and it's called SAINT wings or Special Air Intel-wing Neutral Translations for the long version."

"Why did the director make these name up?"

"I don't know, why don't you ask him for yourself? Anyway, in other words, SAINT wings are particularly useful for shielding people and absorbing the special attacks from the enemies. Although this wasn't really tested out in the practice, I might as well let you do the testing out, when Bach and his crew over at the Vatican is ready to go."

"Wait, that's impossible! I mean, the shielding system is to my opinion a very complex one and taking that to the battlefield is actually very risky and who knows…"

"I hate to interrupt your conversation," Sephiroth intervened with a bewildered look "but since Aerith and I are new to the technology, what on earth are you talking about?"

"Oh right, sorry!" Eliza apologised as she didn't noticed that the two new people are still from the Heart Star System. "As you can see, YESHUA is actually a prototype combat cyborg with funding from Yeager Enterprises and Bach's dad, who is a CEO. Unfortunately, Yeager Enterprises didn't bother to inform the Theophilus Government as Bach's dad would tell me, they're a bunch of corrupted, coward bunch of snobs that only like to enjoy themselves with luxuries and not really concentrating on politics."

"And I thought the separate communities in the Heart Star System were bad, but this – that's even worse!"

"Yeah. Actually, most of the citizens living in the Theophilus Star System and the private companies, including this one, hate our government so much, we've just not asked them for their funding assistance, and we've even refuse their bribe when the General Elections take place!"

After a short time on discussing on cyborg development and politic issues, it was a temporarily farewell to Andrew and YESHUA for a while, as the party left the building and went for Eliza's house or as the Second Eden citizens would say, the Kinja Residence –slash – Bookshop that was built some between 17th and 18th century Japan. And once they arrived at the Kinja gates, a tall dark-brown figure, with natural black wispy shoulder length hair that covered partially his face; dressed in a lightly blue patterned Japanese robe, was right in front of Eliza!

"Eliza, welcome back!" He greeted in an eccentric manner as he tightly hugged the Co-Chief. "So, how's your trip to space?"

"Kei…could…please…stop…hugging….tightly…" She gasped as she tried to physically attacked his back with her fists.

"Oh right, sorry." And Kei let go of her and looked at those two strangers that was accompanied her. "So, who are those people, apart from Adrian I know? Are they from Akagi?"

"You idiot, big brother! They're from the Heart Star System!"

"Oh, so why didn't you tell me?" Despite Eliza's grunt that either Kei was just teasing her as a joke or he had some problems with his attention, he walked towards them and politely bowed down out of respect. "I hope my younger sister didn't harm you in any case."

"No, not at all." Aerith replied politely. "If you don't mind, my name is Aerith Gainsborough and this person on the wheelchair is Sephiroth."

"Yeah, I know. You're from the Heart Star System and if you haven't eavesdropping my conversation with Eliza, I'm Kei Kinja, Eliza's older brother and owner of the Kinja Bookshop."

"Bookshop, you mean you sell books?"

"Yep, but only antiques ones, since everybody now is addicted to holo-books! Well, at least I can sell those for big money!"

"KEI!" Eliza shouted in disgust.

"Well, sorry Miss-I-am-a-big-spender! So anyway, what brings you here?"

"Is it okay, if Sephiroth and I can a night, before heading off to space?" Aerith asked with compassion.

"Well, sure you'd better come in, since you're a friend of Eliza." The young man smiled with compassion.

"Can I sleep on your futon, Kei?" Adrian interrupted asking as his head was entering 'sleep mode'.

"Adrian? What happened to you?"

"Let's just say Bach and I were having a bet on who could drink the most. Turns out I won, though with a hangover from hell."

Many hours in the Kinja Residence and it seem like a nice social place, though Adrian slept most of the time on Kei's futon and as the sunset, he left there to sleep the rest of the hours in his home somewhere in the outskirts of Serapha.

However, as the black of shining stars appeared and everyone else seem to be asleep, Sephiroth, with his black wing fully appearing again, sat at the edge at the platform was near to the sliding door; looking at the azure butterflies fluttering to each other and around the fire-lit lantern.

"Can't sleep, mate?" asked Kei's voice as his body walked and sat down next to the One Winged Angel.

"What are you doing here?" Sephiroth replied rather in a sombre mood.

"You know, I've heard many tales about this black wing of yours and how it brought bad luck, though I don't believe in that stuff."

"So, why aren't you afraid of me, when you should be feared, calling my a monster?"

"You, a monster? I don't think so. To you, I think you're very quiet and yet, you're also very honest about the way you wish you want to keep some of your life a secret."

"…"

"But you know, there are some things I want to ask you so many questions. But I don't want to."

"…"

"Ever since I read this book about six years ago, I've an ancient book about the Archangel Michael and his artefacts that sealed the path to Lost Eden. Though I have sketchy details of where those three are, I know these three are the Holy Sword Kusanagi, the Yata Mirror and the Holy Magatama of Yasakani."

"…Why would he sealed the path with those three weapons?"

"I don't know about that, apart from the fact after he sealed the path, there might be a theory he changed the three special artefacts into different shapes and scatter them for eons. Then there's a myth told by everyone – should anyone attempted to disturb the path, the 'Son of the Archangel Michael' would purify those come close to do it – or something like."

"…"

"You must be tired from all that space-lagged and stuck in a hospital for nearly a week. It's best for me to just leave you alone for some time, right." Kei stood up and was about to open the interior door beforehand, Sephiroth spoke for the very first time, in a gentle voice.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, and more one thing. Take care of Eliza and that Aerith of yours, when they're in danger. I pray that your health and fortune would be good for the next day, even though you're the One Winged Angel that produces bad luck." And Kei left.

Author's Note: Who-hoo! Another Journey being done and this one is actually the most cruel thing I've ever did to poor Sephiroth – Yes, he might be a powerful, strong swordsman, but then again, despite the black wing on his back, he's still human and him being on the wheelchair would be the most obvious point of his humanity. And if anyone ask me why Sephiroth wielded the legendary sword Kusanagi, you'll have to read further Journeys to get your head noggin. As for the Yata Mirror and the Holy Magatama of Yasakani, you'll have to guess where the items are. And Second Eden is probably mainly inspired by Xenosaga's Second Miltia city and Crimson Sea's Allargando or something in Gravre. Finally, Andrew, the new character in this edition and Eliza's partner for creating YESHUA, is probably a combination inspired by Allen Ridgeley and Kevin (i.e. Shion's dead boyfriend), only unlike them, he's not dead, so I didn't want my fanfiction to be that cheesy. For Kei, Eliza's brother, my head was imagining the Kinja family to be a mixture of African (probably Kenyan) and Japanese nationalities, because I think those people don't get enough shine as the main characters and 'heroes' and I like choosing unusual people as them for once.

Before I go squabble on the Johnny Depp bit, there will be a question on where the Kusanagi went after the big fight against Astaroth. Well, Kusanagi can only appear in the most dire situation when Sephiroth is in real danger and you'll have to read further Journeys about the glowing light from the compass Aerith is holding.

Also, because I'm a Johnny Depp fan, I made him a 'cameo appearance' as a doctor in an Aeriseph fanfiction, which is an unusual choice to put an actor reference in a video game (laughs like an idiot). Plus read this Journey again and I've made one reference each from Sleepy Hollow (I'm a Tim Burton fan) and Pirates of the Caribbean, so the first reader that reviews and notice the references gets a nice reply from me congratulating the hidden discoveries.

Right enough said, action scenes; do that in your head and imagine. Thank you very much Aeriseph fans and regular reader, Black Malva for supporting through the whole Journey in the Nimbus Galaxy. Reviews are welcome, but any flames, hate reviews and Anti-Aeriseph ones are going to be used for Willy Wonka's furnace that keeps his wonderful chocolate factory running all year long.

Happy New Year everyone!