A Past Long Forgotten

Chapter 15: Encounters

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7 or anything like that… sigh.

Cloud stood with his mouth hanging open for several very long moments. Sephiroth had stopped attacking and was watching the scene, trying his best to look detached and uninterested.

Seconds dragged by before anything was said or heard; finally, Vincent stepped out from the doorway to stand beside Aeris. Cloud was shaken from his reverie.

"Aeris…?" Cloud asked again, dumbfounded, "You're alive? How… why?"

"Cloud," For a moment she had to smile. "It's nice to see you again… I promise you I can explain everything…"

Cloud simply shook his head, clearly lost in thought. Tifa had finally recovered from her initial shock, and in a moment of sheer joy and happiness ran to Aeris and embraced her.

"Aeris, I've missed you." Tifa hugged her tightly. She had come to know Aeris as a sister and as a best friend. Her death had hit Tifa very hard.

"Oh, Tifa." Aeris returned the embrace, "We have lots of catching up to do when this is all over!" Aeris smiled warmly.

Vincent watched the exchange whilst keeping an eye on Sephiroth. Sephiroth seemed to be deep in thought. Vincent suspected he was telepathically communicating with Jenova, but there was no way to be sure.

"Vincent," Cloud tore his gaze from Tifa and Aeris, "What are you doing here?"

"I am helping Aeris." He answered simply, knowing the way Cloud would respond.

"You knew! And you didn't tell me!" Cloud looked somewhat shocked.

"It is a long story," Vincent began, "And now is not the time for explanations."

Cloud didn't look satisfied. He was about to press the issue when Sephiroth again made his presence known.

"Enough! The puppet and I have unfinished business. And then I will take care of the Ancient." He shot Aeris a dirty look that enraged Cloud.

Cloud drew his sword, ready to charge.

"No! Cloud please- don't hurt him!"

It appeared as if it took all of Cloud's efforts to cease his attack. "Aeris- this is the man that killed you! That took you from all of us!"

"You don't understand Cloud- he's different now… I've met Sephiroth, the real Sephiroth…" She began, not sure how to explain.

"Aeris- are you alright?" This time it was Tifa who questioned her friend.

"Sephiroth… without the influence of Jenova… he…" Aeris began, not sure where to start, and blushing furiously.

Sephiroth couldn't help but be interested. Ignoring the protests of Jenova, he lowered his sword to hear what the Cetra had to say. Cloud looked impatient to continue the battle with his former nemesis.

Vincent stepped beside Aeris. "They were returned to the planet together with no memory of the events of Meteor or their past lives."

Aeris nodded, "Sephiroth was my only friend, he-"

"FRIEND?" Cloud looked angry again, "This MONSTER was your FRIEND!"

Tifa looked confused, and Vincent exasperated.

"Cloud, please… just let me help him- I can show you-" Aeris protested.

"He'll kill you again Aeris. He'll take you away from us just like he did before!" Cloud looked angry and almost hurt. He simply could not understand how a man who had taken so much from them could possibly win any affection from anyone, much less Aeris.

"Aeris- I can't understand this." Cloud continued, "How can you trust him? It has to be one of his schemes…"

Aeris looked away and sighed. "It's different now, Cloud… I've met the real Sephiroth. The planet intended for me to save him… so that we could both have another chance at life. Jenova manipulated him and used him before… he was a victim too."

Cloud didn't say anything for a moment; he still could not believe her. The hurt he saw in her eyes made him furrow his brow in confusion. He cared for Aeris deeply; she had taught him many things on their journey, especially about himself. She had led him to Tifa. He was internally battling between his care for his lost friend and his hatred towards Sephiroth.

Sephiroth had had enough. "You lie, Cetra… mother would never manipulate me…!"

"She's not your mother, Sephiroth." Vincent interrupted. "I knew your real mother. She was human."

"No! Jenova is my mother! Together we will rule the planet- I will be a god!" Sephiroth's knuckles were very white from clenching his hands on the hilt of his sword.

Cloud raised his sword again, his decision made. "I told you Aeris- I'm ending this now."

Suprisingly, it was Tifa who stopped him. She placed a hand on his arm. "Cloud… just… let them try."

Cloud looked at Tifa, "Did you forget, Tifa? Nibelheim? He killed your father!"

"Of course I haven't forgotten, Cloud… but when has Aeris ever steered us wrong before?"

Cloud had no response to that, but he was not about to let anyone take Aeris again- especially not now when she had a chance to live the life she had been denied.

Sephiroth had other plans. He charged at Cloud with his sword raised, eager to continue fighting. Cloud had not been expecting the sudden attack, and nearly missed it. He quickly pushed Tifa out of harm's way and drew his sword in defense at just the right moment.

Cloud's skills had certainly not deteriorated since his last battle with the silver haired general. Both swordsmen were apparently equally matched, but when Tifa quickly joined the fray to fight alongside Cloud, Sephiroth was clearly disadvantaged. Tifa managed to land a few blows. In Sephiroth's recovery, Cloud drew his sword to deliver a punishing blow.

"Please stop!" Aeris cried. Before Vincent could reach for her, she ran towards the battle, directly in front of Sephiroth. She raised her staff to try and stop Cloud's large sword from making contact with Sephiroth. The sound of metal hitting metal reverberated through the lab. The impact caused Aeris to falter and drop her staff; she fell over. Cloud gasped and almost immediately dropped his sword, terrified that he could have harmed Aeris. Tifa stood motionless, shocked.

Sephiroth looked between curiosity and shock. What business did this girl have in defending him? He raised his sword again. If she was going to make it this easy, then he would finish her without conflict.

Aeris began picking herself up, about to reach for her staff when she saw the menacing glint of the masamune out of the corner of her eye. She looked up at Sephiroth; there was no fear in her eyes.

"Sephiroth," She pleaded with him, "You don't have to do this anymore."

Sephiroth glared. He did not like the way that he felt when she looked at him. His mother's voice seemed very far away when she was this close.

"Don't you dare touch her Sephiroth…!" Cloud had raised his sword again.

Sephiroth looked over at him, "Take one more move and I'll kill her, Strife. It will be just as easy as the last time."

Cloud didn't move a muscle.

"Sephiroth," Aeris tried again, "Jenova is not your mother… you don't have to listen to her…"

Sephiroth lowered his sword slightly, desperately searching himself for the answers. Jenova made things easy. She made things uncomplicated and simple. The ancient confused him, overwhelmed him.

Aeris was staring at him intensely. He searched her face and found nothing but confidence and acceptance.

"Come back to me," she stated simply. Her voice was little more than a whisper. "I'm certain of why the planet restored us to life now…"

Sephiroth completely lowered his sword. A strange memory came back to him.

Aeris was busy making breakfast, humming softly to herself and perfecting the motions. Did he deserve this? Did he deserve her? Probably not, he decided. But that didn't stop his heart from wanting more. He watched her bustle around the kitchen, such a simple task, but somehow elegant and graceful when it was she who performed it. He continued to stare, it could have been three minutes, it could have been 10. Sephiroth didn't know. All he knew was that he was feeling something he had never felt before, and he felt baffled as to what it was or how to express it.

Sephiroth blinked and brought himself back to the present. Aeris had hesitantly stood up and taken a step closer to him. "Do you remember, Sephiroth?" She asked gently.

He backed away as another memory caught him by surprise.

"Sephiroth..." She began.
"Yes?" He answered without hesitation.
"I'm so glad I found you," she began, "I don't know how I would've survived without you..., more than that, you've cared enough to stay, and to... be there for me. I can't thank you enough for that."
After a few moments of silence, Sephiroth looked thoughtful. "Aeris?"
"Yeah Seph?" She asked, fondly using his nickname.
"Thank you."
She looked up at him then, and stole a kiss.

He was confused. Searching for respite from his muddled memories, he pictured another scene.

She was kneeling on the altar, her hands clasped in prayer. The puppet approached her, but he would not complete the task. Sephiroth leapt down from above, sword drawn.

He remembered how easily the steel cut through her. How her smile slowly faded as she fell forward, gracefully accepting her death. She was so innocent…

Sephiroth dropped the masamune with a loud clatter, "No, Aeris! Why would I ever…!" He clutched a hand to his forehead, struggling to understand himself.

Jenova made herself heard, "Kill her, Sephiroth." Her voice was soothing. "Kill her and the pain will stop…"

"Mother…" Sephiroth mumbled. "Are you even my mother?"

"Don't listen to her Sephiroth!" Aeris' voice was suddenly stern. "She's using you! She's not your mother…!"

Sephiroth raised his sword again; he was trembling from head to foot. He pulled the sword back over his head, ready to deal the finishing blow to the young girl.

Just as he was swinging, a flash of white light filled the room.

Author's notes:

This is getting intense. Thank you for the reviews:D! A few more chapters ought to finish this up- It's taken me years… literally… but it will be complete! I really appreciate everyone's support.

Take care, everyone.