Chapter Six

Aeris opened her eyes and stretched. Sitting upright she suddenly felt a bust of cold air and froze still. She realized suddenly she was not in her tent, and the previous nights events came rushing back to her. Her and Sephiroth...Cloud kissing her...and Sephiroth holding her while she cried. She fell asleep crying in his arms. Looking down quickly, she saw Sephiroth sleeping peacefully beside her. She reached out one hand to touch his face, and brushed a few strands of hair off of his cheek. He seemed to wake at the electricity of her touch, and his eyes jerked open.

"Aeris..." he said sleepily, sitting up and stretching. Aeris smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you...for last night." she said. Sephiroth shook his hand.

"Don't worry about it. Are you better now?" he asked. Aeris just nodded and pulled away. She felt Sephiroth's embrace fall from her and his hand rested on her hip. Her skin tingled at his touch, making her aware more than ever his advances. She heard a scuffle and a sudden scream come from their camp.

"Tifa!" Aeris gasped. Sephiroth was already on his feet. Aeris jumped up and turned to run after Tifa's scream, but stopped and turned to Sephiroth, not wanting to leave him.

"Go. They might need you." he said softly, moving towards her and kissing her forehead for good luck. Aeris nodded and grabbed her staff off the ground and ran out of sight. She ran as fast as she could before another scream erupted.

"Cloud!" Tifa screamed. Aeris froze. There was utter horror in her voice. Something had happened to Cloud. Aeris took off srpinting until she reached the little campsite. There were two Chimeras standing there, one standing over an unconscious Cloud, the other circling overhead. Aeris gasped. The Chimera's large head was bent over like it was about to eat Cloud. Aeris took her staff and launched it like a spear at the Chimera, and it stuck into the Chimera's wing, making it howl in pain and anger.

"Aeris!" Tifa exclaimed. Aeris watched the Chimera she attacked come towards her, a look of death in her eyes. Tifa Aeri and even Cloud could not fend off a beast when it was this angry. Only one could. This was a perfect chance for her to see if Sephiroth truly cared for her. If he didn't...it was her life.

"Tifa! I am going to lure it into the woods! You get Cloud out of sight!" Aeris yelled, then turned and bolted off before Tifa could argue. The Chimera howled in anger and took off bounding after her. Aeris darted through the trees, determined to get back to where she had last seen Sephiroth, hoping for her knight in shining armor to be who he claimed to be.

Aeris ran quick, but soon got lost in her thoughts of Sephiroth and didn't pay attention to where she was running. She tripped over a branch that had fallen and hit the ground hard. The wind was knocked from her chest and she lay on the ground heaving. The Chimera watched happily as she tried to regain her breath, but it was taking it's sweet time.

She tried to scream, but nothing would come out as the Chimera wove it's way through the tress toward her at a fast rate. Again she tried to scream, but it still wouldn't come out. The Chimera was on top of her now, it's snarling teeth glistening inches from her face.

Horror ripped through her as the possibility of Sephiroth not coming was becoming more and more a reality. Suddenly, her prayers were answered whenever the Chimera howled in pain and whirled around on somone. Aeris could not see who it was, but she was silently worshipping him.

She tried to sit up, but the Chimera raised up on it's hind legs and howled in pain and fell back on her. She screamed and the wind was knocked from her once more. The Chimera's blood was running, and it was almost to her hair, spread out away from her head. Suddenly, the Chimera was lifted off her and Sephiroth stood there. He pulled her to her feet and she gasped for breath.

"Sephiroth..." she panted, and he grabbed her and pulled her forcefully away, moving so quickly she almost tripped. "Sephiroth, what are you doing?" she asked frightfully.

"Shhh!" he whirled around with a finger to his lips and tightened his grip. "Just come with me. There are higher powers acting here. Hurry." he whispered. Aeris nodded and they took off again. After a while, they reached a small hut, and Sephiroth ushered Aeris inside. He closed and locked the doors, and drew all the blinds. Aeris watched him frightfully, and when he wa done she grabbed his hand with her own.

"Sephiroth. What is going on?" she asked. He turned to her and sighed.

"Jenova sent those Chimera. They are stronger than normal Chimera, and you don't stand a chance. She knows of my disobediance, and is trying to destroy you to regain my allegiance." Sephiroth said. Aeris gasped.

"What of Cloud Tifa and Barret! Am I to leave them to die?" she asked. Sephiroth shook his head.

"Mother would not harm those who do not matter. She only wants my allegiance, and you are her only hinderance."

"Wouldn't she know you were helping me then?"

Sephiroth grew quiet and broke his gaze from Aeris', and looked at the door. Aeris held her breath and listened, and they heard someone walking outside. Aeris' heart raced. What if it were Cloud or Tifa? She backed away from Sephiroth, backing up to the wall. Fear gripped her, and she stared at the door in horror, her heart pounding.

Sephiroth touched the hilt of the masamune, ready to behead the first monster to come through. But the footsteps moved away and the danger was gone. Aeris moved towards Sephiroth, but he held out a hand. Aeris froze.

"Stay here." he mouthed, then moved to the door, unlocked it, and stepped outside. Aeris ran to the door frame and watched Sephiroth from the safety of her position. Suddenly, a Chimera screeched and flew down at Sephiroth. It caught him from behind and knocked him down to the ground. Aeris screamed and backed back into the house. But she couldn't leave Sephiroth out there!

Where was her staff?

Aeris looked around quickly, and spotted some kitchen knives on the counter. She ran to them and grabbed four. Two big cleavers and two small steak knives. She set them down by the door and picked a steak knife up. She threw it as hard as she could, catching the Chimera in the side of the head. It howled and whirled on her.

She grabbed the other steak knife and threw it too, catching the Chimera in the wing. She grabbed the two cleavers and held them tight in her hand, swinging them at the Chimera when it got too close.

Behind the Chimera, Sephiroth came to his feet.

"Aeris!" he yelled. The Chimera raised it's tail and struck her with a lightning bolt. She screamed in pain and fell unconscious, the electricity still coursing through her body.

Sephiroth gritted his teeth in anger and went ballistic on the Chimera, slicing and dicing it until there was practically nothing left. He ran to Aeris and kneeled beside her, touching her soft skin and checking for a pulse.

"No. You can't die Aeris..." he said, leaning down and breathing into her mouth and beginning CPR. It took three times before she began coughing.

"Aeris!" he exclaimed happily. For the first time in his life, he was actually happy. He was happy Aeris was alive. She opened her eyes and saw him, and gratification came to her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her off the ground and carried her into his hut, laying her on the bed and wetting a paper towel and covering her forehead before closing the door.

Out from behind a bush stepped a menacing looking red cat with tattoos and a flaming tail. He watched Sephiroth close the door and turned away and ran off.