A/N: just to explain a bit about this and why Sephiroth can seem out of character. Note that this takes place before the 'incident' in Nibleheim and that Sephiroth is only 19-18 here, which means that he is not insane(yet that is). The lame prolouge is not lame, everything is going to be explained (note: really, I am going to surprise everyone! except Midori, she already knows...)

People also might think that it is wrong that I state SHM as clones. Don't worry, I know they aren't, I got everything under control.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

Sephiroth leaned back into the seat of the couch and gladly accepted the steaming hot cup of tea. It had been strange, confusing, and none the less surprising when the old man had announced himself to be the famous Professor Goodbay. Of course, Sephiroth only knew who he was because Ningit and Hojo had mentioned him several times on several occasions.

Hojo did it every time he felt frustrated and when his test would be a failure. Sephiroth tried not to listen to the endless ramblings of his, but at times it could not be helped, and every time the same names escaped the scientist, Goodbay and Gast.

Ningit talked in her sleep, or at least she did the only night they spend together. However, they were in separate rooms, but Sephiroth couldn't help but check on her every time he walked past her room. She was fascinating because he knew that she was hiding something, something big, and if there was one thing he wanted to learn, it was big, mysterious fat things, especially from those who seemed impossible to understand.

When he stared at her during the trip, she would give him a questioning side glance, but he would never answer, he never felt like it.

He had observed her and her actions were strange. She would stop suddenly and stare into the air, her mouth opening a bit like she was witnessing something terrible. Other times, he found her sitting with her back towards him, head buried deep within her hands—she did it when she thought he wasn't there or looking.

She was hiding.

Not that Sephiroth really minded that fact that she hid herself from him… What bothered him was the fact that he didn't know why she was hiding. He could stop caring and just walk casually along and not be bothered by the fact that Shinra, AVALANCHE, and some lunatic trio were out there somewhere, all desperate to claim her for their own.

What made her so special?

Goodbay sat opposite from him, sipping his tea with a soft chuckle, which earned a raised eyebrow from Sephiroth.

"I guess you want answers…?" the warm, old voice questioned.

Sephiroth shrugged and leaned further back into the seat, crossing his legs as he gulped some of the tea down. It was bitter, sour and just how he liked it.

"As I told you before, I am her Uncle…

"But, I am not her real uncle… See, Ningit has a unique past; something no one in the whole world will suspect. Hee… hee…" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at the professor, wondering what he was implying. "I could tell you the whole story… But that wouldn't be fun would it?"

I don't like him. Sephiroth thought as he sipped once more from his tea.

"However, I will let you rest and give you one clue."

He pushed his glasses further up his nose and smiled. "You are searching for something am I right? A… materia?"

That caught his full attention and he narrowed his eyes to listen to what Goodbay was about to say. A smile on the old man's face didn't calm him down at least.

"I know it; I know about the experiment Hojo is about to do. He started it when you were born. Pathetic, you could say, but these clones are supposed to be lifeless and able to obtain one of your special abilities. I expect that Ningit already sorted that out for you. Now, this materia is one of a kind, and can only be used once in ten years—don't ask me where I know this from; it is secret data—However, the materia will make the clones become 'you' completely, which means that if you are stubborn enough, you would be able to separate yourself into not only two, but three bodies…"

Sephiroth had grown horribly silent as he listened to the man's explanation.

"Sadly… there are ears and eyes every where… It won't take people long to get the knowledge about my existence… Sadly…"

"… I know…"

"Now… Where to go to…?" the old man said smiling and rubbing his cheek. "How about you took a relaxing trip to Costa del Sol, I heard that there are some interesting caves somewhere over there; you might want to take a look at them…"

Sephiroth wasn't stupid; he knew what the old man was talking about. Placing the empty cup on the table, he tilted his head slightly to one side, narrowing his eyes. "Now… What about her. She is hiding something and I think you know what it is…"

The smile disappeared and was replaced with a frown. "I am not in a position to tell you…" Sephiroth was about to threaten the man when Goodbay spoke again. "A secret like hers is only meant for her to tell… and she will tell you if she trust you." Turning his head, he stared at her sitting form in the flower fields outside his house.

"Don't be too harsh on her… People think they carry a burden that is so great. Someone carries the burden of loosing family, someone carries the burden of being an idiot because he or she has left everything, and others are the leader of a company… They think that their burden is the largest… But, they are wrong…"

Sephiroth turned his head too and stared at the brown hair that curved down her back.

"She carries a burden bigger than any of us… and do not underestimate me when I say bigger…"

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She embraced her legs slightly as she rested her head against the rough surfaces.

She didn't care about her short mini-skirt that had been covered with nasty cuts, mud and lastly rain. The once white surface become a nasty light brown colour and she was convinced that if it was placed under a microscope there would be over a million different bacterium… hmm… sounds interesting, maybe I should keep it and take a look at it when I get back to Midgar.

Her thought stopped slightly and her gaze saddened. If I can get back… Half of the world is trying to catch me for God's sake…

Two weeks with Sephiroth had definitely changed her whole perspective of her situation. First, a half day's walk and they would have reached Kalm, when he decided that he didn't want to go there any way.

She had of course protested wildly at first, claiming that she needed a bath and that she hated his company.

He had shocked her when he had simply said. "Fine. Go to the town and get yourself killed, if you are that stupid to let AVALANCHE catch you…"

First, she had been clueless about what the hell he was talking about, when she noticed a trail of footsteps on her path. From that day, she did everything Sephiroth said, followed his every footstep, but he must have gotten lost somehow, because it wasn't the way to the chocobo farm.

They managed to get off the island and then to Mideel where they had searched for Goodbay; even though she knew Sephiroth had noticed her strange behaviour, she tried to convince herself it was no big deal—seriously, it wasn't.

They had ended up spending three days, in the little hot town with Ningit staring at the palm trees with fascination, and Sephiroth going off to God knows where.

They saw each other rarely and it suited them both just fine. What didn't suit her, were the curious glances he gave her every time they sat in the rented room at the inn. His piercing Mako eyes trying to somehow solve her like a riddle. It took all her will power not to scream 'bloody murder.'

Strange was the fact that they hadn't really had any arguments; they had simply decided to keep themselves to, well, themselves. Sometimes, she would be able to converse a bit with him or steal a single glance, but that was all. They seemed to, despite all the facts and evidence, get along with each other. Of course not in the way that many people thought, but they did get along.

Because one: they weren't biting each other's head off.

Two: she still hadn't complained about their lack of conversations.

Three: Sephiroth had smiled one time……… Not that she had particularly enjoyed that moment, but it was amusing and interesting; she could say that much.

"I know you are there…" she muttered as she felt his presence behind her, as always he didn't bother saying anything at first.

"I am still sleeping outside…"

"Do as you please, I could care less…" he said in a monotone voice. "… But, if you got sick by sleeping outside, then it would mean I would have to drag you to Costa del Sol"

She turned around and raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying?"

"You-are-going-to-sleep-I-N-S-I-D-E…" Sephiroth said with crossed arms, she glared at him.

"No…"

"Too bad, you don't have a choice…"

She sighed and brushed some of her brown hair behind her ear. She really didn't want to deal with him right now; all this was so terribly frustrating. It was amazing she hadn't had a minor breakdown already.

Sephiroth felt himself getting angry at her and was about to walk away when her hand firmly caught his wrist. "I am sorry…"

"I don't care," he groaned. He could have easily got out of her weak grip, but he let her hold it in case that she might say something valuable.

"She will tell you if she trusts you; I am not in a position to tell you…"

She let go of his wrist and continued to sit in the field, watching the sun setting.

He groaned again and sat down beside her. It was confusing how things had become the way they were, at first they would sit as far away from each other as possible, but now they had learned to accept their differences that they could actually sit beside each other now.

He hated it.

She scratched her head and yawned, blinking away the small tears that came when she did so. With a tiny laugh she began to speak again, "Oh… Sorry, it is just… I have to find this materia for you, but hell, there is this huge risk that I could get killed …"

"I won't allow that…"

She turned her head towards him and noticed that his usual smirk had disappeared and that his mako eyes were focused on the setting sun. "I still need you, and I will make sure you don't die until we are done with all of this…"

She snorted. "Oh… that was so sweet…" The sarcasm dripping in her voice.

"You're welcome…"

"Ass…….."

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"Fuhito… What is this…?" Elfé said slightly nervous.

He pushed his glasses up his nose and continued to study the file she had brought. "Really, this doesn't make any sense at all. I mean, even with all the data you collected it doesn't really seem like it is connected…"

The dark-haired woman buried her head into her hands. "Don't tell me…that I went there for nothing…"

He waved his hand in disbelief "No, no, no, no! Not at all… You see, there is just a slight problem…" he said and motioned her to come over to him. She bent over his shoulder and studied the file in his hands.

"See, the problem is that none of this really fits together, if we separate them they make sense, but together it is just one big messy puzzle."

The room went silent and a single cough from the doorway made them both turn their faces. "Excuse me, Ma'm… But, there is a man who wishes to speak with you…"

She narrowed her eyes dangerously, "Who?"

The young man gulped and began to seem nervous, "Well… um… well… It is Reeve Tuesti from the Shinra Company…"

Elfé looked slightly amused at first, but then her face turned grim and she glared at the young man. "How… did… he… get… here…?"

"Well… He… he is not really here, he is waiting for you on the phone…"

Fuhito snickered shortly and motioned for her to go, claiming that he had work to do.

"Fine," she hissed underneath her breath and walked out the door, leaving her partner to sigh. She is a fabulous leader, but she thinks too highly of herself sometimes.

She was in a bad mood, and it didn't help that he somehow managed to get the phone number. It did not help at all. Snatching the white PHS out of the scared girl's hand she nearly screamed into the speaker. "…………………….. Yes!"

As the conversation went on, her frown continued to deepen, something wasn't right. Despite all logic and sense she slammed the phone down and demanded Shears to come there right away.

They were going to get the girl Ningit; it seemed that she knew something very valuable.

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"Sleep."

"Shut up, Sephiroth…" she mumbled as she turned again in the bed making him grunt a bit in the process. To be honest, she hated being in the same room as him. Yes, he didn't try to kill her as in the beginning, and he had sort of allowed her to curse at him without getting threatened with her life.

She hated that there was only one bedroom and that she preferred having to sleep with him beside her than the old man. That didn't mean she could sleep, it was something completely different.

He was tall and wide and he certainly weighed a lot; yes, she was talking about Sephiroth. When she turned to face his back, away from the window she would always end up tangled in his silver hair and when she faced the window the moon shinned all too bright.

Ningit couldn't sleep.

She hated sleeping on her stomach and she hated sleeping on her back. Really, maybe she should have taken the couch and forced Sephiroth to sleep with her good for nothing uncle…

Uncle…

No, he was nothing like a uncle, he was the worst possible scum that could exist on this earth, she would kill him if she—

"Goddamnit! Sleep already or else I am going to use a materia on you!"

See, that was why she didn't like Sephiroth. He wasn't kind and when he spoke to her nicely, it somehow always ended up sounding like a threat.

She sighed, "Well, might be a good idea, because I can't sleep…"

He groaned and turned in the bed, his face staring at her. "Why is that…?"

She raised an eyebrow at him and sat up fully in the bed. "You are lying beside me, and the one person I truly hate is in the other room, that's why…"

"You are pathetic…" he groaned as he turned once more so that his back faced her.

"He is the same as Hojo…" she whispered. The room suddenly fell silent as if their breathing had stopped by that name. Sephiroth's mako eyes shinned through the darkness with a hint of anger and sadness. Things he didn't often show, but it did happen more than sweet emotions like compassion and such.

"Why?" he whispered.

She bent her head downwards so that her brown hair covered her face. "You have seen the scars on my back, right?"

"Ah…" he said softly; he had seen uglier scars, but he none the less seen them.

Ningit lifted her finger and pointed at the closed door. "He did it…"

The room was silent again; it was those thick silences where it felt hard to breathe in. Sephiroth sat up in the bed, so that his feet hit the ground beside the bed. Burying his head into hands, he muttered something that sounded like a 'why' once more.

Her eyes widened as his question and she looked the other way, out of the window. "I… can't tell you…"

His footsteps could be heard walking around the bed and towards the door. She turned towards him, "W-where are you going?". He pulled on a black t-shirt he had brought on to the journey; leather wasn't comfortable at times. "I am going for a walk, so that you can get some sleep. I don't want to drag around on you when you are tired…"

She frowned as he opened the door. "You don't care anyway…"

Sephiroth turned his gaze and stared at her for a few moments. "Yes, I don't, so why be so childish about it?"

"You act more like a child…"

He waved his hand lazily and walked out the door, closing it with a soft click.

She tilted her head to one side before smiling brightly. He seems a little more… I don't know what... With those words in her mind, she lay down on the bed and slowly drifted into a somewhat peaceful sleep and didn't wake up when Sephiroth returned.

Maybe because he had made sure to cast a sleep spell on her. Idiot.

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Thanks to MidoriTsuki for beta'ing this chapter.

A naked Sephi in bed to Schemergirl.