~ Watch Me ~

Act II

Rose gazed absently around the training room, recognising it immediately as the one Angeal had brought her to just twenty-four hours earlier. Every few seconds she would steal a glance at her notable companion, his cat-like features intent, as they scanned the cellular phone in front of him.

"Does it have to be a dojo?" Rose pleaded, realising what Sephiroth was looking for. He looked up questioningly, and she smiled apologetically, quick to reason her seemingly random statement. "Angeal picked a dojo before, but this tech..." She looked around pointedly. "Surely there's something more... exotic?"

"Hm." Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "Does a more exotic environment help you to focus?"

Recognising the beginnings of a yet to be spoken lecture, Rose felt her lips twitch up playfully. Having dealt with years of her brothers well-meant, but overly tedious speeches, hearing the same tone in another, set off an automatic reaction to tease.

"If I say yes, can we have a beach?" She said, tilting her head hopefully.

Sephiroth frowned. "Why?"

"I like the sea, I find it soothing." Rose confessed lightly, stretching her arms high above her head.

Sephiroth considered her for a moment. "Perhaps another time. For now the simplest of training grounds will do."

Turning away, he clicked his phone, and once again, as if by magic, the walls around Rose fell away, a dance of electrical nodes falling and rising, until they eventually built up a more urban landscape around them.

Rose regarded it with barely concealed disappointment. "An alleyway?"

"One of Sector 8's if I'm not mistaken." Sephiroth replied, turning back to where she stood. "You did request something other than the dojo."

She rolled her eyes – he had her there.

"So." She began, nudging a virtual pebble with her toe. "Why are we here? You said you'd explain."

Sephiroth nodded, observing her through silver lashes.

"Tell me, what combat experience do you have? Have you used a sword before?" He moved towards her, unsheathing his own in one long swift glide. Rose stumbled back on reflex, and he smiled. "Good." He noted appreciatively. "A little fear is an important instinct to hone."

Glaring, Rose found herself squaring her stance. "I'm not afraid of you."

Sephiroth chuckled lowly. "You misunderstand me, Miss Hewley, I mean it as a compliment. There are too many brave fools who unwittingly underestimate their enemy. They do not live for very long."

He sliced his blade pointedly through the air and the metal sang hungrily. Rose felt her pulse hum against her throat in response.

He sighed. "Angeal has asked, that I help you prepare for Lazard's test, in his absence."

Rose blinked. "He... what?" Had she heard correctly? She shook her head. "You... you don't have to do that."

Heart racing, she bit her lip worriedly. People were already going to think she was getting a free pass, what with jumping the line to Third, and who her brother was. The last thing she needed, was word getting out that she was receiving one-to-one lessons from Sephiroth.

She shook her head again. "He shouldn't have said anything. It's not fair, I'm already getting special treatment, and – "

"Angeal is a good friend of mine." Sephiroth cut in smoothly. "And as for the latter, do you really think you are the first to be brought straight into SOLDIER, or to receive preferential training?"

"I... there have been others?" Rose questioned, curious. He inclined his head, and she felt a flake of unprecedented worry leave her shoulders. "Oh, that's good." She nodded, frowning thoughtfully. "I really didn't want to be the only one."

"Never feel guilty for being exceptional, Rose." He remarked softly, surprising her. "Besides, an overly empathetic heart is not a good trait for any SOLDIER to have."

"I disagree." She murmured awkwardly, slightly taken aback by his bluntness. She folded her arms protectively across her chest. "And I'm not."

"Not what?"

"Exceptional."

Sephiroth shrugged. "Lazard would not have put you forward for Third if it were otherwise. Angeal has more or less confirmed this."

He what!

Rose felt her ire burn. "Angeal shouldn't have said anything." She replied, keeping her voice as even as she could. He had no right meddling in on her business, and huffing loudly, she roughly kicked another pebble to the side.

"On the contrary." Sephiroth argued softly, watching her small outburst with some amusement. "I had to ensure that my experience would not be wasted. Though I admit, he did not provide me with any real details, he said he would leave that down to you."

"I'll bet." She said flatly.

That was so typical of Angeal, landing her in it, without actually landing her in it. He would do it all the time when they were kids, forcing her into situations where she would have no choice other than to do the right thing, or tell the truth. It was infuriating. And honestly, having a strong moral compass in a world that rarely ever gave two shits, was more of a burden than a gift.

Looking at the ground, she sighed resignedly. Sephiroth was still regarding her with the same unreadable scrutiny you might express in a high stake game of cards, and somehow, she had a feeling his hand would fair better than hers.

"We used to train with our neighbour when we were younger." She said, referring to his earlier, safer question, of her experience with a blade. "He was retired, but he'd been a combat training specialist for Shinra. Swords were his preferred weapon of choice."

Sephiroth stepped towards her. "How often was this training?"

"Most days. There really wasn't a lot else to do in our village." Rose confessed, watching his movements with some mistrust. "Ironically, Angeal stopped before I did. When he and Genesis decided to join Shinra, Genesis insisted that they trained together instead."

"That sounds like Genesis."

Rose laughed once without humour. "Doesn't it just." She shrugged. "They were the ones who lost out. Bill was a far better trainer than the people Genesis' parents brought in."

Sephiroth inclined his head. "Was?"

"He died about three years ago."

"That's... unfortunate."

Rose was struck by how suddenly uncomfortable he looked.

She shrugged. "He was really old. He died in his sleep surrounded by his cats." She smiled fondly. "It's probably how he would have wanted to go. He really loved his cats. He had a lot of them. There was barely a house in Banora that wasn't forced to take one in after."

Rose suddenly giggled at the memory, but quickly remembered herself, and considered her current company. She stifled the laughter quickly, clearing her throat in a pointed manner.

"So yeah, I have some experience with swords."

Sephiroth seemed to weigh out her words for a moment, before inclining his head, and gesturing with his hand.

"Then lets get started."

"Huh?" Rose watched nervously as he angled his sword beside him. Though she had to admit, he didn't exactly seem on guard. She nodded.

Drawing the sharp steel from her back felt alien, but oddly exciting. The mako in it glinted eagerly as she took up her stance, the handle humming with excitement as she brought the blade up in front of her. She hoped she wouldn't disappoint.

"Attack me." Sephiroth ordered.

Rose was reminded of the test Angeal had given her, only this time, she didn't trust her opponent enough to feel completely at ease. She reasoned that was probably a good thing, it's easier to focus when you're on guard.

She breathed. Remembering Bill's instruction to avoid any vital organs when training, and aimed her strike at Sephiroth's left arm. He blocked it of course, like she knew he would, and he nodded encouragement.

"Again."

Rose was completely out of her depth. He was stronger than Angeal, and faster. Each swing of her arm felt like she was striking against stone. Perhaps it was time to enlighten Sephiroth on how it was she had made it into Third so quickly?

Throwing herself into it, Rose felt the familiar shift behind her navel as she shifted, this time bringing her weapon with her. She swung it as hard as she could, appearing behind him in a flash of green. A loud gasp escaped her lips when he blocked her attack, their swords intertwined as she roughly recovered her surprise.

"So, that's what's got the director so interested in you." Sephiroth remarked thoughtfully, a strange smile toying subtly at his lips. He pushed her back and she stumbled. "Neat trick."

Rose glared. "It's not a trick," she snapped, breathless. She swung her sword angrily this time, not caring for valued bodily organs, and Sephiroth lazily stepped aside. The action causing her to stumble painfully to her knees. She moved to raise herself, but Sephiroth's sword was already at her throat, horribly smug. She growled.

He quirked an eyebrow down at her. "You're dead."

"You're annoying."

He tittered softly. "Be that as it may, you will have to watch that temper Rose. You can't get distracted by such simple taunting."

Lowering his sword, he allowed her to get to her feet.

"Control my temper." She echoed, stretching out her already sore muscles. She brushed herself down. "Got it." She breathed, quickly tightening her ponytail.

Rose squared her stance.

"Best of three?"

Sephiroth only too happily agreed.

R&R!

Chickens hope you've all been well, and are staying safe. Hopefully Fanfics are giving you a little something to do if your quarantined like me (and if you're not)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I miss being able to do regular updates but maybe being locked in will help, huh?

If you can, I'd really love it if you could review.

Take care x x