Chapter 7: Conflicts within MBI. A tearful reunion?
Opening 1: Come by Amuro Namie
(Play Final Fantasy VII OST - It's Difficult to Stand on Both Feet)
The next morning, MBI President Minaka seemed to have a field day. He was laughing boastfully in his office after seeing JENOVA-REBIRTH fighting.
"I never thought a man can challenge a god and defeat it! This is amazing! I must keep the game running!" He said.
Takami came by, already angry from the events that happened. A demonic visage was shown, which got Minaka already on weak knees.
"MI-NA-KAAAAA!" She bellowed.
Minaka cowered away from the angered Takami. He couldn't even find a place to protect himself or even remain standing.
"W-What is it, Takami-chan?" Minaka asked, shaking.
Takami cracked her knuckles, showing she meant business.
"What were you thinking, setting that creature loose!? It nearly killed off our forces and you used its cells for some super soldier program! Have you lost your morality!?" Takami bellowed.
"It was all for the sake of studying this discovery..." Minaka spoke, barely above a whisper.
(It's Difficult to Stand on Both Feet OST ends here)
Takami began slugging Minaka like a boxer punching bag. Comically, the punching got so severe, Minaka's face was swelled up to appear like a human's buttocks, which muffled his voice. He managed to relieve the swelling by applying some experimental healing cream. The swelling soon disappeared, much to the disgust of Takami.
(Play Final Fantasy VII OST - Trail of Blood)
"Those creature's cells are important for the next evolution of humanity to reach godhood... I've noticed how they take in other cells and practically assimilate any of them. It's like a cellular parasite. Finding the Sekirei was one thing, but the creature that came from a nearby impact site near the island. We had to bring it here for studying." Minaka reasoned.
"Look at what it has caused... One piece of it grew exponentially, went rouge, and hunted everyone it encountered! Each time one of our troops got killed, the creature got larger to the point it caused mayhem both within and outside of MBI!" Takami shouted.
Minaka was having deaf ears from the loud shouting. He had to wipe his ears to regain his hearing.
"I'm surprised that Ashikabi with that giant blade and his Sekirei not only killed that piece of the creature, but also the surviving troops. Good thing we have cloning technology to replace our losses, especially that creature. The remaining cells that didn't went into battle with that man were harvested and are being cloned." Minaka said with reassurance.
"You want to cause another problem, especially with that thing now looming in our laboratories!?" Takami questioned in defiance.
"I want to study it more and find ways to achieve godhood other than our cloned super soldiers. It took sleepless years to find which genes to assimilate for our forces, but it allowed the cells to integrate. It essentially made them stronger." Minaka explained with an evil gleam.
"I will only monitor the Sekirei, but set that thing loose again, and I will shoot you down." Takami warned.
Takami stormed out of the office. Minaka held a syringe which contained a strange fluid within it.
'The genes that govern my right to reach godhood... Both the cells and the genes found in some of our soldiers are the key for me being a god...!' He thought.
(Trail of Blood OST ends here)
######
(Play Final Fantasy VII OST - Anxious Heart)
During the early morning, back in Izumo Inn, Cloud was in the living room, barely holding his twitching back. Minato noticed how agitated he looked. It made him worried for his friend. Akitsu could emotionally feel the cause of Cloud's barely contained struggle.
"Cloud-sama... Please don't be in too much pain..." Akitsu begged.
This managed to calm him down, albeit barely. Cloud's twitching stopped as he regain control of his rampant thoughts.
"I'm sorry... That particular creature we fought earlier...was not something I would expect to encounter..." Cloud responded.
Minato heard what the swordsman said. He decided to question him about it.
"What was that thing, Cloud?" Minato asked.
"A nasty creature whom I fought in my world at numerous occasions... It was called JENOVA from the people of SHINRA." Cloud answered.
"I remember you mentioned what they did with its cells... I understand about your concerns with it since MBI sounds a lot like SHINRA in many ways..." Minato deduced.
"I don't need to compare it... However, since it mainly relies on biotechnology, I wouldn't be surprised... The matter is, JENOVA is here. From what I can understand, it's an omen if that...thing is here." Cloud commented.
"Oh no... If MBI already possesses that thing, it could spell trouble for everyone in Tokyo..." Minato realized.
"Yes, but it'll be on a larger scale than what you can think." Cloud said.
(Anxious Heart OST ends here)
Minato could sense a foreboding feeling upon hearing what Cloud said.
"What do you mean, Cloud?" Minato asked.
(Play Final Fantasy VII OST - Those Chosen by the Planet)
Cloud's breathing was evidently slow. He soon exhaled as his thoughts were asunder.
"That being... JENOVA... Sephiroth was able to manipulate it into his likeness..." He said.
"Sephiroth!? That man who threatened your home world by trying to destroy it!?" Minato asked in shock.
"The same one... He has been a constant source of conflict to this day. My own inner darkness..." Cloud confirmed.
"Did...Sephiroth also had the same cells as this JENOVA creature...?" Minato reluctantly asked.
"He did. In fact, his abilities were already god-like before I confronted him in the final battle. I don't think it's wrong to label him a monster since the time he went into a fit of rage..." Cloud said.
"The time when he burned your home down... It doesn't sound inappropriate..." Minato agreed.
"MBI doesn't realize the danger of that creature, even if they have it contained. If that creature comes out, no one will be safe... Not even the Sekirei." Cloud said.
Akitsu gasped. It wasn't due to the discussion that she heard. Rather, she was peering in to Cloud's memories indirectly through her bond. Upon seeing the person whom Cloud was talking about, she could see how much of an evil being he was. She soon shivered in fear, seeing the horrifying memories.
"Akitsu, are you okay?" Minato asked.
Both males noticed Akitsu shaking like a leaf. This prompted Cloud to hold her close. He could sense Akitsu's fears though Cloud didn't know how. Soon, she stopped shaking. Uzume and Yashima came by in a swift manner.
"What happened here?" Uzume asked.
"What's wrong with Akitsu?" Yashima questioned.
Miya soon came with a couple of trays of food, only to notice Akitsu shaking and Cloud holding her close.
(Those Chosen by the Planet OST ends here)
######
After two hours of discussion, Cloud relayed everything to everyone. Needless to say, they were all shocked.
"An extraterrestrial threat... That is a deep concern since it threatens not only us, but humanity as well. No wonder you have such concerns." Miya said.
"I'm sure you all know that I was subjected to the experiment from that mad scientist, Hojo. He injected me with the same cells that gave me the strength I now possess." Cloud reminded.
"Without a doubt we know... You told us of your life story." Miya interjected.
"I don't have to explain everything else. The real threat is MBI. We have to shut down the company for good." Cloud said.
"Despite that, there will be other foreign powers to claim the Sekirei as their own. What will we do if the other countries like China, the United States, or even Russia start to become demanding?" Minato asked.
"Does Japan have a political leader like a President or Prime Minister?" Cloud asked.
"The leader of Japan is the Prime Minister. It won't be easy to convince him through words alone." Minato answered.
"I see... Them we need to find evidence of MBI's illegal experiments. Using the Sekirei for their amusement is one thing, but the JENOVA creature is another. Knowing a corrupt company, they're bound to hide it in their files that are confidential..." Cloud noted.
"I'm no expert in computers, but I can help in providing DNA analysis." Minato said.
"So you're in the biomedical informatics studies... Maybe that can help." Cloud said.
"Let's not forget that Japan may be an island nation... However, it can be proven to be in competition with the other foreign powers." Miya said.
"I know... Once MBI is taken down, we have to talk to the current Prime Minister to ensure that any companies, medical or otherwise, don't fall into corruption." Cloud reminded.
"This is going to be a tough challenge, even for you, Cloud... I will help in any way I can." Minato said.
Cloud nodded. Akitsu held him close, showing she was willing to go with her Ashikabi, no matter how far he was.
######
That night, Cloud was asleep. He was experiencing another dream. The landscape looked similar to Tokyo, except it was shrouded with fog.
"What the...? This looks...like Tokyo, but it feels...deserted." Cloud said, looking around his surroundings.
The dream felt, in a sense, oddly familiar, yet it was at the tip of his tongue. Soon, a wisp of a strange green aura came to him. It was flowing through the air. Cloud instantly knew what it was.
"The Lifestream!? What is it doing here?" Cloud questioned.
(Play Final Fantasy 7 OST - Aerith's theme)
A familiar sensation came up to him. It was a sudden wave of nostalgia that came to him. Feeling the familiar aura, a sudden wave of sadness engulfed his mind. Cloud was shedding a lone tear as he felt the Lifestream near him.
"I know this feeling... I know who you are..." Cloud said.
The Lifestream began to coalesce into a female figure. She was wearing a shin-length pink dress that buttons up the front and a red bolero jacket. She was also wearing brown boots and metal bracers on her wrists and around the edges of her jacket sleeves. She had long light brown hair that was plaited with a large pink ribbon. Segmented bangs frame her face and she has emerald green eyes.
"Aerith..." Cloud said.
The woman named Aerith soon walked close to Cloud as he stood, silently shedding tears. She hugged him close.
"Cloud... I forgive you for what happened back in the Forgotten Capital... I was ready to face Sephiroth, even if it meant I had to die." Aerith spoke.
"Even so... I failed to protect you... Now I'm whisked away by the Lifestream in this new world due to the will of Planet Gaia requesting me." Cloud spoke, barely holding his grief.
"I understand why... Minerva wanted to give you second chance to revive the Cetra. I know of the Sekirei since I'm now with Gaia." Aerith said.
"Will there be a time that you will be reincarnated?" Cloud asked.
"Time will tell Cloud... I also came here in your dream, only for this time, to show you of two more Sekirei reacting. You're quite the sly dog, Cloud." Aerith teased.
Cloud grumbled, though he was still shedding tears. Aerith giggled in response.
"My time is up for now. I will come back to see you again, Cloud. You have the strength needed to protect your new friends." Aerith said.
Cloud attempted to reach out for her as she faded away. In a futile attempt, he almost touched her hand as she disappeared. This made him collapse to his knees as he mourned Aerith's passing.
'I can never forgive myself if I can't protect someone so innocent... No matter how much I blame it to, I'm at fault for being so weak...' Cloud thought.
"You're not weak." A female voice called.
Cloud looked up as his eyes are drenched in tears. He could see two female figures emerging from the fog.
"You're never weak. You're a strong person." The same voice spoke.
Cloud had a brief look to the owner of the voice. It was a young woman whom had dark brown hair in pony tails. Her eyes were a bright green color, almost identical to Aerith's eyes. Her clothing consists of a kimono-like dress with detached sleeves and Japanese sandals. Hidden blades, akin to a katar, were shown within the detached sleeves.
"You're...?" Cloud questioned.
"You're my Ashikabi... The one whom I've been seeking." The young woman said.
Cloud noted how she sounded very shy. He still felt a wave of nostalgia as he looked at her.
'She's almost like Aerith...' He thought.
"I also want to be your Sekirei." Another voice called out.
A second female came out of the fog. Unlike the first one, she had blonde short hair arranged with a thick cowlick strand. Her choice of clothing consists of a black leather top up from her belly and leather bloomers and stockings. Interestingly, she had a unique weapon. One was the several string-like whips between her fingers. They come with sharp claws, allowing them to pierce opponents.
"You are both reacting to me... I don't know where you two are..." Cloud responded.
"Don't worry... W-we will find you." The first woman said in a shy manner.
"We'll find you eventually. Just keep an eye out." The second woman said.
The dream ended in a flash as Cloud was waking up.
(Aerith's Theme OST ends here)
######
Cloud woke up with a tear stained face. Meeting with Aerith in his dream made him cry in his sleep. Wiping his face, he noticed all three of his Sekirei sleeping next to him. They were lying on his abdomen.
'I'll have to continue growing strong to protect them...' He thought.
Looking at his Sekirei, he noticed they were also crying in their sleep.
'I won't allow them to take you all away from me.' Cloud thought.
He managed to wake up his Sekirei. They all tackled on to him.
"I'm sorry I made you all worried for me. I had this...dream that made me relive a sad moment in life..." Cloud said.
"We know... We felt it..." Uzume said.
"All of us felt your sadness... We wanted to be with you, Cloud-sama." Akitsu said.
"We were all shedding tears when you were dreaming. Whatever it was, it must have been hard for you." Yashima spoke.
"We'll talk more when he head down to get our meals. Let's get...ready for breakfast." Cloud said.
The girls nodded as they went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
######
Cloud was in the bathroom after the girls were finished. He began sorting his thoughts as he bathed.
'Two new Sekirei are now reacting to me... I don't know where to find them since the dream I had was somewhat vague. I do recall what they looked like.' He thought.
Despite the hot water steaming the bathroom, Cloud got out, went and wiped the nearby mirror. He looked at his reflection.
'Who am I...that stands here?' He thought to himself.
He turned to notice the horrific scars on his back. It was the result of the experiments he endured when he was young. There was one notable scar at his abdomen. It was where he got impaled from Sephiroth. Much to his disgust, they were slowly healing.
'I never liked these scars as they are constant reminder of what happened...' He thought with a frown.
######
Refreshed from the bath, Cloud went to the dining room to meet with everyone.
"Good morning, Cloud." Minato said.
"Good morning, Sahashi." Cloud responded.
"It's fine if you call me Minato, Cloud." MInato reassured.
"If you say so..." Cloud reluctantly agreed.
Musubi and Kū came by. Both joined with Minato, but Kū looked at Cloud. The swordsman noticed her staring, causing them to lock eyes for a moment.
"Cloud-oniichan's eyes... They look like the ocean." Kū said.
Cloud soon looked away, avoiding any prying eyes. Akitsu soon looked at his eyes, having gotten close to him. He attempted to look away, only for Uzume and Yashima to suddenly look at his eyes.
"Kū-chan is right. Your eyes are like the ocean..." Uzume said.
Cloud couldn't look away in response. He had to face down in the floor in a futile attempt to hide his blushing. Akitsu held his face, holding him to see the swordsman's eyes.
"Ah. They're beautiful, even if they glow." Akitsu said.
"They are beautiful... I could get lost in them." Yashima followed.
Cloud blushed red as his Sekirei gave their compliments of his eyes. Although he had few people pointing out his eyes, none didn't give a positive allusion upon seeing them. It was a first for Cloud, which strangely felt warm to him.
'No one told me about my eyes in that manner...' He thought.
Akitsu, Uzume, and Yashima all smiled, feeling Cloud's feelings through their bond. They gave him a warm hug in response. Miya came by, noticing the three ladies hugging Cloud.
"Oh my... Aren't we comforting to Cloud?" She said in a teasing manner.
Cloud blushed red in response. He couldn't handle the teasing, prompting him to quickly head outside of the atrium and froze himself in a shell of ice with the Blizzaga spell. Akitsu soon came in and commanded the ice to melt.
"I like it when you use ice, but don't use it to freeze yourself a lot..." She said, holding Cloud's cheeks.
Cloud nodded in response. He soon came back inside with Akitsu near him.
"Have you cooled yourself, Cloud?" Uzume asked.
"Don't push it... I had another dream last night..." Cloud announced.
"You have a Sekirei reacting to you?" Yashima questioned.
"Not one. There were two." Cloud revealed.
"Two!? How on earth are you attracting them that quickly?" Minato asked.
"An Ashikabi's power increases as he or she gets more Sekirei. These two must have sensed you unconsciously." Miya answered.
"That means Cloud will have more to spar with." Musubi said with excitement.
"Problem is, I don't know where they are." Cloud said.
"We can help locate them, Cloud." Minato said.
Cloud knew Minato was trying to help him. With a subtle sigh, he reluctantly accepted Minato's help.
"Just try to be careful... There may be...other Ashikabi roaming about." Cloud warned.
"I know, but I want to at least help in some way." Minato said.
Soon, a sudden glow caught Minato's attention. From within him, a green stream connected him to Kū. Cloud knew what it was.
'What luck...' He thought.
Soon, a green orb-like crystal emerged. Minato was surprised to see the orb in front of him.
"What is that?" He asked.
"That's Materia... This one was made through your bond with Kū." Cloud answered.
"What power does this one have?" Minato asked.
Cloud felt the knowledge of the ancients from within the Materia. He soon found out the name.
"This is the Revive Materia... It allows one to revive a person from near death." Cloud explained.
"I have the ability to bring back someone from near death?" Minato asked in wonder.
"Don't let it get over your head. There are limits to how this spell works. If you're not careful, you might not only fail to use the spell, but may drain your mental prowess." Cloud warned.
Minato looked at the Materia that he now held on his hand. He was entranced by its glow.
"If you want to know how to use it, you'll have to focus your thoughts through it. It should trigger the knowledge needed so you can cast the Revive spell." Cloud explained.
######
Cloud was hopping between rooftop to rooftop. Minato needed to use Musubi to catch up with them.
"Cloud! Where are you heading to?" Minato asked.
"We're heading to a section of Tokyo. I don't have to explain...what it is, but I can feel two Sekirei reacting to me." Cloud answered.
"Even so, why are we rushing?" Minato asked.
"I can feel their distress... They're being attacked." Cloud responded.
Taking off at fast speeds, Cloud managed to track where the two Sekirei are. A large bolt of lightning soon came into view.
"Damn it... I won't let them perish...!" Cloud shouted.
Breaking his limit, Cloud soon performed his attack.
"Braver!"
Raising his sword above his head, he performed a powerful overhead strike. This caused the attackers to suddenly flee as the Buster Sword caused a small fissure on the ground. He looked at the two Sekirei he saw in his dream.
"Are you two okay?" Cloud asked.
"Y-Yes." The shy Sekirei responded.
Cloud turned to the two Sekirei. They both looked like twins, though one was more endowed than the other. The particular Sekirei was wearing a dark purple outfit. Her twin was wearing a bright pink outfit. Both have hazel eyes and black hair tied in twin ponytails.
"What business do you have with them?" Cloud asked, hinting his anger.
Akitsu, Uzume and Yashima soon arrived. This got the twins to generate electricity.
"You're the Ashikabi whom winged the scrapped number...! We're not here to fight you or your winged Sekirei. We're here to eliminate the unwinged Sekirei." The purple Sekirei responded.
"So it seems... However, I won't...forgive you for labeling Akitsu with such a title." Cloud said.
He suddenly swung his sword, creating a shockwave of energy. The two lightning Sekirei were suddenly cut from the attack.
"Deeming my Sekirei...and attacking someone whom I knew from the past...is practically asking me to kill you both." Cloud spoke, showing murderous intent.
The twins were now frightened. They could see his eyes, glowing in an icy blue color. His expression made the sight more intimidating.
"That's enough!" A male voice called out.
Cloud looked to the owner. He was a fairly tall and lean-built man with brown hair and a gruff, wild look on him. He was wearing a brown coat, and a white undershirt with a pair of jeans.
"Are you...their Ashikabi?" Cloud asked.
"Aren't we having a speech issue? I'll answer your question though. Yes I am their Ashikabi. However, I disapprove their actions of hunting unwinged Sekirei." The man responded.
"It seems you'll have to discipline them for their actions... If not, I can simply take over." Cloud commented, cracking his joints loud enough.
"Whoa there... No need to act violent. I will also have to ask if those two Sekirei are reacting to you." The man said.
"They have been...reacting to me. Hence why I attacked the lightning twins." Cloud confirmed.
"We have names you know! I'm Sekirei #11 Hikari!" The purple Sekirei names Hikari responded.
"Um... I'm Sekirei #12 Hibiki." The pink Sekirei followed.
Cloud glared at the two Sekirei fiercely. A blue visible aura was shown enshrouding his body. Akitsu had to hold him close to calm his anger.
"Be aware of that mouth of yours. I wouldn't be merciful if you can't control your impulsive behavior. I would do the same thing, except with a brutal fashion." Cloud said, spinning his sword a few times before placing it in his back.
'He can hold something like that with just one arm and spin it!?' The man thought with surprise.
Minato eventually arrived with Musubi. The man instantly knew who it was.
"Oh, Sahashi. You know this guy?" The man asked to Minato.
"Yes, his name is Cloud Strife. Cloud, this is Kaoru Seo." Minato said.
"Kaoru Seo... I'll remember you and your Sekirei. Don't make me an enemy the next time I meet them." Cloud warned.
The two Sekirei from Cloud's dream felt their reaction to him going at full burst. They collapsed on the ground with a feverish blush.
"Oh no..." Cloud said.
He went up close to them to help them. Knowing he may have to wing them, Cloud glanced at Akitsu. She nodded her head, sensing his dilemma.
"I'll never get used to this..." Cloud remarked.
He soon kissed the shy Sekirei. Wings of pure white color came from her. Cloud, oddly enough, was shedding a silent tear as he felt the warmth of the wings. Akitsu also had a lone tear, sensing Cloud's thoughts.
"I'm Sekirei #40 Shi. Through the contract on my blades, I shall cut down those that threaten my Ashikabi." The shy Sekirei named Shi responded.
Akitsu knew Cloud's thoughts were running rampant, unable to hide his guilt for meeting with multiple Sekirei. Soon, the next one kissed Cloud. Wings of a tan color soon formed.
"I'm Sekirei #31 Sai. Through the contract of my rope blades, I will ensnare and eviscerate any who threaten my Ashikabi." The bold, blond Sekirei named Sai said.
Cloud could see from Shi that she looked like a reincarnation of Aerith, despite wielding katars. Her green eyes made it more difficult to stare at her, due to his past guilt. Akitsu felt from her bond his conflict.
'Cloud-sama... That Sekirei must remind you of someone back in your world... Is that why you feel guilty of seeing her?' Akitsu thought in question.
Not giving any answers, Cloud walked his way back home. All of his Sekirei could feel his emotional state, seeing he was facing the ground.
'He's lost in his past...' Uzume thought.
######
(Play Final Fantasy 7 OST - Aerith Theme)
That night, Cloud was outside the atrium. He looked emotionally drained, having to deal with a reminder of his past failure. He watching the Sky with a forlorn expression.
'Can my sins be...redeemed? If so, will I be able...to overcome the past that haunts me?' Cloud thought.
She and Akitsu were awake. They walked to the atrium, noticing Cloud staring in the sky.
"Cloud-sama?" Akitsu said.
"Is everything okay?" She asked in a shy tone.
Cloud heard the two Sekirei behind him. He turned, which made them gasp. Cloud's face had tears running down his face.
"Cloud..." Shi said.
The swordsman didn't understand what was happening to his body. He felt it was being weighed down, unable to walk. Cloud soon collapsed to his knees, unable to stand up.
"You have been through so much... I don't know what may have caused these terrible incidents, but I will be with you, my Ashikabi." Shi said.
Cloud held back his urge to voice his downhearted mood. Tears were streaming from his face. Akitsu also cried, feeling his sadness. His other Sekirei felt his emotions, crying in their sleep.
"I'm sorry... It's a memory I wished...that I could have prevented. It was beyond my strength to help a friend whom passed away." Cloud apologized.
"You don't have to apologize. We all understand your pain." Shi said, holding Cloud's head close to her.
"You remind me of that same friend. Memories of her resurfaced the moment I saw you. This is why my guilt was eating away in me." Cloud responded.
"It's okay. You cared for your friend deeply, even though she passed away." Shi said.
"Cloud-sama, please smile. I like it when you smile." Akitsu begged.
Cloud, despite his tear stained face, showed a somber smile.
(Aerith's Theme OST ends here)
Ending 1: Memories of Days gone by - akane