Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
-by Amaranthos-
Chapter 8: Discovering new truths
I awake and feel the dark all around me. Day hasn't come yet. I try to picture the time on the clock. It must have been very early or extremely late, whatever the hour, my eyes would not close, when so much seems to be going on in my mind. I could hear the silent ticking of the clock in the dead of the night, its constant ticking never ending.
I hadn't thought about a way how to escape this wretched place, but the more I kept fixated, the more the people around me, strangely… grew on me. It was kind of strange to admit, that people who aren't your friends, embraced by different cultures, could be so friendly. I would have to admit, even though Rufus Shinra had been a crazy satyr, he strangely… was the only positive thing. He looked out for me, tried at times to have me safe and comfortable. But his intentions I knew.
I remembered how angry he was after he found out what the young perverted soldiers did. I knew he was mildly psychotic, but I didn't think him capable of doing such horrible things. The fear returns to me as I recalled their deaths.
'I want to go home' I confessed.
I lie there on the couch, wondering what tomorrow would bring, hopefully something good.
Yawning my eyes slowly close on me.
Sephiroth eased through the papers looking at the latest victims lost. This new management they were going through showed terrible results. Of course, Shinra was the type of air-headed fellow, who didn't listen much, just rapped a lot. Taking a sip of his morning's coffee, Sephiroth studied an interesting part of the report, that if he didn't know any better from his army years, he would say the report in front of him was from a different enemy. Not Red Hearts as they were supposing. Confused that Black Crescents had another major antagonist, he studied the data a little more before digging up into old archives to retrieve similar data in his hand.
Red Hearts was powerful thought Sephiroth, but they didn't have the type technology the recent attack made plausible. It was either Red Hearts was outsourcing technology from an external organization to deal with the technology aspect, or they took into more dexterous and ambitious ploys involving technology. Either way, Sephiroth did see an archive – once upon a time, with this same information. It's funny how life repeats itself almost in the same uncanny way.
"Good morning, General" calls a voice.
Sephiroth didn't respond or avert his attention to the person. He was quite engrossed in a break-through of information, the last thing he wanted was someone greeting him and destroying his train of thought.
"I'm sorry to bother you, sir" speaks this voice again.
"I'm busy" were Sephiroth's only words.
"I'm aware sir, but Lord Shinra has requested you to wear these new apparels." He placed down a black army suit, with a blue box on top of it.
"As a Third Star General, you are required to wear the apparel of one. Good day sir" the voice spoke and then left.
'Finally' Thought Sephiroth. Sephiroth paid no attention to the new clothing provided, but instead concerned himself with a far greater threat. Sephiroth eased his fingers over the lines and smirked when he saw the black print read bold - Mack Knights. He had remembered them from a very long time and was concerned about their whereabouts 4 years ago, but nobody seem to care. Now, they've returned joining alliances with Red Hearts. But it was still strange. They were an independent body who specialized in mechanical engineering and technology, so when exactly did they grow on the idea of merging with an organization like Red Hearts. Sephiroth thought, 'it doesn't make sense'
Unless… 'Mack Knights are using Red Hearts' Sephiroth laughed to himself. 'The fools'
Closing the folder, he leaned back into his chair, and wondered how Red Hearts could be so foolish to as to allow an organization almost as tyrannical as probably Black Crescents to merge with it. Something smelled fishy…
Sephiroth shook his head, it didn't matter now. Now he understood what the council looks past. Allowing his eyes to fall on the blue box, Sephiroth took in the sight of his black uniform. The new one required of him to wear. He sighed. He hated new clothes that came with new dispositions.
Sephiroth stands up and advances to his new apparel. He lifts them up only to sneer at the fanciness involved.
He could try to quarrel with the council for this one, but surely they'd discard it. He might as well get fitted into his new clothes before the council threw a fit.
A gentle voice wakes Tifa from her slumber. It's soft and gentle, it's not rash and deep, like a man (no offense).
Tifa turns to her side and welcomes the sight of Yuffie. She waved happily.
"Hi Tifa" she chirped, "brought you some breakfast" she smiled, displaying a mouth watering breakfast platter of eggs, and bacon and toasts with jam, and orange juice.
Tifa slowly got up, and couldn't believe her eyes.
"It looks so nice, I almost don't want to eat it" Tifa laughs.
"Yeh it does" she smiled, "guess what?"
"What?" Tifa asks, picking up her juice and drinking some.
"After yesterday, Lord Shinra decided to have you fixed to Sephiroth's room permanently, where you'll be over watched by one maid, and 2 guards, senior guards that is. They're on either side of your door. Since I've help treat your condition, the doctor put in a good word for me that they in fact have granted me the disposition of taking care of you" Yuffie smiled. "And tada, here I am" she gave a thumbs up.
Tifa giggled.
"So do you like your breakfast?" Yuffie asked.
"Oh of course I do. I admit it's a bit tough to eat food after such a long time, but I'll get back into the groove" Tifa spoke.
"But I can't stay with you all day Tifa, that's the only problem. Lord Shinra has granted me short time periods with you as I'm required in sick bay" Yuffie spoke.
Tifa saddened, but she understood, I guess it was fair.
"So I see you're still wearing your earrings" Yuffie spoke.
Tifa had completely forgotten about them. Touching her ears she felt her mother's earrings.
"Yes I absolutely love them. My father gave my mother these when they got married. They're very special to me" Tifa smiled.
Yuffie smiled.
"I haven't been able to speak with…" she paused, "to speak with Sephiroth. I wanted to know how he retrieved them." Tifa spoke.
"Knowing him, he'll never say" Yuffie spoke. Imitating Sephiroth with a stern face and outright chest. Tifa giggled.
"He's been promoted, you know" Yuffie spoke, taking a small berry from the tray of berries she brought for Tifa.
"Promoted?" Tifa arched a brow confused.
"Yup. They say Scarlett messed up big time. She got her whole unit killed. If you ask me, she deserves it. But Sephiroth got promoted because of the exceptional work he provided the council." She spoke
"What did he get promoted to?"
"Third star General, the highest role ever given to someone as young as say Sephiroth. He's one tier of authority beneath Shinra." She paused to take another berry, "pretty powerful guy"
"Impressive" Tifa paused, "how old is Sephiroth?" Tifa asked.
"Interested in him?" Yuffie kid around, surprised Tifa's cheeks went as red as they did. Tifa couldn't believe Yuffie said that, muchless her cheeks were red.
It was in a quick movement, the door opened to the devil himself. Standing up tall, in what seem to be a new uniform, Tifa had to admit, it was quite…suited for him.
It had been a black uniform, with gold buttons. The tunic Chinese top was unbuttoned. The badges on his clothes were numerous. She had never seen so many badges and medallions of honour and status on someone. His silver hair seems to contrast amazingly against his black uniform. Sephiroth even wore new classy black shoes. Tifa snickered in her mind, considering how the pompous jerk felt when he had to get rid of his old clothes.
He enters his room with his long Masamune held in his back gloved hands. Everything around Sephiroth seem more official now, but Tifa couldn't lie, he fit the bill. Even if she hated him.
"Congratulations, Sephiroth on becoming third star General" Tifa spoke softly, biting on a small berry.
Sephiroth stopped, he wasn't sure if she meant it, or she was being condescending. He entered his room taking something and then left.
"I need to speak with you, Sephiroth" Tifa spoke. But he didn't listen, instead he left his room quietly out as he came in.
"Damn" Tifa cursed under her breath.
"Wow, he looks so hott in that outfit" Yuffie couldn't help myself, "look, I'm sorry. I just have a weakness for soldiers in uniforms." She spoke.
"And you think I like him?" Tifa sarcastically asked.
"Oh I know you like him" Yuffie didn't sound like she was joking anymore. "I see it in your eyes"
The both stared at each other and then laughed.
"Funny Yuffie, funny"
"He's 27. He was the youngest General and the 1st prodigy soldier called SOLDIER." She spoke.
"What do you mean, SOLDIER?"
"SOLDIER, was a group of Soldiers, world class trained in the barren lands of Avalante. Shinra Corporation thinks they own the idea and literal inception called SOLDIER, but SOLDIER is independent of Shinra. Sephiroth had been a young boy there, with impressive power. He became a General at the age 14. Yes, I know how that sounds, but these are the facts. For 8 years, he worked with different corporations, intelligence organizations, and most of what's he's done is not known. Many say Sephiroth is a mercenary hired by the highest bidder to do dirty work, but then he's been here for the last five years, and has been an exceptional soldier. There's nobody as strong as Sephiroth and nobody as feared either. Most people think Sephiroth is a mere myth or legend, but he's very much real" she spoke…
"SOLDIER… so it's an interesting breed of high class soldiers. What will this world think of next?" Tifa asked.
"Tifa I hope you don't tell anyone what I say. I could easily be… put in the dungeons for what I told you" Yuffie spoke.
"Of course Yuffie, I understand. Who am I going to tell, Sephiroth?" she mocked.
"Thanks"
"So Scarlett made a mess of things, huh?" Tifa asked drinking the last of her orange juice out.
"Yes she did. She's a laughing stock here at Black Crescents. Rumour has it, she's not getting any sugar from Rufus" Yuffie laughed.
"W-What do you mean?" asked Tifa.
"Well, I mean, I guess…well, you see everyone speculates that Rufus and Scarlett are together. But I call it for what it truly is, a lustful relationship. Rufus adores, craves and must have beautiful women around him, hence Scarlett and to some sense, you" Yuffie spoke.
"Humph! He's sick" Tifa shakes her head
"Yeah, well Scarlett absolutely adores him. Whatever the reason, the woman is fanatically in love with him" Yuffie spoke.
"She has bad tastes in boyfriends" Tifa spoke.
"Maybe" Yuffie spoke, "so do you have a boyfriend back home Tifa?" Yuffie asked.
Tifa wondered if she should talk about these things. I mean, did it really hurt to talk about things like boyfriends and people back home. Yuffie had already said a mouthful, about all kinds of things, if she chose to blackmail Tifa, Tifa could easily revert it by the things Yuffie had said. Again Tifa was faced with the horrid predicament of wondering should she tell or not, should she trust or not. She didn't know.
"Hey, it's okay" Yuffie spoke, shaking her head and understanding.
"I'm, I'm sorry." Tifa sighed
"It's okay, it's okay." Yuffie uneasily laughed, "I understand you don't trust anyone. Please, don't let me push you into decisions you'll hate later on" she spoke. "Oh well, look at the time, I guess I should get going"
'Great' Thought Tifa. The only friend she had, she was pushing away because of her insecurities. She didn't want her insecurities to dictate her life. She wanted to have a friend, at least one. Tifa shook her head. Yuffie had been so terribly nice to her, and here she was pushing her away.
"Please, don't go" Tifa pleaded…
"No, no, I should get going. Lord Shinra says I should return to my duty as soon as possible" Yuffie spoke.
"Please…stay" Tifa begged, her eyes showing a sort of sincerity, that Yuffie had to swallow back to.
She sat down, and drew a sigh.
"I was suppose to be married two years ago" Tifa spoke, wringing her fingers, uncomfortably.
"I was very much in love with my lover…" Tifa whispered, "but apparently, he felt he didn't deserve me, so he wandered away"
"Oh my gosh. That's so heartbreaking" Yuffie placed a hand over her mouth.
"It's fine." she gave a small smile, "I got over him you know. I mean, it's not easy to tell your heart to stop loving, but I convinced myself if I kept moving the pace I was…I'd go insane" Tifa confessed.
"What a jerk though"
"I guess…that's the frightening thing about relationships, and marriage" Tifa spoke
"What was his name Tifa?"
Tifa looked out the windows giving a forlorn expression, "Cloud" "Cloud Strife"
"I've been in love too you know" Yuffie tried to change the topic. Tifa wiped a stray tear away and looked at Yuffie incredulously.
"You have? You seem so young for that sort of thing" Tifa spoke.
"Hey I'm not that young you know. I'm sure I'm probably older than you" Yuffie tried to sound big-of-herself.
"I'm 23…" Tifa spoke
"Okay, so maybe I'm not older than you. But I look older than you"
The girls laughed.
"So who did you fall for?"
"I fell for amazingly, an ex- Black Crescents Commander. His name was Commander Vincent Valentine, oh gosh Tifa. He was amazingly gorgeous. Great guy too, kind of icy though. Reminds me to heck of Sephiroth, except he's cuter" Yuffie day-dreamed.
"Interesting. Are Generals and Commanders quite popular with the ladies here?" asked Tifa.
"You'd need more fingers by the figures I could call. There are so many women who fall in love with these generals, commanders, admirals and lieutenants. Of course, they never seem to know, some do, but others like say Vincent would never know, and if he did he'd never push into a relationship. But yes Tifa, they're very popular" she smirked.
"Who would you say is the favourite among the ladies? Please don't say that psycho Shinra" Tifa pleaded.
Yuffie laughed, "Rufus Shinra is hands off material thanks to Scarlett. But I'd say for a free bachelor, who's independent, fierce, strong and good looking, probably General Tsung" Yuffie spoke.
"Why not Sephiroth?" asks Tifa.
"His attitude is horrible. He's a workaholic, and he's very cold and demeaning and that seems to drive the ladies away from him." Yuffie laughed, "I don't believe I've ever seen a woman with Sephiroth, muchless in his room. You might be the one" Yuffie kidded.
Tifa flung a pillow into Yuffie's head.
"Would you stop already. Besides, I don't like him Yuffie. He's disgraceful and horrible. He's the last man I would want to be with." Tifa suddenly changed her friendly attitude to something colder.
"You really don't like him, do you?"
"Like is an understatement. The man is evil Yuffie. He killed my people in the dungeons" Tifa winced at the thought.
"Huh?" Yuffie was confused.
"He said he killed my people, my maids, my soldiers, my entourage, he killed them all, all for his selfish sick pleasures" Tifa spoke.
Yuffie gave Tifa a quizzical look.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Tifa asked.
"I'm thinking. I – I don't think you're right Tifa" Yuffie began.
"Right about what, he's evil or ..what?"
"No, I mean the killing of the prisoners in the dungeon. That's not the duty of a General, Tifa. Sephiroth is the highest ranked General in Black Crescents. He just can't take up menial jobs like killing prisoners unless he has permission from the council, even then, they have men to do jobs like that. They're executioners, and your people weren't killed by Sephiroth" she assured, "I know the laws Tifa that govern this place almost to the back of my hand. I don't think he's telling you the truth" she spoke.
"Then why would he lie to me? To get me more aggravated, to hate him some more?" Tifa asked confused.
"I don't know…"
"Hmm… odd" thought Tifa… 'very odd'
To be continued…