Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
-by Amaranthos-
Chapter 9: Black and white silhouettes.
"Good morning council members" spoke the voice of Rufus Shinra.
"Good morning" they responded aptly, looking on tentatively at him. "I'm please to say that General Sephiroth, has untwined a puzzle for us, which remains a pivotal move against Red Hearts. General" he pointed at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth nodded.
"As it's been drawn to my attention as the newly founded General, I've been given the full access to the archives unit, which I have requested to use for the past 2 years. As such, yesterday I unfolded a mystery. It seems that we have an old nemesis joined forces with Red Hearts. Apparently, 4 years ago there was a terrible battle here at Black Crescents known as the Red Day. The villain responsible had been Mack Knights, a small organization that prides itself in the latest technology available." He flips on a projector showing images of the organization and its plant.
"Mack Knights, has been responsible for major cyber attacks, as well as technological war machinery. The most advance to ever be created" he shows a recent image of a battle armada. Rufus blinks back, amazed they had an armada.
"Now apparently, the attack we had earlier on this week, carried out by high ranking soldier Scarlett Raine, was a matter of a gimmick. Red Hearts has outsourced the technologies of Mack Knights, where they placed a movement sensitive sensor on the outer perimeter of the Western Province as seen on the projector"
"The sensor, trips off laser machines that are located to the mouth of each watch tower on the Western side. It also sounds a siren immediately drawing attention to the Black Crescent factions. Because Delta B, was not trained by my expertise, they could not have known about EMP machines being used to discharge a faint electro-magnetic surge throughout the environment to trip off sensors or any electric machine. As a result, Delta B, moved in and was annihilated almost immediately" he shows a picture of the deaths.
"I believe however, that from the research provided through archives, from prisoners and from my intuition, that Mack Knights are using Red Hearts and not the other way around. Now we can do this two ways. We can allow Mack Knights to destroy Red Hearts for us internally, or personally my favourite, we can squash their operations, salvage their technology and bring them back to base for use. By destroying Mack Knights, Red Hearts is a sitting duck when it comes to our new technological advancements, courtesy of Mack Knights. I leave this decision for the council board to decide" he ended.
"Excellent work, General Sephiroth. But I think I'll agree with you. If we can use Mack Knights technology against Red Hearts, then we'll have a Red Day of our own" Velrog spoke.
Everyone agreed, speaking in whispers and nodding to the next. Sephiroth smirked.
The council deliberated for a couple of minutes, selecting the second option of raiding Mack Knights.
"We should raid now.." were the words of Rufus
"Don't be too hasty Shinra" Sephiroth spurt.
Rufus sighs, "I want this technology Sephiroth and nobody wants Red Hearts down as much as me. Order Delta C to leave now, General Tsung you may take any commander you require to fulfill this plan. I want this done by 1900 hours. Nothing later." Rufus spoke.
"My son, don't you think you're being too rash?" asked Velrog.
"No father, and if anybody asks me that again I'll kill them" Rufus spat.
Rufus rubbed his sore temples.
"Any information from the Lockhart girl?" asks one of the elder generals.
"Not yet" Rufus pauses. "She's still recovering, but soon we'll get some information out of her, I may even entrust this duty to you General Sephiroth" he paused to see Sephiroth's expression.
Sephiroth's eyes flashed something cold.
"I must say Shinra, I don't enjoy the occupation of being both a General and a baby sitter" Sephiroth spat.
Rufus laughs. "Funny, you seem to joggle them fine"
Sephiroth said nothing.
Tifa had eaten her breakfast and was prepared to make this day, the day she'd walked. With some help from Yuffie, Tifa was making headway. Her limbs and body were weak but she was persistent noted Yuffie. Very persistent. She had spent her entire morning trying to walk and by lunchtime, she could walk on her own. Tifa was very proud of herself.
"I owe you Yuffie" she smiles.
"Now now… it's quite alright" Yuffie smiled.
Tifa walked over to the bookshelves and back to the couch, excited at being able to walk. She walked over to the door and then to the window. She looked out the window and remembered something. She sighs. 'I'm a prisoner.'
"Will Shinra ever let me out of this place?" Tifa asked.
"I doubt… he's got this place surrounded by soldiers, especially for you" Yuffie spoke.
Tifa sighs. "Isn't there a place of solace I could sit and read, or even relax? Every angle of this fortress is a living reminder of the war that sieges through our time. I haven't been able to proactively say what I want to do, but maybe I should try being a pacifist with Shinra." Tifa spoke.
Yuffie listened, "he's not into pacifists Tifa. Nobody here listens to peace. Your world of peace exists, but not in this one. They don't know the language of peace Tifa, nor of freedom. Black Crescents is a tall empire, not grounded on what is right or should be right, but by communistic ideals and standards." She joined Tifa.
"My father fought so hard for these kind of things you know. I'm sure if he was still around, he would have listened to you." She smiled, "my father was different Tifa, and I guess because of his difference, he paid the ultimate punishment" Yuffie saddened.
Tifa turned to Yuffie confused.
"I'm sorry…" her eyes were shimmery and Tifa could tell something very bad had happened.
"What happened to your father Yuffie?" Tifa asked.
"I-I shouldn't talk about this. This is breaking the code of conduct" Yuffie spoke.
"You've already broken your code of conduct." Tifa said matter-of-factly.
"Tifa, please, I've said too much" she paused to pick up her blazer, "I'm off, I have a duty at the infirmary…" she pauses, "good day"
Tifa looked at Yuffie leave the room, perplexed at the situation. 'What did I do?' Thought Tifa. Whatever Yuffie was holding back, she didn't choose to talk about it due to its sensitivity. Tifa thought some more.
Tifa walked toward the door wondering if she could follow Yuffie to find out what made her so upset. Realizing she couldn't escape especially with guards barred around the door, she sighed. Why did they have to bar her door, thought Tifa. Monsters.
Tifa looked around the familiar room, she had grown so attached and bored of the living room, that to some sense it was all she knew. Sephiroth wasn't much of a decorator, except for the one plaque he had of a red flag on a black hill. The painting was a bit abstract, but she figured maybe Sephiroth might know more about the artist and its simple design. Maybe Sephiroth was simple, 'oh maybe, I just like talking to myself'
Tifa had to admit, she got very bored in this one room and wished sometimes, she could talk to Yuffie for hours long. But she couldn't have that. It was against Shinra's word.
'Pish posh Shinra'
Tifa looked around the room, trying to decide if there was anything she could discover. Turning around, she looked at the white door Sephiroth had reinstalled. She was told indirectly, to not go into his room. But he was never around, she only saw him for brief moments to know she wouldn't get into too much trouble. Turning the knob, she entered his room, to find it quiet and clean. For a person who fancied his lifestyle in blood, he sure kept his room tidy. Entering, Tifa had gotten a better view of his room. The large bed was still to the left of the wall, the dresser to the right. And the big window that never seem to open to the north of her.
Tifa walked over to Sephiroth's mantle and looked at the two swords over his mantle, the third one was being used by Sephiroth. Tifa leaned forward, taking hold of the smallest blade. It was a tanto. A small blade or sword.
Tifa unsheathed it carefully, watching the shiny blade reflect her. Pulling the blade apart, she hefted it before demonstratively slashing it slowly in the air. It reminded her of martial arts back home. Wiping it through the air, Tifa smiled. She liked this blade. Sheathing it, she placed it back where she found it.
'What else do you have Sephiroth?' She thought.
Looking to the top of his mantle she could see a couple of folders. Looking behind her just for security reasons, she viewed the first one. She was surprised to read a detail report about Red Hearts. It was a very detailed report thought Tifa. Flipping through the pages, she saw a picture of her father. But something was wrong thought Tifa. Her father was mentioned briefly, nothing incremental left against him. She had seen war reports…
"Touching again?" Sephiroth spoke
Tifa felt her heart jerk forward. Immediately the papers fell to the floor. Tifa didn't know what to do, should she pick them up or should she stand.
Tifa turned around, peering him in the face. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held a hand to silence her off.
"Leave"
Tifa nodded. She looked at him unsure if he would hurt her, but he didn't. Tifa exited his room, returning to the couch. She quietly sat, and awaited some word from him. But he just shut the door and kept to himself all afternoon. Tifa leans her head back into the couch, thinking about the report she just discovered.
On a chair to the far left of the room, had been a pile of clothes folded. To the top was a small card with her name on it.
To my dearest Tifa,
I hope these fit you well. Just trying to provide you with some comfort.
Sincerely.
Rufus –
Tifa picked up a nightgown and had to blush at the flimsy thing. She often wondered where Shinra got these things from. Picking up another dress, she saw the décolleté of the dress with a large fissure. She snarled. 'Who does he think I am, Scarlett?'
Dropping the clothes down, Tifa smelt her dress. It didn't smell too clean. Maybe she should take a bath. Looking at the time Tifa read 6:45pm. It was late, and she hadn't eaten anything. Knocking on Sephiroth's door, she heard nothing.
"Hello" she knocked some more, irritated at his nonchalant behaviour.
He opened the door sharply, with his shirt off and his pants on. Tifa couldn't reply. She couldn't move more like it. All she could do, was watch Sephiroth, sweating and shirtless. His sweat falling down his chiseled body. His arms were toned perfectly, and his skin somewhat tanned. Sephiroth was even breathing rashly. Maybe he was exercising…
"Yes?" he asks, his silver locks partially tainted with his sweat.
"Urh…" Tifa wears a bright red blush, she smiles lightly. Swallowing she shook her head and tried to look at his face. "I need to bathe" she asked nervously.
"And?"
Tifa who would by now, normally be ticked off at his immature behaviour, didn't catch on.
"And I was wondering, if I could take one?" she asked.
"Shinra -
*Explosion*
Something fierce, and loud shook the fortress from its mighty grip. The fortress as Tifa recalled was a stronghold, built to last, but this mighty earthquake or whatever it was seem to rock the fortress like a leaf, Tifa tottered forward. Sephiroth effortlessly caught her, leaning her into the arch of the door, protecting her with his body. Tifa's heart was racing. He was leaning against her, his sweating body touching her dress. Tifa looked down to see his arm wrapped protectively over her waist.
-CODE RED- CODE RED –
An alarm goes off.
"Shit!" it had been the first time Tifa heard Sephiroth curse.
Sephiroth pulled apart entering his room. Placing on his black jacket, he didn't bother to button it. Taking his Masamune, he turned to Tifa with a robust looking face.
"We've been attacked Lockhart. The fortress is in lock down. I'll ask you to not escape tonight as it might be the most foolish thing yet. After all, I perceive it isn't father who attacked us" he spoke.
"My father…then there's a different enemy?" she asked.
"Stay here, and don't touch" he left the room
Tifa sighed. Now she didn't know what to do. Apparently something as odd as Black Crescents getting attacked, happened. She realized he still didn't give her an answer to take a bath. Tifa figured maybe, taking a bath now was a bad idea. Especially with the fortress in a rot. Patiently she waited, watching the figures on the clock move by slowly. Every so often lights and electricity would flicker on and off.
Tifa sat there watching the lights flicker on and then off. She could almost count the amount of times the air condition in the apartment started and ended. She sat there for an hour, until a knock came to her door. Tifa didn't know what to do. Should she answer the door?
Tifa slowly opens the door, and is told to take a lantern. Tifa looks at the soldier and then the lantern.
"We've been informed that the electricity will be going out for a few minutes. Please take this and get it lit" he handed her a lantern.
"Thank you" she took the lantern and shut the door.
Tifa lights the lantern and leaves it lit. In about 10 minutes time, the electricity is completely shut off but not without something sounding like an explosion.
'They must have destroyed a generator' Thought Tifa.
9: 37 PM: Black Crescents Empire.
Sephiroth blew a small sigh, entering his dark apartment with not a single light or lantern on. Combing his eyes over the dark apartment he couldn't make out any silhouettes of the small woman. He entered his room, and again she wasn't anywhere to be found. Sephiroth wondered where she could be. Had she gotten captured?
He was about to leave his apartment to file a report, when he saw light coming from under his bathroom door. Approaching the door, he leaned against the door just a little and heard the sound of what seem to be humming and splashing water.
Sephiroth had to admit, she was a foul, audacious young woman, but at least she had a sense of cleanliness. Sephiroth took off his shirt, and lied down on his bed, tired from the day's reports and battles. Turning to look outside his window, he could see the stars one by one light the sky. He had never been a stargazer, but even he could see that the heavens were majestic.
Sephiroth listens to the sound of crickets and a singing, splashing woman, until he could hear it no more. She took 20 minutes in his bathroom. Tifa opened the door with a bare towel covering her grown body with the lantern in her hand.
"Did you enjoy your bath?" asked Sephiroth, his hands were behind his head, as he paid no attention to her.
She nervously laughed. She didn't mean for him to catch her.
He sighed. "I suppose you want to change in my room?" he asked.
Tifa's cheeks went red. Thank goodness it was night and he couldn't see her blush.
"Yes…" she spoke in a small voice.
At first Sephiroth doesn't know if it's such a good idea, but knowing he couldn't let her drip on his floor he agrees.
"So… do I – I change…here, in front of you?" she asked stupidly.
Sephiroth smirks, "would you like to change in front of me? I have no objections" he teased her.
'Pervert'
"You can change behind my shoji screen." He spoke.
Tifa turned around and looked at the screen. She had never realized the screen until now. She went behind the screen placing the lantern down.
"Don't look" she pleaded.
"I won't"
Tifa nodded.
Sephiroth could see the light from the lantern spread across his room. Turning to his right, he could see Lockhart with her towel in hand, considering whether or not to change. The foolish woman was changing with a lantern projecting her dark detailed silhouette against his walls.
But surprisingly, she allows the towel to fall, and Sephiroth blinks.
Her naked body, is outlined to the light, and he could see every curve and accentuation of her body. From her legs he watched as they rose to her butt and then to small of her back. Her flat stomach was perfectly flat. Then he could see her back arch, and it was amazing to see her bend in light. And then up her stomach was her ample sized chest which had given the entire empire nosebleeds. She lifted her hair, it falling like silk neatly to her sides. Tifa placed on her night gown, the shear fabric not hiding what he could see.
It had been the first time Sephiroth looked at a woman like that. Not out of scorn or bitterness, but because his eyes didn't feel like it needed to turn. He didn't feel like a pervert or like anything different, he just felt himself looking on at the artistic side of the woman.
Tifa came out from the screen, and saw Sephiroth looking at her. Her cheeks are red. Turning her head away, Sephiroth smirks.
"You're a funny woman Lockhart" he spoke.
"I glad you find me amusing" she teased, "because you're not at all amusing"
Sephiroth places one of his hands over his chest, returning to look out the window. Tifa looked at him, the moon light and lantern light bickered to touch his skin, and all she could make out was his rippled muscles and taut flesh. Tifa swallowed, allowing herself to look at him, no matter how much she felt out of line to look at him. Tifa bit her lips, she hated doing this.
His silver hair shone and all she could do was look. Tifa like before turned away, dragging her eyes to not do as they were currently enjoying. She hated herself for this, for her weakness, for her humanness.
To be continued…