Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
-by Amaranthos-
Chapter 14: Affairs
Another month passes, and the grey skies are still here for the stay. The weather here didn't need to be predicted as everyday rained, almost like a weeping punishment from the heavens.
I had hope to hear some interesting things through the filtering rumours in the fortress about my father. But the title Red Hearts, almost seem to be a faint breath. I was beginning to think that my father would not come for me. In some way I knew it couldn't be helped if he didn't come, but some part of me wanted him to try. I was growing very tired of this place, the people and the customs. I was beginning to out-live my welcome when it came to people like Scarlett and Velrog. They both equally hated me, and often tried extorting information infamously behind Rufus' back.
So many things happened every day, be it from my simple interrogations to the boring falling of rain. Of course I sarcastically meant the events in my life considering there weren't any. I would every now and then read a book from Sephiroth's shelf, or even walk into his room and look around, seeing what I could not on my denied visits.
But something happened to me.
As I walk through the halls of this cold fortress, or even look at the lone picture in Sephiroth's room. I would intently look out his window, and find myself watching those huge bolted doors in advent of his return. I didn't know why my mind and heart seem to turn that direction, and sometimes I could not turn away. Inside I felt, so much has happened to me. From my conversations with Yuffie and Rufus, I have learnt that Sephiroth was a formidable General, who was very strict about his missions and barely ever tried to get them wrong. I had particularly learn from Yuffie, though Sephiroth walks as a General, he doesn't abuse his authority. He may not look diplomatic or even the friendliest of people, but often times Sephiroth was someone dubbed a certain title because of the politics his leaders asked him to oblige. In some way, I guess he was only doing his job. Yuffie pointed out, it wasn't Sephiroth's killing streak that made him feared at Black Crescents, but it was merely the perception people had of him. He was classified as a murderer, and he could not be seen as anything else but the best, that often people feared losing their lives in front of him.
I would admit, his demeanor could scare a young child to a grown adult, but maybe… it was his way of keeping people away, without using the forceful or brute-like power that of Rufus or Velrog. Sephiroth knew he was strong and because of that he didn't take advantage of the weak by literally killing them, but rather he would taunt and tease people with his infamous sarcasm and satire tongue. He was cold and devoid, and often sardonic enough to throw statements back almost like weapons with the intention to hurt.
Most of my encounters with Sephiroth were bitter. But he didn't' hurt me… rather he mentally teased me with his cruel sentences.
I know it's a bad thing, but I'd prefer be hurt mentally, than physically. Though someone might think mental wounds should be limited as they take a longer time to heal, I guess I could say…conditions apply. I would have to admit that Sephiroth has hurt me both mentally and physically, and I know some scars can not be healed with time, but when I stand next to his mighty window and look out, and see the masses of soldiers, I know that through Sephiroth's torture, I have strangely become much stronger. It would not be something I ever admit if he ever returned… but I am thankfully stronger. To be brave against people like Rufus or his father, or even Scarlett or the guards outside my door. I didn't expect from this experience I could gain exposure of life or in some way be prepped to handle the emotional journey it would be.
I can't say if I'll ever thank Sephiroth. Because I don't know what I feel. Maybe it's too complicated to understand right now. Maybe I see things too naively, that I've forgotten to understand he's still an enemy, my enemy.
*She looks out the window*
'Maybe…'
"You're invited to a banquet feast with Master Shinra" Yuffie stood in front of Tifa, who sighs aloud.
Tifa etched her face in such a way she was about to laugh. She figured it had to be one of the most comical things she heard. 'Hmm so I'm invited to a banquet…humph! What are you up to Shinra-boy?'
"Do I have to attend?" asked Tifa, almost reluctantly.
Yuffie strew her features into distaste. "I really don't think you have a choice. Master Shinra said, he would appreciate it if you could join him for a banquet in his room" Yuffie repeated what Shinra had informed.
"Room?"
Yuffie nodded.
"Oh goodness, I'm being invited to have lunch with a madman in his room" Tifa threw an exasperated sigh. She would think Rufus had gotten the memo that she wasn't interested in him but unfortunately, the man pressed on.
Yuffie said nothing.
"What do you think I should do?" Tifa asked her…
Yuffie fumbles with her fingers, uncertain. "Urh, well. I think you should definitely go" Yuffie said, almost with an artificial smile.
Tifa arched a brow. Sighing again, Tifa nodded.
"I guess I'll go then…" Tifa spoke…
"Great, I'll inform Master Shinra" Yuffie smiled.
Tifa looked at Yuffie leave her room and couldn't help but think how weird it was. Yuffie was acting so different these days. She didn't act like herself, nor was she cheery or lively, instead she almost seem robotic. She did as little laughing as possible, keeping all her dialogue short and concise. Sometimes, she didn't even respond and many times Tifa wondered where her old friend had gone.
Taking a deep breath, Tifa shifted her thoughts to think about other matters that involved Shinra and his banquet. Honestly, Tifa thought this was by far the most amusing and odd invitation from the blonde headed ruler. Usually you expect rulers to torture their captives mentally and physically, yet Rufus Shinra was quite a character. He was different, Tifa noted. Exceptionally different. His strategy to gain his captives plans and information, was a different one that didn't necessarily involve the brute force that Scarlett and Velrog obliged. He believed in pampering her with gifts, and good treatment as a sort of compensation for her father's classified information. Of course, Tifa knew very well his intentions. But to some point she figured if Rufus had known, why did he avidly press on? Why did he continue the showering of gifts and generosities? Sometimes Tifa didn't know…
Rising from her chair, Tifa decided she would take a bath and get ready for this banquet.
She had finished washing her hair, all long and untangled. Gently she placed a hand through her locks. She could smell the residual blood on her hair, its coppery scent impossible to miss. For a moment, she grosses at the smell but can't deny her job calls for it.
'Any minute now…' She thought with a lecherous smirk on her face.
She had hope today would be a good day. She had waited four years to see her favourite General. And how he had grown up to be so beautiful and impressive. She was quite amaze to recently discover he was a third-star General in the war. She always knew Sephiroth as an exceptional SOLDIER and soldier, but to gain a third-star General title in the space of a month was terribly impressive. She had seen many of a man try to do what he did. He was sinfully skilled with black lessons to kill almost effortlessly. She couldn't deny, Sephiroth slashing and maneuvering through the war, to kill his opponents almost God-like made him, something to marvel at, but also… equally want.
Sephiroth was just not some soldier, she thought. He was a man beneath it too. He was exceptionally arousing to the eyes of any woman. And though she is bitter sometimes to know, he doesn't care for the sensuality or beauty of women, she figured he must be a man somewhere to have urges enough… to want something, from a woman.
She never heard a story about Sephiroth and a woman. For her, Sephiroth's character matched none. His character screamed a certain power and fear which no one could be equivalent enough to balance. Not even her. He was a man well learned to the ways of strategy and sword, beauty and defiance, yet he did not take vulnerability to the flawless creation she or any other woman.
She remembered when Rufus would say things about Sephiroth enjoying in the perverse tastes with other men. She immediately discarded the foul thought. Sephiroth may be a General, who works with men but she knew he had to have liked at least one woman. And with a smile on her face, she figured.. it would be her.
Looking at her face in her small mirror, she smirked to herself. She would hope Sephiroth to be hers. She had dreamt of him so many times; all of her dreams dark and sensual. She could not deny the years that kept them apart had driven her into a lustful madness for him. She had wanted him all through the years, and had even threatened to give up her position just to be a little closer to him, but her father had warned her Sephiroth would see it as a silly move. He respected soldiers, who earned their respect and did their jobs almost heartbreakingly well. She had cried over the years yearning some contact or time with him, but it was insufferable to live without him, as it is to live with him without him not noticing her the way she wanted him to. Her eyes professed openly her human literature of adoration, yet his eyes would not match hers. She could only see coldness and ice. Everything, which in some way drew her in closer.
She didn't understand what charm the man wore on him. Was it his war hunger that made her so attracted to him, or maybe it was the fact he was brilliant at everything he did… or maybe, it was the fact his mystery and shadiness drew her in. From the smart complacent statements to the dirty little smirks. What was it about this man, that made her feel so terribly attracted, that she always found herself gravitating toward him, that she had to have him, want him and need him.
Her desperation surprised her sometimes, but she knew every time his eyes looked at hers, and hers held his… she wanted to be the only one for him.
Yet the sad reality would be, Sephiroth found himself not requiring a woman or any women for the very federal fact – perhaps he assumed them weak, or low. Maybe he didn't need the soft feminine side of a woman to cry upon or express his emotions to. As far as she was concerned, she had never seen Sephiroth show real emotion other than coldness or mockery to people. She had never seen him smile or laugh, or even look at someone with love. She figured maybe those emotions simply didn't live in him. But it was impossible she knew. He had to feel that way and even if he's forgotten how to feel, she would bring it right back out…
'You're so good, you naughty girl' she smiled.
"You wanted to see me Aerith?" comes suddenly this cold voice.
Aerith, whose back is to Sephiroth only wears a thin robe. With a lecherous little smirk, she figured maybe she could get the General to slide his duty just for a little while. Turning around, she haphazardly kept her robe close, her hair artistically to the side of her face. She innocently phased her features to one of girlish charms.
"I've gathered something quite interesting, General" she paused to study his ridiculously handsome features. "Apparently one of my privates gathered a piece of intelligence which I'm not quite fond of. I was hoping, maybe…" she paused to smirk, changing the flow of her words "that you could, look at it" her eyes beaconing a sort of innocence that she feigned almost seductively.
Sephiroth spared her an intent expression before nodding.
Aerith mentally smirked.
"It's here, on my computer" she spoke again, with the same feigning voice. An appetizing voice to the lower gut of any man…
Sephiroth came to her desk, looking at the information on the screen. Quietly he read, and quietly Aerith fed him in. Her eyes could not deny he was gorgeous, immaculate platinum locks, all perfectly straight and never tangled. His dark, ebony uniform with golden badges and buttons made him astonishing royal-looking. His square posture in the chair, even made him royal looking while sitting.
Aerith smiled. She enjoyed his company…but she'd enjoy him even more…
"So you see, Sephiroth… I don't understand what Mack Knights is trying to say." She spoke, hoping he'd buy her plan.
"Did you give this information to our analysts?" he asked.
Aerith blinked, "why…no" she began, "I was hoping…" she slowly began contorting words, more deliberate into soft purrs, "that, you'd know…" she said lowly, her voice officially a whisper.
Sephiroth re-read the information, and then felt her lean into his back. Her soft, warm breasts pressing into his back. Sephiroth momentarily moved his eyes to the side, recording her actions.
"I'm not an analyst, Aerith" were his words..
"I know, Sephy" she endeared, reminding him of their sporting years.
"It looks like this information here seems to based off a campsite. I can't make out what they're saying, perhaps these foreign symbols could be decrypted" he informed.
Aerith leaned off and listened to him. Her plan was working perfectly; pulling her robe slightly apart, she continued to speak with her back to him… "why don't you take the information with you" she spoke… "this will be a reminder of the good things I can do for you" she was about to turn around and sink into his back, but he was nowhere on the chair…
"Already done. I've sent this information to our analysts." He spoke, "is there anything else you want?" he asked.
'You have no idea…' she giggled in her mind.
"Well I have gotten these books" she whispered, leaning forward her robe parting open where the sight of her fully grown bosom was beginning to show. Aerith picked up the two on the table and was amazed to find that he was looking directly in front of him instead at the gaping opening in her robe.
Sephiroth looked at the books, and then threw them back down. "I've already seen those books"
"Well then" she leaned forward. She figured if she tried every way to make the man fall for her, maybe she could… literally show him why he was here.
Coming closer, with a devilish sparkle in her eyes she allowed her hands to lie on his chest… "I've missed you, Sephiroth" her voice was low and sultry.
This time Sephiroth's eyes held hers…
"I tried to contact you, she sent her nails over his chest slowly and up his chin, before it rested on his lips. He looked at her intently. His eyes glinting remarkably in the dark room.
"I just wanted you to know.." she leaned forward, becoming more than forward but bold. She tip-toed toward him and then slowly averted her head to his, wanting their lips to touch. It was then she felt his hand push her to the side, where she piled up messily on the chair. At first Aerith was confused if he didn't want to kiss her, but now she was more of a seductive mess on the chair…
"I am your superior. You will do well Gainsborough to respect your superiors and not forget your duty to Black Crescents. We do not have to time to idle or indulge in silly fancies." With that he left curtly leaving her to his bitter words and the sad truth, that after so many years he still didn't feel anything for her…
Tifa was dressed and escorted to Rufus Shinra's room. With a tense expression on her face and eyes of intent taking in everything, Tifa found herself feeling strange being put in a situation like this.
She didn't want to have a banquet in his room. Surely the fortress was big enough to have other interesting places besides his room.. or bed..or anything that could insinuate thoughts of displeasure for her.
The door silently opens to surprisingly… "Scarlett?" Tifa seem mildly shock.
"Don't sound too surprise, Tiffy" she endeared sarcastically.
'Tiffy?'
Scarlett fixed her dress and then looked at Tifa, "don't get any ideas with him" she warned.
'With Rufus Shinra, is she crazy?'
Rufus joined both women, and then smiled happily at Tifa. Tifa gave a small smile and then broke their silence by saying, "could we have our banquet outside?"
"Are you stupid? You're the pris- " Scarlett was cut off
"Why. Outside sounds fantastic, I know just the place"
"But Rufus, she's the prisoner, she'll probably try to escape" Scarlett elucidated.
"I'd love to see how. It's impossible Scarlett" he laughed, his laughter cruel on her ears. Tifa looked down. She had heard it from Yuffie, known it from Sephiroth, and now finally Rufus Shinra was comically telling her escaping from Black Crescents was virtually impossible. Blowing a small sigh, Tifa straightened her face and readied herself for the afternoon's events.
"Let's proceed shall we. I'm starved" he starts
"I'm sorry Scarlett couldn't have joined us. She likes you, you know" Rufus informs with a smirk on his face.
Tifa ate silently and thought to herself, who was he fooling saying that.
"I could certainly feel it," Tifa condescendingly mocked.
"So are you enjoying the banquet?"
Tifa looked around.
They were in the fortress courtyard under a large Japanese Cherry Blossom tree. They sat on stone chairs with a stone table between them. All about the table was food. Tifa couldn't believe the amazing food they served here. Yuffie was right, it even tasted good. No wonder she enjoyed stealing them.
"Yes" Tifa nodded.
Rufus smiled. "You know… my council is beginning grow weary about the information you're providing us. They think I treat you too nice, but you're such a nice girl" he smiled, "so I'll say whenever you want to talk just let me know" he smirks
Tifa shook her head, annoyed that after everything he still didn't get it: she wasn't going to give up her father's precious information regardless her circumstances.
"I'll never tell you anything" Tifa suddenly dropped the act.
Rufus looked at her, gruffly eating a pastry. "Will you now?" he asked annoyed.
"Black Crescents is a horrible organization. Their intention is beyond me when your focus is blurred on destroying awesome empires like Red Hearts and Mack Knights" Tifa sputtered.
"You think we're killing the good guys?" he laughs, "Your father doesn't even know who the enemy is" Rufus explains in a low voice…
Tifa narrows her brows.
"What are you talking about?" Tifa asked very confused…
"Mack Knights works with your father's organization. But you already know that, what your father doesn't know is that Mack Knights is using Red Hearts and not the other way around. Your father, having the gift to make friends accepts people easily seeing pass their true intentions. Even tyrannical empires like Mack Knights." He sputters.
"Believe me Mack Knights can easily destroy Red Hearts, relying on the sole fact your father is a good Samaritan. But what does your daddy know when he's blinded to his enemies?"
Tifa stood up straightly, anger on her face. "My father, is a great man Rufus Shinra. He does not have a crooked bone or evil will in his body like you and your father. Instead of teaching and encouraging your people into diplomatic ways of peace and understanding, you rape them of that world, of that truth. Instead, you feed them with your sickening politics and toxic lies. But I assure Rufus one day will come and this great empire known as Black Crescents will fall." She sat down, "there can be no great empire if it is built on silt"
"Perhaps…" he enjoyed in his tea, "and then you shouldn't doubt what greatness can be built upon."
Tifa sighed. Eating silently, Tifa looked down at one of the pastries and then at Shinra. He was indeed a very unreadable character. He was terribly handsome, with features that seem to fit no other bill of psychotically beautiful. But equally riding his pretty looks, was his sardonic way of thinking and war politics. He was gifted to make an empire like Black Crescents become as fatedly great as it was… maybe he was right, greatness could stand on any structure.
"Something's on your mind, my dear?"
Tifa looked up, "I want to go home…"
Rufus figured her plea would come some day. Looking at her, he smiled softly, "I assure Tifa I'll return you when you've provided me with the right information" he explains…
Tifa could tell this was a losing battle. Maybe she shouldn't be trying to figure out how Rufus Shinra operated, but rather why he did the things he did.
"You know Tifa, in a couple days the soldiers from Mack Knights war would have returned. It's been a while I've seen my best Generals and Commanders. But casualties have been one too many for us." He sighs…
Tifa looks up almost concerned he's telling her this bit of unimportant information.
"Why do you send your men to their deaths?"
"I don't send my men to their deaths, Tifa dearest. I only send the best of the lot when trouble arises. These men are my killing machines and they make great art on the battle field"
"Is that what you honestly see them as?" she enquired.
"Come now Tifa, don't be naïve about these things. The world is not all it's cracked up to be, but of course you'd beg to differ" he pauses, "your world is much more different from the life of a General" he educates, "your world is of peace, this world here is of violence and blood. You misunderstand the whole lot of us expecting perhaps, that we all survive on the eccentrics of peace. My rule of thumb: rule with fear and dominate when you can. It creates a perfect sense of peace…"
"If you're speaking about the peace where there's no friction between you and people because you intimidate them, I tend to call that cowardice… besides, not all men listen bend even to great rulers" I informed…
He smirks, "believe me, all men will listen to me."
"Is that why you and General Sephiroth get along so well?" Tifa sarcastically asks.
He smirked. Clever girl remembering that. "General Sephiroth is a difficult kind of man." He starts, "believe me, I wouldn't have any part of him but my father thinks the great General is a major asset for Black Crescents. I agree, he's a formidable man, even while being my enemy, but Sephiroth's ways of doing and understanding things, is what I don't like."
"It's because you have no control over him, right?" Tifa interjects.
He frowns, "He succumbs to no one, not even to my father. He's a killer, evidently driven by cause to kill. Unlike me wanting to kill the whole lot of people I don't like, he doesn't operate like that. His missions are very thorough, explicit and complicated. So complicated that he selects the ones he'll do." He pauses,
"It bothers me that a man like him hates getting things wrong and never kills those who weren't part of the plan. Sometimes I think it's his way of being soft, but surely Sephiroth is a mystery to us…" he sighs.
"You make General Sephiroth, sound human" Tifa spoke a tiny voice.
"I make him sound human? That sometimes can happen. But for the most part" he took a sip of his tea, "imagine the families he's killed. Imagine your experiences with Sephiroth. They weren't enjoyable were they?" he laughs, "the thing you need to ask yourself is is he truly a bad man independently or is it because he's doing his job, right? Often people calibrate themselves when asking if what he does is all a matter of being human or not"
To be continued…