Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
Chapter 20: The gifts of war
He stood tall, complacently facing the dreary council. His gaze of frozen green meets those of the sinister Rufus Shinra. They exchange not a tendril of comradeship for the other.
Rufus seems amused.
His eyes mischievously glimmer.
"The council has requested my presence" Sephiroth begins in a baritone voice.
He stands in front of some fifteen top officials. They scan the man almost menacingly, feeding in the legend of beasts, himself. The air stirs to mutterings and whispers and the atmosphere feels different, Sephiroth noted. Something must be wrong.
"Presence you say" Rufus repeats the word, almost strewing it distastefully.
"Hmm" Rufus sighs and relaxes comfortably, 'it should be servitude you owe this council'
"Are you trying to imply something, Shinra?" comes the witty rebuttal of Sephiroth.
Rufus laughs, the laughter itself scathingly condescending.
"Ohh, there is so much I imply, General" he narrows his eyes into slits.
Sephiroth exchanges the cold greeting with his eyes. It was obvious these men hated each other, but it was also candescent to know, to engage either of them would often be at one's bitter end.
"Gentlemen, please" starts the voice of Velrog.
Rufus scowls.
"You have been requested, Sephiroth for your excellent work at the battle of Mack Knights. You have single-handedly killed 468 soldiers. My report also confirms, you've led your squadrons into victory and have gather paramount reconnaissance information against Mack Knights. You've become resourceful and strategic in your actions; you've managed to take repossess the Black Crescents Bay and all the foreign armadas floating in. I think, it is with due respect the council provides you with the right to know exactly what you've done behind the scenes" the tone in Velrog's voice quickly changes.
Sephiroth stiffens.
"Apparently, one of the Mack Knights armada's were carrying specialize soldiers working on a foreign piece of equipment. On the equipment there's a number inscribed quoting 5/5. When our analyst crew ventured in, inspecting every detail of the object, we found that the machine was actually a highly advanced mechanized technology being employed by Red Hearts" -
Sephiroth clenches his hand.
"It would seem after further investigation, our scientists have indeed confirmed this foreign object to be a Mech that was designed to destroy Black Crescents. We believe they call this thing Weapon. And if the numeric digits are correct, it's the 5th one that Red Hearts required. This state's something very clear to the council. Red Hearts is planning an attack on Black Crescents. We have not anticipated a date yet or rather, we haven't the slightest idea when an assault will come. However, it is eminent we gather all recon information from the appropriate officials of this weapon. It would seem, we've been fortunate to attain this weapon. As of now the science analyst teams are reworking on the Mech, feverishly. We plan on using this Mech with our technology to return an attack on Red Hearts." He deliberates.
"Forgive me." Sephiroth pauses. "I am not in the quaintest way sure what my expertise to the council now is. As far as recon work and scientific investigation goes, I am in no bounds to interfere. So what exactly, does the council require of me?" Sephiroth was sharp. Velrog notices the assassin's keen nature.
"He's quick!" comes the voice of Rufus.
Velrog sighs.
"We want you to interrogate the soldiers we've kept alive. It's kind of obvious isn't it?" Rufus asks with a hint of irritation.
"No." Sephiroth suddenly answers.
"Excuse me," Rufus leans forward.
Sephiroth smirks. He understood now. The council requires him again to pollute his hands in a field which surely he was amiss to. He was a General – otherwise a tactician of war. The low-life guttural work of a foot soldier should surely not be regressed to him. He was a high official, a General with a third star honour - the highest ranking under Shinra. Of course, all of this official stature seem to dissipate at their order, or rather was it their disposal? Sephiroth enlarges his smirk. The council was so fickle, and yet somehow he could see this irony coming a mile away.
"I believe you understood me. I am third star General, and my duty and prerogative does not encompass me the act of performing simple interrogation when there are people in this building who are quite amiable for the disposition. This is not my duty, council members" Sephiroth returns.
The council stirs into disorder. Many are talking, whirling their fits back and fro, complaining at the confession of the General. They seem angry yet, he was right. It was unethical to degrade the general into the interrogation.
"Council members" Velrog starts but the council was in uproar.
"Councilors" Velrog shouts out.
Slowly they die down. They stare at Velrog intently.
"Gentlemen, please let us act professionally at our duties." He pauses to face Sephiroth, "General Sephiroth" he starts.
"You have done us a superb job each and every time on the battlefield and at your post here. We are grateful for your handiwork" he pauses.
Sephiroth smirks, 'but you seek more'
"But I must ask you to pardon formalities and your formidable rank to indulge, indeed, in the low duties of interrogation. Your interrogation skills are indeed quite the prowess kind. I've known no other man to win a battle as large as Mack Knights with just recon information, but you. I ask you, to take time now and return to the council with an answer. It is in your right to be given a deliberation of time to question this offer."
Velrog leans into his chair, "I trust you make the best decision…" Velrog spares a small smile.
Sephiroth bows slowly.
"Thank you"
Sephiroth rises and looks up.
"Got luck Sephiroth" Rufus mocks.
Sephiroth pays no attention to him.
"It also in this opportune time, the council and I share a different train of thought here. The girl" Velrog starts.
Sephiroth listens carefully.
"If her father is indeed plotting against us, we need to extort the information we need from her, now. She's becoming quite the useless bit. Instead of pampering her, we should indeed be wrestling her in the most brutal manner of extortion. However, this is not an option to my son" Velrog looks at Rufus, who intently focus' on the old man.
"Indeed, father"
"As such, an interrogation process will take place every week until she finally coughs up the truth. Her stay here is becoming quite a weary one, and I'm sure you would love to have her be pardoned from your sights"
Sephiroth says nothing.
"Soon my friend. The little termagant will be handled. Until then, it's just a little while longer" he laughs. The council members joining in laughter.
Sephiroth remains silent.
"You may leave" Rufus pardons Sephiroth.
Sephiroth lightly bows once again and leaves the room.
His features tightly solemn.
The growing population of the soldiers down below had now tripled. For the past couple of weeks, I saw a greater movement of soldiers. I didn't know what was happening and it seem that a certain animosity hung in the air. I had ventured many times to inquire the disposition with Sephiroth, but he would assure me it was just a recruitment for all the fallen soldiers at the battle of Mack Knights. I had thought about it. Many soldiers did indeed die. Some of the familiar faces I would every now and then see, were no longer in the great courtyard.
It's a solemn, sad story when you hear about men like Rufus Shinra. Greedy men - who send their men off to battle to die; No one at Black Crescents commemorates the dead; rather cenotaphs are built for great generals and captains but not young boys who give themselves for the waste of battle for honour, glory and bravery.
Their families never know about their deaths, and it is with heaviness I swallow this everyday. Sephiroth I can tell is such a man, who – though he takes life, in some way, he does punish himself in a very silent yet discernible way for his cruelties to life. I had always wondered why Sephiroth worked so hard. Why he would spend countless hours working. And to my shocking discovery, it is because he buries some part of himself into what he does. Though my discovery, may not be absolute and certain, it could very well be a theory that rings true.
I sat down on the floor looking out the window.
It was snowing. I had never seen snow, as pure as it is fall on a land as dark as this. It was cold and sometimes when I wasn't with Sephiroth I'd remember I was still a hostage and still so very alone…
Today was different though. Due to Sephiroth's recent war activity, or should I say win at Mack Knights, he was given a week of holidays from his job. It was nice though. Sometimes, we just stared at each other. He would trace my lips with his callused fingers and we would slowly fall asleep. There were so many remarkable things about the man I had never notice. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of always hating him, that I was inept to see him otherwise.
He wasn't a gushy-man – a man who needed to be told that I adored him. No.
Sephiroth didn't need that.
He savoured touch a very important part of what he wanted from me. Apart from our sexual fancies, which ironically are surplus, he sometimes just enjoys doing occult things like caressing, and as odd as it sounds - smelling me. I confess, even this strange pastime has become one of my favourite things about him. I enjoy inhaling his scent. He's always so clean. A contradictory to the blood he's spilt. He smells so clean and there's something else. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but every time I inhale his intoxicating scent, I draw in closer and as odd as it sounds I feel… safe.
As far as affinity goes, I know we're deeply attracted to each other. Sephiroth needs a good strong woman in his life, one who doesn't break to him being known as an assassin. In some way I'm not totally surely I'm the one. It would frighten any logical, smart young woman if they man they adored was a murderer. But then, I'd sigh and recall that I wasn't just some woman, as Sephiroth has denounced several times, rather - I was a stubborn, loud, aggressive, fiery and strange, very strange young woman, who just happens to be a pacifist. Contrary qualities to my profession.
I laughed at that. Sephiroth told me I was a very stubborn pacifist. I didn't quite believe him, but looking at myself, I confess now, I am.
I hear a click of his door.
"Sephiroth?" I flipped around…
"No no… it's just me" comes the young face of Yuffie.
"Yuffie!" I beamed.
It's been such a long time since I've seen her. It was nice however.
"How are you, Tifa-chan?" she endears.
I laugh.
"I'm fine, and you? Are you okay?" I asked. She takes a seat next to me on the floor.
"I'm fine. Why are you sitting on the floor?" she arches a peculiar brow.
"Ohh, I was just thinking. I think well sitting on the floor, looking out windows. Yes, I know.. I'm odd" I laughed.
She laughs along. It's nice to hear her cheery voice.
"So I haven't seen you around lately. What have you been up to?" I inquired.
She sighs, "well, with the recent war many of the soldiers returned injured. It's difficult to come visit you when everyone in there looks like they're about to die. Gah… I need a vacation" she smiles, "sometimes, I just wanna get out of here" she giggles, "but that won't happen just so easy"
"Locked in my head" I tapped my head with a single finger.
"So where's your Sephiroth?" she playfully asks
I blush. "W-What do you mean?"
Yuffie rolls her eyes. "Oh please Tifa. Tell me you aren't going down this road with me. I am like the master of knowing everything" she giggles, "so don't joke around with me. I know you like Sephiroth. It's not hard to miss when you riled me out your room for confessing his death"
I look down. I remembered that. Those days were really sad.
I smiled. "Um… s-so, m-may-be I do… yeah"
She laughs out. "Oh this is, haha. This is cute" she ends, "you know I'm not gonna tell anyone. I'll never do that again. But be assured when I say, keep whatever relationship you have with Sephiroth behind the scenes." She ends solemnly.
I blinked back, "w-what do you mean? Sounds like you're warning me"
She bites her lips and looks out the window.
"If Sephiroth was ever caught fraternizing in an over-friendly manner or even on compromising terms with you, his career could very well go South. In some cases, where this exact scenario replayed, a young soldier and his outside woman were both executed. I can't exactly say what they'll do to the Great Sephiroth, or the very attractive pacifist. But I'm pretty sure, Rufus wouldn't hesitate to kill either one of you" she educates.
"Wow, talk about encouragement" I pursed my lips.
She breaks the tension, "sorry… I guess, I just want you to be safe." she smiles.
I stared off into the distance, "to be honest, there's no one I feel safer with"
"Really?" she prompts, "is this the same girl I knew two months ago who hated General Sephiroth?"
I laughed. "I don't know." "It's just… I never knew how much I truly didn't understand him until now. It's like all the broken pieces, suddenly join together and there's clarity about him."
"Sephiroth huh…" she laughs to herself.
"What's so funny?" I smiled, wondering what she knew.
"Well.. he's quite a fellow isn't he?" she speaks, "he's got all the women wound up over him. I wonder how he got so lucky?" Yuffie wonders
"What do you mean? Did he have lots of girlfriends or something?" I grabbed a blanket from the chair and wrapped it around me.
"Girlfriends? No…" she pauses, "as I've mentioned, he was never one to really indulge in that sort of thing. Rather, it was way too unprofessional or rather… it wasn't his kind of thing. Funny thing is, lots and lots of women are attracted to him. They usually openly confess their feelings for him, but he however was the die-hard heartbreaker. He wasn't fond of women… but now, I know differently" she laughs, "you must be the first woman Sephiroth truly likes to… be with. Odd and unconventional I think, considering you're a pacifist and that's one of the major things contradictory to his war portfolio. However weird that sounds, I'm glad…"
I smiled..
"So speaking of, where is Sephiroth?" she asks.
"He's taking a bath"
"Ack! He was in the apartment all along? Okay, well then Tifa-chan, I guess I should get going…" she stands up and stretches.
"Okay Yuffie, have a great day. Save lives"
"You know I will." She waves and leaves.
Dear Master Shinra,
I am requesting a temporary stay at the main Black Crescents HQ due to a completed mission with General Sephiroth, at the battle of Mack Knights. I seek 30 days or 1 month stay at the HQ. Officials arriving with me will be my father, General Gainsborough, acting General of the last regiments General Cross. We seek this time as a moment to converse and trade information systematically for future missions. We hope you consider this meeting beneficiary.
Respectfully,
Commander Aerith Gainsborough.
To be continued...