Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
Chapter 31: Kill Me
I shook my head. No… he couldn't be..this isn't real. No, it can't be.
"Tifa!" Yuffie screams…
I swallowed, noticing she wasn't hurt.
"Sephiroth" I spoke his name for the first time, through trembled breath.
He acknowledges me; a smug smirk plastered on his face.
I swallowed again, "let her go" I started, in a weak voice.
His smirk broadens, sardonically.
"Maybe I'll kill her, right here, in front of you" and with a speed so fast, he unsheathes his Masamune and silently connects it under the girl's throat.
"Nooo!" I screamed… pleading with him for the girl's life.
Perfectly, he halts his atrocious Masamune, idly pausing his blade to Yuffie's neck, his eyes flickering with a sort of amusement and venom. He searches my eyes for a reason…
"Why would I listen to you, woman?" he asks, his eyes a lecherous shade of green.
His eyes are so dark and angry. Something I've rarely seen.
I swallowed…
"Because your vendetta is with me, not her…let her go. It's meaningless" I pointed out.
He scoffs.
He pushes Yuffie gruffly to me. I grab the girl, holding her tightly. She whimpers softly in my shoulder, trembling violently.
He points his sword at me, the tip itches away from my face even though he was just a few feet away.
"How do you want to die?" he asks devoidly, his words sending shivers across my skin. I look down.
Yuffie shudders and I can't calm the tremble of my own body as I stare at this Devil.
"I don't care." I whisper…
He snorts, "suit yourself"
He tightens his hold on the blade.
"Any last words, Lockhart?" he asks…
"As a matter of fact, I do."
He remains silent to my plea. Studying my limp, impuissant behaviour.
I look down at the petrified girl in my hands, "Yuffie" I whisper gently…
She slowly looks up, "I need you to do me a favour" I plead, tears deftly falling down my cheeks.
"W-What?" she looks up petrified, "what is it?"
I look at Sephiroth and then back at her, "run…" I pleaded…
"What?" she seems alarmed and confused.
"There's no time…"
"Tifa..." she seems stunned at my actions…
"This isn't the end" I held her face, leaning my head against hers…
"No..you can't" she cries, shaking her head…
"Enough!" he shouts out, dramatically…
In a curt movement, he brings his blade of death down, ready to discharge its silver venom into our bodies; quickly I dodge the blade and push Yuffie aside.
"Runnn!" I shout at her…
"Tifa.." she stands looking on in horror…frozen.
"Go on! Runnnn" I screamed.
Sephiroth quickly notices my maneuver and in a reflex, he readies himself to chase the girl. Quickly, I lung forward on him, pushing him to the floor, he stumbles, and angrily turns to me. But I'm prepared to die for Yuffie, I mentally confessed. He effortlessly pins me to the floor, absolutely perturbed at my actions.
I look up, intently focusing on him.
"You annoying woman" he angrily sputters.
"It's me you want" I paused, "she's of no interest…punish me" I look up with fear and defiance in my eyes; an ironic mix.
"You would give your life, for your friend?" he looks down, intrigued perhaps at my noble actions.
"Yes" I whispered breathlessly…
He stays there looking at me, his eyes of green so sinful and bright. Such eyes contain dark mysteries and tales about this bestial man, and yet, they hex and entice the innocents so freely into his prison of green. And like many times, I get trapped in.
I turn away. No matter how much of a predicament this was, no matter the gravity of the situation, I couldn't help myself, I couldn't help my constitution, the black poison of my veins for falling for his eyes. The same eyes that outwardly seek to kill me, I'd welcome to love.
And it was my religion…
I winced at the thought.
He studies me, the etch of my face, the tightening of my jaw, the soft rise and fall of my chest and then he curtly he withdraws?
"You're hurt?" he asks, anew.
I look at him, confused at his foreign actions.
"Are you or are you not hurt, Lockhart?" he asks annoyed.
"Yes" I answer in a petite voice.
He looks down at my feet and with gloved fingers he touches the hem of my dress dangerously. He looks at me, and in fear I hold my breath. His hand glides up my calves, pushing the dress up; immodestly displaying my legs.
In fear of his sudden actions, I try twisting out his hold.
"Don't" he glares at me dangerously. Silencing my petite squirming.
I shiver. What was he doing?
He lifts my infected foot, inspecting it carefully. He pulls the frail cloth off displaying the infected wound. He places his Masamune on the floor and with his free hand he withdraws a small pouch from his jacket.
He looks at me intently; then he opens the pouch. Whatever it was sure had a pungent odour – perhaps it was an herb. He leans forward and pushes a hand over my mouth. He raises my foot and applies the foreign herb to the infection. Immediately a burning sensation eats into my wound.
I scream but it's no use with his hand tightly clamped over my mouth. I cry, my hands scratching at his hands.
He didn't budge, didn't flinch, he just stared at me as I cried.
Slowly he withdraws his hand and then in a rasped breath I look up at him.
"You foot is infected" is all he said.
Slowly he bandages my wound and tightly he knots it. I wince, but strangely it does feel better. I look up at him and I think to myself why is he being so nice? This is all a trick, isn't it?
He stands to his feet and helps me up, easily.
I stare at him. Marveling at him; at his strength..
I can't help it…
When my heart should be worrying about Yuffie, whose out there running as fast as she could trying to evade Sephiroth, I'm here, in his arms letting every anger between us evaporate.
And slowly our eyes meet…
I know the magic in them as I've felt it before…
But our lives and paths can't be this way anymore. I'm his enemy…
But is he my enemy?
I study his fluent motion as he takes me away…
I can hear his heart beat; its so strong and rhythmic. I swallow…
"Where you carrying me?" I ask…
He continues to walk, ignoring me.
I look down.
"Why are you doing this?" I blink back, "why don't you kill me?"
He refuses to answer.
"Answer me" I dare him.
"Did you do it?" he interjects me with a question.
"Did I do what?" I ask, intently focusing on his devoid expression.
He purses his lips, sparing me nothing.
"Did you allow Shinra to touch you?" he asks..
For a moment these words seem to muster a strange smile to my face.
"My business does not concern you" I rebutted matter-of-factly.
"Shall I remind you, that I am your executioner?" he glares at me.
"So kill me" I leaned forward.
He ignores my audacious actions and continues to walk, maintaining a sickening silence between us.
It indeed puzzled me, knowing the mystery of Sephiroth's latest question. Why would he be faintly interested in the politics of my life? I smirk, perhaps he was jealous.
And from my perspective, I see a man who does not bow to anyone, does not respect the greatest of life's beauties and yet… I dare assume jealousy in a man of his fiber? I shook my head. No, Sephiroth was too proud for that…
Realizing, the damage of his question, I sighed.
"No." I started…
"Shinra was all too eager to accept me as bait. He thought I was one of those silly women who easily and openly offered themselves for their freedom" I paused to notice the annoyance on his face.
"And you're not?" he eyes me…
"No I'm not" I flatly stated, "I could never give myself to a monster like Shinra."
He studies my eyes briefly.
I noted the colour of his eyes.
For the most part we remained quiet - picking in our tension. He's typical - face cut of stone, and not a single word to spare. He remains taciturn and completely reserved – such a man could hardly be this perfect. And his bright green eyes and platinum locks, reminds me he is both of a deadly and beautiful combination. I steer my eyes over his neck, watching his strong collar bone…. I can't help myself looking at him.
I stiffen. I hate you…
I could never forget the grief he tormented me with.
But is it all a price to pay, for the man I choose to be with?
Perhaps…
He continues to walk forward, taking me away. I figured perhaps, it was his sworn duty to come find me and return me to Black Crescents.
My jaw tightens at the thought. I've felt freedom only for a few hours, and now I'm returning to that diseased place. Full of flies and vermin, insects and things…
I look at Sephiroth.
"Where are you carrying me?" I asked, my voice petite.
Surely, I didn't have the heart to hear Black Crescents.
He eyes me momentarily, "you really don't know?" he asks in derision.
His question irks me.
"Can't you just answer a question, instead of asking a question yourself?" I said in an irritated voice.
He smirks.
Great! He thinks it's amusing when I'm annoyed. Honestly, what do I see in this man?
Insufferable, cocky, mean, aggressive… bastard…
I look at him. Damn you bastard.
"I'm returning you to Black Crescents" his words came like lead across my face.
"W-What?" I already knew where I was going, but somehow the truth seems to compound in his words.
"You think I came out here to send you off to your father?" he smirks, "it's either you're completely naïve, or absolutely daft" his eyes flashes at me.
I shake my head. The more I brought myself to hold on to hope, is the more instruments like Sephiroth would cut the heart strings of my heart. He would say the most damned things at times and bring me to the lowest composure, all for his wit, all for his sick amusement, and in the pause of this moment, where the maelstrom of emotions – both of adoration for this bestial man, and of being returned to Black Crescents, somewhere invokes in me a feeling of loss. My body registers defeat, and I can't help it anymore.
I've lost whatever little freedom to the man I hate, but equally adore.
There's nothing left for me to do, but die. Die …
And I've lost everything I loved with the addition of my friend.
"Kill me" I whispered…
The tears fall slowly down my cheeks, my eyes staring off into the distance.
I don't care anymore. I don't care to know how the journey ends. It doesn't matter. My death was inevitable – be it from Black Crescents or the orchestration of my hands, death suddenly looks like a good choice of freedom for me.
I don't care how Sephiroth chose to kill me, the details should be left to him, but he should grant me death… and I will consider it the last friendly generosity of his cold soul.
"Kill you?" he repeats my words.
"Yes… kill me." I grab his collar… tears running down my cheeks…
He smirks, "you really are daft, aren't you?"
I cry. No matter how much I tried to relate the sorrow of my broken heart and body, Sephiroth continued to pour his dirty sarcasm and foul mockery at me.
"Why don't you do it?" I asked him, "why not just kill me, save me all the bullshit"
"Are you in a hurry to die?" he seems amused at our conversation.
"Yes" I whispered.
"Desperate?"
"What the hell does it matter to you" I gritted my teeth.
He smirks.
"I don't plan on killing you Lockhart?"he states flatly…
I narrow my brows.
"Why, why not?" I ask, "that's your eventual duty, isn't it?"
"No. It isn't" he sternly replies.
"Why keep me alive Sephiroth? To taunt me and hurt me some more?" tears falling down my cheeks.
He stops. He looks down at me. Briefly he stares at me, his eyes somehow different. They were almost tender. He stares, and in some way, a strange magic feels casted on me. There's something about his eyes, the way they flash and articulate that assures me… that I'll be alright. Is it strange that I can look into his eyes and find safety when all the world is a danger?
But his eyes… they beacon a unique quality and glow about them, and they tantalize me as much as they relax my coarse nerves.
"Now you'll dieee!" shouts a voice.
Immediately we're both ripped out our tender stares when something large connects with Sephiroths side. He immediately drops me to the floor, gritting his teeth and holding his wounded side…
He grunts aloud.
I look back at the person responsible for charging on him.
"Yuffie?" I blink back.
To be continued…
Authors Notes: I felt like Yuffie returning so fast came as a rush. Oh well…lol…hope it was still fun to read.
Thank you for reading.