Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
Chapter 32: My decision
She came back.
"You son of a bitch!" her eyes glazed over in hate, "You're going to die!" she screams at him.
He pushes himself to his feet, clutching his bleeding side. He clenches his eyes tightly close and breathes in deeply.
"That's Cyanide bastard… at its purest form" her features plastered with an abhorrent smirk.
Sephiroth shakes and looks at his bloodied side. His lips tremble momentarily, as he stands to his shaky feet only to have his body seize on him. He grunts out, as he collapses to the floor, miserably. Whatever Yuffie hit him with, sure was working in fast. I've never seen anything like it.
"Dieee!" she screams viciously to the man.
And in a moment of animated disorientation and confusion, the spunky nurse charges on her heels, running with her barbed spike-club hoisted high above her head. Resentment, sorrow and frustration glazes from her eyes as she charges with a vehemence so fierce and animalistic, it scares me.
I could hear my heart slow its beat as I saw her run to him, in his most defeated state.
No!
If she killed him, there would be no more Sephiroth.
No more?
With my body trembling, and eyes tearing up, I feel something deep in my core erupt. My heart races, and my fingers grow cold, my skin slowly sweats and in the rash of circumstance, I screamed out.
I ran to him, my breath caught deep in throat as my eyes blazed with stinging tears. I tossed myself precariously, sheathing my body over his.
"Nooo!" I bawled.
Yuffie abruptly halts her frenzy, as I lay myself victim to any attack, protecting Sephiroth with my body.
She stands looking on completely shocked and bewildered.
"Why?" she asks, shaking her head…
No matter how much of a fiend he is; no matter how much I wanted him dead… I can't imagine anyone killing him…
I look down at the ailing Sephiroth. How could I explain to her the tune of my heart, was different from the tune of my body? How could I say that as much as I hated him, I didn't want him dead?
My decisions deeply confused me, yet I was so absolute about them. Their estranged nature only puzzled me more.
Understanding what it was all about, I swallowed the lump. I knew what I had to do.
"Yuffie… I don't know how to explain it… but you just can't" I whispered…
"But he's our enemy. He's the enemy Tifa" she informs.
"I know" I swallowed… "but you can't kill him" my eyes pleaded with her.
She narrows her brows, quizzical at my defense for the assassin.
"He will not last long, Tifa" she stoops down, "come with me Tifa. Let's leave this place behind" she squeezes my shoulder coaxingly.
"Leave this place behind, remember?" she gives a small smile.
My lips shake. I can't…
I shake my head. I can't…
Tears trickle down my cheeks, "I can't leave him" I stare at the hurting man.
I'm sorry Yuffie… but you won't understand…
"You must go…" I suddenly said…
"What? No…" she shakes her head, "there's no way I'm leaving you" she refuses to listen.
"You must go Yuffie." I demanded, "this is where our journeys must end."
She stares at me frozen at my words.
She shakes her head, "Tifa" she cries…
"Please… you must go." I hold her face…
"Why are you doing this?" she whimpers.. holding my hand.
Yes. Why am I doing this?
"I can't leave him Yuf" I swallowed, "he'll die…"
"But he's the murderer, Tifa." She cries, "don't you remember what he did to you?"
I knew what she was doing. She was trying to show me that my defense for someone like Sephiroth, was a bad choice, and I would agree with her totally on the conception.
But I just can't…I can't do it…
"I'm no different from him, if I leave him here to die." I explained, "what does it mean to be a pacifist if I can not listen to what makes us human?" I paused, "it is by his pain…he is a man again…so let me stay, let me save him… please, you must understand" tears trickling down my face.
She slowly nods.
"Go, please" I pleaded softly.
"Be safe Tifa" she hugs me…
I watch her run away into the distance, only hoping she'll be alright and that my father would find me before Shinra does.
"Sephiroth, look at me" I hold his hand, "look at me" I whispered
He hazily looks up, his bright green eyes dilating.
"Lockhart" his voice weakens, and breaks…
Beads of sweat collected on his forehead, as he thrashed his head backward. He was clutching onto his wounded side for his dear life. I unbuttoned his jacket, only for him to grab my hand gruffly.
"Leave me…" his lips were so pale, "let me die" his tone low, and deep.
I shake my head…
"No" I refused to accept Sephiroth dying. The thought itself hurts me enormously. It is a haunting image to craft, one in which I won't allow. He can't die. He just can't. I open the jacket and discover a raw red wound. I sighed heavily. This wasn't looking good. The cyanide must have been working in. There was only way to get poison out.
I remove his hand and gently I bring my lips over the wound.
He hisses.
I suck on the bloody wound, retracting whatever poisonous substance from his infected side. I pull back my head spitting out the dark liquid. Sephiroth clenches his hand tightly. I continue the simple process, doing the best I can. Wiping my mouth, I could tell it was probably too late, as the poison had already begun taking effect. His breaths were sharp and quick, as he kept hissing and cursing silently to himself. Sweat collected on his body and I feared the he might be burning up.
I touched his forehead, and as I feared, my suspicions rung true. He body was a furnace. I placed the jacket under his head and I stood up, somehow disoriented at what my next course of action would be. I looked down at the frail man beneath me. I had never seen Sephiroth this way. Tears flooded my eyes – what if he died? I shivered at the thought.
I shook my head, I shouldn't think like that.
Taking a couple deep breaths, I wiped my tears away and I massaged my head. What do I do?
Water…he needs water.
The thought of leaving him, was hard, but I had to do it. I had to get water somehow. His body was burning up fast, and apart from lacking in modern medicines, I was lacking in everything else – wit and composure..
I had to find water and fast. Leaving Sephiroth like that made my whole body register a sort of guilt and in my desperation I looked around feverishly, wildly … in hope of finding any water. The large forest condescendingly picks at my senses, as I look everywhere for food and water. There's nothing.
The repeat of trees and grass, trees and grass muddles my head and frustrates me. Everything looks the same. My feet takes me away, but I don't know where I'm going.
The afternoon birds chirp, and somehow I feel like the whole world is mocking me for my decision. I halted my footsteps, looking around in disarray.
Where was I? I haven't a clue.
I cry at the thought, fisting a hand in my hair.
Damn it…
Still, I had to do it, I had to find water.
In the reflex of instinct, I ran as hard and fast as I could amongst the trees in search of water. Where was all the water in this forest, I wondered.
Where's all the damn water?
Tears burned in my eyes, as nothing showed itself to me. My body shakes.
"Help me…" I whispered to the nothingness…
But there's nothing but trees and earth and the stench of my failure pulsating in the air. The wind touches my skin and I shiver. No matter how much I searched there was no water to be found. Somehow these thoughts, these truths seem to paralyze me. I dropped to my knees, accepting the reality. There was no way fate would help me save a man like Sephiroth.
"But damn you fate…" I slammed my fists into the earth… "damn you" I bawled…
Alone and hurt, I felt loss. I looked down, examining my petite hands. So many things had happened to me. I was taken from my father, my maids are dead, my only friend gone and now the man… I adore..soon will die.
Is this really all fair? Is it fair that I should lose everything I love in a place like this? Where my screams are never heard, where… tragedy and hurts find me?
"Is it fair?" I whispered..
My body violently shakes. I look up slowly, and there in the distance … she stands.
"Mother" I whispered…
She points in the distance. I wipe my tears and in a scramble, I ran to her. She continues to point into the distance and I continue to follow her. She disappears and I burst free from the trees. There in front of me, is a large river. The water was clear and running, two signs of clean water. I rip the bottom of my dress soaking the shreds into the cold water.
"Thank you okaasan (mother)"
I quickly gather the fabric and made my way back to Sephiroth. Through the dark forest I ran, my footsteps echoing as I got closer to Sephiroth. I swallowed. I hope I wasn't too late.
There in the distance I could see him lying down near the tree. He was wincing at the pain surging through his body. I slow my footsteps dropping myself to my knees. I touched his head gently, whispering, "it's okay"
I placed the wet clothes on his head and neck, wiping the sweat from his body. Night was fast approaching and I needed to get a fire started.
Thankfully there were sticks all around including pine sticks which are the most flammable of the lot. I heaped them in a small bunch and I light it quickly by rubbing some sticks together. I stabled my fire and then I returned to Sephiroth. He was sweating so much. I touched his forehead. Damn, he was burning up.
I didn't know what to do. I inspected him noticing armour clad to his body. Immediately my fingers found themselves over his body, detaching the armour from his shoulders. I threw the heavy things to his side. Now for his trench coat. I unbuttoned it, and it revealed a completely bare-chested Sephiroth. His skin was strangely glowing as sweat collected as tiny beads on his skin. I threw the jacket to the side then I pulled off his gloves and placed them neatly to his side. I drew closer and placed his head gently on my lap.
I examined him in the flickering campfire light. He clenches his eyes tightly close. He twists and arches every so often, and I think to myself, what nightmares haunt a man like you?
It is in this moment I can clearly see how much of a man he truly is. How frail and weak his body sometimes can be. He is not a God, as he clearly reminds the world, but he is a man – just like me. He bleeds and agonizes, hurts and succumbs to nightmares like all of us. I pity him, seeing he has become the chosen instrument of death for Black Crescents, at a very terrible price to pay. Cursed is the life of the legend Sephiroth, as he handles a torture far more real than his stature. They assume him a machine, calculated, collected and reserved. But he is a man. Open to flaws, mistakes and certainly to the punishment of fate and karma.
He grunts again, twisting his face, I can see the sweat fall down, and he's so beautiful as he is deadly. In this fragile state, where I am allowed to touch him…I feel my heart flutter. I lift his head higher, gently brushing some stray tendrils away. He turns again and grits his teeth.
"Shhh…. It's okay" I bring my lips to his ear…
He relaxes, turning his head into the softness of my bosom. I smile softly, gently stroking his hair.
It'll be alright…
To be continued…
Author's Notes: I wanted to thank all those who have been reading and commenting. I appreciate it a lot.
Thanking the awesomesttt lovelies….
(In no particular order)
StuntmanXX2: Thank you for all your comments. Yes, indeed Tifa and Yuffie both find what they want, but that's answered progressively throughout the fic. Continue to read, and you'll see what I mean. Thank you again for all your kind comments. You've been a great reader and commenter. Have a great day.
Cookies18: Hello my dear, how are you? Yeh, Sephiroth is a bit confusing to understand. Lol, well I guess I shouldn't tell who lives and dies, but I guess you can see that Yuffie didn't die, so yay! As usual my deary, thanks so much for always taking time to read my story from yr busy college life. Gah! I appreciate it loads. Here's a sugar cookie for all yr awesomeness..
Somehowivy: Lol! I thought the same thing too. Sephti was soo good until Yuffie busted out from heck knows where with a barbed club in her hand. Lol. Also yr lingerie comment made me high on giggles. Lol. I was like what? Lol. It was real funny. Thank you so much for your comments. Hope you have a fantastic day. Cookie for you…its good.
Zodious: Hello my dear, I wanted to thank you so much for all your comments. You've been so sweet and awesome and in every way too freakin kind. So thank you, thank you. I really appreciate it my dear. As you can see Yuffie finds freedom but not Tifa. Sowwie. Don't worry eventually things will settle down. Thank you again for everything. Have an awesome day. High five partner.
xXxKittyAmber x PuppyDantexXx: Man, I have to admit your comments are some of the most fun I have ever read. YYou're very animated and I love how you got a lil convo going on between you and dante. Which is so much fun to read. Lol. Thank you so much for comments and perspectives. They were awesome. I hope the story will continue to intrigue you and with that said, have an awesome day. Sugar cookie for you…
SaS: Lol! Yes indeed. That's the hardcore Yuffie we all love. It wouldn't be true if she didn't come back and tried to help Tifa out. So I'm glad you like her courage. Thank you so much for your comment and have a wonderful day.
Midnightblue08: Lol. Your comment sounded genuine to the point that you're assuming him an enigma. True. He's a bit confusing, but I think that's my fault (well yes it is my fault). I'm not really going into Sephiroth's pov, because I prefer keep him more of a hidden card than a readable one like Tifa. Don't worry, Sephiroth's character is the same. The thing about him that you have to understand is that, he's not really unpredictable. He hated Tifa to remind her, he cares for her. And the whole killing fiasco, was more of a bluff. I don't think I should have told you that, but that's what it is. Again, thank you for all yr comments and views. I appreciate them a lot. You make my day. You have a awesome day, with lots of fun. Sugar cookie for you.
Chibi Oro: Aww. Hugs. You made me so happy. Lol. Thank you. Lol. Ninja Yuffie you say? Lol. I'll have to agree with you. Nurse or no nurse, Yuffie is just plain spunky. Hopefully my story will never become too complex; a certain degree of intricacy is fun, but I wouldn't want it to be like… crazy. Lol. Thanks so much for yr comment. It was awesome. Have an awesome day and a sugar cookie for you. Its yummy..
Goosechaser': Lol. As you can see I didn't kill Yuffie. I mean how could I do that? Lol, that would be too mean. Besides, she's too hardcore for that shit. Lol. Anyways, I hope you're not too upset that Yuffie got freedom and Tifa didn't. In some sort of way, things resolve in a gradual manner. Again my dear, thanks for all yr awesomeeee comments. You rock as always. Have a wicked awesome day. Sugar cookie for you.
I-am-Ruin: Thank you for your comment my dear. As usual you're always a dear to me, saying such sweet things. You rock. In relation to yr comment. Yes, that chapter was a bit chaotic to write. I've never written anything outside the castle, so making up a huge wicked forest and describing the environment was a bit on the tough side for me. For the most part, I tried so hard to keep the dark noir as best as I could. Its tough maintaining that. Again my dear, thanks so much for all yr positive comments. I appreciate them so much. You take care and have an awesome day ahead of you. Sugar cookie for you.
Amyngel: Hi hi. Aww aren't you sweet. Thank you so much for yr comment. Sorry about the chapter a wicked cliffhanger. You know, I'll admit cliffhangers are kinna fun. Lol. I know, I'm bitter. No no, its just I seem to write the right amount for a cliffhanger, and then other times I'm not lucky. Gah. Thank you so much, always for yr great comments. I hope you have a fantastic day, full of fun. Be blessed. Sugar cookie for you.
Genkicookie: Definitely. I will always update until this darn story is over. Believe it or not, its one of my new yrs resolutions to finish this story. Thank you for yr comment. Enjoy yr day and here's a cookie for you.
xxDarkAssassinxx: First reviewer for bbc chapter 31. You get a cookie in the shape of Sephiroth. Yayy! Lol. Thanks so much, you're awesome for always leaving great comments and I really appreciate them. Thanks for liking the chapter. I hope you're enjoying the general pace of the story. Again, thank you, have an awesome awesome day. Take care…
Amazing: Aww. Thank you so much. You're so nice. GAH! Lol. Your review was so simple, quick but its poignancy was strong and moving to me. Thank you. I appreciate it so much. Yay. So here's a cookie for yr awesomeness. Coz duh, you're awesome. Have an awesome day.
Jiyuu Kayume: Heeyyy! How are you? Haven't seen you around in a while. Yeh, Sephiroth as usual is epic, kinna like with the loveless opera. Lol, he's like that in this…well, kinna. Anyways, thanks so much your comment, it was awesome. I hope you have a great day; sugar cookie for you.
RENZEI27: I'm sorry didn't write this sooner. Thank you so much for your comments. They really made my day. When ppl tend to read out my story in one sitting like you, I truly admire them, but honestly it's a sort of …appreciation I have for them in addition. So here's to that appreciation – thank you, I appreciate it so much. Yr comment was awesome and I hope you have an awesome day too. A sugar cookie for you…
Locked-heart: Here you go an update, and I hope you like it. Thanks so much for your comment, I appreciate it so much. I hope you have a great day, stay blessed. Sugar cookie for you.
Mayra: Hey. I have to confess something about your reviews. I actually was very moved by yr last review, and its yr confession about you telling me about yr exams – how you'll be busy, but after all the exams you'll return to read and I thought to myself, you didn't have to tell me, but you did, and I feel even luckier that you'd share that. You comment moved me so much that I even told my boyfriend, who was happy. Because, in actuality it is the small things that truly do make me happy, and by you just telling me about yr life, or circumstances, made me feel happy you spent the time to say that. So here's to that girl. Thanks so much for spending some time to say that, coz gah I feel happy that you did. I hope you aced all yr exams. You're awesome and I wanted you to know that. Hope you have a remarkable day. Be blessed. Sugar cookie and here's to you and yr review…moving me.
Kick-It-Aus Style-Mal's: Honestly your review was real nice and honest. I like that. Sure, I don't mind you thought what you did, gah, you flattered me by saying it was the only au fic you ever enjoyed. Lol. Talk about boasting my morale. But to yr lemon point. I think I should explain that to me, the lemon was necessary for the whole reason that Septi is such a chaotic, strongly polar-opposite forces and personalities, that everything between them is very tough and rough, and hard and painful, and in some way the romance between them needs to be strong or almost an equal to what I'm working with. The nice thing about bbc is that you don't have to read the lemon's if you don't want to. You can read the story one shot without any of the mature themes, and then to get the 'real' experience, you can read the lemons, which is always a plus I think. So thank you so much for yr comment, it was awesome. I love yr honesty, coz heck… its nice to know what ppl really think sometimes. Have a great day. Sugar cookie.
-pbqd1388-: Aw your comment was so sweet. Thank you so much. You made my day. No problem I'll always update until I get this lil stinker of a story, finished. Thank you again for yr comment. Have an awesome day. Sugar cookie for you.
xBarbieAcid: Woah! Yeah, I don't like Aerith one bit. I have a hard time swallowing how ppl like her so much, for what? For being annoying? Lol, and well personally in this story I made her extra annoying. Lol. Thanks so much for yr honesty there. That was refreshing to read. Lol. Have a great day. Sugar cookie for you.
nioLast: Honestly, I wanted to write this sooner. I wanted to say thank you so much for your comments. I must say when I got your review the other day I was absolutely all happy and teary. Thank you so much for spending the time and energy writing that. You're awesome for doing that. I'm glad you caught on to a lot of the elements of this story. I'm glad you understand Sephiroth being a jerk as a matter of protecting Tifa. You know, it's difficult to keep a relationship, muchless to protect one and how does a guy of say Sephiroth brute, protect the 'supposed' woman he likes. I mean there are few choices. Lol, I hope you liked the whole Tifa and Rufus adventure. And now the escape. All in all my dear, thank you so much for everything. For your time, energy and awesomeness. Your review struck a nerve in me – one of appreciation and gratitude. So thank you, thank you. Have an awesome day. Be blessed and be awesome. Sugar cookie for you.
Black Vinta: You oh you. You're so wicked. Lol. You commented on most of the chapters and sharply criticized. Gah. No more. Lol. No I'm kidding. You have a real keen eye for these things. Thank you so much for always advising me and pointing out some of my errors. You're awesome. Thank you my dear. I hope you have an awesome day. Sugar cookie for u.
To all the readers: You're awesome too! Thanks so much for reading …it makes me happy to know ppl enjoy the story.
Thank you for reading.