Behind Black Curtains
An AU, Sephiroth and Tifa fanfiction
- by Amaranthos-
Chapter 34: Home once again
With a thick knot in my throat, I could do nothing but stare at the sight before me. Tears, effortlessly fell down my cheeks as it's been such a long time…
"General Sephiroth" calls the voice of a soldier in dark black uniform and a red beret.
Sephiroth glares at the man.
"Move away from Lady Tifa Lockhart… 3 steps to your left" the soldier shouts. He stood amongst some of my friends - my father's best soldiers who all embraced deadly weapons. I knew these men enough to know they wouldn't miss. After all, they were taught by the very best..my father. With their guns precisely aimed, target centered, there was no doubt if they did decide to fire, nothing would remain standing.
Sephiroth menacingly eyes his environment, his eyes flickering from left to right noticing he's surrounded. I turned around, noticing there were guards behind us. I turned back to Sephiroth, noticing a smirk plastered on his face. Even now, he continued to believe he was a God, amidst the fact these men were clad with guns and firepower that could blow a hole through him; but never mind that, Sephiroth's eyes blazed with a fire that's so outrageous…so…fearless. He refused to be moved, to so slightly be for one second daunted by the circumstances. I suppose a man of his caliber, of his legend, would not so easily be rebuffed to the simple order of a foot soldier. No… Sephiroth was much too proud to back down on the first strike.
He makes a single step forward, the guards shakily readjust their weapons.
"Sephiroth you have been warned. Back down or you'll die…" the soldier shouts fiercely at Sephiroth.
The word death, reminds me of all the reveries of my capture at Black Crescents, it almost reminds me of a time with Sephiroth. During this entire experience, I felt like I've lost him one too many times.
I look up to find Zack looking down, joined by other commanders in field with a certain expression plastered on their face, and for once I knew what they were thinking. They were going to kill him. Suddenly I understood this predicament. Sephiroth would be ordered to give up his weapon, and then potentially left for the kill. The fear surges in me, and I blink back wondering… why? Why would he do this?
"Why are you doing this, Sephiroth?" I whispered, turning my eyes to him.
He says nothing.
"You gave me up? But why?" I asked, narrowing my brows confused.
"I didn't give you up, Lockhart" he turns to me
"General Sephiroth" comes a deep voice interrupting my train of thought.
I look up, and then to my amazement…
"Father" I exclaimed happily…
"My dear Tifa…welcome home" he smiles brightly.
I remembered his smile and it brings so much cheer to my heart.
"Let her go, Sephiroth" my father starts, slowly walking to us.
The guards are hesitant knowing my father's proximity could be fatal, and one of most unfortunate outcome. Yet my father had a way about himself – carrying himself with a sort of fearlessness himself when it came to men like Sephiroth. With no weapons on his body, he simply strolled forward with a small smile on his olden features. He remains passive and calm, carrying himself with lightweight and he indeed is something at times like these…
"I wouldn't come any closer old man" Sephiroth sinisterly smirks, a threat that is most discernible.
The guards stiffen, not knowing what to expect.
My father however remains combed and kept.
He exchanges a passive look with Sephiroth, completely unmoved to the great legend in his path.
"I would have you know, General Lockhart, as formidable a soldier I am, I am a still a war child and your death still remains of most quintessential value to Black Crescents. And I'm afraid, I'll kill right now to demonstrate -
"You'll do no such thing" my father interjects, his eyes a lot colder.
Sephiroth crudely chuckles, "you amuse me, old man"
"Glad I could be of some service; but you'll do no such thing on my grounds, in front my men…not at all to insult me…in front my dear daughter. If you as to so much make a single crack of an attempt my direction… I guarantee you, there's going to be fireworks" my father explains, copying Sephiroth's sinister smirk.
Sephiroth smirks, enjoying the playful copy of sarcasm and wit.
"Let her go… there's no use to fight here" he explains…
Sephiroth grabs me by the arm, and for the first time I could see my father show real concern about my safety. Sephiroth points his long Masamune at my neck. In shock, I take deep long breaths as Sephiroth eyes my neck menacingly.
"I could easily kill her" Sephiroth sighs boredly, "nothing stops me… not even your pathetic ramble stops the excited bloodlust in my veins from taking her life…" Sephiroth brings me closer…
"You wouldn't" my father growls…
"Oh I would send my Masamune through her core all for the amusement of your expression" Sephiroth's words bring chills down my spine.
I've never heard him speak this way to me. The look in his eyes confirms a sort of madman bloodlust that had to be quenched, and I feared that my father's reverse psychology had gotten to him, and was now in a bad play. Sephiroth boredly examines my pulse, the pulsing beat of my neck seem to fascinate Sephiroth's eyes. He smirks…
"What would you give for her life, General?" Sephiroth eyes the man coldly…
"If you want an exchange General Sephiroth…I would gladly give you my life for hers" General Lockhart steps further, and in a reflex Sephiroth spins the Masamune to the man's neck, "you dare be so foolish around me, Arthur?" Sephiroth asks.
"Better take mine than hers. It is all any father can ask…" my father, instinctively offers his life over mine, and his actions are so noble and yet so wrong.
"What is wrong with you?" I gritted my teeth at Sephiroth, "how can you stand to take his life… is there is no backbone to your kind?" I twisted in the tight lock of Sephiroth's arms.
Sephiroth looks at me, "you keep thinking Lockhart – almost anticipating I'm a good guy and the truth is… I'm not" he whispers, "you should stop believing in strangers you don't understand" he whispers…
"You bastard" I hissed…
"You will never understand, you simple…foolish woman" and with that he pushes me into my father, drawing his weapon down.
My father tightly clutches onto me, as we both stare on at the silver-headed General.
"On my mark…" shouts a guard…
My father pulls me away…
"One" shouts the guard.
The weapons all rise, pointed at the man.
Fear creeps in like a drug, ready to work…
"What are they going to do, father?"
My father continues to pull me away…
"Two"
I shivered… were they doing…?
"They're going to kill him, aren't they?" I grabbed my father's jacket…
"Tifa—" he shakes his head.
"T-Tell me… what are they going to do -
"Three" and with the final stroke made, the whole world is sounded off, to loud explosions and the clattering of gunshots. Sephiroth looks at me, and the sight of him standing there defenseless almost waiting to die, makes something in me wring in discomfort.
And yet no matter how much I wanted him dead… I could only see the man alive in him.
The whole environment is filled with smoke and gun shells, loud explosions and deafening noise of fear deep within me. I clutch a hand over my heart watching the man I adored… die.
I watch him die…
The shivers hit me as I stand back allowing my father and his men the right to kill a man who technically gave himself up. I grabbed onto my father, screaming. The scene itself was horrible to witness, as all I could see was grey smoke and there was no sound that came from the lone assassin. After everything, after all the contrasting between Black Crescents and Red Hearts, we were no different as we killed their kind as much as they killed ours. And what exactly makes us different, is my question.
I bit my lips.
To watch everything you love die… was not the image I planned on having, but what was worst was watching the man I fell in love with, who I could not be with, is now dead…because the politics of Red Hearts was no different from that, where I've been kept.
Bursting free from my father's arms, I don't understand why I do what I do…
All I know is that I'm running into gunfire and possibly my own death…
But I do it…because I have to save him.
And the sound of gun fire is deafening, as all I can feel is the coldness in my blood stiffen my body. The tears fall, and I grit my teeth knowing that perhaps… this was the end.
And I feel nothing but this one emotion in me. Fear.
It both drives me to run faster, but it frightens me as I assume the most unfortunate reality.
I run so fast… I run so hard…
I cry…. Hoping that not everything hated me for who I've become in loving a man like Sephiroth. And the stench is so real of his demise, but I don't swallow the truth…I just want to believe he'll live…
And like that…
The world goes black.
"Nooo!" I shouted.
I breathed in deeply, tears running down my face.
"Tifa…" comes a voice.
I slowly averted my eyes to my father. I looked around, somewhat confused. I looked down. I was in my bed, the sheets all around me. I blinked back. What happened?
I swallowed, "father?" I held my head, trying to wrack my head.
"Sh, sh… its alright my dear" he comes closer. He takes a seat on my bed, clasping my hand in his.
"What happened?" I asked in an uncertain voice…
He sighs, "you ran into the gunfire…" he explains, "you tried to save Sephiroth" he removes himself to stand next to the window, "you were lucky. Cloud was there on the front line. He jumped straight into you, to get you out the range of crossfire, otherwise…" he sighs, "you wouldn't have been so lucky" he closes his eyes…
I understood.
"I'm sorry father" I apologized… I push the sheets off, "what about Sephiroth? Is he…" I couldn't bring myself to say the words.
"Dead?" my father smirks, "no, he's much too strong for that, but he is badly hurt" he informs…
I nodded. Taking my robe on the adjacent chair, I tied it around my waist tightly before I looked up at my father with a confused expression on his face.
"What are you doing?" he asks…
"I have to help him" were the only words I could spare.
"Tifa" he shakes his head, "he isn't a friendly" he informs…
"He isn't your friendly father," I explained.
"Tifa" he firmly starts, "you need to draw the line between who you save and who is your enemy" he explains, "and that man is a monster"
"He is not a monster… he is a man just like you who does what he thinks is right. In the end father, we were the ones who ended up looking more like monsters firing on him defenselessly like that. And we dare not compare ourselves to Shinra when he gave me up and drew his weapon down?" I stared at my father.
"What am I suppose to do Tifa? You've been taken away from me by those monsters for a least a year and yet you tell me these men aren't my enemies? They've taken you away from me, left me to think in the dark of how much of a bad father I've been to you; of how I've lost the most important people who meant anything to me, all by the hands of those men, and now you want me to believe that there is good in someone like Sephiroth, a pedigree murderer?" he shakes his head.
I softened. I came to his side and I gave him a small hug, "I missed you to father" I closed my eyes, inhaling his scent. Ginger chi and detergent. A unique combination.
He gently strokes my head, "you're so much like her… every waking moment when I look at you, I see her…" he whispers, "and you do so well my dear… but there's so much fear I'll lose you, and I can't bear to lose you like I've lost her. It would be just too difficult" he holds me tighter…
"You won't lose me, father" I reassured.
"These are very uncertain times Tifa –
"I don't know what it is father. Maybe you're right, but when I'm out there helping people, even in the nick of grave circumstance… I always seem to be in a position where I know I'll be fine. It's like, she's looking over me and she shows me that no matter what happens, she loves me and I'll always be fine." I swallowed pulling apart, "I know as my father I can't expect you to understand why I do the things I do, but know… I'll be fine" I smiled…
He touches my face, "once you promise never to leave this old man's side, I'll be fine" he touches my nose, "just please" he sighs, "please be safe" he holds me once again in his warm embrace…
"Thanks father" I bury my face in his jacket.
A gentle knock comes to the door.
My father perks up and answers "yes?"
We could hear female chattering on the other side.
"Can we come in, Master Lockhart?" comes a female voice.
"Yes" I answered.
The door opens to a pleasant surprise. I cover my mouth.
"Yuffie?" I exclaimed, completely in shock.
"Tifaaaa" she screams, running to my side hugging me tightly.
We hug for a long time and then we pull apart. My eyes are glistening and so are hers. She smiles broadly.
"I'm so glad you made it" she laughs…
"I'm glad to see you made too, trooper" I smiled.
My father smiles, observing us.
"Oh, father… this is Yuffie" I started.
He holds me off to a hand.
"I know who she is. Yuffie here was extremely brave. She found herself here a day ago, explaining the entire situation. She notified me you were in the forest that in an immediate response, I had some of my men scout for you. It would seem General Sephiroth knew my men were following, that it's possible, he walked straight into Red Hearts" he informed.
"What do you mean he walked straight into Red Hearts?" I asked.
"I'm pretty sure that Sephiroth was in no way going to hand you over and the fact that he led you straight us, indicates to me…he had no interest in killing you. That stunt he pulled off, was merely a distraction to justify what he did" my father seems to open a whole new perception in my head.
Sephiroth sacrificed his life for mine? For me… a life for a life…
All this time when I thought he made a wrong pit-stop somewhere, it was because he purposely did it and it makes sense to think someone like him would know his bearings much less his navigation. But why would he do it?
"I'm glad you're safe Tif" Yuffie smiles interjecting me from my thought montage.
I smiled, "welcome to your new home Yuf… you're truly free now" I hugged her…
She smiles… "thanks Tif"
After lunch I was informed a public execution for Sephiroth had been affirmed two days from now. My father and the council members had deemed it necessary, considering Sephiroth's theatrics. Never mind what I stood for or what I was trying to do – risking my life running into live gunfire, they remained taciturn and mechanic by adopting immoral punishment.
"I can't believe this is happening?" I paced back and forth.
"You know it's inevitable. What are they supposed to do? Keep him alive as a decoration?" Yuffie asks, lying down on my bed.
"I didn't expect a public execution" I grunted.
"What's a public execution, anyhow?" she sits up.
I sighed, "it's something that's so rare it becomes a town's spectacle. It's absolutely revolting" I sighed, "it's when the worst of the worst are captured and are killed in an arena full of bulls. They usually beat the victims, and then they prepare him off with a tiny blade and a red cape as to lure the bulls in. It's absolutely barbaric," I informed…
Yuffie narrows her brows, "sounds like something Shinra would do. "she sputters, "why do they do it, for public display of punishment or for the muse of sport?" she asks…
"I'm beginning to think it's all a sport" I sighed.
"So what are you going to do?" she asks.
"I don't know" I shook my head, "in fact I don't think there's anything I can do. You see, Red Hearts much like Black Crescents is didactic by a council, and though my father contributes largely to what's in and out, the council agrees like a body unanimously to decisions and as such, its be ruled Sephiroth must be executed" I frowned.
"But why does it matter Tifa?" she leans forward, "I mean we came so far, and finally you're home. You couldn't be more happier but when I look at your face I see discontent…I see…" she shakes her head, "never mind"
"Say it…" I nodded, "say it to me" I demanded…
"I see a woman whose following the ghost of the man she loved and because she can't change him to be with her, she's just fine following him around. But when you look at it, it's you whose following him. You're chasing what was never there and the illusion he fed you to… was all an illusion" she explains…
"So what am I suppose to do, huh? Am I suppose to kill my emotions? That's not exactly simple, you know" I gritted my teeth, "I don't expect people to understand why I do, what I do. I'm a pacifist Yuffie -
She interjects…
"There you go again, using pacifism as the excuse. This isn't pacifism Tifa, this is your love. Your mindless, blind love and as much as you don't want to hear that, that's exactly what it is. You've fallen in love with the wrong man and you're too afraid to let go, because you believe there's something to save, and the only one who needs saving is you" she pauses, "you let him in too deep, you told him too much… you offered yourself to him and because you know he could never do the same, you refuse to adhere the signs no matter how blatant they are… you refuse to understand and grasp the intelligent thing to do. Instead, you can't bear to hear him say the words, that he doesn't but more likely, he could never love you." She finishes.
And her words sink into me, weighing me down. No matter how much I wanted to fight her on this one, she was absolutely right. I fell in love with Sephiroth - a part of him that welcomed me in, that made me feel safe and beautiful. I have never felt that way for any man and fearing it would not last, I ignored every flashing warning and cursed fate all for what he made me feel. And I know she's right when she says he could never fall for someone like me – we're just too different after all, yet somewhere along the line I believed that maybe, just maybe he could…
The reality is… he can't…
I close my eyes, tears falling down.
More than ever I feel like a prisoner in myself.
I approached him slowly.
He was shackled against the wall with thick chains around his arms. He sits on the single chair, with his hair covered over his face.
"Sephiroth" I called softly.
He doesn't respond.
"Sephiroth" I called again…
He doesn't respond.
I turned around noticing no one behind me. I sighed. If I got caught being down here, I would be in a hell-of-a lot of trouble. Shit, it wouldn't be good.
Sticking out my tongue to the side, I slowly etched closer, stooping down almost to see his face.
"Sephiroth" I whispered softly.
But Sephiroth refuses to answer me. Slowly I outstretch my hand to push some of his silver locks away and before I had the opportunity, he grabs my hand pinning me to the adjacent wall. I close my eyes, somehow not expecting him to be this vile with his introductions.
I slowly crack open an eye noticing he's glaring at me.
I swallowed.
"Hi…" I tried to smile.
"Why are you here?" he curtly asks.
"Urh… can you..unpin me?" I asked, noticing he was still pinning me to the wall with his body.
"You haven't answered my question Lockhart" he informs.
"I came to see you" I blushed, realizing that perhaps I sounded more like a desperate lunatic.
"Well here I am." He condescendingly says…
I swallowed, "I came here to say sorry" I looked down…
"You and your pity parties" he says in a disgusted voice.
"It's not a pity party" I snapped back.
He enjoys the sight of my sudden attack that he draws closer, "so what is it?" he whispers…
"I came to inform you that they're planning to… to…"
"To execute me?" he finishes, removing himself from me.
"I know Lockhart and I'm prepared to die" he takes a seat.
I go to his side, "but I don't want you to die" I stoop down to his level.
He looks at me, "you're a very complicated woman to please" he explains, "very complicated"
"Don't die…" I pleaded, "I…I don't want you to die" I pleaded earnestly.
"You plead with the wrong person" he informs.
"But you're a legend. I m-mean you can escape if you wanted to" I explained.
"Kind of like how I could kill you and your father like I wanted to?" he eyes me.
"Answer me something" I stood up, my face turning cold.
He lightly touches his brow.
"Did you purposely walk into Red Hearts, or was it all a mistake?" I asked.
He scoffs, "what do you think, woman?"
I twitch at the word woman.
"Well I don't know. Did you or did you not do it intentionally?" I asked..
He stood up, meeting me eye to eye.
"Why would I waste my time on someone like you. An insignificant, scrawny low life like you? A woman more preferably. Why would I do that?" he coldly asks…
His words hurt, but I refuse to take them on, "so you're telling me, the great Sephiroth made a wrong turn in the huge forest? And a most convenient turn into Red Hearts, is that it?" I humoured him.
He smirks, "don't play with me, woman"
"The hell I'll play and talk to you the way I feel" I growled, "you know what I think, I think you meant to do all of this. You wanted to intentionally return me to Red Hearts. I mean for heck's sake you're the great legendary Sephiroth – the greatest assassin alive and yet you're telling me you made a wrong turn in the forest?" I laughed.
"This coming from the woman who doesn't even understand what she feels. I trust you know what's right" he says in derision.
"Damn you, you bastard" I gritted my teeth.
"So now you're angry" he smirks, "what's going to happen next? Are you going to draw a blow or return something more substantial and valid to the table?" he circles me
"I don't have to play this game, Sephiroth" I pursed my lips, tears floating precariously in my eyes.
He chuckles, "I suppose, this is the part where you fall down and begin crying?"
Why did I come down here? To hear him say such ugly bitter words?
"You know what? It doesn't matter what you do…" I shook my head, "you're always going to pay for what you did, so maybe I should stop intervening your bullshit life you selfish, stupid, dumb, idiotic -
And like that, he shuts me off to his lips. He kisses me, his lips softly caressing my own. And I feel the hunger in his kisses. He pulls me tighter against him, as his fingers stroke the softness of my back. My lips are hungry and needy to reply. No matter what he said, what he did… Yuffie was right, I let him in too deep and I don't care.
Sephiroth pushes me against the wall, his hands coming to my waist. He hungrily kisses me, our lips desperate for touch after so long apart.
He softly kisses my neck and then begins to bite the area, causing me to moan. I arch my head against the wall, breathing heavy and hard. My fingers are deep in his hair, as I feel my body spasm and relax. I sharply moan as he grabs the softness of my flesh in his teeth. He sucks on the area softly, and then harder until the feeling becomes more of a pleasurable, painful and blinding sensation. My body shivered as Sephiroth's fingers snaked into my dress…
I gasped knowing that a man like him was probably hungry for a long-time desert.
He raises my dress to my hips and I place my arms around his neck.
I bite my lips loving the way he made me feel.
"I'm going to check on the little scum shit… gimme a minute" we heard the voice of a guard.
Sephiroth releases me.
He finds me a hiding place in the dark corner.
Sephiroth returns to his chair acting as natural as possible.
"Hey you… legendary Sephiroth" the man smirks.
Sephiroth looks down.
"Hey I'm talking to you" the man shouts.
"I can hear you, miscreant" Sephiroth coldly answers…
"What the hell did you just say?" the man angrily shouts.
"You heard me, or should I repeat it since you're deft?" Sephiroth certainly had a way with riling people up.
"Why I oughta kick your ass" the man growls.
"I assure one step into this prison would be your last." Sephiroth icily addresses.
The venom seeping from Sephiroth's eyes is enough to ward the guard away. The guard curses and fume all the way out the prison.
I slowly and carefully approach Sephiroth making sure to check for the guard. He stands to his feet.
I place my arms around his neck and he kisses me slowly on the lips. He places a hand on my waist and then pulls apart.
"What is it?" I asked, flustered.
He looks down at me and sighs, "you have to accept the end"
I blink back, where did that come from?
"I am going to be executed Lockhart and they're going to make you watch" he starts.
I shook my head. I placed a hand on his cheek, "I won't let them. I'll find a way…" I shook my head.
He looks down, "you can not avoid what is to come" he explains…
I refuse to hear this, "nothing is coming Sephiroth…" I gritted my teeth, "you're going to fine" I tried to smile…
"Move on, Lockhart" he holds my hand…
I shook my head, tears falling down.
"I…I can't" I shivered…
"You must." He nods, "Now go" he releases his hold on my hand…
I shook my head, "Sephiroth…please" I begged…
"Go.." he says…
"Seph—
"Go" he shouts.
I look at him. Stifling everything I felt… I pushed myself away…
To be continued…
Author's Notes: Just 1 minute of yr time..
Hey guys!
I'm having a Sephiroth and Tifa One-shot Fanfiction Competition/Awards which starts on August 31stand ends September 30th2010. If you are interested, all the guidelines are posted on my profile. Winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) will receive a graphic design prize. So please check it out…you got nothing to lose..only goody prizes to win.
Thank you for reading.