Unspoken

Unspoken

By mihoyonagi

Chapter 46: Confrontation

Sephiroth watched as Cloud, with a sour expression set across the blonde's face, drummed his fingers on the kitchen table. The general knew the boy to be perturbed by what he had been told and could guess the kinds of things that were churning inside of his head, yet at the moment, Sephiroth couldn't gather enough patience to care. The frozen bag of peas that he had been holding against the side of his face for what was nearing two hours was beginning to melt. Sephiroth didn't much like peas in the first place. His face was still sore from the good wallop Cloud had administered earlier and was in no mood to allow any emotion other than a completely look of calmness befall his face. It was taking much of his patience to simply sit there and allow Aerith to tell their story while Cloud butted in with his silly questions.

Sephiroth shifted in his seat, pulling the bag of peas from his face. Tenderly, he reached up and pressed the tops of his fingers to the area below his left eye. The spot was swollen, and was sure to be bruised, but Sephiroth was somewhat pleased when he realized that his face hadn't been cut. He was, however, somewhat shamed to know that he had let his guard down so completely.

Cloud's eyes shot toward him when Sephiroth again placed the peas to his face. Keeping his visage the epitome of calm, Sephiroth didn't even blink as he met Cloud's gaze.

"That's a lot to swallow, Aerith."

Only a short time before, when Sephiroth had opened the front door and been greeted in one of the most rude fashions imaginable, Aerith had thrown herself in front of Cloud before he could land another wild punch on Sephiroth's person. While it was a bit of a blow to his ego - having been caught off guard, pelted in the face, and sent sprawling upon the floor – Sephiroth was more than pleased when Aerith had nearly jumped atop him in order to stop Cloud's onslaught of physical punishment.

While Sephiroth wasn't completely sure what Aerith had said to Cloud in order for him to stop his pursuit and listen so intently, he was sure as Ifrit's hellfire happy she had said it. His mind had spun for a good, short while, the end of which he had found himself with a bag of frozen vegetables pressed against his face while Aerith began to yet again spin the story of how they came to be, once more, participants in the game of life.

The silence that stretched between them now that the story had been told was beginning to make Sephiroth more uncomfortable than he already was.

"I can't change what happened, Cloud. I had my reasons, despite them being good enough for you or not. I did what I did because I felt I had to. I could tell you that I'm sorry a thousand times over, but it still doesn't change anything, and you know it. I did what my heart told me to do, what I felt needed to be done."

"But to run from me, Aerith? And to run from the rest of us?"

"I was dead to you. Sephiroth was dead to you. I didn't think I had much choice."

"There's always room for you."

"That's not what this conversation is about, and you know it. I'm sorry you're upset with me for hiding from you, but try and understand what I was doing and what was going on. I was giving someone a second chance – a chance at a normal life - while leading my own new adventure. I missed everyone so much, but I knew that, to them, I was gone. What was I supposed to do? Come knocking on your door in the middle of the night and just smile when you opened it? This is bigger than you and I, bigger than the rest of us. This wasn't my decision. The planet saw it fit to bring the both of us back. Sephiroth and I were wronged in the worst possible ways, and so we were brought back to try to make it right."

"Aerith, I can't-"

"Cloud, just listen. I came back knowing that Sephiroth was coming with me. At first, I was afraid he might turn out to be just as crazy without the Jenova cells in him. But he's still a human being, and people change. We've been through so much. I trust him with my life. I know you'll never be able to forgive him, Cloud. I know everything seems crazy, and I'm sorry that I've inadvertently hurt you through all of this, but you have to understand I was trying to do what was right."

Cloud sighed and turned his head.

"Please, Cloud, try to understand. I gave him a chance when no one else would have given him so much as a second thought. Do you have any idea what we've been through to get where we are? I am the only thing he has, and he's the only thing that I need right now."

Slamming his fist on the table, Cloud glared at the man sitting opposite him. "It's not fair, and the both of you know it. Aerith, do you have any idea what he's done to me? He's single handedly ruined my life. He's a psychopath, a murderer, and here you sit next to him, defending him. You travel the world with him, Aerith, hiding him from me, in a silly attempt at some self-righteousness caused by guilt. You didn't cause him to be the man he is. He's responsible for countless lives, even yours, and the only person he has to blame is himself."

Aerith, sighed. The voice that she spoke in was calm, yet stern. "Cloud, do you honestly think I'm not aware of all of this? Do you really think I'd willingly put myself is a position like this if I didn't have at least some shred of hope that things would change him?"

Cloud opened his mouth to argue, but Aerith cut him off.

"Despite the fact that your hatred toward him is deserved, Cloud, the planet forgave Sephiroth, just as I have. I wouldn't be sitting here with you if I hadn't of learned to get over my own emotions and get on with my life. He ruined your life, Cloud, but he stole mine from me. Do you know how hard that was to forgive? He stole me away from my friends and family, never to see them again, in some crazy plan to overtake the world of the living. Yet here I am, sitting next to him, drinking tea and realizing that there is more to life than keeping grudges."

By this time, tears were streaming down Aerith's face.

"I know that nothing I can say can make you change your mind, Cloud, but nothing you can do can change mine, either."

Another long stretch of silence overtook the room. The world, at least to Sephiroth, had stopped spinning. Finally, after what seemed like eons, Cloud spoke again.

"Jenova is back."

Aerith gasped, repelling away from Cloud. "No!"

Sephiroth's eyes widened as he looked across the table at Cloud.

Cloud's bright eyes gazed back at Sephiroth with a deep intensity. "Shinra's confirmed it. We learned of it after we nearly ran into you in Wutai. Reno asked me to talk to Rufus, despite the fact that I wanted nothing to do with Shinra any longer, but even Rude was insistent that I talked their boss, so I finally gave in. I was in Wutai as a bit of a favor to Reno. We were helping him clean up the slave ring you two had gotten yourselves into."

Aerith opened her mouth, but Cloud waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Don't ask me how I got in debt with Reno. Trust me, you don't want to know. Fact of the matter was that Reno and Rude were on a bit of a charity mission. Shinra claims to have cleaned up their act a bit, which is why they were in Wutai in the first place, trying to put a stop to that slave ring."

"But what about Jenova?"

Cloud turned his head, looking down at the table. It was obvious to Sephiroth that the boy was very carefully picking his next words.

"Rufus had been monitoring the crater ever since Meteor was destroyed. He wanted to make sure what happened could never happen again. A life form had been found on the radar a while after you two said you had come back, and when it was further investigated Shinra found out what it was. Jenova is trying to use the force of the Lifestream to heal herself. That's part of the reason, since Wutai, I've been trying to hard to find the two of you. I thought that Sephiroth would be behind it."

For the first time since being in Cloud's presence, Sephiroth reached toward his pocket for his notebook.

Cloud instantly tensed, leaning forward in his chair to show that he was ready and willing to strike were Sephiroth to blink wrong.

Slowly taking the notebook from his pocket, Sephiroth flipped it open and began to write, trying his best to ignore Cloud's actions. The boy only meant well, after all, despite being so dense at times. Sephiroth pushed the notebook halfway across the table and withdrew his hands, allowing Cloud to take control of the situation and bring the notebook the rest of the way toward him.

'I've not felt anything since I've been brought back. I no longer have any of Jenova's cells within me.'

Aerith nodded, having read the note while it was being passed. "The planet granted me the power to heal on a more basic level before we were brought back. I was able to take most of the harm Jenova had done to his body and cleanse him of it, ridding Sephiroth of every part of her. There's no way he would have been able to feel that she is back because there's nothing left in his body for Jenova to call back."

Cloud pushed the notebook back, a look of deep thought creasing his brow.

"Despite not being completely comfortable with it, I might have to ask both of you to help, then. Shinra's trying to do everything it can to finally put a stop to Jenova. Rufus doesn't like the idea of something so potentially dangerous and uncontrollable living free within the world. I don't like Jenova period, and would do damn near anything to get rid of her once and for all."

Aerith took a wild guess when Cloud paused for longer than necessary. "What's the problem, then?"

"Jenova's cells are still inside of me, and I've been able to hear her calling out for a while, now. No one thinks I'll be able to face Jenova without her taking control of me. On the other side of the same damn coin, Rufus knows that even his most elite would be no match for Jenova, and can't take the risk of sending men to their death for no reason."

Folding her arms atop the table, Aerith let a sad, yet mirthful smile befall her face. "And you know, now, that Sephiroth and I are both free of Jenova's control."

Cloud nodded. "I'm willing to bet that everyone would drop everything to help us, but I can't ask this of some of them any more. Cid just had a baby, and Barrett finally settled down and is taking care of Marlene. Reeve is doing the best he can to mop up what's left of Midgar. This isn't an easy decision. There aren't more than ten of us, even within Shinra, who know of Jenova's return."

Eyes suddenly brightening, Cloud looked up. His face was full of hope. "Wait! You said that you were able to rid Sephiroth of Jenova's influence. Can you do the same with me?"

Aerith bit her lip. "I don't think I'd be able to, Cloud. I was only able to help Sephiroth because of where we were. It was basically purgatory -between life and death - and the planet was able to reach through me to do what it needed to do to begin to allow Sephiroth to heal."

Cloud's face dimmed. "Even so," he sighed, "I would want you to come with us if you decide to help."

"Yuffie, Vincent, and Red would be more than willing to help out, I'm sure."

Rolling his eyes and heaving a heavy sigh, Cloud tried his best to look angry at Aerith. "I knew they were all hiding something. They knew you were back. I knew they knew something and the were trying to avoid telling me!"

Aerith smiled, tentatively. "Don't be cross with them, Cloud. I made them promise not to tell you. I told them that, if the time was ever right, I would start things over my own way."

Cloud shrugged, obviously not taking her avoidance as an insult any longer. Though it was evident he still didn't much care for the fact that Aerith had been running away from him, the look on Cloud's face portrayed his emotions differently: he wasn't going to allow the idea hurt him any longer, despite him still being slightly disturbed by it. He was forcing himself not to be bothered by it.

Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, Cloud bit his lip before he continued. "Let me call Tifa and see when she can get everyone ready for pickup. I'll just be a minute."

As soon as Cloud stood, Sephiroth reached out his hand, signaling for a pause in motion. Cloud let an annoyed glare set his eyes tight with annoyance as Sephiroth scribbled a message in his notebook and passed it off to him.

'How did you know where to find us?'

"It wasn't easy," Cloud finally admitted. "But this time it wasn't so bad. That nice doctor, Rej, called me right after he ran into you at the pharmacy this afternoon. I have to confess that I hadn't expected you two to travel so far so fast – I mean Nibelheim is pretty far, just by buggy and boat - but the Highwind makes up for lost time pretty easily, and we were down here in less than a day."

Cloud then turned to Aerith. "I'm sorry. I must have woken you up when I pounded on the door. What time is it? Six in the morning?"

Sephiroth watched, slightly bemused, as Aerith turned her face from Cloud to hide the sweeping blush that overtook her cheeks. "We were already up. We had just been talking about some important things when you nearly broke down the door."

Cloud smiled weakly, apparently too thick-headed to see the blush on Aerith's face, or to understand the hidden meaning behind her words. "Sorry about interrupting, then. Then again, you know me- leap before I look, after all. Anyway- give me a few minutes outside and I'll call Tifa and give her the short version."

He was out the door before anyone could protest otherwise.

This seemed to suit Sephiroth just fine. He immediately slumped in his chair, and let the bag of half-frozen peas fall to the table. He looked to Aerith, wondering what was going on inside her head.

Her face was contemplative, as if she were thinking of a far-off memory. It was several moments before she again returned to reality. Her green eyes shot up suddenly, locking Sephiroth's gaze with intensity.

"I'm afraid, Sephiroth."

He was at her side in an instant, hand on the side of her face. He shook his head, damning himself for his loss of voice, and reached again for his notebook.

'You've nothing to fear, Aerith. I'm here for you. I'll protect you.'

He watched her lower lip tremble when she finished reading his message. She again met his eyes, though she looked no less shaken than before. "I know you will. But who's going to protect you?"

Stunned silence, though not intended on Sephiroth's part, filled the room. Aerith turned her head, as if she were embarrassed by what she had said. "What I mean is that, well, what if something happens down there? I'm not physically strong enough to protect you. I-"

She suddenly shook. Brining up her hands, Aerith wrapped her arms around her upper body.

Sephiroth leaned over on his seat, cupping her cheek in his hand. He let his eyes plead the message his voice was not capable of asking: what was wrong?

"When I purged your body of Jenova, it was with the planet's help. But there wasn't a place for the cells to go without hurting the Lifestream. If the cells were put in a dormant host for a while, they would have eventually died out because they would've been unable to regenerate. Jenova, though, wasn't completely dead, so the cells are reacting."

Suddenly, she shivered again, rubbing her hands up and down her bare arms.

The truth hit Sephiroth hard.

Aerith had taken the Jenova cells into her own body to save him.

Panic erupted in his body, making his veins seem as if they had been filled with ice water. He brought his other hand up and placed it on her other cheek, cupping her entire chin in his grip. Slowly, he shook his head from side to side, his eyes growing wide with shock and fear.

She sighed. "I had to. I couldn't let you suffer."

He reached for his notebook and scribbled frantically.

'In Wutai, when we kissed, the reason I pulled back was because something flashed through my vision. I thought it was might have been guilt, or a bad memory, but do you think-'

Aerith, having been reading the message as he had been writing it, suddenly stilled his hands with her gentle grip. "Cloud told us that Jenova's existence was again confirmed right around the time they ran into us in Wutai. I'll bet that Jenova, when you kissed me, could sense you near me and tried to reach out to you. After all, right after that we traveled to Rocket Town and I started to slowly become somewhat angry with you, more often than not. I thought I was just being emotional, but now that I look at it from a different prospective, I can see that I could have been influenced."

Again, she shivered. "I'm scared, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth stood, bringing Aerith to her feet with him. He circled his arms around her shoulders, clutching her close to him, seeking her warmth. He shook his head back and forth, trying desperately not to think of what she had been saying.

Jenova had once ruined his life. He could not let her ruin his only chance at happiness.

"I'm so scared."

He ran a hand gently down the top of her head, smoothing her hair and trying his best to comfort her.

Truth be told, he was petrified as well. Sephiroth knew, however, that he had to remain strong for her sake. For his own sake, too, lest he lose control. He wouldn't allow anything to take Aerith from him, no matter how hard he would have to fight.

"Please don't tell Cloud about the cells."

Taken aback by the sudden change in conversational course, Sephiroth leaned back, forcing Aerith to look him in the eyes.

She shook her head, sighing heavily. "You know that if he were to find out about the cells inside me he wouldn't let me help you fight. I'm the one who has to call the Lifestream; I'm the only one who can. I have to go into the crater with you. I have to be the one to ask the planet to save us all again."

As much as he wanted to tell her no, as much as he wanted to fight Jenova alone and make sure she was sitting safe at home all the while, Sephiroth understood better than anyone what it was she spoke of. She was the last of her kind; she was the only one who, after Jenova was beaten and battered, could call upon the life-force of the planet to finally purge the world of the evil that threatened all life.

There was little doubt in Sephiroth's mind that once Cloud knew of Aerith affliction, the boy would do anything and everything in his power to make sure that Aerith would stay as far away as physically possible from the crater.

Sephiroth was left with little other option. It was take her with them to the center of the planet, or doom the rest of the world to another reign of terror at the hands of a crazed alien. And if the rest of the world died, eventually he and Aerith would die as well.

Sephiroth resigned his inner turmoil with the only decision he was able to make. He bent, writing Aerith another message.

'Cloud won't know, and you'll fight with us. I'll do everything in my power to make sure that you stay safe. I won't let you out of my sight, do you understand?'

After she read his words, she was in his arms and pressed against his chest, crying for the second time that night.

Neither heard the door open, which is why they both were surprised when Cloud cleared his throat. Gently letting his arms fall to his sides, Sephiroth took a step away from Aerith, knowing that the situation had just become that much more awkward for Cloud.

Sephiroth knew it wasn't as though Aerith had purposely avoided telling Cloud what had been going on between them. He realized that Cloud would need time to understand just their friendship, and that telling him they were more than such was just asking for trouble. The right time would present itself, Sephiroth mentally assured himself. He hated, after all, seeing Aerith so upset.

It was obvious from the look on Cloud's face that he was trying very hard not to allow his emotions overcome him. The look on his face was a kept calm, something forced and unnatural. Though Aerith hadn't spoken of her feelings toward Sephiroth openly, by seeing the tender way Sephiroth had been holding her even Cloud could start to make assumptions. Even so, Sephiroth was sure that no one would speak openly of it for quite some time.

Aerith wiped the tears from her cheeks, looking toward Cloud. "I'm sorry. I'm just upset over the whole 'Jenova is back' thing."

Cloud turned his attention away from Sephiroth, immediately softening the look on his face. "I understand. It's a little hard for me to swallow, too. I don't like the idea of having to fight again."

Aerith nodded, turning toward the kitchen and pulling a tissue from box on the countertop. She dabbed at her eyes, looking as though she were trying to settle down.

Cloud's gaze turned back to Sephiroth, his blue eyes alight with annoyance and mild rage. Shoving his hand into his pocket, Cloud produced a folded-up piece of paper and tossed atop the table, toward Sephiroth.

"I'm going to meet Tifa back in the Highwind. The two of you should get some sleep. We're parked on the north end of the forest, about five minuets from town by foot. We'll leave when you two are ready. Take your time to get what you need, but don't take too long, alright?"

Aerith nodded from the kitchen, then smiled weakly. "Tifa still doesn't buy too much of this?"

Cloud shrugged. "I still don't think I get too much of it, honestly."

Sephiroth picked up the paper from the table, flashing it toward Cloud.

Cloud merely shrugged. "Someone asked me to give it to you. For a long time, I didn't really get what the letter was about, or why it was addressed to you of all people. I guess that letter is the only other reason aside form Aerith that I didn't kill you when you opened that door."

He turned, and was out into the night before even Aerith could ask him what he meant.

The corners of the letter, Sephiroth noted, were torn and battered, an obvious sign Cloud had not only been carrying around the piece of paper, but constantly opening it and reading it himself. Whatever was inside was apparently something that changed Cloud's opinion on a few things.

Aerith leaned over his shoulder while he unfolded and began reading the letter.

"Dear Seph,

I don't think I can really thank you enough for what you did for me. My sister is my world, and without your help I would have been lost. Heck, I think I might have been dead, to tell you the truth. You saved us both and I mean it when I say that nothing I can offer you could ever come close to what you returned to me.

The guy with the spiky blonde hair, Cloud, said that you weren't worth thanking, even after I told him our story, but I don't believe him for a second. You helped me and didn't ask anything in return, then gave my sister and I enough money to return home. Sis keeps praising you as a hero, and I know she's not far off.

I owe you my life, and you have all of my respect. If you ever need something, my sis and I live in Costa del Sol. Most of the townsfolk know us, so if you're ever in the neighborhood you be sure to drop by.

My sister wants to thank your friend, Aerith, for helping her, too. Without Aerith there to calm her down and reassure her, I don't think she would have made it very far without breaking down. Aerith helped make it bearable, filled her with hope of rescue, and my sister wants her to know she's grateful.

Like I said, if you're ever in Costa del Sol, drop by my place. We'll have a big celebration!

I know it sounds corny, but I miss you. That Cloud guy doesn't have any idea what he is talking about: you're the reason my sister and I are alive.

Take care,

-Zahi"