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Chapter 7- Up on the rooftop
When Tifa went back to Sephiroth for her second therapy session, he was not in his office. A kind secretary informed Tifa, "He's on the roof." Tifa was obviously shocked as she exclaimed, "…The roof!?" "Yes. If you have an appointment with him, you can take the elevator."
The elevator was like none that Tifa had ever seen before. It was painted white and instead of buttons, there were images of books, arranged in order from top to bottom. Tifa chose '1984' by George Orwell, and listened to the background music as her book selection took her to the highest level. She expected to hear 'One-Winged Angel' playing. Instead, the speakers calmly whispered to the tune of Handel's 'Messiah'.
There he was, in all of his glory, sporting a second wing. "You came back." Sephiroth noted. Tifa replied, "Of course. Anyone with eyes can see that you've changed." However, that was only a half-truth. Now that Tifa had figured out his identity, he had reverted back to his normal features. "I see that you have your long white hair back."
"Let me look at you, Tifa."
Tifa sat down beside Sephiroth on the roof, and he glanced at her. Tifa's long hair glistened in the wind, and she was clad in a tight red sweater and khaki pants that accentuated her hourglass figure. Tifa looked into Sephiroth's mako-filled eyes, and asked, "How did you change so much?" Sephiroth simply queried, "Have you heard the mythical story of the Lamia?" "No."
"According to legend, there was once a female demon named Lamia. She was a blind mermaid, and her favorite activity was to devour little children. One day, the gods changed all of that. It was a simple gift that turned Lamia's life around. She was given the ability to see. When she was blind, she would do whatever she wanted, but there was something about seeing the atrocities with her own two eyes that allowed her to see the light. I am like that Lamia. I found my second wing."
"Where did you find it?" "At a pawn shop on 32nd street." Tifa sternly stared at Sephiroth and muttered, "That's a lie." Silence. "But why would you want a second wing?" Sephiroth contemplated the question and answered, "In the end, power was never good enough for me. I would always lose. It's like they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." "You're full of bullcrap, do you know that? The real Sephiroth would never admit defeat."
"Listen, Tifa. Cloud defeated me twice, and I was forced back into the Lifestream. I witnessed Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo fade into eternal nothingness. It was because the mako in their system clashes with the Lifestream. It will happen to Cloud some day, and it almost happened to me. But Aeris offered me a deal that I couldn't refuse. She would give me back my life if I made a pact to do good." "That can't be right! Aeris doesn't have that kind of power, and even if she did, she can't do anything to make you keep the pact."
"Believe whatever you like. Marlene's funeral is today, but you don't seem too sad. Why is that?" Tifa began to shed a tear as she replied, "After Cloud, I don't have much of a choice but to keep things hidden inside." Sephiroth's gaze pierced Tifa's spirit as he said, "Let it go, Tifa. Let it all out." Tifa started sobbing, and she cried out, "Okay, I'll admit it! I don't believe you. You are a scheming liar, and Yuffie and Reno are here to arrest you. I led them here."
Sephiroth, unfazed, calmly asked, "Why don't you believe me? Aeris isn't who you think she is. Maybe she used to be, but Zack has corrupted her. You should see the Lifestream now. All of the dead have raised her up as a goddess. Trust me, you don't want to see an arrogant Aeris. She has big plans, and she's already whispered in your ear. It's starting."
As Yuffie and Reno arrested Sephiroth and led him away, he exclaimed, "This doesn't fix anything. You're still a nutcase, and you never told me what Cloud did to you. Take this, you'll need it." Sephiroth handed Tifa a prescription for her insanity. She put it in her pocket, with every intention of using it later, and replied, "I wrote an autobiography. If you want to know about me, read the book."
Sephiroth was placed in the Midgar jail to await trial for his previous crimes. In the Midgar jail, there is no library.