Disclaimer: Square-Enix owns Final Fantasy VII… If I did, Sephiroth would not be such a complete dumbass…

Notes: No, I didn't die… I was snowed in; my computer crashed; and I had to go to work… It's all very counter-productive.

PROJECT MAIDEN
Phase One: Trust
Step Eight: Sacred Spring

"Come on!" the small child yanked me into the decaying building. Inside the ancient wood building, my eyes traced the caved in ceiling. Not far inside the building, a pool of water rested tranquilly.

The petite brunette stopped at the pond's edge and squatted down. She dipped her finger in, making circles upon the surface.

"You should get in!" Denzel called as he put pressure on my back.

This is going to end badly.

I place my boot-covered foot into the water.

Okay, that went well.

"Go on," Marlene encouraged.

Another step… and still nothing.

And another.

And another.

This isn't so bad… I begin to feel water pushing through my clothes…

It's kind of warm.

… Very warm…

An unusual scent reaches my nose…

A cross between rotting and burning flesh…?

"O DEAR GOD! IT'S BURNING MY SKIN!"

I kick at the water as I rush out of the water. Marlene covers her mouth in shock; typical, no one ever bothers to save someone in immense pain, do they?

My breaking is shallow as my face leans across the splintered wood.

"Se-Sephiroth?"

"Yes, Marlene," I rasp.

"You look pretty."

If I was able to move, she would die very slowly for that comment… Although, the slowest death would be old age, wouldn't it? Damn…

"No really! You're skin looks so nice!" I can feel a tug upon my sleeve, but I make no effort to aid Denzel in lifting me from the floor. He forces my body into a sitting position, facing the pool. I gaze into it, seeing my stolen face…

… But, it looks like it belongs to only one person, instead of the mismatch I had this morning…

I don't like it very much though.

… It looks more like the face a savior would have, not a ruler…

More importantly, I'm still a girl. Honestly, what did I ever do to deserve such a cosmic joke?

"Um, Sephiroth?"

"Yes, Marlene," I growl as I stare into my reflected, emerald eyes.

"… I think we should give you a new name; what with the new body and all…"

I tilt my head, watching my doppelganger do the same. "Oh? What do you suggest?"

"Yuna… You look like a 'Yuna.' "

"Have you ever met anyone named 'Yuna?' "

"Well, no… But, I know a Yuna when I see one!"

I hate everyone.

Review if you'd like.

Am I the only one who thinks Denzel should just not exist?

Duskmon Kimura, scarlettHuntress, Kameko Suigami, Skavnema, Bells of Requiem, Kyae Sohma, CornCob, Omni-Master, and readergirl-290 receive "Yuna-Sephiroth hybrid" keychains for reviewing.