So sorry for the long wait! And this chapter still isn't very long! But at least it's a sign I'm alive, and this chapter I find pretty emotional, actually it is one of my own favorites! So enjoy, because I'm alive and writing!

Chapter 10: Under the stars

When we were nearing the aerie of the lighthouse, I glanced at the beacon. It was lit with the impressive force of Jupiter. What a pretty sight. But I knew that Isaac couldn't really find it pretty. To him, he had failed yet again. I really hoped all would be cleared up soon, to relieve him of his burden. Felix and the others didn't notice us yet, they were talking quietly to each other and investigating their wounds. They looked exhausted from the battle with Agatio and Karst. Then Jenna turned around just as we arrived at the bottom of the stairs leading to the beacon. Isaac let go of me, standing on his own again. He didn't want to appear weak, I guess. I stayed close to him, ready to support whenever needed. My right hand rested loosely on the handle of my Masamune.

"Isaac… Garet…" Jenna stammered.

"Man." Garet glanced around, obviously annoyed. "They got away! What a bunch of jerks!"

Isaac ignored that and did a step forward, trying to catch Felix's gaze, but the other Venus adepts avoided that look at all costs.

"All right Felix! We want to know what's going on!" Isaac stated clearly, his voice sounding demanding, but also a bit worried.

Kraden stood between the two groups, glancing around a bit nervous. "It's not very easy, Isaac… There are a number of… complicated circumstances…"

"What are you saying Kraden?" Isaac demanded, doing another step forward. "I think after all this, after almost a year I think we have right on answers!" He did another step, but Felix reached for his sword.

"Back off if you want to talk." he warned. Isaac glared at him, a hurt expression that I hadn't yet seen in his eyes, appearing.

"Poor fools like me don't get the meaning of a peaceful debate." Isaac challenged, smirking. I got what he was saying, where he got it from. At the Venus Lighthouse beacon, Felix had refused to explain things to them, calling them poor fools. Apparently Isaac found this an insult. If Felix had talked then, all these months of tiring search could perhaps have been avoided. Felix looked away, his cheeks slightly red. Ivan glanced at everybody nervously. His eyes met mine. I nodded. Relieved, Ivan ran up the stairs, placing himself between Felix and Isaac.

"Stop this!" He demanded. "Listen, I don't really think any of us is in the shape for another fight right now!"

"Debatable." I said, grinning. Ivan glanced at me.

"Except for you of course, Sephiroth." He eventually smiled. "But that's not the point. We shouldn't fight!"

"Then what do you suggest Ivan?" Isaac asked.

"All I'm saying." The Jupiter Adept continued. "Is that we should go back to Contigo, rest there and talk things over tomorrow."

"A good idea." Kraden nodded. "I fully agree."

"So do I." I said, raising my voice. Glances fell on me. "Though I'm certain I could fight all of them, I rather avoid doing so. Too much has happened today already."

Isaac, Mia and Garet switched looks between each others, silently agreeing on something. Eventually they all nodded. "We agree with Sephiroth and Ivan."

Piers, Sheba and Jenna nodded as well. Only Felix seemed to hesitate. I got the feeling he was watching me. Weird, but then I didn't really pay attention to it. It was silent for a long while and Isaac grew angry. Jenna hit her brother on the head. "What are you thinking?!" She shrieked. "It is time we explained ourselves to them! No more running, or you can run alone!" Felix's cheeks turned even more red, but he nodded. "Yeah… We can't fight right now."

Isaac closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay then… Let's go back to Contigo guys." Then he looked at the other group. "We'll be waiting for you there, and don't even think of sneaking off again! You owe us an explanation!"

Then he stepped back down the stairs. When he passed me, he stumbled again. Shaking my head, I put my arm around his shoulder again. "Don' task too much of yourself." I sighed. Then I headed towards the elevator, followed by Ivan, Garet, Mia and the gazes of Felix's group. The great stone structure moved down as soon as we all stood on it, carrying us to the base of the lighthouse.

---

"There, you should catch some sleep now, Isaac." I advised, dropping him on the bed. He may act tough, but I know injury and fatigue when I see it. Isaac wanted to protest but I raised my voice and stopped him before he even could start saying anything.

"No buts Isaac." I glanced at him, worried. "Give your body the time it needs to heal. I don't know if you know, but there was an attempt made to kill you today, Isaac."

"I know, I know…" He sighed, getting himself to lie comfortably. "It's just…"

"I know. Felix and the others bother you, okay, I can understand why." I bit my lip. "They'll keep their promise. That Jenna seems to be burned on explaining everything to you."

"Quite literally." he laughed.

"Right." I nodded. "She's a Mars adept like Garet, right?" Hey, I had to act like I didn't know everything here.

"Indeed." He smiled back. Then he closed his eyes to try and catch some sleep. I turned around and headed to the hallway of the house. "Now to catch a Jupiter adept who needs to be in bed." I grinned. A few moments later, the house was filled with cries of a fifteen-year-old boy shouting that it was still too early to get to bed.

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When Ivan finally slept, I went outside to get some fresh air. What a day it had been. Garet had gone to bed already, and I guessed Mia had, too. I looked over Contigo, covered with the darkness of night. It was so silent, I loved it. The darkness succeeded in comforting me and my new body. So much had happened. I raised my hand and studied it. The clothing, the hair colour, the sword, the style, the manner of speech, the abilities… I had inherited it all within a second. I took the Masamune from my side. It shimmered in the moonlight. What a magnificent blade. I just couldn't get enough of the sight of it. I still couldn't fully believe it. I had succeeded! I had become him! I wielded the Masamune! A satisfied sigh escaped my lips.

"Brother…" I bowed my head. I noticed I still had the feather. Respectfully I attached it to my belt. "Thank you, brother. For everything." My gaze went up to the moon. "You've guided me this far… I will never doubt you again. I swear. I promise." There came no answer, only silence.

My ears caught a slight rustle. I turned around, but couldn't immediately see somebody. Yet I knew somebody was watching. "Mia?" I finally asked. She came out of the doorway, dressed in her white nightdress. "You should be sleeping." I remarked, avoiding her eyes.

"And you shouldn't be?" she softly retorted. I shook my head.

"I can't." I shrugged. "I can't sleep. I need to think." I could feel her hand on my shoulder, softly. I shivered.

"Are you frightened… Sephiroth?" She sounded hurt. "Of me?"

"Its not that Mia." I sighed, shaking her hand off. I turned to look at her. "I… Mia, ever since we've met, you were always the one who tried to get to know me the most. You were always the most interested in me, in what I had to tell…"

"Is there… a problem with that?" She carefully asked, tensed. I shook my head.

"Of course not, Mia. But… When you come to me at night, at nights like these… I can't help but get the feeling you want… more of me." God, I was bad at such stuff.

"Maybe." She replied distantly. "If I might be honest, Sephiroth, I don't really know what I feel when I'm near you." She came to stand next to me, but didn't touch me. "You intrigue me… You come from another world… That fact alone, it's so hard to grasp. From the first moment, I was with you, and from the first moment we've met, you're behaviour was… different. Yes, you intrigue me." She tried to catch my gaze. "You're not like anybody I've ever met before. Maybe that's why I'm unsure about what to feel. You're so friendly, so warm-hearted to all of us, yet you still remain distant…" I gazed at my feet, not interrupting her. "What do we know about you? You said from the beginning you wanted to forget… But still, you were still somebody, right? Everything that surrounds you, the mystery, your brother, your past. What do we know about it?" Again, I felt her hand on my shoulder. "Is it so strange that I want to understand that? You've told me, when you saved me, that your past would eventually eat you away. But why? Why can't you stop that? Why can't you leave that past behind? Isaac, Ivan… and I, we're willing to help you with that." Her face turned away, if it would be day, I would notice her red cheeks. "Especially I."

I turned myself fully to her, laying my hands on her shoulders, gazing in her eyes. She didn't stir. "I know you would, Mia." I sighed softly. "I don't want to hurt your feelings." I closed my eyes. This was very painful. "But… My heart still belongs to Selena. I cannot change this."

A tear ran down her cheek. "But why? Please, do not see me as rude. But why do you tie yourself to the memory of her? What was so special about her, that people like me, can't give you?"

"Mia…" I stroke her tear away. "You're the second sweetest girl I've ever met. I like you, very much. But the past holds me." I gazed at the moon. "Her memory won't fade, Mia. No matter how hard I try, Selena will not fade. Even as Sephiroth, I cannot forget her. It is my greatest sin… A sin that will never be forgiven. I could not save her. The only thing that gave my life meaning then, for so many years." Memories of that night came back. That one, fateful night… "I can change. I can become Sephiroth. I can be him. But I will never be able to let Selena go. To forgive my greatest mistake. Not without setting that mistake straight."

Mia bowed her head, and didn't hold back her tears. "Will you just allow her then to destroy you? Destroy you, inside first?"

"Just as I allowed her to be destroyed." I replied bitterly. "So is justice. Such is my fate. The only fate I deserve for letting die the only person that I wasn't allowed to let die." I stroke her tears away. "And that's why this isn't possible Mia. I do not want to burden you with a person like me. With one who bears a fate like me." I pulled her close into a deep, but purely friendly hug, allowing her to cry. "I'm sorry…" I whispered as I let go and went towards the house.

"I love you." She whispered, sobbing.

I stopped in my tracks for a moment, then bowed my head. "I know. But it isn't possible, and we both know that. Don't tie yourself either, Mia. Don't be like me. There are so many people on this world worthy of your love. Do not limit them just to me, the one that cannot abandon his past." A sigh escaped my lips and then I disappeared in the house to go to sleep. Mia just stood there, under the night sky filled with brightly shining stars, sobbing.

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There, this chapter just flowed out of my fingers. Like I said, pretty short, but in my opinion very good. I just wanted to clear some things up with this one. I think it was pretty obvious that Mia had some interest towards Sephiroth, but here it's explained why it can't grow. If it will still influence the rest of the story I'm not sure about yet. We'll see... Expect a new chapter sooner.