There, finally a new chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: A new journey

I sat on the roof of our house, gazing over Contigo, patiently waiting. I had offered to wait here for Felix and the others. If they would come, of course. But I knew they would. I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, remembering last night. You have no idea how painful it was to turn my back to her and walk inside. Maybe I did want her love. Maybe. But… Selena… No. I shook my head, clenching my fists.

"No, I shall never abandon you, my beloved Selena." I whispered silently. "I cannot… I must correct my mistake."

A movement caught my eye. I saw five people approaching in the distance. I smirked, so they had decided to come after all! I jumped down from the roof, landing gracefully on my feet in front of the door. I leaned against the wall, waiting. One hand rested on my Masamune, the feeling already becoming very familiar.

My eyes met Felix' as he came up to the house. For some reason, they didn't want to come very close to me. I grinned at that. Straightening myself I gazed at each of them for a very short while.

"You've been expected." I finally said, kicking open the door. I went inside, not bothering with them anymore.

"Isaac, our guests are here." I announced. Isaac jumped up from his chair and looked at the five entering the room. I went to a corner of the room and leaned against the wall again, crossing my arms. I glanced at Mia, but she didn't look at me. My heart felt pained because of this, but I shoved the feeling off me.

"She deserves better anyway." I kept remembering myself.

"I'm glad you kept your promise, Felix." Isaac smiled weakly. Garet nodded approvingly.

"Alright, let's hear what he has got to say himself!" The Mars adept said. I lifted my gaze of the ground, following the next conversation with interest. Of course I had seen it all before, but it was still interesting to see it in real life. I didn't say anything, just listened. Sometimes, I would feel a gaze on me but when I looked up to see from whom it came, it was already gone. Though I did notice Mia's red cheeks. It probably had been her. I sighed. I needed to talk to her. I hope we could still be very good friends. Like we always had been. I couldn't think further, for Hama came in. I smiled happily as Ivan could finally meet his sister. But it was also disappointing that 'it's not the time'. After a short conversation, Ivan's big sister left again and both groups turned to each other again. They had agreed to combine their powers.

"I'm sorry we couldn't see you at Venus Lighthouse…" Jenna apologized. Isaac and Garet glanced at each other, then at Jenna and nodded.

"I'm really relieved that we were able to sort out our differences without fighting." Mia added, her face betraying a little bit of happiness. Jenna turned to her brother.

"It's great, no?"

Felix looked away in the distance, and then nodded with a weak smile. "I guess it is." His gaze met mine for a brief second. "Though something needs explaining." Felix added. He pointed at me, I smiled weakly. "Who's he?"

I straightened myself and did a few steps forward, making the other group back away. I sly grin decorated my face. "You can call me Sephiroth."

"We met him the day after we left Lalivero with Babi's ship, appearing out of nowhere on the deck, where we found him." Isaac explained, walking up to me. "He's been travelling with us ever since, aiding us greatly."

"What kind of Adept is he?" Jenna asked, trying to sound more curious than distrusting. I shook my head.

"I am no adept. I have the Masamune and my own powers at my disposal, I do not need the power of Psynergy."

Felix turned to Isaac. "But how does he fit in with our quest? All of us are in some way connected to this, but what about him?"

"It's very simple." I replied. "My completion was thanks to Isaac and his friends. In return, I lend my strength and power to their cause."

"I don't know if you saw it Felix." Ivan commented. "But he did save our necks there at Jupiter Lighthouse."

"Not to mention, defeated Agatio and Karst single-handedly!" Mia added with a smile.

"Look Felix, I trust Sephiroth as much as I trust everybody here. His sword will be a great aid." Isaac crossed his arms and looked at Felix, who sighed but eventually nodded.

"Okay then, I'll trust you Isaac."

"Well then." Sheba said after a long silence. "Shouldn't we start to prepare for leaving again?"

"Yes, now that we'll have five more people aboard my ship, we need to stock up more supplies." Piers informed us.

Isaac and Felix looked at each other. I found it interesting to think about who would be the leader now. But from the looks of it, I realized they would just share that role.

"We'll buy what we need today, take a good rest and leave tomorrow." Felix proposed, still looking at Isaac.

"Sounds good to me." The blond Venus Adept replied. He turned to us. "Alright, lets lend a hand."

Everybody started to go outside, but I grabbed Mia's arm. She turned around in surprise. I studied her eyes. They betrayed the sadness she was feeling.

"Mia, I need to talk to you."

"I'm listening." Came the distant reply. I let go of her arm and she did a step backwards. I turned my back to her and hung my head.

"Are you angry at me for refusing your love?" A confused look came on her face. Maybe she didn't know herself? Taking advantage of her silence, I continued. "I know I hurt you. And I'm very sorry for that. But… You know it's not possible. But even if such a bond between us is impossible, we can still be friends like we were before. Right?"

Silence.

Afraid, I turned around, only to see her crying. I walked o her, she didn't stir. "Mia…"

"You're so sweet." She whispered, looking up to smile at me, despite her tears. This caught me off guard. She threw her arms around me. "You don't deserve that burden, but… I guess this is how it has to be. I'll always love you, even though you'll keep me at distance."

Sighing, I put my arms around her as well, stroking through her hair. "You're my best friend Mia. I don't want to loose you."

She gazed in my eyes and smiled. "If I make you happy by being your best friend, then that is good enough for me, even if I'll always feel more for you."

"I'm glad." I smiled back at her. "Now, we should be going to the others."

She let go of me and nodded. "Right."

---

The now merged groups had bought some new supplies and now, in groups of two, started carrying them to the inlet were Piers' ship was docked. Ivan found himself teamed up with Sheba and for the first time in his life, he could speak with a fellow Jupiter Adept. The girl was younger than him, but he could feel she was just as powerful as he was.

"Ivan." Sheba began. He glanced at her.

"Have you ever… Read Sephiroth's mind?" She asked it hesitatingly, afraid to ask. Ivan shook his head.

"Only once, in the very beginning, when he allowed me. Every time after that that I tried, he noticed. I stopped doing it as I got to know him and trust him." The young adept looked at the girl beside him. "You don't trust him, do you?"

"He frightens me." Sheba confessed. "His powers frighten me. Being able to defeat Agatio and Karst single-handedly? Frightening."

"I see it more as a relief. To have such skill and power at our side is a blessing! Who knows what awaits us at Mars Lighthouse?"

"True but… It makes you wonder if that power wouldn't get to his head…" She bit her lip. Ivan glared at her, not all too happy with the fact that one of his friends was being blamed of being a power-hungry maniac.

"You're beginning to think like Felix." It sounded offending and Sheba cringed under these words. That made Ivan feel a bit uneasy. "I'm sorry." He quickly added. "Didn't want to offend you. It's just… He's my friend. A very good one. I don't like it if people blame him of things I'm sure he isn't."

"But how can you place so much trust in him? You don't know him for that long and you can't look into his heart…"

"I don't need to read someone's mind and see his heart to trust that somebody." Ivan explained. "I trust him, that's all there is to it. Get to know him Sheba, and you'll learn to trust him too. I've noticed he's a great and reliable friend."

"Well… He is going with us on this journey after all… So yes, maybe I'll do that." She gave the blond boy a smile. "Thanks for the advice Ivan."

---

I was doing a few practise moves with my Masamune in the forest, not far away from Contigo. The sword continued to amaze me, and probably would never stop doing so. I loved it. Everything, my powers, my person, the Masamune, it felt like I had known them for ages, like they always had been a part of me. Being complete, let me tell you, it is a great feeling. It is great to feel whole. The feeling that something is missing was gone. I had achieved something great, I knew that. I had finally achieved a goal again, finally did something worthy of doing. A goal like that I hadn't had ever since she had died… I bowed my head.

"Selena…"

I felt a presence and turned around, facing Ivan. He didn't look surprised, no, his eyes betrayed sympathy.

"You still think of her, don't you, Sephiroth?" The Jupiter adept asked quietly, sitting down on a fallen tree. I followed his example and shook my head.

"I can never forget her, Ivan. She's a part of my life. Forgetting her would mean forgetting a part of myself. The only part of myself that I can't and haven't forgotten." I sighed deeply. "Selena, my Selena… What I wouldn't do to see your smile again…" I closed my eyes and grinned. Eventually I was just laughing loudly.

"Ha ha… I'm such a fool. Like I'm worthy of her gracing me with a second chance."

"Everybody is worth a second chance. Didn't you get one in this world?" He looked at me, his eyes questioning me.

"I cannot blame you for not understanding, Ivan… You never knew her, you can't imagine what a sin it was of me to let her die…" I laid my hand on the Masamune. "But I can live with this sin, for now. I am Sephiroth and my brother deemed me worthy of being so. Doomed I may be, but spirited, I still am. You can count on me for the inevitable battle at Mars Lighthouse!"

"I'm glad. It eases me a bit, to know we have your skill and Masamune at our side." Ivan bowed his head, sighing deeply. Only now I noticed how troubled he looked. But I decided to say nothing about it.

"By the way, Ivan, why don't you invite Sheba to come closer?" I grinned at his startled face. He then nodded and waved with his hand.

"Come on Sheba, it's alright." Hesitatingly the younger Jupiter Adept came to us both. Shyly she sat down next to Ivan.

"I won't bite." I smiled to her. She blushed and nodded. "So you are Sheba. Glad to finally be able to meet you in person."

"The pleasure is all mine." She politely replied. It made me chuckle.

"We can leave the formalities behind. Feel free to call me Sephiroth."

"Thank you… Sephiroth." She spoke the name hesitatingly, unsure. Did I scare her? I couldn't really tell. Maybe she was like Ivan: Troubled by the quest. I decided to change the subject.

"So, done with bringing your part of supplies to the ship?"

"Of course." Ivan smiled. "You?"

"Done it ages ago. Tell you what: hail the power of levitation."

"You're lucky you can fly." Ivan remarked. "Wish I could."

"Maybe there's psynergy that can arrange that?" I bit my lip. "Hover, perhaps?" Sheba looked up, not really knowing how I knew about the Hover Jade she possessed.

"Sheba, can I see the Hover Jade? I never saw a Gem stone that lends a psynergy ability before." I didn't know why I asked. Something in my mind forced me to do this.

"Sure." Came the shy reply. Out of one of her pockets, she took a shining, emerald green stone and handed it to me. Gratefully I took it and studied it a bit. It was crystal pure, and I could feel power inside it.

"Interesting…" I whispered. "There's something in it, energy I think, something that whispers… A whisper that grants you the knowledge of Hover…" My mind gladly sucked in this information. "I wonder if it's the same with a normal Psynergy stone… Or the Stone of Sages…?" I gave the stone back to Sheba, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for showing me. It was very… interesting…"

---

Sorry if I portrayed the Hover Jade wrongly, but it's been forever sicne I played "The Lost Age". And if you want to know why Sephiroth finds this information so interesting... Tell you what, I won't tell you. Hee hee.

Sorry it took so long. Hope to update with another chapter soon.