(Distant Memories) FF7 Cloud and Sepharoth By: Alex Garland Chapter 6
Seph and Cloud packed up what they took from their bikes and headed for Junon going as fast as their bikes could go and they made it to the ferry just in time before it headed out. They got their rooms assigned and they took their cabin and headed for a nap before dinner was served on deck. Seph decided to take a shower wile Cloud took a nap. When Seph emerged from there bathroom he found his hogosha to be nowhere in sight and so Seph gone in search for Cloud. It wasn't until Seph got on deck when he found Cloud leaning over the rail of the ship spilling the contents of his stomach. Seph came up behind Cloud and touched his back making Cloud flinch but Seph continued to try to make Cloud feel better but soon picked up Cloud and took him to medical bay.
"Doctor I think my friend might be sick."
"Now let's see what we have here."
"…I'm fine Seph…."
"No you're not Cloud you just threw up on deck something is wrong."
"He's right young man. You have a bit of a fever and some sea sickness but other than that you're ok. I'll give you something for the sea sickness and I want you to try to get some rest so your fever will go down. But if your fever gets worse don't hesitate to call me."
"Thank you doctor I'll take Cloud back to our room."
Seph carried Cloud back to their room and laid Cloud underneath the blankets and got a cold cloth and put it on Clouds brow to help Cloud cool down a bit. But it was when Cloud was shivering, sweating, and whimpering in pain when Seph knew something was wrong. Clouds fever got worse and so Seph took the blankets off and striped Cloud of his clothing leaving him bare and Seph too striped himself of his clothing. Seph got under the blankets and held Cloud close to him for warmth.
"It's ok Cloud I'm here."
Seph kept on talking to Cloud all through his fever until Cloud stopped shivering and became still as sleep took him but all too soon sleep over took Seph as well and they slept together in each other's embrace. Throughout the trip Cloud stayed in bed only wakening when Seph brought in food but after their day and a half journey to Costa Del Sol. They unloaded their bikes and headed off not staying for the sun and the beach but to North Corel where they would take the trolley up to the Gold Saucer for the night. On their whey they didn't have any problems what so ever no monsters no nothing just smooth riding to North Corel. They loaded their bikes onto the trolley up to Gold Saucer and then went on their way to the inn. Seph checked them in and ushered Cloud into their room noticing that Cloud still looked a bit sick.
"Cloud you should lay down you don't look so good…"
"I'll be fine don't worry so much Sephiroth…"
"Now I know something is wrong you used my full name hogosha you never use my full name."
"I don't? I guess I never really noticed before. But we can't stop now we only have a little less than 2 days and one whole day is going to be consumed of going through Cosmo Canyon and then the last day is for the delivery of the sword. But after that Seph then ill rest."
"How about you rest now and I'll go get you something to eat."
"Thanks."
Seph went down to the dining hall and got both Cloud and himself some soup. When Seph got back to their room he found Cloud by the windows with his wings spread and even his wings looked dull and lacking life to their usual white glow. Seph walked up to Cloud after setting there food down and wrapped his arms around Clouds waste.
"Hogosha please tell me what's wrong I know that there is something wrong your wings give it away more than your actions do."
"I'm sorry for making you worry Hikari I feel as if my energy is being drained and the only way I find a bit of relief is spreading my wings out."
"Hogosha do you remember what we use to do in the labs when one of us was put through tests and the other was not because of the draining the tests put on us?"
"…Not really Hikari then again my brain is all fuzzy I can't think…"
"Then let me show you." Seph went over to Cloud and picked him up and carried him to the bed, "Cloud can you put your wings away for a second so I can take your shirt off?"
Cloud just retracted his wings and Seph took his shirt off as well as his own. Cloud let lose his wings finding that keeping his wings inside of him just made him feel sicker. Seph released his wing and lay down in front of Cloud touching their foreheads together and laying his wing across Cloud to touch his wings.
"Now Cloud I'm going to transfer some of my energy to you just like how we talked through our wings. This process is going to take longer because I have only one wing so try to bear with it." Seph tolled Cloud the fundamentals of his plan Cloud only gave a nod for his compliance.
"I'm going to start now try to fall asleep you'll absorb more energy that way and hopefully you'll be better by morning." Seph has a bit of concern in his voice at the end but Cloud fell asleep quite easily.
Seph started the process of transferring his energy to Cloud finding that after a few minutes of doing this color came back to his face. It was after seven hours of transferring so much energy that Seph had to sleep before he passed out. Seph retracted his wing and just laid there with Cloud in his arms giving butterfly kisses all over Clouds face. It soon became morning and once more Cloud and Seph headed out and were on their way to Cosmo Canyon and once there they would stop at a native village to rest. Through out there journey they had to keep on their guard for something was not right and both of them knew so but did not say a word.
"Hay Cloud. How are you holding up?" Seph questioned his Hogosha's health.
"I feel much better. Thank you Hikari." Cloud just smiled but on the inside even though he did feel better it wasn't a whole hell of a lot better.
"Hay Hogosha how much longer until we get to the village?" Seph asked curiously.
"We should be seeing it any moment now." Replied Cloud
And just like Cloud said the village came into view. They soon parked their bikes and went to the inn. The inn keeper tolled Cloud and Seph that they would have to get two rooms because each room had only one bed. And Cloud not being too over joyous just tolled the inn keeper that they would take the rooms. Cloud was glad that after Seph and he were done eating that he just let himself fall on the bed and he slept letting his fever take over his body hoping by morning that his fever would go away. By morning Seph became overly concerned when Cloud didn't answer him.
"Cloud open up. Please open up Hogosha." Seph tried to talk to Cloud feeling more concern when Clouds energy was fluxing, "Cloud I'm coming in."
What Seph found was not what he was hoping to find but instead Sheph found Cloud with his wings out and sweat pouring off of Clouds naked body. When Seph came closer to Cloud he could see the pained look on Clouds face. Seph touched Clouds forehead only to have Cloud whimper and flinched away from Sephs touch. Seph extends his wing and a ball of soft energy is at the end of his wing as Seph places the energy ball onto Clouds chest and is absorbed into Clouds body. Soon Clouds whimpers died off and Cloud opened his tired eyes slowly.
"Hogosha you scared me half to death. Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well again?" Seph said while holding Clouds hand.
"…I didn't want…you to worry…About me." Cloud spoke softly and gave Seph a small smile.
"Well you're going to ride with me today to the Ancient Forest to meet your client that way I can keep an eye on you as well as give your client his sword." Seph said in a stern voice.
"That would…be best in the…situation that we are…in at the moment..." Cloud exhaustedly said with panting breaths.
"Well let's get you ready and then we'll head out and then we can stay in Cosmo Canyon for a while until you get better then we'll head home." Seph planed the best way to get cloud home.
"That sounds…like a good idea…"said a breathless cloud
Seph took his time at getting Cloud ready for his meeting with his Client in the Ancient Forest. Cloud Called Kadaj and told him that he was on his way to meet him and Kadaj tolled Cloud where to meet him at. Seph and Cloud slowly walked down to the bikes and Seph got on Clouds bike and Cloud soon followed. Seph took Clouds arms and wrapped them around Seph's waste and they headed off. Half way the their destination Seph looked back at Cloud for Clouds head was now resting on Sephs back and by the look on Clouds face he was getting worse. Seph speed up so they could get there faster because the sooner they were done the sooner Seph could look after Cloud properly to get better. Soon Seph and Cloud arrived at their destination and got off the bike Cloud opening the compartment of the bike and took out the sword that he had made for his client. Seph took the sword from Cloud and backed him up to sit under a tree.
"I'll take care of this love you need rest because your just getting worse and I don't want you to push yourself past your limit." Seph said in a worried tone.
"…ok hikari… Kadaj has already paid… so no need to ask for money…we just give him the sword…tell him thank you for your business and then head on our way…" Cloud stated in pants trying to catch his breath as well as sweating up a storm.
"You just rest I'll take care of the rest." Seph stated once more to his hogosha.
"Ok…hikari…" Cloud said before closing his eyes to sleep.
Seph waited by his hogosha for Kadaj to show up and soon he heard the sound of bike engines coming towards them. The people that pulled up all had white hair like him and something about them sent alarms ringing in his head but he ignored it. The three got off their bikes and headed towards Seph and Cloud; Seph stood up and greeted them.
"One of you must be Kadaj I presume?" Seph asked politely
"Yes I'm Kadaj and these are my brothers Yazoo and Loz." Kadaj motioned to his brother's while introducing them, "and you must be Clouds assistant."
"You could say that I'm sorry but my boss is not feeling well and is resting now so ill deal with your questions and the transaction that will be taking place." Seph said in a business like tone.
"May I check the merchandise?"
Seph took out the sword from the case that it was in and then handed Kadaj letting him look at the sword. Kadaj looked over the sword and at the craftsmanship of the sword and the detail that was put into the sheath.
"The sword is magnificent and the craftsmanship is excellent."
"Thank you I will pass on your compliments on to my boss when he is feeling better."
"That won't be necessary because you won't be around"
Kadaj snapped his fingers and Yazoo went behind Seph and Loz captured Cloud. Seph took out his sword and charged at Loz to get him away from Cloud but Yazoo blocked his attack and Kadaj came at him from behind. Seph blocked as much of the attacks as much as possible but still sustaining wounds but he could not land a single strike on any of the two of the brothers and Seph could not attack Loz or he would put Cloud in danger. Then everything seemed to slowdown as Sephs world became hazy with the loss of blood and the exhaustion from the battle and as a last resort Seph released his wing and a boost of energy flooded Seph.
"Well Well Well lookie here brothers another experiment Dr. Hojo will be pleased to know that one of his projects survived all this time to bad Hojo told us to kill anyone who got in our way."
Kadaj and his brothers spread their wings there black ominous wings. Seph knew that there wasn't much hope to go by but he was going to die trying to save Cloud. All of a sudden both Kadaj and Yazoo attacked they battled at close range until Yazoo mortally wounded Sephiroth at the same time Kadaj stabbed him with the sword Cloud had made. Seph collapsed under his own weight bleeding as a pool of blood formed under his body.
"It's about time you went down but I have to thank you that's the best workout I have had in a long time. Come on Yazoo Loz we can't keep Dr. Hojo waiting he wants his precious experiment."
As they started to walk off too their bikes with Cloud thrown over one of the bikes Seph tried his dammedest to go after them but barely kneel before he collapsed and all he could do was watch as they drove off with Cloud. And all Seph could do was scream out his Hogoshas name as he blacked out Cloud being the last person he saw. When all seemed lost someone or rather something walked toward the wounded
Sephiroth and so was being carried off to somewhere unknown.
*The End* To be continued in Distant Memories: Rescue & Unexpected Things