Entering the middle chamber, Sephiroth readied his powerful masamune sword, placing it guardedly in front of him, holding it steady within both hands. He entered slowly, cautiously, his alert green eyes taking in every detail around him, his senses honed, his muscles tensed, ready to react to any assault.
But he was disappointed to find that the room was empty. He had psyched himself up for a battle, where one was not to be found. His quarry had flown.
Lowering the blade, he strode purposely over to the vacant plinth, staring down at it. "Where are you, sister?" he whispered.
He turned and assessed the area he was in, quickly gauging the possible advantages or weaknesses the room could offer him. Apart from the plinth, the room was bare, with nothing for anyone to hide or take refuge behind. The only other feature were three doorways, each set into a separate wall within the chamber. Sephiroth headed towards the first one.
Prison cell.
An image flashed through Sephiroth's mind of what lay beyond the door, puzzling him for a moment, until he realized that it was not a memory of his that he had just seen, but one of Clouds.
"So, you're still there, maggot! I'd thought you'd been digested," he said, contemptuously.
You wish! I'm going to be around a while, yet.
Sephiroth laughed. "Well, we'll see about that, later. As for now…….." He turned and faced the second doorway.
Cupboard……weapons.
Another of Clouds memories flashed into his mind. Sephiroth smiled. Taking note of the information that Cloud had inadvertedly supplied, he discounted going through that doorway, turning his attention instead towards the last one. There was no response from Cloud.
Sephiroth smirked. "It might prove useful to have you around after all," he scoffed, making his way forward towards it.
The door was slightly open, and Sephiroth paused outside and listened. He could hear nothing, but his senses told him to be wary. Pressing his back up tight against the wall beside the doorway, he slipped his booted foot in at the bottom, and kicked the door inwards.
A bolt of electric blue energy shot out, missing Sephiroth and striking the wall opposite, where it fizzled and burned harmlessly.
Sephiroth chuckled to himself. "You've just given away your hiding place, fool!" he said, his voice full of satisfaction.
Confident and brazen, he stood unguarded in the open doorway, where a second bolt caught him unprepared. The blow was powerful enough to knock Sephiroth backwards several paces, but he remained on his feet. He looked down at his singed clothing, brushing off tiny burning embers with one hand.
His face became serious, his eyes narrowed and mean.
"My turn now," he said, as he marched through into the room beyond.