A/N: Hey, guys. Yay, new chapter! Please continue reading, as it makes me so happy and I like to hear the great reviews, as small or long as they are. Note of forewarning: I have never cared for bad reviews. I am okay with constructive criticism and tips like, "This person's a little out of character", or "It feels a little rushed; calm down a bit." but I won't accept reviews that simply criticize. If you only want to criticize, don't review and keep your petty comments to yourself, because I don't care for them. For those who actually enjoy my story, please enjoy and be all 'Wee!' because it makes me smile. Thanks again.

Weapons drawn, everyone rushed to the scene where Vincent lay on the ground, hanging only by a thread of life. Red rushed to his aid and cast Cure 3 on him. Rising to his knees, tears began to cascade down his face. Yuffie looked at him and touched his shoulder.

"Vin…?"

He shrugged her hand off.

"I…shot her…I…didn't mean to…oh, God…"

Cloud knelt down to grab his shoulder. Again, it was shrugged off.

"Where is she? Where is Loren?"

Vincent hesitated.

"He took her…I wanted to help her live…but he took her…"

Tifa furrowed her brows with worry.

"Who's 'he'?"

"Sephiroth."

Cid stamped his foot hard into the ground.

"Okay, start over. How the hell did this all come to happen in the first place?"

Vincent again hesitated.

"I had found her and I had followed her. But I soon noticed that another was following her; Sephiroth. He temporarily disappeared and I caught up to her here and we began to talk. But it escalated into an argument and then Sephiroth came in for the kill. I shot at him once, but that one time, he was in front of Loren and I couldn't see her, so she got a bullet to the stomach when he moved out of the way. I was so angry. Sephiroth and I yelled at each other and then he picked her up and summoned her items to him. He used an attack on me and then flew off with her. It's like he wants her for something. Information, a scheme, something…He probably wants information from her. Damn him…"

He knew he was half-lying to his friends, but he didn't want her to be exiled from the group again. Barret raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well why'd you argue, you foo'?"

Vincent kept his eyes downcast and didn't respond. Cloud closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Your protectiveness and suspicion drowned out any logic, right?"

Vincent startled and sighed. He gave a resigned nod.

"You were suspicious that something…may be going on between them?"

Vincent looked Cloud in the eyes now.

"How…?"

"It's natural to be suspicious. Especially with his power in her and the fact that he followed her."

Vincent nodded again.

"Now he's taken her away. He carried her in his arms, not over his shoulder. He almost treated her like glass. He's taken her away…to be alone with her. He's going to heal her…and I'm not. It's my fault she ended up like this…"

Cloud grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Now you listen to me. None of this is your fault. He moved out of the way. It's that bastard's fault, not yours."

Cait Sith looked away.

'If anything, it would be hers. She's the one that killed Vincent in the first place, which caused her to leave. Her modesty made her flee from him again, which caused him to follow her again. She knew Sephiroth was in front of her, so she should have moved, but didn't, which caused her to be shot. I still don't trust her…'

Yuffie inwardly glared.

'It's her fault Vinnie's like this. Something is always happening to her…she always causes him to be in pain. I still care for her, but then again I hate her for having Vinnie and making him suffer. Why couldn't I steal his heart first?'

Tifa stood by Cloud's side.

"Yeah. Sephiroth followed her and interfered. The fight could have ended peacefully between you two, but he got in the way and caused her to be shot. It's not your fault."

Knowing the truth, he answered somberly.

"I wish it wasn't…"

The others, confused at his statement, wanted to press on, but relented when they saw his expression, the face of true pain and sorrow.

Sephiroth flew to a cave far into the ocean, far from Vincent, far from where anyone could hurt her. It was bad enough that he had cut her, but for Vincent to blow a hole through her stomach was very bad, enough to make him want to go back and make sure Vincent stayed dead.

Sephiroth placed her on the floor of the cave and removed his gloves. He felt for a pulse but there was none. She was dead. Hissing in anger, he called upon the energy of life and attempted to revive her. He had not used it often in his days as General. After the first try failed, he quickly resorted to a Phoenix Down, but it didn't work. Now worried, he tried reviving her himself again. Focusing all his will and power on his energies, he released the spell upon her. Feeling the power of the spell, he still couldn't help but widen his eyes in slight surprise, as the energy that left his palm was not the usual sea green as his eyes, but a strange blue light. It was blindingly bright, but it had an odd softness to it. The light entered the wound in her stomach and it closed unusually fast. Her breathing returned, albeit it was soft and shallow. She was still unconscious, but she was alive. He would have to be extremely careful, help her around and find food. It wouldn't be too hard, but it would take more time than he desired. He didn't want to leave her alone.

He didn't know why he was feeling so protective, so nervous. He didn't know why he was so mad at Vincent for hurting Loren. His Loren. He froze in shock at his own thoughts. His Loren? What was he thinking, making her his own? This feeling was foreign to him. He heard a drawling snarl.

You CARE for this creature?

'Mother, what are you saying?'

This feeling coursing through you, I feel it as well. You care for this lowly life form.

'How could I care?'

This protectiveness, your fear for her safety, it is all because you care for her. She is simply a human. Why care for such a thing?

'Do not forget that I am a human as well. Am I a lowly life form as well?'

The voice of Jenova steadied itself, though it still struggled to retain any calmness.

No, my child. You are a special human, gifted with my blood. You are better than these humans.

'I was always different. Why could you not control my appearance? Why did I have to look so different from the rest of the children?'

Obviously, his childhood still affected him, even as an adult.

I could not find you, my child. We were separated and my power could not reach you.

Sephiroth sensed the lie for what it was, but he absorbed it as if it were nothing, though it hurt him for his mother to lie to him, her son.

'I understand, Mother. So…I care for her?'

Yes. Do not let it affect your decisions.

'It already has, Mother.'

How?

Her voice wavered.

'I am not going to kill her. After we finish our trap, I plan to keep her.'

And if she resists?

He paused.

'She will not.'

How can you be so sure?

'Because I imagine she cares for me as well.'

The voice paused.

Very well. Do not let her manipulate you.

Sephiroth smiled.

'She will not be the one manipulating.'

The voice spoke no more. Loren stirred from her sleep. Once she opened her eyes, Sephiroth was once again his stoic self. She groaned in pain.

"My head…my stomach…it all hurts…I thought I had died…"

He looked at her. Annoyance crossed his features once.

"You did. Your act was foolish."

She paused and then looked at him with something resembling fear and embarrassment.

"I am sorry. I did not mean…"

She trailed off as she remembered all of the night's events. Sephiroth glanced at her then looked away again.

"Why…did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Kiss me."

She almost smiled as his eyes slightly dilated with the memory.

"What did you expect me to be intimate with? The floor?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"Well…do not do it again."

"You make it sound like you are afraid of it."

"…"

"Are you?"

"…I am not afraid. Never say that I am afraid."

"Understood. You just did not expect it to be with you."

"Right."

She laughed to herself.

"I…I will try…he he…to restrain myself… or should you be telling that to yourself?"

He glared at her menacingly. She bit her lip and averted her eyes.

"Okay, maybe not."

"Your death got to your head."

Loren immediately darkened. She closed her eyes.

"Do not…bring that up…that was quite painful…"

"That is why it is brought up. You must face the pain or it will be ever present."

Loren grimaced.

"I…do not know about that…"

"It is the truth."

"No. The pain will take care of itself."

"Not if you do not aid it."

"It will heal itself, I tell you!"

He grabbed her by the shoulders and squeezed hard enough to make her wince.

"Listen to what I tell you. I have dealt with pain all my life. I would know."

"In case you forgot, I have dealt with pain all of my life as well. I am not a stranger to pain."

"Just try it."

"I would rather go my own way."

He roared in anger.

"You are so stubborn!"

She stared at him.

"You barely figure that out now?"

He stared right back. He threatened to explode, but he stopped himself and turned away.

"You are a fool by running away from your pain."

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are. You should face it. Take it on headfirst. Only then will you get stronger."

"I have taken that method all my life. It is the only reason I have survived up until now. Why can I not take a break from that method and simply hide?"

He turned to her and looked her square in the eye. He thought to back when he was General, when so many looked up to him. Though he never showed it, he felt strong and felt proud that so many idolized him. None of that mattered now, but when he still worked for Shin-ra the one moment he enjoyed the most was the boost of morale he gave his soldiers before rushing into a battle. He looked up toward the ceiling.

"There will always be those who need your strength."

She looked at him earnestly.

"Always?"

He looked back down at her.

"Yes. No matter who you are, there will always be at least one person who needs your strength to help them through a situation, whether it is simple or extremely complex. They will be desirous of your strength, because you are an idol, a friend, family, a mate, or someone simply trying to survive. Even by trying to survive, there are those who will need that strength, so that they too may survive."

"You are quite knowledgeable. How would you know this?"

"I have fought many battles with many people. After a while, such things become simple to see, especially when one must use you for support."

He had never mentioned much about his fighting days when he was in the military, and it surprised her to a degree to hear it. Before she knew it, he was directly in front of her, kneeling so that they could see eye to eye.

"Deal with the pain. Become stronger. Do not quit like so many have done on this planet."

"Did they have a choice? It was either surrender to a more powerful force or be beaten into submission, or quite possibly killed."

"They had the strength to get rid of their oppressors, but disunity and fear kept them in their cage. They act like animals, desperately trying to get free, but always had the freedom to leave if they just took the initiative and fought their way out."

Loren frowned.

"Do you know how seriously out powered the people of this world are by their oppressors? With a simple blink of an eye, thousands could be dead. You, of all people, would know that."

Slowly, Sephiroth nodded.

"They have to wait for someone to do it for them."

"Like I said, do they have a choice?"

Sephiroth rose and took a step back.

"Deal with your pain. Do not run away from it."

Loren closed her eyes and slowly stood. The world around her still swayed, though. She would face her pain. She took a step forward. All of a sudden, the floor was rushing up to meet her, but she never felt the blow, and the ground receded from her face. Her eyes met Sephiroth's and laughed inside at the annoyance in his eyes. His voice was slightly angry.

"You have to be careful."

His gaze narrowed as she smiled at his anger. Her ears picked up a wonderful sound.

"I hear water."

"The ocean."

"I want to see it."

He hesitated.

"Put me down. Lead me there."

He gave in and led her by the arm. He led her to the water and she sighed at the sight of it. She tugged at his grip.

"Please…release me."

He cautiously let her go and she slowly ambled to the water. Upon her feet touching water, she proceeded to fall to her knees. He started for her, agitated upon her foolish choice that she chose to walk, well knowing her weak state, but stopped when he realized that she had fallen to her knees on purpose. She grabbed a fistful of wet sand and let it slip through her fingers. When he took a step toward her, he saw that she was smiling and crying at the same time.

"I remember…the first time I saw the ocean. I was five. I thought it was so beautiful. My cousin tried to kill me by drowning me in those same beautiful waters. And yet, I still found it beautiful. They all had a grudge against me for some reason. There was something wrong with me. I think I was the child of another man, not the man I thought to be my father. My father hated me, my mother hated me for that, and my cousin hated me for being the daughter of a rich family. I guess they had reason for abandoning me. I was a bastard child. Not a true bastard child, but one nonetheless."

He knelt next to her.

"If they left you, that is their loss. With your current strength, you could teach them quite a few lessons. You can show them what they tossed out like garbage."

She saw the strange comment for what it was. He was comforting and complimenting her. She smiled and gave him a warm hug. He didn't return it, but he didn't stiffen up as much as he had before. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. His eyes carried a strange light as he stared back at her. He edged toward her face. She remained still. He still continued to come closer, but she still didn't move. To finish the gap, she moved forward herself and they were brought together in a kiss. It was unlike anything either had ever experienced before. The warmth that they felt, the strange comfort they both felt as Sephiroth took her into his arms and she placed a battle-worn yet still somehow soft hand around his neck. It seemed like two opposites had met and had formed a perfect balance as black hair mixed with silver in a brief moment of respite from the troubles of the world. The balance was met again as vivid sea green eyes met steel gray, both slightly perplexed yet understanding. Both pairs of eyes closed as the two kissed once again. The two opposites, though exactly alike, were oblivious to the world around them, as the waves crashed around them and the wind tousled their hair.

The moment of balance was broken when Loren chuckled softly.

"What?"

"I just realized that I need new clothes."

He looked down at her garments. Indeed she needed new clothes. She had a huge hole in the stomach area of her shirt and blood covered most of her pants. He pondered what had just happened and debated whether he should have stopped himself or not. No, he had enjoyed it. He had no reason to regret what he did. He looked over at her when her head drooped. She smiled faintly.

"I…am a little…sleepy…"

He stood and offered her a hand. She took it gratefully and started walking by herself when she suddenly collapsed to the ground. He moved to her spot quickly and turned her to pick her up when he noticed that a bit of the violet markings that were on her body showed through the hole in her shirt. It was glowing. Eyebrows furrowing, he carried her inside the cave and laid her down.

"Can you hear me? What is happening to you right now?"

A feeble hand reached up for Sephiroth. He grabbed her wrist and put it back down.

"What is happening?"

She sent a telepathic message.

'Death is fighting someone. She…she is protecting me from someone. A woman…'

She paused for a second.

'It is your mother. I apologize if it seems deliberately accusatory, but I speak the truth. She is trying to reach inside my mind and possess me. She wants me to attack you so that you can kill me.'

After a few seconds, the marks flared and dimmed down. She took a shaky breath and flinched as if the process of the marks calming down was painful.

'I was lucky. Death won. I need…rest…No…Death needs its rest…'

"Alright."

With that, she either passed out or fell asleep quite quickly.

"Death must have exhausted her energies."

After scolding his mother with no response, he soon fell asleep sitting beside Loren. He was her guardian. He had assigned that as his own task now. When she was better, everything would move according to schedule. He would keep her though. That was the only change. The only change…he had to be careful. He couldn't harm the angel. He couldn't harm his angel…

A/N: Hey…if you no like mushies, just tell me. I will tone down a little, I promise. That is, if you want. I know; Seph acted a little strange. A little out of character, okay, maybe a lot, but people change when foreign feelings enter their systems. Hell, look how Loren changed. Then again, she's my character so I can do what I want to her. See, look! Loren appears with a giant waffle cone attached to her head.

L: (flares in anger): Hey, what is with the damn cone?

ES: evil mode: (points behind Loren)

L: (turns and sees a giant crazy six year old who is in need of sugar staring at her eagerly)

ES: (smiles)

S: What the? What is with the cone?

L: Not now, Sephiroth! I am trying not to be devoured, here!

ES: eviler mode: (smiles wider)

S: now covered in sugar is exposed to an army of ants (Smiles) Please. (Body ignites and all ants die).

ES: (narrows eyes)

S: covered in sugar once again and smells a strange smell What is that? ants appear again Heh. (ignites again, but explodes).

ES: TNT in your back and explosive gases in the air…ha ha ha. H-ha ha HA HA HA HA HA!

L: NO! Fiend Inferno!

ES: (Dismisses fire). Heh. Stop.

L: frozen …

ES: (Revives Seph and removes cone and psycho six year old). There. That wasn't so bad, right?

L and S: (eye twitch)

ES: Please review. (takes a breath)

L and S: SUPER INFERNO! (comet that destroys planets hits ES, engulfing her in flames and creating a small shockwave nova that blasts her to the floor)

ES: Damage taken: 159756452. Status: Incinerated. Request: Review.

…PROGRAM TERMINATED…/lol