6. A Nocturnal Rainbow

This chapter is dedicated to Tishannia, Selunchen123, Kit Thespian, turtlerad17, Megami Murasaki, Unrealistic and Lady Nephenee Ranulf.

Sephiroth was dreaming.

In his dream he was lying on a bed. It was the room he shared with Aeris when they visited the ShinRa Tower.

He gazed curiously over at the door as it opened, and the flower girl entered with their daughter in her arms. A drowsy smile on his face. They were so beautiful. His family. His Aeris and Zefiris that was looking at him as well. So real. So close.

Sephiroth blinked.

Zefiris laughed.

That's when the silver haired man realised that he was in fact awake, not dreaming, and that this daughter was really there!

Aeris giggled softly as well when Sephiroth leaped up from the bed and was over by them in a heart beat. "Sephiroth, we got her back!"

Taking the child over into his arms, Sephiroth had to stare. Study. Make sure his child was unharmed. But the little girl merely laughed and called out for him. Yet, he had to stare at her while holding her on rigid arms for two heartbeats, and only then could he hug her close. It was true. It was no dream. She was really there!

Zefiris allowed the fierce hug and staring for a little while, then started squirming. "Daddy, did you bring my books?"

Shaking his head with a faint smile, Sephiroth released his grip a little and kept gazing at his silver haired daughter. "No, baby. I'm sorry. I forgot them." At least it seemed more like Zefiris had been on a summer camp for a few days, and not having been violently kidnapped by homicidal lunatics. "I've missed you so much!"

Aeris felt the pain in her heart as she realised that Sephiroth had suffered every ounce as much as she had. "Well, our girl is home now."

Zefiris glanced around with a semi-bored look on her face. "Yazoo is not coming?"

Her eyes flickered nervously, but Aeris managed a faint smile. "No... He had to go home." She reached out and caressed her daughter's hair. "Like you're home now."

"Can Unca Loz come play with me tomorrow?" Zefiris asked hopefully, glancing from her mother to her father.

Sephiroth sent Aeris a quizzical frown.

Clearing her throat, the flower girl tried to form her words delicately to both her daughter and Sephiroth. "No... I don't think so..." She drew a slow breath. "Uncle Loz is going to be a bit... busy now."

Zefiris pouted. "Did Yazoo say that? He doesn't like me. That's why!"

Aeris shook her head. "That's not true. Yazoo likes you very much, baby. It's just that..."

"Kadaj always makes them work all the time," Zefiris whispered. Her voice sounded almost sad. "Unca Loz is scared of him..." She then glanced directly into Sephiroth's eyes. "I'm not scared of Kadaj, Daddy. I think he's just lonely. Sometimes, he even cries in the night. When he thinks no one can hear him. But I did."

Sephiroth didn't reply, but slowly glanced over at Aeris. She only met his gaze with an anxious look. He shouldn't be surprised though. Aeris always felt sorry for everyone. Including someone like him. But that didn't change the fact that these creatures kidnapped his child.

Two hours later, Sephiroth was watching his daughter sleeping. He heard Aeris approaching, but didn't take his eyes of the child.

There was a moment of silence.

Finally Aeris spoke. "What are you going to do now...?"

Sephiroth frowned slightly. "Find them. And kill them."

Aeris flinched, swallowed hard and braced herself. "They brought her back."

Turning to face her, Sephiroth failed to hide a flicker of anger. "They, or was it Yazoo?"

"Does it matter?" Aeris asked softly, taking his hand. "We have her back. Now I don't want to risk losing you!"

The silver haired warrior hesitated, then shook his head. "If I don't do anything, they will be back. We both know that."

Aeris bit her lower lip, torn between her heart and her darker side. "Does everything always have to end in bloodshed?"

Sephiroth gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Maybe one day it won't..."

Shera absently placed the final cup on the shelve and closed the door. Finally.

Several of the neighbour ladies had more or less invited themselves to tea as they discovered that she was alone, as the Captain was on a mission, and Shera was helpless to stop the invasion. The last four hours had been about serving them tea and listening to them telling her that the Captain shouldn't leave a woman in her condition alone in such a dangerous time! Shera was dangerously close to fetching one of Cid's weapons and chasing them out when they'd suddenly decided to leave themselves!

Now she had spent ages cleaning up the mess.

It wasn't that she minded the work. After all, Shera was used to doing all the house work and found it kind of relaxing, but ever since she discovered her condition, if you will, things had been different.

He had been different.

When she told him, Shera had been prepared for the draining of colour in his face. She was anything but surprised when the cigarette fell from his lips. And was only mildly worried when he keeled over in a dead faint.

What she hadn't foreseen was the odd look in his eyes when he woke up. Or the estranged behavior that followed.

Shera had actually, foolishly enough, thought he'd be happy.

Once the news had settled for a while.

Well, they didn't get more settled than this, and the Captain couldn't have been further away from her.

He never once said that he didn't want the child, he just built this wall between them. That was almost worse.

Shera swallowed down the tears and slowly folded the dish towel.

Cid Highwind was more distant to her now than he'd ever been. He wouldn't even cuss at her. Who would have thought she'd miss that!

Lost in her gloomy thoughts, Shera failed to see the shadow outside the window.

She didn't hear the footsteps approaching.

And when the door slammed open, it was too late!

A figure raced towards her and hands reached out. Fingers locking around her arm.

Screaming, Shera grabbed a hold of the dish towel and started whipping it at her attacker. Instantly rewarded with a yelp and several curse words that would make a sailor blush. She just realised what she done when the towel was yanked away from her and blue eyes was glaring at her. "C-Captain?"

Cid stared flustered at her, his relief at finding her unharmed slightly tainted by anger at being attacked by his wife in his own frigging home! "Yeah, it's me, woman! What's wrong with you!"

"I didn't know... You just..." Shera stuttered, feeling her face turn crimson under a violent blush. "I'm s-sorry!"

Releasing her, Cid huffed annoyed. "You'd better be!" He corrected his unruly hair. "Some kinda welcome! Pfft! And here I thought you'd be glad to see me!"

Shera started, instantly taking hold of his shirt and staring wide eyed at him. "But I am! I am, Captain! Welcome home! Tea? You want tea? I'll just..." She released him to aim for the kettle and the sink when his hand locked around her arm again. Blinking puzzled, she glanced back at him.

Cid's eyes flickered nervously and there was a strange look in his eyes. "Hey, uhm, Shera... You're ok, right?"

Her confusion didn't lessen and she blinked again. "Ok...? I guess... What do you...?" Then she realised and gazed down at the floor. The baby. "Yes, Cid. I'm ok."

The pilot exhaled and seemed to relax a little before he puffed up again. "Well, woman, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags!"

Shera wondered if she was ever going to have a different expression than one of confusion on her face. "Pack my bags...?"

Nodding, Cid started dragging her towards their room. "Yeah, yer butt is coming with me to Midgar. This place ain't safe."

"Not safe?" Shera obediently followed him. "From what...?"

The blonde sighed and didn't meet her eyes. "I'll explain on the way. Just pack your damn bags, woman."

Rufus smiled faintly in his sleep.

The doctors had insisted on keeping him there for observation for a little while, and Tifa had stared him into agreeing. Truth be told, he felt a little unwell, so he only had to act a little reluctant before accepting to stay in the hospital wing. And he didn't regret it now as a female hand was trailing his features in the most affectionate caress. It wasn't until several seconds had passed that he realised those long nails could not belong to Tifa, and the familiar scent of alluring perfume.

Scarlet returned the faint smile when Rufus' hand lifted and took a gentle hold around her wrist and he murmured her name without opening his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner."

Rufus finally gazed at her and managed a faint shrug. "I'm just surprised that you came at all."

Slowly pulling free from his grip, Scarlet folded her hands awkwardly in her lap where she was sitting on a chair by his bed. "I wasn't sure myself." She turned her face away, pretending to look out the window. "How are you feeling, Sir?"

"Don't." Rufus frowned slightly as he pierced her with his blue gaze.

A second faint smile, Scarlet glanced at him again. "Your wife wouldn't approve of me calling you anything else."

Sighing, Rufus considered his words before he spoke. "Listen, Scarlet. We've been friends for years." Possibly a bit more than friends, they both knew it, but that had to change now that Tifa was there. "I don't want to lose your friendship. You're one of the most intelligent people here, Scarlet. I need you on my side."

The blonde woman nodded. "I know." She gave a true smile this time. "I got your back, Rufus. You know you can trust me on that."

Rufus nodded as well. Then his trademark smirk returned as he studied her. "Pants and a shirt, Scarlet? Are you closing down the show?"

Huffing, Scarlet studied a crimson nail. "Reeve. He doesn't like when other men stare." She rolled her eyes. "He's pretty stupid for a smart guy at times..."

A silent laugh and Rufus shrugged. "Never seen you willing to sacrifice anything for a man, Scarlet."

The blonde didn't reply, but they both knew what couldn't be said. That she would have given up everything for Rufus. Things like that had to be in the past now. Scarlet didn't care any less for Reeve, but it was hard to just stop after living for someone for so many years.

A brief silence was suddenly interrupted by a strange song.

A cheerful, really upbeat song with a chocobo wark in there somewhere.

It took Rufus several warks before he realised it was the phone Kadaj had left him. He quickly reached out and pressed the button to answer. "Yes?"

"Mr. President." Kadaj's voice. "I hope I didn't wake you up?"

Rufus mouthed the name to Scarlet, who frowned thoughtfully, before focusing on the phone again. "I'll survive. What do you want?"

"Ah, I hope you're still not sour for my little escape? It was fun being your guest, but I had things to do! Mother had a mission for me!"

Rolling his eyes, Rufus tried to keep the impatience out of his voice. "Thrilling, I'm sure. Once again, what do you want?"

Kadaj laughed. "Always straight to business. No fun! Alright, Mr. President, I'll tell you what I want. I want Big Brother to join our Reunion. But I fear you cannot help me with that. I will have to persuade him myself. What I want from you is... Hojo."

Rufus had been prepared for just about anything, but that. "What?"

"Mother says Hojo has returned from the Promised Land. That he is currently in the ShinRa Tower. Isn't that so?" Kadaj was sounding too smug now!

Struggling to regain his cool, Rufus drew a deep breath. "If you think I'm going to just hand Hojo over to you guys, you got to be even crazier than I thought!"

"Nownow, Mr. President," Kadaj tutted and laughed again. "I just want to talk to him. Think it over. I'll call again."

Rufus stared at the phone as the signal went dead. "Hojo...?"

"What?" Scarlet got up and stared confused at him. "He asked for Hojo?"

Nodding, Rufus slowly put the phone away. On their side, Hojo was a powerful ally that might give them their victory. But what if Jenova regained power over the scientist? Was Hojo strong enough to withstand the alien this time, where he'd failed the previous time? Was it worth the risk? Hojo could get them all killed... If he wanted to.

Hojo adjusted the microscope slightly. Interesting.

"Didn't you hear me?" Yuffie jumped eagerly behind him, ready to do cartwheels of joy. "Zefiris is back! Aeris and Sephiroth got their kid back!"

"I heard you," Hojo declared absently as he made a few notes. "I'm cheering on the inside. Really."

Deflating, Yuffie merely glared at the scientist. "Why don't I believe you...?"

Hojo fought away an irritated sigh. "I don't know. Because you're unable to use your brain enough to come up with a reason?" He was starting to miss the old days, when everyone feared and hated him. At least they left him alone then! These days, his lab was continuously run down with people wanting to chat. Hojo did not chat.

Yuffie instantly started punching at the air. "Hey! I sure am capable of kicking your ass!"

Turning to glare at her, Hojo removed his glasses to allow his odd eyes pierce her for real. "Before you manage to do so, I will have sedated you, stuffed you in a box and stored you in a plane set for a world journey!"

Paling, Yuffie let her arms sink. "Now you're just being plain mean." The thought of weeks, perhaps months, caught in a box on a plane made her stomach queazy already!

"I never stopped," Hojo muttered and turned back to his work. "If you people would be so kind as to remember that."

As the young ninja stomped out, she nearly walked straight into a certain red haired Turk, and they exchanged a few lines of insults, before said Turk turned to Hojo. "Hey, Rufus wants to talk to you."

Hojo sighed this time. "I heard about the child's return. I would prefer to be left alone with my work."

Reno crossed his arms and titled his head. "Ain't the reason why he wanna talk to you." He merely grinned at the quizzical look the scientist sent him. "Better go talk to him and find out, yo?"

Hojo glared.

Reno grinned.

Resigning, Hojo put his glasses back on and shuffled out of the room. "How he expects me to get any work done with all these interruptions is beyond me..."

"And here I thought you were some kinda genius," Reno declared with his constant smile. The look Hojo sent him was the first thing ever to make that smile tremble ever so lightly, but he was saved as they reached the elevator. "The President said it wouldn't take too long."

Hojo made a grumbling sound, but continued until he entered the hospital room where the young ShinRa was waiting for him. Pale, but focused, Rufus had a delicately young look on his face. Tifa, by his side, even more so. "Your lackey said you demanded my presence?"

Rufus chuckled slightly, lowering the reports Tifa had just brought to him and he noticed her tense beside him. "I see I caught you in one of your foul moods, Doc. But I'm afraid it can't be helped. I got a problem. You."

"Me?" For once, Hojo blinked confused. What he done now? "Care to illuminate your statement further?"

"When Kadaj escaped, he left a phone behind." Rufus motioned towards the small contraption on the nightstand. "I just spoke to him."

Hojo folded his hands behind his back. "Very fascinating indeed, but I fail to see how it connects with me."

Rufus' eyes narrowed slightly as they locked on the scientist. "He wants to talk to you."

Silence. Hojo's face became unreadable and he was frozen for several seconds. It was clearly unexpected for him as well.

"The question is what I'm going to do with that request," Rufus pressed on. "I have no reason to give Kadaj anything he asks of me."

"But it would give you a chance to gather more information, at worst," Hojo drawled absently. "So why do you hesitate?"

Rufus tilted his head. "Because it would place you within Jenova's reach." He saw the dark haired man trying to hide his flinch as the name was spoken. "She got to you once."

Hojo turned his face away, pretending not to see Rufus staring at him or the worried look on Tifa's face. Jenova. The best and the worst he'd ever experienced in his life. But he'd sworn to help his son! Besides, the connection had between him and Jenova had been broken after the last fight against AVALANCHE years ago.

So why did he feel a tingle of fear and excitement at the mere thought of going near the Crisis again...?

Hojo. Chaos remembered that name. It was a name connected with deep hatred and the need for blood. The demon gazed over at the silver haired boy staring at the horizon. "Why do you seek Hojo? He has little or no influence on Sephiroth."

Kadaj nodded. "True. But Mother wishes for him to join us." He smiled faintly. "If it hadn't been for Hojo, Mother would not have had Sephiroth."

"You do not need the ShinRa whelp's permission to get a hold of Hojo." Chaos' eyes flared dangerously. "We could merely fetch him. Cut our way though Midgar. Bathe in the blood of the innocent!"

The faint smile remained on Kadaj's face as he shook his head. "Even we cannot defeat both the ShinRa army and Big Brother, friend. We just have to have a little patience. Something tells me this is a golden opportunity that Rufus ShinRa would hate to miss out on. And even if he decides against it, Sephiroth will bring his father to us, just for a chance to fight me and my brothers. Either way, Hojo will soon be joining the party!"

Chaos growled. It could feel Vincent Valentine stir within and the magic of the true name was barely able to subdue the former Turk. Clearly, Chaos' host was not happy with the arrangement. "As long as you don't forget about our deal, little one."

Kadaj tensed slightly at the clear threat underneath the smooth statement. "Don't worry, demon. I will keep my word. You will never have to return to Valentine's gloomy mind again. Mother will award you for your help."

"Forgive me if I find your mere word a little unsatisfactory. Lies are also words." Chaos spread it's wings and leaped up into the air. Sending Kadaj a final look of unspoken threats, the demon left the young man. Probably off to kill something. It seemed like something a demon would do.

"He's not family," Loz declared, finally daring to approach his younger brother now that the scary creature was gone. "Why do we need his help, Kadaj?"

Shaking his head, Kadaj sighed. "Big Brother seems set on spilling blood. I'm hoping it will be his own or that demon's." He tried a smile. "You shouldn't worry so much, Loz. I said I would take care of everything, didn't I?"

The taller of the two hesitated before he managed to meet Kadaj's gaze. "You did. But you and Yazoo... I hate it when you fight!"

Kadaj sighed and glanced over at the last brother, busy tinkering on his motorcycle. "I know, Loz... I hate fighting with him too... But Mother told me that the traitors would try to trick Yazoo. I'm just trying to help him." It wasn't entirely true. Mother had whispered to Kadaj that Yazoo was weak. How he could be the downfall of them all. That Kadaj should just deal with Yazoo himself while the older brother was sleeping. Either that, or Yazoo would betray them. Kadaj had refused. He still refused. Even when Mother's words had come true; Yazoo had returned the child and betrayed them, Kadaj could not bring himself to harm his own brother.

Instead, Loz had been ordered to kill Yazoo if he ever betrayed them again.

Yazoo was a cold killer, but everyone had a weakness and his weakness was his brothers. As much as the two bickered, Yazoo and Loz were brothers.

Loz glanced over at Yazoo as well. "We'll both help him then! I know he wont do anything stupid again, Kadaj! I know he wont! He feels really sorry for what he did! You have to tell Mother that! She musn't be angry with him!" The thought of a Reunion without Yazoo was just wrong!

Kadaj nodded and managed a true smile this time. "I will tell her." He then placed a hand on his older brother's shoulder. "You shouldn't worry so much, Loz."

"I miss Zefy," Loz complained softly, poking the tip of his boot into the ground.

Wondering for a moment what he was talking about, Kadaj finally realised that it was a nickname for the child they'd borrowed. "I'm sure she misses you too, Loz. It was a silly mistake of Yazoo to take her away. It really made Mother angry too, you know."

Loz nodded, falling silent.

Kadaj's gaze rested on the last brother, wondering what the real reason was behind Yazoo's betrayal. It was always difficult to guess what Yazoo was thinking. He was always the quiet one. He would just watch, tilt his head, and kill if needed. Whatever was going on behind those reptile eyes, it was well hidden. Even Mother seemed worried now.

Yazoo was unpredictable.

It would get someone killed. The only question was who it would be...

Aeris was dreaming.

In her dream, Hojo was talking to a young man. Kadaj.

Frowning, she was watching them talk, unable to hear the actual words spoken. There was something wrong.

That's when she noticed the shadows moving. The shadows taking form.

Jenova.

And above them all, the demon known as Chaos was glaring directly at her.

The flower girl tried to scream. No sound. She tried to run. Impossible.

"Jenova seeks to possess Hojo again. She needs his help to regain control over Sephiroth."

Aeris forced herself to stop panicking as the voice spoke to her. It was a gentle voice. Familiar. She knew that voice.

The horrible nightmare slowly faded out and two people appeared in the darkness in front of her. A woman and a man. The woman she'd met once in the Lifestream, and the man she'd seen on video tapes once. Her parents.

Ifalna took a step towards her, continuing her effort to reach her daughter. "You're not safe, Aeris. You and the baby."

"You have to come to the Lost Capital," Gast explained softly, his eyes filled with the bitter-sweet pain of seeing his child again. "We can help you."

Aeris shook her head slowly, confusion tainted with strange suspicion. The Cetra had made it pretty clear that they wanted no more to do with her.

Gast smiled faintly. "I know you're confused, Aeris. But you have to trust us."

"Come to the Lost City and bring Zefiris," Ifalna pleaded. "Before it's too late."

Gazing over to where Kadaj and Hojo had vanished, Aeris frowned quizzically.

Gast glanced over as well. "There's nothing we can do for Hojo."

Nothing they could be bothered to do, Aeris thought bitterly. She clenched her jaw hard, feeling how much everything has changed since she was living in Midgar with the woman she'd loved enough to be her true mother. Now Aeris knew the Cetra was just as capable of using and exploiting her as Jenova did to her own minions. Why should she trust them?

"Because we're your parents, and we'd never do anything to harm you," Ifalna tried pleading again. "Please, daughter of mine. Trust me. We can help you."

Gast took Ifalna's hand in a gesture of comfort, but didn't take his eyes off Aeris. "Our time is up. We will be waiting at the Lost Capital, Aeris. The decision is yours."

Waking with a start, Aeris glanced around the room. She saw her daughter near by. Sephiroth asleep by her side.

Within ten minutes, she had managed to wake up the silver haired man and gathered everyone else at the ShinRa conference room, explaining her dream. Including that she wanted Hojo to join them to the Lost Capital, which the scientist was quick to fiercely refuse.

As the arguments hailed behind him, Cid found his attention straying and started looking at the pictures on the wall. It wasn't his decision to make, so why bother listening, right? His semi-bored state came to a screeching halt when he recognized someone on a picture. Recognising turned to laughed within seconds, and he yanked down the picture. "Hey, ya'll gonna love this! Take a look!" And so the pilot handed the picture over to Rufus. "That's who I think it is, yeah?"

A smile tugged at the corner of Rufus' lips. "Yes... That's Hojo, alright..." A very young Hojo scowling at the camera beside his co-workers at ShinRa Inc. "I think it's from when he just arrived here..." The young president was losing his battle against a laugh. "Look at that baby face!"

Hojo sputtered angrily as the picture was handed around, everyone snickering at the 16 year old Hojo, until Sephiroth himself started guffawing. Golden brown eyes narrowed. "So you think that's funny, do you?" Hojo's fury reached new heights as Sephiroth nodded gleefully, and he reached inside his coat to pull out something. A picture. "Let's see if this is as funny, Sephiroth..."

Aeris accepted the picture handed to her, and hummed softly before starting to giggle. Rufus leaned over and snuck a glance, before starting to snicker as well. Soon everyone was snickering and laughing at the new picture. This one obviously even more funny than teenage Hojo.

Finally Sephiroth slowly inched over with a curious frown, that soon turned to dread as he saw the picture of himself. As a child. In diapers. Happily grinning to the photographer. Reptile eyes glared murder. "You realise this means war, old man?"

Aeris reclaimed the picture from the hysterically laughing Yuffie, stroking a finger over the image. "Hojo, this was in the Jenova files, right? The ones you destroyed?"

Hojo refused to break the staring contest he was currently having with Sephiroth. "That's correct."

A brief smile, then Aeris glanced over at him. "Why didn't you destroy this? Why keep a picture of Sephiroth?"

Hojo started and glanced over at her, stuttering something. What was he supposed to say? That for one moment, he'd wanted something from Sephiroth's childhood. If he couldn't remember it all, then at least he could have a picture of his son. It was a father's right! But... Hojo couldn't say that. He didn't have any right. The scientist cleared his throat as he fought against a light blush crawling over his cheekbones .The flower girl had cornered him again. "I think we should just leave for the Lost City at once..."

Aeris giggled softly, not objecting when Hojo snatched the picture back, and pretended not to see the puzzled look on Sephiroth's face. "Alrighty then..."

AN; Once again, I just gotta thank you all for your patience. For the ones still continuing to read this, and to the ones leaving the comments that improves and inspires this story!