Five days. That was how long it's been since I've seen Sephiroth. He's holed himself up in the Shinra Mansion, and refuses to come out. I tried asking if I could come in once, but I got no response. I decided that maybe it's best he have some space, even from me. It took me a long time to cope with the details of my birth. I know exactly how it feels. Your own mind becomes a play thing for your darkest nightmares. What if i'm unnatural? What if I'll never be able to fit in with society? What if I'm a monster? The last was always the worst. I'm sure that's what he's wondering right now. Wondering, or believing. I hope he doesn't truly believe that's what he is. Sephiroth could never be a monster. He's intimidating and cold at times, but he's not a monster. Monster's don't feel guilt for the things they've done, but he regretted killing Elys, he regretted hurting me. For years, that guilt hung over his head like a dark cloud, keeping him from forming a closer relationship to me than just some bodyguard.
He got over it though, and he can get over this. I just wish he'd let me help him. I can't fight his fears for him, but I can be there, the same way Elys was for me. He doesn't have to be alone. I've been staying at the Inn with the Zack and the others ever since. Zack's been acting weird, but that's to be expected. I know he wants to ask what I meant at the reactor though, when I asked Sephiroth if he thought I was an abomination. As hard as Zack may try, he's not fooling me into thinking he's an idiot. I'm a master at that game, and he doesn't have nearly as much experience as I do at it.
I'm going to tell him today. Everything. I have a feeling, that Zack only wants to help. He was a loyal friend to Angeal, and he seems to be loyal to Seph as well. If that's true, then I trust him enough with my secret. Besides, it's not like I have much of a choice. If we're going to help Seph, we need to be on the same page. After I talk to Zack, I think I'm going to go and talk to Sephiroth again. It's been four days since I tried, maybe he'd more willing to talk to me, or at least listen. I just need to tell him that it doesn't matter where he came from. He'll always be Sephiroth, the one who taught me how to fight, despite what Shinra ordered, who protected me and got me lifestream and I shared all my secrets to. He's still the same person I love, and his roots will never change that.
I slammed the diary shut, sighing against it. It was nearly lunch now, and I'd told Zack to meet me for Lunch at the Inn's little cafe. It wasn't exactly private, but it would be fine. Afterall, I still look different from my normal appearance. Besides, I had much more pressing issues than anyone overhearing. I could deal with that later. I stood from my chair and stretched, and turned towards my suitcase. I didn't bring too many things, but it wasn't as if I needed that much. I pulled out a loose pink crop top and a pair of light wash jeans, pulling them on. Because of my upbringing, I still had a love of fancy clothing, but I didn't bring any of that on this trip. In fact, I'd ditched most of it back in Mideel. I could always buy (or steal) more.
I pulled on a pair of brown flats and ran a brush through my hair. I placed my diary in my bag and pulled it over my arm and headed downstairs. Zack was already waiting in the cafe when I got down there. He looked fidgety and nervous. I sighed once more and took a seat opposite him. He barely looked up at me, only staring at the coffee in front of him.
"Any good?" I asked. He looked up, clearly startled. I raised an eyebrow and motioned towards the coffee.
"Oh...Yeah. It's pretty good." He answered simply. I hummed and nodded, motioning the singular waitress over.
"Can I have one of what he's having...and a glazed doughnut." I asked. She nodded, and hurried to make my coffee.
"So...what did you want to talk about?" He asked, meeting my gaze. I sighed.
"You know what I want to talk about." I told him simply. He looked away again.
"Yeah...I do." He admitted. "You want to talk about what I overheard you say in the reactor. And I want to know the truth." He finished. The waitress brought my coffee and doughnut over, asking Zack and myself if we wanted anything more. We both waved her off. I didn't really know how to tell Zack, so I just started from the beginning. I left nothing out, starting from when I figured out what the circumstances of my birth were, to when I met Sephiroth, and my time with Shinra. He listened intently, but he didn't interrupt me.
"So...you drink mako?" He asked. I shrugged.
"In a sense. The form of mako that was injected into your body was a concentrated shot of the stuff I drink. It's like...how people mix their liquor with other drinks, to use less of it and to dull it. I drink the stuff straight from the bottle." I said with a small, unsure laugh.
"Wow...so...didn't what Sephiroth said back there upset you? He did...kind of call you a monster." He said nervously. I shrugged, stirring my coffee and then taking a long drink of it. It was cold now, and not very good, but it calmed my nerves.
"It was a shock to hear, and yes, a bit upsetting. But I know that Sephiroth doesn't group me with those creatures, even if we are related. I think...the things he said were more rehearsed than his actual feelings. That's what everyone is told about such things. Too much mako and it turns you into a monster. I mean, that is what normally happens. I'm a rare case though." I answered.
"Why are you different?" He asked curiously. I shrugged again.
"I don't know. Perhaps the Goddess really did save me. Or curse me," I muttered the last bit bitterly.
"You would have died." He pointed out. "How could such a thing be a curse?" He asked.
"I live in a constant state of fear. The woman who originally found me, she wrote me a letter before she sent me to live with a friend of hers in Wutai. In that letter, she specified that I must always keep what I am a secret. She said that there are people in this world who would hurt me because of it. Elys confirmed it, and elaborated. She said that Shinra scientists conducted experiments on people, her son having been one of them. She said that they would take me away and I'd locked in a lab forever. I think she told me partly to scare me into never telling anyone, but we both know that what she said wasn't a lie."
He didn't say anything for the longest time. "Why are you telling me?" He asked.
"Because if there is one person I regret never telling my secret, it would be Angeal. He was a good friend, a loyal friend. You were a loyal friend to Angeal, and you seem to be a loyal friend to Sephiroth as well. I want you to understand, not just me but Sephiroth too. We are...connected. Our stories intertwine, now more than ever. It is fate that we met. I need to help him." I said desperately.
"What can I do?" He asked calmly, helpfully.
"Just be there too. You're his friend, right? But also...when this is over, he's not going back to Shinra." I told him quietly. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he looked around the cafe before focusing on me once more.
"How did you know he was thinking about leaving?" He asked quietly. I waved him off.
"I didn't. I mean that now, after what's happened, there's no way I'm letting him go back. I made him, four years ago because I was afraid for both of our sakes if he came with, but now, there's no options. I won't let him go back to that toxic place. We're both beings of the planet, we can go anywhere, live anywhere. I'm sure...the Goddess would be okay with that." I looked up at Zack, drawing out of my thoughts. "I'm going to talk to him tonight. Please, keep others away. As i'm sure you know, Sephiroth is a solitary person. He may not even want to talk to me." I stood up, placing several gil on the table.
It was already one in the afternoon when I headed out to the market. I would get some food to bring, since I'm sure he's starving himself. They've been saying that he doesn't sleep or eat. Better bring something to eat. I grabbed some fruits and some pastries, and a jug of wine.
The Nibelheim Shinra Mansion was scary huge. Wrought iron gates, and stone, it was something out of a fantasy novel. It was beautiful though, and it was nice to look around as I walked in. Even though I'd seen it before, it never stopped being beautiful. Maybe when we left this place we could find something so architecturally beautiful. There was so much of the world to see, I'm sure we could find something. Maybe with a lifestream nearby too, and a pond to go swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter. With lots of books to read. Sephiroth liked to read, so we should pick up as many books as we can while looking around for our place.
The bedroom just outside the secret passageway was cute and cozy. I want a room like this. Something comfortable, with a fireplace. Will we share? We'll probably share. As much as I'd love a mansion like this one, we'll probably have something small, with one bedroom. Besides, it's not as if it'd be awkward or uncomfortable. We've slept in the same bed before. Just...not at the same time.
I opened the secret passageway and walked on through, bag still clutched tightly over my shoulder. The hallway concrete and dark, giving off a creepy feel. I could see the light from the office at the end though, so it wasn't all that intimidating. He was reading, like I'd last seen him, pacing the floor of the office. His eyes weren't bloodshot, but they did have bags under them. His hands were shaky as well, showing he really was running on no sleep or food. He didn't even look up as I walked in, though I know he knows i'm here.
I set my bag down on the desk and start pulling out the fruits, pastries, and the jug of wine I'd been so careful with. I then turned to him, wondering how to go about this. He was running on no sleep-he's probably a little insane right now. He's probably also starving, though I'm sure he's capable of going a long while without food or water due to being SOLDIER. He needs to eat, have some water (or in this case wine) and sleep. Still, how do I approach the topic?
Why, the only way I know how. The forceful way. I started by just standing in front of him, to stop him from pacing. He just turned the other way. I sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Really?" I asked him, but I was only greeted by silence. I sighed again. Okay, fine. We'll do the super risky and forceful thing. I ripped the book from his hands. He paused, and then reached for the book. I tossed it to the other side of the room. He moved to go pick it up, but I grabbed his arm. "Stop." I ordered, and surprisingly, he did. He froze where he was, refusing to look at me.
"You've been holed up in this room for five days, Seph. You haven't slept, you don't eat or drink. Please, we can continue reading after you eat and sleep." I said softly. He moved to go for the book. I held onto him tighter. "Stop it!" I yelled again. "Stop this, you're scaring me! I'm worried about you. I don't know why you're pacing this room, reading book after book of who knows what, but please, take care of yourself." I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and locking them together. "You're going to waste away like this. Please, I care about you too much to let that happen. We can continue to read, I'll help you, we'll search for answers together. All I want is for you to eat and drink something, and get a little bit of rest. I'll even research while you sleep." I pulled away slowly, looking up at him. He was actually looking at me now, an unsure expression on his face. I grabbed his hand, and pulled him with me towards the table. I pointed to each item.
"I brought cherries, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, a jug of wine, and some creme puff pastries and mango tart. And don't say you don't want any of it, Four years doesn't mean I forgot your favorite foods. I would've brought some meat to, but they didn't have anything. I mean, they had chocobo meat but we both know I am not going near that stuff." I rambled. He didn't say anything but grabbed the jug of wine and started to take gulps of it. He set it back down and turned to the mango tarts, taking one and eating it quickly. He then turns towards the book, and moves to pick it up again. I stop him once more, clinging onto his arm. We both know he could throw me off like a ragdoll, but he doesn't.
"Sleep," I insisted. He moved to shake me off. I held on tighter. "Please," I whispered, my eyes beginning to well with tears. He stared at my eyes for a few moments, his hard gaze softening a little.
"If I sleep, will you leave?" He asked. I shook my head.
"No, but I will let you read without disturbance for several hours afterwards." He sighed and moved towards the chair. I frowned at the chair in disdain. That's not a good way to get some good rest. An idea occurred and I moved towards the exit, but stopped before I left the office. "I'm going to go get something. I'll be back in a second." I thought for a second, and then added "If you so much as touch that book while I'm gone I'll burn it." I said a little too cheerily. He made no moves to stand and I hurried back into the bedroom. I made quick work of pulling the mattress, along with all the pillows and blankets, off the bed. I began dragging it back down the creepy stone hallway. It was super heavy, and I found myself having to stop and catch my breath for a second a couple times. "I need to start up the cardio again." I muttered to myself, and then picked up the mattress and finished moving it into the office. He was still lying back in the chair, but he wasn't sleeping. He observed the mattress curiously, and then looked to me. I smiled at my handiwork, and then looked to him.
"Sleep." I ordered, pointing towards the bed. Surprisingly, he got up and moved towards the bed. I dropped down on the mattress next to him, pulling the covers up and over him. He still didn't say anything. He didn't close his eyes, but instead stared straight ahead, mind still clearly focused on the knowledge he's just attained. I sighed. "I could sing you a lullaby?" I offered. He shot me a look that clearly stated he thought I was being ridiculous. I huffed in annoyance. "Don't give me that look! You aren't even closing your eyes, you can't sleep if your eyes aren't closed!" I growled.
"I don't want to sleep." He all but growled back. I narrowed my eyes.
"Yes, I know, you want to read. And that's fine. We'll read after you wake up. What would make it easier for you to sleep? I can turn out the lights, I can sing…" I trailed off.
"Sing," He finally said, closing his eyes after several moments of hesitation. I cleared my throat, sat up straight, and immediately went to a lullaby.
you are the lighthouse
The seamark
The tempests created this tide
I'm pulled to the black silver ocean
where the current and the heavens collide
you are the brick
I am so unpredictable
led by the current away
your solid stage is so necessary
to save all those who stray
You are the navigator who
never could be
You were lost in the silver sea
I was the ship who was too proud to ever sink.
I sang the full song, even though I was near sure he was asleep by the first verse. I lied down beside him, giving a small, almost non verbal sigh of relief. It took some convincing and a bit of crying, but I got him to eat and sleep. I curled onto my side and closed my eyes as well. I could use a nap as well.
He was awake and reading when I woke up. I yawned and stretched, looking around the room in a moment of confusion before realizing where I was. I frowned when I saw he was already awake and grabbed my phone off the table and checked the time. It'd only been four hours and he was already up? Well, I guess I would take what I could get. I rubbed sleep from my eyes and stood up, stretching my limbs high above my head. He was nose deep in a different book from the last one, but I left him be for now and turned to the table and grabbed a peach. After eating the peach I checked to see if there was any wine left, but found the jug empty. I grabbed my wallet from my bag and the jug and moved towards the door.
"I'm going to go get more wine, and probably some water too. I'll be back soon. Try to eat more while I'm gone, you hardly ate earlier." I said and then hurried off out of the mansion and back into town for more wine and water. Luckily because it was later out, they had some meat other than gross chocobo meat. I bought each of us a slab of hot steak and then also grabbed a refill of the jug of wine and got two water bottles as well. I frowned at my wallet-I was running low. I'd have to do something quick to get money soon.
It took me about a half hour to get everything and I headed back to the mansion and the office room. I was surprised to find him reading, not the book from before, but my diary. I cleared my throat, and he dropped it like a hot lump of coal, but didn't turn around to face me. I laughed and moved towards him, handing him the plate of steak and setting the water bottles and wine jug on the desk.
"Having fun reading about my inner most thoughts?" I teased. He took a bite of the steak. I laughed again. "It's okay, I don't mind if it's you." I said honestly, hopping up on the desk and eating the steak. We ate in silence for the most part, but I knew I would have to bring up what I wanted to say at some point. "Seph," I said quietly, gaining his attention. I peeked over at him. "You're not a monster, you know." I murmured. He stopped eating. "And even if you were, I'd still care about you. It doesn't matter to me who or what your mother is. You're still you, and that's all that matters. So please, don't torture yourself." I said softly. I set down my plate and placed my hands on either side of his face, turning his head so he would look at me. Our eyes met, but I couldn't read what emotion was in his eyes. Strange. I sighed and leaned forward, placing my forehead against his. I closed my eyes. "If you're a monster, then so am I. We can be monsters together." I moved away a few seconds later and picked up my diary. "Read anything juicy?" I asked.
"I'm...sorry." He apologized. I waved it off.
"There's nothing in there I'd hide from you." I pointed out. He looked at me from the corner of his eye.
"You mentioned Jenova." He said. I nodded, turning the pages until I found my last entry in Mideel before I was forced to flee. I hummed, eyes scanning over the entry.
"Yes. Angeal found me several months back, and he explained everything to me. As I mentioned in my diary, he was afraid Genesis was going to come after me, which he did. He explained the Jenova project, but I forgot all about it until Genesis brought it up five nights ago. I never knew she was an ancient though, just that her cells were used to create Angeal and Genesis." I explained honestly.
"Are you...telling me the truth?" He asked. I blinked in surprise, cocking my head to the side as I looked at him bewilderment.
"I've never lied to you before, Seph. I promise, that's the truth."
"That night, by the fire. What did you see?" He asked. My look became even further troubled at the memory.
"I'm not sure. I mean, I know what I saw, but what it was...that's a mystery. I saw...Nibelheim burning, I saw you, and then I saw a woman. She looked...a lot like me, but older. Maybe like an older sister or mother, but she was still young. Our eyes were the same color. She told me that I could stop Nibelheim from burning. When I asked her how, well, you heard." I explained. We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I sighed. "I think it was all just some mirage. We'd been walking for so long, I was exhausted. My mind was playing tricks on me." I hoped.
He picked up the book from before off the desk and began reading again. With nothing better to do, I began to write in my diary, talking of today's events. When I was finished with that, I picked up a book and began to read. The book I picked up actually seemed to be a religious text, surprisingly. I didn't think there would be anything religious or spiritual in a scientist's office. It was about the Goddess, Minerva. Despite the book being fairly large, there wasn't much about the goddess herself. It also seemed to be a book that questioned both the religious and scientific inquiries about the woman. On one hand, scientists believed the 'goddess' Minerva to merely be an extremely powerful summon that can only be called directly from the lifestream. However on the other hand, it was believed that Minerva is Gaia itself, or it's physical and mental manifestation. The only thing the two opposing sides seemed to agree on was that the being known as Minerva was extremely powerful and that no one had seen her for centuries. The only artistic depiction they had of Minerva in the book was an old, cracking statue that was dark and difficult to see. I put the book back in its place, not all that interested in it.
I looked around for a while, but found nothing of interest. This place was probably a scientist's dream though. I did find a book that mentioned Jenova quite a bit though. I didn't understand a lot of it, because it was scientific, but I knew Sephiroth would. "Seph, I found something." I said and walked towards him, holding the book out to him. He tore his eyes away from the his current book, looking down at mine. "It mentions the name 'Jenova' quite a bit." I said, and he took it from my hands, eyes scanning over it. He handed me the other book and I set it down atop the desk, making sure to mark his page. He continued reading and I continued to skim through books after that, for several hours.
Only when I yawned did I check the time on my phone. It was four in the morning. My eyes widened in disbelief, shocked we'd managed to stay up so late looking through books. I yawned again, closing the book I was looking over and turned to Sephiroth. "Let's get some sleep, yeah? The books will be here when we wake up." I reminded him. I plucked the book from his hands and marked the page, setting it on the desk. Surprisingly, he didn't argue and followed me to the mattress without complaint. He lied down and I plopped down next to him. I wanted to fall asleep right away, but I stayed awake to make sure he went to sleep first. Only when I was sure he was sleeping did I curl up on my side, close my eyes, and fall asleep.
MMMMM
The Sixth day went by surprisingly well, in the beginning. I managed to get him to eat what could almost constitute as a full breakfast, and he even had lunch. He was awake by ten but that was fine, he got six hours. Again, I would take what I could get. He even ate dinner. It was after that, that things started to get bad again. Around three in the morning he refused to get some sleep. I took the book, threw it across the room, even yelled at him but he refused to even acknowledge me, and instead would grab the book and pick up reading again.
Eventually, at Nine A.M., I cracked and went to sleep, but swore he was in serious trouble if he wasn't asleep beside me when I woke up. It was one in the afternoon when I woke up. He wasn't beside me. I sat up and looked around the room, finding him standing beside a far left bookcase. "Did you get some sleep?" I asked him. No response. I ran a hand through my hair and stood up, stretching a little and then walking towards the desk. I picked up a pastry treat and walked towards him, hand outstretched. He didn't look up. I sighed in frustration.
"Eat the damn food." I growled in annoyance. No response. "Sephiroth," I tried again, trying to stop myself from yelling. I set the treat down on the bookshelf and turned to him again, arms crossed. "Did you get some sleep?" I continued. Still no answer. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Has someone glued your hand to that book?" I asked. No response to that either. I growled in agitation, and gripped his arm. He lashed out, his arm shoving into me so hard I flew back a few feet, hitting the floor harshly. I let out a short yelp,clutching at my back in pain. I whimpered at the pain, slowly getting to my feet.
When I saw he hadn't even realized what he'd done, I started to cry. Big, annoying tears crawled down my cheeks, a small sound stuck between a gasp and a sob escaped my throat. Rushes of sadness and anger that were coiled up inside of me suddenly released themselves, demanding that I paid them attention. I stomped back towards Sephiroth, grabbing the book in his hand and incinerating it. His eyes flashed murderously, but I didn't give him the chance to say or do anything. I slapped him.
"Snap out of it! Stop acting this way, you're scaring me!" I shouted as he didn't respond. Tears continued to slip down my cheeks but I refused to let them deter me. He was finally looking at me. I gripped his face in my hands when he turned to look away. "Stop that! Stop ignoring me, stop pretending I'm not here! I'm trying to help you! Please, let me help." I begged. His eyes met mine, and they softened from the glare they had been seconds ago. Another soft sob broke through my lips. "I love you, please, don't make me watch you destroy yourself." I whispered.
He leaned down, capturing my lips with his own. He moved his lips against mine, and after a moment of stunned paralysis, I kissed him back. His lips were soft and gentle as we moved in tandem. After what only felt like a few moments, he pulled away, meeting my dazed eyes with his own, searching for something. I smiled lightly, and then pulled his lips back down to mine.
Kissing him felt right. I knew, at that moment, there was no one in this world I loved more than him. Not Genesis and Angeal, not Cissnei, not even Elys. i wasn't lying when I told Zack that we were bonded, connected by fate. No matter how far either of us went, our bond never changed. I had a feeling that would never change.
What started out as soft kisses quickly turned heated and passionate. We moved towards the bed, and I fell back on it softly, with him hovering over moved from my lips, placing peppered kisses down my neck, one of his hands slowly crawling up my shirt. I clutched at the back of his neck, pulling him closer.
"I love you." I breathed.
MMMMMM
Waking up, I felt both sore and blissfully content. I blinked and smiled, rolling over to face him. Except, he wasn't there. I sat up abruptly, eyes searching frantically for him. He wasn't here. No searching the shelves or reading the books. No pacing. He was gone. I relaxed a little. Maybe he went to get something to eat? Maybe he's back to normal. It's seemed plausible enough to me, but I couldn't stop the nauseous feeling in my stomach. Something was wrong, very, very wrong.
I climbed off the bed. I hurriedly put on some clothes, rushing out of the door whilst pulling on my shoe. I raced out of the Shinra mansion, only to immediately start coughing. Smoke was everywhere and I could see flames covering the homes and buildings of Nibelheim.
"No." I whispered, taking off at a furious pace again. I hurried to the town, trying to help get anyone out of burning buildings, but I knew I had to find Sephiroth. I had a good idea of where he'd gone too. I hurried up the steps to the Nibelheim reactor, not stopping to take a break or breathe the entire way there. Panic and adrenaline coursed through me dangerously, power itching at my fingertips. "Please, please let it not have been him." I whispered to myself, hoping with everything inside this was just some terrible nightmare. I was going to wake up, and this was going to have been nothing more than a terrible, horrible dream.
After what felt like days of running, I made it to the reactor. I ran in, calling out for lied on the floor, Zack on the staircase. I wanted to help them, but Sephiroth was my main priority. "Get out of here!" I yelled, racing up the stairs and through the broken doorway. "No!" I shrieked, as Sephiroth's body was flung down the reactor. "No, no, no, no!" I screamed and turned to Cloud, ripping the sword from his body and grabbing his shoulders as he grunted in pain. "Why did you do that, why? I could've saved him! I was helping him! He could die!" I screamed. I started to pace. "I have to go after him." I muttered, turning towards the edge and jumping off of it. I seemed to fall forever, but it took only seconds for me to reach the lifestream. I hit the liquid painfully, crying out in pain. Despite that, my body was already absorbing the mako around me, healing any wounds I would've received from the fall. Sephiroth wouldn't be so lucky. I waded around in the dark, dimly lit pool frantically, calling out his name. The longer I couldn't find him, the harder I weeped.
"Please," I cried. "Please, Sephiroth, answer." I waded around, and then dove underneath the lifestream, searching as far down as I could before it was impossible to see anyway. I came back up to the surface, breathing heavily, but I still searched. My limbs ached and I couldn't stop crying for more than two seconds and he was nowhere to be seen. I stopped and stood in the center of the pool, wiping at my eyes and screaming.
A hand rested gently on my shoulder. I jumped. "Sephiroth!" I yelled, hope rushing through me, just to be crushed with confusion and uncertainty when I turned around.
"Y-you're that woman from before." I stuttered. She wiped at the tears on my face. "Who are you?" I asked.
"You know who I am." She said serenely. I shook my head in confusion, but the image of the stone statue of the Goddess Minerva suddenly popped into my head. I jerked back from her at the thought, watching her with wide eyes.
"Are you...Minerva?" I asked. She nodded. Hope raced through my veins once more and I reached out, gripping her by her shoulders. Strange, she had sentient form. "You can save him! Where is he? Did you protect him? Can I see him? Please!" I pleaded. Her gaze hardened and she shook her head, moving away from me.
"He is dead." She said, crushing everything inside of me. I shivered at the thought and shook my head.
"He's not." I said firmly, but my hands shook at my sides. "He's the strongest person on this planet, there's no way he's dead. A fall like that couldn't kill him, it didn't. I bet he'd already climbed out by the time I got down here and he's headed back upstairs. I should head back up, make sure he's doesn't hurt anybody. I'll explain the situation, I'll calm everyone down. It will be okay, I'll fix this, this can-"
"Stop." She ordered, and her voice was so powerful, I did. "He just burned down an entire village, Cerise."
"He didn't do that! I know he didn't, he would never-"
"He did!" She raised her voice again, silencing me. Her eyes were sharp and dangerous, warning me to keep quiet. "He burned that village down for no reason. The truth ruined his mind. You couldn't save him, and you can't fix this. He is gone, Cerise. Even if his body could've taken the fall, I would've made sure the lifestream stopped his body from ever resurfacing."
"...wh...why? Why would you do that? He was just hurting...I could've helped him!" I shouted at her, tears streaming down my cheeks once more, but they were hot and angry this time. I clenched my fists, and I wanted so badly to hit her. She placed her hands over my fists.
"You couldn't." She warns me sternly, but her eyes are softer now. "You tried so hard, and I'm sorry it had to end this way, but nothing you could have done would have fixed this. The best you could do was stop it for a while, which you did. Unfortunately, the madness was too deep. Cerise, he would have destroyed this world. Now, he can rest peacefully in the Lifestream. He will be offered eternal happiness here. Let him go." A sob broke through my throat and I collapsed against the wall, clawing at my own skin as if that could get rid of the pain in my chest.
"Please don't take him away." I sobbed. She placed her cold hand against my cheek.
"Sleep. The Lifestream will give you passage somewhere safe." I didn't want to sleep, but against my own will, my eyes started to drift closed, my body slowly sliding down against the wall. I managed to look at her cold, stern eyes one last time before oblivion took control.
MMMMMMM
Well, that is the final part of the Nibelheim Incident. Next chapter will be a present chapter, and I've already started on it! Hopefully It should be out before the end of November, but no promises. As I said the next chapter should be a present chapter, then it should be a past chapter. In the past chapters we will be jumping ahead several years. We will be in the beginnings of FF7, perhaps a bit earlier. Hope you enjoyed, please leave reviews!
