Lost in the Shadows
Chapter 9 - Group Discussions
Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 and it's characters, settings or the like. These words, however, are mine.
The previous night's events were still fresh in Aerith's mind. The Turks were now a part of their group. She spared them a glance. Aerith didn't know if that could be considered a good or a bad thing.
All of Avalanche and the Turks were currently situated in the Sierra's meeting room, discussing the next best possible action to take. Aerith hadn't paid a speck of attention during the whole discussion. Her thoughts were elsewhere, and rightfully so, she thought.
The Planet's words rang clear in her mind. The words were so painful, but then, they would be to her. She couldn't stand the thought of such a thing!
A sudden pain in her head caused her flinch. A select few of her friends noticed and gave her a questioning look. She gave them a smile and shook her head, looking away.
The pain was increasing and the intervals between were becoming shorter. She asked the Planet for help but got no response until after the wave of pain left her but even then, nothing the Planet told her helped in any way.
By the time the discussion was over, the pain was nearing unbearable. Everyone stood up and started to walk off but not before Tifa rushed over to Aerith's side.
"Aerith, are you alright?" Tifa asked her, concern lacing her voice.
Everyone's eyes shifted toward her and Aerith noticed that some of the eyes widened when they saw her.
Was she that easy to read? Could they sense the fact that she was uncomfortable or was it something else? Hell, it could be Tifa's legendary sixth sense!
Tifa obviously saw the question in her eyes because she answered the thoughts running through her head.
"You're pale. Really pale." Tifa said.
Aerith smiled as relief flooded through her and she shook her head, standing up. She faced them as calmly as possible without showing any strain on her part.
"I'm fine! Don't worry about me." Aerith lied through her teeth.
Tifa gave her a sceptical look but left it alone, as did the others.
Aerith turned and took Sephiroth's arm, ignoring the males' glares, save Vincent and Cid and walked out of the room. She had led him to the top of the stairs before the pain hit her in a massive wave. She felt the room spin and lost her control slightly, but Sephiroth steadied her with his hand gripping her arm.
They continued to walk until they met the railing of the Sierra's deck. The new airship was truly incredible. While it was constructed somewhat in the same way as the Highwind, there were various new features to accomodate everyone as Avalanche obviously spentalot of time on the ship.
The cool fresh air seeped through both Aerith and Sephiroth's locks, kissing their cheeks and the thoughts had returned to her.
Aerith chose to speak after a few minutes of silence. How to tell him? The idea seemed so absurd to her! Nothing like such would happen... Would it?
"Sephiroth? Remember when we were in the life stream and our parents told us we were coming back?" Aerith asked.
Sephiroth gave her a nod and a quick glance.
"Well, the Planet told me something." She continued.
She noticed that she lost some of his interest. He hadprobably guessed what she had been told, though she knew it was far from what had really be exchanged.
"It's not what you think was said, by the way." Aerith said, slightly annoyed that she could lose his interest that fast.
Sephiroth gave her a look, indicating that he was listening.
"It um... It told me that something was going to happen. Something bad." She said, shifting her feet. It was clear that she was uncomfortable due to where the conversation was leading.
Sephiroth looked over at her, interest clearly shown in his eyes.
"To one of us. One of the Turks, Avalanche, you or me..." Aerith trailed off.
The silence stretched between them for what seemed like forever, until Sephiroth spoke.
"Did it say who?" He asked.
"Well... Not exactly... I doubt it's going to be you, Tifa or Cloud, though, I could be wrong." Aerith stuttered.
He sent her a questioning glance and she stomped her foot.
"It was so vague! It doesn't know for sure! All it said was; Someone unexpected or someone familiar, whatever that means!" She said, exasperated, tears pricking at her eyes.
Sephiroth glanced in her direction. Someone unexpected or someone familiar? Familiar as in, familiar to the concept or... They've already died? He could see the slight fear in her eyes and knew what she was thinking.
"Do you think it could be talking about you?" He asked quietly.
She looked up at him and quickly shifted her eyes elsewhere.
"I don't know… I hate to say it but I hope not. I mean, I don't want someone else to die but… I already did my part! Months ago, I gave my life. I don't want to have to do it again…" Aerith whispered, moving her feet around.
"Is there any way to stop it from happening?" Sephiroth asked her.
"Well. It said that depending on our choices, our actions, the whole situation could drastically change." Aerith stated.
"So if we make one choice, someone will end up paying the price but if we choose something different, it could end up being someone completely different?"
"Yea..." Aerith trailed off. There was something else she'd wanted to ask him...
"Oh! Sephiroth, can I ask you a favour?" Aerith pleaded.
Sephiroth looked at her.
"Um, do you think you could come with me to the Ancient City and... Help me find Holy?" Aerith asked. "The Planet said I'd need it."
He looked at her for a second before looking away. 'For what? What could she possibly need it for now?'
"Yes." He relented.
"Eee! Thank you! But... When? We need to get it as soon as possible." She hurried to tell him.
Sephiroth smirked. She really hadn't been paying attention. Which brought back another question.
"Your friends said we'd be splitting up into three groups of three and two groups of two tomorrow, and we'll be heading off in different areas. I'm assuming that Valentine, Yuffie, you and I are going to be the pairs. We can go get it tomorrow." He said.
"Perfect!" Aerith chirped.
"Why did you flinch earlier? You know, when we were discussing the plan that you weren't listening to?" He asked, smirking slightly.
Aerith blushed slightly and laughed. Of course he would notice! Tifa, Vincent and himself were too perceptive for their own good.
"Whenever I don't do something when the Planet wants me to, my head starts to hurt. I don't know why, it just does. It was getting a little out of control. That's why I was so pale earlier, I guess." She relayed.
"Anyways, it's cold…" Aerith started.
She held her hand out to him and flashed him that beautiful smile of hers.
Sephiroth's felt an unusual sensation in his heart. This was happening a lot lately and only around her. Whether it be that she smiled or laughed, he always felt that little pinprick in his heart. Her smiles just illuminated her face in every possible way and he knew that the smile belonged on her face, above anything else.
Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. This was getting out of hand, these thoughts! He shook his head, hoping once again to erase them permanently. Though, he was sure that wouldn't be happening.
Sighing aloud, he took her small hand in his and let her lead him to their room. She would have taken his hand anyways had he not, right? He kept telling himself that that was the only reason he was holding her hand.
Who was he kidding?
Early in the morning, so early you were just beginning to hear the birds sing their melodies to the world, Avalanche could be found sitting in the Sierra's meeting room. Again. Between Reno slouched over almost half asleep, Elena, Barret and Cid complaining and cursing and a few other Avalanche members being too tired to keep their eyes open, the meeting wasn't going so well.
"Alright. I get you're tired, I do. We all are! But we need to know what's going on and we need to know now. So we need to get moving." Cloud stated.
A few looked up at him while the rest were lost to the world. Cloud groaned and scratched the back of his head but continued nonetheless.
"Okay. I've split you all into groups. Like I stated before, three groups of three and two groups of two. We will all go to our assigned destination and we'll be searching everywhere for anything, even the tiniest bit of Mako residue, whatever. We'll search for two weeks while keeping in close contact. Got that?" Cloud sighed when nobody acknowledged him.
"Cait Sith, come here please…" Cloud asked. Of course, Cait Sith was the only one taking in all this information due to the fact that he wasn't real. Artificial intelligence came in handy sometimes. Though it was quite out of character, it was early, too early, in the morning...
Cloud whispered something into Cait's ear. The sinister laugh coming from Cait afterwards could only mean one thing. Something bad was about to happen. Very bad.
The loudest yell through the tiny cat's microphone they'd ever heard, woke those up who were sleeping and angered those who were awake and slightly paying attention.
"I hate you, Cloud…" Yuffie grumped.
Cloud ignored her remark and the noises from the rest of Avalanche, clearly telling him that they agreed with the young kunoichi.
"Splitting up, two weeks search. The parties are…" Cloud started.
"Two weeks! You &( son of a &$, I ain't looking for $&$ two weeks!" Cid shouted, gaining a chorus of agreement from Barret, Reno and Elena.
Cloud sent them a glare which shut them up, but not before they relayed violent curses with such vehemence it made Cloud wince. Okay... Never wake them up this early again.
Cloud couldn't help but notice Aerith's rapt attention. Usually, she fiddled with her hair or giggled with one of the girls but not this time. No, she almost looked like she couldn't wait to get moving… Almost.
"The parties are, Vincent and Yuffie, Aerith and Sephiroth," Cloud shot the aforementioned a hateful glare, "Cait, Tifa and I, Cid, Nanaki and Barret and Reno, Rude and Elena."
Most occupants of the room groaned and grumbled, still grumpy from being awake so soon. The rest sighed and leant back against the wall, chair, whatever happened to be near them.
"Alright, let's mosey." Cloud said, standing.
Yuffie jumped up and pointed at Cloud.
"What the HELL? You wake us up so god damn early, tell us some mumbo jumbo, blow in our ears," Yuffie glanced at Cait, her voice reaching a level of hysteria. "AND YOU TELL ME I'M WITH VINNIE? HE PULLED A BLANKET OFF ME THE OTHER DAY, DIDN'T YOU KNOW? And to top it ALL off, you say MOSEY!" Yuffie raged.
She stomped over to the door, chest heaving. She sent him a malicious glare.
"You will pay one day. You will…" Yuffie said, walking out the door.
Everyone in the room sweat dropped.
"Er… Okay, this will never happen again…" Cloud said.