CH 5

Sephiroth opened the door to one of the guest rooms and glanced around. KiyoYume lay sleeping soundly. She looked totally innocent and vulnerable; all the fear and anguish was smoothed from her face; her body relaxed. She was on her side with one arm tucked under the pillow and her wings half spread behind her. Sephiroth crossed the room and shook the angel's shoulder gently. She opened her eyes, blinking the sleep away.

We are leaving... now.

"Doko ni ikimasu ka." Asked the angel sleepily as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Where are we going?

"Junon. Your things are already packed. Here... I've also ordered this for you." Sephiroth handed her a brown paper package. "It should be a great deal easier for you travel in this, even if you are seen you'll pose no threat." The general left.

KiyoYume was now wide awake. She untied the strings on the package and peeled back the brown paper. There, inside, was a pair of dark blue women's jeans, a white long sleeved shirt, and undergarments. The back of the shirt was completely open except for several straps that could be tied across the back. Traveling clothes. She put them on, straightened the sheets and then went to meet Sephiroth in the main room.

She glanced out the windows. It was still dark outside, but would not be for long. Sephiroth looked her over. Seemingly satisfied he opened the door and ushered her out into the hall way.

"We'll have to take the long way around the mountains because I could not find a ship that travels from this coast to Junon today. And it would take much longer to hop around from harbor to harbor, waiting for the right ship to come. So we'll be heading through the swamp and the Mythril Mines. It shouldn't take us more than a day. We'll stop at Kalm and pick up supplies." Sephiroth explained as he locked the door.

Sephiroth picked up two duffle bags and led her down through the apartment and out onto the streets. KiyoYume was noticeably jittery as they made their way through the city. She followed Sephiroth as close as possible. By the time they had reached the military garage Sephiroth knew something was wrong.

KiyoYume looked up at him nervously.

'We're being followed aren't we?'

Yes.

Sephiroth did not want to be forced to take on the Turks all at once. He needed an advantage, time to think. He needed to know how many of them there were, for starters, and then he would need to confront them on his terms, not theirs. Distance. Distance was the best advantage he could get at the moment.

Tie your hair back.

KiyoYume began to quickly twist her long white hair into a long braid and then up into a tight bun. No one noticed her standing quietly off to the side as Sephiroth checked out a motorcycle. No one questioned him either. Motorcycles traveled faster than cars anyway.

Sephiroth walked the bike out of the garage to where KiyoYume was waiting. Sephiroth took his gloves out of his coat pocket and put them on. He sat down on the bike. KiyoYume walked over, prepared to get on the back.

We have to travel fast; I don't want you open and exposed either.

Sephiroth reached over, picked up the angel and set her on the seat in front of him. It made her shiver to be so close to him. She could feel his strength, something far more savage and dangerous than she had first imagined.

Hold on, here, like this.

Sephiroth showed her how to hold onto the bike, where the handles met with the frame. Once she was situated Sephiroth leaned forward and took the handlebars, shielding her body from above with his. He started the motorcycle, revved the engine a few times, kicked up the kickstand and they left.

It was not long before they reached Kalm. The angel took a short rest and had a light breakfast while Sephiroth purchased a bit of food and some other things. After that, they were on the road again. It was late afternoon when the passed by the Chocobo farm. KiyoYume wished she could stop and see the great birds, which were fast becoming obsolete in the wake of new technology. She imagined her people had once been in the same situation before they crossed over into the ethereal. She wished the yellow birds well from a distance as Sephiroth drove past without a glance.

When they reached the swamp Sephiroth stopped. There was an odd quiet that reverberated inside KiyoYume's ears for several moments. Sephiroth got off the motorcycle and then helped KiyoYume off. He flexed his fingers and then checked the buckles on the Masamune. He took a few steps toward the marsh and turned around and looked back.

"I'm going to scout ahead. You stay here."

KiyoYume's eyes widened. "You can't leave me here alone! Please don't... I beg of you."

Sephiroth snorted. "I'm sure we've covered much more ground than they figured we could in one day. You'll be fine."

"No, please no..." She ran toward him, clinging to his coat.

"Let go." Sephiroth's voice was hard and icy. KiyoYume released her grip on the coat though she was loathe to do so. In the end, her fear of him had won. Had she forgotten so soon this man was a killer? That he felt nothing for her. The general turned his back and headed off into the swamp.

KiyoYume sat by the motorcycle for a long time and still Sephiroth did not come back. The setting sun had turned the sky a brilliant fiery red in the west as the cool purples of night were beginning to seep in from the east before she heard approaching footsteps. Relieved that Sephiroth was finally returning, she stood up and turned toward the sound.

Reno, not Sephiroth, smirked at her bewilderment.

"Well, well... look what we have here?"

KiyoYume, out of habit and fear, restored back to her native tongue, "Akuma wa doushi te kaerimasu ka?"

Reno laughed, "I haven't heard that language for some time... But honestly, why did I come back?" Reno drew a knife from somewhere behind his back, "I came to pay you back." His eyes hardened. "Sephiroth can't protect you forever!"

Reno lunged at the bewildered angel, slashing with his dagger. She leaned back and the tip of the blade slashed across her right cheek, leaving a thin trail of blood in its wake.

KiyoYume's hand flew to her cheek, "Hoka ni ikimasu!"

"Go away? Go away?! Not until you've suffered." Reno lunged again, this time striking at her neck. KiyoYume tried to back step this attack as well but Sephiroth's motorcycle stopped her and Reno's blade left a slash below her collar bones. KiyoYume blinked as the blade came away from her stained red.

Reno brought the blade to his mouth and smiled a wicked smile. KiyoYume's hand strayed from her cheek to her chest. She pressed her hand to the wound. Reno smirked and slowly, savoringly licked the blood off the dagger.

KiyoYume took off running toward the swamp. Reno swore and threw the blade down. He quickly pulled off his shirt and leapt into the air, spreading his decaying wings. He caught up to her with out any trouble. He swore at her as she evaded his reaching hands.

"It's all your damn fault! I swear to the gods I'll make you suffer!"

Suddenly there was the snap of wings and an enraged cry from behind her. KiyoYume looked back over her shoulder. Sephiroth appeared out of no where, launched himself up into the air, and caught Reno square in the chest. The two grappled in the air for a moment, but Sephiroth soon had the upper hand and forced Reno to the ground.

Reno landed on his back and tried to scrambled away. He shrieked as Sephiroth drove the blade through his right leg. Sephiroth placed one foot on Reno's neck, and pressed him down.

"I see Hojo has patched you up."

Reno snarled and tried to shove Sephiroth's foot aside. KiyoYume, who was some distance away, watched cautiously. Sephiroth pressed harder, the force behind the boot threatening to crush Reno's throat. "Tell me Reno, why is it that you came after her? Hadn't I made myself clear?"

Reno remained silent, though he glared at Sephiroth for all he was worth.

"It wasn't enough, was it Reno? You had to come back and finish her off, didn't you? Well, I'll tell you something Reno, she's not under Hojo's care anymore, she's under mine. And you will not concern yourself with my things!" Sephiroth jerked the Masamune straight up and out of Reno's leg. "Get out of my sight, crawl home and warn the others. If I even so much as catch a glimpse of one of you miserable creatures, I will make you suffer."

Sephiroth removed his booted foot from Reno's neck and took a step back. Reno spat as he got to his feet. He looked once more at KiyoYume, his eyes wild with rage and lust. "Itsuka, Mitsukai!" Sephiroth slashed out with the sword, catching Reno across the chest, leaving a shallow mark. "NOW!" Reno swore and turned. He ran, limping, and finally jumped into the air, heading off toward Midgar.

Sephiroth stood in silence and waited. KiyoYume timidly made her approach. He gestured back at the motorcycle, allowing KiyoYume to take the lead. He paused, looking around for anyone else that may have been hiding near by.

Together, in silence, they walked back toward the motorcycle. She wanted to say thank you, but after the realization came to her that he had left her for bait to draw out the pursuing Turk, she could not bring herself to even think the words. He'd left her for bait!

It was necessary. She felt him think, though there was no tone of apology. Simply explanation. Would you have agreed if I had told you? Would you have been convincing enough if you had? Sephiroth glanced down at her again, noting her wounds. Can you heal those?

KiyoYume shook her head, 'Angels cannot heal themselves.'

How unusual. He mused. Let me take a look.

KiyoYume stopped and let Sephiroth examine the cuts, shifting uncomfortably when he touched her. He rummaged through one of the bags on the motorcycle before producing a small glowing green orb. Heal Materia. Sephiroth held it close to the cut on her chest. The materia began to glow and a small tendril of light began to form. It reached toward the wound and KiyoYume felt the soft warmth of its spirit energy as the pain subsided. The blood vanished and her wound healed. Sephiroth repeated the process on her cheek.

Sephiroth inspected the places where the cuts had been, slowly running his index finger over the area, first below her collar bone, then her cheek. There was a strange tingling sensation, and KiyoYume, without thinking took hold of Sephiroth's hand and moved it away from her.

It was soft electricity between their hands. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at her in question and she blinked confusedly at the reaction. Sephiroth's black wing materialized.

"Gomen nasai..." KiyoYume said softly without letting go of his hand. The feeling was so familiar, and it brought back memories of the ethereal. Inside the feeling was comfort, closeness, safety. Her eyes pleaded with him.

Sephiroth used his other hand to take hold of her wrist. He slowly but firmly removed his hand from hers and then go of her wrist. She lowered her eyes and after a moment brought her hand close, closing her fingers as if to hold onto the feeling.

Sephiroth rustled his wing and turned away.

The next day they pulled into Junon around late morning. The city was somewhat more chaotic than usual. Sephiroth was not surprised. Hojo's orders would be widespread by now. He only hopped they weren't too late.

Sephiroth cautiously led KiyoYume through the crowded streets, keeping her close so no bumped into or trampled her. His eyes darted from face to face, searching for anyone that might be involved with Shinra.

A short middle aged man in a white lab coat rushed down the street. His hair was starting to thin and had the beginning of the salt and pepper look. His face displayed the lifetime of stress working with Shinra could cause, and his eyes looked around apprehensively. He would be damned if he got into a tangle with Sephiroth simply because Hojo wanted to make this difficult for his son.

The man paused and shifted the multiple briefcases he was carrying. He had to get out of Junon first. He had worked with Hojo on the Pure Dream project. Sephiroth would surely come after him first.

Sephiroth suddenly changed direction, moving fast through the crowd. KiyoYume struggled to keep up with him. She could feel the panic and confusion in the people around her as people struggled to get out of Sephiroth's way. Sephiroth drew his sword and advanced, eyes locked on the scientist.

The scientist caught a glimpse of Sephiroth from the corner of his eye. He swore and started to run.

People were now screaming and moving away from Sephiroth, singling him and the scientist out. KiyoYume was lost in the confusion; the waves of emotion overwhelming. People bumped into her, shoving her aside without a second thought. She soon became disoriented and completely turned around.

'Sephiroth!'

Sephiroth paused and cocked his head, listening. The cornered scientist took the opportunity to run. Sephiroth slashed out with his blade to stop the man, catching him across the chest.

KiyoYume gasped as a sharp pain flashed through her chest. Through the crowd she saw Sephiroth. Follow him; the source would surely be there. She moved toward him through the thinning crowd.

The streets were clearing out. KiyoYume approached Sephiroth and the body. There was a pool of blood forming beneath the scientist. KiyoYume stopped at its edge. The man lay on his back, breathing in quick shallow gasps. She could fee; his spirit energy straining to return to the planet.

"Heal him; I left the materia with the motorcycle."

"I.... can't..." KiyoYume was torched by the fact, and the strain showed in her voice.

"You're an angel; I need him alive, so heal him."

"I'm forsaken, I have no power, I can do nothing."

The blood touched her bare toes, still ebbing out from the body.

"Forsaken or not, you don't need the gods to work magic, so heal him." Sephiroth's tone was dangerous.

"I have no power!" She pleaded.

"You had it once, find it again."

"It was taken!"

Sephiroth held up his sword and leveled it, the point just under the angel's chin. He pressed hard enough to get her to look up and meet his narrowed eyes.

"Enough! You will do as I say. Heal him."

KiyoYume stepped into the buddle of blood, knelt down, and placed her hands over the wound. She clenched her teeth, trying to hold back her tears, and prayed with everything in her. The image of the gods came to mind. They were speaking, but she still could not hear them.

"Do not abandon me," she cried, "I'm here, I have faith, I'm listening."

The All-Father reached toward the angel, and placed a hand on her head.

"We have not forsaken you, daughter. There is no belief anymore; Hojo with his 'science' rules the material now. But we have always been with you. Stop Hojo, young KiyoYume, stop his madness and save the planet."

KiyoYume clung to the god and he embraced her.

"Go now daughter, we shall come to you again. You are needed..."

KiyoYume's eyes snapped open. She felt her life force gather inside her, focused on one thing. The familiar warmth of the spirit energy flowed through her. She breathed. "Naosu," she whispered. Heal.

The blood on the street began to fade, and the man's wound to close. Tendrils of spirit energy materialized and wrapped around him, restoring him.

Sephiroth watched as Hojo's influence vanished. The angel's pale skin became a healthy creamy color, the dullness in her hair melted away, replaced by a shimmering white. Her posture was bold, confident. Her soul was now purposeful, but at peace was a life innocent, and uncorrupt, with a soul desire to help. He could see a life which could see all good things in the world, and have compassion for evil.

KiyoYume stood, helping the man to his feet. The scientist looked into her forgiving blue eyes. He was dumbstruck. "An angel? ... KiyoYume... from the project... but why would you?"

Sephiroth wrapped his hand around the man's throat and shoved him against the nearest wall.

"So, you were involved in the project then?"

The scientist was still staring at KiyoYume, baffled. "Has the project succeeded then? Was Pure Dream a success?" KiyoYume returned his gaze, her soft blue eyes incisive. She shook her head. No. The scientist looked at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth tightened his grip, "You are going to tell me everything you know about her."