"I will stop this tirade of mine and hand over the Meteor summon. The planet will be safe and no more innocent blood by my hands will be spilled. Life will remain as it is, quiet and peaceful and I will no longer threaten the existence of anything other than fiends."
Sephiroth's words pierced through Lunara as if she had been hit by a ton of bricks. He would give up everything he had been so set on, had died for, so easily? And for what? He had not named his terms as of yet and it seemed as if Cloud wasn't buying his word. If the skeptical gaze he kept on his old hero wasn't enough to portray that fact then his buster blade that was still held at the ready did. Her back was stiff as she watched the glaring match between the men and she was ready to take the plunge if Cloud decided to attack. The rest of Cloud's friends had undoubtedly seen the delay from above and were probably about to jump from Cid's ship at any moment.
"And what would you want in return," asked Cloud slowly, still unsure.
Sephiroth reached behind him and grasped Lunara's arm gently, pulling her to his side where she easily wrapped her arms around his waist while his one circled her shoulder in a protective manner. She looked up upon feeling his eyes on her and although his image was blurry, she knew his expression was soft, if not a little pained. His other hand came around her caress her cheek and she smiled at him. He didn't look away from her as he spoke to Cloud.
"I want freedom. I don't ever want to be bothered by you, your friends or Shinra ever again. I will not be held accountable for my actions and I will be left in peace," he finally said then turned to see Cloud's expression. The ex-guard still looked unsure and he said nothing for a while. Lunara tilted her head to watch Cloud's reaction and pleaded silently with him to agree. She couldn't speak on behalf of Sephiroth, but she knew that he would never go against his word, whether he was insane or not; his principles and sense of honor were still with him.
"I can't agree to something like that on my own," Cloud responded after a long pause. Sephiroth glowered at him, his expression dark and Lunara could feel her heart racing in her chest. If Cloud didn't agree to Sephiroth's terms then people would die, the planet would die or, even worse, Sephiroth himself would die. She didn't want to see either happen. She couldn't bear it.
Her arms tightened around Sephiroth's waist protectively and she felt his arm around her shoulders do the same. "Please, Cloud…" she begged in a whisper and the blonde's eyes were drawn to her. The distrust in them slowly faded to pity by just seeing the look of fear and helplessness in her blank stare. She didn't want to see the destruction of the planet just as much he did, but she didn't want the man she loved to die either, crazy or not.
Finally, Cloud sighed and lowered his sword, his eyes sad. "Fine, I agree," he said quietly, still unsure if it was the right decision. Lunara felt her heart lift then and had to stop the widest grin she could muster from coming onto her face. She had to keep a sense of calm in this situation. "But if you attack anyone the deal is off," he added at the end, his glare returning.
Sephiroth nodded slowly. "I have one more request, Cloud."
"What is it?" Cloud said slowly, unsure if he would like what Sephiroth wanted. The silver haired angel smiled slowly, his perfect teeth flashing in the dim glow of the sun that still struggled to peek through the clouds. Turning back to Lunara, he brushed his gloved hand over her cheek sending shivers down her spine.
"Lunara comes with me."
Lunara's heart stopped then. He wanted her to come with him? To be with him in exile? A whole new warmth coursed through her body and she wanted to take him right then and there. Maybe all those years he did love her just as much as she loved him. Maybe he had wanted to be by her side until the end, but was unable to with the corruption of Jenova. Lunara couldn't be happier; the man she loved was alive and well and was asking her in his own way to run away with him never to be bothered by any other. If it were possible, her love for him grew.
"Luna? Do you agree to this?" asked Cloud slowly.
Never looking away from Sephiroth she didn't hesitate to answer. "Of course," she said softly, a smile coming to her lips. Sephiroth smiled back and their lips met in a slow and sweet kiss that always made Lunara want to melt into a puddle at his feet. His lips were still soft; still perfect.
Nodding, Cloud looked away awkwardly before waving up at the airship that hovered above them. Practically seconds later, the ship was lowered and his friends dropped down onto the building where they stood, their weapons ready and aimed at Sephiroth who had since separated his lips from his lover's.
"It's alright, guys," said Cloud, gesturing with his hands for them to lower their weapons. "He won't attack us." His voice was still unsure, but he trusted in the fact that Sephiroth would keep to his word.
"Bullshit!" shouted Cid, his lance still raised and pointed at the ex-General.
"Yeah! How do we know he ain't gonna kill us in our sleep, huh?" added Barret.
"Because my word means everything. I never go back on a deal unless my terms are not met," growled Sephiroth, his eyes narrowed in a glare at the group. If any of them tried to attack he wouldn't hesitate to kill them.
"Exactly. We have to trust what he says," Cloud assured and after a few more meaningful glances, the men lowered their weapons with grumbles of annoyance.
Lunara knew that they wanted nothing more than to see Sephiroth's death, again, but as long as they stayed true to their word, Sephiroth would stay true to his. She had no doubt about that.
"What are you going to do, Luna?" Tifa suddenly asked, silent until this moment and still casting distrustful glances in the silver haired man's direction.
Lunara smiled. "I'm going with him," she replied.
"What? You can't be serious!" shouted Yuffie in astonishment. Apparently hers and Sephiroth's intimate hold didn't get through to her yet, but Lunara chuckled anyway.
"I am dead serious. Think of it as a way you know that his promises will be kept," she shrugged. Next to her, she felt Sephiroth shift slightly as if surprised at her words, but his face didn't show it. "Although I believe it is very unlikely that he should go against it, you still have my word that he won't."
After a long staring contest between the two lovers and AVALANCH it was time that they went their separate ways. Sephiroth had given the meteor summon materia to Vincent who had nodded and walked away then moved to stand away from the group as Lunara said her farewells to Cloud and Tifa. The bartender hugged her tightly as if afraid to let go, sad that she would most likely never see Lunara again. Cloud had shaken her hand with a nod after Tifa's tears were shed.
"What will you do about the remnants?" Lunara asked after they released hands.
"We will hunt them down. They probably still want the planet destroyed," he replied and Lunara nodded in agreement.
"I will let Sephiroth know. They are a part of him so he should expect to feel some pain I'm guessing."
"Luna, you do know that Kadaj is still inside him right?" Tifa cut in slowly.
"Yes, but technically speaking, Kadaj was a part of Sephiroth. His return most likely canceled him out and so he has no effect. Sephiroth being the dominant one makes him the one in control. So, in essence, Kadaj doesn't exist anymore," Lunara said with a shrug.
"I guess that makes sense," mumbled the younger woman.
Lunara smiled and nodded to her again. "Tell Marlene that I said goodbye."
"I will," she responded, nodding her head back before Lunara turned to go back over to Sephiroth who affectionately wrapped his arms around her and placed a tender kiss on her lips.
"You said your farewells?" he asked. She nodded and turned slightly in his arms to wave at the group. They waved back, some a little more reluctant than others causing her to chuckle softly.
Just then, the clouds broke and rain poured down from them. Blinking, Lunara looked up at the still light clouds. The others looked around in confusion as well, but Cloud seemed to be listening to something, his lips moving in quiet mumbles. Beside her, even Sephiroth looked around, his brows furrowed.
"This is not normal rain," he said slowly causing Lunara to look up at him. Her lover looked around even as the AVALANCH group proceeded to run back to Cid's ship for cover from the rain. Only Cloud, Lunara and Sephiroth remained on the building, still confused.
Suddenly the bang of a gun went off and Cloud stumbled forward causing the lovers' attention to snap to him. The blonde fell to his knees in pain, grasping his chest by his left shoulder and gasping. Behind him were the remaining two silver haired men and one had a gun trained on Cloud before it fell to the ground. They seemed to be fading into glowing green particles that flew into the air towards the clouds and getting weaker. Instantly, Sephiroth forced Lunara behind him in protection and Cloud stood angrily and turned towards the two.
"We'll go together," choked out the one with long hair as he stumbled slightly. Next to him, was the big muscular one with short spiked hair and he stumbled as well.
"Together… we'll play," he groaned. Then they raised their arms where different orbs of materia could be seen glowing in their forearms. Lunara gasped softly as they began to glow brighter, the materia combining dangerously. Glaring, Cloud raced towards them with a battle cry and Sephiroth turned and covered his lover's body with his own to protect her from the inevitable blast.
It came all too soon and the explosion knocked them to the ground, Sephiroth's body still covering hers. Lunara hoped desperately that Cloud was alright, but it was unlikely when he had been that close to the blast. When the rocks stopped flying and the dust settled, Lunara looked passed Sephiroth in hopes of finding Cloud.
She spotted her friend face down on the concrete of the building, his sword a few feet away and the remnants nowhere in sight. Sephiroth shifted on top of her and lifted himself on his hands to look down at her, worry creasing his brow. He reached up to gently brush a cut on her cheek that a stray rock had sliced.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling low in his chest.
"I'm fine. I can't say the same for Cloud though," she replied and they both moved to stand. As soon as she was on her feet, Lunara raced towards Cloud and knelt at his side. She rolled him over before placing two fingers on his neck to check for a pulse as his eyes were closed and he didn't seem to be breathing. When she felt no pulse, she began to panic and tears sprung to her eyes again.
Take him to the Church…
Lunara looked around, startled, and hardly noticed the rain splashing on her face. Sephiroth came up behind her and didn't say a word or move any closer to his once enemy. Ignoring the feminine voice she had heard she desperately turned back to her friend and began slapping his face repeatedly and shaking his shoulders.
"Wake up, Cloud. Dammit, wake up!" she cried, her voice slightly choked with emotion. Behind her, Sephiroth placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and she reached up to grasp it when Cloud still made no movement.
Take him to the church and wait… He will come back…
Whether or not she was hallucinating that voice, Lunara had to get him to that church, she decided. Just as she heard Cid's airship coming closer again and AVALANCH dropping back on the roof, she stood. Some of them, Tifa especially, were shouting to Cloud in worry and when they reached them, Lunara felt Sephiroth's hands rub her arms soothingly as she gazed down at her friend who lay dead in front of her.
"Cloud!" Tifa cried in worry and fell to his side, beginning to shake him.
"It's no use, Tifa… He's gone…" Lunara said quietly, resting a hand on the other woman's shoulder. "But take him to the church."
"The church? Why the church?" she asked, sniffling.
"I heard a voice. She told me that if we take Cloud back to the church, he'll come back," Lunara replied, her grip on Tifa's shoulder tightening. "Tifa, we have to get him to that church."
The woman nodded and without hesitation, her and her friends gathered Cloud up and got him aboard the ship with Sephiroth and Lunara's word that they would meet them at the church. As soon as the ship took off, Lunara turned in Sephiroth's arms and buried her face into his chest. His hold around her tightened and he rested his chin on the top of her head as she wept softly.
"We should probably get to the church now," said Sephiroth quietly after some moments where he just held her. Lunara nodded wordlessly and hugged him tighter as he spread his one black wing and took flight. In was only a matter of a few short minutes until they reached the dilapidated building and touched down gently.
Sephiroth curled in his wing and it vanished into nothing, leaving the impression that it had never been there and they proceeded where the others had gone inside. Lunara was surprised to see that the bed of flowers that had once been in the middle of the broken floor was now a pool of glistening water, which Vincent and Barret were placing Cloud gently in. When they released him, he didn't sink like he should have and they all watched as he just floated there with still no breath or pulse.
As they approached the group, a few members still cast Sephiroth distrustful glances, but said nothing as they watched Cloud in apprehension. Tifa left after a while to get the kids with Barret as the rest stayed, making short quiet conversations or just watching Cloud float. Two hours passed and people were beginning to come to the church with children that still had the Stigma and Sephiroth and Lunara were forced to leave in case anyone recognized him.
When everyone was inside, Lunara refused to leave completely and stayed outside the doors to watch as children that had already been cured by the rain that had passed waded into the pool to circle Cloud. She waited with bated breath as they rested their small hands on him and though she could hardly see what was going on, she still witnessed Cloud's eyes opening and he stood, blinking in confusion. A rush of happiness flooded through her when she saw Cloud pick up the boy, Denzel, and put him in the water and poured it over his head to cure his Stigma.
Everyone inside cheered happily and many children jumped in the pool after hearing Denzel's cry of joy at being cured. Lunara wanted to be amidst them, laughing in happiness and say goodbye to Marlene herself, but she had to leave now with Sephiroth. They were going into exile together, never to be bothered again by anyone who could tear them apart.
She felt his lips graze her neck tenderly and her skin tingled. "Ready, Ara?" he whispered in her ear as she leaned back against him with a hum.
"More than I'll ever be," she answered and turned around to kiss him before his wing uncurled again to lift them in the air. She held onto him tightly as they flew, his arms around her securely, and she kissed his neck and jaw with a few nips occasionally. She heard him groan at one point and it only pushed her to do it more with a grin.
They touched down somewhere, but Lunara wasn't paying attention to where. She was too busy riling herself up, becoming too engrossed in her kisses. She did however notice her feet touch ground and moved her kissed to his already awaiting lips. He hungrily responded, grasping the back of her head and tilting it to the side so he could kiss her more passionately. She hardly even noticed him pushing her back into a building as she grasped the edges of his leather coat and held him to her.
She was aware, however, when the backs of her knees suddenly hit the edge of something and she fell back only to land on something soft pulling Sephiroth down with her. Their kisses didn't stop even as she shoved his shoulder plates off and onto the floor with a clang followed by his coat. She proceeded to sensually roam her hands over his exposed chest, undoing the buckles of the leather straps across it.
Groaning, he too started to remove her clothing as she moved her kisses to his neck and collar bone. Sephiroth eagerly pulled off their gloves and her jacket and threw them to the floor to join his own things then started to work furiously at her shirt which had buttons that refused to work properly. With a growl he ripped the fabric and tossed it to the floor then easily removed her bra and threw it in some unknown direction.
She pulled her lips away as she felt her bra leave her only to be replaced by his mouth with a moan. He licked, nipped and sucked at her hardened peaks as his hands explored her exposed body causing her to throw her head back with a gasp. It had been so long since Lunara felt him touch her and it was as if it was the first time they made love all over again.
"Sephiroth…" she moaned, her hands gripping the back of his head as he moved to her other breast and his hands moved down to pull at her tight dark jeans. His long silky hair tickled her, but also sent the most delectable sensations through her.
"Tell me, Ara," he said between kisses as he trailed his lips down her flat abdomen. "I want to hear you say it." His hands then quickly removed her boots and began to unzip her jeans. She bit her lip, not wanting to say that she loved him though having the terrible urge to shout it out. She still had doubts that he loved her back.
Then again, he gave up revenge to be with her. He gave up what he had sworn to do just to spend his exile with her. If that wasn't love she didn't know what was. Still, she didn't want to say it unless she could hear the same words come from him.
Removing her jeans, he then hooked his thumbs in the sides of her black underwear and placed his lips firmly on the steadily dampening area where her womanhood lay causing her to gasp again and her back to arch as a wave of pleasure shot through her. He tugged at the fabric with his teeth and licked up the length between her legs and she wanted to cry out in ecstasy, but she bit her lip harder.
"I need to hear you say it, Ara…" he whispered as he came back up to kiss her passionately. She returned the kiss eagerly and lifted a knee to run it along his side, feeling his own excitement growing underneath his leather pants. As he kissed her, he kicked off his boots and removed his pants and since he didn't wear underwear, his manhood was revealed, hard and aching.
His tip pressed familiarly against her folds that were still protected by the thin fabric of her underwear and she moaned loudly against his lips as he groaned. He grasped her underwear tightly and ripped them from her easily, allowing his tip to press gently against her hot center. The sensation caused Lunara's back to arch and she kissed him harder.
Not able to wait any longer, he pushed inside her slowly and they broke their kiss to gasp in pleasure. She lifted her legs to wrap around his waist and meet his slow sensual thrusts as she moaned again, her head rolling back with her eyes closed. Sephiroth brought his hand up to cup her cheek and he kissed her softly.
"Please, Ara. Say it."
"I love you, Sephiroth," she whispered and instantly felt his thrusts become faster and deeper. His lips attacked her ear with small nips that caused her to moan even louder as he grunted and drove into her. With each thrust she let out a small gasp and felt the warmth in her belly growing as her hands gripped his strong shoulders. "Gaia, I love you!"
He groaned loudly as Sephiroth felt his own climax coming. It had been so long since he had her essence wrapped around him and as much as he wanted it to last longer, he knew he was about to release. Besides, now that they were together again, he could have her any time he wanted.
Biting down on her neck he heard as well as felt her climax and it drove him over the edge, sending him into the oblivion of ecstasy as he released inside her with a loud groan and jerking against her. When he was spent, he half collapsed on top of her, his elbows holding him up and kissed her, breathing heavily.
"I love you too, Ara," he whispered between kisses. Lunara wrapped her arms around him and kissed him harder as he fell to lay next to her, her one leg coming to circle his so that his member stayed rested in her core.
When they pulled away from the kiss Lunara finally had a chance to look around where they were. The room was dark, but she could tell there was years of dust lying around. Her nose picked up not only the scent of their love making, but rotting wood and she wrinkled her nose slightly in distaste.
"Where are we, anyway?" she asked him
"Nibelheim," he replied nuzzling her neck.
"Nibelheim?" she said startled and looked only briefly over the dusty old bed they lay on.
"Yes. I plan to go down to the library, pile the books and documents outside and burn them then make the basement into a sort of home for us," he whispered.
Smiling, Lunara gave her lover a kiss which he readily returned. "I love you," she sighed.
"Mmm, I love you too," he mumbled between kisses before beginning to slowly thrust into her again. Lunara grinned; she could definitely get used to his sex drive again.