-Note: There is some mature content in this chapter! Some sex, actually. So if that isn't your thing, then, um... maybe skip the middle? Read just the beginning and the end? For everyone else, please enjoy!-
0011, Mountains, Nibel Area
"Though none of us knew it at the time, when Ciara left Midgar was the beginning of the end for all of us. I saw her again only once, towards the end of my life. I had to watch her die. As for Genesis, I do not know if he ever saw her again before he left Shin Ra. He never told me. We agreed to never speak of her after she fled by silent consent. It was partly to protect her, since Shin Ra remained on the look out for her. Periodically we would receive reports of strange energy spikes and go investigate, hoping we wouldn't find Ciara there. We had all loved her in our own way and the purity of her memory was something we cherished as the world became darker. As for Sephiroth... The time he spent with Ciara were probably the last bit of happiness he ever knew. From the end of 1998 to 0000 he split his time between Midgar and the mountains. Ciara stopped traveling around Gaia and stayed there, living her life in private, probably aware her destiny was coming for her and wanting a few more precious memories to hold with her. Sephiroth told no one of this arrangement; I only found out years later, accidentally. I thought she was still roaming the planet and sending Sephiroth letters. In the few private talks we had before the rise of darkness in Gaia, he mentioned that he planned to find a way to protect Ciara so she could live her life openly without fear of Shin Ra. With him, though he never put that into so many words. He just had dreams and thoughts and during this time he was at his most human. He smiled and laughed, as much as he ever could. But that didn't last. When he came back to Shin Ra at the beginning of 0000, a culmination of events rolled in, that would eventually stop him from ever making it back to the mountains to see her again. Events which led to their eventual destruction." Yuffie finished reading and put the paper down slowly.
The information being given to the party of people now gathered around a crackling fire was almost too much for them to take. In this section of memories they had gotten the proof of what they all thought to be true. "So... Ciara really was a Cetra, an Ancient just like her." Yuffie said at last, staring pensively into the flames. "But... I still don't understand! She has so much power. She healed a person without using a materia. She can see the future! She can even sense from people's auras if they are good or bad. So how, how did all the terrible things still happen?" A single tear tracked down her face. Vincent reached out and absently brushed it away before facing the rest of the group, apparently not noticing he had stunned the girl into silence.
"She had a fate she could not avoid, one she knew would take her life." He said, reaching up and brushing his thick hair back so his red eyes were visible in the firelight. "Ciara gave her the Holy Materia."
Tifa sighed. "So it appears. She apparently touched more lives than we know of. I mean, she met her and gave her the materia she would use to save us from Meteore. Then she met Zack of all people. Genesis, Angeal... Reeve, she knew Tseng too. Would he be able to clarify anything?" The black eyed woman spoke to the man in the blue uniform sitting across the fire from her. He shook his head and sighed.
"That man hardly ever opens his mouth. Plus, he keeps most of his thoughts to himself, and was asked to forget he ever saw her. He won't say anything. I am intrigued by this view of Sephiroth, though. It doesn't seem like him - though Lazard once told me that the man had a wicked sense of humor once you got to know him. I never got the chance to, being head of a different department. Whenever I spoke with him it was usually briefly at meetings where he was guarding the president." Reeve stroked his chin thoughtfully.
They were all silent a moment. In their minds was the image of the monster who had destroyed lives and killed one of their own. They could only envision that man without emotions, a man who slaughtered and manipulated hundreds and thousands of people all for his demented and twisted desire. This image Angeal's words were painting was almost impossible for them to understand. A man who cared for the safety and well being of another person enough to sacrifice himself would not do the atrocities that Sephiroth committed. Nor would a man who could joke around and make wise cracks stare without a single flicker of remorse over the bodies of murdered people. But yet, that was what was happening.
Beside Tifa, Cloud stirred. "I remember... when we were on the way to Nibelheim, it was the first time I ever actually met Sephiroth. He was concerned for me because of my motion sickness. And interested in me. He spoke kindly, though afterwards Zack told me that he had been acting strange since earlier that day." The blond spoke slowly, as if the memory was hard to capture. Even after all these years, his mako poisoning still affected his memories sometimes. He had his true self back and knew which memories belonged to him and which belonged to Zack, but still, having both did cause some problems. Not to mention he was susceptible to illnesses born in the lifestream in a way regular people were not, and sometimes able to see visions of things past in his mind. The people around him knew better than to question his words, though.
"Well, I guess. Ciara does say that Sephiroth's strong will is all that is keeping him from Jenova's control. Eventually something will happen which breaks his control, and then he becomes a puppet for that vile thing to use and control. I guess? Still, even with your words, it's hard to see that man as anything but a monster." Tifa said, flipping her hair back and then resting her head on Cloud's shoulder. The blonde didn't say anything more but put his arm around her trim waist, letting her lean on him.
The huge red beast laying with his head in Yuffie's lap spoke up, the gentlemanly tone a sharp contrast to his fangs and claws. "I have no trouble seeing Sephiroth as a kind person before Jenova. We know already that he was close friends with Angeal and Genesis, and even Zack. He had a capacity for that inside of him, was actually a rather decent person, until what Ciara called Corruption destroyed it. I find it interesting, though, that the girl fell in love with a man she hardly knew." He said, tilting his head so Yuffie's scratching fingers would hit on just the right spot.
Barrett nodded. "Yeah! I mean, they didn't know each other a'tall." He burst out, loud voice echoing around the silent night surrounding them. Vincent sighed and started shifting papers around, pulling out the next stack.
"That isn't entirely true. These two wrote each other all the time. They probably felt more comfortable with one another than to anyone else. Sephiroth especially more than likely felt that she would understand him. Why else harm himself to keep her secrets safe? Though it it is hard to understand or define love, Ciara did not deny her own heart despite the knowledge she carried of the future awaiting the planet. Despite the fate she knew was waiting for the man she loved." It was the most the man had spoken in a long while, but his words were important. He knew more about loving despite the circumstances than most of them. And... Yuffie reached out and grabbed his hand, feeling sorry for him. Ciara had wondered about how a woman could give up her child to be experimented upon, and condemned the mother. But, they all knew, Lucretia had suffered horribly for what she had done. The harsh words Ciara directed towards the unknown mother had probably wounded the silent man.
"If we are ever going to solve the mystery of these memories completely, we will need to finish reading through them. Angeal hints at Ciara's death, and the girl herself seems to be expecting it. How this affects Sephiroth is what I am interested in. From what we know of him, his behaviors didn't change until Nibelheim. Is that when this girl died? What if this narrative holds more answers to the terrible crime committed at that time?" Reeve looked over at Vincent. "You're up, Valentine." The man in read didn't say anything for a long time, but then picked up a new paper and opened his mouth.
Vincent read softly, but his voice was powerful and each word he spoke carried a heavy weight. "But I get ahead of myself. My time to go face my death is close, so forgive me if my mind wonders. I met Ciara here, in this isolated valley, while I was flying over Gaia on what Zack called my 'angel's wing' to try to figure out my own thoughts. I met her as she was dying. It was her wish for me to transcribe the truth of what actually happened, so that someday maybe the world would forgive Sephiroth his sins. To me she insisted that what was about to happen was not his fault, but hers. That she was the worst sinner, that her faults more numerous than any. It's hard to believe that so pure a woman could make such an unforgivable mistake, but Ciara insisted. With her dying before me, what choice did I have but to agree with her? And so, she told me what happened to her when she and Sephiroth went into the mountains together. And as she told it to me, I will relate it to you. Upon arriving in this valley in which we all now sit, the first thing Ciara did was give Sephiroth two rules. One, he wasn't to go anywhere near the cave behind the waterfall in the valley next to this one under any circumstances. And two..."
0000, Nibel Mountains, April
"Tell me again why I must stay up here." Sephiroth's dry voice broke into my meditations for the fifth time this morning. I growled and sat up, shaking dirt and grass out of my hair to glower at the man currently sitting on the rocks above me. He was in his armor again, having just gotten done with a mission I probably didn't want the details about this morning. On his way back to Midgar he'd stopped in to visit me here in my new home, which has swiftly become his habit.
Two years ago when Sephiroth had basically run away with me, we'd argued. My sanctuary was an enclosed valley high in the Nibel mountains that no one could get to. I was safe here, and fresh, pure lifestream flowed freely here. Natural life was abundant so I could live off the land without problem. Plus, all my letters from Sephiroth were here, all the gifts he'd given me over the years. It was my home, and also the place I was ready to make my grave, though I didn't tell him that. When he'd realized that I intended to stay here only long enough to recover and then go on about my vagabond ways, he'd flatly refused to let me. Which had gotten me angry and I'd demanded he give me a good enough reason to stay. Sephiroth had countered by asking me what kind of life I would have if I kept drifting from place to place, never truly a part of anything. Even he was a part of something, through his friendship with Angeal and Genesis. He had connections. I had none. And seeing me living this way was too painful for him. While I fumbled trying to find a weakness in the argument he made so I could win and get him gone (so I could die) he'd completely blown away all my objections.
"Stay here, in these mountains. Make a new home. Shin Ra won't find you here. I'll build you a house. When I'm finished with missions I'll visit so you'll never be lonely. You'll be safe." His words then had shocked me, not so much for their sentimentality, though that was surprising enough, but also because he'd recognized what was missing in my life more than I did. Sephiroth had realized that I needed a home. And he probably sensed that if he didn't tie me down, I would vanish from his life. I'd argued with him half-heartedly, claiming that I couldn't stay and live only for myself, but he'd won, eventually, by pointing out that I wasn't living just for me; I was living for him too.
"You'll have the freedom I never will, Ciara." Plus, when he pointed out how crazy my powers were getting, I knew I would never be able to live in civilization again. And I also didn't want to win the argument. I didn't want to be left alone. I didn't want to face my fate. So he'd won. He'd built me a house. Furnished it with his own money. Sephiroth had even tamed Choco in order to bring me anything I needed. That traitorous bird liked him more than me now.
Shaking my head, I drew my thoughts back to the present and sighed, sensing his eyes never flickering from my form. "Because you distract me while I'm trying to keep my mumbo jumbo from swirling outta control and turning this valley into a flower shop." I snapped, dusting the dirt from my clothes and standing, knowing that my meditations for the day had ended. This valley was filled with pure lifestream, and Sephiroth's corruption made it so he could not stay here long. He hadn't asked me any questions when I told him that he had to stay up on the rocks surrounding this place and out of the valley as much as possible when he came here; he just did it.
I wasn't afraid of my valley being tainted; the levels of lifestream here were so high as to be dangerous for anyone not a Cetra. I was worried that he would fall ill or worse if he were exposed to this much purity at once. When he'd built me the small wooden house sitting in the middle of the valley, I'd directed the lifestream away from the area so he could work. Seeing the power that was flowing through this place, and how hard I'd had to work to keep it from overwhelming him, had probably convinced the man that it was logical to follow my advice on this mountain. Though I have wondered why he never asked why I was able to handle living here in these high levels of lifestream without falling ill.
Sephiroth watched as I walked towards him slowly, not moving from his seated position. The preternatural stillness of his body was deceiving, because it was an act. In the space between a breath and a blink he could be swirling into action, every move mesmerizing even as it destroys. The past two years had seen his unnatural grace and beauty grow even more compelling, and the coldness that had begun to overtake him when I first went to Midgar was a complete facade now. He was remote and emotionless, even around me sometimes. Especially when he had just finished a mission. I could feel the darkness inside him growing with each passing day, deepening as he continued on his path to destruction. But still he remained himself. His humor and wit eventually broke through as he relaxed, becoming the boy I first met and the man I loved again.
"How do I distract you?" Sephiroth's deep, deep voice broke into my thoughts again. I rolled my eyes and linked my hand behind my back. Live in the moment, Ciara; it's all you have left anymore.
"Let's see... an insanely beautiful man is staring at a girl all alone on the mountains. Who wouldn't be distracted?" I shot back. I'd stopped hiding my feelings towards him after our argument two years ago, though the man is shockingly slow on the uptake. Only recently had he started to respond to my remarks like this... like now. The purely masculine curve of his lips now made my hormones stand up and howl.
"So you find me beautiful?"
"Distractingly so."
"What should this distraction do, then?" Oh those eyes of his... sharp and so powerful, but willing to play... I shivered a little, but pressed my fingers to my lips in mock thought, then grinned impishly at him. Play we would then.
"Catch me!" I shouted, turning and sprinting as fast as I could for the small cabin in the center of the valley. I'm pretty fast but... I squealed when his arm suddenly slid around my waist and pulled me off the ground, swooping me up in a one-armed fireman's carry with an ease which left me breathless. Not even slowing a stride, Sephiroth carried me, laughing and flailing, to the small porch before setting me down. I stepped out of his arms reluctantly and brushed my hair back. "Though I guess it isn't really fair. You're SOLDIER and I'm me." I hopped up on the railing and faced him as he took up his normal position leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"That just gives me an advantage." Sephiroth countered, watching me as I swung my feet a little. I hummed a response, content to just stare at him. He shifted his gaze out to the valley stretching out behind me. The green grass, the beautifully blue skies... this place was as close to paradise as either one of us was ever gonna get.
"Sephiroth, how long can you stay this time?" I finally asked. It was never very long. Because of what this place was, I couldn't let him stay for very long. And, his job was always a demanding mistress. Anti-Shin Ra activities were surging up with greater frequency and the planet was uneasy.
He didn't look back at me, just kept watching the sky. "Tonight only. I have to return to Midgar." Such soft words stabbed at my heart. I sighed and looked at my toes.
"Lately I haven't been sleeping. When I try, I am filled with terrible restless nightmares. I see... horrible, horrible things. So much sadness and pain, an endless river of it." I whispered. I knew what these visions were. Not nightmares or fears, but the truth that the planet was showing to me. Atrocities being committed now, the ones coming soon. All of the darkness that was building was leading to certain fates which now couldn't be changed. And most painful of all, was each night, in my slumber without rest, I awoke screaming to the image of Sephiroth surrounded by flames, his once clear eyes filled with vile evil and a mind not his own. I squeaked when gloved fingers tilted my chin up, shocked to find that Sephiroth had moved right in front of me, caging me in with his larger body, without me even noticing.
The touch burned, even through his gloves. Neither one of us mentioned it. Instead, he studied the dark smudges under my eyes, thumb swiping against the fragile purple skin. Reaching up, I grabbed his hand in both of mine and drew it away from my face, holding it tightly while I stared up at him. In his eyes, I read conflict. Emotions flickered there, such deep, tender feelings that I knew that their existence would never be put into words. He would never say what I saw in his eyes. A small smile curved my lips.
"Do something for me?" I asked, instead of remarking on what we both knew needed to be discussed.
"Anything."
"I want to see you fight." His eyes widened almost imperceptibly at my words. Deep in my heart, I've always held a fear of Sephiroth's weapon, because I see it drenched in the crimson blood of my mother and the villagers. So it has always made me uneasy, and though I tried to hide it, I know that he picked up on it. Which is why rarely will he even bring his weapon out around me. "Everything about you, Sephiroth. I... I need to see it all." I spoke quickly, almost saying what I had sworn never to say. I can't let him know, to verbalize how I feel. Because if I become any more precious to him than I am now, then when I go to meet my destiny, I might become the biggest weakness in the impenetrable will he has surrounding himself in which keeps him pure.
"Alright. But... who shall I fight?" He asked, pulling his hand free. I smiled at him and jumped off the rail, which meant I was standing almost plastered against him. I tilted my head back and met his gaze. The man never needed anything spelled out for him. He just nodded and stepped around me, heading for the open space of the valley center to give us space. And with a nearly seven foot blade we would need it. Once there, he lifted his left hand and in a shower of darkly corrupted mako, summoned his Masamune blade to his hand. I winced a little at the stab the corruption gave me, but walked out to him, my bare feet making no sound on the grass.
Mimicking him, I held out one hand and summoned my weapon to me. It appeared in a swirl of pure lifestream, a large staffed weapon taller than me. It was from the hilt and seamlessly slid into a very thin silver blade at one end, but around the blade were two golden 'wings' which could extend outward to form a type of bow in order to allow for what I consider to be a rather effectively destructive attack. These golden ornaments attached to the middle of the staff and were ornate in design, almost beautiful, but the outer edges were sharp, so they weren't just for show. I swung the spear around with a little twirl and smirked at the silver devil standing across from me.
"After you." He said, graciously giving me the first go. He didn't seemed surprised to see me with my weapon at all. Well, he was someone with a mythical weapon, too, so I guess it wasn't that extraordinary for him. Shrugging, I lifted the spear and darted forward with a yell.
Sephiroth is fast, I've always known that. But I've never realized how fast he is. He slipped away from my first attack with just a millisecond left to dodge and then swung at me, making me spin away and block with the shaft of the spear. Even though I could tell that the swing wasn't at full strength, I felt vibrations go through my entire body from the impact of his hit. I bared my teeth. Kiddy gloves are off, then. Setting my feet, I swung faster than the first time, following the attack with a spinning kick using the momentum from the swing to propel myself forward. Sephiroth leapt backwards and landed lightly, almost floating down.
"Is that all you've got?" He asked, tilting his head to the side with a small smile. I opened my mouth to tell him not to be cocky when I felt a breeze around my thighs. Looking down, I saw that my long skirt was now a mini-skirt, the extra fabric dangling from the end of Sephiroth's sword. When had he gotten a hit in?! With a flick of his wrist, he sent the white fabric soaring up into the air and out of sight. I gaped at him for a moment, then felt the heated flush of anticipation fill me. So that's the game he wanted to play...
"Not even close. Are you ready?" I snapped, darting forward before getting a response. Not that I needed one. This man is always ready.
We leapt around the clearing, trading ringing blows and the deadly ends of our weapons passing just inches from exposed skin. We whirled and jumped, trading blow after blow in the air, only to land and jump back into the fray. Each time we met, another scrap of my dress vanished. First one sleeve, then the other. The back was cut. The hem rose higher until I was flashing my bum at him each time I ducked under another attack. The smirk on his face spoke more than ever for his feelings. The bastard was enjoying this. I was too. My heart pounded and hot blood rushed through my body. Each time a new part of my body was revealed by his slowly cutting away my clothes, I felt a visceral thrill rush through me. I tried to return the favor, reaching for his coat edge or a strand of hair, but the man was just too fast, slipping away at the last second. At one point, he managed to lock my weapon with his, using his height to bear down on me. The hilt end of my staff dug into the ground by my feet as I strained against him, trying to break free. Conversely, our hair tangled together, silver mixing with honey gold, tying us together. Gritting my teeth, I glowered at him as he watched me, amusement plain in his eyes. Our faces were so close.
A sudden devious thought popped into my head and I smiled. Before Sephiroth had a chance to react, I stood on my toes and bit his chiseled jaw, making sure I lapped at the injured area lightly with my tongue before drawing away. It shocked both of us, but I managed to make him snap straight so I was able to slip away from the body lock he'd had me trapped in. Though I was flushed with embarrassment for my forward action, I let out a little hoot of victory, pumping my fist. He stared at me, eyes wide, as he brought his free hand up to touch the spot I'd bitten. His eyes shifted over to me, gleaming in consideration, the heat there touching me almost like a physical caress. Oooh... guess Sephiroth likes being challenged. Feeling my entire body becoming hypersensitive, I bared my teeth at him in mock aggression, eyes probably shining in invitation. We shouldn't, this was wrong, the reasons why I had to keep him at a distance were dancing through my mind, but I shoved them all back and lifted a hand, beckoning him to me.
With that deadly smirk growing on his face, he flipped the way he was holding his sword. Instead of holding it forward like a regular sword with the blade out in front, he held it underhanded, the blade behind his back over his shoulder. I could feel in the sudden chill against my skin that meant this was Sephiroth when he was being serious. But even as I felt a small trickle of fear, my exhilaration overwhelmed it. Standing there with the wind pulling his hair out around him, emanating a strong aura that drew me in despite the darkness in it, I found that I couldn't do anything to deny the feelings I had towards him. I love him. I want him. I blinked and he was gone, moving so fast I lost sight of him. But my senses are acute, and i could feel him angling around behind me, so I whirled with the spear.
The weapons clashed together with jarring force. Then he slid away and I felt a slight tug of fabric at my chest, then a release. Glancing down, I saw the swells of my breasts through the sudden gash that had appeared in my bodice. Now there were only little scraps of fabric clinging to my body, leaving me fighting mostly naked. I snarled. Who would have known that Sephiroth was a pervert? It's such a guy thing to fantasize about a woman fighting a man dressed only in her skin...
When I felt the air stir at my side, instead of lashing out with my spear I ducked and slid, reaching up and grabbing the belt used to hold his coat shut. With a twist of my fingers, I opened the latch and then rolled free, up to my feet, with the belt held in my finger triumphantly. Sephiroth was apparently not expecting that and he looked down at his coat, then over at me. I whirled the belt over my head like a lasso then dropped it, feeling the cool leather slide against my skin. Slowly a smile appeared on his face and he swung his sword, the weapon making a whistling noise as it cut through the air. I smiled sweetly and beckoned at him again, but my chest was heaving and I was drenched in sweat.
Compared to me, Sephiroth was breathing normally and had yet to start sweating. I knew, as did he, that even though I was a talented fighter, the outcome of this battle was already decided. But I have never been a person to simple give up. I wanted to see Sephiroth fight. I want to dance with him, with blades, the most intimate play this man could engage in. Everything about him, I want to know and be imprinted on. My desires no longer shocked me. I accepted two years ago that I am incredibly selfish and not worthy of the destiny I was given.
Sephiroth attacked me this time, jerking me back to the present. I swung the spear up again, blocking him as he slid from one attack to the next so smoothly that there was no opening for me to take. For a long moment, there was only the sudden press and then release of his body against mine as he fought left handed, using his right to ghost touches over my skin. Then my foot slipped on a patch of grass trampled smooth by someone's booted foot and I shrieked, starting to fall, but he caught me with his right hand, holding me half bent over like a dancer. I stared up at him, chest heaving and dress falling off my body, the tear having grown too large with all my moving and fighting. Slowly, he helped me straighten and lowered his arm, vanishing his sword. I let go of my spear and stretched my arms over my head, stretching. I could feel his eyes on me.
"I'm wiped but you're fresh as can be. Strongest man in Shin Ra, for certain." I told him, lowering my arms. "But that was amazing. Thank you for indulging me." Normally by now he would have at least made some sort of sound to let me know he was listening. Concerned, I turned back to face him. He was staring down at his hands, face hidden by his bangs. "Sephiroth?" I asked, stepping back towards him and reaching out with my hand.
Before I touched him, his hand snapped out and he grabbed my wrist, pulling me forward so I was pressed against his chest. Both his arms wrapped around me and he bent over me, silver hair falling like a curtain around me so all I could see, smell, feel... was him. I curled my hand against his chest, heart thudding. His heat surrounded me, a living desire I could feel against my skin.
Even without speaking, I knew his intent. His silence was the question. I should say no. I should push him away and kick him out of this valley. I should have cut him down while we were fighting. Should have should have should have... I shoved it all out of my mind. I pushed out my fate as a Cetra and his as Calamities Vessel. Right now, all I wanted to think about... all I wanted, was to be a woman. And he just wanted to be a man. Not SOLDIER 1st Class Sephiroth, not the man in black, not the hero, but just a man. I closed my eyes and leaned against him, wrapping my arms around his back. "If all it took to make you want me was a fight I should have punched you eight years ago, instead of wasting all these years, dancing around this." I whispered. He chuckled in his throat.
"Right. Ciara..." He tailed off and I felt his arms loosen, so I took a tiny half step back from him, reaching up to run my fingers along his jaw. So uncertain... and so strong. I smiled.
"There are many reasons why we shouldn't, why we can't, but... I don't care. I want to." I said, stepping back again and holding my hand out to him, palm up. "Sephiroth." This was it, I knew it. He was leaving tomorrow morning to go back to Midgar. I knew, in that damnable way I knew everything, that he would become wrapped up in the events happening there and not make it back to these mountains. And if I were to lie with him... if I allowed him to touch me, to invade me, to conquer me... My body is weak. I cannot handle any corruption. To embrace him was to embrace my own death. I smiled. "Will you, with me?" So be it then.
He took my hand in his, eyes cat-bright. Lacing my fingers through his, I turned and lead him back to the house, my heart pounding at what I was about to do. I sent up a silent warning to any ancestors floating around to keep their opinions to themselves and just leave me alone for now. Once inside, I closed the door behind me and then let go of his hand, walking to the simple bed I'd made under the window inside. The whole cabin was just two rooms, the large main space where I slept and ate, and the smaller room in the back the bathroom. When it was just me the space seemed open enough, but Sephiroth filled every inch of the cabin with his presence. I got onto my knees on the bed and opened the window so that sweet air flowed into the room.
As I lowered my hands I felt him come up behind me. His right hand grabbed my chin, tilting my head to the side so he could lower his head and trail his lips down the blood pounding in my neck. While he licked and bit me, his left hand ripped the tattered shreds of my dress off of my body, pulling the fabric away from my skin, leaving me only in my undergarments. A soft gasped escaped my lips when he suddenly bit down hard enough on the soft skin at the junction of my neck and shoulder, leaving a bruise sure as the dawn. I reached around and sank my fingers into his hair. He was dominant, I could tell. But that didn't mean I couldn't play.
While his gloved left hand spread heat memorizing the shape of my body, I traced his face blind. The shape of his jaw, so that the imprint of his face would be left behind on my fingertips. Though I couldn't see it, because he held my chin and forced my to face forward as he nuzzled through my hair to find the nap of my neck and claim it with a hard bite, I could feel it. The touch of his lips against my skin seared me. I could feel it, the burning collision of my purity against the corruption in him. And when his tongue slipped out to sooth the mark left on me, I hissed in pain. He stopped, hand falling from my jaw. I berated myself. I will not allow this stupid reaction to stop this from happening.
"Ciara?" Sephiroth's deep voice carried concern, but also heat. It was the first honest human emotion I had ever really heard in those cold tones before. Usually his natural arrogance and surety hid his feelings. But not today. I brushed his hand aside and turned, still on my knees, and grabbed his face with both hands. Leaning forward, I kissed him, brushing my lips against his then sliding my hands back until they were buried deep in his hair. I didn't really know what to do - I've never done this before. And I know neither has Sephiroth. He'd written to me once about how he was often teased by Genesis for never having been with a woman. 'Men often cannot handle looking me in the eyes when speaking, and women can hardly bear to be in the same room with me. Who, then, can I have to sleep with if the world is frightened of me?' His response had shut up Genesis, but he'd been disturbed by it and written me. And I'd told him that one day he would find the one woman in Gaia who would know who and what he was, and love him despite it all. 'And she'll just love you, with all she has. And for her, for you, there will be no others.' I guess even though I'd been unaware of my feelings then, I'd still been predicting how the future would go for both of us.
I drew back from the kiss, breathless, and started to push the coat and pauldrons from his shoulders. He lifted a hand and stepped away, taking the reinforced coat and armor off himself, folding it with a warrior's precision. Bared to the chest, he glanced up at me. I swallowed hard and reached around behind my back, undoing the hooks holding the undergarment closed and sliding it off so that nothing obstructed his view of my chest. I flushed bright red and looked away. I wasn't a large woman at all. I'd passed myself off as a boy in the past.
Sephiroth, however, sucked in a soft breath, hands freezing just above his belt as his eyes glued themselves to my chest. This man who was not disturbed facing down monsters and entire armies alone, was turned to stone seeing a woman's chest. Talk about a confidence boost. Swallowing hard, I reached out with shaking hands and tugged the gloves from his hands, dropping them to the floor. Then I held his wrists lightly and moved his arms out of the way. "Can I?" I whispered, face blooming into heat.
"...of course." He spoke softly, and I could feel the uncertainty in his voice. I tugged his belt free of his pants and dropped it, then started to open his pants when he caught my elbows and made me stand on my knees. I tilted my head at him. "Boots come off first. The pants are tucked into them." He told me. I looked down at the laced up shoes covering his legs to the knees and felt stupid for not realizing that myself. Sephiroth sat on the edge of the bed and bent over, starting to unlace his boots. I stared at his back, mesmerized by the sight.
His silver hair fell forward on either side of him, leaving the white expanse exposed. It was perfectly smooth and unblemished skin, taut over defined muscles. I didn't even know it was possible to have defined back muscles, but this guy did. His shoulders were actually broad, but he was so thin and tall that it didn't look like it until he was undressed. Now I could see the tapering of his chest down to his hips, a reverse triangle of muscle that was incredibly attractive. With him bent, his spine pressed against his skin, strong and defined. I couldn't resist. Steadying myself with a hand on his hip, I leaned forward and kissed one vertebrae.
Sephiroth's entire body jumped at the brief contact. I smiled against his skin and pressed my chest against his back, the heat coming off of his body making my breasts tingle, a heavy, heady feeling filling me. Slipping my arms around his front, I slid my hands over his shoulders and felt my palms down to his pectorals as I rested my head on his shoulder, nuzzling his ear. I felt like I needed to rub myself all over this man, leave my scent and feel imprinted on his entire body so that he couldn't get away from me. I grabbed the lobe of his ear with my teeth and tugged it lightly. A soft grunt escaped his throat, startling me. I let go and glanced at him, a little shocked to see a soft bridge of heat arching across his cheeks.
He finished unlacing his boots and tugged them off. He wasn't wearing socks, though how that could be comfortable I don't know. I let him stand. Keeping his back to me, Sephiroth hooked his hands in his black trousers and pulled them down. My eyes widened when I realized he didn't wear underwear either. The perfect, firm globes of his buttocks filled my vision as he bent and pulled the pants off, folding them and placing them atop his other clothes before facing me. I let my eyes drink him in.
Despite his beauty, no one would ever mistake Sephiroth for anything but a guy. He has sharply defines, wiry muscles in every inch of his body. His shoulders tapered down to a firm and narrow waist that had those ridges at his hips which drove me absolutely mad. His thighs were sturdy and strong, long like his legs. And between them... undeniable proof of his manliness. The length of his Masamune was not an attempt to compensate for a small package. If anything, it was a symbolic representation of how extraordinarily gifted he is. When he'd slept nude in his house, I hadn't looked, but now I let my eyes devour him.
I let out an admiring breath and forcibly dragged my eyes back up to his face. Sephiroth still looked uncertain and a little ashamed, so I opened my arms to him. I give him everything. Smirking a little, he put his knees next to mine and climbed over me in the bed, forcing me to lean back. His hand slid up my chest, between my breasts, and grabbed my chin, tilting it upward as his lips descended and devoured me.
This kiss was not shy. No, it was all heat and want. He licked the seam until I opened with a gasp and then his tongue charged into my mouth like he owned it, dancing with mine until he subdued it. Exploring, he tilted both our heads at different angles so he could lick and suck, bite and nip, drive me mad. I dug my hands into his hair, stroking the unfairly soft strands the way I have longed to most of my life. I arched my chest forward so I could rub my breasts against his heated chest. At first contact my nipples contracted into hard points, startling me. Okay, maybe I should have read up on this... My eyes widened. Wait a moment.
I grabbed a fistful of his perfect hair and yanked. Sephiroth pulled back reluctantly, a thin string of saliva connecting our mouths until distance made it break. He wiped it clean with a careless swipe of his thumb and raised an eyebrow at me.
"W-wait. I thought you were a virgin!" I said, trying to gather my scattered wits. If he can kiss like this, then that can't be true, can it? He smiled at me, a true smile, which heated me up and melted me.
"I am." Done answering me, Sephiroth ducked his head and latched onto my breast. I gasped out a strangled sound and clutched at his head, body going numb. From the pleasure or the pain of having him touch me, I wasn't sure. Gritting my teeth, I pushed at his shoulders.
"Can't be... these tricks... how...Sephiroth!" I choked out, managing to pull him away from my body. How had he gone from shy and uncertain to devouring me in such a short amount of time? I was flushed and sweaty, my entire body twitching and shivering as his skin slid against mine. Seeing how frazzled I was, Sephiroth pushed me over so I was laying on my back under him and stretched out over me, held up on his arms. His beautiful hair pooled on my chest and the bed beneath me as those cat green eyes stared into mine.
"Books I read. And a fair amount of imagination. Despite what people assume about me, I have mastrubated before. I was a teenage boy at one point." The words were totally unexpected, making me blink. Then I smiled and started laughing, reaching up and linking my hands behind his neck. He let me hang off him, easily able to handle it.
"The great and mighty Sephiroth jerked himself off? Oh man... so what was your material, Shin Ra Scientists, Female Swimsuit Edition?" I teased, lifting my legs to his flanks and stroking him with my feet. He looked away, a true blush fanning out across his face. I stared, stunned. Sephiroth... was blushing? An evil grin stretched my face and I rubbed my body against his harder. "Come on, no secrets between lovers." I teased, really wanting to know.
He blew his bangs out of his face and then met my gaze squarely again. "Eight years ago, after meeting you, the only 'material,' as you call it, that would work was imagining you." He said, flooring me. I gaped at him, unable to speak. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against my forehead before resting his against me. Tears built in my eyes and spilled out the corners. There it was. His confession without words, the entirety of what he felt for me. And yet what he has been dreaming about, imagining for eight long years... this would be the only time it would happen. The unfairness of it was a stone in my chest. Sephiroth leaned closer and took my tears onto his tongue, swallowing them. I clung to him tighter.
"Make me fly." It was choked out and I don't know if he understood or not, but tears flowing freely down my face, I stretched up against him and wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder as I cried. He wrapped his arms around me and stroked his hands through my hair. He always does this, to help me calm down. It is a simple thing, but it shows how deep his feelings run for me. Without a single word, without even asking, he knows exactly what I need at any given moment.
"I don't deserve you, Sephiroth." I whispered thickly, able to see the truth of that now. Out of the two of us here, in this valley, the one with the darkness inside is the most pure of heart and mind. I have manipulated and lied, deceived and misdirected, altered fates of those innocent. He has done none of this, just lived his life honestly despite the sin it piled onto him. I truly do not deserve someone as good as him.
I squeaked when warm hands slipped onto my shoulders and then slid down my arms to grab my hips, pulling me back up against a muscular, hard chest that I could probably spend hours exploring, given half a chance. I hadn't expected him to stop petting me, but now that I was paying attention, I guess I had calmed down. He is so attuned to me... I yelped again and flushed, partially from having cried, but mostly because his hands were currently cupping my breasts. More like kneading them, taking special care to play with my aureoles and nipples, before pinching them between his fingers. I unlatched my hands from his neck and covered his with my own, stilling them for my sanity. I cannot think when he touches me like this. This stupid warrior confuses the hell outta my rational thought process.
Sephiroth wasn't one to be deterred though. He pulled his hands free and captured my lips again, sliding his tongue in and once again stealing my ability to breath. My back arched when his hand dipped between my legs, the shock making me push my chest into his. I bit my lip, hard, to keep my mind focused.
"H-hey..." I whispered. Sephiroth's tongue lapped at my neck and he just hummed a noncommittal response, absorbed in what he was doing. He drew his mouth away as one of his sly fingers slid into my body. I couldn't help it; scared as I was by this new experience, I moaned. It felt... like nothing I had ever experienced before. I'm twenty-three years old and have been in love with this beautiful man for almost eight years of my life; I've touched myself before, imagined it was him, but this... not even close. Just one little finger pushing into me made my entire body tighten and strain for something. I don't know what.
"Do not talk, Ciara." He whispered. "Forget everything but me." Och, this guy! If I didn't love him so much I would have killed him years ago. I reached down and pulled his hand away from me. I wasn't ready for that just yet, I don't think. Just a brief caress down there had bubbles of light filling me from the inside out. I put my hands on his shoulder and lifted one of my legs, rubbing my calf against his flank. Two can play the aggressive game here. Besides, it looked like he was more than ready to play. My lover seemed to be the type to like dominance and fight in a woman. I am more than ready to deliver.
I leaned in and licked my way up his corded neck. Sephiroth really is so strong, his body muscled and hard, and he doesn't have any scars. His body heals better than any humans, probably because of the corruption inside of it. I hummed happily as he leaned down and claimed my lips with his own. His tongue lapped at the seam of my lips and I gladly opened for him this time, sucking his tongue inside and stroking it with my own. He groaned in his throat and pulled me hard against him, one hand sliding down to cup and fondle my rear, pulling my hips hard against his so he could rub against me. I purred a little and let go of his tongue, scattering playful kisses across his face and nose before I grabbed his ear in my teeth and bit down on it. He yelped.
"No biting!" He said, pinching the skin at my waist in retaliation. I giggled at the unexpectedly childish reaction and moved my mouth to the curve of his shoulder, latching my teeth in there and sucking – hard. If he could mark me I could mark him! I licked the spot I had just turned red and pushed back from him a little, sliding my hands down over his flat chest muscles and giving his flat nipples a brief caress before sliding my left hand down, the tips of my fingers stopping just before the area that was begging for my touch. I wrapped my right arm around his neck and smiled up at him.
"Don't let me fall." I told him. He looked at me for a moment, then smirked as he understood what I intended, easily hoisting me up in his arms. I wrapped both my legs around his waist and licked my lips suggestively.
"Apparently I was not the only one with an active imagination" He said, allowing me to slide free of the prison of flesh he had trapped me in. Sephiroth lay down and spread himself out for me. He was more than ready for this, his member about as hard as his longsword now. I stared down at him and licked my lips. He had no idea exactly how active my imagination really was, but he was about to find out. This little Cetra was curious.
"Change of plans; fun first, then I'll ride." I told him, scooting down to kneel by his hips, where his manhood was proudly waving hello to me. One of his hands touched my hip and I slapped it away. "Nope; you can't touch, just watch."
"Ciara, you are going to kill me." He groaned. I laughed and got to work. Reaching out, I wrapped one hand around his base, his thickness filling my palm nicely. With the other hand I gently, tenderly played with his testicles. Sephiroth moaned again, more harshly this time. I smiled like the vixen I was and glanced up at him. He was watching me between half-closed green eyes. I pumped his shaft with my hand once, and his whole body jerked. Amazing. Here he is, a being much stronger than I am, and probably able to destroy me with a simple wave of his hand what with the power his body houses, and yet I can control him with just one hand. Deciding to torture him a little more, I lowered my head and kissed the delicate, tender skin between where his groin met his shaft. He groaned harshly, hands reaching out and grabbing my head. His fingers tangled in my hair and his nails scraped against my scalp, a non verbal warning that I understood. Guess he isn't the only one attuned to the person they love.
I blew air over his straining length and giggled as it twitched. "Baby." I taunted, rubbing my nose against him. I squeezed his base tightly and let go of his balls to bring my other hand into the game. Using both, I fisted his length and slowly, too slowly, started stroking him. I wanted to bring him to fever-pitch, as much for my enjoyment as for my comfort. As crazy with desire as we both were, I didn't know if we would be able to take the care we would have to when approaching this. I am, after all, a virgin. Wasn't this supposed to hurt or something? I know that Sephiroth would rather cut off his own arm than cause me any kind of pain, but with desire clouding his mind and me in his arms, it might be inevitable.
Finally, I opened my mouth and gave his tip a nibble, making him grit his teeth and arch up into me. One of his hands let go of my hair and slid down my back and between my thighs. I flushed a little when he paused there, embarrassed by how wet I already was for him. I guess this time there would be no dissuading him. One of his fingers easily slid into my core and I lifted my mouth off his member to gasp out a breathy curse, choking on a strangled moan when he pumped the digit in and out of me quickly, a shallow but lethal penetration.
"I thought I said no touching, SOLDIER?" I rasped, panting. I couldn't see it, but I could hear the smirk in his response.
"You looked like you wanted it, Ciara." He thrust his finger deeper, punctuating his point. I cried out, then gritted my teeth and licked the underside of his shaft from base to tip. He was pulsing in my grasp and from his harsh breathing, I was guessing it wouldn't take much more to send him over the edge. My own body was liquid with desire and covered in a light sheen of sweat. I let go of him and rose to my knees beside him. He pulled his hands away, eyes glittering as he stared at me. I knew I wasn't much to look at, but from his gaze, you'd think I was the most beautiful woman in the world.
Moving with a sensuous grace only he could inspire in me, I straddled him. His member rested against me and I rubbed myself against him simply because it felt good, not because I was a trained seductress. Leaning forward, I claimed his lips as I reached between us and grabbed him, aiming that mighty sword of pleasure up where its sheath was waiting. He let me, probably aware that, despite his dominance, I needed to be the one to do this. He probably didn't know why. But I had to accept him completely on my own for my own reasons. This was Ciara and Sephiroth, the man and the woman, making love. I was proving that to myself by taking him into my body willingly. I broke our kiss and sat back, his tip at my entrance. I was hot and he was ready, so I smiled at him with all my and, in one move, lowered myself onto him.
"Sephiroth" I groaned, the breath rushing out of me with the sharp edge of pain that lanced through me. I had to remain perfectly still, my thighs quivering as he invaded me. His length and girth stretched me and pushed painfully against a body not used to this at all. And having him inside me burned. His body was corrupt, mine was pure. Already I could feel the agony from his invasion settling into my bones. But that would come later. Now, I wanted to enjoy making love with the man who held my heart. Beneath me, Sephiroth was about as tense and strained as I was. He knew that I needed to grow accustomed to his size, but he desperately wanted to move, I could read that in his eyes. Shaking and torn between the pleasure and the pain, I held my hands out. He lifted his up and I laced my fingers through his, bracing myself on his strong arms as I slowly, very slowly, raised myself off his length.
He slid out slowly and I moaned at the sensation. I had no one else to compare him to, but Sephiroth must be what all women want in a lover. When just his tip remained within my body, I lowered myself back down, still slowly and with great control, because I still hurt. His muscles stood out as he held his entire body in check, but his eyes blazed fire at me.
"Ciara... please..." He ground out. I rolled my eyes at him and blew out a breath, starting to adjust to the feel of him within me. My body was getting used to this. Growling, Sephiroth reared up and latched his mouth onto my breast, sucking hard on my nipple. I gasped and my entire body bowed, sending him sliding deeper into me. I choked and started to rock my hips faster, not caring anymore who did what or how. His mouth moved up to my neck and he bit down, hard, his teeth slicing through my tender skin. I cried out as he lapped at the wound he had caused, taking my blood into him. I had the crazy though that maybe my blood could save him, but then the fire inside me wiped out all capacity for rational thought. I felt my love for him grow to overwhelming, welling up and spilling out of me without control until I thought that I would die.
He suddenly let go of my hands and rolled me beneath his body, pushing against my thighs and spreading my legs apart. I was panting now, hardly able to draw breath, when he drew out and slammed back in with all his might, hitting me at the perfect angle. He drew out a soundless moan and I arched into him, my hips undulating to follow the brutal rhythm he set. That easily, I came, squeezing down tightly on his member inside me, hard enough to make him groan as if in pain, but he somehow managed to not follow me to completion. I reached up and cupped his face, staring into his cat-green eyes as my body continued to spasm around him. He looked so savage, his desire written clearly on his face, but the love he felt for me blazed through his eyes right along with the hunger. He was panting hard, his mouth open. I stared and licked my lips, tilting my chin up a fraction. When it came to him, I lost all control and only wanted to feel his love and passion.
Sephiroth leaned down and took my mouth with his own, sucking at my lips and stabbing his tongue into my mouth. I grabbed his shoulders and hung on as he made love to me with an impassioned vehemence, my nails digging into his skin until I was certain I was leaving marks on him.
"Don't stop, Sephiroth, please." I begged when he slowed down, not wanting this moment to ever end. He grinned down at me, his face and body covered in sweat like mine and his silver hair tangled. I transferred my grip to fistfuls of his hair so that I wouldn't hurt him, trying to wrap my legs around him to keep him in me. My legs trembled too much for me to hold him, though.
"I'm not stopping, promise. I want to make you scream." He whispered, pulling out of me and flipping my limp body over and reentering me from behind. His arm wrapped around me, under the breasts, and he started to ride me hard. I was panting and moaning, almost unable to breathe from the pleasure rolling over me, when he stiffened behind me and came with a shouted groan, burying his face in my hair. As his warmth filled me and splashed against my insides I reached my zenith a second time, harder than the first, and I came with a cut off scream. His heat inside of me continued to burn, the fire spreading, but I just wrapped my arms and legs around him and clung to him tighter, not allowing him to pull free of my body's hold.
Sephiroth huffed out a small laugh and kissed my ear. "That was better than my imagination, Ciara." He told me, a touch of humor in his voice as his hands traced soft circles on my damp skin. I shivered as the soft mountain air danced over my skin, the scent of flowers carried strongly with it... wait, what?
Shoving him off of me, I sat up, ignoring the protests of my body, and got on my knees to stare out the window. Outside, the valley was filled with the largest, most beautiful lifestream flowers I had ever seen in my entire life. Every inch of the valley floor was covered with them and in some places the lifestream still swirled around the plants. They all gave off a glow of pure life and swayed in the soft breeze.
I felt his heat against my back and then he wrapped his arm around my waist, chin on my shoulder as he looked out. "Your flowers...?" He questioned, fingers stroking along my hips. I held onto his arms and shook my head.
"I... yeah, I think so. I mean.. I guess they popped up in response to my emotions..." I trailed off, uncertain. I was never going to tell Sephiroth I loved him. I couldn't, not when I was going to leave him. But these flowers pretty much just said it for me. He already knew that these bloomed in response to my feelings. And these... they would never fade or die. They had been born out of the highest act and expression of love. The planet would sustain them as long as she lived. I could feel the certainty of that in my soul.
Sephiroth pulled me down to the bed and laid me out, wrapping his larger body around mine from behind, his hair spreading over us like a blanket. I held his arms as he held me, facing the wall. Tears overflowed from my eyes and I cried silently. I couldn't help it. I knew... already I could feel the pain gnawing at the edge of my senses, an agony that would continue to grow until I finally went on to my destiny. And I could feel the distance yawning between me and Sephiroth with each breath I drew in. Grabbing a fistful of his hair, I buried my face in it, drawing in his scent and weeping.
He turned me so I faced him and pressed my face into his shoulder. "I will come back for you, Ciara. It may be awhile; things at Shin Ra aren't as they should be. But I will return for you." He told me, stroking my hair and wiping my tears away with his thumbs. I looked up into his eyes and felt his sincerity. It hurt. So much, the pain a solid rock in my chest. It's a good thing I used up my emotional power making those flowers bloom; right now, with what I was feeling, I'd probably kill them if I had the energy. Sliding my hands up to his face, I pulled him down for a trembling kiss, continuing to cry.
"Sephiroth, I... I'll always be there for you, as long as you need me. I'll never leave you. I'll wait for you." I vowed, meaning it. Until the day he was saved from his fate, I would never slumber in the planet. I would share all the worlds joys and pains, live and die with each being on the surface, until he was saved. If he fell into shadow, I would fall with him. And I would suffer while he did. It is within my power to do so. I felt my ancestors granting my vow. Sephiroth would never be truly alone in this world. He might never realize I am there... but I will be.
My lover nodded. He thought it a regular vow. He didn't know I had just tied my entire life to him. Curling against his chest, I let him hold me as my sorrow continued to seep out, silent tears for all the years of loneliness facing both of us. Throughout the night we kissed and touched, each aware that something fragile had been built between us. We didn't speak anymore. We, for one night, just were.
When morning came, Sephiroth slid free of my arms and dressed quietly. I sat up and wrapped the white blanket he'd brought me from his home around my body. I knew he had to go back. I knew this would be our last moment together, the precious last moments where he would be him and I would be me. It hurt so much, the pain and the darkness in my body that I wanted to scream, to weep, anything to keep what I knew was coming from happening. But fate had decided. There was nothing I could do now, so I didn't cry. I wouldn't shed any more tears about this, not where he wasn't there to wipe them away. Only where he could hold me, could see me, would I ever shed a tear again, until the day he was freed. So I just watched as he put on the armor and became SOLDIER 1st Class Sephiroth once more. He stood beside the bed and cupped my face, staring at me. I twitched my lips up in to a small smile, letting my love for him shine through. I hid my sorrow, hid the pain gnawing away at me even now. I would not taint our last moments...
"Next time we meet, Ciara... I will have a question for you." He said, leaning down and kissing my forehead gently. I knew, what he wanted to ask me. I could feel it pressing against my skin. My heart broke. But still I smiled.
"My answer will be yes." I whispered, all I was able to do with the sorrow choking me. Sephiroth slid his fingers through my hair and with a beautiful full smile, the first I had ever seen on his face, walked out of the door and called Choco, flying away from me. I leaned out the window and watched until he was a speck on the horizon, then gone. Forever gone from me. Never again would we be able to get close... to touch. "Good-bye." I choked out.
The pain inside me suddenly bloomed, spreading rapidly and making my body arch. Nausea licked at my throat. Curling my hands into tight fists, I leaned over the side of the bed and heaved. Once the spasm had passed, I stared at the blood flowing across the floor, mixed with what I had eaten the day before. My stomach cramped again and intense, flame-like pain settled into every muscle in my body. My heart stuttered to a stop painfully, only to gallop into overdrive a second later. Shivers wracked my body while I sweated so much I was afraid I'd drench the blanket which still held Sephiroth's scent. I pushed it away, not wanting to soil it, and stared at the wall as my body tried to reject the corruption I'd allowed inside. I had chosen this. I knew the consequence of embracing him. I smiled and wrapped my arms around myself.
"Totally worth it." I croaked, gagging on another heave of blood trying to escape my body. I couldn't die yet. I had one last mission to complete. Reaching out with my mind, I coaxed the abundant lifestream into the cabin and allowed it to flow into my body. It hurt - burned worse than the pain inside me, as it battled with the corruption inside of me. But I gritted my teeth and bore the agony. "Worth it..." Turning my eyes to the window, I stared out at the field of flowers and smiled. They would be my eternal testament to the feelings I was never allowed to share. "I love you, Sephiroth."
But he would never hear that from me.