Chapter 4: Secrets

That night Sephiroth stayed in the shadows while Haruka slept all snug in her bed. He looked at the different things in her room and discovered the many books she had and the cute little decorations. In one of the racks next to her bookshelf she had CDs lined up by favorite artist and it piqued his curiosity. What kind of music did she like? He wanted to find a random one and pop into her CD player that rested near her dresser but he knew if he played music it would wake her up and blow his cover.

Taking a survival flashlight from his pocket, Sephiroth pulled out a random CD out with a pretty blond haired woman on the front. The name of the disc was written in an elegant scrawl known as "Some Hearts". He took out a few more CDs and discovered that Haruka loved country music. She had every country artist known to man starting with Lonestar and ending with Taylor Swift. These artists were pretty big on the planet Earth, who was basically a neighbor to Gaia.

Planet Gaia was remained hidden by the Lifestream, which made it look like only constellations existed for the planet. Earth sent a lot of stuff, including different foods and music, to Gaia which would explain how Haruka got so many CDs. Now, Sephiroth wasn't the biggest fan of country, nor did he pretend to be, but the music was tolerable because Angeal and Zack Fair, Angeal's second classed protégé, listened to it a lot. Angeal boasted that he loved the, as he phrased it, "bad ass type of country" which would explain how he pumped himself up on a mission.

Sephiroth silently grabbed the CD player next to the dresser and popped the CD in. As a caution procedure, Sephiroth turned the volume down low but kept it just to where he could hear it. He listened to the song and found out the name of it was called "Remind Me". The song was slow and mellow but it described that a man and woman missed each other so much and they wanted the other to remind them what it was like in their relationship.

"Been so long bet you'd forget,

The way I used to kiss your neck,

(Remind me,

Remind me.)

So on fire and so in love,

Way back when we couldn't get enough,

(Remind me,

Oh, baby, remind me)."

Despite it being mellow, Sephiroth found it decent and he kept on listening to the CD. One of the songs drifted to "Old Alabama" and it reminded Sephiroth of a summer vacation he, Angeal, and Genesis went to Banora and spent time listening to songs by a group called "Alabama". The song he was listening to was probably a tribute to the old band.

"And when it comes to love,

Her idea of a romantic night,

Is listening to old Alabama,

Driving through Tennessee,

A little Dixie Land Delight and the Right Time of the Night,

And she can't keep her hands of me-ee-ee…"

Finally, Sephiroth turned the CD player off and continued staring at the sleeping Haruka. Most people would probably ever wonder if he got tired but unlike humans without Mako he could stay up late and still be alert to his surroundings but that didn't mean he didn't sleep. Every time he did sleep though, he had nightmares of him killing innocent people and setting a town on fire (1). God only knew how many times Sephiroth had those types of nightmares and he wanted to tell someone about them but they would probably refer him to a shrink because dreams like those weren't "normal".

Sephiroth did not want nor desired a shrink because it would make him sound even crazier and weak because not many soldiers his caliber needed a shrink. It sounded nice to tell someone of his creepy dreams but he didn't want them to have a clipboard or one of those strange couches therapists had. Maybe he could tell Haruka about them but she'd probably think he'd gone loco.

He turned the CD player off when he saw her stir and rest on her side but a soft smile spread on his lips. Haruka held a childlike innocence that he had not experienced for him being in soldier. Sephiroth knelt down next to her and gently took her hand in his gloved one, watching the slight light from the upper plate color on her face. Her dark hair fell into her face, making her look like an angel, and she stirred as if she could sense his presence so he released her hand and hid in the shadows again.

….

(Haruka POV)

When I awoke I saw something move in the shadows in my room and to my surprise and relief it was Sephiroth, my friend and savior. Immediately, I greeted him with a grin but noticed his eyes looked tired like he had not rested at all. He returned the grin but it was full of weariness and relief like he was happy to see me alive. He didn't sleep at all, I realized. He had been watching me just in case I would get murdered at night. I wanted to reprove him of that but couldn't bring myself to do so.

"Seph," I said gently, causing him to look me in the eyes, "have you slept at all? You look pooped."

Sephiroth chuckled softly, shaking his silver head in disbelief. "Rukie," he said, calling me by my friend's nickname, "soldiers don't need sleep. What you see is merely a visual illusion. I'm not tired." He sounded so stubborn yet he looked tired enough to fall over.

"I know your mission is to protect me," I said, choosing my words carefully, "but even soldiers need rest; yes, even first classed soldiers." I added that when he opened his mouth to argue but I wasn't taking an argument.

"Are you always this stubborn?" he asked rhetorically, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Are you always this irritating?" I flung back at him dryly, crossing my arms too.

"I'm not irritating," he protested, looming over me in an intimidating, "and don't you go changing the subject. I'm here to protect you, not argue with you."

A twinge of irritation went through my body as I stared at the irritating silver haired soldier. "You have got to be kidding me," I said angrily, totally not in the mood. "I don't need a chaperone, Seph."

"Seeing as you almost got raped last night, you sort of do," said Sephiroth in his irritating, "holier-than-thou" way.

I felt insulted that he would bring that up. Didn't he know how dangerous the slums were at night? "Who says I need a chaperone?" I demanded, giving him a lethal glare that would have a second class soldier running for the hills.

"I did," he said importantly, "and when I say things I mean them so I'm going to chaperone you."

God, when did he get so annoying? I wanted to argue with him, tell him I don't need protection, but maybe I really did. If people were after me then I would need a protector. Well I did feel safe around Sephiroth and he could protect me from anything. I was only mad at him because he was being an ass but I guess that was expected.

"What kind of people do I need to be protected from?" I asked, giving him a confused look.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out," he answered, refusing to elaborate.

I sighed; this was going to be a long day.

…

(Sephiroth POV)

When Haruka left her room to go eat breakfast, I went out of my way to install surveillance cameras in the corners of the bathroom, her bedroom, and kitchen just in case someone would try to attack her when she was vulnerable. No one, except Haruka, was aware of my presence and I planned to keep it that way because I specialized in being undetected. However, after I installed all the safety measures around the house, I felt rather bored so I decided to rummage through her books. From what she told me, Haruka had school at the Shinra Private Academy, the high school in Midgar. She wasn't looking for a career in Midgar, merely an education.

When I discovered the house was empty, I pulled out a few interesting looking books from her bookshelf and skimmed through them. Sparkly vampires…gay, depressing psychic high school girl…annoying, adolescent wizard…not bad. I might have to do a rain check on that one. Now, let's see what movies she has. I rummaged through her DVD collection and found some very girly titles like Twilight, Romeo and Juliet, and Titanic but the Star Wars ones interested me because it had an actual plotline.

As I sat down to read one of her books, I heard the front open and something falling on the floor so I put the book down and silently made my way across the bedroom floor to open the door. Through the open crack, I saw Haruka walk into the bathroom and close the door behind her. She was aware of my presence, that I was sure, but she was ignoring me for some reason. I glanced around to see if the house was occupied otherwise but no one was home so I crept to the bathroom door and placed my ear against it. The sound of running water solidified my thought that she was showering…and singing because I could hear her pretty voice over the water.

I settled for just standing there to listen to her sing but then I heard her scream. With sword in hand, I burst in and saw her cringing into the wall opposite of the showerhead. Ignoring her nudity, I slid the glass doors open and saw a spider near the shampoo and conditioner bottles. I almost laughed at her fear but to prevent her wrath I just crushed the spider with my hand and disposed of its remains. I stole a glance at Haruka…and almost wished I hadn't.

Her body was very appealing and if it wasn't for the fact I was controlled I would have taken her up against the wall but I didn't. Her breasts were rather perky and full and fit her slim physique perfectly. Her waist was slim and flat which led to a curvy pair of hips and a long pair of legs. She looked so…delectable that I couldn't bear but I knew I couldn't touch her like because we didn't love each other, or did we? I never shared such a romantic attachment for really anybody but there was just something about her that drew me in.

Instead of acting on impulse, I pushed myself away from the shower and left the bathroom so she could shower in peace. I could tell she was embarrassed at my staring but she looked at me so…curiously that I wanted to press her body to mine and lose myself but that would be sexist not to mention illegal since she was underage. What I held for her was probably a physical attraction but then again I felt anxious about her well-being and concerned for her safety. Why else would I have taken the mission to protect her?

I sat down in her bedroom and let my thoughts trail off into something that involved me and her…in an inappropriate position and I immediately shook my head to clear my head of those images. When I opened my eyes, I saw Haruka in a bathrobe with her hands on her hips with a frown on her face and wet hair. She looked very displeased with me yet somewhat thankful all the same. I awkwardly cleared my throat and stood to stand in a corner so she could dress in peace.

With my soldier enhanced hearing, I heard her drop the robe and open the drawers to grab some clothes. She pulled on her undergarments and dressed in a tee shirt and a pair of cozy sweatpants. I turned to look at her and a gasp escaped my lips before I could comprehend why. Despite what some men would think, I thought she looked absolutely beautiful in her homely clothes and wet hair tied in a side braid.

Before I could stop myself, I walked up to her, wrapped my arms gently around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. As soon as I kissed her though I pulled back like I burned her but instead of her looking mad, she looked thoughtful…and happy. A slight smile began to spread on her lips and she looked up at me with those big brown eyes.

"You missed, Sephiroth," she said with that sweet smile.

Before I could ask what she meant by that, she bent forward and pressed her lips to mine. Instantly that burning sensation filled my lower stomach as her soft lips moved across mine and I undid her braid, letting her wet hair free, and ran my fingers through it. Haruka latched onto my coat front as she pressed herself up against me and wrapped her arms around my neck to incline my head closer to hers. As if on impulse I roughly grabbed her by the waist, seized her up so she could match my height, and kissed her with more passion and roughness.

A soft whimper from her reminded me to be gentle because she wasn't a soldier like me so I loosened my grip on her and set her down gently. Her brown eyes looked a little wary but I could tell she loved me; it was written all over her face. I loved her for it; there I finally admitted it (you happy, Angeal?). I was in love with a seventeen year old Ancient who captured my heart from just being her.

"I love you, Sephiroth," I heard her whisper as she rested the side of her face against my chest.

Overcome with joy, I placed my hand on her head, tenderly cradling her, and said with utmost confidence and sincerity, "I love you too, Haruka Gainsborough."

There began the long journey of our romance—wherever it took us.

A/N: I finally managed to finish this. Sorry it took me so long. I've been up to my ears in homework from school (yeah, I was sick on the first day back from vacation). Hopefully you'll like this one and I might find some time to update more. Note to self: Update more and make a playlist for this story (more like all of them) *Spoiler*. Well ttfn-ta-ta for now :) Please read and review!