Chapter 15: Destruction of Shinra Manor
Haruka had to literally lead Sephiroth out of the mountains. It wasn't difficult to find a way back to town because there were signs telling her where to go. This place she was at, Nibelheim, was humid. Her hair was beginning to react to it and she felt her underarms getting sweaty. It wasn't helping that she was leading Sephiroth along. He was rather heavy, especially went he was barely moving. Haruka swore under her breath as she pulled him into town.
"Seph," she breathed, stopping for the umpteenth time to catch her breath. "I know you're in pain. I know it hurts, but can you cooperate with me, please?"
"Shinra did this," growled Sephiroth, surprising Haruka with his anger.
"What?" she asked anxiously, giving him a nervous look, needing clarification.
"They did this," he repeated in a menacing tone, "to me, to Angeal, and to Genesis. They have to pay. They can't get away with this. Not this time."
Haruka felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest. She had never heard Sephiroth that mad before. She placed a hand on his back and gave him a pitying look. She understood his anger completely. From being with Sephiroth, Haruka knew that the Shinra Company never took accountability for anything regarding soldiers deserting. They always covered it up by saying the deserted soldiers died.
"I know," she whispered, resting her forehead on his back. "We have to get back. Zack will wonder where you went."
Sephiroth finally looked at Haruka and her heart broke a little. His green eyes were bloodshot with tears. "I can't take this," he whispered, shaking his head in a broken way. "It hurts. Haruka, it hurts…"
Haruka felt tears prick her eyelids and she took a shaky breath. "I know it hurts," she said in a soothing tone. "I know. Sephiroth, you can't just manage the grief this time. Don't shove it down. It's not healthy. We are human. We hurt, grieve, love, and hate. Just let it come. Let it come."
With a ragged breath, Sephiroth buried his face into Haruka's shoulder but no tears came from him. Haruka stroked his hair and gave him a gentle kiss on the temple. She almost let her tears fall but was able to hold them back. She had to be strong for him, and that meant no more unnecessary tears. Haruka glared heavenward and mentally cursed Shinra to rot in hell forever.
"Let's get back," she whispered once Sephiroth stopped trembling. "We need to tell Zack what happened. You need to sleep, Seph. You look so tired."
Up close, Haruka could see the dark circles of weariness under Sephiroth's eyes. He needed to rest. Losing Genesis drained him, Haruka could tell. Sephiroth finally straightened, wrapped an arm around Haruka's shoulders, and the two walked back to the inn. As soon as they reached the room, Haruka helped ease Sephiroth onto the bed and he closed his eyes. She took his hand in hers and watched him as he slept. The stress in his face melted away and he looked younger. He looked as though there were no worries.
Haruka was alerted when she heard loud footsteps descending up the stairs and the door of the room flew open. Zack entered the room with a huge grin on his face.
"Hey, Seph, I…" he broke off when he saw Sephiroth sleeping and Haruka sitting next to him. "Haruka, what are you doing here?"
"Shh!" hissed Haruka, putting a finger to her lips. "He just fell asleep. Be quiet."
"Sorry," whispered Zack, looking chastened. "What happened?"
"Genesis is dead," replied Haruka, her face an emotionless mask. "He kidnapped me and took me here to bait Sephiroth into fighting him. They fought and Genesis died. He was degrading, as you probably know."
"Yeah, I do know," said Zack, nodding. "What happened next?"
"Let's go outside," whispered Haruka, grabbing Zack by the arm.
The two walked outside and stood in front of the inn. Zack gave Haruka a look and gestured her to continue.
"Sephiroth broke down," answered Haruka sadly. "He cried after Genesis died. I led him back here to get some sleep."
"Oh, God," breathed Zack, looking shocked. "I'm so sorry."
"I'm fine," remarked Haruka, smiling wanly. "It's Sephiroth I'm worried about. He wants Shinra to pay for this." She shuddered as she remembered Sephiroth's tone and demented expression. The look Sephiroth gave her was one she never wanted to see again.
"Oh, boy," said Zack with a sigh. "Sephiroth is stubborn. I should know, I work with him. He won't stay idle for long. You know what they say, idle hands are the devil's tools. He's probably plotting as we speak."
Haruka knew that wasn't supposed to be funny but she let out a hysterical laugh. Zack gave her an odd look, which looked even more comical. Haruka doubled over laughing and she fell to her knees. Tears of laughter ran down her cheeks. Zack looked around, saw the townsfolk and Tifa staring, and he crouched down to his knees in front of Haruka.
"Are you okay?" asked Zack, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I-I'm fine," chuckled Haruka, wiping her eyes. "It's not funny. I'm just laughing because it's so true. Sephiroth is not an idle person. God only knows what Seph's thinking right now."
Haruka finally stopped laughing and took some deep breaths to calm herself down. She surprised Zack by wrapping her arms around his neck. Zack was a bit flustered by her hug but he hugged her back. There wasn't anything remotely sexual in the hug. Haruka saw Zack as a friend because he was dating Aerith. He made Aerith happy. Suddenly, Zack's cell phone rang, interrupting the hug.
Zack detached from Haruka and answered it. "Hello?" he greeted politely.
"Hell-looo!" said that voice that was as soft as summer rain.
"Aerith?" guessed Zack with his face lighting up with joy.
"Zack," she sounded a bit scared and upset, "Haruka is gone. Mom went into her room earlier and couldn't find her. I'm scared! I think she's been kidnapped!"
Zack smiled softly. "It's okay, Aerith," he said soothingly, "Haruka is with me. She's in Nibelheim with me."
"Oh, thank God," gasped Aerith, sounding relieved. "Can I talk to her?"
"Sure," replied Zack, then he detached the phone from his ear. "It's for you." He held the phone out to Haruka, who smiled.
"Hello?" said Haruka kindly. "It's me, Aerith."
"Haruka," cried Aerith, sounding close to tears. "I'm so glad you're safe. I was so worried! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Aerith," answered Haruka in a calming tone. "Don't worry, I wasn't hurt. It's a long story. I'll explain it to you when we come back. Tell Mom not to worry and that I'm safe with Zack and Sephiroth."
"Okay," replied Aerith, sounding a bit happier. "I'm so glad you're safe. I love you, Haruka."
"I love you too, sis," said Haruka, smiling lovingly. "Be safe. Don't leave the church too late, okay?"
"I'll be safe," said Aerith softly. "Good-bye."
"Bye," replied Haruka, and the line disconnected. She shut the phone and handed it back to Zack, who pocketed it.
"Everything okay?" asked Zack, cocking his head like a puppy.
"Everything's fine," answered Haruka with a smile. "Aerith is going to tell Mom that I'm fine and safe."
Zack sobered. "Did you really mean what you said about going home?" he asked in a serious tone. "You do realize if Sephiroth does do something reckless, we will hunted down, right?"
"I do know," she replied with a nod. "I hope that I can get Aerith out of the sight of Shinra. She's in trouble, Zack. With the Turks watching her, I have a bad feeling they are interested in her for a reason of their own."
"I know that," said Zack, nodding. "Cissnei, a friend and a Turk, told me that Aerith is an Ancient, whatever that is. According the Turks, Aerith is pretty special."
"I see…" murmured Haruka, placing a hand to her chin. "Well, I'm going to check on Seph. Hopefully, he hasn't died in his sleep." With a small smile, Haruka turned and walked back into the inn.
…
Sephiroth woke up to see that Haruka was gone. He sat up and anxiously looked around. Where did she go? Maybe Zack was showing her the town. Suddenly, it hit Sephiroth like lightning and he remembered that Genesis was gone. Instead of crying like before, Sephiroth glared daggers at the wall and growled in fury. Oh, yeah, he remembered, alright! Genesis was gone because of what those Shinra bastards did.
They're all going to pay, he thought, clenching his fist. All of them! Lazard, Angeal, Genesis…it's all Shinra's fault! They will pay!
"Sephiroth," said a soft voice from the doorway, and he turned to see Haruka.
"Rukie," he said hoarsely, giving her a sad look. "Genesis is gone. Angeal is gone. My friends are gone."
"I know," she whispered empathetically, sitting down on the bad with him. "I know." She rested her chin on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.
Sephiroth turned and placed a hand on her cheek. "I've missed you," he said gently, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
"I've missed you too," she replied with a small smile. "How did you sleep?"
"Fine, I suppose," he answered with a crinkled brow. "I'm just glad I don't remember my dreams. They would probably be awful."
Haruka placed a hand on Sephiroth's chest and stroked the revealed skin in a soothing way. She looked up and noticed a lustful look in Sephiroth's jade eyes. It was her turn to crinkle her brow. The look did something to Sephiroth's libido.
"You know, it's just the two of us in here," stated Sephiroth in a husky tone.
"So I've noticed," was Haruka's smart-ass response.
"Do you want to go to bed?" he asked, eyes roving her body.
"Now?" she asked in response. "You do know this room doesn't just occupy us, right? Zack and those operatives sleep here too. It wouldn't be fair to them."
"One operative is staying at his house and Zack and another operative share the room with me," remarked Sephiroth. "They understand I have needs as much as the next man."
"Okay," murmured Haruka, nodding. "Only once, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied lustfully, bestowing a kiss on her lips.
Haruka giggled into the kiss as Sephiroth laid her down and got on top of her.
…
When Haruka awoke, she noticed Sephiroth wasn't in the bed with her. Suddenly, she heard a frantic knock on the door and sat straight up.
"One minute please," said Haruka, wiping herself with a towel.
"Haruka, it's me, Tifa," said a girl's voice muffled from the door. "Sephiroth has set Shinra Mansion on fire!"
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Haruka, mouth dropping open. "Hold on, Tifa, I need to get dressed!"
"Take your time," said Tifa in a somewhat bemused tone. "Anyway, I was heading over to talk to Zack about the infantryman that got hurt yesterday and I saw Sephiroth heading outside of the town. I followed him and saw him us a Fire materia to set the mansion on fire. I ran off before he could catch me. I had to tell you. Zack told me you're his lover. I thought you would be concerned."
"Of course I'm concerned," cried Haruka, pulling her dress over her head. "I'll be right out, Tifa. Lead me to where he is now. Did you see where he went?"
"Next, he went up to the Mako Reactor site," answered Tifa in a shaky voice. "I think he's going to blow the reactor up."
"He'd be doing a public service," mumbled Haruka, shaking her head in disbelief.
"What?" asked Tifa, sounding confused.
"Nothing," replied Haruka in a louder tone. "Okay, I'm decent. Lead me to Sephiroth."
Haruka opened the door of the room and followed Tifa out of the inn.
…
Haruka and Tifa met up with Zack and the three went up to the mansion site. As soon as the three went to the outskirts of the town, they could smell the burning wood from a mile away. Zack fought off the monsters so they could get there safely. Haruka ran ahead of the other two and saw the building in irreparable ruin. Even though Sephiroth set the fire, he put it out when the building was decimated. Haruka put a hand to her mouth in horror and just stared with wide eyes.
"Oh my God," whispered Zack, looking ashen-faced. "Sephiroth did this…"
Tifa nodded, looking perturbed. "He did," she said softly. "I saw him do it, too. I'm just glad he put the fire out before it reached Nibelheim."
"Where is he now?" asked Zack, still staring at the ruins.
"He's going up to the Mako reactor site," replied Tifa, looking over at Zack.
Suddenly, a boy in a Shinra infantry outfit ran up and gasped at the sight of the destroyed mansion. "Who did this?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"Sephiroth," answered Zack without looking back. "Cloud, he went up to the Mako reactor."
"What!?" shouted Cloud, looking even more surprised.
"Cloud?" said Tifa, walking towards the young man. "Is it really you?"
The infantryman, Cloud, turned away in embarrassment and bowed his head. "Yeah," he murmured in a dejected tone.
"The one who got hurt was you?" asked Tifa, eyebrows raising. "You protected me from the monsters?"
"Yeah," was Cloud's response again.
Tifa smiled. "Why didn't you tell me it was you?" she asked kindly.
"I didn't make it into Soldier, Tifa," he said shamefully. "I didn't want to face you after failing my promise."
Tifa shook her head. "Oh, Cloud," she said lovingly, "I don't care if you didn't make it into Soldier."
"You…don't?" asked Cloud, taking his helmet off to look at her with wide blue eyes.
"Of course not," she replied with a shake of her head. "I care about you."
Without saying a word, Cloud walked forward and wrapped Tifa in a tight hug. Zack and Haruka smiled at the embrace but then remembered something more important.
"Uh, guys," said Haruka, causing the two to break apart. "We still have a big problem. Sephiroth is going to the reactor."
"Right," said Cloud with a nod. "Let's go!" He took Tifa's hand and ran off in the direction of the mountains.
"Hey, wait for us!" shouted Zack, shaking his head. "I swear, he's such a puppy."
"Look who's talking, Zack," retorted Haruka. "From what Sephiroth told me, Angeal used to call you Zack the Puppy."
Zack flushed in embarrassment. "Let's go!" he shouted, and the two took off running after Cloud and Tifa.