Chapter Thirty-Three: Never Enough Time

"Sephiroth, open the door!"

Reno the Turk rammed his fist into the door repeatedly, holding a stack of papers the size of a large encyclopedia in the other arm and trying to balance it while continuing his attack on the door.

"Nothing major," Reno lied through his teeth, glancing at the papers again. "Just a little light reading and a few signatures!"

"Give up, Reno," a man with black, spiked hair advised. "That is not how one calls on the great General Sephiroth."

Reno turned, scoffing at the visitor. "And you could do any better, Zack? I've been here for forever and if I don't get back soon Tseng will tan my hide!"

Zack smiled, shaking his head playfully. "Observe, and take good notes, because chances are you'll be asked to do this again."

Zack made quite a show of cracking his knuckles, and even added in a few breathing exercises and squats for emphasis. The redhead was not impressed, and met Zack's smile with a stern face.

Shrugging, Zack approached the door and knocked softly and politely. "Seph!" he called. "I'm coming in! You've been warned." With that greeting, Zack grabbed the papers from Reno and kicked in the door, strolling in confidently while whistling a particularly annoying tune.

Reno didn't see what happened, but one moment Zack was in Sephiroth's office and the next he was thrown flat against the wall, landing on his behind, disoriented. The door was slammed shut, and both heard the distinct sound of moving furniture; it seemed that Sephiroth had barricaded the door.

"That was great," Reno said, giving him a mock round of applause. "I especially enjoyed the 'Seph' part. I think he loved it."

Frowning, Zack stood and approached the door. For a minute he seemed baffled, but then a mischievous smirk crept across his face.

"General Sephiroth," Zack tried again.

There was no answer.

"You see, we need you to look at some papers. I'd forge your signature for you, but the Turks would get on me for that. Come on, Seph, be a pal?"

When Sephiroth gave no reply, Zack grinned from ear to ear and employed his secret weapon. "…Or I might just have to disclose exactly what I saw in there to my good friend, Reno."

With only a moment's hesitation, the furniture was once again moved and the door thrown open. A gloved hand thrust itself from the small crack that Sephiroth allowed, which was not nearly enough space to see what it was he was hiding. Zack placed the papers in Sephiroth's hand, at which time he quickly retracted and shut the door.

"Thank you, Seph," Zack called, still chuckling.

Reno lifted his eyebrows. "Blackmail, huh? You managed to get some dirt on the General? Come on, spill the beans!"

"Are you kidding?" Zack laughed. "I can use this against him for the rest of his life! Oh, the fearsome General…who would have imagined!"

"The next Turk I see is going to get it," Sephiroth hissed. "Can't get five minutes of peace here!"

Aralyn approached him and laid a hand on his arm, clearly trying to hide the beginnings of a smile and laughter. "It's just part of being important, I guess. They don't mean to annoy you…they're just doing their job."

"Or maybe they are annoying me because it is their job," he replied. He laid the large tome of papers on his desk, sighing deeply. "And Zack had better keep his mouth shut."

"Would it be so terrible if he didn't? Why keep this a secret?" Aralyn asked. Sephiroth's expression clearly indicated that she had asked a thousand times before and that the answer had not changed. "Would it really be that bad if people knew that you were seeing me? Is it a crime?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "Aralyn, I want this to be just between you and me."

"Is it your pride?" she asked. "Are you afraid that the General would be seen with someone so undeserving and frail?"

"Aralyn don't even talk like that…"

"Then what is it?" she cried, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Sephiroth wanted to give her an answer, but words would not come. He was fully aware that his logic was more than slightly convoluted; a conglomerate of half-reasons that even combined didn't make a legitimate excuse, but he stuck to his decision nonetheless.

Aralyn hung her head. "Well, I guess you don't have time for lunch today," she said, sounding sad and disappointed. She picked up the picnic basket she had brought and held it in her hands.

Sephiroth sat back in his revolving chair and laid his head in his hands, looking exhausted and overwhelmed. "I'm so sorry, Aralyn. Truly I am. We'll do it another day."

"That's what you said last time," Aralyn whispered. "You could at least come up with some more creative ways of saying it." She smiled grimly at the humor, then turned and walked slowly toward the door.

Sephiroth stood and was in front of her in an instant, blocking her path. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.

Gone was the gangly and uncertain girl he had grown up with. The years had transformed her, and while she had never been ugly, the metamorphosis was like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly. Her features were softer and more mature, fitting for a young woman instead of a little girl. Her hair fell to her waist, her rebellious bangs sometimes veiling parts of her heart-shaped face in shimmering gold. The one thing that hadn't changed were her eyes. Sephiroth delved into them, taking comfort in their familiar warmth.

He was not immune to change either. When once his wardrobe consisted only of hospital gowns, now he was dressed in black leather with metal pauldrons on his shoulders. He dwarfed her in size, standing more than a head taller, and was of a far stronger build. His hair had grown as well, and now it rested nearly at his knees, his peaked bangs that would not be flattened trimmed at his jaw. Aralyn told him that while his eyes had always been emerald in color, they seemed to shine more brightly than when they were younger. He attributed this to the mako to which he was daily subjected.

"I want to see you again," he said.

"You don't have the time, Sephiroth!" she said. "Every day, something new comes up."

"Not next time. It will be me and you…no distractions. Name a place, I'll take you anywhere in Gaia."

"Oh, Sephiroth," she sighed, allowing her head to rest on his desk. "You don't need a girl right now. You're a first class Soldier…the best that's ever lived! Shinra needs you, and you have everything you could ever want!"

"You don't like my position, do you?" he asked point-blank.

Aralyn looked at him earnestly. "Are you happy here?"

He wasn't positive of the answer, but it was certainly better than the labs, which was the only other life he had ever known. "Yes," he answered, but hesitantly.

"Then I am happy as well."

Sephiroth frowned deeply as Aralyn stood. She placed the basket beside him. "Keep the lunch for when you're hungry. I made pastries, and if you eat them quickly they'll still be warm. I will wait for you to call. Anytime is good for me."

She left after a quick, formal good-bye, leaving Sephiroth alone with several hundred forms to complete. He buried his head in his hands, fighting exhaustion for a moment before reaching for a pen and beginning his work.

"Couldn't be helped," he murmured, but not even saying it aloud could convince him that it was true.