Chapter Forty-One: Necessary Separation

Breathless and shivering from the cold, Aralyn arrived in the middle of the gardens, followed closely by Sephiroth, who seemed immune to the elements. A worried look crossed his face when he saw her quaking, and he wordlessly slipped his jacket off and draped it over her shoulders. It was large on her, but the long sleeves covered her hands and the length of the coat would warm more of her body. She smiled gratefully, her eyes expressing invisible thanks.

"We can go in," he suggested. "I'd rather brave the crowds than you risk hypothermia."

"But it's so beautiful tonight! Look at the sky!"

Sephiroth looked up, more to oblige her than anything else. After a second he moved his gaze back to Aralyn, taking delight in watching her fade away into the spellbinding beauty of the cosmos. "It's cleared up fast," she said. "Though the clouds are still blocking Cygnus…oh but the moon! Isn't it wonderful?"

"It is…beautiful," he said uneasily. He was not used to using such adjectives.

"All it needs is Cygnus, and it would be perfect…"

"Cygnus?" he asked, moving behind her and gently swaying as he held her. "There are plenty of other stars."

"Sephiroth, don't you know?" she looked up at him earnestly, her lips playing a half smile. "Cygnus…the swan."

"What does that…?"

Gently silencing him with one finger, her hand moved to his back, where his single black wing extended full length at her touch. "Wings," she said, smiling. "Flying…you, Sephiroth."

He pulled the jacket closer around her as the shivering began again, and when that did not help, he instinctively pulled her back toward the warmth of the building. "No," she protested. "I'm fine. I want to be here."

He hummed, frowning slightly at her refusal. "I won't have you freeze, Aralyn."

"Well, I won't go in so…"

He didn't hear anything else she said. Suddenly he found himself closer, and he could only tell that she had stopped talking by how her lips had fallen still. When he moved even closer, he saw her mouth his name. Her breath was warm against his hand, which had moved to rest on her cheek. He was staring into her eyes, and was only half aware of it.

Her hands moved to his chest and pressed, trying to force him away, but he encircled her with his arms and overcame her futile attempts. Extending his wing to full length, he then gently wrapped the wing around her, and soon her shivering stilled. As he rested his forehead against hers, the panic in her eyes seeped away and morphed into welcoming, pleading acceptance.

"Aralyn…" His mind was racing, his heart beating fast. So many things whirred through his mind, contending against what was happening. All his doubts and fears hit him full force, trying to pry him from her. Momentum, however, would not let him stop. Her lips were a hair's breadth from his, and he was so very close to letting go of his fears and just letting it happen…

"Aralyn," he breathed painfully. "I…I can't do this."

Withdrawing his wing, he quickly pushed her away in a manner that was more violent than he had intended. Not allowing himself to feel remorse, he forced himself to remain rigid as Aralyn was thrown into the snow, gasping for breath and clutching her heart like it pained her.

"Sephiroth?" she asked, sounding very hurt and frail. She pulled herself to her knees, looking up at him. "I'm so sorry…I didn't mean…!"

"This is…wrong…" His eyes closed, and he took on that dangerously stoic look that effectively hid whatever emotion he was trying to hide.

"Sephiroth? Sephiroth!"

But he was already yards away, walking away slowly, as if to emphasize his decision. Aralyn was left on her knees, her calls falling on deaf ears.