Email: kinetic_rayne@yahoo.com Rating: R Pairing: Sephiroth x Cloud Author's Notes: This is my very FIRST fanfic - written in 1996. Chapter 1 All around him was suffering, lies, hate contempt, blood, wanderers with no soul. What had he done to deserve to be punished so? His eyes were open but he could not see. Ears desperately attempting to hear what was not to be heard. Where were the cries coming from? The screams of agony were nearly inside of him. gCURSE YOU!!!h He clenched his fists and lashed out but his arms wouldnft move. Beside him, many voices whispered, cackled and brought pity down upon him. Now, he knew what this was all about. The sinner was on trial for the errors of his ways. Was this hell? gShow yourselves to me. I fear nothing.h As always, he spoke with barely contained venom but the emotion that would have gone with it was absent. An intense heat surrounded him from all angles, crushing him, burning his flesh. Still, he could not see and he could not feel. At any moment he would spontaneously combust and be done with his punishment altogether. The pain grew and grew, washing through his veins and plunging out of his eyes and mouth. Waves of disorientation and agony struck him but he refused to bend - to kneel - to be that weak. Screams from a world of sorrow drowned out the hearing he no longer had. Now he was deaf and the trial had ended. Surprisingly, the lasting affect was a positive one. gMy thoughts are clear.h His eyes shot open to let in an explosion of light. Daybreak. The air was so fresh and smelled of roses. He would have cheered but that would gnaw away at the illusion that he could not be defeated. No. Relief was for the foolish and damned. gWhere am I? The last thing I rememberch Long silver hair whipped about in the morning breeze, followed by a black leather cape. Aquamarine mako eyes stared up at the sun and silently thanked the stars that the whole ordeal was over. gHow long was Icthere?h And where exactly had there been? Oh well, it didnft make much of a difference. gCloud,h he hissed through his teeth. It served him right for underestimating Cloud and allowing him too many chances. Well, there would be no more of that. Sephiroth was slightly grateful that Cloud had never made SOLDIER. If he hadcCloud would not have done such a crappy, careless job of annihilating him. To leave before ensuring that the enemy was deadca terrible, unforgivable mistake. One which Sephiroth felt very happy to correct. gWhen I get my hands on you, Cloud, Ifll teach you how to do it right the first time.h In the next few days, Sephiroth traveled from one town to another, searching for Cloud. By the end of the week, his nerves were wearing thin from the confusion which he encountered. The destruction which he had caused was not evident anymore and the terror which the townspeople used to have for him was gone. No one gave him a second thought, it was as if they had never known there to be a Sephiroth. Could Cloud be in Midgar? Why hadnft he gone there first? Sephiroth had been tracking the most feasible route on foot. If Cloud had taken off in a vehicle, boat or plane then he would be long gone. This angered Sephiroth but he kept his mind on the the task at hand. He was a man driven by an obsession and it involved hanging Cloudfs lifeless body from the end of his sword. More time was wasted on the way over to Midgar because Sephiroth had to take a common boat over with a lot of common people. What he wouldnft give to be able to toss them overboard, one by one. To watch them drowning and begging for mercy. Their kind was no good to him. Within a few minutes of searching the outskirts of Midgar, Sephiroth ran in into some fortunate luck. The first man he asked knew Cloud and where he was hiding. Sephiroth was calm and collected as he walked down the street leading to Cloudfs small house. Cloud must have made a small fortune fighting alongside Avalanche to be able to afford it. A couple of times, the ground beneath Sephirothfs feet trembled and vibrated but he didnft care. At the door to Cloudfs house, Sephiroth pictured how surprised Cloud would be if he knocked on the door. Then, his mind beckoned visions of Cloud impaled on his sword, being thrown back into his house and nailed to the wall. Left to bleed, to die, just as he himself had been given that same fate. One of the windows in the back were left open and it was getting dark so Sephiroth easily snuck in. It turned out to be the bedroom. This was where Cloud slept and had nice, peaceful dreams. Well, there would be no more of that. Sephiroth nimbly crossed over to the hallway, noting that the open closet had only been filled with mensf clothing. So, Cloud still hadnft found a woman and now he never would. Again, the ground seemed to groan under Sephirothfs weight and he stopped where he was. Was Cloud in the house? Had he heard? Sword drawn, Sephiroth kept going because the prize was too sweet to deny himself. Inside the living room, Cloud was watching something on the television. He was sitting on the carpeted floor, leaning back onto the couch. The closer Sephiroth got, the more he doubted that Cloud was awake. Two different swords were displayed on the wall with hooks. They were far from Cloudfs reach so there would be no resistance. Sephiroth moved closer and closer, raising his sword to strike as he came in front of Cloud. A few strands of spiky-blond hair were blocking Cloudfs eyes, making Sephiroth uneasy. Was he awake or not? Sephiroth slashed the sword downwards, Cloud remained still. Just as the sword neared Cloudfs head, he abruptly halted the attack. gWhy canft I do it?h Sephiroth grabbed Cloud by his shoulders, picked him up and slammed him into the wall. gAre you awake now, accursed boy?h Cloudfs breath was coming in short gasps after being roughly brought back to the world of the living. His mako blue eyes were staring at Sephiroth, still not entirely conscious of what was going on. Cloud lunged for his sword, punching at Sephirothfs arms. First Sephiroth released him, then he belted Cloud across the head with the flat side of his sword. Cloud cried out and collapsed onto the couch, his head spinning. Sephiroth tried to make himself strike again but found that he was disgusted by what he had done. What was wrong with him? He had come here to murder Cloud in his sleep if that was what it came down to. But now it didnft seem very appealing to him. The whole idea now seemed immoral and unjust. When Sephiroth glanced down at Cloud, he saw that his temple was bleeding. Just how hard had he hit him? Cloud couldnft move at all because of the throbbing headache piercing his skull. He shut his eyes firmly against the sight of Sephiroth, hoping that he would make it quick. gToday you are lucky.h Sephiroth stepped away and headed for the door. That was when the tremors tore apart the ground and forced him to his knees. It felt as if the ground were cracking deep within the earth and it actually was. He quickly looked towards Cloud to see if he had begun a silent attack. Cloud was in the same position, not paying attention to what was going on. Had he passed out? gCloud, get up!h Why did he care about Cloud being killed in his own home? He wouldnft have to lift a finger if the ceiling buried Cloud alive. However, as the whole house began to shake, Sephiroth suddenly didnft want to see Cloudfs body beneath large chunks of cement. The shaking stopped and Sephiroth sighed with relief. Now was the time to leave and let Cloud suffer on his own. An enormous tremor smashed into Cloudfs house like a gunshot going off in a room full of fireworks. The wall beside Cloud leaned inward and the lighting fixture above creaked and swung back and forth. Then, the light snapped off of its restraints and plummeted down. Without thinking, Sephiroth threw himself over top of Cloud and took the pain himself. The light shattered into a million pieces of glass and covered Sephirothfs cape. Still, the shaking continued and grew more and more powerful. Sephiroth glanced at Cloud and noticed that he was partially with it. He was giving Sephiroth an odd look but not saying a word. gIf you say anything, Ifll cut out your tongue,h he threatened. gWe have to get underneath something.h Cloud struggled to get up but couldnft stand the pounding in his head. Sephiroth aimed a cure spell at Cloud and relieved his pain. Immediately, Cloud jumped to his feet and stumbled over the shaking floor to snatch up one of his swords at random. Before he could turn to use it, Sephiroth had pinned Cloud to the wall using his entire body. Cloud could feel the warmth from Sephirothfs breath going down his neck. He hated to admit it but Sephiroth was much stronger than he was. gAre you finished yet?h There was something about the position that they were in which was turning Sephiroth on. He sensed a hardness in his groin and automatically pushed his hips into Cloudfs back. gYou attacked me,h Cloud reminded him. Then Cloud tensed when he felt something jabbing his back and Sephiroth becoming a little bit friendlier. Above them, the ceiling began to crumble and deteriorate. gDo you want to cooperate and find somewhere to take cover?h That was not what Sephiroth had in mind but he pulled Cloud away from the wall and went for the bedroom. It was difficult to walk straight, especially when the entire living room sank into the earth and the ceiling with it. Cloud was shoved underneath the bed to be followed by Sephiroth. They stayed there for a few minutes, listening to the destruction above. gI think it stopped,h Cloud said, uncomfortable with how close Sephiroth was to him. eWait.h With one final groan, a piece of the ceiling rained onto the bed giving Cloud a near heart attack. He stayed absolutely still while Sephiroth got out from hiding. gItfs over.h Cloud crawled out after him and grew very serious. The window and the door were blockaded by large sections of wood and cement. gHelp me move this.h He began to tug at the cement but couldnft move it. gSave your strength. You couldnft move that rock if your life depended on it.h Was that a joke? Since when did the great Sephiroth joke? There had been a time in his life when he had felt free enough with others to cut loose. What had changed all that? gMy life does depend on it. Ifm not spending another minute trapped in the same room as you.h gIf it wasnft for me, you would be dead by now.h gIf it wasnft for you, I wouldnft have been hit on the head with a sword and left alive to argue about it. Now help me!h Sephiroth sat down on the bed and started to polish his sword on the end of his cape. gGo ahead and strain your back. I have better things to do.h Some part of him was delighted when Cloud aimed for his face. He caught Cloudfs wrist and smiled at him. It was a real smile and not one of the insane ones which usually ended in a fit of psychotic laughter. gHad I known you were this amusing to watch, I would have caved in this planet long ago.h A traitorous grin came to Cloudfs lips but he hurriedly set his mouth back in a straight line. Why should he want to make jokes and laugh with Sephiroth. Hadnft Sephiroth come to kill him? gHave you thought about food, water and air?h gOh, those boring things. We will be rescued shortly so sit down and behave yourself.h gHow can you be so sure someone will decide to dig up this old house?h Cloud went back to his efforts of clearing the window. gNo one knows where I live.h gAnd your friends?h gAvalanche was over and done with the moment your threat to the earth ended. We couldnft keep going around acting like some self-righteous gang. I prefer to forget about your reign of terror.h gYou have an incredibly lousy memory, Cloud. I hope that you do not forget about this.h There was a hint of suggestion in Sephirothfs tone of voice but Cloud pretended not to hear it. Cloud returned the intense stare of Sephirothfs and gave up on trying to move the one piece of rock. gThe sooner I get out of here, the sooner I intend to forget about it.h Chapter 2 gWhy must you be so relentless?h Sephiroth rested his chin on the palm of his hand, his elbow propped up one knee. He was growing weary of Cloudfs pathetic attempts to escape from their captivity. gYoufve been hacking at that wall for over an hour.h All Sephiroth got for his superiority complex was a haughty glare from Cloud. gThatfs because you wonft lift a finger to help. Are you afraid of getting your clothes dirty?h gI gave you my sword didnft I?h When Cloud turned to hammer the sword into the wood with both hands, Sephiroth laughed under his breath. gTrust me, Cloud. If given the opportunity, I would be the first one out of here. Your presence demeans me in every way possible.h That insult sent Cloud over the edge. He whipped Sephirothfs newly polished sword into the closet and stormed over to him. gI canft stand here and listen you! How can one man be so vain and egotistical? Andcget off of my bed!h He seized Sephirothfs cape and yanked on it. Sephiroth kicked Cloudfs legs out from under him, causing him to fall forward and into Sephirothfs lap. gWe will not be able to get out until at least the morning,h he said angrily. He had lost his temper which wasnft too hard for him to do. He got some satisfaction from Cloudfs discomfort at falling between his legs. Cloud was pushing himself away from Sephiroth, using the older manfs thighs as leverage. gThe last thing I want is to hear you whining about this predicament with every breath you take.h After Cloud was safely back on the other side of the room, Sephiroth sought out something to keep himself occupied. He went for the bookcase above the bed and started to flip through a couple of novels. gCan you at least leave my belongings alone?h gThis is a time of crisis, Cloud. Nothing belongs to you while we are in the midst of a natural disaster. Learn to share.h Then Sephiroth was skimming down one page out of a novel he had taken a liking to. gI never knew you were a romantic. Who are you acting out these sickening scenes with?h Cloud decided that it was time to fight Sephiroth on his own battle field. gWhy havenft you killed me? Isnft that the reason you came here in the first place? Or are you getting off at tormenting me?h gSo many questions from a child like yourself.h Sephiroth knew that Cloud was preying on his weakness, his inability to do what he had threatened to. gSephiroth!h Cloud picked up the sword again and slashed it into the wall. An expression of alarm crossed Sephirothfs face when the bladed instrument flew from Cloudfs fingers. gOWW!h The impact had nearly dislocated one of Cloudfs shoulders. He staggered away from his target, clutching at his right shoulder. gAre you alright?h gWhat do you care?!!h Cloud bit his lower lip to maintain his composure and dignity. However, he wasnft so sure he could tolerate being in the same room with Sephiroth for another hour. gYou killed Aerith and many innocent peoplecincluding my mother. Am I some sort of pawn to you? All you do is pull my strings and you continue to do so even after I killed you.h A low muttering came from Sephiroth. gMaybe I have no use for you dead.h Sinking down onto a cushion, Cloud started to daydream about the whole ordeal being a fantasy. Yes, that was it. A cruel prank that his brain was refusing to give up. It was plausible. It had happened before so why not again? Hands with grips of steel were suddenly clasped to Cloudfs shoulders. Gloved fingers were working their way through his tension, easing the pain. Cloud leaned back and closed his eyes. The sensations grew more intense as those hands slid forward to his collar bone and back again. His neck muscles loosened up just as Sephiroth began to massage his back. Cloud felt so lightheaded that he forgot where he was and who he was with. All he knew was how good it felt to be given so much attention. Nobody had ever considered taking the initiative with Cloud on being affectionate. The experience was new but not entirely unwelcome. Even when Cloud registered the soft breathing touching the back of his neck, he still refused to let it end. gIt appears that I have found a soft spot in you, Cloud. I didnft think that I could reach you after all the hurt that Ifve caused.h Sephiroth wrapped one arm around Cloudfs chest, pulling him closer. Cloud stiffened against him but didnft resist. gYou used to be an honorable man,h Cloud said quietly. gI looked up to you. I even called you my herocthatfs why I couldnft kill you.h gYou left knowing that I had survived?h gI was anticipating it. You may have done unspeakably evil things but I know why you did them. That doesnft make it right and I canft block out those memories butcI can forgive you.h For once in his life, Sephiroth felt as if all the bad things he had ever done were banned from any record books. If Cloud forgave him then the rest of humanity could call him what they wanted to. This was the secret that had been held in his heart and forbidden from his mind. He had always wondered why Cloud got away from his traps unscathed every time. Subconsciously, his need to protect Cloud had been stronger than the desire to end his existence. gThat means a lot to me. Thank-you.h Sephiroth was now at peace with the world. gIfm starving.h Cloud heard his stomach growl and also yawned from exhaustion. gSo am I.h Or was Cloud talking about food? gTry not to think about it.h Cloud shrugged away from Sephiroth and flopped onto his bed. gThanks for the massage. I trust you to leave my limbs attached for when I wake up.h That was it? He had just made an obvious advance on Cloud and now he was going to sleep? gThere is plenty of room for two.h Sephiroth casually lay down next to Cloud who was looking straight into his eyes. gYou havenft done that since I first met you,h he observed. gDone what?h gYou put me so high on a pedestal that it was near impossible for you to reach. All I want is to be able to communicate with you on an equal level.h gThen youfd better quit calling me echildf and eboyf and any other derogatory names that your intellectual mind can come up with. I never imagined that we would be having this conversationcor any conversation.h It seemed comfortable to just exchange looks with Sephiroth, knowing that he wouldnft anger the former crackpot. Finally, Cloud had to cover his mouth and stifle a fit of laughter. How it warmed Sephirothfs frosty heart to watch Cloud laughing, happy, carefree and directly in front of him. He wasnft scared or cowering and he wasnft holding back. Cloud was the reason the goodness in him was returning. gWhatfs so amusing?h gI never realized how perfect your hair is. Every woman you walk by must be jealous.h Sephiroth stroked his fingers through Cloudfs hair and kept his attention on him. Cloudfs eyes were unfocused as he settled down into the pillows. gI would rather wake up with your hair in my mouth than my own.h Had he really said that? What an unrecoverable slip of the tongue. gYou arenft sleeping anywhere near me unless you take off that ridiculous cape and those leather gloves.h Was Cloud pretending not to understand the subtle hints and gestures? Or did he really want what Sephiroth had to offer? gDone.h Sephiroth untied his cape and took off his gloves, kicking his boots on top of the pile. Cloud had been wearing a loose shirt and track pants to begin with so he didnft need to change. Having complied with Cloudfs wishes, Sephiroth pulled back the blankets and slipped underneath them. Cloud did the same to feel the heat from Sephirothfs body. Now that Sephiroth was without his accessories, Cloud was stunned at the muscles which lurked inside of Sephirothfs clothing. His arms were taut with strength and his chest perfectly developed with no scars. He looked powerful and by experience was known to be a person not to be messed with. gCloudcabout earlier oncI am truly sorry for hitting you.h Cloud merely nodded and looked over at the lamp near the bed. gYoufd better turn that off or we may not have it for tomorrow.h Once the light was off, the room changed to a pitch black setting. All that either Cloud or Sephiroth could see were the othersf mako eyes bright in the darkness. Should he prompt Cloud to respond with more coaxing? It wasnft as if he needed the rest or wanted it. Here he was in a place devoid of any disturbances with Cloud, all alone. Cloud was sleeping in the same bed as him, almost touching him. How could he keep repeating the same mistakes. If he just let it be, would there be another chance? Another situation that offered the same privacy and atmosphere. Something brushed over Cloudfs hip then fastened onto it. gHmmmcSephiroth,h Cloud murmured drowsily. Sephiroth moved his hand over Cloudfs hip then to the small of his back where he applied some pressure. Cloud was securely held to Sephirothfs body where he rested his head onto Sephirothfs other arm. Now there was no way out but to go ahead and do what he wanted to. Cloud was well aware of Sephirothfs hands roaming free up and down his body but he wasnft going to fight it. How could the man be anything but sincere when he kept his hands where they belonged. Sephiroth could have overwhelmed Cloud with his hidden passion but he proved to be too decent. He caressed Cloudfs face and stroked his arms and back but no more than that. gHow did I manage to find someone as sweet and compassionate as you, Cloud? You have all the qualities which I have failed at.h gYou became sane again.h Cloud hugged Sephirothfs arm and found that he couldnft stay awake for another minute. Sephiroth was about to join Cloud in slumber land when a sharp noise alerted his defenses. There was something amiss concerning their recent earthquake, if that was what it had been. His gut told him that something was seriously wrong. Sephiroth spent the night holding onto Cloud and trading glances with the blocked entrances and his sword. Every now and then, there would be a cackling sound, faint but not so far away. Where had he heard that sound before? Then it struck him. What kind of alien creatures were waiting for him behind the cement and wood particles? Were they after him or worse yet, Cloud? gOh no.h What if he had died for just an instant and upon rebirth one or a legion of undead massacred demons had tagged along with him? gCloud!h He shook Cloud roughly and got a small protest. gAre you okay?h gIfm finecgo to sleep.h Cloud snuggled closer to Sephiroth again and closed his eyes. While Cloud slept, Sephiroth dealt with his distraught state by monitoring Cloud to ensure that he wasnft being attacked in his dreams. There was now a stable bridge connecting Cloud to Sephiroth and he would let no one ever come between them again. Chapter 3 gSephiroth,h a voice whispered hollowly into the small bedroom. gCloud?h Sephiroth rubbed his sore eyes and looked down at Cloud who hadnft stirred in hours. Depriving himself of sleep had made Sephiroth a mess of nerves. Was it his imagination running wild or Cloud talking in his sleep? Probably a little of both and neither were helping his frame of mind. There was still a lingering fog of paranoia in his brain cells but he refused to acknowledge the problem. gSephiroth.h There it was again. The voice had been too low to belong to Cloud and it had come from the doorway. gWhofs there?h What did Sephiroth have to fear? He had been mortally injured more times than he could count and his mind was strewn with holes. Nothing could scare him or top off a near-death experience. gSephiroth.h gI will not take part in your immature games, cretin!h Acid was boiling in Sephirothfs blood by the time the voice called out again. gSephiroth.h A short intake of breath followed. gKill him. Kill Cloud. Do it quickly lest he awaken and do the same to you.h Pure, unadulterated hatred came pouring out of Sephirothfs eyes and from his mouth. gIf any harm shall befall him, I will show you no mercy.h gIt is not I who is the threat to him, Sephiroth, it is you.h Sephiroth was an extremely intelligent man, he far surpassed even the brightest of scholars. He eventually began to comprehend the meaning behind the hidden voicefs accusations. What if he had been freed or split off from his evil, demented self upon entering the Lifestream? No, it couldnft have been the Lifestream because that was a place of quiet and peace. The place he had been in was best described as a hell-forsaken pit of death and corruption. Still, he realized that the voice he was hearing was his own. His other half desperately wanted to rejoin with him. If that ever happenedc gWhat did you say?h Cloud looked up at Sephiroth with an expression all too innocent and without judgement. gWe have to get out of here as soon as possible.h Sephiroth threw off the blankets and snapped on the lamplight. gMaybe we can climb out through the roof.h He began to pull on his long, black boots and fasten his leather jacket back in place so that his cape covered his bare chest. Then he picked up his sword, his back turned to Cloud. gI thought your plan was to wait until we get rescued.h Cloud could see that something wasnft right by the way that Sephiroth was checking out the room. gDid you lose your glove?h He held up one of them for Sephiroth to take, the other one was missing. gIt couldnft have gotten all the way across the room.h He got off of the bed and crouched down to look under it. The way with which Sephiroth hoisted him off of his feet was none too gentle or kind. gYou imbecile!h He pinned Cloud down onto the bed and glared at him. gIf someone were hiding under that bed, they wouldnft hesitate to murder you in that position. What were you thinking?h Sephirothfs mako eyes were blazing a fiery red as he held his sword away from Cloud. The beating in Cloudfs heart had grown harder and faster, his hands trembling from fright. gI always manage to upset you,h he said sadly. gThatfs why we can never be friends. You always make it perfectly clear that Ifm some flaw of nature that just gets in your way.h gNcno, I didnft mean toch Sephiroth broke off what he was about to say and propped his sword up against the bed. He wrapped his arms firmly around Cloud and embraced him tenderly. gYou donft understand what is happening to me.h v A single tear slid down Cloudfs cheek and many more filled in his eyes. gI want tocIfve always tried to be there for you but you wonft let me. You push me away.h He started to cry, clenching Sephirothfs neck with his arm and soaking it with his misery. All Sephiroth could do was to hold on tighter and stroke Cloudfs back to calm him. gI never knew that by protecting you, I was doing more bad than good. CloudcI donft want to give up this ebondingf that Ifve established with you. But, if I donft, I may end up losing control of myself. My dark side, the one that knows only evil, was dispatched from me when our battle ended. It is haunting me, demanding that I reconnect with it. I canft do that without jeopardizing your safety.h gHow can you overcome your fears and inner turmoil by setting it apart from you?h gWhat do you mean?h This wasnft what Sephiroth had been expecting to hear. There was wisdom to Cloudfs words and questions he hadnft considered himself. gWhen I lost my memories, it only made me weaker and less of a person. I had to confront the truth and conquer it on my own.h gTrue. However, you were fighting pieces of your past. What I am facing seems to be an actual, solid entity. A physical obstacle to deal with who is most likely a mirror image of myself. How do I fight myself?h That mirror image struck Cloudfs overactive imagination. What if? He clearly remembered Sephiroth dropping his gloves on the floor with the rest of his stuff. Where was the other glove? gHefs in here,h Cloud whispered, terrified. The Sephiroth that had inflicted unspeakable torture upon him was in the same room as them. Still holding onto Cloud, Sephiroth grasped the handle of his long sword and tested it. gYou know how to use this, right?h gItfs your sword.h Cloud couldnft fathom the predicament hefd be in if he had to fight Sephirothfs evil twin. He didnft want to be put in that situation because he still hadnft recovered from the last time. gIf anything should happen to mecif I turn on you, I want you to kill me.h A cry of protest was all he got for the order. Then, all he heard was Cloud sobbing in his arms. gI donft want to live with your death on my conscience.h gIt isnft fair.h Cloud grasped a handful of Sephirothfs hair and wouldnft let go. gWhy do I have to kill you? I wonft do it! No matter what you do to me, I wonft!h Could it be anymore futile than it already was? Sephiroth couldnft push Cloud into promising to kill him and Sephiroth didnft want to be the instrument of torture for Cloud again. But the evil side of him wanted Cloud dead, and wished for Sephiroth to accept his destiny of havoc. gYou should have let him look under the bed.h It was Sephirothfs voice and yet it wasnft. The voice lacked substance and emotions but the darkness dripped from each word spoken. Another version of Sephiroth slid out from under the bed, one black, leather glove on his left hand. He was an exact carbon copy of Sephiroth in height, weight and form. There was one thing missing though. The evil Sephirothfs hair was black, his skin black and his shadow failed to grace the wall along with the others. Only two red orbs for eyes shone out from his two dimensional form. gThis has gone on long enough.h Sephiroth lowered Cloud onto the bed and menacingly approached his counterpart. gIf I had been given the chance to separate from you before, I would have gladly done so and then disposed of your useless husk.h gThe boy was correct. You canft live without me. We are forever magnetized. You canft kill me. But, I can kill him.h The evil Sephiroth raised a black replica of Sephirothfs sword and pointed it at Cloudfs throat. With one simple stroke, Sephiroth had knocked the weapon away from Cloud. gI donft give a damn about the consequences of killing you but I am certain that it can be done.h Sephiroth attacked his twin, slashing for vital organs and pressure points while deflecting any directed at him. His emotions drove him onward for he knew that if he died, Cloud would be lying right next to him in a shallow grave. As the evil Sephiroth was backing away from the thrust of Sephirothfs sword, he was unprepared for the harsh kick that smashed into his groin. Then, he was grabbed by the neck and choked by Sephirothfs pinching fingers. gI will do whatever it takes to defeat you.h Sephiroth removed his hand and stabbed the black apparition straight through to his heart and out the back of his ribcage. gVery nice,h Evil Sephiroth chuckled. gIf I were a normal human like yourself, this would have hurt.h He discarded his own sword and pulled out Sephirothfs which was dripping with a green goo. Cloud watched with horror when Evil Sephiroth plunged the sword into Sephiroth as deep as he could. gSEPHIROTH!!!h Cloud screamed and ran towards him, oblivious of the danger he was putting himself in. The wound in Sephirothfs chest was real but he acted as if it hadnft hurt at all. With the sword still imbedded in him, he stood in front of Cloud, blocking him from Evil Sephirothfs reach. Sephiroth withdrew the sword from his body and inspected the red blood now tainting the metal. gDonft interfere, Cloud. I can settle this on my own.h gButch gThe bleeding has stopped and the wound has healed. We are equally matched but neither of us can really harm the other. I cannot kill myself and therefore he will not be able to do away with me. It would seem that you are the pawn in all of thiscagain.h gWhat is the point of fighting him if you canft win?h gIf I donft, he will certainly kill you. That is an alternative that I cannot bear.h Sephiroth whipped his arm upwards to halt his twinfs sword from slicing open his skull. A large gaping hole appeared in his arm from the blade but disappeared as if it had never been there. From the sidelines, Cloud watched as one blow was exchanged for another. They fought each other with a firm resolution but could neither could break the constant stalemate. Sephiroth couldnft do any permanent damage to himself but Cloud on the other handc Would it be permitted to interfere in their abnormal battle? Could he make a difference? There wasnft much that Cloud could use for a weapon in his bedroom. His swords were still on display in the living room. The Ultima Weapon was locked away in a safe place which happened to be nowhere convenient. Cloud slipped by the pair of identical fighting men and pulled out a coat hanger from his closet. He twisted it in his hands until it was nothing but a mangled piece of wire. Then, he stood back and waited. gAre you getting tired yet?h The evil Sephiroth was dancing around his counterpart, showing off fancy moves. gNever!h Sephiroth was in top physical shape and had no trouble keeping his doublefs pace. He even managed to get the upper hand a couple of times. However, the same could be said for the evil Sephiroth who acquired sudden bursts of energy. Just as Sephiroth was about to bring his sword down to meet the evil Sephirothfs sword, Cloud appeared from behind him. Sephiroth was startled when Cloud leapt forward and roped Evil Sephirothfs throat with the copper wire. Evil Sephiroth was quite a bit taller than Cloud so he was wrenched off of his feet when the crazy entity went bezerk. Cloud hung on with a powerful determination. He tugged harder on the wire, strangling the evil Sephiroth with all of his might. The sane Sephiroth bent over and gasped for air, choking and grabbing at his own throat. He felt the wire biting into his flesh, cutting off his air flow, restricting his circulation. Sephiroth reacted instinctively and rammed his elbow into the unseen opponent. On the opposite side of the room, Cloud howled in agony and collapsed onto the floor. Was this his reward for finally discovering peace with Sephiroth? Was he damned to kill his friend for a second time? All of the things he had needed to say to Sephiroth would now remain silenced in his heart. There was to be no second chance for them. It was over. Cloud felt cold hands on his arms and didnft know which Sephiroth had gotten to him first. gWe have to gocnow.h Sephiroth cleared his throat which was raw from choking. gIfm sorrycI didnft know thatch Sephiroth cut him off by stroking a finger over Cloudfs bottom lip. Cloud thought that the action was odd but he kept it to himself. gNo, you did the right thing. He took the brunt of it.h Sephiroth indicated the prone form of Evil Sephiroth writing on the ground. gWe have to hurry.h Using the bed shelves as a ladder, Cloud and Sephiroth clambered up them to reach the fault ceiling. Sephiroth poked it with his sword until a tiny ray of light shone in. He knocked at it some more, making room for them to squeeze out onto the roof. They carefully made their way along the side of the house although their eyes were still unaccustomed to the morning light. gIf it was that easy to get out, why didnft you do it last night?,h Cloud asked suspiciously. gLeaving would have been the easiest thing to do but it wouldnft have been the right thing to do.h What could Sephiroth mean by that? gIt was erightf to stay with me?h gThat evil side of me has been in control for too long. I have many regrets and nearly all of them relate to you. I had to let you know this in case I were to be put into a position where that privilege would not be available to me anymore. My feelings for you have always been brushed aside.h Sephiroth took Cloud by his hand and led him past the wreckage of his house towards an empty building. They sat on the steps of some restaurant which would be closed for another couple of hours. From there, not even the evil Sephiroth would be able to find themcat least not right away. gItfs entirely my fault and I donft want you to remember me as some cold, emotionless bastard.h gYou have to stop blaming yourself.h Cloud smiled faintly at Sephiroth, gazing into his remorseful eyes. gI told you that I forgave you, isnft that what you wanted to hear?h gIn part - yes - but more than that.h Sephiroth placed his hand on Cloudfs face and looked at him with an expression which spoke of warmth and a secret passion. gCloudcIch Cloud saw a twitch in Sephirothfs mouth and moved closer to him. He reached over to touch Sephirothfs arm when the man violently shoved him off of the stairs. The fall winded Cloud but confused him more than the pain. A harsh, bitter laughter erupted from deep within Sephiroth as his eyes seared with red fire. gPitiful child! You fell for my fake concern for you. What a stupid creature you are to fall for that line of crap. What was I going to say? I care for you, Cloud. I want to be your friend,h Sephiroth jeered. His mouth turned up in a snarl to reveal his teeth which were grinding together. When Sephiroth stomped his foot down, he missed Cloud entirely noting that this was one adversary that couldnft be underestimated. gSephiroth, pleasecthink about what youfre doing. That isnft you talking, itfs him.h gDoes it matter who speaks for me? It wonft to me or you once Ifve finished what I came to do.h Sephiroth raised his sword and pinpointed the exact spot where hefd start off in shredding Cloud out of his life. Chapter 4 It was very early in the morning, especially for a Sunday, but all of Midgar was wide awake. People were peering out from behind their curtains and coming out of their houses to see what all the commotion was about. At first, they focused primarily on Cloud and his efforts to dodge every line of intent from Sephirothfs sword. Then, one- by-one, the people began to really see Sephiroth. gYou killed my husband!,h an elderly woman shouted at Sephiroth. She ran towards him with a piece of wood in her hands. Sephiroth knocked the woman away and punched another man accusing him of burning his children to ashes. Soon, he lost sight of Cloud as the gathered crowd circled him, demanding a public lynching or severing his head from his body. There were two sides of Sephiroth reacting to the danger. One was laughing at the puny mortals before him, reveling in their ignorance. The other half wanted to keep his limbs in place and his body free of scars which would only ruin his appearance. gCloud!h Sephiroth moved from one person to another, trying to break free of the circle. There was no mercy to be found or given. They wanted blood. His blood. So many angry faces. All they were asking for was what they were entitled to, revenge for the wrongs Sephiroth had committed against them. But, nothing would be gained by murdering Sephiroth. He wasnft the monster he seemed to be, Cloud knew this. Sephiroth was the victim of a heartless scientist who had played god with an innocent man. The dark side of Sephiroth, the one that had crept back into him to kill Cloud, suddenly dived below the streets and into the underground railway system. He would not be caught up in Sephirothfs fate. Somehow, Evil Sephiroth would find a way to thrive without his hostfs body and mind. It had to better than being whipped by stones or poked with pitchforks. Cloud saw Sephirothfs expression change to confusion and barely concealed fear. He knew why the people were angry but he pleaded with them, denying responsibility. gWAIT!h Cloud stood in front of Sephiroth and blocked one manfs gun from jabbing into his stomach. gHe isnft the man you once knew.h gThen why was he trying to cut your head off?,h the old woman yelled. gYou want to protect thiscDEMON?h How many of the onlookers were relatives of the people of Nibelheim? They all knew the crimes and atrocities of Sephirothfs past. Even in Midgar, Sephiroth was loathed as dearly as Satan himself. The shouts and screams grew louder while Sephiroth tried to think of a way out. Cloud was daring anyone to hit him to get to Sephiroth. For a couple of minutes, it worked because they were good people and didnft want to involve Cloud. gDid I really cause all this?h gNot now,h Cloud whispered. gMaybe itfs best if I get this over with.h There was a hint of resignation in Sephirothfs tone, as if he couldnft care less whether he was captured or not. Cloud looked up at Sephiroth with mourning eyes. gCanft you think of someone besides yourself? Do you think I want you to die?h gGET OUT OF THE WAY!h A teenage girl kicked Cloudfs shins and plunged a knife into Sephirothfs side. Sephiroth picked her up by her neck and tossed her into the crowd. gCloud, come on!h They ran down the street and were hassled by the people ahead who tried to stop them. None of them were athletes or former soldiers so they quickly fell behind. gDid she get you?,h Cloud called out from Sephirothfs right side. gNo, she would not make a good assassin.h gWell, Ifm going to be feeling that kick she gave me every time I stand up.h gWhere are we going?h A rock went sailing above Sephirothfs head. gThis canft be helpful.h gRocket Town. Vincent is there, maybe he can shed some light on your split personality problem.h They turned a corner and slowed down to catch their breath. gThe vampire? No thank-you.h gDonft be so arrogant. He went through similar experiments and might be able to reverse the process.h gHmph! Him? That I would like to see.h The harbor was coming into view and with it plenty of boats that werenft tied up too tightly. gYou get in and Ifll untie the rope,h Sephiroth ordered. The mob wasnft far off but they didnft make it in time to witness Sephirothfs powerful rowing techniques. From another boat, Evil Sephiroth swore upon missing their departure. If he had known that Cloud wasnft so wimpy and would save his hostfs body, he would have stayed with it. He wasnft as strong or threatening on his own. Sephiroth had to be within a reasonable distance for him to reconnect but now that couldnft be done. Evil Sephiroth lurked in the shadows, plotting of a way to locate his other self. gI donft know where Ifd be if I didnft have you,h Sephiroth said as he rowed further away from shore. Cloud stared into the incoming fog and sighed. gI feel seasick,h he groaned. gHow bad?h gThe water is spinning. Couldnft you have stolen a powerboat?h When they were out of range from anyone who may have tried to follow, Sephiroth dropped the oars and moved over to Cloud. gI can remedy that.h He was so close, his long hair blowing in the wind. Sephiroth was like some angel from above, offering Cloud something forbidden. gOnly if you permit it.h gWhat did you have in mind?h Cloud felt his thighs grow warm and looked down to see Sephirothfs hands on them. gIfve always been astounded by your beauty, Cloud. You look at me in such a way that no one else has ever bothered to before. If I had been more like youch gYou would have been screwed up the same way as I am now. Ifm still trying to get over my fantasy of pretending to be someone Ifm not. How many times do I have to tell you that you arenft a bad person?h Too many years of longing for Cloud spilled out of Sephirothfs hands as he caressed Cloudfs face, pulling him off of the wooden bench and onto the bottom of the boat. Cloud allowed it, wanted it just as badly but was too afraid to say so. gDo you have any idea how you make me feel?h Sephiroth lay on top of Cloud, burying his face into Cloudfs shoulder and brushing his fingers through the unruly strands of blonde hair in his way. gI think so,h Cloud gasped as Sephirothfs concealed erection pressed against his leg. He stroked Sephirothfs silky hair, kissing his forehead. gI feel the same way.h gItfs so frustratingcnot being able to do what I please to you at this very moment.h gSephiroth, this isnft just a physical thing, is it?h Sephiroth raised himself up and looked down into Cloudfs face. Their lips were almost touching and their heavy breathing stimulated the atmosphere. gThat would be beneficial to you, wouldnft it? It would give you an excuse to hide from me and avoid ethisf. Havenft you ever been with anyone? Canft you tell that I want more than your body?h Cloudfs pale skin darkened to a shade of red. gThatfs none of your business.h gWhat happened to our honesty? Maybe Ifm invading your personal space.h Hoping that teasing would draw Cloud out, Sephiroth started to get up. gFine! I went out with Aerith on a date. There! Are you satisfied?h Instead, Sephiroth became somber and disturbed. gAerith. The girl whose life I ended.h gSephiroth!h gIfve become too self absorbed. Youfll have to remind me to stop wallowing in my own self pity.h Sephiroth forced the image of Aerith from his mind, the one where she had fallen forward, impaled from behind on his sword. He kissed Cloudfs neck and felt him shiver. gWhat did you and Aerith do on that one date?h Cloud described their short visit to the Gold Saucer but didnft mention the ridiculous play he had participated in. gYou call that a date?h gShe did.h Cloud was annoyed at Sephirothfs amused expession. gWhat about you? A first class SOLDIER must have had many girls to boast about.h gAnd guys,h Sephiroth added. gAlthough we never went to the Gold Saucer on a date. It was usually a movie, dinner and a romantic evening at my house.h The next time Sephiroth tried to kiss Cloud, he got a knee in his crotch. gWhat was that for?h Cloud slipped out from under Sephiroth and went back to his wooden bench. gYou went out with that many people but donft know anything about being tactful.h gI was only teasing.h Sephiroth sat beside Cloud and wrapped an arm around him. gThe last thing Ifm going to do is give you a detailed reenactment of each person I slept with. I didnft want them as badly as I want you.h gReally?h gYes.h Then Sephiroth tilted Cloudfs chin up and bent down to kiss his lips. There werenft any distractions to stop him so he didnft miss. Cloud was absolutely still and rigid when Sephiroth changed the friendly hug into an embrace. It was very quiet, even the wind and the waves ceased their movement. Sephiroth was trying to relax Cloud by massaging his back. When Cloud had released all of his tension, Sephiroth advanced. The sensation of Sephirothfs tongue moving across his lips made Cloud resist and struggle. He didnft know what to make of the intrusion of Sephirothfs tongue sliding between his parted lips and into his mouth. Cloud gasped and heard himself moan when Sephiroth became more passionate. The kiss grew longer and deeper and neither of them wanted to break the intimacy of it. For his first kiss, Cloud was truly enjoying it. Cloud clung to Sephirothfs waist and tried to bring him closer than he already was. They ended up falling back to the bottom of the boat with Sephiroth on top. gThat was aggressive,h scolded Sephiroth. gI never thought you had it in you.h He smiled and kissed Cloud for the second time. There were moments when Cloud wanted to return the kiss but ended up doing something clumsy and weird. Sephiroth was amused at his inexperience but had no desire to insult him. After a couple of lessons, Cloud was bound to be an expert at pleasing Sephiroth. It didnft take too long to get to Rocket Town so long as Sephiroth kept his hands on the oars and off of Cloud. They picked the perfect place to escape to seeing as how no one knew Sephiroth there. And it was relatively simple to locate Cid since he lived in the same house he had when Cloud first met him. Shera, Cidfs miscellaneous house maid and assistant rocket technician, invited them in and boiled water for tea. They had to chat with her for an hour before Cid got home. He was messing with his plane again. Cid came home precisely at five ofclock and let the door slam behind him. gShera, do we have guests? Who do these gawdy black boots belong to? Not the fucking mailman, I hope.h When Cid saw Sephiroth, he nearly jumped out of his skin. gSHIT!h Cid pulled his gun out and leveled it in front of Sephirothfs chest. gYou should have died the first time.h Before Cid could pull the trigger, Cloud had rushed over and knocked the weapon down so that it fired the bullet through the floorboards. gWefre looking for Vincent,h Cloud explained. gWe heard he was staying with you.h gDamn it, kid! Does he have control of you again? Do I have to knock some sense into you?h gI would not recommend it.h Sephirothfs tone had grown cold. He took Cidfs words at face value and despised any attempts to harm Cloud. gWill you listen to me? If you still want to shoot him after Ifm finished, then wefll leave.h Cid put the safety switch back onto his gun and motioned for Sephiroth to get up. gIfll listen but not in here. This is my house and he is not welcome in it.h They talked or argued for most of the night before Cid agreed to let Sephiroth come back inside. He didnft trust Cloud completely and wouldnft let either of them out of his sight. The gun stayed with him and it was filled with bullets. gCid, where did you get these boots from?h It was Vincentfs voice. None of them had heard the man enter. Vincent wandered into the den where his visitors were waiting. gSephiroth?h He didnft sound angry or sad, only devoid of emotion. gThis jackass wants your help,h Cid snickered. gHefs got mental problemscthought you might have a cure. Do you buy that, Vincent?h gWhat do you need from me?h Cidfs jaw dropped when Vincent walked straight over to Sephiroth and Cloud. His right arm was twitching and his clawed fingers clenched. Cloud and Sephiroth remained in the den while Cid discussed the issue privately with Vincent. gAre you out of your freaking mind? Therefs a homicidal maniac in my house with a voodoo curse over Cloud and youfre going to help him? I say kick them both out, that way I canft be held accountable for plugging them full of lead.h gCid, put your gun away. They mean us no harm.h Vincent was a man of few words but he seemed to be very verbal on the subject. gHave you forgotten what I have been turned into? A monster with one arm and half a soul. I can relate to Sephirothfs dilemma.h Vincent popped three frozen pizzas into the oven and opened a can of beer. He drank steadily from it, well aware of Cidfs stare. gAnd Cloud? How does he fit into Sephirothfs sob story?h gCloud doesnft interest me. I owe Sephiroth for not being able to save his mother and my first true love.h gYoufre acting as if she was your last true love.h Cid lit up a cigarette before tossing a six-pack onto a tray with some nachos. gYou owe me too for not coming home last night. Remember where youfre supposed to sleep. Ifm not going to wait up for you to waltz in whenever you feel like it.h Sephiroth ate and drank whatever he was offered but Cloud declined on getting drunk with the three older men. He was embarrassed when Sephiroth kissed him during the evening news. Cid was watching it to see if Sephirothfs story checked out. Sure enough, there was a report on the disturbance in Midgar. Vincent watched Sephiroth pawing Cloud and glanced at Cid. Cloud tasted the beer from Sephiroth and grimaced, he didnft like alcohol. But it didnft turn him off from being kissed. Cid was occupied with his television and only caught a glimpse of Cloud fixing his crinkled shirt. The fact that Sephiroth followed Cloud into the guestroom was of no concern to Cid. He was blind to their mutual attraction. To get Sephiroth alone, Vincent beckoned him to the hallway. gI expect something in return for aiding you.h gNothing is ever free in this world.h Sephiroth shook his head at Vincentfs pitiful gaze. gYou do me a favour, I do you a favour. Is that how it goes?h gI want you to show me how to be romantic.h gWHAT?!!h gShhh!!!h Vincent glared at Sephiroth. gDo you want Cid to hear?h gCid? That old crone?h He couldnft help but smirk at the thought of the dark-haired man in bed with Cid, the short man with the gutter mouth. gFor your information, I am older than he is.h Now Vincent was getting impatient. gWill you or will you not do what I ask? Keep in mind that I have plenty of reasons to want you dead right now. I might not come up with a cure at all but a deadly virus that will eat you away from the inside-out.h gTherefs no need to be so melodramatic about it. Ifll do what I can but what makes you think that I am romantic?h gYou are sleeping with Cloud, arenft you?h gThatfs none of your business.h Sephiroth could barely keep the thought out of his head. gLetfs stick to me giving you pointers. What goes on between Cloud and myself stays with us.h Sephiroth spent the evening on the edge of the bed he was sharing with Cloud. His new love interest suspected that he would be obligated to give more than he wanted to if he got too close. It was hard to blame Cloud for the distance when Sephiroth was thinking dirty thoughts. gVINCENT, you dropped your damn cape in with my laundry!h Cid was yelling at the top of his lungs. Cloud groaned and covered his head with the pillow. gMy new boxers are fucking red!h gHe is the one who needs to learn to be romantic.h Sephiroth was startled when Cid flung the door open. gDo you mind!h The pilot muttered something inaudible and folded his arms across his chest. gWhatfs going on in here? First you two are sworn enemies and now youfre bed buddies. I donft want any of this crap in my house.h gHefs nowhere near me,h protested Cloud. gTomorrow night, youfre on the couch.h He tapped his cigarette to shake off some ashes and fixed his eyes on Sephiroth. gI know your type. Youfll screw Cloudfs head up some more to get your kicks. He doesnft need you molesting him.h gCid.h Vincent appeared in the doorway and placed a restraining hand on Cidfs shoulder. gI think Cloud is old enough to make his own decisions.h gYou! This is the hundredth time that Ifve had to warn you about my damn underwear.h gMaybe I like them red.h Vincent was attempting a smile but couldnft raise his head to look at Cid. The concept of Vincent finding his boxers sexy when dyed red skipped over Cid. gAnd since when have you sided with Cloudfs poor judgement? Youfre always telling me about the misled kid who lost his marbles.h Vincent was mouthing the words for Cid to shut up but he was on a roll. gDo you think that Cloud matured so much in the last few months that his sleeping with Sephiroth is normal?h gCan I say something?h Cloud pushed Sephiroth out of the bed and stood nose-to-nose with Cid. gI am not sleeping with Sephiroth in that sense. And even if I was, you would have no right to stop me.h Cloud didnft have to look at Sephiroth to know that he was drooling over the possibility. gSephiroth, you can sleep on the couch tonight.h gIf hefs serious, Cid, youfre dead.h Sephiroth stomped past all three of them and gave Vincent the evil eye. gThat flesh eating virus is starting to sound better by the minute.h Chapter 5 Somewhere close to Rocket Town, a teenage girl rode a Chocobo through the long grass, her teeth gritted against the flying sand. She shifted and stretched many times as though her long, slender body just wasnft long enough. It felt cramped to her and she had a seriously throbbing headache. The sooner she returned home to her parents, the sooner she could be lying in bed with a large bottle of aspirin. The journey across the ocean was stuck in the back of her head, reminding her of the weirdness back in Midgar. She wasnft old enough to know much about ShinRa or the trouble they had caused her people. To see a mob rising up against two young men was new to her. Just wait until she arrived home, her parents would have a long story to listen to. Anything for the conversation. There wasnft much that she had in common with her parents, as most teenagers her age were light years away with their music and fashion sense. But, a spark of a well exaggerated story was exactly what was needed to keep their attention on her for a few minutes if not more. Meanwhile, inside of Cidfs kitchen, Vincent was performing all sorts of tests on Sephiroth. He pricked him with needles, drew blood, measured breathing, heart rate and even asked for a very personal sample from him. Sephiroth was outraged but humored the man because he had no choice. No choice but to lie flat on his back and watch his body be picked apart by Vincent. gHave you found anything yet?h Cloud was hovering nearby, averting his gaze whenever Vincent decided to take more samples. gActually, yes I have. Itfs scientifically impossible butcSephirothfs entire body is lacking half of what it should.h gWHAT?h Sephiroth snatched the results from Vincentfs hand and looked over the information himself. gHefs missing half of his blood cells, half of his skin tissue, half ofch Vincent cleared his throat. gWell, his performance might not be what hefs used to.h gIfd appreciate it if you kept your comments off of my genitalia.h The silver haired man sat up and began to dress. gWhat does this mean?h gIt isnft good if thatfs what youfre asking. You need your other half to go on living but if you do rejoin, your evil side could retake control.h Cid hurried through the kitchen and gave Sephiroth a withering glance. gIfm never eating off of that table again.h gOld crone,h Sephiroth muttured beneath his breath. gSo what should we do?h Poor Cloud was hoping against hope that there was a way to keep Sephiroth alive without reverting him back to a back-stabbing snake. For once, Vincent didnft have a solution. gHis other half will be coming to find him. Neither of them can survive long without the other. Once they are whole again, we may be able to eradicate the evil tendencies in his brain.h Outside of Rocket Town, the young girl dismounted off of her Chocobo and patted his head. Then the furry, yellow bird was bolting off, warking all the way. gI canft wait to tell ch She suddenly clutched at her head, her knees buckling. Then she collapsed as a shadow of a man climbed out of her body. gThanks for the ride,h Evil Sephiroth sneered at her quivering body. The shadow moved from house to house, searching for his host, no longer as powerful as he once was. He sensed that the original Sephiroth wasnft exactly in top condition himself. No matter, he had an agenda to stick to and eliminating Sephiroth was high on the list. When Sephiroth was once again under his command, the first order of business would be to execute Cloud. Evil Sephiroth recognized one of the houses as belonging to Cid, the smartass pilot. They were inside, all four of them. Now was his chance. He walked straight through the wall, wincing a bit from the strain it put on his abnormal powers. Sephiroth was just leaving the kitchen to take a long shower. The evil half of him could feel the defeated attitude surrounding Sephiroth. Now, it would be easy. He ran the last few feet and lunged at Sephiroth. Cloud, Cid and Vincent rushed into the hallway to see Evil Sephiroth disappear inside of Sephiroth. The result was horrible as Sephiroth screamed and smashed things, fighting against himself. He staggered one way, then the other, punching the wall, tearing at his hair. gNO! NO! Anything but this!h Neither Cid nor Vincent made any effort to stop Cloud when he moved forward. gSephiroth. You can win, I know you can.h Sephiroth let out a low sigh, trembling from the weight of his conscience. There would be no teaching Vincent how to be romantic, no life with Cloud, no freedom. He had been doomed from the beginning. How he had wished to shake Cid and tell him how precious Vincentfs companionship was. To tell the man never to let it go. The words wouldnft come out. What he wouldnft trade in exchange for an hour of apologies, of things left unsaid and undone. At his side, Cloud was moving things out of his way, clearing a path straight to the guest room. What did Cloud want from him? To make it all better, to magically restore his humanity? gYou didnft come all this way just to give up.h Cloud led him into the room and shut the door, massaging his neck, kissing his knuckles. Sephiroth could feel the will being driven out of him. So tired. If he could only rest and dwell on his misfortune the next day, the next life. Faces rained hard down on him. The people he had murdered, killed, slain. They howled for restitution, saying that this was what he deserved. A life of torment. Shaking his head, Sephiroth managed to dislodge those emotions temporarily. He took Cloudfs face in his hands and kissed him. Even after all he had done, Cloud was still on his side. Cloudfs loyalty astounded him for he didnft deserve it. gCloud. I love you.h Sephiroth hugged Cloud tightly, feeling the dampness of tears on his neck. Half belonged to Cloud, the other half were unfamiliar stabs of pain. gI love you tooch As they were moving towards the bed, Sephiroth knew what was going to happen. Cloud must be preparing himself, waiting for the ultimate act of surrender. His hand gripped something on the way over. It must be Cloudfs hand, he thought. But the object was cold and lifeless. He pushed Cloud down onto the bed, still kissing him, running his hands through that soft, blonde hair. gYou will never forget this moment,h Sephiroth spoke icily. gIfve wanted to be with you for a long time. I want this now, Sephiroth. I love you,h he repeated. Cloud opened his arms to embrace Sephiroth, his expression vulnerable, loving. gAnd so you shall have it.h He pulled back his right arm and revealed his sword. The look on Cloudfs face turned to confusion then to sheer agony as he was impaled. Sephiroth drove the sword in deeper, cutting through Cloudfs heart and nailing him to the mattress. A strangled scream escaped Cloudfs blood, soaked lips as he fought to loosen the sword. He cried out again and again, feeling his very life shattering before him. Sephiroth moved the blade up higher, cutting even further into Cloudfs flesh. In his mind, he knew that he was breaking Cloudfs ribcage, had already punctured both of his lungs and was making short work of the younger manfs heart. Cloud was staring up at him, unable to scream anymore. He bit straight through his bottom lip, eyes tightly shut as tears of blood streamed from them. Then Cloud was dead. gWhat have I done?h Sephiroth slid the sword out of Cloud and began to shake. Why didnft Cid or Vincent come to help Cloud? gWhy didnft you stop me?!!h He shouted at the ceiling, letting the weapon drop to the bed. He picked Cloudfs body up in his arms and cradled him close, sobbing with a sorrow so great it consumed his soul. gHow could I kill them man I love?h gYou canft.h gWho said that?h Sephiroth raised his head away from Cloudfs face and found that he was no longer in the house. All around him was darkness. He couldnft see and when he raised his arms, Cloud was gone. gWhat is going on?h gCloud cannot be killed by you when you are imprisoned here.h gWhere am I?h gWhere youfve always been.h Deja vu struck when the cackling, the laughter from that dark place invaded his mind. gWhy are you doing this to me?h gIfm not responsible for your actions, Sephiroth. You are. I only showed you what could have been.h gAerith,h Sephiroth snarled. gCould have been? You mean all of this was just a dream? A figment of my imagination? What about Cloud and my evil side? Youfre a liar!h gAnything can be as real as you make it here. You are still on trial for your sins. Your delusional fantasy with Cloud merely withdrew the imagery from deep within you. Itfs time you came to terms with your love for him. Time you suffered for nearly killing him. For killing me.h gI wouldnft have killed him. I couldnft have.h gBut you did and it was easy, wasnft it? He gave you his heart and you tore it in two. And you expect to be allowed to leave this dimension with a personality like that? Sephiroth, you are going to pay for what you did. Ifll ensure that.h gSend me back to Cloud. I have to tell him the truth. I canft die unless he knows. He has to know!h Sephiroth ran into the black aura and kept going, trying to find an opening somewhere. gHe already knows what a psychological deviant you are. Donft worry, if I ever see him, Ifll tell him how much you wanted him dead.h gWhere are you, witch? Come over here and speak to me or are you too much of a coward?h gVery well.h Aerith appeared above him, floating with her long brown hair and big, green eyes. gYou want me to have some compassion I suppose?h gI know you have the ability to send me back. Ifve changed, you must listen to me. All I want is to have a second chance with Cloud. There wonft be any evil doubles or split personalities. After seeing what Ifm capable of, I know not to repeat my mistakes.h She flew higher and smiled at Sephiroth. gAre you sure thatfs what you want? It will be like replaying a scene in a movie. An earthquake will hit Midgar and trap Cloud inside of his home. Unless you are there, he will be killed in the living room, on the couch. It doesnft matter what you try to alter, the exact same thing will happen twice. Only this time, you will not encounter your evil side as I have already banished it. However, it will be even more difficult to seduce Cloud this time.h gWhatever the odds, I will be there for Cloud. I can convince him that I am a new man. Will you do this for me?h gNo.h She smiled, the same ethereal smile down onto him. gNot for you, Sephiroth. For Cloud. He showed me the world as it really was and now I will show him you as you were meant to be. Go.h A window of bright light pierced into Sephirothfs eyes and he greedily went through it. He was afraid that Aerith might change her mind and hurl him into a dungeon deeper than hell. gAerith, thank-youcand Ifm sorry.h Her projected form melted under the light but the last thing Sephiroth noticed was her smile. She was at peace and it this rested the gnawing guilt that had chewed away at him for that eternity. Midgar. He was in Midgar, and in ten minutes, hefd be at Cloudfs house. Cloud. The man he loved with all of his heart. Optimism flooded his spirit, lifted the corners of his mouth into a broad grin. He practically ran towards Cloudfs home, stopping only to grab a bunch of flowers and throw his sword down a well. Sephiroth ignored the urge to climb into Cloudfs bedroom and instead flung open the front door. Cloud leapt off of the couch and his jaw dropped. gSephirothchow?h But Sephiroth grabbed Cloudfs arm and led him to the bedroom as the ground began to shake. gIfll explain everything later,h he said when the ceiling collapsed and they had to hide under the bed. gBut for now, just know that I love you.h -End- Back to FF7 Fanfiction |