Feena_bronze_rider
3rd May 2005, 02:28 AM
Jenova File
Final Fantasy 7 fan fiction.
X-year X-month X-day
"Your what?" asked Hojo spewing his coffee across his desk. "I am pregnant," Lurecia replied calmly sipping her tea. "How far along? Is it a girl or a boy? Does it kick?" Hojo rambled on. "I am seven weeks, you can't tell what it is now and it does not kick." Lurecia answered her cool calm and collected front not giving way to the knots in her stomach from having to tell her husband about the child. "Good morning you two," said professor Gast opening the door to the lab. "Did you hear the news?" Hojo asked excited. "About what?" Gast asked setting his files on his desk and turning to the couple. "I am going to be a father!" Hojo burst out. "Are you going to tell all of Shinra?" Lurecia laughed. "That seems to be the idea," Gast smiled at his assistants wife. The two men went on talking. Lurecia slipped out of the lab and made her way to the elevator. As the elevator doors opened Lurecia made her way to the Turks office. "Is Vincent here?" She asked the receptionist. "Yes in his office" the receptionist replied. As she entered Vincent's office she was greeted with a warm embrace and a kiss. "Vincent," she said startled by his forwardness. "I've missed you! Where have you been," asked Vincent still hugging Lurecia. "I have to make time for my husband too," She said struggling free of the young Turk's arms. "You could have married me and we wouldn't have to see each other in secret," Vincent replied leaning on his desk. "That's what I want to talk to you about." Lurecia started. She took a deep breath then decided to just to tell him the honest truth. "I'm pregnant," she blurted out. "What!" Vincent replied. "Is it mine or..." Vincent couldn't go on he had to sit down. "I don't know but I told Hojo first," Lurecia said rubbing her hands. "I-I don't know what to say. I need some time to think things over," Vincent replied as Lurecia made her way to the door.
4 years later
"Professor Gast!" Sephiroth called out. The professor leaned back in his chair "Yes Sephiroth?" Gast answered. "What you doing?" asked Sephiroth climbing on the chair next to Gast. "I am filing a report on our resent finds about material for the mako reactors." Gast replied. "You writing?" Sephiroth asked not understanding a word the professor said. "Yes." Gast said smiling and patting the boy on the head. "Aren't you supposed to be hooked up to the..." Gast motioned to his hand as if drawing a line to above his head. "That? I took the thing off. It hurt." Sephiroth replied pointing to small hole in his upper arm where the plastic tube had been transfusing mako into his blood stream. "Sephiroth," Hojo called. Sephiroth looked behind him where Hojo was coming. "Can I hide in there," asked Sephiroth pointing to a lab room. "Hurry," Gast smiled. Sephiroth ran into the lab room and hid in a cabinet. "have you seen that boy?" asked Hojo after calling Sephiroth a few more times. "Nope," Gast said continuing on with his work. "Tell me if you find him," said Hojo turning to leave. Sephiroth snuck out of the lab room and into Gast's office. "Sephiroth!" Hojo said as the boy stood in the door way of the lab. Sephiroth gasped then shut his eyes and stood still. "What are you doing?" asked Hojo angrily. "You can't see me!" inform Sephiroth opening one eye to look at Hojo. "I can see you so get over here!" Hojo was mad, Sephiroth (being an only a child) never did what Hojo asked. "He's just a child, let him be," Gast interjected. "He's my specimen to what I will with." Hojo said taking Sephiroth by the arm and leading him into the other room.
"Hello," Vincent's voice filled the lab. "Guess no one is here. I'll just leave the report," Vincent entered the lab. "Who are you!" asked Sephiroth sitting up in his bed. "Your Hojo's.... your Sephiroth aren't you," asked Vincent. "Yeah! I'm Sephiroth!" Sephiroth started to reach out as if to shake Vincent's hand but a cord to a machine he was hooked up to restrained him. Vincent looked at Sephiroth. "This is her child," he thought "This is Lurecia's little boy... this is my little boy." Sephiroth looked at Vincent hard. "What you thinking," asked Sephiroth. "How much you remind me of someone I knew." Vincent said setting an envelope on Hojo's desk. "Who?" asked Sephiroth. "Lurecia. She was a very beautiful woman. I loved her very much." Vincent replied. "My mom was pretty!" Sephiroth beamed. "Who is your mom and dad?" asked Vincent walking over to the boys bedside. "I don't know but Hojo said she was pretty!" Sephiroth said. "Your cool! I like you!" Sephiroth said his big blue green eyes sparkling at Vincent. "Your cool too." Vincent smiled at the boy as he tapped his feet together under his blankets. Vincent heard Hojo coming and quickly made his way to the door. "Where are you going?" asked Sephiroth. "I have to work. But I'll come back." Vincent said opening the door to the lab. "Promise?" Sephiroth asked. "if you promise not tell Hojo I was here." Vincent replied. "All right!" Sephiroth replied. "Shhhh." Vincent put his finger to his lips. "Shhhh." Sephiroth replied with a laugh.
7 months later
" You can't do tests on him! He's my son!" Vincent shouted. "You don't know that he very well could be my son!" Hojo retorted. "What your doing is wrong!" Vincent was furious. "He is my son to do as I want!" Hojo stormed around in circles. "Like you said we don't know that." Vincent said. "She was married to me there is a higher chance that he's mine!" Hojo shouted. "But she loved me!"soaped Vincent. The fight went on. Hojo turned to his desk. "What are you doing?" Vincent asked calming down a little. Hojo said nothing yet turned and revealed a gun. "What?" Vincent stepped backward a step. Hojo said nothing yet pulled the trigger. Bang! Vincent fell to the floor bleeding. "Is this the end?" thought Vincent as all went black.
Hojo stepped forward and felt Vincent's pulse. "He's still alive. Good." Hojo stood up and drug Vincent to an operating table, this would be the last of Vincent's days as a Turk.
10 years later
"The mako in the mako fountain condenses into--" Gast began "Into materia!" Sephiroth finished. "You know quite a lot my boy." Gast pat Sephiroth on the head. "How can you use materia and use magic?" asked Sephiroth. Gast gave a quick tutorial on Materia. "Oh, I see now! It's kinda like mystical properties!" Sephiroth exclaimed. "No! Not mystical properties! It shouldn't even be called magic!" Gast exclaimed. "Sorry." Sephiroth said as he looked at the angry professor. "It is quite all right." Gast replied calming down. "Sephiroth! Get in here!" Hojo called from the lab. Sephiroth rolled his eyes. "Coming. (Loser.)" he said marching into the lab. "Your place is being challenged!" Hojo blurted out pacing in circles. "Wow, you discovered guinea pigs." Sephiroth murmured crossing his arms. "Idiot! Your place in SOLDIER!" Hojo shouted. "Those Turks have been, have been--" Hojo's face began to go red. "Have been doing there jobs?" Sephiroth gave a sarcastic laugh. "Shut up! You better get going to that training center right now! March!" Hojo shouted slapping Sephiroth in the face. Sephiroth acted as if he felt nothing as Hojo hit him then turned and walked towards the training center.
In the training center Sephiroth saw a blond girl standing with a group of Turks. "Who's she?" he asked as Hojo followed him in. "Your rival." Hojo replied. "A girl is going to take my place?" Sephiroth seemed shocked. "You have a problem with that?" the girl asked. "Who are you?" asked Sephiroth looking the girl over. She seemed to be from the slums, she wore a white tank-top with blue jeans shorts and knee socks with red sneakers and her hair long and waves. "I'm Shigatsu. And you are? she asked. "Sephiroth." he answered. "Well Sephiroth. I see were competing to see who gets this spot, I hope your up for a challenge." Shigatsu said turning to face the Turks. "I hope your up for one as well." Sephiroth replied walking up to the rink for them to fight in. "Are you two ready?" asked Reno head of the Turks. "I am." replied Shigatsu stepping into the rink. "Same." Sephiroth said stepping in. "Don't hold back because I'm a girl." Shigatsu said shortly before the bell rang. "Don't worry. Even if I did I could take you down quickly." Sephiroth degraded. The bell rang. "You throw the first punch." Sephiroth smirked. "Gladly." Shigatsu said pulling back to punch Sephiroth in the face. "This should be easy." thought Shigatsu turning around and kicking Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't seem shocked. Her turning her punch to a kick was expectable. Shigatsu on the other hand was very shocked. Her kick didn't even faze him. She stood there her foot on his chest. "It didn't even make him flinch!" Shigatsu exclaimed.
"What did you do to that kid Hojo!" asked Reeve shocked. "Just keeping a tight reign." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth rolled his eye's after letting Shigatsu gasp a few times then grabbed her by the foot and flipped her sideways. "I'm going to have to go for a different approach!" thought Shigatsu jumping up off the mat. She punched Sephiroth in the shoulder then dodged his counter attack. Sephiroth finally turned and kicked her on the ground then pined her shoulders down. "One, two, three. The young lady is out!" Said Tseng beating his hand on the mat. "Good fight, a little short though." Sephiroth said with a smirk. "Shut up!" Shigatsu replied. Sephiroth offered her his hand. "This guy is actually going to help me up. Even after beating the crap out of me." Shigatsu thought. She lifted her hand to take his help. "This is a sad sight." Whispered Reno to Reeve as Shigatsu let Sephiroth help her up.
"There talking about you." Sephiroth said as she stood up. "Their really no help." Shigatsu rolled her eyes and stepped out of the rink. "You know that you lost your spot on the recruit list?" Tseng said to Shigatsu. "I can still train until they start drafting can't I? asked Shigatsu. "Yes." Tseng answered. "That's all I need to know." Shigatsu said walking out of the training center.
2 years later
"You throw a good punch now and then." Sephiroth laughed slightly punching Shigatsu's shoulder. "Oh really?" She replied crossing her legs and turning away from him pretending to be angry. "Stop it you know I'm just joking." Sephiroth said. "Thank you." Shigatsu smiling at her friend. "Yeah. You can't throw a good punch at all." Sephiroth laughed. "You!" Shigatsu jumped off the box she was sitting on and kicked Sephiroth in the shoulder making him loose balance and fall. "Are you two going to sit there all day or come see who got cut and who got excepted!" Shouted Robin a friend of Sephiroth. "Coming!" Sephiroth shouted back climbing off the floor. "Hurry lets go!" Shigatsu said running up the stairs to conference room.
In the conference room Shigatsu pulled Sephiroth towards the front. "Have you seen Kal any where?" She asked Sephiroth. "No. The last time I saw her, she was with Robin." Sephiroth answered. "Quiet! Quiet please. People today is the day we find out who will be cut from SOLDIER and who will join. Don't get your hopes up with this war going on there will be jobs with Shinra Inc. for every one so if your name is not called for the recruit list then come talk to me after the session." Tseng said to the room of teenagers and young adults. "Here is Heidegger head of the Shinra Inc. defense department, he will be giving the list today." Tseng saluted Heidegger and walked off the stage. Then laughing Heidegger walked to the stand and pulled the list out of his pocket. "Well let's just cut to the chase shall we. The cuts for SOLDIER are:" Heidegger began. Sephiroth held his breath "I hope he doesn't call my name." Thought Sephiroth clenching his fist. "Hey it will be all right." Whispered Shigatsu taking one of Sephiroth's hands. "Hold my hand as tight as you want. If you want squeeze it for how nervous you are the do so." Shigatsu whispered. Sephiroth gave a quick nod and squeezed Shigatsu's hand. "I think he's breaking my hand!" Thought Shigatsu trying to keep a strait face. "And that about sums up the cut list." Heidegger finished. "Shigatsu, My name wasn't on that list was it?" asked Sephiroth. "I wasn't paying attention. I was focusing on the fact that your breaking my hand." Shigatsu answered in pain. "Sorry!" Sephiroth said letting go of Shigatsu's hand. "No problem." Shigatsu said rubbing her hand. Robin forced his way the the crowd of shocked and overjoyed people pulling Kal by the arm. "Congratulations man!" He said to Sephiroth. "For what?" asked Sephiroth turning his attention to his friend. "You didn't get cut." Robin replied lifting an eyebrow. "Sorry. I was to nervous to hear." Sephiroth said rubbing the back of his neck. "What's wrong with Shigatsu?" asked Kal looking at the girl biting her lip and rubbing her sore hand. "Nothing." Shigatsu but in cracking her knuckles and flexing her hand. "All right people settle down lets see who made it for SOLDIER:" Heidegger began again. "You nervous." Whispered Sephiroth. "A little." Shigatsu whispered back. "She seems all right." Thought Sephiroth. Then Shigatsu clenching her fist and bitting her lip caught his eye. "It will be ok." Sephiroth whispered. "I hope." Shigatsu said taking a deep breath. The list seemed to never end. "Shigatsu Kuru." Heidegger finished the list and put back in his pocket. "I made it!" Shigatsu said putting her hands over her mouth. "Oh and before you leave the newest member of the Turks is Robin Johnson." Heidegger laughed and walked off the stage. "You made it!" Kal said to Robin kissing him. "Well aren't we a happy bunch." Sephiroth said putting his arm around Shigatsu. "Can't wait to see how sharp Robin will look in that blue suit!" Shigatsu laughed pulling away from Sephiroth. "Oh and what about you in that uniform, acting like miss Shinra Inc.!" Robin laughed. "Let's go get some pizza care of the 'newest Turk'." Kal grinned. "That's sounds good." Shigatsu said following Kal out the door. "Hey man. Now that you got that new paycheck coming in she is going to be on you about where you take her from now on." Sephiroth laughed hitting Robin on the back. "What's that supposed to mean!" Robin asked following Sephiroth out the door.
The next day Sephiroth, Shigatsu, Robin and Kal were sitting in the forty-fifth floor lounge in Shinra head quarters when one of professor Gast's assistants came running up the stairs. "Sephiroth!" he shouted running toward where the four sat. "What?" asked Sephiroth standing up. "Professor Gast .... He- he was found in his office with a bullet wound to the head! T-they think he..... committed suicide." The assistant said. "No. No!" Sephiroth shouted. "Sephiroth!" Shigatsu said standing up. "I'm sorry. I know you two were very close." the assistant reached out to put his hand on Sephiroth's shoulder. "No! This can't be happening!" Sephiroth shouted jerking away and running out of the room. "Tseng wants you Robin." The assistant said just before leaving. "I'll go with you." Kal said to Robin as the two of them left. Shigatsu felt everyone in the room staring at her. "Gast was so happy here why would he have killed himself?" thought Shigatsu running out of the room. She ran down the forty five flights of stairs then ran out of the lobby. "Shigatsu have you clocked out?" asked the receptionist as Shigatsu ran out the front doors. She ran into the parking deck and got out her motorcycle. She got on the interstate and drove. "Why would he kill himself?" she thought. "You shouldn't spend so much time with my specimen!" Shigatsu remembered Hojo saying "He could use a father figure your not playing the part!" Gast replied. "What? You don't think that I am a good father figure!" Hojo shouted "You should learn to control your temper Hojo." Gast said turning to his work. "I'll show you temper!" Hojo said shortly before Shigatsu ran in on the two co-workers asking if Sephiroth was there the year before. "Gast didn't kill him self! He couldn't have not leaving Sephiroth in the hands of Hojo!" Shigatsu said getting off the exit ramp and turning back to Shinra headquarters.
Returning in the building she ran to the elevator and up to the science department floor. "Is Hojo here?" asked Shigatsu to the last leaving assistant. "Yes." replied the assistant pointing to Hojo going through Gast's old files. "Hojo!" She said entering the office. "Sephiroth isn't here." Hojo said flipping a file on the desk. "That's not why I am here!" Shigatsu shut the door to the office. "Then what do you what?" asked Hojo sliding the file drawer shut. "I-i....it's..." Shigatsu suddenly lost her nerve. "It's what? What do you want to say?" asked Hojo. "I-i..." Shigatsu couldn't get it out. "This is going to take a while isn't it. Well you might as well take your coat off and sit down." Hojo said rolling his office chair over to the desk. Shigatsu removed her leather coat and sat down. "How should I say it?" she thought. "You were friends with Gast were you not?" asked Hojo standing up and walking behind Shigatsu. "I knew him if that's what you mean." Shigatsu answered. "This must have been a shock to you." Hojo said placing his hands on Shigatsu's shoulders. "It was, but Sephiroth seems to be taking it harder." Shigatsu jerked away from Hojo. "This was a great loss to us all." Hojo again placed his hands on Shigatsu's shoulders. "You knew Gast better than us all did he ever seem to be suicidal?" Asked Shigatsu tensing up. "Relax. You should take it easy, how about you join me for dinner and we'll talk more." Hojo began to rub her shoulders. Shigatsu jumped up out of the chair and faced Hojo. "Me have dinner with you? Your all most twice my age and a murderer!" Shigatsu said. "Is that a problem?" asked Hojo. "You did kill him! You hated him because he was over you and stood in the way of your research! He would have never let you do anything to hurt Sephiroth!" Shigatsu exclaimed. "And that changes your opinion of me?" asked Hojo. "How would that change your opinion of me if I told President Shinra?" asked Shigatsu. "What would he care, he knew. Gast was getting in the way of my project and the president told me to stop him at all cost." Hojo said with a smirk. "What?" Shigatsu seemed stunned. "And if you value your position in SOLDIER or your life you'll keep this to yourself." Hojo continued. Shigatsu suddenly lost her nerve. "I-I-" She began.
"What are you doing here." Sephiroth's deep voice filled the room.
"She was about to give me an answer about dinner." Hojo replied lifting an eyebrow.
"Sounds fine, hope you two have a nice time. Guess I am the only one who seems to care Gast is gone around here." Sephiroth said giving a betrayed glance at Shigatsu as he walked out the door.
"Sephiroth!" She said as he shut the door. "My answer is, no I will not have dinner with you. And yes, I won't tell Sephiroth about you murdering the only father he knew." Shigatsu turned and followed Sephiroth out the door. Hojo sat down in the office chair. "Lurecia, what have I done to our son?" he asked into the empty room.
"Sephiroth!" Shigatsu called as she caught up to him.
"What?" He snapped.
"I wasn't going to go out with Hojo he is twice my age!" Shigatsu said. "What do I care what you do with your life." Sephiroth replied. "I am not going to throw away my life for Hojo."
Shigatsu grabbed Sephiroth by the arm. "Leave me alone!" Sephiroth shouted. "Do you know why?" She asked. "I really do not care just leave me be!" Sephiroth jerked away from Shigatsu's grasp. "Because I--" Shigatsu started, before she could finished Sephiroth walked away.
3 days later
Sephiroth, Shigatsu and several others were loaded onto a truck and driven to the coast. "Our objectives are to clear the land for the mako reactor. I don't want to see man, woman, child or animal in our way. Put down any 'save the planet' groups as soon as you come in contact. Do I make my self clear?" said Tseng in the truck.
"Sir, yes sir." every one answered.
"We're meeting Scarlet and the people from her department at the dock." Tseng finish then climbed into the front of the truck.
"How long do you think it will take to get there?" asked one of the men. "It's a six hour drive not including fuel stops." Another said.
Sephiroth sat in the corner drowning out the voices of the other men by concentrating on a book. "What are you reading?" asked Shigatsu. "It's a report by professor Gast." Sephiroth replied.
"About what?" She asked looking over Sephiroth's shoulder.
"Mako energy." Sephiroth explained.
"Like with the mako reactors? I don't know much about all this." Shigatsu sighed.
Sephiroth took a red stone from his pocket. "This is materia, a condensed form of mako. We use it for attacks and summoning. As mako condenses it becomes a different color specifying it's purpose. Red is summoning, blue is support and green is elemental. Do you understand?" Sephiroth explained.
"Mostly, but what does clear do?" asked Shigatsu taking a clear materia out of the materia slot in her machine gun.
"Clear is an all matiera it helps level up the summon and will give the chance to heal all party members or attack all enemies." Sephiroth informed handing Shigatsu back her materia.
"That's interesting. Maybe we can find a weapon shop once we get to Costa De Sol." Shigatsu said with a smile.
"Here." Sephiroth placed the red materia in Shigatsu's hand.
"No, you keep it." Shigatsu replied. "I have to much materia for my materia slots any way." Sephiroth looked down at his book again.
"What summon is it?" asked Shigatsu.
"Shiva. It's a popular one with women. Gast was studying it, you were friends with him too, I think he would want you to have it." Sephiroth said. The rest of the ride was mostly quiet except for the occasional yawn from one of the half asleep SOLDIER's.
On the boat to Costa De Sol Sephiroth sat on the deck equipping his weapons.
"Hey." Shigatsu called walking up on the deck. Sephiroth looked up at her then looked back at his work. "That's a nice sword. Is is a Katana?" asked Shigatsu.
"Yes." Sephiroth replied. Sephiroth looked out over the water.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Shigatsu remarked.
"Yes it is." Sephiroth said.
Shigatsu took her helmet off and stood up. "What does it remind you of?" she asked leaning on the railing.
Sephiroth stood up and walked over to where Shigatsu was. "My mother." he said quietly.
"Your mother? What was she like?" asked Shigatsu glancing at the tall boy standing next to her.
"I don't remember her she died shortly after I was born. But Gast said she was very beautiful." Sephiroth answered.
"Hojo never said anything about her?" asked Shigatsu. "He always clammed up when I asked. When I first met you, he said that you looked like my mother. That is the most he has ever said about her." Sephiroth replied.
"It's funny how things work out. My father died three years ago. Shortly before my youngest sister was born." Shigatsu laughed sadly.
"Seems we're a group of orphans." Sephiroth said with a smile.
"I am a half orphan." Shigatsu informed punching Sephiroth in the arm.
At the Mako reactor:
"It's hot." One of the SOLDIER's complained.
"Shut up!" Sephiroth shouted.
"We've been working hard can't we rest?" asked the SOLDIER.
"No." Sephiroth answered.
"You. Your Hojo's project aren't you?" asked Scarlet.
" I prefer not to speak of that." Sephiroth answered.
"It's a yes or no question answer me with either yes or no." Scarlet said. "Yes I am." Sephiroth replied.
"Back to my point. I've been watching you. You keep a tight leash on your inferior officers. I think I'll speak with Heidegger about making you a first class officer." Scarlet said turning and walking away.
"Sephie's got a girlfriend?" laughed Robin.
"What are you doing here?" asked Sephiroth.
"I am one of the three Turks that got this job." Robin replied.
"Is Kal here?" asked Sephiroth.
"No. She stayed home with the kids." Robin said. "You don't have kids." Sephiroth informed.
"So." Robin laughed. "Your unusually happy this afternoon." Sephiroth said pushing past Robin.
"What's with you man?" asked Robin.
"He's been like that for the past two weeks."Shigatsu answered.
"Why?" asked Robin.
"I don't know." Shigatsu answered solemnly. "You think the war is finally catching up with him?" asked Robin.
"I don't know." Shigatsu replied.
"Hey, some of the other guys that have the night off tonight are going to a club in town you want to come? It will take your mind off work." Robin asked.
"Why not? Sure, I'll come." replied Shigatsu.
That night Sephiroth sat around a camp fire with a few other people. "Want one?" asked a SOLDIER offering a cigarette to Sephiroth. "No thanks." Sephiroth replied waving off the SOLDIER.
"I'll take one." said Reeve. "You should lighten up." Reeve said cutting his eyes at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth gave a heavy sigh, "I'm just going to bed." Sephiroth said.
Twisted figures and horrid lights filled Sephiroth's mind that night. "Just take a little more." One figure said taking the shape of Hojo. "No! I don't want to!" Sephiroth shouted suddenly a child again. "Listen child this will help you become the ultimate SOLDIER. Don't you what that?" asked Hojo.
"No!" Sephiroth shouted.
"Take it!" Hojo said hitting Sephiroth.
"No!" Sephiroth said a sword forming in his hand. The sword had a black handle and six foot blade looking like a Katana.
"Take more!" Hojo shouted hitting Sephiroth.
"No!" Shouted Sephiroth swinging the blade through Hojo's waist.
"No what?" asked a small voice.
"What?" Sephiroth jolted out of his dream.
"Did I wake you?" asked Shigatsu shutting the flap to the tent.
Sephiroth looked down at his hands. "I am an adult again." He muttered. "You mean you weren't one a moment ago?" asked Shigatsu.
Sephiroth sat up and rubbed his eyes to clear the dream away. He felt restless so he got out of bed and went over to his pack to check his weaponry.
"I'm sorry if I woke you." She said stepping behind the dressing curtain.
"I'm glad you did." Sephiroth replied.
"Bad dream." asked Shigatsu stepping out in her long gray night pants and her white camisole.
"I don't know." Sephiroth said looking for his sword.
"You'll never guess what I heard. It is a legend about katana, it made me think of you." Shigatsu said climbing into her sleeping bag.
"Really." Sephiroth said running his hand over the six foot blade. "Yes. The sword is called Marsamune. It is the lost sword of life. And only one can wield it." Shigatsu informed.
"That's great." Said Sephiroth climbing into his own sleeping bag.
"Can I ask what you were dreaming about?" asked Shigatsu.
"Hojo and the Shinra lab." Sephiroth said closing his eyes. "I thought you hated all of that." Shigatsu reminded.
"I never said it was a good dream." Sephiroth said turning on his side. "Hojo really hurt you, didn't he?" asked Shigatsu.
"I don't want to talk about it." Sephiroth replied.
"You would answer Scarlet if she asked you! You would answer any one with big breast!" Shigatsu pushed.
"She is my superior and you have nice legs." Sephiroth replied.
"What?" asked Shigatsu blushing.
"If that proves your 'breast' comment wrong then leave me alone." Sephiroth said rolling his eyes then dozed off.
2 years later
"You get that out of here I don't want any thing left here!" Shigatsu shouted.
"Miss. Look." Said one of the SOLDIER's. Shigatsu picked up the news paper and read:
"New Hero. Sephiroth of Shinra, leads troops in a battle to save Midgar and returns victorious! Amazing strength and good looks make him the perfect role model for children and young adults hoping to join SOLDIER."
Shigatsu rolled her eyes.
"Is everything all right miss?" Asked the SOLDIER.
"Don't you have something to do?" Asked Shigatsu folding up the news paper and placing it in her pack.
"No miss we're all on stand by." He informed.
"Then go do something besides bother me!" She snapped.
"Miss! I have great news!" Shouted another SOLDIER running towards Shigatsu.
"Wutai has revealed where they are hiding their weaponry?" Asked Shigatsu sarcastically.
"No miss! Even better! First class SOLDIER's Sephiroth and Zack are coming to our camp with their men!" He said.
Shigatsu bit her lip. "That is just my luck!" She thought.
"Are you all right miss?" asked one of the SOLDIER's.
"Both of you make sure that I am the first one to speak with Sephiroth!" Commanded Shigatsu.
Sephiroth and Robin had been assigned to the front lines in the war with Wutai, where they met a first class SOLDIER Zack. Zack, Sephiroth and Robin had become great friends. Shigatsu on the other hand had met Zack few times and didn't know him very well. Sephiroth and Shigatsu had grown apart in the last few years and hadn't spoken over a year. News of Sephiroth's fame reached her in a news paper clipping and a letter from Sephiroth himself reading:
Shigatsu,
I am a first class SOLDIER now. I've been thinking of you a lot lately. It seems like an eternity since we were at Costa De Sol.
It would be nice to hear from you.
Sephiroth.
Shigatsu did write him back:
Sephiroth,
I have been thinking of you too. Things are dull here in Midgar. I have been spending a lot of my free time with Tseng, we seem to get along very well.
Shigatsu.
The two of them wrote back and forth. In one letter Sephiroth wrote about how he had been feeling alone with out anyone to talk to, and how he had missed talking with her. He said that he would love to see her if she were ever near the Wutai Shinra boarder.
1 year in the past, in trenches.
"So have gotten any letters from Kal?" Asked Zack to Robin. "Yes. She has been hanging around Tseng and Shigatsu. She likes Tseng a lot." Robing replied. "Shigatsu does too." Sephiroth informed sitting down by a barrel of gun powder. "Who's Shigatsu? Sweetheart back home?" asked Zack. "No. She is a friend nothing else." Sephiroth snapped. "Sephiroth you got a letter!" Shouted Reno in to the back area where the three men sat. Sephiroth opened the letter. "Who's it from?" asked Zack. "Shigatsu." Sephiroth answered. "Care to read it aloud?" asked Robin. "Sure." Replied Sephiroth.
"Sephiroth,
I just got your letter. I miss talking with you too. And I will be heading to the front lines with Tseng in a few weeks. Things have been boring with out you here. I've been thinking a lot about that day we found out about Gast, and I never was able to finish telling you why I wouldn't go out with Hojo, well now that I have no interruptions I can finally finish my thought. Sephiroth I..." Sephiroth paused not wanting to read the rest of the letter aloud, "think that you are a great friend and can't wait to see you." Sephiroth read.
"You made that last part up!" Zack exclaimed.
"Shigatsu never writes like that." Robin informed.
"If your going to read it, read it they way she wrote it." Zack commanded.
"Both of you shut up. Why don't you believe it is written that way?" Asked Sephiroth.
"Because your beet red." Zack informed.
Sephiroth folded the letter and and put it in his pocket. "It's my letter and my business so back off." Sephiroth snapped standing up and walking away.
"He's touchy." Zack said as Sephiroth walked out.
As Sephiroth sat alone he finished reading the letter to himself:
"Sephiroth I love you. The more I think about it the more I do. I have tried to think of you as a friend but I can't. I've even tried going out with other guys. Tseng and I are going out now, but it's not working out. I'm sorry if this is a great shock, but I can't help the way I feel.
Shigatsu."
Sephiroth was very shocked he didn't know what to say. "Me! She loves me!" He thought. "She could have Tseng easy and be happy. Why me?" Whether it was fear that he would love her back or that he wasn't ready for a relationship like that he wrote her back:
"Shigatsu,
I hate to inform you but we are in a war! You don't have the time to be chasing some one who doesn't love you back. Grow up and take your place in SOLDIER. If you would give half the effort I have you would be a first class SOLDIER by now. I don't think we should be writing back and forth so often,
Sephiroth."
Shigatsu received the letter on the fourteenth of November just three days before her birth day, and the news couldn't have come at a worse time. She also received word that her Grandfather (that she was very close to) had died in a bombing of a Mako reactor a few days before. Switching her pain into drive she climbed ranks into one of the top in the first class division.
The next year
Sephiroth and Zack climbed out of the truck with their four men.
"She's got a lot of people." Zack said looking at the full camp. Sephiroth said nothing.
"Sir. Miss Shigatsu wants to speak with you immediately." one of the SOLDIER's informed.
"I'll go right away." Zack replied.
"I was speaking of Sephiroth, sir."The SOLDIER versed.
"She wants to see me?" Asked Sephiroth.
"Yes sir. She said that she wanted to see you as soon as you arrived." The SOLDIER replied.
"Well don't keep her waiting." Zack said.
Sephiroth shook his head then followed to Shigatsu's tent.
Sephiroth entered the tent and looked around.
"Where is she?" He asked.
"I'll go inform her your here." The SOLDIER replied.
A few moments went by then the flap to the back of the tent lifted and in walked Shigatsu. She had grown taller and looked more like a woman in the face then he remembered.
"Sephiroth." She addressed with a slight bow.
"Shigatsu." He addressed doing the same.
Shigatsu waved away the the SOLDIER.
"I'm not one for long formalities so I'll skip straight to the point. Why have you come to the camp?" asked Shigatsu standing straight.
"I wanted to speak with Tseng about the promotion to General." Sephiroth informed.
"How interesting. And may I ask what gave you the idea that he would be here?" Asked Shigatsu keeping a straight face though she wanted to stab Sephiroth.
"Last I heard you two were dating, he usually follows the woman he cares about." Sephiroth replied sarcastically.
"Well we broke up four months ago. It was for the better." Her words were soft as if she didn't care about loosing Tseng.
"That's a shame. I really thought he would have asked you to marry him by now." Sephiroth shrugged.
"Who says he didn't." Shigatsu said turning away from Sephiroth.
Sephiroth suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. "What?" He asked.
"You know that I have a chance at the General position too." Shigatsu changed the subject.
"Well it seems we'll always be in competition." Sephiroth said with a sigh.
"Well if you would tell me where Tseng is I would be able to get out of your hair." Sephiroth informed.
"He's back at Midgar." She said clenching her fist.
"Shigatsu why does it have to be this way?" asked Sephiroth.
"Be what way?" Shigatsu asked.
"Why can't we be friends again?" asked Sephiroth.
"I hate to be the one to inform you but we're in a war! People grow apart. People that were once the best of friends, now hate each other! Grow up and take your place in SOLDIER! If you would give half the effort as I have you would have gotten in SOLDIER on your own, with out Hojo!" Shigatsu replied in anger.
Sephiroth felt as if someone had slapped him, he remembered those words he had said to her in his letter.
"You think I am in SOLDIER because of Hojo? All he did was enroll me. I got in on my own!" Sephiroth said walking toward Shigatsu. Before he realized what he was doing he took her in his arms and kissed her. Letting all the emotions of the past come forth and washing over them both. Shigatsu pushed him away and cried, "You believe that don't you. I know about everything Hojo did to get you in SOLDIER! He injected you with Mako as a child so that you would be stronger! He was planning from the start to make the ultimate SOLDIER! He ripped you out of Jenova's arms and threw you into a lab!" Shigatsu cried feeling wounded.
"You look at any of those records Shigatsu and they will prove that I am the strongest, the fastest, and the smartest in SOLDIER! Face it, I am the best Shinra has to offer!" Sephiroth said in a cold voice turning to leave.
"I've worked through impossible odds to get this far and if you think I am going to let some lab rat stop me from taking this promotion then you are out of your mind!" Shigatsu said through her teeth.
"Well my little slum princess, seeing as we have similar views may the best man win." Sephiroth replied walking out of the tent.
"What was with all of the shouting?" asked Zack.
"Shut up." Sephiroth replied climbing in the truck.
"Where are we headed next sir?" asked one of the SOLDIER's.
"To the port at Costa De Sol then on to Midgar." Sephiroth replied.
Shigatsu walked out side the tent as the truck drove away.
"Is every thing all right miss?" asked one of her own SOLDIER's.
"Fine. Every thing is fine." She replied.
The SOLDIER began to walk away.
"Get me on the next train to Cost De Sol and make sure I have a helicopter waiting when I get there." Shigatsu commanded.
"Yes miss." The SOLDIER replied.
In Midgar one week later.
"It's been a while." Zack said with a smile looking up at Shinra headquarters.
"Lets just hurry." Sephiroth replied coldly as he walked in.
"Oh my gosh! It's Sephiroth!" Shouted a secretary.
"Can I have your autograph?" asked another.
"How about mine?" asked Zack.
"Who are you?" asked the first secretary.
Sephiroth signed the papers that each girl or young boy thrust at him then moved quickly towards the elevator.
He and Zack reached the forty sixth floor and moved quickly to Tseng's office.
"I've missed you." They heard Tseng say from inside the office.
"And I have missed you." A second voice said.
Sephiroth clenched his fist at the sound of the other voice.
"Who is it?" asked Zack.
Sephiroth said nothing but opened the door.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" asked Tseng.
"Shigatsu!" Zack exclaimed seeing the girl sitting in Tseng's office chair.
"Why Sephiroth, what a surprise. Here about the promotion?" Asked Shigatsu standing up.
"Is that why you are here? Or do you have other reasons?" asked Sephiroth looking at Tseng.
"Is there something I should know about?" asked Tseng.
Zack shook his head. "To many questions not enough answers." Zack cut in.
"I am a little confused." Tseng said.
Shigatsu took her left hand out of her pocket and placed it on Tseng's shoulder.
"After speaking with you the other day, Sephiroth, you made me think of how much I need a strong man in my life, so I decided to come see Tseng." Shigatsu said shifting her hand to catch light.
A shimmer on her left hand caught Sephiroth's eye.
He walked forward and took her left hand off of Tseng's shoulder.
"Your engaged?" Sephiroth asked calmly.
"Seems you may be the smartest in SOLDIER, you guessed it." Shigatsu smiled and placed her arms around Tseng's waist.
"Funny how things work out isn't it Seph?" Laughed Zack.
Sephiroth stared at Shigatsu's left hand.
"I don't care about what is going on in your lives, I'm here to ask about my promotion." Sephiroth informed.
"You'll have to talk to Heidegger about that he just took it into his own hands." Tseng said.
"Where is Heidegger?" asked Sephiroth.
"He is training new recruits he will be back in a few days." Tseng replied.
"We don't have leave for a few days I guess we can wait." Zack suggested.
"We will have to." Sephiroth said walking out of the office.
Sephiroth was angry. "I loved her! I knew she felt something when we kissed!" he thought walking down the stairs to Hojo's office.
"Hello?" called Hojo as his office door was opened.
"What did you do old man?!" Sephiroth said walking over to Hojo's desk.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you supposed to be on another continent?" Asked Hojo.
"I'm on leave. And I want you to tell me what you did to get me in SOLDIER ?" Asked Sephiroth slamming his file on the desk.
Hojo lifted an eyebrow and opened the file.
"You were born to be in SOLDIER." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth sat down in a chair in front of Hojo's desk.
"I've been told that my whole life, but what does that mean? Is that why I am different than every one else? Is that why I feel alone even when I am with... with the one I love?" asked Sephiroth hanging his head in his hands.
Hojo opened a drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray.
"This is going to take a while." Hojo said lighting one of the cigarettes.
"Tell me!" Sephiroth demanded.
Hojo took a deep breath. "Fine. You want to know the whole story? Before you were born one of my assistants, a woman named Jenova found out she was pregnant. She had the baby, you, and died in child birth. She left you to me. She told me to make you the 'ultimate SOLDIER' and so acting on her wishes I did." Hojo said.
"That doesn't explain why I am different." Sephiroth shook his head.
"Because your better." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth and Hojo talked for hours until dusk, then Sephiroth left the professor's office.
Shigatsu made her way to the Midgar train station then bought a ticket for the slums. When she arrived it was almost dark. Quickly she ran towards Sector seven. "Here I am." she said taking a deep breath.
She was standing in front of her old home. She stepped up to the door then knocked.
"I'll get it!" called a little girl about the age of ten.
"Not if I do first!" called another little girl of seven.
"Both of you calm down!" said an older woman opening the door.
The woman seemed stunned.
"Hello mom." said Shigatsu with a smile.
"Shigatsu!" the woman whispered hugging her.
The two little girls stopped fighting and looked up to see the tall young woman.
"Who's that?" asked the youngest.
"Shigatsu stupid!" replied the other.
"Shigatsu!" they both shouted running over to her.
Shigatsu leaned down to hug both girls.
"I've missed this place so much." She thought looking around the house made from salvaged wood and metal.
"Come in baby, how have you been?" asked her mother.
"Well enough." Shigatsu answered sitting down on the sofa.
"Have you eaten?" asked her mother.
Shigatsu nodded yes.
"Look!" said Madison, the youngest, pulling on Shigatsu's left hand.
"Who gave you that?" Asked Carol the middle child.
Shigatsu's mother, Rebecca, looked hard at the ring."My goodness child, you've gone off and gotten married!" Rebecca exclaimed.
Shigatsu gave a weak smile. "Not yet. His name is Tseng we're engaged!" she informed her mother.
"Is he cute?" asked Carol with a sly smile.
"What's he look like?" asked Madison tugging on Shigatsu's arm.
"Yes he is very cute. He has long black hair and pale skin with beautiful brown eyes!" Shigatsu replied smiling at her sisters.
"I am glad your happy." Rebecca returned the smile.
The night went on and Sephiroth walked down the stairs towards the first floor of the building. Ignoring the crowd he pushed through the entrance doors and made his way to the train station. "Engaged?" he thought. "What Hojo said didn't help either. I am just having an all around bad day." he thought. He shook his long hair out of his face as he boarded the train. He felt every one starring at him, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything right now, anything but her.
"I don't know why I am even going to the slums to see her. I expected her to be this way, to do something rash because someone is in her way." Sephiroth thought.
Close to an hour later Sephiroth left the train station and walked to sector seven.
He knew the house from Shigatsu's photograph. Sephiroth knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Said Rebecca opening the door.
"Is Shigatsu here?" asked Sephiroth looking down.
"Are you Tseng?" asked Madison.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Rebecca turned to her small daughter who was standing behind her with a glass of water.
"No I am Sephiroth... so Shigatsu was here." Sephiroth answered Madison.
Rebecca turned around to Sephiroth.
"Yes. She is here. I'll tell her she has company." Rebecca informed him.
A few moments later Shigatsu walked down the stairs and looked at Sephiroth.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"I need to talk to you." He replied.
Shigatsu saw her sisters peeping there heads out of their bedroom door out of the corner of her eye.
"Let's take a walk." Shigatsu inquired.
"Fine." Sephiroth replied opening the door for Shigatsu.
The two walked to Sector one where the entrance to the Sector's was.
Sephiroth opened the gate and the two of them walked out onto the grassy plains.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Shigatsu asked sitting on grass.
"Why are you marrying Tseng?" asked Sephiroth.
"I told you... I need someone strong like him in my life." She answered her defenses going up.
"He's a Turk..." Sephiroth sighed.
Shigatsu felt a knot in her throat, like she were about to cry.
"You know what?" Shigatsu began looking for the words to say. "I hate you. I've hated you for the past year, ever since I got your letter. When Tseng and I arrived at the front lines, I saw you only a few times... and each time I thought I would die because of the pain you caused me. I put my heart on the line... and the least you could have done was told me face to face." She finished holding back the tears.
Sephiroth placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't know what to do." He said softly.
Shigatsu jerked away from his touch.
"I heard that you were nominated for the top general position as well as I was. I thought that if I got that job it would hurt you... I wanted so badly just to hurt you, like you hurt me. When I saw you again it dug up so much crap that I thought was gone. Then you kissed me... I knew how you felt then. I also knew that getting the job wouldn't hurt you enough to make me happy, so when I saw the way you looked when I told you about Tseng. I knew that I could hurt you with that as well." Shigatsu couldn't help it any more, tears ran down her cheeks.
Sephiroth pretended not to notice.
"I never meant to hurt you. Shigatsu I love you, I know that now. Before I was just a kid, and reacted just like a kid. Please Shigatsu tell me you love me too." Sephiroth said sitting next to Shigatsu.
Shigatsu wiped away her tears.
"I can't love you! I don't want to love you anymore! I don't want to be hurt by you anymore!" She shouted standing up and walking towards the gates.
"I knew I couldn't count on you. Your just like the rest of the world, some one hurts you and you just have to hurt them back. I was in the way of you getting that general position and I hurt you before. What a better way to get revenge; get a job and a husband that you can't stand to be around all at the same time." Sephiroth replied spitefully.
Shigatsu turned to Sephiroth.
"You don't know how much I want to love Tseng! How much I want to forget you!" Shigatsu said drawing her gun.
Sephiroth felt the target on the back of his head.
"You don't want to do that Shigatsu." Sephiroth informed slowly reaching for his sword Masamune.
"We can end this now! Fight me... we'll fight, the winner get's the job... the loser leaves the other one alone for ever!" Shigatsu said adjusting her aim from Sephiroth's head to his left hand.
"I'll raise your wager, I win I get the job, you loose you die. And vice versa." Sephiroth turned and faced Shigatsu as he spoke.
"If that's the way you want to play then fine by me." Shigatsu replied.
Shigatsu fired a few shots taking a few of Sephiroth's hp off.
"Is that all you got." Sephiroth laughed making his move.
He swung Masamune with all his might. Shigatsu screamed as the blade hit her knocking off all but one hp.
"I hate to do this but a deal is a deal." Sephiroth said with a smirk.
Shigatsu covered her head with her arm.
"Please don't--" Shigatsu began.
Fire. Smoke filled the air.
"What?" Sephiroth asked.
Shigatsu stood up and used a full-cure on herself.
"I don't know." She answered.
Invasion sirens started to go off.
"No... Someone is attacking Midgar!" Shigatsu shouted.
Sephiroth ran in the gates followed by Shigatsu.
"The smokes coming from over there!" Sephiroth shouted over the noise of the sirens.
Shigatsu began coughing.
"Are you ok?" asked Sephiroth.
Shigatsu nodded her head then ran into the smoke. Sephiroth took off after her.
When Sephiroth found her she was firing her machine gun at four Wutai soldiers.
"Shigatsu!" He shouted as the Wutai fell to the ground.
She turned to him tears filling her eyes.
"You don't think it reached sector seven?" Shigatsu asked in a weak voice.
Sephiroth shook his head and ran towards Shigatsu.
"They couldn't have? Could they?" asked Shigatsu tears flowing down her cheeks.
Sephiroth reached out to take Shigatsu's hand. Shigatsu jerked away and ran towards sector seven.
"Shigatsu wait!" Sephiroth shouted running after her,
In sector seven they saw the hell like flames spreading.
"Mom! Carol! Madison! They can't--" Shigatsu began.
The sound of a falling roof stopped her in the middle of her sentence. She quickly turned to see her small home falling along with several others.
"No!" She screamed.
Sephiroth felt a deep pain as he watched Shigatsu running around casting water to unsuccessfully put out the blazing inferno.
Sephiroth touched Shigatsu's shoulder.
"It's no use." Sephiroth said softly.
"I don't want to believe it." Shigatsu whispered feeling dizzy.
Sephiroth closed his eyes, he wished he could have said that he knew how she felt, but, he didn't. He had never lost a parent at least not when he was old enough to remember, and he had no brothers or sisters either.
"Please make it go away." She cried as she fell to her knees.
Sephiroth didn't know what to do, he picked Shigatsu up off the ground.
"Can you stand?" He asked.
"No, I don't think so." She replied softly.
Sephiroth began walking on towards wall market.
When they reached wall market Sephiroth walked towards an alley with a wire that reached the top plate.
"Where are we?" asked Shigatsu.
Sephiroth looked down at Shigatsu in his arms.
"Were almost there." Sephiroth said.
He placed Shigatsu over his shoulder and began to climb to the top plate.
Shigatsu woke up in an unfamiliar bed with a fire roaring in a fire place of to the side. She looked over and sitting in a large chair was a figure slumped forward sleeping. It was Sephiroth. He looked to be in anguish. Almost afraid. She called his name weakly. "Sephiroth..."
He raised his head and quickly the fear that she saw was gone.
"So your awake." He said softly.
"Where are we at?" She asked him.
"I brought you to Chocobo Bills, he is a Chocobo rancher outside of Midgar."
"What happened?" Shigatsu asked.
"I am not sure yet. When I reached the top plate the were evacuating Shinra, so I decided to bring you here. There is not much we could do tonight and to be honest, I wanted to keep you for myself if for only one night." He stood up and walked over to the bed where she was laying.
All Shigatsu's defenses crumbled. The horror of losing her family and the charade of hating Sephiroth was just to much for her. Tears filled her eyes and she turned her head away from him.
"Please, don't..." She cried.
Sephiroth sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair. "I am sorry if I have hurt you. I have never had anyone show me love the way you did. It scared me."
Shigatsu laughed harshly, "You afraid."
"Yes, me afraid, and of a girl as well." He laughed.
Shigatsu turned and stared into his eyes, this was a side of Sephiroth that she had never seen before.
He leaned over and kissed her gently on her lips. "You need some sleep. I will be here to watch over you until morning."
He stood up to walk away when Shigatsu took his hand. "Please just lie here with me." She asked.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
She nodded her head and he climbed in beside her. He lay facing her. They laid there for what seemed an eternity, just looking into each others eyes.
"I love you." Sephiroth whispered as he closed his eyes.
"And I love you." Whispered Shigatsu as she drifted off to sleep.
Sephiroth and Shigatsu drifted off to sleep together, sleeping a peaceful sleep that they not ever known.
The next morning Shigatsu awoke to the smell of coffee. She reached out for Sephiroth, but he was not there. She raised up and saw a man standing facing out the window. She was about to call out to Sephiroth, when he turned toward her and she saw Tseng.
"Are you all right?" Tseng asked.
"I am fine. How did you find me?" She asked.
"Sephiroth, came for me early this morning and told me about your family. He said that he did not know where to take you last night with the evacuation, so he brought you here." Tseng informed her.
"Oh," Shigatsu said. "Where is he now?"
"He left this morning to fight on the front lines. President Shinra is retaliating with full force."
"Well, I need to get back with my troops." She said.
"Sephiroth was promoted this morning to Top General." Tseng said softly.
Somehow it did not seem to matter to Shigatsu anymore. "Really, well, I guess the best man won." She said getting off the bed and walking over to Tseng. She remembered the words that she and Sephiroth spoke the night before, but she still could not see any hope for their future. She knew that those words would mean more to her in her lifetime and any words that Tseng would ever say. Sephiroth was her first and only true love.
"I guess we had better get back." she said to Tseng.
"First have some breakfast and then we will make our way back. There is a lot to be done." Tseng said.
Sephiroth sat in the trench where he had received Shigatsu's letter one year ago.
"A lot has happened since then." Sephiroth thought to himself.
"General." Saluted Zack with a smile.
Sephiroth shook himself out of thought and forced himself to return the smile.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Zack sitting next to Sephiroth.
"Just thinking..." Sephiroth replied.
"About what?" asked Zack.
"Shigatsu." Sephiroth replied.
Zack shook his head.
"Is that all you think about?" he asked sarcastically.
"You two, we need you on the front lines now they are pulling out everything they've got!" Robin shouted running into the back.
Sephiroth and Zack jumped to their feet and ran towards the front lines.
Explosions went off and men fell to the ground.
"Sir, come this way!" Shouted one of the SOLDIER's leading Sephiroth towards a truck that had been turned over.
"What happened here?" asked Sephiroth shouting over the noise.
"A mine sir! They have put mines near there camp!" The SOLDIER replied.
"How many men are inside?" asked Sephiroth.
"four!" replied the SOLDIER.
"Get a crew to get them out, report to me when your finished." Sephiroth commanded.
Boom! An explosion set off from the direction that Zack and Robin had went in.
"No..." Sephiroth thought thousands scenarios starting racing through his mind.
He ran in the direction of the explosion.
"Zack! Robin!" Shouted Sephiroth running through a field of bodies.
"Over here!" Shouted Zack waving his arms over his head.
Sephiroth ran towards him to see Robin laying on the ground his torso almost ripped off.
"Is he..." began Sephiroth.
"... alive." Robin finished.
"This is bad." Zack said looking at the Turk who was loosing blood quickly.
Sephiroth took off his trench coat to make a battle field stretcher.
"We need to get you back. If we get you back now then we can save you." Sephiroth said motioning for Zack to pick up the Turks legs.
"Don't bother. I wont make it any way... what's the use in taking up the bed space for the men that can be saved." Robin cut in.
"We cant leave you!" Zack shouted.
Robin shook his head. Tears were running down his face, the pain was to much to bear.
"You'll have to end it." He said.
Sephiroth looked wild eyed at his friend.
"How could he expect one of us to do that?" He thought.
Zack stood up and turned the other way, he looked as if he were about to cry himself.
"Please just let me die!" Robin cried turning pale from loosing blood.
"Do it Sephiroth." Zack said as if he had a knot in his throat.
Sephiroth drew Masamune.
"Is this what you want me to do?" asked Sephiroth shaking the long hair off of bare his shoulders.
"Tell Kal that I love her." Robin replied making it known he wasn't going back.
Sephiroth stood and told Robin he was sorry. Then brought the sword down quickly ending the young Turks life.
Final Fantasy 7 fan fiction.
X-year X-month X-day
"Your what?" asked Hojo spewing his coffee across his desk. "I am pregnant," Lurecia replied calmly sipping her tea. "How far along? Is it a girl or a boy? Does it kick?" Hojo rambled on. "I am seven weeks, you can't tell what it is now and it does not kick." Lurecia answered her cool calm and collected front not giving way to the knots in her stomach from having to tell her husband about the child. "Good morning you two," said professor Gast opening the door to the lab. "Did you hear the news?" Hojo asked excited. "About what?" Gast asked setting his files on his desk and turning to the couple. "I am going to be a father!" Hojo burst out. "Are you going to tell all of Shinra?" Lurecia laughed. "That seems to be the idea," Gast smiled at his assistants wife. The two men went on talking. Lurecia slipped out of the lab and made her way to the elevator. As the elevator doors opened Lurecia made her way to the Turks office. "Is Vincent here?" She asked the receptionist. "Yes in his office" the receptionist replied. As she entered Vincent's office she was greeted with a warm embrace and a kiss. "Vincent," she said startled by his forwardness. "I've missed you! Where have you been," asked Vincent still hugging Lurecia. "I have to make time for my husband too," She said struggling free of the young Turk's arms. "You could have married me and we wouldn't have to see each other in secret," Vincent replied leaning on his desk. "That's what I want to talk to you about." Lurecia started. She took a deep breath then decided to just to tell him the honest truth. "I'm pregnant," she blurted out. "What!" Vincent replied. "Is it mine or..." Vincent couldn't go on he had to sit down. "I don't know but I told Hojo first," Lurecia said rubbing her hands. "I-I don't know what to say. I need some time to think things over," Vincent replied as Lurecia made her way to the door.
4 years later
"Professor Gast!" Sephiroth called out. The professor leaned back in his chair "Yes Sephiroth?" Gast answered. "What you doing?" asked Sephiroth climbing on the chair next to Gast. "I am filing a report on our resent finds about material for the mako reactors." Gast replied. "You writing?" Sephiroth asked not understanding a word the professor said. "Yes." Gast said smiling and patting the boy on the head. "Aren't you supposed to be hooked up to the..." Gast motioned to his hand as if drawing a line to above his head. "That? I took the thing off. It hurt." Sephiroth replied pointing to small hole in his upper arm where the plastic tube had been transfusing mako into his blood stream. "Sephiroth," Hojo called. Sephiroth looked behind him where Hojo was coming. "Can I hide in there," asked Sephiroth pointing to a lab room. "Hurry," Gast smiled. Sephiroth ran into the lab room and hid in a cabinet. "have you seen that boy?" asked Hojo after calling Sephiroth a few more times. "Nope," Gast said continuing on with his work. "Tell me if you find him," said Hojo turning to leave. Sephiroth snuck out of the lab room and into Gast's office. "Sephiroth!" Hojo said as the boy stood in the door way of the lab. Sephiroth gasped then shut his eyes and stood still. "What are you doing?" asked Hojo angrily. "You can't see me!" inform Sephiroth opening one eye to look at Hojo. "I can see you so get over here!" Hojo was mad, Sephiroth (being an only a child) never did what Hojo asked. "He's just a child, let him be," Gast interjected. "He's my specimen to what I will with." Hojo said taking Sephiroth by the arm and leading him into the other room.
"Hello," Vincent's voice filled the lab. "Guess no one is here. I'll just leave the report," Vincent entered the lab. "Who are you!" asked Sephiroth sitting up in his bed. "Your Hojo's.... your Sephiroth aren't you," asked Vincent. "Yeah! I'm Sephiroth!" Sephiroth started to reach out as if to shake Vincent's hand but a cord to a machine he was hooked up to restrained him. Vincent looked at Sephiroth. "This is her child," he thought "This is Lurecia's little boy... this is my little boy." Sephiroth looked at Vincent hard. "What you thinking," asked Sephiroth. "How much you remind me of someone I knew." Vincent said setting an envelope on Hojo's desk. "Who?" asked Sephiroth. "Lurecia. She was a very beautiful woman. I loved her very much." Vincent replied. "My mom was pretty!" Sephiroth beamed. "Who is your mom and dad?" asked Vincent walking over to the boys bedside. "I don't know but Hojo said she was pretty!" Sephiroth said. "Your cool! I like you!" Sephiroth said his big blue green eyes sparkling at Vincent. "Your cool too." Vincent smiled at the boy as he tapped his feet together under his blankets. Vincent heard Hojo coming and quickly made his way to the door. "Where are you going?" asked Sephiroth. "I have to work. But I'll come back." Vincent said opening the door to the lab. "Promise?" Sephiroth asked. "if you promise not tell Hojo I was here." Vincent replied. "All right!" Sephiroth replied. "Shhhh." Vincent put his finger to his lips. "Shhhh." Sephiroth replied with a laugh.
7 months later
" You can't do tests on him! He's my son!" Vincent shouted. "You don't know that he very well could be my son!" Hojo retorted. "What your doing is wrong!" Vincent was furious. "He is my son to do as I want!" Hojo stormed around in circles. "Like you said we don't know that." Vincent said. "She was married to me there is a higher chance that he's mine!" Hojo shouted. "But she loved me!"soaped Vincent. The fight went on. Hojo turned to his desk. "What are you doing?" Vincent asked calming down a little. Hojo said nothing yet turned and revealed a gun. "What?" Vincent stepped backward a step. Hojo said nothing yet pulled the trigger. Bang! Vincent fell to the floor bleeding. "Is this the end?" thought Vincent as all went black.
Hojo stepped forward and felt Vincent's pulse. "He's still alive. Good." Hojo stood up and drug Vincent to an operating table, this would be the last of Vincent's days as a Turk.
10 years later
"The mako in the mako fountain condenses into--" Gast began "Into materia!" Sephiroth finished. "You know quite a lot my boy." Gast pat Sephiroth on the head. "How can you use materia and use magic?" asked Sephiroth. Gast gave a quick tutorial on Materia. "Oh, I see now! It's kinda like mystical properties!" Sephiroth exclaimed. "No! Not mystical properties! It shouldn't even be called magic!" Gast exclaimed. "Sorry." Sephiroth said as he looked at the angry professor. "It is quite all right." Gast replied calming down. "Sephiroth! Get in here!" Hojo called from the lab. Sephiroth rolled his eyes. "Coming. (Loser.)" he said marching into the lab. "Your place is being challenged!" Hojo blurted out pacing in circles. "Wow, you discovered guinea pigs." Sephiroth murmured crossing his arms. "Idiot! Your place in SOLDIER!" Hojo shouted. "Those Turks have been, have been--" Hojo's face began to go red. "Have been doing there jobs?" Sephiroth gave a sarcastic laugh. "Shut up! You better get going to that training center right now! March!" Hojo shouted slapping Sephiroth in the face. Sephiroth acted as if he felt nothing as Hojo hit him then turned and walked towards the training center.
In the training center Sephiroth saw a blond girl standing with a group of Turks. "Who's she?" he asked as Hojo followed him in. "Your rival." Hojo replied. "A girl is going to take my place?" Sephiroth seemed shocked. "You have a problem with that?" the girl asked. "Who are you?" asked Sephiroth looking the girl over. She seemed to be from the slums, she wore a white tank-top with blue jeans shorts and knee socks with red sneakers and her hair long and waves. "I'm Shigatsu. And you are? she asked. "Sephiroth." he answered. "Well Sephiroth. I see were competing to see who gets this spot, I hope your up for a challenge." Shigatsu said turning to face the Turks. "I hope your up for one as well." Sephiroth replied walking up to the rink for them to fight in. "Are you two ready?" asked Reno head of the Turks. "I am." replied Shigatsu stepping into the rink. "Same." Sephiroth said stepping in. "Don't hold back because I'm a girl." Shigatsu said shortly before the bell rang. "Don't worry. Even if I did I could take you down quickly." Sephiroth degraded. The bell rang. "You throw the first punch." Sephiroth smirked. "Gladly." Shigatsu said pulling back to punch Sephiroth in the face. "This should be easy." thought Shigatsu turning around and kicking Sephiroth. Sephiroth didn't seem shocked. Her turning her punch to a kick was expectable. Shigatsu on the other hand was very shocked. Her kick didn't even faze him. She stood there her foot on his chest. "It didn't even make him flinch!" Shigatsu exclaimed.
"What did you do to that kid Hojo!" asked Reeve shocked. "Just keeping a tight reign." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth rolled his eye's after letting Shigatsu gasp a few times then grabbed her by the foot and flipped her sideways. "I'm going to have to go for a different approach!" thought Shigatsu jumping up off the mat. She punched Sephiroth in the shoulder then dodged his counter attack. Sephiroth finally turned and kicked her on the ground then pined her shoulders down. "One, two, three. The young lady is out!" Said Tseng beating his hand on the mat. "Good fight, a little short though." Sephiroth said with a smirk. "Shut up!" Shigatsu replied. Sephiroth offered her his hand. "This guy is actually going to help me up. Even after beating the crap out of me." Shigatsu thought. She lifted her hand to take his help. "This is a sad sight." Whispered Reno to Reeve as Shigatsu let Sephiroth help her up.
"There talking about you." Sephiroth said as she stood up. "Their really no help." Shigatsu rolled her eyes and stepped out of the rink. "You know that you lost your spot on the recruit list?" Tseng said to Shigatsu. "I can still train until they start drafting can't I? asked Shigatsu. "Yes." Tseng answered. "That's all I need to know." Shigatsu said walking out of the training center.
2 years later
"You throw a good punch now and then." Sephiroth laughed slightly punching Shigatsu's shoulder. "Oh really?" She replied crossing her legs and turning away from him pretending to be angry. "Stop it you know I'm just joking." Sephiroth said. "Thank you." Shigatsu smiling at her friend. "Yeah. You can't throw a good punch at all." Sephiroth laughed. "You!" Shigatsu jumped off the box she was sitting on and kicked Sephiroth in the shoulder making him loose balance and fall. "Are you two going to sit there all day or come see who got cut and who got excepted!" Shouted Robin a friend of Sephiroth. "Coming!" Sephiroth shouted back climbing off the floor. "Hurry lets go!" Shigatsu said running up the stairs to conference room.
In the conference room Shigatsu pulled Sephiroth towards the front. "Have you seen Kal any where?" She asked Sephiroth. "No. The last time I saw her, she was with Robin." Sephiroth answered. "Quiet! Quiet please. People today is the day we find out who will be cut from SOLDIER and who will join. Don't get your hopes up with this war going on there will be jobs with Shinra Inc. for every one so if your name is not called for the recruit list then come talk to me after the session." Tseng said to the room of teenagers and young adults. "Here is Heidegger head of the Shinra Inc. defense department, he will be giving the list today." Tseng saluted Heidegger and walked off the stage. Then laughing Heidegger walked to the stand and pulled the list out of his pocket. "Well let's just cut to the chase shall we. The cuts for SOLDIER are:" Heidegger began. Sephiroth held his breath "I hope he doesn't call my name." Thought Sephiroth clenching his fist. "Hey it will be all right." Whispered Shigatsu taking one of Sephiroth's hands. "Hold my hand as tight as you want. If you want squeeze it for how nervous you are the do so." Shigatsu whispered. Sephiroth gave a quick nod and squeezed Shigatsu's hand. "I think he's breaking my hand!" Thought Shigatsu trying to keep a strait face. "And that about sums up the cut list." Heidegger finished. "Shigatsu, My name wasn't on that list was it?" asked Sephiroth. "I wasn't paying attention. I was focusing on the fact that your breaking my hand." Shigatsu answered in pain. "Sorry!" Sephiroth said letting go of Shigatsu's hand. "No problem." Shigatsu said rubbing her hand. Robin forced his way the the crowd of shocked and overjoyed people pulling Kal by the arm. "Congratulations man!" He said to Sephiroth. "For what?" asked Sephiroth turning his attention to his friend. "You didn't get cut." Robin replied lifting an eyebrow. "Sorry. I was to nervous to hear." Sephiroth said rubbing the back of his neck. "What's wrong with Shigatsu?" asked Kal looking at the girl biting her lip and rubbing her sore hand. "Nothing." Shigatsu but in cracking her knuckles and flexing her hand. "All right people settle down lets see who made it for SOLDIER:" Heidegger began again. "You nervous." Whispered Sephiroth. "A little." Shigatsu whispered back. "She seems all right." Thought Sephiroth. Then Shigatsu clenching her fist and bitting her lip caught his eye. "It will be ok." Sephiroth whispered. "I hope." Shigatsu said taking a deep breath. The list seemed to never end. "Shigatsu Kuru." Heidegger finished the list and put back in his pocket. "I made it!" Shigatsu said putting her hands over her mouth. "Oh and before you leave the newest member of the Turks is Robin Johnson." Heidegger laughed and walked off the stage. "You made it!" Kal said to Robin kissing him. "Well aren't we a happy bunch." Sephiroth said putting his arm around Shigatsu. "Can't wait to see how sharp Robin will look in that blue suit!" Shigatsu laughed pulling away from Sephiroth. "Oh and what about you in that uniform, acting like miss Shinra Inc.!" Robin laughed. "Let's go get some pizza care of the 'newest Turk'." Kal grinned. "That's sounds good." Shigatsu said following Kal out the door. "Hey man. Now that you got that new paycheck coming in she is going to be on you about where you take her from now on." Sephiroth laughed hitting Robin on the back. "What's that supposed to mean!" Robin asked following Sephiroth out the door.
The next day Sephiroth, Shigatsu, Robin and Kal were sitting in the forty-fifth floor lounge in Shinra head quarters when one of professor Gast's assistants came running up the stairs. "Sephiroth!" he shouted running toward where the four sat. "What?" asked Sephiroth standing up. "Professor Gast .... He- he was found in his office with a bullet wound to the head! T-they think he..... committed suicide." The assistant said. "No. No!" Sephiroth shouted. "Sephiroth!" Shigatsu said standing up. "I'm sorry. I know you two were very close." the assistant reached out to put his hand on Sephiroth's shoulder. "No! This can't be happening!" Sephiroth shouted jerking away and running out of the room. "Tseng wants you Robin." The assistant said just before leaving. "I'll go with you." Kal said to Robin as the two of them left. Shigatsu felt everyone in the room staring at her. "Gast was so happy here why would he have killed himself?" thought Shigatsu running out of the room. She ran down the forty five flights of stairs then ran out of the lobby. "Shigatsu have you clocked out?" asked the receptionist as Shigatsu ran out the front doors. She ran into the parking deck and got out her motorcycle. She got on the interstate and drove. "Why would he kill himself?" she thought. "You shouldn't spend so much time with my specimen!" Shigatsu remembered Hojo saying "He could use a father figure your not playing the part!" Gast replied. "What? You don't think that I am a good father figure!" Hojo shouted "You should learn to control your temper Hojo." Gast said turning to his work. "I'll show you temper!" Hojo said shortly before Shigatsu ran in on the two co-workers asking if Sephiroth was there the year before. "Gast didn't kill him self! He couldn't have not leaving Sephiroth in the hands of Hojo!" Shigatsu said getting off the exit ramp and turning back to Shinra headquarters.
Returning in the building she ran to the elevator and up to the science department floor. "Is Hojo here?" asked Shigatsu to the last leaving assistant. "Yes." replied the assistant pointing to Hojo going through Gast's old files. "Hojo!" She said entering the office. "Sephiroth isn't here." Hojo said flipping a file on the desk. "That's not why I am here!" Shigatsu shut the door to the office. "Then what do you what?" asked Hojo sliding the file drawer shut. "I-i....it's..." Shigatsu suddenly lost her nerve. "It's what? What do you want to say?" asked Hojo. "I-i..." Shigatsu couldn't get it out. "This is going to take a while isn't it. Well you might as well take your coat off and sit down." Hojo said rolling his office chair over to the desk. Shigatsu removed her leather coat and sat down. "How should I say it?" she thought. "You were friends with Gast were you not?" asked Hojo standing up and walking behind Shigatsu. "I knew him if that's what you mean." Shigatsu answered. "This must have been a shock to you." Hojo said placing his hands on Shigatsu's shoulders. "It was, but Sephiroth seems to be taking it harder." Shigatsu jerked away from Hojo. "This was a great loss to us all." Hojo again placed his hands on Shigatsu's shoulders. "You knew Gast better than us all did he ever seem to be suicidal?" Asked Shigatsu tensing up. "Relax. You should take it easy, how about you join me for dinner and we'll talk more." Hojo began to rub her shoulders. Shigatsu jumped up out of the chair and faced Hojo. "Me have dinner with you? Your all most twice my age and a murderer!" Shigatsu said. "Is that a problem?" asked Hojo. "You did kill him! You hated him because he was over you and stood in the way of your research! He would have never let you do anything to hurt Sephiroth!" Shigatsu exclaimed. "And that changes your opinion of me?" asked Hojo. "How would that change your opinion of me if I told President Shinra?" asked Shigatsu. "What would he care, he knew. Gast was getting in the way of my project and the president told me to stop him at all cost." Hojo said with a smirk. "What?" Shigatsu seemed stunned. "And if you value your position in SOLDIER or your life you'll keep this to yourself." Hojo continued. Shigatsu suddenly lost her nerve. "I-I-" She began.
"What are you doing here." Sephiroth's deep voice filled the room.
"She was about to give me an answer about dinner." Hojo replied lifting an eyebrow.
"Sounds fine, hope you two have a nice time. Guess I am the only one who seems to care Gast is gone around here." Sephiroth said giving a betrayed glance at Shigatsu as he walked out the door.
"Sephiroth!" She said as he shut the door. "My answer is, no I will not have dinner with you. And yes, I won't tell Sephiroth about you murdering the only father he knew." Shigatsu turned and followed Sephiroth out the door. Hojo sat down in the office chair. "Lurecia, what have I done to our son?" he asked into the empty room.
"Sephiroth!" Shigatsu called as she caught up to him.
"What?" He snapped.
"I wasn't going to go out with Hojo he is twice my age!" Shigatsu said. "What do I care what you do with your life." Sephiroth replied. "I am not going to throw away my life for Hojo."
Shigatsu grabbed Sephiroth by the arm. "Leave me alone!" Sephiroth shouted. "Do you know why?" She asked. "I really do not care just leave me be!" Sephiroth jerked away from Shigatsu's grasp. "Because I--" Shigatsu started, before she could finished Sephiroth walked away.
3 days later
Sephiroth, Shigatsu and several others were loaded onto a truck and driven to the coast. "Our objectives are to clear the land for the mako reactor. I don't want to see man, woman, child or animal in our way. Put down any 'save the planet' groups as soon as you come in contact. Do I make my self clear?" said Tseng in the truck.
"Sir, yes sir." every one answered.
"We're meeting Scarlet and the people from her department at the dock." Tseng finish then climbed into the front of the truck.
"How long do you think it will take to get there?" asked one of the men. "It's a six hour drive not including fuel stops." Another said.
Sephiroth sat in the corner drowning out the voices of the other men by concentrating on a book. "What are you reading?" asked Shigatsu. "It's a report by professor Gast." Sephiroth replied.
"About what?" She asked looking over Sephiroth's shoulder.
"Mako energy." Sephiroth explained.
"Like with the mako reactors? I don't know much about all this." Shigatsu sighed.
Sephiroth took a red stone from his pocket. "This is materia, a condensed form of mako. We use it for attacks and summoning. As mako condenses it becomes a different color specifying it's purpose. Red is summoning, blue is support and green is elemental. Do you understand?" Sephiroth explained.
"Mostly, but what does clear do?" asked Shigatsu taking a clear materia out of the materia slot in her machine gun.
"Clear is an all matiera it helps level up the summon and will give the chance to heal all party members or attack all enemies." Sephiroth informed handing Shigatsu back her materia.
"That's interesting. Maybe we can find a weapon shop once we get to Costa De Sol." Shigatsu said with a smile.
"Here." Sephiroth placed the red materia in Shigatsu's hand.
"No, you keep it." Shigatsu replied. "I have to much materia for my materia slots any way." Sephiroth looked down at his book again.
"What summon is it?" asked Shigatsu.
"Shiva. It's a popular one with women. Gast was studying it, you were friends with him too, I think he would want you to have it." Sephiroth said. The rest of the ride was mostly quiet except for the occasional yawn from one of the half asleep SOLDIER's.
On the boat to Costa De Sol Sephiroth sat on the deck equipping his weapons.
"Hey." Shigatsu called walking up on the deck. Sephiroth looked up at her then looked back at his work. "That's a nice sword. Is is a Katana?" asked Shigatsu.
"Yes." Sephiroth replied. Sephiroth looked out over the water.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Shigatsu remarked.
"Yes it is." Sephiroth said.
Shigatsu took her helmet off and stood up. "What does it remind you of?" she asked leaning on the railing.
Sephiroth stood up and walked over to where Shigatsu was. "My mother." he said quietly.
"Your mother? What was she like?" asked Shigatsu glancing at the tall boy standing next to her.
"I don't remember her she died shortly after I was born. But Gast said she was very beautiful." Sephiroth answered.
"Hojo never said anything about her?" asked Shigatsu. "He always clammed up when I asked. When I first met you, he said that you looked like my mother. That is the most he has ever said about her." Sephiroth replied.
"It's funny how things work out. My father died three years ago. Shortly before my youngest sister was born." Shigatsu laughed sadly.
"Seems we're a group of orphans." Sephiroth said with a smile.
"I am a half orphan." Shigatsu informed punching Sephiroth in the arm.
At the Mako reactor:
"It's hot." One of the SOLDIER's complained.
"Shut up!" Sephiroth shouted.
"We've been working hard can't we rest?" asked the SOLDIER.
"No." Sephiroth answered.
"You. Your Hojo's project aren't you?" asked Scarlet.
" I prefer not to speak of that." Sephiroth answered.
"It's a yes or no question answer me with either yes or no." Scarlet said. "Yes I am." Sephiroth replied.
"Back to my point. I've been watching you. You keep a tight leash on your inferior officers. I think I'll speak with Heidegger about making you a first class officer." Scarlet said turning and walking away.
"Sephie's got a girlfriend?" laughed Robin.
"What are you doing here?" asked Sephiroth.
"I am one of the three Turks that got this job." Robin replied.
"Is Kal here?" asked Sephiroth.
"No. She stayed home with the kids." Robin said. "You don't have kids." Sephiroth informed.
"So." Robin laughed. "Your unusually happy this afternoon." Sephiroth said pushing past Robin.
"What's with you man?" asked Robin.
"He's been like that for the past two weeks."Shigatsu answered.
"Why?" asked Robin.
"I don't know." Shigatsu answered solemnly. "You think the war is finally catching up with him?" asked Robin.
"I don't know." Shigatsu replied.
"Hey, some of the other guys that have the night off tonight are going to a club in town you want to come? It will take your mind off work." Robin asked.
"Why not? Sure, I'll come." replied Shigatsu.
That night Sephiroth sat around a camp fire with a few other people. "Want one?" asked a SOLDIER offering a cigarette to Sephiroth. "No thanks." Sephiroth replied waving off the SOLDIER.
"I'll take one." said Reeve. "You should lighten up." Reeve said cutting his eyes at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth gave a heavy sigh, "I'm just going to bed." Sephiroth said.
Twisted figures and horrid lights filled Sephiroth's mind that night. "Just take a little more." One figure said taking the shape of Hojo. "No! I don't want to!" Sephiroth shouted suddenly a child again. "Listen child this will help you become the ultimate SOLDIER. Don't you what that?" asked Hojo.
"No!" Sephiroth shouted.
"Take it!" Hojo said hitting Sephiroth.
"No!" Sephiroth said a sword forming in his hand. The sword had a black handle and six foot blade looking like a Katana.
"Take more!" Hojo shouted hitting Sephiroth.
"No!" Shouted Sephiroth swinging the blade through Hojo's waist.
"No what?" asked a small voice.
"What?" Sephiroth jolted out of his dream.
"Did I wake you?" asked Shigatsu shutting the flap to the tent.
Sephiroth looked down at his hands. "I am an adult again." He muttered. "You mean you weren't one a moment ago?" asked Shigatsu.
Sephiroth sat up and rubbed his eyes to clear the dream away. He felt restless so he got out of bed and went over to his pack to check his weaponry.
"I'm sorry if I woke you." She said stepping behind the dressing curtain.
"I'm glad you did." Sephiroth replied.
"Bad dream." asked Shigatsu stepping out in her long gray night pants and her white camisole.
"I don't know." Sephiroth said looking for his sword.
"You'll never guess what I heard. It is a legend about katana, it made me think of you." Shigatsu said climbing into her sleeping bag.
"Really." Sephiroth said running his hand over the six foot blade. "Yes. The sword is called Marsamune. It is the lost sword of life. And only one can wield it." Shigatsu informed.
"That's great." Said Sephiroth climbing into his own sleeping bag.
"Can I ask what you were dreaming about?" asked Shigatsu.
"Hojo and the Shinra lab." Sephiroth said closing his eyes. "I thought you hated all of that." Shigatsu reminded.
"I never said it was a good dream." Sephiroth said turning on his side. "Hojo really hurt you, didn't he?" asked Shigatsu.
"I don't want to talk about it." Sephiroth replied.
"You would answer Scarlet if she asked you! You would answer any one with big breast!" Shigatsu pushed.
"She is my superior and you have nice legs." Sephiroth replied.
"What?" asked Shigatsu blushing.
"If that proves your 'breast' comment wrong then leave me alone." Sephiroth said rolling his eyes then dozed off.
2 years later
"You get that out of here I don't want any thing left here!" Shigatsu shouted.
"Miss. Look." Said one of the SOLDIER's. Shigatsu picked up the news paper and read:
"New Hero. Sephiroth of Shinra, leads troops in a battle to save Midgar and returns victorious! Amazing strength and good looks make him the perfect role model for children and young adults hoping to join SOLDIER."
Shigatsu rolled her eyes.
"Is everything all right miss?" Asked the SOLDIER.
"Don't you have something to do?" Asked Shigatsu folding up the news paper and placing it in her pack.
"No miss we're all on stand by." He informed.
"Then go do something besides bother me!" She snapped.
"Miss! I have great news!" Shouted another SOLDIER running towards Shigatsu.
"Wutai has revealed where they are hiding their weaponry?" Asked Shigatsu sarcastically.
"No miss! Even better! First class SOLDIER's Sephiroth and Zack are coming to our camp with their men!" He said.
Shigatsu bit her lip. "That is just my luck!" She thought.
"Are you all right miss?" asked one of the SOLDIER's.
"Both of you make sure that I am the first one to speak with Sephiroth!" Commanded Shigatsu.
Sephiroth and Robin had been assigned to the front lines in the war with Wutai, where they met a first class SOLDIER Zack. Zack, Sephiroth and Robin had become great friends. Shigatsu on the other hand had met Zack few times and didn't know him very well. Sephiroth and Shigatsu had grown apart in the last few years and hadn't spoken over a year. News of Sephiroth's fame reached her in a news paper clipping and a letter from Sephiroth himself reading:
Shigatsu,
I am a first class SOLDIER now. I've been thinking of you a lot lately. It seems like an eternity since we were at Costa De Sol.
It would be nice to hear from you.
Sephiroth.
Shigatsu did write him back:
Sephiroth,
I have been thinking of you too. Things are dull here in Midgar. I have been spending a lot of my free time with Tseng, we seem to get along very well.
Shigatsu.
The two of them wrote back and forth. In one letter Sephiroth wrote about how he had been feeling alone with out anyone to talk to, and how he had missed talking with her. He said that he would love to see her if she were ever near the Wutai Shinra boarder.
1 year in the past, in trenches.
"So have gotten any letters from Kal?" Asked Zack to Robin. "Yes. She has been hanging around Tseng and Shigatsu. She likes Tseng a lot." Robing replied. "Shigatsu does too." Sephiroth informed sitting down by a barrel of gun powder. "Who's Shigatsu? Sweetheart back home?" asked Zack. "No. She is a friend nothing else." Sephiroth snapped. "Sephiroth you got a letter!" Shouted Reno in to the back area where the three men sat. Sephiroth opened the letter. "Who's it from?" asked Zack. "Shigatsu." Sephiroth answered. "Care to read it aloud?" asked Robin. "Sure." Replied Sephiroth.
"Sephiroth,
I just got your letter. I miss talking with you too. And I will be heading to the front lines with Tseng in a few weeks. Things have been boring with out you here. I've been thinking a lot about that day we found out about Gast, and I never was able to finish telling you why I wouldn't go out with Hojo, well now that I have no interruptions I can finally finish my thought. Sephiroth I..." Sephiroth paused not wanting to read the rest of the letter aloud, "think that you are a great friend and can't wait to see you." Sephiroth read.
"You made that last part up!" Zack exclaimed.
"Shigatsu never writes like that." Robin informed.
"If your going to read it, read it they way she wrote it." Zack commanded.
"Both of you shut up. Why don't you believe it is written that way?" Asked Sephiroth.
"Because your beet red." Zack informed.
Sephiroth folded the letter and and put it in his pocket. "It's my letter and my business so back off." Sephiroth snapped standing up and walking away.
"He's touchy." Zack said as Sephiroth walked out.
As Sephiroth sat alone he finished reading the letter to himself:
"Sephiroth I love you. The more I think about it the more I do. I have tried to think of you as a friend but I can't. I've even tried going out with other guys. Tseng and I are going out now, but it's not working out. I'm sorry if this is a great shock, but I can't help the way I feel.
Shigatsu."
Sephiroth was very shocked he didn't know what to say. "Me! She loves me!" He thought. "She could have Tseng easy and be happy. Why me?" Whether it was fear that he would love her back or that he wasn't ready for a relationship like that he wrote her back:
"Shigatsu,
I hate to inform you but we are in a war! You don't have the time to be chasing some one who doesn't love you back. Grow up and take your place in SOLDIER. If you would give half the effort I have you would be a first class SOLDIER by now. I don't think we should be writing back and forth so often,
Sephiroth."
Shigatsu received the letter on the fourteenth of November just three days before her birth day, and the news couldn't have come at a worse time. She also received word that her Grandfather (that she was very close to) had died in a bombing of a Mako reactor a few days before. Switching her pain into drive she climbed ranks into one of the top in the first class division.
The next year
Sephiroth and Zack climbed out of the truck with their four men.
"She's got a lot of people." Zack said looking at the full camp. Sephiroth said nothing.
"Sir. Miss Shigatsu wants to speak with you immediately." one of the SOLDIER's informed.
"I'll go right away." Zack replied.
"I was speaking of Sephiroth, sir."The SOLDIER versed.
"She wants to see me?" Asked Sephiroth.
"Yes sir. She said that she wanted to see you as soon as you arrived." The SOLDIER replied.
"Well don't keep her waiting." Zack said.
Sephiroth shook his head then followed to Shigatsu's tent.
Sephiroth entered the tent and looked around.
"Where is she?" He asked.
"I'll go inform her your here." The SOLDIER replied.
A few moments went by then the flap to the back of the tent lifted and in walked Shigatsu. She had grown taller and looked more like a woman in the face then he remembered.
"Sephiroth." She addressed with a slight bow.
"Shigatsu." He addressed doing the same.
Shigatsu waved away the the SOLDIER.
"I'm not one for long formalities so I'll skip straight to the point. Why have you come to the camp?" asked Shigatsu standing straight.
"I wanted to speak with Tseng about the promotion to General." Sephiroth informed.
"How interesting. And may I ask what gave you the idea that he would be here?" Asked Shigatsu keeping a straight face though she wanted to stab Sephiroth.
"Last I heard you two were dating, he usually follows the woman he cares about." Sephiroth replied sarcastically.
"Well we broke up four months ago. It was for the better." Her words were soft as if she didn't care about loosing Tseng.
"That's a shame. I really thought he would have asked you to marry him by now." Sephiroth shrugged.
"Who says he didn't." Shigatsu said turning away from Sephiroth.
Sephiroth suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. "What?" He asked.
"You know that I have a chance at the General position too." Shigatsu changed the subject.
"Well it seems we'll always be in competition." Sephiroth said with a sigh.
"Well if you would tell me where Tseng is I would be able to get out of your hair." Sephiroth informed.
"He's back at Midgar." She said clenching her fist.
"Shigatsu why does it have to be this way?" asked Sephiroth.
"Be what way?" Shigatsu asked.
"Why can't we be friends again?" asked Sephiroth.
"I hate to be the one to inform you but we're in a war! People grow apart. People that were once the best of friends, now hate each other! Grow up and take your place in SOLDIER! If you would give half the effort as I have you would have gotten in SOLDIER on your own, with out Hojo!" Shigatsu replied in anger.
Sephiroth felt as if someone had slapped him, he remembered those words he had said to her in his letter.
"You think I am in SOLDIER because of Hojo? All he did was enroll me. I got in on my own!" Sephiroth said walking toward Shigatsu. Before he realized what he was doing he took her in his arms and kissed her. Letting all the emotions of the past come forth and washing over them both. Shigatsu pushed him away and cried, "You believe that don't you. I know about everything Hojo did to get you in SOLDIER! He injected you with Mako as a child so that you would be stronger! He was planning from the start to make the ultimate SOLDIER! He ripped you out of Jenova's arms and threw you into a lab!" Shigatsu cried feeling wounded.
"You look at any of those records Shigatsu and they will prove that I am the strongest, the fastest, and the smartest in SOLDIER! Face it, I am the best Shinra has to offer!" Sephiroth said in a cold voice turning to leave.
"I've worked through impossible odds to get this far and if you think I am going to let some lab rat stop me from taking this promotion then you are out of your mind!" Shigatsu said through her teeth.
"Well my little slum princess, seeing as we have similar views may the best man win." Sephiroth replied walking out of the tent.
"What was with all of the shouting?" asked Zack.
"Shut up." Sephiroth replied climbing in the truck.
"Where are we headed next sir?" asked one of the SOLDIER's.
"To the port at Costa De Sol then on to Midgar." Sephiroth replied.
Shigatsu walked out side the tent as the truck drove away.
"Is every thing all right miss?" asked one of her own SOLDIER's.
"Fine. Every thing is fine." She replied.
The SOLDIER began to walk away.
"Get me on the next train to Cost De Sol and make sure I have a helicopter waiting when I get there." Shigatsu commanded.
"Yes miss." The SOLDIER replied.
In Midgar one week later.
"It's been a while." Zack said with a smile looking up at Shinra headquarters.
"Lets just hurry." Sephiroth replied coldly as he walked in.
"Oh my gosh! It's Sephiroth!" Shouted a secretary.
"Can I have your autograph?" asked another.
"How about mine?" asked Zack.
"Who are you?" asked the first secretary.
Sephiroth signed the papers that each girl or young boy thrust at him then moved quickly towards the elevator.
He and Zack reached the forty sixth floor and moved quickly to Tseng's office.
"I've missed you." They heard Tseng say from inside the office.
"And I have missed you." A second voice said.
Sephiroth clenched his fist at the sound of the other voice.
"Who is it?" asked Zack.
Sephiroth said nothing but opened the door.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" asked Tseng.
"Shigatsu!" Zack exclaimed seeing the girl sitting in Tseng's office chair.
"Why Sephiroth, what a surprise. Here about the promotion?" Asked Shigatsu standing up.
"Is that why you are here? Or do you have other reasons?" asked Sephiroth looking at Tseng.
"Is there something I should know about?" asked Tseng.
Zack shook his head. "To many questions not enough answers." Zack cut in.
"I am a little confused." Tseng said.
Shigatsu took her left hand out of her pocket and placed it on Tseng's shoulder.
"After speaking with you the other day, Sephiroth, you made me think of how much I need a strong man in my life, so I decided to come see Tseng." Shigatsu said shifting her hand to catch light.
A shimmer on her left hand caught Sephiroth's eye.
He walked forward and took her left hand off of Tseng's shoulder.
"Your engaged?" Sephiroth asked calmly.
"Seems you may be the smartest in SOLDIER, you guessed it." Shigatsu smiled and placed her arms around Tseng's waist.
"Funny how things work out isn't it Seph?" Laughed Zack.
Sephiroth stared at Shigatsu's left hand.
"I don't care about what is going on in your lives, I'm here to ask about my promotion." Sephiroth informed.
"You'll have to talk to Heidegger about that he just took it into his own hands." Tseng said.
"Where is Heidegger?" asked Sephiroth.
"He is training new recruits he will be back in a few days." Tseng replied.
"We don't have leave for a few days I guess we can wait." Zack suggested.
"We will have to." Sephiroth said walking out of the office.
Sephiroth was angry. "I loved her! I knew she felt something when we kissed!" he thought walking down the stairs to Hojo's office.
"Hello?" called Hojo as his office door was opened.
"What did you do old man?!" Sephiroth said walking over to Hojo's desk.
"What are you talking about? Aren't you supposed to be on another continent?" Asked Hojo.
"I'm on leave. And I want you to tell me what you did to get me in SOLDIER ?" Asked Sephiroth slamming his file on the desk.
Hojo lifted an eyebrow and opened the file.
"You were born to be in SOLDIER." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth sat down in a chair in front of Hojo's desk.
"I've been told that my whole life, but what does that mean? Is that why I am different than every one else? Is that why I feel alone even when I am with... with the one I love?" asked Sephiroth hanging his head in his hands.
Hojo opened a drawer and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray.
"This is going to take a while." Hojo said lighting one of the cigarettes.
"Tell me!" Sephiroth demanded.
Hojo took a deep breath. "Fine. You want to know the whole story? Before you were born one of my assistants, a woman named Jenova found out she was pregnant. She had the baby, you, and died in child birth. She left you to me. She told me to make you the 'ultimate SOLDIER' and so acting on her wishes I did." Hojo said.
"That doesn't explain why I am different." Sephiroth shook his head.
"Because your better." Hojo replied.
Sephiroth and Hojo talked for hours until dusk, then Sephiroth left the professor's office.
Shigatsu made her way to the Midgar train station then bought a ticket for the slums. When she arrived it was almost dark. Quickly she ran towards Sector seven. "Here I am." she said taking a deep breath.
She was standing in front of her old home. She stepped up to the door then knocked.
"I'll get it!" called a little girl about the age of ten.
"Not if I do first!" called another little girl of seven.
"Both of you calm down!" said an older woman opening the door.
The woman seemed stunned.
"Hello mom." said Shigatsu with a smile.
"Shigatsu!" the woman whispered hugging her.
The two little girls stopped fighting and looked up to see the tall young woman.
"Who's that?" asked the youngest.
"Shigatsu stupid!" replied the other.
"Shigatsu!" they both shouted running over to her.
Shigatsu leaned down to hug both girls.
"I've missed this place so much." She thought looking around the house made from salvaged wood and metal.
"Come in baby, how have you been?" asked her mother.
"Well enough." Shigatsu answered sitting down on the sofa.
"Have you eaten?" asked her mother.
Shigatsu nodded yes.
"Look!" said Madison, the youngest, pulling on Shigatsu's left hand.
"Who gave you that?" Asked Carol the middle child.
Shigatsu's mother, Rebecca, looked hard at the ring."My goodness child, you've gone off and gotten married!" Rebecca exclaimed.
Shigatsu gave a weak smile. "Not yet. His name is Tseng we're engaged!" she informed her mother.
"Is he cute?" asked Carol with a sly smile.
"What's he look like?" asked Madison tugging on Shigatsu's arm.
"Yes he is very cute. He has long black hair and pale skin with beautiful brown eyes!" Shigatsu replied smiling at her sisters.
"I am glad your happy." Rebecca returned the smile.
The night went on and Sephiroth walked down the stairs towards the first floor of the building. Ignoring the crowd he pushed through the entrance doors and made his way to the train station. "Engaged?" he thought. "What Hojo said didn't help either. I am just having an all around bad day." he thought. He shook his long hair out of his face as he boarded the train. He felt every one starring at him, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything right now, anything but her.
"I don't know why I am even going to the slums to see her. I expected her to be this way, to do something rash because someone is in her way." Sephiroth thought.
Close to an hour later Sephiroth left the train station and walked to sector seven.
He knew the house from Shigatsu's photograph. Sephiroth knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Said Rebecca opening the door.
"Is Shigatsu here?" asked Sephiroth looking down.
"Are you Tseng?" asked Madison.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Rebecca turned to her small daughter who was standing behind her with a glass of water.
"No I am Sephiroth... so Shigatsu was here." Sephiroth answered Madison.
Rebecca turned around to Sephiroth.
"Yes. She is here. I'll tell her she has company." Rebecca informed him.
A few moments later Shigatsu walked down the stairs and looked at Sephiroth.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"I need to talk to you." He replied.
Shigatsu saw her sisters peeping there heads out of their bedroom door out of the corner of her eye.
"Let's take a walk." Shigatsu inquired.
"Fine." Sephiroth replied opening the door for Shigatsu.
The two walked to Sector one where the entrance to the Sector's was.
Sephiroth opened the gate and the two of them walked out onto the grassy plains.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Shigatsu asked sitting on grass.
"Why are you marrying Tseng?" asked Sephiroth.
"I told you... I need someone strong like him in my life." She answered her defenses going up.
"He's a Turk..." Sephiroth sighed.
Shigatsu felt a knot in her throat, like she were about to cry.
"You know what?" Shigatsu began looking for the words to say. "I hate you. I've hated you for the past year, ever since I got your letter. When Tseng and I arrived at the front lines, I saw you only a few times... and each time I thought I would die because of the pain you caused me. I put my heart on the line... and the least you could have done was told me face to face." She finished holding back the tears.
Sephiroth placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't know what to do." He said softly.
Shigatsu jerked away from his touch.
"I heard that you were nominated for the top general position as well as I was. I thought that if I got that job it would hurt you... I wanted so badly just to hurt you, like you hurt me. When I saw you again it dug up so much crap that I thought was gone. Then you kissed me... I knew how you felt then. I also knew that getting the job wouldn't hurt you enough to make me happy, so when I saw the way you looked when I told you about Tseng. I knew that I could hurt you with that as well." Shigatsu couldn't help it any more, tears ran down her cheeks.
Sephiroth pretended not to notice.
"I never meant to hurt you. Shigatsu I love you, I know that now. Before I was just a kid, and reacted just like a kid. Please Shigatsu tell me you love me too." Sephiroth said sitting next to Shigatsu.
Shigatsu wiped away her tears.
"I can't love you! I don't want to love you anymore! I don't want to be hurt by you anymore!" She shouted standing up and walking towards the gates.
"I knew I couldn't count on you. Your just like the rest of the world, some one hurts you and you just have to hurt them back. I was in the way of you getting that general position and I hurt you before. What a better way to get revenge; get a job and a husband that you can't stand to be around all at the same time." Sephiroth replied spitefully.
Shigatsu turned to Sephiroth.
"You don't know how much I want to love Tseng! How much I want to forget you!" Shigatsu said drawing her gun.
Sephiroth felt the target on the back of his head.
"You don't want to do that Shigatsu." Sephiroth informed slowly reaching for his sword Masamune.
"We can end this now! Fight me... we'll fight, the winner get's the job... the loser leaves the other one alone for ever!" Shigatsu said adjusting her aim from Sephiroth's head to his left hand.
"I'll raise your wager, I win I get the job, you loose you die. And vice versa." Sephiroth turned and faced Shigatsu as he spoke.
"If that's the way you want to play then fine by me." Shigatsu replied.
Shigatsu fired a few shots taking a few of Sephiroth's hp off.
"Is that all you got." Sephiroth laughed making his move.
He swung Masamune with all his might. Shigatsu screamed as the blade hit her knocking off all but one hp.
"I hate to do this but a deal is a deal." Sephiroth said with a smirk.
Shigatsu covered her head with her arm.
"Please don't--" Shigatsu began.
Fire. Smoke filled the air.
"What?" Sephiroth asked.
Shigatsu stood up and used a full-cure on herself.
"I don't know." She answered.
Invasion sirens started to go off.
"No... Someone is attacking Midgar!" Shigatsu shouted.
Sephiroth ran in the gates followed by Shigatsu.
"The smokes coming from over there!" Sephiroth shouted over the noise of the sirens.
Shigatsu began coughing.
"Are you ok?" asked Sephiroth.
Shigatsu nodded her head then ran into the smoke. Sephiroth took off after her.
When Sephiroth found her she was firing her machine gun at four Wutai soldiers.
"Shigatsu!" He shouted as the Wutai fell to the ground.
She turned to him tears filling her eyes.
"You don't think it reached sector seven?" Shigatsu asked in a weak voice.
Sephiroth shook his head and ran towards Shigatsu.
"They couldn't have? Could they?" asked Shigatsu tears flowing down her cheeks.
Sephiroth reached out to take Shigatsu's hand. Shigatsu jerked away and ran towards sector seven.
"Shigatsu wait!" Sephiroth shouted running after her,
In sector seven they saw the hell like flames spreading.
"Mom! Carol! Madison! They can't--" Shigatsu began.
The sound of a falling roof stopped her in the middle of her sentence. She quickly turned to see her small home falling along with several others.
"No!" She screamed.
Sephiroth felt a deep pain as he watched Shigatsu running around casting water to unsuccessfully put out the blazing inferno.
Sephiroth touched Shigatsu's shoulder.
"It's no use." Sephiroth said softly.
"I don't want to believe it." Shigatsu whispered feeling dizzy.
Sephiroth closed his eyes, he wished he could have said that he knew how she felt, but, he didn't. He had never lost a parent at least not when he was old enough to remember, and he had no brothers or sisters either.
"Please make it go away." She cried as she fell to her knees.
Sephiroth didn't know what to do, he picked Shigatsu up off the ground.
"Can you stand?" He asked.
"No, I don't think so." She replied softly.
Sephiroth began walking on towards wall market.
When they reached wall market Sephiroth walked towards an alley with a wire that reached the top plate.
"Where are we?" asked Shigatsu.
Sephiroth looked down at Shigatsu in his arms.
"Were almost there." Sephiroth said.
He placed Shigatsu over his shoulder and began to climb to the top plate.
Shigatsu woke up in an unfamiliar bed with a fire roaring in a fire place of to the side. She looked over and sitting in a large chair was a figure slumped forward sleeping. It was Sephiroth. He looked to be in anguish. Almost afraid. She called his name weakly. "Sephiroth..."
He raised his head and quickly the fear that she saw was gone.
"So your awake." He said softly.
"Where are we at?" She asked him.
"I brought you to Chocobo Bills, he is a Chocobo rancher outside of Midgar."
"What happened?" Shigatsu asked.
"I am not sure yet. When I reached the top plate the were evacuating Shinra, so I decided to bring you here. There is not much we could do tonight and to be honest, I wanted to keep you for myself if for only one night." He stood up and walked over to the bed where she was laying.
All Shigatsu's defenses crumbled. The horror of losing her family and the charade of hating Sephiroth was just to much for her. Tears filled her eyes and she turned her head away from him.
"Please, don't..." She cried.
Sephiroth sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair. "I am sorry if I have hurt you. I have never had anyone show me love the way you did. It scared me."
Shigatsu laughed harshly, "You afraid."
"Yes, me afraid, and of a girl as well." He laughed.
Shigatsu turned and stared into his eyes, this was a side of Sephiroth that she had never seen before.
He leaned over and kissed her gently on her lips. "You need some sleep. I will be here to watch over you until morning."
He stood up to walk away when Shigatsu took his hand. "Please just lie here with me." She asked.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
She nodded her head and he climbed in beside her. He lay facing her. They laid there for what seemed an eternity, just looking into each others eyes.
"I love you." Sephiroth whispered as he closed his eyes.
"And I love you." Whispered Shigatsu as she drifted off to sleep.
Sephiroth and Shigatsu drifted off to sleep together, sleeping a peaceful sleep that they not ever known.
The next morning Shigatsu awoke to the smell of coffee. She reached out for Sephiroth, but he was not there. She raised up and saw a man standing facing out the window. She was about to call out to Sephiroth, when he turned toward her and she saw Tseng.
"Are you all right?" Tseng asked.
"I am fine. How did you find me?" She asked.
"Sephiroth, came for me early this morning and told me about your family. He said that he did not know where to take you last night with the evacuation, so he brought you here." Tseng informed her.
"Oh," Shigatsu said. "Where is he now?"
"He left this morning to fight on the front lines. President Shinra is retaliating with full force."
"Well, I need to get back with my troops." She said.
"Sephiroth was promoted this morning to Top General." Tseng said softly.
Somehow it did not seem to matter to Shigatsu anymore. "Really, well, I guess the best man won." She said getting off the bed and walking over to Tseng. She remembered the words that she and Sephiroth spoke the night before, but she still could not see any hope for their future. She knew that those words would mean more to her in her lifetime and any words that Tseng would ever say. Sephiroth was her first and only true love.
"I guess we had better get back." she said to Tseng.
"First have some breakfast and then we will make our way back. There is a lot to be done." Tseng said.
Sephiroth sat in the trench where he had received Shigatsu's letter one year ago.
"A lot has happened since then." Sephiroth thought to himself.
"General." Saluted Zack with a smile.
Sephiroth shook himself out of thought and forced himself to return the smile.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Zack sitting next to Sephiroth.
"Just thinking..." Sephiroth replied.
"About what?" asked Zack.
"Shigatsu." Sephiroth replied.
Zack shook his head.
"Is that all you think about?" he asked sarcastically.
"You two, we need you on the front lines now they are pulling out everything they've got!" Robin shouted running into the back.
Sephiroth and Zack jumped to their feet and ran towards the front lines.
Explosions went off and men fell to the ground.
"Sir, come this way!" Shouted one of the SOLDIER's leading Sephiroth towards a truck that had been turned over.
"What happened here?" asked Sephiroth shouting over the noise.
"A mine sir! They have put mines near there camp!" The SOLDIER replied.
"How many men are inside?" asked Sephiroth.
"four!" replied the SOLDIER.
"Get a crew to get them out, report to me when your finished." Sephiroth commanded.
Boom! An explosion set off from the direction that Zack and Robin had went in.
"No..." Sephiroth thought thousands scenarios starting racing through his mind.
He ran in the direction of the explosion.
"Zack! Robin!" Shouted Sephiroth running through a field of bodies.
"Over here!" Shouted Zack waving his arms over his head.
Sephiroth ran towards him to see Robin laying on the ground his torso almost ripped off.
"Is he..." began Sephiroth.
"... alive." Robin finished.
"This is bad." Zack said looking at the Turk who was loosing blood quickly.
Sephiroth took off his trench coat to make a battle field stretcher.
"We need to get you back. If we get you back now then we can save you." Sephiroth said motioning for Zack to pick up the Turks legs.
"Don't bother. I wont make it any way... what's the use in taking up the bed space for the men that can be saved." Robin cut in.
"We cant leave you!" Zack shouted.
Robin shook his head. Tears were running down his face, the pain was to much to bear.
"You'll have to end it." He said.
Sephiroth looked wild eyed at his friend.
"How could he expect one of us to do that?" He thought.
Zack stood up and turned the other way, he looked as if he were about to cry himself.
"Please just let me die!" Robin cried turning pale from loosing blood.
"Do it Sephiroth." Zack said as if he had a knot in his throat.
Sephiroth drew Masamune.
"Is this what you want me to do?" asked Sephiroth shaking the long hair off of bare his shoulders.
"Tell Kal that I love her." Robin replied making it known he wasn't going back.
Sephiroth stood and told Robin he was sorry. Then brought the sword down quickly ending the young Turks life.