Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 14

“Ashen Skies”

Chapter 14

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Warnings: Het (short but graphic), Yaoi (hard core)

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*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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Another two weeks passed and Transport Day came around. Reno was highly unhappy about it, though he kept his feelings carefully hidden. Tifa was amongst the civilians he would be flying to Modeoheim. He didn't try to dissuade her and that surprised even him. It certainly wasn't because he wanted her to leave. They'd grown closer since the day they had sex in the Ancient Forest and not just on a physically intimate level. Tifa was easy to get along with, now that she wasn't constantly suspicious of him. She was fun, she was kind and she was utterly unlike any woman Reno had ever been involved with. Not to mention, the passionate nights they shared under the blankets or under the stars were a definite bonus.

 

If he'd taken the time to stop and really think about it, he might have realized he wasn't trying to stop her from going because he really cared about her and wanted her happy. Reno didn't allow himself to think about it, though. He was so used to doing the selfish thing and pushing for his way, it didn't even occur to him that he might simply be growing up as a person. Instead, he told himself that she didn't mean that much to him.

 

Rude was helping him get the chopper ready and the bald man paused in the action of loading supplies and studied him quietly.

 

"What's up, partner?" Reno asked, also pausing.

 

"You're just gonna let her go?" Rude always got straight to the point.

 

Reno shrugged. "What the hell else am I s'posed to do, man? Tie her up?"

 

"Just seemed like you two were hitting it off pretty good," Rude answered with a grunt as he handed a box up to Reno. "I figured she'd stay here with you."

 

Reno took the box and strained a little under the weight of the drinks inside of it. "Well, she misses her blond guy and I've got no say over where she goes," he sighed. "It's a bummer

but I guess I've just gotta suck it up, yo." He carried the box through the cabin to the refrigerated storage compartment and opened it to start transferring the drinks. Rude climbed in with a second box full of food supplies and joined him.

 

"So you're breaking up," reasoned the bigger Turk.

 

"I didn't say that," Reno countered with a grimace. "I'll just have to wait 'till the next trip up there to see her again."

 

"You're no good with long distance relationships, Red."

 

Reno gave him an annoyed look.

 

~******************************************~

 

"I wish you wouldn't go." Yuffie frowned unhappily at the taller woman as she embraced her. "It's hard enough to make new friends these days, without them skipping off to the tundra on me."

 

Tifa chuckled and returned the embrace. She'd forged new friendships with quite a few of the Cosmo residents and Yuffie was one of her favorites. It was going to be hard to leave them behind but she'd known Cloud all her life. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "If I could split myself into two people and leave half of me here, I would."

 

Yuffie nodded and she sniffed tellingly, prompting Tifa to stroke her dark hair in a soothing gesture. "Hey, I'll be back. If I have to, I can divide my time between Modeoheim and here. I can travel back and forth each month with the transports."

 

"That's a good idea!" Yuffie enthused, brightening. "We can have joint custody of you, like divorced parents."

 

Tifa laughed softly and pulled away to look at the ninja. "I'm going to miss you," she admitted with a smile. "Yuffie, can I give you some advice?"

 

The petite woman sighed but nodded. "Sure, I guess."

 

"I think you should give your feelings for your husband a chance."

 

Yuffie looked away. "Don't know what you're talking about, Tifa."

 

"I think you do," argued the barmaid patiently. "I know you entered marriage with him under protest but when he came back with that head injury last week, all you could think about was getting him healed. I just hope you'll think about it."

 

"We'll see," Yuffie said evasively.

 

Elena approached and she held a thick padded, fleece coat in her arms of a forest green color. She offered it to Tifa with a faint smile. "Here," she said, "it's going to be cold in Modeoheim and you don't have enough warm clothing."

 

Tifa took the offering and swallowed a lump in her throat. "You didn't have to," she said.

 

"It's one of my old ones," Elena replied with a shrug. "I have another if I ever need it. I wanted to give you something you could use, as thanks for being so comforting to me when I was down in the dumps. Please use it, Tifa."

 

Tifa nodded. "I will. Thank you."

 

She said her goodbyes to several other people she'd befriended as well as some of the other people from her home village that chose to stay behind. Last but not least, she said goodbye to the leonine creature she'd gotten to know so well. He gave her a toothy, feline smile as she squatted down and hugged him around the neck.

 

"Goodbye, Nanaki. I hope we'll see each other again soon," Tifa said.

 

He patted her back with a paw and nodded. "Farewell, Tifa. You'll be missed."

 

Tifa stood up and took a deep breath as she grasped the handle of her one piece of luggage and pulled it along behind her, following the other departing residents to the hangar area. It wasn't going to be easy to adjust to life in Modeoheim after getting so accustomed to Cosmo Canyon but she figured it couldn't be much harder than it was when she first arrived after leaving Nibelheim.

 

Reno was standing outside the chopper when she arrived in the hangar and he was taking names as people climbed aboard. His partner Rude stood next to him. His eyes met Tifa's across the distance and a moment of silent regret passed between the two of them before she approached. She waited for her turn to board and allowed the attendants to take her luggage. Reno jotted her name down and gave her a faintly poignant look before reaching out to tweak a strand of her hair.

 

"Make sure ya buckle up for the trip, babe."

 

"I will," Tifa assured softly.

 

Tifa wanted to say more but she didn't know how to start. For a minute, they just looked at one another and she finally decided she'd wait until they arrived in Modeoheim to tell him she intended to migrate every month. Maybe by then, she'd have her thoughts and emotions sorted.

 

~***********************************~

 

Modeoheim, sunset that day:

 

"So, I'm finally going to meet your friend Tifa," Zack looked sidelong at Cloud as he waited with him in the hangar area, ready to help with the orientation of the new arrivals.

 

Cloud nodded, keeping his eyes on the darkening skies visible through the hangar opening.

 

"Is she cute?"

 

Cloud frowned at him. "You're married. Remember Aerith?"

 

Zack chuckled and held his hands out defensively. "I'm just asking a question, Cloudy. You know I'm crazy about Aerith. It's just harmless curiosity, I promise."

 

Cloud shrugged. "Ja, she's cute. She had a lot of admirers in Nibelheim. She never kept boyfriends for long though."

 

"Why not?" Zack inquired. "Do you think maybe she was holding out for you?"

 

"No," Cloud answered without hesitation. "She doesn't like to be bossed around and her boyfriends always ended up doing that to her."

 

"Right," Zack said, "I remember you telling me how independent she is. Say, isn't she with Reno now?"

 

"That's what she told me the last time we talked," answered Cloud. He wouldn't say it out loud but he was curious to meet this man she was involved with. He'd heard his name mentioned by Modeoheim residents before and not much of the conversation bits seemed to offer glowing praise. His status as a Turk had Cloud even more wary but he didn't want to jump to conclusions until he at least met him.

 

"Huh. I wouldn't have pictured a girl like you described going for someone like him," Zack muttered, prompting Cloud to look at him curiously.

 

"Why?"

 

Zack sucked his teeth in thought before answering. "Don't get me wrong, I think the guy's basically okay but he's got a pretty checkered past and he's kind of loud and obnoxious. He's always been kind of a player too and his usual targets are the kind of women that...uh...aren't like your friend."

 

Cloud's jaw tightened and he narrowed his eyes. "So you're saying he's bad news."

 

Zack appeared a bit uncomfortable. "I don't really know anymore, Cloud. It's been a while since I hung out with him for any length of time and everybody can change. Tifa sounds like she's got a pretty good head on her shoulders so he must have changed at least a little."

 

Cloud sighed softly. Tifa was usually a good judge of character but after losing her family and village, it was possible that her judgment was impaired. He hoped Reno hadn't taken advantage of her grief. If he had...well, Cloud wasn't sure what he would do, just yet. He'd figure that out once he got the chance to talk to Tifa and meet the man himself.

 

"I hear a helicopter," Zack announced, distracting Cloud from his brotherly protective thoughts. He had his head cocked like a canine as he listened. "Sounds like the transport's coming in."

 

Cloud peered out of the hangar bay again and he spotted the flashing lights of a distant aircraft. "Looks like it."

 

He and Zack waited in companionable silence as the craft flew closer and soon there was no mistaking it for a black ShinRa helicopter. Airmen guided the chopper in and it touched down in one of the empty spaces on the opposite side of the hangar to the Modeoheim helicopters. Cloud's hair got in his eyes as the rotary blades stirred the air inside the rocky hangar and he brushed the strands away, trying to see into the windows of the craft. The engine cut off and the blades slowed and stopped. The cockpit doors opened and so did the cabin hatch. People began to climb out of the chopper and Cloud looked for a familiar head of long brown hair.

 

"Tifa," called Cloud as soon as he saw her exit. He wasn't even aware of the little smile on his lips as he started toward the aircraft. She looked up at the sound of his voice and returned his smile, easing her way through the crowd with polite apologies as she made her way toward him. They met halfway and embraced, hugging one another with glad familiarity.

 

After a few moments, Tifa pulled away a little and looked at him with appraising brown eyes. "Cloud, have you gotten taller? You seem a little bigger, too." She felt his bicep with a little grin, indicating that she wasn't talking about additional body fat.

 

Cloud glanced down at his arms, a little surprised by her observations. He'd noticed some of his older clothes feeling a little snug around the shoulders and thighs and maybe some of his pants seemed shorter than before, but he blamed it on common shrinking from the wash. "I've been doing a lot of training so I might be a little bigger than I was the last time we saw each other." He shrugged. "I don't know how I could have gotten taller, though. Maybe it's the boots I'm wearing."

 

She looked down at the wool-lined winter boots on his feet. "Maybe," she said doubtfully. "You've got a glow in your eyes now. It's not bright but I can tell the difference. Is that from the Mako?"

 

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, that's what happens after a few treatments." Remembering his fellow Soldier, Cloud stepped aside and gestured to Zack. "Tifa, this is Zack Fair. He's one of my superiors...and my friend."

 

She smiled at the handsome Lieutenant and shook his hand. "Oh, the 'Flirt'."

 

Zack's eyebrows shot up and he looked at Cloud. "Hey!"

 

Cloud gave him a level look and Zack deflated and grinned crookedly. "Yeah, okay." He took Tifa's hand and shook it. "The pleasure's all mine, Tifa. I'd be a gentleman and kiss your hand but then Cloudy here might think I'm proposing to you or something."

 

She chuckled and smiled sidelong at the blond. "You were right, he's a charmer."

 

Cloud shrugged as Zack grinned at him, this time with an expression of flattery on his face. "Let's get your luggage, Tifa. I'll show you around myself. We'll get you settled in and then we can have something to eat and catch up."

 

She nodded and turned toward the helicopter. People were spreading out, greeting family and friends they'd been separated from. Cloud and Zack followed her to the aircraft and Cloud noticed a man with vivid red, spiked hair walking towards them. A taller, broad-shouldered bald man with light brown skin walked beside him. A pair of stylish shades concealed his eyes and both of the men wore business suits-though the redhead wasn't wearing his blazer or shirt buttoned all the way up like his companion. If the way the redhead's eyes focused on Tifa were any indication, Cloud guessed he must be her Reno.

 

Tifa confirmed the suspicion as the pair of men intercepted them. "Cloud, this is Reno and his partner Rude. They flew us here."

 

Cloud and Reno sized one another up silently for a moment before the Turk stuck a hand out. "So you're her blond boy, eh?" Reno said. "I recognize ya now. How's it going?"

 

Cloud took his hand and shook it. "Good." He shook Rude's hand next and the bald man gave a polite nod.

 

Reno noticed Zack and he grinned. "Hey, Patchy. 'Sup? I heard ya got hitched, man."

 

"Yup, I'm living the dream," agreed Zack light-heartedly. He slapped Reno lightly on the arm. "You ought to think about letting Tifa make an honest man out of you."

 

Cloud bit back a smile as Tifa blushed uncomfortably at the suggestion. Reno didn't seem too bothered by it, which gave Cloud pause. By all accounts he'd heard, the Turk wasn't the marrying sort and Zack's suggestion should have sent him into defensive mode. The only reaction Reno gave was to shrug and shoot a quick, guarded look Tifa's way.

 

"It'd take more than a wife to make an 'honest man' out of me, yo," Reno countered with a wink Tifa's way. "I'll go get Tifa's stuff out of the cargo hold. Wait here."

 

Rude went with him and as they walked away, Zack leaned closer to murmur an observation to Cloud. "Doesn't seem like he's changed that much."

 

Cloud took it as a warning and determined that he was going to need to have a talk with Tifa, if only to assure himself that she had everything handled.

 

~********************************~

 

Zack parted ways with them to help get the other new arrivals settled in and Reno and Rude stayed behind to restock and refuel the helicopter while Cloud showed Tifa around and took her to get a bunk assigned to her. Cloud introduced her to people in passing as he gave her the tour and she took a liking to Reeve immediately, just as he suspected she would. He didn't get a chance to introduce her to Director Lazard because the man was holed up in his office, busy as usual. He did cross paths with Genesis, Angeal and Vincent though and Aerith was unsurprisingly working in the gardens when he showed them to Tifa. The two women hit it off quite well and when Cloud and Tifa left the cultivation areas to go to the mess hall, Tifa asked about Sephiroth.

 

"When do I get to meet your significant other, Cloud?"

 

"As soon as I figure out where he is," answered the blond. "Let's get something to eat, first."

 

"I could use a good meal," Tifa confessed.

 

Together, they walked the corridor leading to the dining area and as they entered the room Cloud spotted Sephiroth walking toward the opposite exit. He called out to him and the General stopped and turned to look at him before walking over to meet him.

 

"Tifa, this is General Sephiroth," Cloud introduced formally, mindful that he was on duty and had to maintain proper decorum. "Sir, this is my friend Tifa."

 

While Tifa gave him a puzzled look at the formality he addressed his lover with, Sephiroth gave her an elegant nod. "I remember. Welcome to Modeoheim, Miss Lockheart."

 

"Thank you, Sir," Tifa answered respectfully.

 

"If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend." Sephiroth gave her another cool, polite nod and his eyes settled briefly on Cloud with a hint of warmth before he walked away.

 

Tifa watched him go and she leaned closer to Cloud. "Well he seemed...nice."

 

Cloud smirked at her, sensing insincerity. "He doesn't warm up to people right away," he explained. "He's not very sociable."

 

"Kind of like you," she said dryly. "I can understand that, but he really didn't act much like your boyfriend, Cloud."

 

He wasn't offended by her observation. "We don't act the same in public as we do when we're alone. He warms up when he doesn't have an audience of civilians watching us." Most people never caught the covert looks Sephiroth gave him that felt to him like silent caresses.

 

"When you put it that way, I understand," she said.

 

~******************************~

 

As they sat down to eat, Cloud silently pondered how to approach the subject of her relationship with Reno. He didn't want her to get the idea that he thought she couldn't take care of herself but he wanted some reassurance that the guy was going to be good to her.

 

Tifa was used to him being quiet but the look on his face must have tipped her off that he was pensive. "What are you thinking about, Cloud?"

 

He sighed. He wasn't good at talking about things like this. "I guess I want to know what's going on with you and Reno."

 

"I thought I told you that, already."

 

"You did." He nodded. "But are you going to keep seeing him, now that you're here?"

 

"That's the plan," she answered. Her expression turned faintly suspicious. "Why?"

 

"Won't that be a little tough, with him halfway across the world?" Cloud persisted.

 

"I plan on going back and forth between here and Cosmo Canyon," she explained. "I'll take the transports back and forth every other month so that I can be with him and you."

 

Cloud lowered his eyes and pushed his food around with his fork absently. "I just hope you've got...protection."

 

"Protection from what?" Tifa queried with a puzzled frown. When he gave her a meaningful look, she caught on and shifted awkwardly in her seat. "Oh."

 

"There isn't a lot of birth control around anymore," Cloud made himself point out, ignoring the flush that inevitably surfaced under his skin.

 

She shook her head. "You don't have to worry about that. Birth control has been around since long before modern medicine came out and I know how to use the right herbs."

 

His nose crinkled before he could stop it. "Herbs? Uh, Tifa...I don't know how reliable that is."

 

She sighed. "Yes, there's a chance of failure-just like with regular medicine."

 

He looked at her sharply. "You aren't, are you? I mean, if you're in trouble you'd tell me, right?"

 

Understanding his meaning, she laughed softly under her breath. "No, I'm not pregnant and I don't plan on getting that way anytime soon."

 

"But it could happen, whether you plan it or not," Cloud insisted, determined to make his point. "Is he going to support you if it does?"

 

She pressed her lips together. "I can take care of myself."

 

"How much ass do you think you can kick with a pregnant belly?" Cloud asked ruthlessly, "Especially against WEAPONS?"

 

"I..." Tifa faltered and averted her eyes. "That wasn't what I meant."

 

Cloud sighed and looked her in the eye earnestly. "I'm not trying to be overprotective. I just want to know that he'd be there for you." He trailed off in a mumble. He was saying it all wrong.

 

"I haven't brought the subject up," she told him softly, casting a look around to be sure nobody was listening in. "It's a little early in the relationship for a conversation like that."

 

"Not if you're sleeping with him," Cloud insisted grimly.

 

She grimaced. "I see your point. Maybe I'll talk to him about it soon. Just please, don't worry about me until there's a reason to worry."

 

"Then you have to stop worrying about me, too." A hint of a teasing smile curved his lips.

 

Tifa gave him a sour look.

 

~********************************~

 

Reno and Rude stayed overnight in Modeoheim and Reno chose to sleep in the chopper instead of take one of the spare bunks in the bedding area. Rather than sleep in her new bunk, Tifa slept in the helicopter with Reno so that they could spend their last night together in private. Reno made a sleeping pallet on the floor of the cabin for them out of the stored blankets and pillows and the two of them discarded their clothing and had vigorous, almost desperate sex.

 

Tifa shuddered in the throes of her orgasm and arched her back, pressing backwards against her thrusting lover. Reno had one arm around her waist and his hot breath fanned against her ear as he gasped and grunted with his efforts. She laid her hand over his arm and panted his name as his thrusts quickened and his groans of pleasure became sharper. With a final expletive of pleasure, Reno bucked inside of her and came.

 

"Oh yeah," Reno sighed as his tension faded with the climax. He kissed her ear and stroked her belly and breasts. "Mmm, that was great, sexy." He eased out of her and kissed her shoulders and neck leisurely. "I'm sure gonna miss doing this every night with you."

 

Tifa bit her lip and thought about what Cloud said. "Reno, how would you feel if I got pregnant?"

 

Reno immediately froze against her and she turned her head to look at him. His eyes were wide in his pale, angular face and the stray locks of cinnamon hair falling over them made him look absurdly young.

 

"You-you're pregnant?" he blurted.

 

She slapped his arm lightly. "No! I didn't say I am pregnant, dwaas!" She smiled with amusement at his panic. "I just want to know how you'd feel if it happened."

 

Reno visibly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't know what ya just called me but don't scare me like that, girl. It ain't nice."

 

"I called you an idiot," she confessed.

 

"Hey!" Reno smacked her bottom lightly. "You don't get to lecture me about manners anymore toots. Calling your boyfriend an idiot. Shame on ya."

 

"Well, if you would have listened to what I was saying I wouldn't have had to call you that," she countered, grinning a little. She knew he wasn't truly offended; they played these games with each other often. "So, how do you think you'd feel?"

 

He frowned, sobering a little. "You want a straight answer?"

 

She nodded. "Please."

 

He ran his tongue over his teeth and shrugged. "I don't know."

 

She clicked her tongue in exasperation. "You can tell me."

 

"Seriously doll, I don't know how I'd feel." He looked at her with unusually pensive tourmaline eyes. "I could tell ya what I think you'd want to hear. I could say I'd be excited about it. I could say I'd freak out. Truth is, I could make a liar out of myself, yo. It's not like winning the lottery or having your pad burn down. It's not black and white and it could be good or bad. I guess if we were trying for it, I'd be happy. If it was an accident, I might freak."

 

She considered his words and they made a weird sort of sense to her. "I suppose I don't know how I'd feel, either."

 

"You're talking accidental, right?" Reno probed, looking slightly suspicious.

 

"Of course," she assured him. "I'm not trying to ease you into the idea of purposely trying to have one." She suspected what he must be thinking and she became slightly defensive. "Reno, you don't think I'd try to get pregnant on the sly, do you? I promise you, I'm still taking my herbal tincture every day. I would never be so dishonest."

 

He blinked. "Is that what ya thought I was worried about?" He laughed. "That didn't even cross my mind. I just wondered why you're asking me this, yo."

 

Feeling better with the subtle reminder that he trusted her, she calmed down. "Because accidents can and do happen. I think if we're going to keep doing this, it's important to at least touch on the subject."

 

He slipped his arm away from her waist to reach up and comb his bangs out of his eyes. "Well, I won't lie to ya, babe. I never pictured myself as a father; especially now that the world's so fucked up."

 

Now she felt like they were getting somewhere. "Would you want to be involved?"

 

He put his arm around her again. "I've been prepared my whole adult life to have some kid come up to me one day and call me 'Dad' out of the blue. It's a risk every guy takes when he fools around, no matter what kind of relationship he's got with the woman. If anything like that ever happened, I'd want to get to know my own kid before it's half grown. So yeah, I guess I'd want to be involved."

 

It was a little ambiguous but she could forgive that, since the relationship was still so new. His answers even came out better than she'd expected so she decided to drop it and enjoy the rest of the night with him.

 

"I'm sorry for scaring you," she murmured, turning over to face him. She kissed him on the chin, then on the lips. "I just thought it best to get that out of the way, just in case."

 

"You want me to start pulling out 'till they can start making condoms again?" Reno asked seriously.

 

"I doubt that would make much of a difference," she sighed. She brushed her lips against his jaw and caressed his chest. "Several girls from my village ended up being young mothers because they thought that would work. Let's just not worry about it anymore tonight. When we have more alternatives, we'll use them."

 

Reno captured her mouth with his and didn't argue. She could feel him hardening again against her thigh and she reached down to stroke his length, putting aside concerns of the future in favor of the pleasures of the present.

 

~********************************~

 

Sephiroth noticed that Cloud looked a bit tired and sickly when they met in the den after dark to go to his sanctuary together for the night. He suspected the symptoms to be tied to the Mako treatments Cloud got once a week, though they didn't always immediately manifest the same day he had his injections. Cloud gave him a wan little smile and since nobody else was around, Sephiroth reached out and brushed the golden bangs out of the smaller man's eyes. He studied the blue gaze and nodded, unsurprised to find the color a tad more vivid than yesterday. If those eyes got any more stunning, Sephiroth imagined that Cloud would be able to stop people in their tracks with a glance.

 

"I'm okay," Cloud said automatically, as though so used to people showing concern for him the first few days after his treatment that it was a reflexive comment when anyone looked at him.

 

"Did I say anything?" Sephiroth queried with a raised eyebrow.

 

"No, but you had that 'look'," answered Cloud.

 

Sephiroth said nothing, growing used to the way his lover had come to read his eyes when others failed. He began walking out of the den and Cloud fell into step beside him, covering a yawn with his fist. The General looked sidelong at his companion and decided that his selfish desires could wait until morning, when Cloud would hopefully be refreshed and feel better. He'd had a big day and it was no surprise that his excitement over being reunited with his friend Tifa played a part in draining him.

 

Cloud trustingly put his arms around Sephiroth's neck once they made it outside and out of sight of the entrance guards. Sephiroth embraced him around the waist and glanced at the half-finished entry panel that was now being manually sealed through a series of pulleys and levers. The mechanics of the security hatch would be complete by the end of the week, allowing the deceptive rock slab to open and shut much smoother and faster than present. It was a necessary change, after the close call with the huge WEAPON that night, two weeks ago. They were improving the ventilation system to make up for the lack of an open airway, so that the colony wouldn't suffer a lack of fresh air.

 

Cloud rested his cheek against his chest suddenly and Sephiroth looked down at the fluffy blond head with a frown. Cloud seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep right on his feet and Sephiroth gently shook him as he felt his hold around his neck loosening.

 

"Don't fall asleep until we reach our den, Cloud." Sephiroth tightened his hold on him. "I'd rather not risk dropping you on the way to it. I prefer a non-flattened blond in my bed."

 

Cloud smiled sleepily at him and gave a soft chuckle of sheepish amusement. "I don't want to be a flattened blond either. Sorry."

 

The expression on Cloud's youthful face and the little smile on his lips made an ache manifest in Sephiroth's chest that he was growing increasingly accustomed to. He favored the blond with a crooked smile before spreading his wing and lifting off the snowy ground with him. He soared quickly to his "nest" with his passenger and as usual, he let Cloud go in first before tucking his wing in and following him.

 

Cloud lit the heating lantern and stood there staring at it in a daze. Sephiroth couldn't relate on a personal level, but he'd heard accounts from newly enhanced Soldiers about how mesmerizing little things like flames, colors and lights could be when the changes began to take hold. They said it was like seeing the world with new eyes and Cloud often demonstrated this, lately.

 

"Lay down," Sephiroth commanded softly.

 

Cloud gave him a sarcastic salute and Sephiroth quirked his lips. "Awake enough to be facetious, I see. Shall I discipline you for insubordination, Soldier?" He'd intended to put Cloud straight to bed but it seemed the blond was getting into a frisky mood.

 

Cloud lowered his eyes demurely but not before Sephiroth saw the little flash in them. "Maybe you should." There was a challenge in his tone.

 

Sephiroth smirked and retracted his wing as he reached down to unfasten his leather jacket. "What sort of discipline would you say your actions deserve, Strife?" His pulse quickened as the azure gaze lifted to regard him in a way that was partly timid and partly brazen. How the blond managed to pull of such a contradiction was beyond him but it worked.

 

"You're the General. Why don't you tell me?"

 

Sephiroth raised an intrigued brow. He could think of at least a half dozen things he'd like to try but there were a couple of them in particular that were still imprinted on his mind's eye from past fantasies. He'd kept things fairly vanilla thus far and perhaps it was time to make one or two of those secret desires a reality. He opened his jacket and dropped it on the floor as he began to move closer to his companion, one deliberate step at a time. Cloud looked up at him with a straight face and though his eyes were sleepy, there was a spark of lust and interest in them that convinced Sephiroth he was perky enough for a little bit of play.

 

"Turn around," ordered Sephiroth as he began to remove his belt from around his waist.

 

Cloud looked at the belt, then back up at him. For a minute Sephiroth thought he was going to back out of it but then he complied and turned his back to him. Sephiroth pulled the belt out of the loops and fed the end through the buckle to form a noose.

 

"Cross your wrists behind your back."

 

Cloud hesitated again and Sephiroth chose to test his resolve by giving him an open-palmed smack on his right butt cheek. Cloud gasped and jumped a little. Instead of turning around to ask him why he'd done that, Cloud obediently put his hands behind his back and crossed his left wrist over his right one. Sephiroth quickly slipped the loop over them and tightened it, firmly enough to bind them but not enough to cut off circulation. He wound the remaining length of belt around each wrist for additional restraint before looping and tying it.

 

Stepping back for a moment, he surveyed his handiwork with a critical eye. It wasn't the most ideal restraint but it would hold until he was finished. Satisfied, he stepped closer to Cloud and put his hands on his waist. Sephiroth brushed his lips over the shell of Cloud's ear, making him shiver.

 

"Do you want to please your General, Strife?" He deliberately rubbed his pelvis against the tight roundness of Cloud's ass, letting him feel his growing arousal through the leather and cotton material of their pants.

 

"What's in it for me?"

 

Sephiroth took a second to gather his wits and he wondered how far he could push Cloud's boundaries before that sensual boldness he expressed when they were alone together finally reached its limit. When he shook himself out of his brief shock, he smiled and supported Cloud's waist with his hands before answering.

 

"I'll let you come, instead of leaving you floundering in sexual frustration." He nudged Cloud's feet apart with a boot and the blond lost his balance momentarily, but quickly caught it again with Sephiroth's help.

 

"Then I'd better make you happy," Cloud conceded in a voice tight with lust.

 

Sephiroth tilted his head to have a better look at Cloud's profile and he saw to his delight that despite the sultry words he was using, the blond had a flush of color on his fair cheeks. Sephiroth chuckled low in his throat and slid his hands down from Cloud's waist to rest on his hips. He nudged his hips against the blond's ass again and brought his mouth close to his ear once more.

 

"There's still a bit of 'shy Cloud' lingering in there, I see."

 

Cloud's eyes fluttered shut in reaction to the feel of Sephiroth's breath against his ear. "He's tough to get rid of, sometimes," he murmured.

 

Sephiroth issued another low, purring laugh before stepping away from Cloud and circling around in front of him. Cloud moistened his lips with his tongue and gazed up at him with silent questioning. The action made Sephiroth's lust climb and he reached down to unzip his fly with slow deliberation.

 

"On your knees, Soldier."

 

Cloud carefully sank to his knees as directed and his chest rose and fell more rapidly with obvious excitement. Sephiroth hadn't been sure he'd go for this but he was quietly thrilled with his compliance. He undid the fastenings at the top of his pants as he finished unzipping his fly. He parted the leather and reached in to ease his cock out of his pants, holding Cloud's gaze all the while. Once he was exposed, he reached out and combed his fingers through the soft golden spikes of Cloud's hair and gave him a nod.

 

"You know what to do."

 

"I do?" Cloud looked up at him with feigned ignorance.

 

"You'll make me lose patience with this act, Strife," Sephiroth warned, only partially joking. "Make use of those lips of yours."

 

Cloud smirked a little but he complied without hesitation. He closed the distance between his mouth and the tip of Sephiroth's erection and he slid his lips over the head of it. Sephiroth watched with fascination, entranced as always by the sight of those soft, shapely lips circling his cock. Cloud began to suck as he took more of it in and he delicately licked at the tiny hole in the tip for a moment before continuing. Sephiroth brushed his fingers through the blond's hair as Cloud drew his cock into his mouth halfway and massaged the underside with his tongue. The General's breath caught a little as Cloud drew back and let the stiffened length slide out of his mouth. Before Sephiroth could chastise him, the blond licked up and down the shaft, kissing the sensitive skin in places.

 

Sephiroth purred in pleasure at the treatment. Though it teased him, it felt wonderful and so he allowed it. Cloud made up for his inability to use his hands. In their time together as lovers, he'd learned what Sephiroth liked the most with oral pleasure and he demonstrated this with enthusiasm. He sucked on the head of Sephiroth's arousal now and then before continuing with his kissing and licking. When Sephiroth gave a groan of frustration, Cloud sensed it was time to move on and he slid his lips over the swollen length again and started taking it in and out of his mouth as deeply as he could without swallowing it down his throat. Though he could only fit half of it in, his suction was perfect and he tilted his head back and forth every few strokes to take it in at different angles. His teeth lightly scraped against the top now and then, just enough to give pleasure.

 

Sephiroth pushed the fingers of his other hand through Cloud's hair and panted husky encouragement to him, consciously avoiding thrusting his hips too much and choking him. Cloud relaxed his throat and jaw and took him down his throat until his nose pressed against the pale patch of pubic hair framing Sephiroth's groin. He worked his throat muscles around the rigid flesh and hummed softly, alternately constricting and relaxing his lips around the base in a way that was unique to him.

 

"Cloud," Sephiroth breathed, his fingers stilling in their petting of the blond hair. Cloud did things with his mouth when he pleasured him this way that Sephiroth had never experienced before. The first time he gave him a blowjob, Sephiroth thought he would snap under the pleasure of it.

 

Cloud withdrew, only able to hold him in his throat for so long before it threatened to gag him. He bobbed his head with quick, firm motions as he began to suck him off rhythmically, making little sounds of desire and pleasure as he worked. Sephiroth tilted his head back and shut his eyes, his lips parting on a groan that came out far louder than he intended. Holding relatively still for the blond was becoming a more difficult chore by the minute but he knew better than to interfere with his rhythm.

 

Normally reserved in the way of vocals, Sephiroth started to moan softly. His breathing became erratic as Cloud's sweet, sucking little mouth brought him to blissful heights. He warned him in an unsteady groan that he was getting close and the blond went on for a couple of moments before treating him to the grand finale and deep-throating him again. Sephiroth bowed his head and grunted as he unloaded down his companion's swallowing throat. Cloud kept going until the orgasm faded. He pulled away and released Sephiroth's softening cock from his mouth, looking up at him with an expression of shy pride.

 

"So," Cloud said, his voice slightly hoarse, "did I please the General?"

 

Sephiroth caught his breath and reached down to caress the upturned face with his hand. "Indeed, you did. On your feet and to the bedding, Cloud."

 

He realized it might not be as easy for Cloud to get to his feet as it was to get on his knees, so he took him by the arms and helped him rise. When he guided him to the bedding without freeing him from his makeshift restraints, Cloud shot a questioning look at him but Sephiroth only smiled.

 

"Your punishment isn't finished yet, Soldier."

 

When Cloud gave him a look that clearly said he thought he wasn't being fair, Sephiroth chuckled low in his throat. "I didn't say you wouldn't enjoy the punishment, did I?" he suggested seductively.

 

Cloud visibly relaxed and Sephiroth glanced down and saw the straining bulge in his pants. No wonder he'd looked so offended. Sephiroth tucked himself back into his pants and did them back up before going to the bedding and sitting down with his legs stretched out before him. He looked up at Cloud and patted his lap invitingly.

 

"Come here."

 

Cloud carefully got down onto the bedding and walked on his knees over to Sephiroth as best he could without the use of his hands for balance. When he tried to straddle him, Sephiroth shook his head and put one hand on his shoulder and the other on his chest.

 

"Not that way. Lay across my lap, Cloud. On your stomach."

 

With an expression of open curiosity, the blond complied awkwardly and Sephiroth helped him. The General took one of the pillows and cushioned Cloud's head with it so that he wasn't lying face-down in the bedding. Now Cloud was lying horizontally over Sephiroth's extended, parted legs with his hips pressing between his thighs and his butt in the air. Sephiroth rubbed the tight little bottom possessively and took a moment to enjoy his lover's vulnerable position. The blond unconsciously strained against his bonds but the belt was fastened tightly and wouldn't easily give.

 

"Perfect," Sephiroth murmured.

 

Cloud turned his head to the side and rested his cheek on the pillow. "This is...kind of embarrassing," he confessed. The pink flush on his cheeks darkened a little, lending credence to his bashful announcement. His erection, however, was still quite firm against Sephiroth's inner thigh.

 

"You'll forget all about that in a moment," promised Sephiroth. He reached between his legs and under Cloud's hips to undo his pants and while he did that, he reached around and under the other side to rub the tented crotch.

 

Cloud moaned and flexed his ass, pushing against Sephiroth's busy hands with wanton fervency. Sephiroth finished undoing the buttons and drawing his fly down and he instructed Cloud to lift his ass a little. When the blond complied, he tugged the cargo pants and underwear down to expose his ass and groin. Sephiroth stroked the smooth skin of his buttocks before sliding a hand under Cloud's hips to grasp his erection. He began to stroke him with patient authority and he smiled softly at the resulting moans of pleasure.

 

"Your responses are quite gratifying," Sephiroth murmured, enjoying the feel of the silken skin and spongy hardness under his hand.

 

Deciding that the young man was distracted enough to test his limits, he swatted the pale globe of his left butt cheek with an open palm. Cloud gasped and tensed under the punishment but he didn't ask him to relent. Guessing that he enjoyed it, Sephiroth smacked the right cheek and watched Cloud's features for signs of discomfort. When all he detected was surprised pleasure, he did it again with more force. He was careful to keep stroking the blond rhythmically while he spanked him and he felt a viscous drop of liquid against his thumb when he rubbed the tip of Cloud's erection.

 

"Do you enjoy being punished, Cloud?"

 

"More than I probably should," agreed the blond with a grunt.

 

Sephiroth tried to hold back his laugh but he couldn't quite manage. He didn't recall ever having laughed so much before. The simple, unadorned truth was that he'd fallen in love with Cloud Strife and though he wasn't ready to tell him so out loud, he could finally at least admit it to himself. He swatted the other cheek and grinned when Cloud instinctively pushed his ass up for more. He took a moment to rub the reddened mounds, soothing them before punishing them again. Cloud was very accommodating to his desires and he humped his stroking hand with erotic enthusiasm. The blond's moans were intoxicating and they only grew in volume as Sephiroth resumed spanking him.

 

Honestly, Sephiroth thought Cloud had the sexiest little ass he'd ever seen. Why that prompted him to abuse it was a mystery to him but he couldn't stop himself from cracking his palm against the smooth skin, over and over. Cloud howled his name and Sephiroth shushed him with husky authority. With each stroke and swat of his hands, Cloud's self control broke a little more. Finally, Cloud's back arched and he came in Sephiroth's hand. His breathless shout of relief pleased the General and Sephiroth rubbed his bottom as the blond collapsed in a heap.

 

Sephiroth gave him a few moments to recover before urging him off of his lap and carefully moving aside. He studied the creamy evidence of Cloud's pleasure before pulling the blanket off and stashing it aside for washing. He freed Cloud's wrists and tossed the belt aside. Cloud looked faintly embarrassed as he pulled his pants back up and slipped under the remaining blankets. Sephiroth joined him, amused at his bashfulness.

 

"I thoroughly enjoyed doing that to you," Sephiroth murmured as his lover snuggled up to him.

 

The comment seemed to make Cloud feel a little better and he smiled and nuzzled Sephiroth's throat with his lips. "I...liked it too."

 

Sephiroth smiled.

 

~**************************************~

 

The next morning, Cloud noticed that Tifa didn't seem very interested in her breakfast. She looked somewhat miserable, in fact. He studied her as he ate and he guessed her thoughts were on Reno, who would be leaving for Cosmo Canyon soon. Aerith sat at Tifa's left side and she was watching her with concern, too. So, he wasn't the only one to notice it, then. Thinking of how he would have felt if Sephiroth were going away, Cloud came to a decision.

 

"You should go back with him," Cloud said. He raised his eyebrows as soon as the words left his mouth, surprised by how easily that came out.

 

Tifa stared at him. "But...I just got here!"

 

Cloud shared a smile with Aerith and shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Cosmo Canyon is your home, now. You've made a life there and if there's even a chance that you love Reno, you should be with him. I'd be selfish if I tried to keep you here, Tif."

 

"I'd hate to be separated from Zack," Aerith said, adding her own incentive to the conversation. "I know you and I don't know each other very well, but it's pretty obvious you care about Reno."

 

Tifa looked from Aerith to Cloud and he didn't think he was imagining the hope that lit up her brown eyes. "So you both really think I should go?"

 

"We do," Cloud agreed with a nod.

 

"You'd better hurry," Aerith said as she checked the watch around her wrist. It was Zack's and it was a bit big for her, but she obviously didn't mind. "They'll be leaving soon."

 

Tifa stood up, abandoning her breakfast. She looked anxiously toward the exit and bit her lip. "Cloud?"

 

Cloud stood up. "I'll carry your things, Tifa. Let's go while you've still got time."

 

She took his hand and smiled at him. "Thank you."

 

~*******************************************~

 

Moments later, they were hurrying to the hangar area with Tifa in the lead and Cloud pulling her suitcase behind him. Zack was there, overseeing things as the helicopter prepared to leave. He opened his mouth to greet the two of them when he saw them but they ran right past him.

 

"I'll explain in a minute," Cloud called over his shoulder to his friend. He handed the luggage to one of the flight attendants and watched as Reno came around from the other side of the chopper and Tifa approached him. She spoke to him and embraced him. He returned the embrace and his blue-green eyes met Cloud's across the distance.

 

"I owe you one, man," the Turk mouthed to the Soldier.

 

Cloud nodded in acknowledgement and forced a little smile onto his lips. Tifa released Reno and hurried over to Cloud. They embraced tightly and she kissed him on the cheek.

 

"I'm going to miss you," she said in an unsteady voice. She pulled back a little to look at him and her eyes were damp.

 

Cloud brushed the tears away with his thumbs and smiled at her. "We'll see each other again and we can keep calling every week." He gave her a brotherly kiss and motioned toward the chopper. "Go on, Tifa."

 

She backed away from him and turned around. Her brown hair bounced as she jogged to the chopper and boarded it. Rude made some final checks before shutting the cabin hatch and boarding with Reno. Cloud watched as the rotaries started spinning, sad to see his childhood friend leaving again but knowing in his heart that he'd made the right call. Zack came up beside him and clapped him on the shoulder.

 

"So you're letting her go, eh?"

 

Cloud nodded. "I want her to be happy. Even if it's with a klootzak."

 

Zack frowned at him. "What's a 'klootzak'?"

 

Cloud cleared his throat and meaningfully cupped his crotch to shift his package. Zack blurted a hearty laugh and patted him on the back.

 

"Oh, that." The lieutenant was grinning. "I've gotta remember that one."

 

~*******************************~

 

Nearly two more weeks passed and Aerith was doing her usual routine of gardening before lunch when she caught a whiff of one of the older women's perfume and was immediately assaulted with a dizzy spell. She caught herself on the edge of the plant stand and shook her head to clear it.

 

"You okay, honey?" Wanda asked in concern when she saw her stagger. The dark-skinned woman grabbed Aerith's arm to support her.

 

"That was strange," Aerith said after taking a couple of deep breathes. "I just got dizzy for a minute. Lila's perfume must have gotten to me, for some reason."

 

Wanda looked at the older woman and then back at Aerith. "She saturates herself in that stuff every day. It's just now starting to get to you?"

 

Aerith shrugged. "Maybe I'm coming down with something. I felt a little nauseous this morning."

 

Wanda gave her a look that said she thought she was simple-minded. "Uh, Aerith...how long has this been going on?"

 

"I don't know. A few days, I guess."

 

Wanda laughed. "Girl, you need to go to the medical wing and get tested. You're probably pregnant!"

 

"Pregnant?" repeated Aerith dumbly. She rested her hand flat over her lower abdomen.

 

Wanda nodded. "Mm-hmm. The way that handsome Soldier of yours drags you out of here so often, it would surprise me if you weren't."

 

Aerith blushed. Zack did often interrupt her gardening to coax her away for lovemaking and evidently, his intentions were more obvious than she'd realized. She listened to her life current quietly, wondering if Wanda's suspicions were correct. Now that it had been called to her attention, she detected a tiny presence within her. She opened green eyes widely after spiritually making contact with the growing life inside of her and she gasped.

 

"I'm...I'm pregnant!" Aerith cried, giving Wanda an amazed look. "I'm going to have a baby!"

 

"Well, probably," agreed the darker woman, "but I'd still get tested if I were-"

 

"I'm going to be a mommy!" Aerith interrupted before hugging Wanda so tightly that she squeezed her breath away. "Zack's going to be a daddy!"

 

"Aerith, honey," Wanda grunted, "Go and get checked out! Seriously, you don't need to get so excited until you know for sure!"

 

Aerith calmed herself down but she couldn't stop smiling. She knew it was true, but Wanda did make a good point. "Okay, I'm going to go and get tested now! Thank you, Wanda!"

 

Wanda shook her head and grinned as Aerith skipped out of the gardens with child-like enthusiasm. "I don't know how the lieutenant keeps up with her."

 

~**********************************~

 

"Hey Zack, I saw your wife going to the medical wing," announced one of the Soldiers.

 

Zack stopped working on the transport unit and raised his visor. "What? Did she look sick?"

 

"Nah, she looked okay to me. I just thought you ought to know, in case something's wrong."

 

Zack yanked his protective visor off and handed it absently to Cloud. "Sorry to run on you buddy, but I've got to check on my girl."

 

Cloud nodded. "Don't apologize. Just let me know if she's okay, will you?"

 

"Will do," Zack said before taking off at a run. He dodged and weaved past other colonists as he made his way to the medical wing. His enhanced biology enabled him to get there fast without breaking a sweat or getting winded. When he arrived, he went straight to the reception desk.

 

"Hi," he said to the woman with a charming grin. "Uh, I think my wife might have come here. Do you have Aerith Fair listed as a patient?"

 

The woman blushed a little under his smile and she checked the sign-in list. "Yes Sir. Your wife is in examination room five. Doctor White is giving her a blood test."

 

He frowned briefly, wondering why she needed a blood test. Deciding he'd just ask her, he thanked the receptionist and went through the entrance to the corridor. He found the examination room and he nearly ran over the poor doctor as he charged through the door.

 

"Whoops, sorry about that, Doc." Zack reached out and steadied the older man with a sheepish grin. The doctor gave him a nod and clutched a vial of blood in one hand.

 

"Your wife is just fine," assured the doctor as Zack looked anxiously at the young woman sitting on the examination table. "I'm just doing a routine blood test."

 

Zack nodded and went to Aerith's side as the doctor left the room. "You okay, honey?"

 

"Don't worry," Aerith assured him as she squeezed his hands. "I just had a little dizzy spell while I was doing my gardening. Zack...there's something I've got to tell you."

 

"Dizzy spell?" Zack repeated, ignoring the last sentence in his concern. "Do you think it could be something you ate?"

 

"No," Aerith said with a shake of her head. "Zack..."

 

"Maybe you're coming down with the flu," Zack muttered thoughtfully, scratching his chin. "Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have dragged you out to the bathhouse last night! If I've gotten you sick-"

 

"Zack!" Aerith cried, cupping his face in her hands. He stopped muttering to himself and looked at her with boyish confusion. "I'm trying to tell you something important!"

 

Zack grinned sheepishly at her. "Sorry, sugar-lips. I guess I was running off at the mouth. What do you need to tell me?"

 

She swallowed and her jade eyes were full of a mixture of fear and excitement. "I think...you're going to be a daddy."

 

Zack stared at her and he felt his jaw drop. "A...a daddy? Y-you're pregnant?"

 

Aerith smiled and nodded. "I'm pretty sure. The blood test is just to confirm it but I swear I can feel our baby when I concentrate."

 

Zack felt like it was Christmas, his birthday and a Circus all in one. He knew his grin took to his ears as he absorbed the information and for a moment, he thought he'd drop dead from happiness. "Really? You're not just pulling my leg, are you? I'm...I'm going to be a daddy?"

 

Aerith giggled and kissed him. "Unless my senses are totally wrong, yes. We're going to have a baby. We'll know for sure when the test results come in."

 

Zack tilted his head back and closed his eyes. "Oh my god...I can't believe it!" He looked at her again and smiled hugely as he hugged her. "Aerith, you're amazing! I...I..." He felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled for words to express his feelings. "Thank you, baby."

 

Aerith returned his embrace and chuckled softly as she rubbed his back. "Well, I did have a little help, you know."

 

Zack laughed. "I don't leave you alone much, do I?"

 

"Hey, I'm not complaining," Aerith assured him with a smile. "I think if you didn't drag me away I'd probably come looking for you." She blushed, thinking of the way he'd woken her up this morning with very skillful use of his lips and tongue on her most sensitive area.

 

Zack winked at her, amused and endeared by the blush that rose in her cheeks. "There's plenty more where that came from. So, now all we have to do is wait for the doc to come back and confirm it, right?"

 

"Right." She nodded. She put her arms around him and laid her cheek against his chest with a contented sigh. "Zack, you've given me everything I never thought I'd have. I just want you to know how grateful I am."

 

"You probably won't be thanking me when the kid comes," Zack murmured as he nuzzled her hair. "I've seen the sweetest women turn into banshees in labor. Promise you won't hurt me when the time comes, okay?"

 

Aerith giggled and squeezed him around the waist. "As long as you're there with me, I promise I won't hurt you."

 

~**************************************~

 

Professor Hojo saw the name taped to the blood sample as he passed through the lab with his "personal guard". His bothersome son had assigned guards to him around the clock and he could hardly go to the bathroom without someone watching. It was irksome but he had his own way of getting around the inconvenience.

 

"Is Mrs. Fair ill?" he asked Dr. White, pointing at the blood sample.

 

"Nothing serious," answered the doctor. "I suspect she may be pregnant and I'm testing her blood."

 

"I see," Hojo murmured thoughtfully. "Lieutenant Fair must be beside himself with joy."

 

"He nearly ran me over on his way in," Dr. White grumbled. He straightened his lab coat and chuckled. "I remember when I was that much in love. Seeing that kind of youthful devotion reminds me of how old I really am."

 

"We were all young and in love, once," agreed Hojo with an oily smile.

 

The doctor nodded and since Hojo was with a Soldier guard, he felt it was safe enough to leave the room while he waited for the blood test results. "Have a good afternoon, Professor."

 

"Oh, I shall," Hojo murmured.

 

He waited until the doctor was gone and he turned to the young man who was guarding him. "Catalyst," he murmured. The Soldier's eyes glazed over and Hojo nodded with satisfaction before approaching the cabinets and selecting a small syringe. While his guard stood transfixed and in a daze, Hojo quickly drew some of the blood from the vial and put it on a slide. He slipped the sample under a microscope and peered through it, searching for a specific thing that most people wouldn't know to look for. Within moments, he was able to identify the genetic sequence he suspected and he pulled his eye away from the microscope and smiled widely.

 

"I was right. I knew that girl looked familiar!" He whispered the comment and took the sample out from under the microscope. He threw it and the vial away in the medical waste bin so that nobody would suspect his tampering.

 

"You look very much like your mother, Aerith."

 

~*************************************~

 

-To be continued