Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy VII: Awakening ❯ Sempire d'Amor ( Chapter 37 )

A small orange light shown in the distance. Slowly forms became recognizable The lonely procession traveled in the darkness. The only light was provided by the dancing flames of the torches. Within the vacant hands of the men a torch was clutched. They held them high above their heads as they carried the casket with a single hand. Two rows were formed on either side. A woman traveled behind each man. The females were not allowed to touch the casket even though the person inside was a female herself. After several hundred feet the two rows split into three. The women walked along the right to make a third row.

Tifa led since she did not know any of the deceased well. Yuffie followed second because of her feelings towards Leira. Lieandra herself followed third. Behind her were the women that had volunteered to be part of Trabian Ecklarkaj's funeral.

Reno was on the far left of the pall bearers. His position required him to break from the procession when the pyre became lit. He walked in step with Sephiroth who had a hand on the bottom of the young SOLDIER's casket.

Leira looked along the lines of men. Rude led for his row. Vincent was second before Reno. He had protested being located across from Yuffie but the girl had pleaded for him to join. Sephiroth glanced up at the gaze of the Elite. She shook her head and tried to glimpse Reno. Sensing her displeasure with him he elbowed the Turk. Reno growled and tried to stop himself from hitting him. It was a funeral, violence was not permitted. He looked over at Sephiroth. The general had hung his head and was watching the ground.

The Turk sped up his pace by a few steps and almost bumped into the man in front of him.

Leira had begun to sing. His eyes watched her lips. It would not be long before they reached the cabin with the corpses of his friends. He joined in the singing of praises for the girl he hardly knew. He was not an expert on the Wutai language but lip-synching was still an effort, he figured. He could not help but marvel at how well Leira had learned the Wutai language. Her eyes seemed to be most attractive to him when they were closed in the somber mood. The times that those same lips would widen to form the verses drew his attention as well. She looked at him briefly before closing them again.

The platform where the coffin was to be laid came into view. Slowly the men set it down. One by one each man dropped their torch. Cloud approached Leira with Reno closely behind him. The spiky haired boy bowed to her and took her by the hand. Yuffie walked behind them with Navig's nephew in tow.

Cloud, Phiphat, Reno, Yuffie, and Leira stood at the entrance to the cabin. Phiphat took Yuffie's hand in his. "Navig's wishes were for you all to get along and continue living. The two of you, although you were at separate times, were still in that same group. He said that you two were meant to be together. My uncle sent pictures of you along with his cousin's remains. He left special instructions for them to be shared between the both of you, in the event that he were to die."

Leira's eyes were becoming tearful as she stood beside Reno. The young ninja pushed by the boy and grabbed her. She pushed her face into the Elite's chest in a strong embrace "Behave yourself!"

Reno bowed to the two and took Leira's hand. The door shut behind them, once they were inside.

The viewing area had been specially prepared for them. The open wooden boxes were supported by special stands. The lids were neatly laid out against the wall behind them.

"So this is how you get honored in Wutai." Reno said as he leaned over one of the caskets.

Both bodies were decorated similarly. Black hoods were fitted to the heads to cover up the decomposition of their faces. Over the cloth, each man had a silver mask decorated with semiprecious stones. Timal's materia had been imbedded into his burial mask. The bodies themselves were covered in multilayer silk robes with extremely long sleeves.

Navig had been adorned with a shiny silver robe with a long pink sash that crossed from his right shoulder to his left hip.

SOLDIER First Class Timal Klefmon was dressed in a long navy blue silk robe with a sash that matched his cousin's.

The hands had been carefully wrapped in white linen and had long false silver fingers placed over their own. Both men's feet were also covered. Wooden sandals were fitted to cover the white linen wrappings of each foot.

Reno chewed on his lip and looked thoughtfully at the coverings. "So, all it took was just our say so, huh?"

Leira stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "I can't believe we had more say then their own family."

"Yeah, well." Reno looked around and let his robes drop.

Leira heard the heavy clothing fall and crooked to see what her former lover was doing. To her surprise, he had been wearing his dark blue Turk uniform underneath. Just as she began to question him, he had begun to scratch at the backs of his hands. "I never thought to ask them what they made those things out of…it drives my skin nuts!" He rejoined her at the open caskets. "Well, that Trabian chick was kind of hot!" he paused for a second and fished around for one of his cigarettes. He pulled one out and lit it. "You think Tseng's body found some kind of peace?" He took a drag. "I heard that Benton tried to fight for Tseng's body to cross over here but the government wouldn't allow for it. Tough breaks, huh?"

Leira reeled around. "I'll show you 'tough breaks'!" She slapped the cigarette out of his hand and punched him in the stomach with the other.

"What did you do that for?"

"You don't know how to act here do you?!"

Reno saw the hurt in her eyes but was unaffected. He was there, in that cramped hut for Timal and Navig, not her. Without fully thinking about the outcome of his actions, he countered her attack. He stomped out the cigarette he had dropped. "That was my last one!"

Leira had a hard time believing that this insensitive creature was the same man that she had fallen in love with shortly after her transfer to the position of Elite. She launched another punch but was quickly intercepted by his hand. Before she could blink, Reno's cold blue eyes pierced through her's and he slapped her across the face. The force of the blow he delivered caused her to lurch backwards into Timal's coffin. The area between her neck and shoulders hit the bottom edge of the casket. She fell to the plank floor and watched in horror as the support rocked back and forth, threatening to topple on her.

The red headed Turk was caught between letting the wobbling structure fall on her or pulling her out of harm's way. He took a deep breath and rushed to her aid. Leira tilted her head as the boxes shadow began to engulf her.

In a graceful snatch, he had gotten hold of her wrists and pulled her to safety. Reno tripped over his own feet and caused the both of them to collapse in an undignified heap.

BAM

The casket, that contained the remains of Timal Klefmon smacked into the floor a few feet from the Elite and the Turk, spilling the body.

Reno lay on his back.. He had smacked the back of his head against the floor but had been able to stay conscious. He coughed and felt something against his chest. After a failed attempt to look down, he managed to tilt his head so he could see where the strange pressure was coming from.

Leira's right arm was laid across his chest and the side of her face was pushed into his waist. Her body was almost in a fetal position above him. He could almost feel the lower part of her chest against the insides of his thighs. He coughed again. "I'm sorry, girl."

"Mmmmm." Leira hummed as her ears gave a slight ring. She felt Reno take her hand in his and squeeze it lightly. "I hope no one else heard that."

Reno's body rose beneath her as he managed a harsh chuckle. "That would be kinda bad…Hey, Lei…"

Leira shifted as she tried to glance behind herself. "What?"

"Ya know what?"

"What, Reno?" She felt him sigh.

"This feels kinda good. Almost like old times." he let go of her hand and playfully scratched her forehead.

"This is not the right environment for that, you puke!" she sent her right hand further up his body and lightly slapped his chin. Leira pulled herself up. The thought of her friend's body never left her. She ran over and knelt beside the body. "Help me!!"

Reno sat up with his knees apart. As a Turk, he had moved plenty of bodies but none of them had been people he was close to. He crawled over to aid her. "Wait a minute…why don't you get those silver things? I'll pick him up." Reno squatted and reached over the body.

Leira pushed her hair away from her eyes and did as she was asked. "Shouldn't there be five more of these?"

The red headed Turk paused. "Five more of what? How many of them are there?"

"Only five." She rushed to lift the coffin stand up and helped Reno return the corpse to it's casket.

Surprisingly, the body had suffered no damage from the fall. They were able to smooth down the robes. Leira started over with her task of collecting the finger tabs. "Reno, it's still only five."

The Turk looked at Timal's robes and mask. "Are you hiding something from us, buddy?"

Leira began to lift cloth from Navig's burial clothes. "He's got ten of those things."

Reno began to think. A strange thought popped into his head and he suddenly felt sick about the notion he was entertaining. Weakly he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the left sleeve of the SOLDIER's corpse. He thought of Sephiroth being resurrected and the threat of the Nibelheim clones that Leira had talked of. It couldn't be! He thought to himself. Ever so gently he began to peel back the sleeve.

Leira took a place next to the former love of her life. She found herself questioning Reno's actions.

The Turk became overcome with nervousness as the sleeving moved back inch after inch. Soon the dark blue cloth had been pulled several inches. "There should at least been a hand or something by now." Reno stopped and pulled the sleeve back into place. Gently, he poked at the rest of the length. His fingers probed up to the shoulder area. "Lei…the entire arm…it's…" He paused and focused his attention on her.

Leira seemed to be overcome with the moment. How would she react if he told her that the arm, of one of dearest friends, had been removed? He could not stand it anymore. He did not want to run the risk of upsetting her further. "Lei…"

"Reno?"

"It's okay." He moved his hand to the left side of the corpse and rubbed along the outside of it's rib cage. "It's right here. They must have been in a hurry to dress Timmy, here."

The Elite paused but started to relax under his assurance. Somehow she still found it in her heart to trust him. She sat down in her chair while Reno dragged his over.

The redheaded Turk sat down put the leather bag containing Navig's photo collection on his lap. "He must have had quite the collection." Reno undid the small metal fastener and turned it upside down

A grouping of square pictures dropped into his lap. An old abused rubber band held them together. "You want to take a look first?"

Leira shook her head. "You go ahead." She looked over her shoulder at the wooden grain of Timal's casket

"Eh." Reno shrugged and tried his best to carefully remove the rubber band. He failed. The band snapped and struck his fingers. The Turk put his wounded thumb in his mouth and sucked on it for a second.

"Wow. I didn't know Benton got that one." He chirped excitedly.

Leira turned to look at Reno. He held the picture out to her. The picture was a shot of Timal and Reno standing side by side. Both men were completely naked save for the sunglasses that Reno wore on his head. Each man had their arms extended with their middle fingers up.

At least they were happy, Leira remarked to herself as she noted their lips curled around their cigarettes.

"What do you know?" Reno started. "Timmy's was bigger." His eyes studied the limp member between Timal's legs.

She rolled her eyes.

Reno placed it behind the others. "Hmmm." Reno purred. The next photo was of Benton and Leira. The Elite was dressed in her formal uniform. The pilot held one of her naked arms as she flexed it. He figured Timal must have taken that shot.

"Next." Leira said as she tried to remember where that picture had been taken.

The next picture Reno brought out was of the cousins and Reno. All were dressed in their own individual Shinra attire. The Wutai men were on either side of Reno. Timal and Navig each had one arm place around Reno's shoulders. The Turks arms were placed around the shoulders of his comrades. He sighed as he looked at himself. His fingers shifted for the next shot.

The next picture brought to light was a similar picture but Leira was in the middle. "That's a nice pic of you guys." Reno grinned.

The Turk took her emotionless glance as a sign to move on.

The next photo Reno held out was one he had been dying to see. The picture had been taken as Leira had been showering. Timal had snuck in and snapped it. She was not allowed to let it slide. She jumped up from her seat. Her eyes were widened with rage and humiliation. "I'M GOING TO…kill…him…" the memories of his empty casket funeral in Junon were coming back. His dying wish was for his cousin, Reno, himself and Leira to become close again. They had been very tight until death and separation had intervened. Leira gazed out at Ecka's funeral pyre. Benton Navig had never shared his feelings with her before, concerning that matter. He had always been a peaceful man who hated getting thrown into the middle of infighting. It was no surprise, to her, that he had taken the path he did.

Reno watched the oranges and yellows of the burning flicker against her skin. The ceremonial burning of his own friends was less than forty eight hours away. He had not known Ecka but by witnessing Leira's expressions he could only guess at what she meant. The weight of Timal and Navig both being exhumed that same evening was not adding a positive feel either. He had been trying to put Reeve's words to rest as soon as he saw the Elite at the Turtle's Paradise. Reno looked back at the pictures of the small clique spread out on his lap. They had been so happy. All the pictures featured smiling faces. Those were the days, Reno, Navig and Timal…Leira, Timal, and Navig.

Leira folded her arms beneath her chest. Slowly she walked over to Timal's open casket. "One of these days I'm going to get you for this, Klefmon!!!" she growled at the silver facemask, "I'm not going to take it out on Benton anymore just because you told me to!!!" she waved her fist. Her sadness and frustrations were getting the better of her. She coughed and looked towards Reno. Sure enough, his blue eyes were glued to her. In an attempt to blow him off, she sat back down in her chair.

"Y'know…" Reno broke off and whistled a tune. He crossed his arms behind his head. The feelings that Navig put to words in his letter were changing his newly placed views of Leira. After learning about Timal and Leira eventually hooking up, he had felt betrayed. Maybe Benton was right. Maybe, if there had not been any forced distance, their relationship would not have been so strained.

Leira got up and walked to the open window again. The orange red pyre rippled and crackled. Each individual torch moved in time with the huge fire. She stood at the large rectangular window. The light from the combined flames danced across her skin. With her right arm flat to her side, and her left hand holding the front of the elbow, Leira could only gawk at the immense sight. Tears would not form. Her mouth opened as she sighed.

Reno blinked his blue eyes as he watched her. So much had changed about her and yet nothing had changed. He had been sitting with his hands folded between his legs for several minutes. He found himself craving a cigarette. For the life of him, he could not recall the last time he had seen her this emotional. He found himself attracted by the combination of brown hair and the shimmering silky gown. The red head lifted himself from his seat to stand beside her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. Leira folded her arms below her chest.

Reno blinked again and put his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "I never told you how…" his eyes searched the ground before returning to her. "beautiful you look. Timal…he would have been bowled over."

Leira bowed her head slightly. The caskets were unsettling to her with Reno close by. She had loved Reno so much. After the helicopter took her away…

How could her feelings for one man change so much? Sephiroth, Reno, Timal, and Vincent who were they to her? One funeral seemed to bring out the worst of her feelings. Watching the cremation of a comrade, especially a young one, did little for her nerves.

Reno's eyes had never left her. Leira sat down in the chair beside Timal's corpse. She dropped her upper body. Her head lay in her open palms. Navig had told her that everyone she had come in contact with died. He had meant to sound funny the first time. The last time she heard that was months before he himself died.

The Turk stared out at the fire once more. "Ah, what the heck." Slowly, he walked over to her. He knelt before her and gently pried her hands away from her face. He held them firm in his grasp and rubbed at them. His beautiful blue eyes looked upwards into hers. Reno found himself captivated again by her.

Leira lowered her face to meet his. She was beginning to let the details of the evening slide past her.

"They'll always live on." he whispered to her. "We're here together…just like they wanted. What ever happened back then…it doesn't matter now." He lightly nibbled on her lower lip than moved to the upper.

Leira's eyes closed as Reno's tongue parted her lips. His lips met her own in a passionate kiss. She surrendered herself to him as his hands glided up her arms. The straps of her silky gown fell from her shoulders and overlapped her lovers hands. Gradually he pushed himself upwards. His hands held her arms firmly as he lifted her to her feet.

He kicked the chair out from under her and put her back to the wall while they continued to kiss. His body was hard against hers. Leira weaved her arms underneath his and put her hands to his shoulders. Forcefully she pushed him away, gasping for air.

Reno was at a loss by her action. He found himself breathing heavily as well. Their eyes met. Leira stroked the red bangs covering his forehead. The flats of her hands traveled down his front, working their way to his hips.

He leaned in and nibbled her lower lip again.

Her fingers moved into the waistband of his trousers and raised his button down shirt.

He put his forehead against hers. She was smiling at him and her eyes seemed to shimmer like he had never seen. He smiled back at her and kissed her again.

Leira put her hands up to his collar and began to unbutton his shirt. With each button she would stroke his exposed skin with a fingernail. His blue eyes watched her fingers work. She was almost methodical.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered if Timal had experienced the same thing. He shook away those thoughts as her palms moved up and down his exposed chest again.

She tweaked his left nipple between her fingers.

Leira lowered her head to his neck and sucked at the skin before she continued her move to his right nipple.

Reno cocked his head back. How long had it been since he last experienced this?

Leira began to trace his nipple with the tip of her tongue.

He moved his left hand to her chest and lowered the scant bit of fabric that had continued it's attempt at covering her generous breasts. He palmed her nipple in his warm grip and gently pushed it from side to side. Soon his right hand would begin stroking her other breast.

Leira raised while Reno continued his pressures and delivered a tiny peck to his shoulder blade.

Reno had always loved the firmness of her chest. Yeah, he thought, all the Shinra men got to see her naked but he was the only one that could feel her softness everyday. To him the real thing was better than a tiny picture.

He felt her left hand leave it's place on his left nipple. He became aware of a slight pushing sensation on the outside of his jeans.

Leira slowly squeezed at the area between Reno's thighs. Her head moved to his abandoned nipple and licked at it with her warm tongue. Her right hand tweaked at the other one.

He closed his eyes and parted his lips as his breathing was becoming heavier. He had never really stopped wanting her. It was not only in this way that he missed her. How long had he been fooling himself? It was no wonder that she moved on with Timal.

Her squeezing stopped.

Reno opened his eyes slightly to look down at her. Her face was even with his. She licked her lips and did the same with his. Her pressures became harder as she pushed her hand from front to back between his thighs. Reno could feel his clothing tighten at her urging.

Reno let go of her right breast, causing Leira to pause. He lifted her chin and sweetly kissed her. Slowly, he began slide her gown down her arms. Her body was so warm against his naked chest. Their foreheads met. Her mouth opened into a white smile. Both of her hands began to work on the button of his pants. Once it was undone, her finger pressed against his semi hardened member beneath his zipper. His head lifted and he closed his eyes again. Leira studied his expression. A low moan escaped his lips.

"I knew I'd find you here." Vincent said as he wandered across the palm of the mountain god.

Yuffie blushed. She wanted to be mad at the exTurk but she could not. His words earlier did make perfect sense despite her choice to ignore them. "You gotta admit, it was pretty funny seeing those two turn so red!!!"

Vincent knelt beside the girl. "They both need to allow for healing and grow from their experiences."

Yuffie grimaced. "Sephiroth was pretty pissed off though."

"He wasn't part of that grouping." The ease at which he uttered those words surprised even himself.

Yuffie quickly tried to hide the binoculars in her hands. "Uh…yeah…so…what do you want here anyway…?" She stuffed them into her little green shirt but howled when she felt the coldness of the detachable lens covers against her skin. The binoculars rolled down her backside and hit the ground. "Busted…" She tried to smile but the dead man was already tapping his fingers against his elbow in impatience. Without warning, a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Wait one cotton pickin' minute!!!"

"What?"

"You're here to spy too ain't ya?!" she hopped to her feet and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"No, Yuffie." He became aware that no matter what he told her, she would still only hear the more sinister meaning of his words.

When Reno opened his eyes he noticed her almost expressionless face .

She located the zipper pull of his trousers and pulled it down. Her knuckles could still be felt as the fabric parted.

He swallowed.

Leira stroked at Reno's growing erection. His white briefs were causing it to become twisted in the elastic.

Every time he took a breath his member would fight to pull itself away from his lower belly.

Her look was making him nervous, even as the pinkness of her tongue flicked out between her lips.

Leira's thumb stroked at his nipple while her left hand playfully pulled at his waist band.

How could she keep such a straight face? It was almost like some kind of gentle torture. Her finger poked through the y front of his undergarment. Her fingernail teased his thickness in it's cotton prison.

His eyes broke from her face and tried to watch what was going on below.

He tugged a little harder at her breasts and licked his lips.

Leira withdrew her hands and placed them at her sides.

The Turk was beside himself. What was she doing? His head pushed over her shoulder and his forehead pressed against the wall behind her. Was it over for him so soon? In defeat Reno pushed the fullness of his body against her. He pushed his hips upwards once to try and feel the silk of her gown.

The Elite kissed his cheek.

Her lover turned his face to glance at her. He nuzzled the side of her face with his nose. "It's okay." He whispered in her ear. After realizing that his words had two meanings, he fought to explain himself. He wanted to explain to her that as much as he would have loved to continue, he understood why she would want to stop. The words tripped over his tongue and caused him to stutter. "I…I…I, I." was all he could let out. Leira's hands had returned to his hips. The elastic of his underwear was being gently lowered to reveal the crown of his waning erection.

Reno felt her chest rise as she chuckled. Her right finger touched his lips. She was smiling again. Her green eyes shimmered.

That was all he had wanted to see. Foolishly he returned her smile. He attempted to put his hands against her hips but she pushed him away. She ducked down and licked the pinkness at his waist and emerged behind him. Her body pushed against his and he ended up against the wall face first.

Leira put her hands along the inside of his opened collar and slid his shirt off of him.

Reno reached back with his hands and did his best to tug at the sides of her gown. Instead her hips crossed the path of his wandering grasp. She maneuvered her pelvic area to his left and allowed him to stroke at the smoothness of her matching g string.

Her arms wrapped around his waist as her hands pushed themselves along his abdomen.

Reno began to breath harder at what she was allowing him to feel. His chin lifted as his blue eyes were tightly shut.

Leira's left hand slipped into the elastic and protected him as her right hand began to free him from it's entrapment. She brought her left hand out allowing Reno to concentrate on the cool air that was whipping at him.

The Elite lifted his hands in hers and brought them to the top of his pants. Together they pushed them down to his knees and allowed gravity to carry them to his ankles.

Her hands did not return to his body. He could only assume that she had wanted for them to continue. He gripped himself with his left hand and began to massage himself with his thumb.

He closed his eyes at his own teasings. This was not like her.

Suddenly he felt something brush against his back. His lover had started to remove her arms from the straps of the silk gown.

Reno felt one elbow raise and tap against him. It was not long before the strap touched his skin.

He turned around to face her. He was straight faced but still lust full. He ignored the scar between her magnificent breasts and kissed her neck. He assumed it was from Timal. The SOLDIER had tried to give him a similar one when they were closer friends.

It was Leira's turn to close her eyes as Reno slid her gown the rest of the way. He sighed in accomplishment and sucked at her left breast.

She put a hand to his shoulder and took his erection in her hand.

Reno lurched his hips forward to rub his quivering tip against her lower region. He gently thrust between her legs a couple times than decided to keep himself there.

Leira removed his glasses and dropped them on his chair. She felt Reno tugging at the thin elastic of her g-string. His hands were on either side of her hips. Gradually, he slid her last article of clothing down her body. He put her right breast in his hands while Leira worked him. She got hold of his testicles and squeezed them while she rubbed at his length.

Reno put her back to the wall and removed her hands. He continued to tease her nipples with his tongue just as Leira brought her arms to his shoulders.

Reno's erection bucked. Leira had managed to make him harden more. He groaned as he tried to insert himself into her. He remembered another obstacle that he had come across when dealing with her. The thickness of his penis passed between her legs as he tried for another thrust upwards. She was completely dry. He never asked her about it. It took a while for her to become moist and accepting.

Reno wrapped his fingers around the bottom of her buttocks and nibbled at her neck. He removed one of his hands and held his shaft between their bodies. He thrust upwards again between their combined dryness. It was not long before his tip began loose a drop of semen.

Leira had begun to drop to her knees. He had wanted to stop her and attempt to enter her but after feeling the roughness of her tongue on him…

Leira licked up and down his member. She had not forgotten about her small shortcoming. She made every inch of his thickness glisten with her saliva. Lightly she sucked the pink snake like head. Her mouth moved up and down the outside of his shaft while her tongue laved at it's underside.

Reno put his hands to the back of her head. He moaned at the feel of her mouth. An urgency threatened to overtake him. He attempted to thrust into her mouth. After another twitch Leira had straightened up.

Reno put a finger between her legs and traced her opening. He could not resist anymore. With the same hand he slid his fingers along the dampness she had provided him. He placed himself at her entrance and began to thrust into her.

Leira moaned as their thighs met. She could feel him buck inside her as he drew a breath.

The first motion was uncomfortable for him but the next ones were able trigger her inner walls to provide their own lubrication. His body began to sweat as he kissed her deeply. They slid down the wall in each other's grasp. Leira landed straddling his powerful hips. The wall supported them as well as Reno's own body as he balanced on his parted knees.

Reno's eyes squinted as he looked up at the ceiling. She was so warm. He was overcome by her dampness as well. Reno groaned as his motions became more frequent. He pushed himself into her as far as he could. This was the main reason why they had continued to carry on a physical relationship, when she had moistened there had never been a better feeling for him. His thrusting became more erratic.

Her arms were around his shoulders again. The sound of her moaning was music to his ears He flicked his tongue out to play with her nipples as his hands pushed down on her hips. Both of them continued to pant.

This particular position was becoming uncomfortable to him. He had never come this way before, especially on a hardened surface. He was not sure how long it would be before his knees completely gave out. His sweat soaked face glanced quickly behind him. The straw mat did not look any softer.

Leira's nails raked at his back urging him on. "Uggh!" he groaned as the friction increased on his length. So many sensations began to mix in his mind. It would not be long.

Leira could feel him continue to pound into her. Her own hips rotated into him. His rapid movements in and out of her caused her to clench at his hips. "UHH!" she yelled.

Suddenly her lover let out a long, loud gasp. Reno's teeth were clenched and his eyes were squeezed shut. His face was red and dripping with sweat from his effort. Reno's hips spasmed, forcing him upwards into her for a final thrust. A grunt forced it's way out of him as his seed spurted from his purple swollen tip into her depths.

He pushed himself against her and put his lips to hers. They kissed as he slowly removed himself from her. Somehow he lifted himself to his feet and gathered her in his arms.

"I don't think that's what Navig meant to happen?" Leira softly whispered into his ear.

He carried her to the mat and lay her down. "I don't think it was either. I'm sure they're both okay with it though."

The two embraced briefly before Reno got up and gathered the discarded garments. He noticed that Leira was back to watching the caskets. Timal's was now right across the room from her.

The Turk licked his lips. "Can I…ask a question?"

Leira's eyes rested on him. "Go on."

Her lover's face seemed to be totally devoid of humor. He lay with his back against the mat and folded his arms behind his head. "Who was better?"

Leira playfully slapped his chest and snuggled into his side. "Only you would as that, only you…"

He grinned at her and wrapped an arm around her.

"That's like comparing me and Yuffie."

Reno favored her with a boyish grin. "Nah. Yuff an' I never got as far as us." He stroked her side with a finger tip. "It just seemed kind of…wrong."

Leira chose not to pursue the topic any further.

"I don't know about you but I could use a rest." He reached over and grabbed the second layer of his ceremonial attire. He was still feeling rather warm but was expecting the coolness of the cabin to change. He carefully draped one side over Leira before he covered himself with the other.

Sleep had begun to overcome Leira, causing her eyes to close. He kissed her cheek. "Sweet dreams." he whispered.

The lanterns that hung from the rafters continued to burn harmlessly as they illuminated the cabin's occupants.