Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Icy Redemption ❯ Smile Shines Through ( Chapter 2 )

Icy Redemption

Final Fantasy VII is copyright Squaresoft, as well as all characters. This
story is my own creation. I am not being paid or anything to write it.

Chapter One

The fire shone orange in the sea of white. A small tent was set up near the fire. The fire illumined a bright circle around it.
We can't make it to Icicle Inn tonight with her condition. Sephiroth sat inside the large tent, hunched over the pallid woman. She was still unconscious, and breathing unsteadily. Sephiroth regarded her with his cool eyes. The girl would need the muscle stitched, as well as the soft skin surrounding it. He sighed, his breath coming out in a faint burst of gray.
How could I manage to hurt her more then anticipated? I only meant to his her shoulder, not the muscle. . . He sat in deep thought, thinking of the distractions that had caused him to injure the slim girl.
A sharp intake of air shook him from his thoughts. Aerith had her eyes open, staring at him glazed. Her mouth hung open in a feeble attempt to breathe.
"Aerith?" Sephiroth leaned over her, eyeing her cautiously. A small squeak came from her throat, and blood trickled out of her gaping mouth slowly. Her green eyes began to disappear into her head. Her chest moved rapidly up and down.
"Aerith? Stay with me! You can't die!" Aerith gave a great sigh as her breath stopped. Sephiroth cursed, moving toward the still woman. Using his strong arms, he pumped against her sternum hard. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his mouth over hers, tasting the metallic blood that had seeped from her body. He expelled the breath into her empty lungs. His hands pumped again, furiously. He expelled another strong breath into Aerith. Green eyes shot open. Sephiroth backed away as Aerith coughed and began to breathe. She shuddered, turning her wet eyes to Sephiroth.
"Why. . .did you hurt me?" She began to slump back. Sephiroth, using his strong arm, gently lay her back onto the ground.
"I didn't mean it." He spoke softly as she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry."

~

The sun shone though the flaps of the gray tent. Sephiroth was outside, squatting near the dying fire. Inside the ten, Aerith lay quietly, pretending to sleep. Pain was keeping her from really resting. Outside, she could hear Sephiroth packing up and extinguishing the fire. Aerith didn't think she could move, especially not with him. And now, how was she supposed to summon Holy? Her mind was a mess.
"Ah, your awake." Aerith gasped as Sephiroth poked his head into the small tent.
"Y-yes. . ."
"We'll be leaving soon. Don't move. I'll be in shortly." Aerith stared as he left. Fear gripped her. What was Sephiroth planning? Aerith lay with the sleeping bag wrapped around her, dreading moving and going further away with him.
~

Sephiroth's tall figure could be seen tramping though the snow. Aerith, still wrapped in the thick sleeping bag, slept restlessly in his arms, shivering. Sephiorth himself was cold, and he felt his teeth chattering. Icicle Inn loomed ahead. Sephiroth quickened his pace, driven by the warm lights and buildings.
~

The Inn had a roaring fire and heat. Sephiroth sat near the fire with Aerith. A local doctor was on his way to treat Aerith's wound. Sephiroth wondered what the townspeople thought of him. They were probably scared. He was getting nothing but the best treatment, but he knew that only came with the fear. He sighed, looking into the burning fire. Those years ago. . .when he burned that town. . .he couldn't remember. What happened? What made him destroy such a peaceful town? The memories were clouded.
"Mr. Sephiroth. ..?" A young man in a white coat stood before him.
"Are you the doctor?" The man nodded.
"Is this the girl?" Sephiroth nodded, and moved over so the doctor could kneel before her.
"This is a very deep wound." He stated after pulling away the bloodied sleeping bag.
"Please. Just do all you can to help her." Sephiroth turned away from him and looked into the fire again. The young doctor took out a pair of scissors and began to cut away strips of Aerith's pink dress.
The wound was dirty and was beginning to look inflamed. The doctor took out a small prod and gently opened the wound. Aerith gasped and sat up, casting the prod away. Sephiroth crawled over, kneeling by her head. The doctor looked nervously at Sephiroth.
"Aerith, this man is going to fix your wound." Aerith shook her head.
"It hurts. . ." Sephiroth took her hand and squeezed it hard, willing Aerith to lay back. The doctor pulled out a small bottle from his medical bag.
"Ahem. . .Aerith? That is your name? I am going to clean the wound. It will sting a little. I'll try to be as quick as possible." Sephiroth nodded to the man, who poured some of the clear liquid into the wound. Aerith screamed through her teeth, and bit her lip. She squeezed Sephiroth's hand with her own, tears leaking out of her eyes. Sephiroth felt his heart wrench in agony as Aerith braced herself against the pain. The wound bubbled white, and finally, returned to a reddened state. The doctor pulled out stitching utensils and a syringe. Injecting Aerith with a painkiller, he scrutinized the wound.
"I am going to stitch the wound. Okay?" Sephiroth nodded once more to him. He began to quickly sew the wound, closing it neatly. Aerith whimpered from the floor.
"It's okay. It will be over soon." Sephiorth murmured to her, trying to sound comforting. Aerith clutched his hand, feeling the wet tears trickle slowly down her face.
"Sephiroth, I am finished." The doctor began putting away his tools. Aerith lay back, allowing herself to relax.
"Is there anything you can give her for future pains?" The doctor nodded, and took out a small bottle.
"These contain strong painkillers. I would only take one half. It will last for about 8 hours." Sephiroth nodded.
"I thank you. Please accept this gil." Sephiroth counted out 5,000 gil and placed it in the doctor's hands.
"Mr. Sephiroth, I cannot accept this. . ." Sephiroth shook his head.
"It is the least I can do. Take it." The doctor nodded.
"Thank you." He quietly left the Inn, leaving behind the warm fire and shelter. Sephiroth turned back to Aerith. She slept quietly, her eyes closed peacefully. Sephiroth found himself smiling a tiny bit. He covered her with another sleeping bag and sat watch.