Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Strife ❯ Truth Revealed ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: Truth Revealed

The sun had been out for hours, as it now even shined its vibrant rays upon the slopes of the mountains above Nibelheim. Many people were busy among the small town, buying items at the local shop as others were visiting with friends or reminiscing. Inside the Strife home, Cloud still lay sound asleep. He had slept most of the day before away as well. He was enjoying the sleep from such a long journey and battle. His sweet slumber was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening then being shut rather noisily.

"Hey Cloud, where are you?" Jassi walked into the bedroom to see her older brother lying lazily just barely awake. "You lazy bum...get up its past ten o'clock!"

Cloud looked up at her and rubbed his eyes a bit, then stretched with a large yawn. "What happened to you? You look like shit." He stood up, looking at her tangled hair, cut neck, and her leg that had slight signs of old dried blood.

His younger sister looked herself over real quick then shrugged. "Oh nothing, I was just hiking about in the mountains this morning because I got up early. I just came by for some shampoo, and then I'll be off to my second home to take a shower and some rest...mountain climbing sure takes it out of you."

Cloud raised one eyebrow at her as he scratched at his blonde covered scalp. "You're up to something...you're acting weird."

"I am not acting weird. You are paranoid there brother. So hey how are things going with Tifa?"

"Ok now I know something's up! You hate Tifa; you would never ask that on a normal basis unless you were trying to clear your head of guilt. What have you done?" Cloud crossed his arms across his chest with a look of annoyance.

Jassi smirked a bit at her sibling. "Honestly I have done nothing, I just want to wash my hair and get some rest. Is that a crime now a days?"

Cloud looked at her for a second and shrugged. "I'll find out sooner or later I'm sure, so go ahead and don't tell me. I'll find out on my own just fine I'm sure."

She smiled with a nod. "Sure if you think that, but I've done nothing." The young woman walked into the bathroom, grabbing the shampoo bottle. "Thanks Cloud for the shampoo and the lecture." Jassi closed the door behind her, again rather loudly.

Cloud just shrugged it off, as he walked over to the couch in the living room. He went for the remote control and at the same time flopped down onto the comfortable old couch. Cloud slowly started rummaging through the channels, looking for anything good to be on the television. After going through about fifteen channels, he saw a news reporter talking about the crater phenomenon and the Meteor's near collision with earth. His mako eyes got brighter as they spoke his name. Ever since he had gotten home, he had hammed up all chances he could of his heroic deeds.

Jassi had a smile upon her face that would make anyone who noticed her to smile as well. She walked up to the mansion's iron gates and slowly pushed one side open, causing a squeaky noise that proved rust was starting to finally form. With another sound of rusty metal, she shut the gate behind her and walked the stone path to the front door. As she stepped into the house, her smile got a little bigger. The old vines still covered the windows above the staircase, and dust was in a fine layer on most of everything downstairs since she normally only occupied the upstairs and library. She made her way up the stairs and to the right, through the hallway where most of her late teen years and since have been spent. She laid her old pack down on the bed in the room with the entrance to the library. With a small sigh, she looked at the library's stony entrance for a moment or two then turned to the bathroom two doors down.

Cloud laid against a pillow as he continued to watch the news commentator talk away about the devastating damage done by Meteor, and the natural phenomenon that saved the entire planet. Suddenly the reporter was handed a piece of paper, which caused the reporter to be quiet for a few moments as he read it. With a nervous look, his eyes moved back to the camera..."this just in: to all of this Earth's population. Sephiroth has been spotted on the southern rim of the northern Continent. Many were killed at the harbor area, but a lone woman managed to survive, but soon left the sight as well. Sephiroth is heading for the main land...and is here! Everyone call Soldier...call Cloud Strife to stop this mad man!"

Sephiroth stepped on screen and as he did so, he swiftly sliced the anchorman's throat. The evil man turned towards the camera with a mischievous smile. "Yes Cloud wherever you are out there...why don't you come out to play? If not...well that's ok because I am coming for you. You and the lovely marked one. That's right Cloud I am after another woman you hold dear. Can you stop me from getting this one? I doubt it! You have little time to prove me wrong Cloud, so I suggest you hurry." Sephiroth let out an evil laugh that lasted for a few seconds until the connection was lost, and the screen went fuzzy.

Jassi walked into the bedroom once again, wrapped up in a black towel. She opened up the small dresser draw, pulling out her favorite outfit. It was a pair of skintight short shorts made of soft leather, the shirt she had to match was rather baggy, falling off one shoulder and was cut short enough to show off her firm stomach. To finish off her ensemble she put on her brown boots that were a riding style. She was in the middle of brushing her half way dried hair when she heard Cloud screaming for Tifa. "Tifa! Hey Tifa come here!" Cloud ran towards the dark-haired woman with a sense of distress.

Tifa turned her head around and looked at Cloud running towards her with her chestnut brown eyes. "Yes, Cloud? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Above the area, Jassi stood listening out of the bedroom window with a suspicious look. She had always hated Tifa for as long as she could remember. She wondered what her brother could have possibly wanted with her.

"I was watching TV, and I saw...I saw Sephiroth! He is alive, Tifa!" Cloud was out of breath from sprinting to find her.

Tifa eyes widened as her mouth just dropped open. "Are you sure? How...Why?"

"That's not all. He said he was coming after the lovely marked one, and was going to take another woman out of my life. You're the only one I have left Tifa...I think he means you!" Cloud had a hold of Tifa by her shoulders with a slightly tight grip.

Jassi's mouth dropped as she over heard. Sephiroth was coming for her, and Cloud thought he meant Tifa?! Yeah right, she's not worth walking two steps to get, let alone the miles he was surely going to take. Jassi's face lit up with a smile then it quickly faded. Was he coming to take her with him, or was he planning to kill her like he had said?

Tifa closed her eyes with a sigh. "This is awful...how could he of possibly still be alive? Even if you didn't kill him, the weather would have been enough to freeze him to death. You don't think he has an ally that saved him, do you?"

"No way! Who would ever help that lunatic do anything? Besides, I don't think Sephiroth trusts anyone enough to let them be his ally. He knows too many people would double cross him." Cloud stopped and thought for a moment. "I don't even know anyone who would offer their help in the first place. That doesn't matter now anyways...he's back and we need to stop him, but first you need to go into hiding. I will call the others and have them all come here. We'll ambush him in the mansion, since I think that is where he will go first."

Tifa nodded in agreement. "Sounds great, but isn't Jassi in there?" She was quiet for a second, looking up at the mansion and saw Jassi watching them both. Tifa sneered up at her then whispered to Cloud. "I just thought of this, but I saw Jassi sneak out in the middle of the night last night. Then I saw her come back into town not even an hour ago. Do you know what she's up to?"

Cloud's eyes widened a bit, and he looked up at the mansion's upstairs window with a suspicious look at his younger sister.

Jassi raised one eyebrow at him and Tifa. "What the fuck are you looking at skank?!"

Tifa glared harder at Jassi then smirked. "Oh I was just telling Cloud how you went somewhere last night, and did not come home till just an hour ago."

The redheaded woman's eyes widened a bit. "Why don't you mind your own fucking business for once!? If I want my brother to know about my affairs I'll tell him myself!"

Cloud turned to face the mansion. "Jassi shut up for one second, and get down here. I want to know what you're up to. I knew it from this morning that you were up to something."

Jassi sighed with aggravation as she watched Tifa's smug face just smirking up at her. She was caught, and she had no idea how to get out of it. Her mind started to race through possibilities as she shut the window and slowly made her way downstairs. Even as she was almost down the massive stairwell, she still didn't have a clue of what to tell her brother. Then she got to the front door, and shrugged a bit. "He'll find out sooner or later, I might as well start the fireworks now." She opened the door, and walked outside where her brother and the meddling Tifa waited.

"Ok Jassi, tell me, what's going on with you? What have you been up to?" Cloud stood with his arms crossed across his chest, and Tifa standing to his side with that mocking smirk that made Jassi want to cut it off.

Suddenly a thought came to Jassi and she knew it would work. "Well Cloud if you must know... I left last night and went to Wutai. I had to see me older teacher from there because he needed me there. He is retiring, and as you know when a master teacher like him retires he picks his best pupil to show the results of his long time work."

Tifa laughed aloud a bit, "Why would he choose you?"

Jassi glared at Tifa as she grit her teeth together. "Because, Tifa, I am a master at the martial arts, and I could kill you now if I wished. I do wish to, but Cloud unfortunately likes you so I won't. But the ceremonies are done at night so I left in time to make it there. I told no one because it's a personal achievement that I wanted to enjoy alone. If I told anyone Cloud would want to see it, Red would, and maybe even Vincent and Yuffie."

Cloud's stern look faded and turned into a smile. "Congrats Jassi. I knew you were a good fighter, but to be picked as his best is an honor. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you Cloud. Now are you satisfied Tifa?" She glared over at the brunette with a tone of irritation.

"I guess I'll have to be. Come on Cloud we you have to get a hold of the others, and I have to make myself scarce." Tifa walked away, headed for the hotel, where she was going to stay for the day.

"Jassi, I need you to go get Red. He is good friends with you, and the only way to reach him is to go there. While you are doing that, I'm going to call up everyone else." Cloud smiled then walked inside the Strife home.

She smiled at the thought of seeing her good friend again, and not after long Jassi was half way there, crossing the river over a small bridge that she helped build at one time. Before reaching Cosmo Canyon her mind thought about Sephiroth. Why would he be coming after her? Had she upset him enough for him to want her to die sooner then waiting for her to seek him out? But yet again, there was always the small flicker of hope that he may be coming for her because he wants her company on his journey. She continued contemplating the possibilities until she found herself up the stairs of the Canyon. Not five seconds after entering the small town she heard Red's voice yelling a hello.

"Jassi! Hey Jass, how are you?" She looked up to see the large cat jumping and bounding down the stairs.

Jassi smirked as she shook her head. "Cloud wants your help at Nibelheim."

Red stopped in front of her not even out of breath with a curious look. "Oh really?...with what, Jassi?"

"Well Sephiroth is still alive...and Cloud seems to think he's going after Tifa in Nibelheim by tomorrow. He's getting everyone together to fight Sephiroth off."

Red lowered his head and his ears no longer perked. "I sensed that he might return, but I never thought it was going to be so soon. We've only had one day of rest, but yes, of course I will come and help. Come on Jassi we can leave immediately."

"Yeah, I agree lets go before Cloud has a heart attack on his own." She smirks, as they walk down the stone steps side by side.

Soon the two reached the small town of Nibelheim, and Cloud was there to greet them. "Oh Red, I am so glad you you're here! Sephiroth has come back and I need your help, Cid, Tifa, and Barret are already here. We're still waiting on Yuffie and Vincent. Let's go into the mansion and strategize our attack...um Jassi, why don't you go into the house and stay out of trouble."

"Hey!...why do I have to stay out of the way? I can fight too, you know?!" Jassi placed her hands onto her hips with an annoyed look.

"Come on Jassi...don't take it personal. It's just we've fought together and know how to work together already. You'd just get in the way." Cloud headed towards the mansion, leaving Jassi to complain to herself.

The frustrated young woman kicked a rock across the dirt and headed for the Strife home for some much needed rest. "Cloud is so full of himself...stupid little bastard." Jassi mumbled as she entered the house.

Cloud was the last to enter the mansion, and was pleased to see everyone there. "Thanks everyone...I'm pretty confident we will defeat him again. Maybe not today at this stand, but we will not stop, like last time."

"Okay Cloud, we know they idea...to ambush him here, but Red mentioned that Jassi is here...why don't you get her to help? Any extra help is a good thing." Cid spoke with the cigarette dangling from his lips as usual.

Suddenly the others began to agree, and Red gave the best smile that could show on his cat-like face. "Maybe you should go get her, we'll get into our positions."

Cloud made a noise like a disgruntled chocobo then nodded. "Whatever...I'll be right back." He left the mansion with some haste, he wanted to be in position and ready long before Sephiroth was around. He found his little sister asleep on their mother's bed. "Jassi..." He walked up and pushed her leg over about a foot. "Get up Jassi."

With her eyes still closed she spoke in an annoyed tone. "What do you want now?!"

"The group decided that I should have you help out, since one more extra fighter on our side is better than none." Cloud didn't look at her as he spoke, not happy with having to ask her help after being rude.

Jassi's attitude quickly got better as she sat up rather fast with a smile and peppy tone. "Really now? So you need my help after all?"

Cloud shrugged a bit with a very low volume in his reply. "Yes."

"Well...okay then!" The young redhead jumped to her feet and patted Cloud on the back lovingly. "Let's go then bro." Jassi beat him out the door as she headed to the mansion.

Cloud couldn't help but laugh a bit at his sister with her eagerness that she has always had, even in bleak times such as these. "Right behind you."

Jassi joined the group in the mansion, followed by her brother. "Okay Cloud, so what's the plan and where do you want me?" Jassi smiled at him with her hands on her hips.

"Well we are going to hide in wait, and make an ambush against him. You can be positioned behind the stairwell, so if for any reason he gets by us, you can finish him off. Though I doubt he'll get passed us." Cloud motioned everyone into their positions as he himself moved into his spot beside the doorway.

Tifa stood up in the second story of the Nibelheim Inn, staring out the window. After an endless amount of time to her passed she was about to lay down and just relax when a shadow formed on the ground. Soon that shadow turned into a man as he hovered slowly to the ground. It was indeed Sephiroth, and he headed right into the mansion like Cloud had planned. "Good luck Cloud." Tifa whispered softly as her eyes followed the dark figure as he entered the large doors.

Everyone inside the mansion were bored and tired. Cid was laying down smoking, and Barrett was leaning against the wall messing with his gun. Even Jassi had relaxed a bit behind the stairs. Although the other three were alert still. Red was the first to stand in fighting stance as he whispered as low as he could. "He's coming."

Only Cloud, Vincent, and Jassi heard Red's warning just as the front doors opened up slowly. The rusty hinges let Barrett and Cid know that company had arrived. Sephiroth closed the doors behind him and began to walk towards the stairs. When he had reached the rug in the middle of the floor, Cloud stepped out in front of the doorway.

Sephiroth immediately stopped and gave a small evil grin, not bothering to turn and face Cloud. "Do you ever grow tired of fighting me?"

"No, I find pleasure in it." Cloud retorted back at the darkly dressed man.

"Good, that makes it more fun for me." Sephiroth slowly turned to Cloud, still grinning. "Well old friend... might as well call out your friends. I'm not dumb to have not noticed the burning cigarette."

Cid spat out his butt of a cigarette, and came out of hiding, as did everyone else but Jassi.

"Well Cloud... I assume you are in front of the door because you've hidden the woman I'm searching for out there...or did you hide the wrong one?"

Cloud gave him a quick glimpse of confusion. "Of course I've chosen the right woman. Only one matters that much to me since you murdered Aeris!"

A large smirk appeared on Sephiroth's face. "Just as I thought...you hid the wrong girl. Personally if I was your sister that statement would have hurt my feelings." Cloud's eyes went wide, while everyone else glanced to the stairwell by reaction. "Jassi?! Why would you be after Jassi?! She hasn't been a part of any of this!"

"Oh but she has Cloud. She has made one of the biggest moves in this game. Isn't that right Jassi?" Sephiroth turned around to the staircase.

Slowly the young woman came out from behind the shadows, half afraid the man before her would slice her throat like his promise.

"Ah, hello Jassi. You remember my promise?"

She slowly nodded, her eyes stared up into his with fear and hope. "Yes, I do. Is that why you came here?"

"Yes, you could say that." He began to walk a little closer to the spirited red head.

"Sephiroth stop! I want to know what's going on right now!" Cloud stepped over to the two, glaring at both of them.

"I helped out Sephiroth some..."

"Like how?" Cloud's head turned to his sister as his glare hardened.

"Well...I..." Sephiroth interrupted her with a hand placed softly over her mouth. Her body jolted slightly with surprise by the feel of his touch, but a second later she was soothed by it and let him do the talking.

"Well Cloud it went somewhat like this...Jassi marched all the way to the crater, fell on my masamune, found me, and is the sole reason I am alive, in front of you now."

Jassi's eyes got wider than Cloud's, knowing she was in deep shit. Everyone else in the room besides Sephiroth just stared at Jassi in disbelieve. "What?!" Cloud went to attack his sister in a rush of furry, but was grabbed by Sephiroth.

"Hey if you want to fight...fight with me. Don't lower yourself to beating up women." Sephiroth smirked down at Cloud as he slowly let go of Cloud's arm.

Jassi watched Sephiroth stop Cloud's assault upon her with astonishment. If he was here to kill her, then why would he save her from getting hit? He must be here to take her away with him. Her face grew into a giddy little girl's smile.

Cloud glared back over to Sephiroth. "What DO you want with my sister anyways, Sephiroth?!"

Sephiroth smirked slightly as he glanced over at the woman close to him. She was smiling at him, with a smile that made her look so innocent and beautiful. Sephiroth quickly looked back to Cloud. "Well, a while ago I was still debating whether to kill her or steal her, but now I am certain of what I should do."

Red tensed up, moving closer to Jassi so he might be able to stop an attack from Sephiroth against her.

"I am taking your sister with me Cloud, but even I won't take a woman against her will." Both the men looked to the emerald-eyed lady.

Her smile faded quickly in a look or surprise. "Umm...well...I..."

"Jassi, what is there to think about?! You're staying with me...we have a lot to talk about!" Cloud some what shouted out the command at her in a wave of panic. He wasn't going to let Sephiroth win this fight...one way or another. "He's evil, and if you choose to go...we will have to stop you."

Jassi looked over at Sephiroth, who was already staring at her...awaiting an answer from her. Without saying a word, she closes her eyes and looks down to the floor. After about a minute Jassi cleared her throat to speak, but did not bother to look up at anyone. "I...I can't go with you Sephiroth. I'm sorry, but I can't betray my brother like that." Jassi slowly backed away from the long haired man with a quick glimpse towards him to go with a small smile that was so discrete that only he caught it.

"So Sephiroth, what are you going to do now? Now that you have no one to help you out. Think you can still beat all of us by yourself...and maybe win this time?" Cloud smirked at his opponent.

Sephiroth held out his hand towards the high spirited woman. "Come with me Jassi...I will share my success...my power with you. I know you want to Jassi."

She closed her eyes with a small sigh. "I'm sorry Sephiroth but I can't. Family comes before my wants, like going on an adventure...even when that adventure is with you."

"I see..." Sephiroth's eyes hardened into a glare of hatred...one Jassi had seen before in him. When he destroyed Nibelheim all those years ago. She was only sixteen when that had happened, but she remembered it vividly. He had just slaughtered the man in front of her, then marched right towards her. Only he didn't harm her...instead he smiled at her, reached up with his blood covered hand, and he slowly and softly stroked her cheek.

Suddenly her thought was broken when she was pushed into a wall. Sephiroth had done it, and he was now slicing the air with his masamune towards Cloud's throat. His sword just barely misses because Red pounced on Cloud, sending him backwards and away from the sword's path.

Barrett began to open fire upon Sephiroth, but the cunning villain ricocheted the bullets using his masamune with great speed. Cid charged with his spear, as Vincent also began to lay bullets down upon Sephiroth. It was an uneven battle, that tested Sephiroth's skill to the max. He managed to fight off Cid, block some bullets, but not even Superman could have stop them all. Sephiroth received four painful shots to the midsection and shoulder. Cloud and Red were now jumping into the fight. Sephiroth wouldn't give up he kept fighting back all the attackers. Vincent and Barrett stopped their assault, and just watched Sephiroth continue to fight off the cat, Cloud's sword, and Cid's spear with four puncture wounds that were bleeding pretty good.

Jassi watched in shock...she knew Sephiroth was not fully recovered yet...not at his full strength, but yet he still came here...for her. He took a huge risk to come and get her, and now he's paying for it. "No!" Jassi rushed into the circle of fighting, and immediately kicked back Cid's spear with such force he was knocked back into Barrett. Sephiroth didn't stop to look at his ally, instead he blocked Cloud's attack with his masamune and used a mighty force, pushing Cloud back into the wall. Jassi jumped in front of Red's pounce and let him knock her over. He didn't use his claws, not wanting to hurt her. "Red stop now, please."

Sephiroth was gone before she could look back at him. He must of flown upstairs, ready to leave and heal up. Jassi hoped he would be okay after taking the shots, but she wasn't too worried, knowing he would soon he strong enough to heal himself. Her worries right now laid on her brother and everyone else. She was in deep trouble with everyone...maybe even Sephiroth.

Surprisingly, Cloud was not the first to speak up. "What the hell was that?!" It was Vincent, he marched up to Jassi and hit her so hard across the face she stumbled back into the stair railing. "You stupid bitch! We had him, it would have been all over...but NO! You had to butt in and help him out. I don't care if you are Cloud's sister...I think you should be put to death with that maniac!"

Cloud grabbed Vincent's shoulder. "Hey Vince...calm down. She deserved the slap, but not to be killed. Let's just take her with us so we can keep an eye on her. We'll just make sure she can't be involved in anymore of our fighting. That way she can't interfere." Cloud turned to his sister and gave her a glare. "I knew you had a crush on the man when you first met him, but I figured seeing him murder everyone we knew would change your mind! Don't say anything Jassi, I don't want to hear it...I'm going to go get Tifa. I think we should go get Yuffie in Wutai first, then go after Sephiroth." Cloud left the mansion to get Tifa.