Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Second Life ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

Something was going on inside... I felt it... I looked to the girl, that annoying little girl. "Excuse me..." I said as I walked off. "I'll be right back... just have to tend to some... buisness..."

"Huh?" She looked puzzled at first, then the thought hit her like a rock chucked hard for her head. "Ohhh.... right! Well, be back soon!"

Oh, I will... I thought as I crept away and into the building. I heard the voice of a SOLDIER, commanding a bunch of... guards... the uniforms were that of a mere guard. There were so many of them! I crept in closer.

"Aim!" Cried the SOLDIER. I looked closer. Who were they shooting at? Who...? I saw the bodies on the ground. Barret, Cid and Nanaki... Cloud! Cloud was being targeted! I couldn't let that happen! "FIRE!" The man yelled. My sword appeared in my hand. I had to act fast... very fast... I jumped into the middle of it, too quickly to be seen, and sliced nearly every bullet that came forward cleanly in half. I made the sword promise never to taste blood, but that didn't mean it wouldn't have a good use now and then... I looked behind me at Vincent and Cloud. They didn't even realise what was going on. I had to get the guards away before they became aware... I moved quick, too quick for human eyes, and killed off each guard one by one, but starving my sword of blood I attacked without my beloved blade. The use of magic, fists, and series of kicks. I started to run, looking back at the fallen guards and the one SOLDIER. An easy obstical, now just to get out before either Cloud or Vincent noticed exactly what might have happened. That would be the hard part. I knew from past meetings that Vincent was hard to fool... always aware...

There was murmering behind me, a sound softened by the distance between the one talking and me. I could barely make it out. "Cloud... are... alright? ....Speak to me? Cloud! Wake up!!"

I stopped dead in my tracks. Something was wrong with Cloud. Did I fail what I was intending to do? I turned around and stared back at them. Only one person was standing, and it was not Cloud. My heart raced, my pulse throbbing greatly in my throat, my wrists, my whole body. I stood there, waiting... praying... demanding that Cloud would get up, that he would be alright. Oh please.... if the gods have mercy let it show now.... Get up Cloud... get up...! My stomach churned with nausia that accompanies helplessness and fear. I've never felt like this, ever, in my life. I wanted to approuch, but I knew I could not. How could I explain to Vincent my purpose of being over there...? ....Of being in here?

"Cloud! Get up! Cloud!" Vincent yelled as he shook the fallen body. I crept closer, wanting to see what happened, why he was down, what was keeping him from getting up. Vincent still shook the body until he found it hopeless. I watched him look around at the other fallen members of their group. All bloody... all wouldn't make it if they didn't recieve medical help... and soon. I saw the same helplessness in his face that was aching within me.

Still I worked my way back over to them. I had to help... I had to. For all the wrongs I have done, I had to do right. I had to... "I think I can help..." I pushed out, trying to make it sound more of an offer with strength rather than with a whimper lacing the sounds' edges.

Vincent looked up to me, a glare started to glow in his eyes. "Who are you?"

I shook my head. "That doesn't matter right now.... I saw what happened to your friends... I just... want... to help." I felt as if I was pleading to help.

"Who are you?!" He demanded.

I had to think quickly. A name..... "I can't talk about who I am right now! These people are going to die! Do you want my help or not!" I yelled, pushing the other subject aside and shoved the reality into Vincent's face. Rude, yes, but nessisary.

"I... What can you do to help?" He still glared, more now than before. "What makes you think you can help?"

"I might have... some magic I can use to..."

"And you don't think I don't..." He interupted. "I've tried it... it won't work..." Vincent looked down. I could sense his comfusion about something, but I couldn't figure it out. Why was he being so open with me. He doesn't "know" me... or does he? Can he see right through me... read my thoughts? "What makes you think... that you could do better?"

I stopped and thought for a moment. I didn't even have any materia on me. What really made me think that I could heal them? I... had to try. "That doesn't matter... but I have to try..."

Both of us stood up, and backed away from the circle of fallen friends. I raised my hands for a moment, calling up a force, hoping that it would listen... hoping it would hear my cry. I closed my eyes feeling a warmth enter me. A gentle warmth, giving out great amounts of healing words and thoughts. This... this must be the spirit that works the healing materia. But... how was I able to call it to me? I wasn't an Ancient... I was to evil to be one of those pure, holy beings of the Planet....

A few moments passed as this new power entered my body. It felt as if I was calling power out of a Cure materia, but in truth, I didn't have any magic on me. It all felt alien to me, but yet... so... natural, as if I had been calling the true magic source the whole time... as if I were an ancient. I quivered from the power that strained my muscules, that choaked the air from my neck. I had to get it out of me quickly... I had to cure Cloud and his friends. To hell with his friends.... Cloud has to come first... But without his friends.... Oh, just heal the sorry group, Sephiroth! And with that, the green energy flowed from me to the fallen members of AVALANCHE, bringing them back to their normal strength. I collapsed, closing my eyes and panting slowly. That power.... was... amazing... like nothing I had ever felt in my life! I quivered a little just thinking about it.

"Who's... he...?" I heard Cloud whisper from his weakness.

"I don't know..." Vincent murmered. "He refused to tell me..."

"Hey, what's your name over there?" Cid said, putting a ciggerette to his mouth.

I felt like laughing. Had I really fooled them? Did they not see who I was? Did the disguise really work on them?

"Hello? I kinda asked a question over here!" Cid insisted, taking a drag from that awful smelling drug.

"I..." I stood up, and looked at all of them, but never looked one in the eye. "I really don't want to give my name out...." I looked to the ground.

Cloud walked over to me, looking at me closely. His look... triggered so many thoughts. I want him.... He hates me.... I can't have him... All the reason why I want him... I want his acceptance...

"Who the hell are you?" Cloud said coldly, but without anger... oh, thank the gods for no anger...

"Aderaien...." I whispered so only his ears alone could hear me.

"Well..." Cloud started, backing off a little. "thanks for your help, Aderaien..." He turned his back on me and started walking away. The tone in his voice had been sharp like the point of a knife, and just as deadly.

Rejection? I asked myself as I watched them all leave. I helped them, but I don't get any real thanks? Shin-Ra almost killed them all that night... If I hadn't of stepped in like I did, none on them would be there to walk away! How rude of them!