Mirror Image

by T'Shael

Chapter Eight

Aeris sat in front of her mirror in a pretty dressing gown brushing her hair. She could hear the shower running in the bathroom down the hall. Sephiroth was cleaning up after another morning of hard training. She didn't have any dishes to wash because they'd had sort of a dinner-picnic out on the glacier to save time. He'd cut their lesson short because of the weather. Six months had gone by and it was winter time in this region where the snow never melted. It was dark outside. Snowflakes were beginning to fall and the wind was rising.

She thought about her former comrades. She wondered what they were doing and how they were getting along. Her mind came to rest on Cloud. She still thought of him sometimes but whenever she thought of seeing him again, she thought of Sephiroth too. Cloud wasn't going to be happy to see Sephiroth. None of her friends would. The first thing they would do is attack him. She couldn't let them do that. She had adjusted to Sephiroth's rigorous training program and she didn't get as tired as she once had. She wondered if she'd be able to reason with Cloud and the rest, or if they'd end up fighting as enemies.

The planet needed both of them. Aeris could feel it calling out to her. There were no words. All she knew is that it was asking her to be ready. Be ready for what? How could she explain to this to the others? Sephiroth had his faults. He had a sense of humor, was easy to talk to and was a very good listener. Then there were the times he was short with her and kept to himself. Once in a while, their hands touched or he stood closer than necessary to show her a battle technique. Sometimes he seemed to go out of his way to avoid physical contact. In the Lifestream Sephiroth had said he wouldn't be surprised to find out Hojo had experimented on his own child. Hojo had left a serious scar on his son.

Aeris heard a door open down the hall. She hadn't closed her door yet, so she saw Sephiroth come out of the bathroom in his robe and go into his room. He didn't pay any attention to her. She smiled to herself.

The robe had been her idea. He preferred to wrap a towel around himself to cross the hall. The first time she saw him do that Aeris almost fainted. He thought she'd tripped and would have come to her assistance but she waved him away. Sephiroth was used to being around men in locker rooms. It never occurred to him to cover up completely when he was with a woman. She explained, blushing the whole time, that it wasn't proper for a man to go half dressed in front of a woman.

Sephiroth countered her remark with the fact that it wasn't proper for two unmarried people to live in the same house together. While Aeris stood speechless, he took the robe she'd bought for him out of her hand. He'd used it ever since.

Sephiroth opened his door after a while and came to her door. His long silver hair hung in damp tangles over his bare shoulders and down his back. He wore only his black pajama bottoms. He looked annoyed. "That new creme rinse you bought? Don't buy anymore. It's worthless."

He went back to his room. Aeris jumped up and went after him. She caught the door before it closed in her face. She pushed it open and stepped inside the room. Halfway to his dressing table, Sephiroth turned and gave her a strange look. "What are you doing in here?"

Aeris slipped past him and went to his dressing table. She picked up the comb. "Sit down."

He stared at her.

"Sit down!" she ordered. "I'm offering to help."

He sat down without a word. Aeris picked up the matted silver tresses and dropped them over one of his shoulders. Starting at the nape of Sephiroth's neck, she selected a strand of hair and put the comb to use. Using downward strokes from ends to root, the tangles disappeared as she worked. Section by section, Aeris worked her way to the crown of his head. She was concentrating so much on Sephiroth's hair she didn't notice the way he was watching her in the mirror.

Aeris usually slept with her hair tied back with a ribbon, but she hadn't tied it up yet. It spread over her shoulders and hung down to her hips in a brown cascade. Sephiroth wondered why he'd never noticed the golden highlights in her hair or the length and thickness of her lashes. Her lips reminded him of the pink roses he'd seen in the Lifestream. Her complexion reminded him of peaches and cream. Aeris had a natural beauty no cosmetic could ever improve. He was attracted to her. It was an admission that both thrilled and disturbed him. For the first time in his life he wondered what it would be like to share his life with someone. Her hand brushed against his shoulder and he shivered.

Aeris paused. "I'm sorry, did I scratch you?"

"It is nothing," he said.

"I'm almost through here." Aeris went back to work. When she untangled the last strand of hair, she put down the comb and proudly announced, "All done and no tangles! You just have to learn how to comb it right."

Sephiroth didn't answer. When Aeris looked at him, their gazes locked in the mirror. She felt her mind go blank. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the intensity of those Mako green eyes. Sephiroth couldn't think about anything except how much her eyes reminded him of sparkling emerald jewels. As if their moves were choreographed, Aeris took two steps back. Sephiroth rose and turned toward her. They gazed at each other. Sephiroth moved forward hesitantly. Aeris didn't retreat. Sephiroth took another step his face coming down to hers. Aeris raised her head, their lips touched, their eyes closed and their arms entwined.

Aeris felt the world fading away around her. She could feel Sephiroth's lips dancing over her face. She ran her fingers over his bare chest, through his hair and pulled him close to brush her lips against his ear. Sephiroth found her lips again and their kiss became more serious. Aeris thoughts were dreamlike. She couldn't ever remember feeling this way with Cloud. Cloud? Cloud!

It took every ounce of strength she had to pull away from Sephiroth. He pulled her back to him. "Sephiroth, we can't!" she cried. When she pulled free again, he didn't try to stop her.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He wanted to reach out and touch her but he wouldn't touch her if she didn't want him to. "Did I hurt you?"

Aeris wouldn't let him think that. She stepped closer and touched his face. He caught her hand and held it there.

"I-I am a little confused about my feelings," she admitted.

"Is there someone else?" he asked her.

Aeris hesitated. "No, I don't think so." He looked at her baffled. She pulled her hand away. "I should go."

Sephiroth watched her hurry out of his room. He heard her door close a moment later. He felt a wave of jealousy. He wanted to put his fist through a wall. He raised his hand and held it out in front of him. It trembled. He closed it into a fist. Jealousy. He'd spent his childhood learning to turn off his feelings. How had this woman done this to him? He turned off the light and closed his door. He lay on top of the bed covers, turning his face toward Aeris' room. Was she wiping his touch from her lips? He was unlovable. He'd learned that a long time ago. How could he have ever entertained the idea of sharing his life with anyone? He'd never touch Aeris that way again. If she was thinking of someone else, it wasn't his business. She'd probably be better off with whoever it was she was really thinking about. He couldn't care less. Then why was he clenching his fist and staring at nothing in the darkness? He didn't go to sleep for a long time.

Aeris closed her door and turned off the light. She rushed to her bed, pulled back the covers and crawled in. Her body trembled. Her hands shook as she brushed tears from her eyes. Why was she crying? Because you didn't want to stop, said a voice in her head. That's a lie, she told herself. She stopped because of Cloud, because she loved Cloud. There! She'd said it. She loved Cloud . . . didn't she? And what of Tifa?, the voice persisted. Cloud is with Tifa. You were dead. You didn't expect him to grieve forever did you? Her lips tingled from Sephiroth's kiss. She thought about how he'd held her in his arms. Shut up, shut up, shut up! She thought. I won't think about that. I won't think about anything. She willed herself to go to sleep, but it was a long time before that happened.

* * * * *

It was late in Rocket Town. Seven individuals sat together sipping hot tea. Cid had sent Shera to bed.

"But what if it's not true?," complained Yuffie. "I have better things to do than chase rumors!"

"What if this isn't a rumor?" insisted Cloud. "What is Sephiroth is still alive?"

"Why would Aeris be with him?" asked Cid. "That bastard killed her. She wouldn't live with him."

"You know how some people are Cloud," said Tifa. "It's probably another one of those people who think it's cool to dress up as Sephiroth or Aeris. You know, hero worshipers!"

"I'm with Cloud," said Barret. "I say we put an end to this rumor once and for all. I say we go up to the glacier area and look around."

"I agree with Cloud and Barret," said Red XIII. "It's the only way to be sure. What do you think Vincent?"

Vincent didn't answer right away. The others waited.

"What if it is Sephiroth?" he asked them. "What are we going to do?"

"We're going to kill his ass again!" stormed Barret.

"Quiet!" hissed Cid. "Shera needs her sleep. Being pregnant tires out her enough. Don't wake her up!"

"Oops, sorry man," said Barret.

"Then it's agreed," said Cloud, "We'll head for the glacier tomorrow morning!"

"No we won't," said Cid. The others looked at him. "There's a storm up there right now. I'm not flying the Highwind into that. We'll leave as soon as the storm breaks."

The others agreed.

* * * * *

Sephiroth was up before Aeris the next day. To her surprise, he'd prepared breakfast.

"I didn't know you could cook!" she exclaimed.

"I've watched you enough to get the general idea," he said. "Is it edible?"

Aeris tasted a waffle. It was delicious. Her eyes sparkled. "The best I've ever tasted. What did you do to my recipe?"

"If my waffles are better than yours, I refuse to tell you anything," he said. "That way you'll always have to come to me to get them."

Aeris remembered the night before and blushed. "Sephiroth, about last night . . . "

"Forget it," he said. "I have."

Aeris' face crumpled a little. Isn't that what she wants me to do? Sephiroth wondered. He'd obviously hurt her feelings again. "I didn't mean . . . "

"Its all right," she interrupted. "I'm going to sit here and figure out how you changed my recipe. I'm very good at this. Your secret may not be a secret long!"

Sephiroth served breakfast and they ate as the wind howled outside.

To pass the time they looked at more of Professor Gast's notes and video's. Aeris found her mother's diary and learned more about the Cetra. They were careful not to touch unless necessary, but sometimes Aeris felt Sephiroth watching her when he thought she didn't notice. Sephiroth felt her watching him when she thought it was safe. How long could they go on like this before something happened? He got his answer when the storm died three days later.

They were near the edge of the glacier. Sephiroth was going over the details of Aeris' latest battle when they both heard a sound coming toward them over the mountains.

"What's that?" asked Aeris.

A muscle twitched in Sephiroth's jaw. He didn't answer.

An aircraft appeared over a mountain and hovered. It turned in their direction and moved closer. Aeris felt a chill in her blood. Cloud and the rest of her friends were on that ship. She couldn't let them kill Sephiroth. She needed him. She watched as the airship soared overhead. She could see faces looking down. Aeris forced herself to wait quietly by Sephiroth's side as the ship flew to the grassy shore close to the sea. Seven people walked off the craft and started up the glacier toward them.

Sephiroth put his hand on the hilt of his masamune. "So, your friends have come at last."

"Sephiroth please don't act threatening," said Aeris. "This is going to be hard enough as it is. Don't start a fight"

"I don't think that's up to me," he said, "Do you?"

"You mean Cloud." Aeris hoped she didn't look as nervous as she felt.

As the seven people came closer, Aeris made out Cloud in the lead. Her heart skipped a beat. He was followed by Tifa, Barett, Yuffie, Red, and Cid. Vincent trailed behind. The seven moved forward until they were only a few yards away. They stopped and stared.

"I don't believe it!" Yuffie said.

"Sephiroth!" spat Cloud.

"And Aeris!" said Tifa.

"They really are together." Cid dropped his cigarette.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Barret.

"How could they be alive?" Red switched his tail in confusion.

Vincent didn't say anything.

Cloud drew his sword. "Step away from him, Aeris! We'll take care of this!"

"Yeah!" yelled Barret aiming his gun arm. "If we didn't kill you enough the first time, Sephiroth, we're going to finish the job!"

"Don't you touch him!" shouted Aeris.

They looked at each other and then at Aeris.

"He's got some type of spell over her," said Cloud. "Get away from him Aeris, let us help you!"

"Don't say anything," Aeris whispered to Sephiroth. She stepped in front of him. "No Cloud. I want you all to listen to me. Sephiroth won't attack."

"Look at him!" shouted Barret, "Hiding behind a woman's skirt!"

Sephiroth started to move and Aeris whirled around and grabbed him by the arms. "No Sephiroth, please don't do anything! Let me talk to them!"

Sephiroth surprised her when he relaxed. "If they attack me," he told her. "I will defend myself."

"It will be all right, I promise!" she whispered. She turned around to the strange looks on the faces of her former companions.

"I can explain everything, if you'll let me," she pleaded. " Pl

Chapter 9