Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 is created by Square under the leadership of Hironobu Sakaguchi. All that is mine is the idea and plot of the story. Any similarity to an actual event is purely coincidental.

So much for sounding professional, anyway, please enjoy.

*****

Sweet Sacrifices – 1
By: Liv

The glossy white limousine reflected the light of the sun as it passed through the black gates of the Shinra Mansion. Greenery adorned the huge space as a curving path of cement was driven over by the vehicle. It ended its long trip in front of many people, most of which are soldiers, maidservants, and other helpers.

The chauffeur pushed the door open and stepped out of the car closing the door behind him. He approached the door behind his and opened it making way for the president's child.

Her brown boots moved from the car mat to the gray ground where the car had stopped. She lifted her hand and received the assistance of the chauffeur. Her body bent as she lifted it and made her way out of the vehicle, her left foot being the last one to step on the ground. Her sparkling emerald eyes matched her beautiful smile at the people who welcomed her. Of course, the soldiers wouldn't go waving around and saying 'Ms. Shinra! Welcome back!' like the others would. Her movements were so modest, no wrinkle can be seen on her pink dress and red overjacket.

The general of the army, dressed with the most morbid color of black made his way to the arriver. "Ms. Aeris," He gave a hand salute.

Aeris Shinra looked up to the tall silver haired man and saluted back. She saw his hand move from his forehead to an offer of assistance. Her left hand, as if in tradition, settled over his palm. "Thank you, General Sephiroth."

"Quit it with the formalities, Aeris. We're cousins." Sephiroth Hojo smirked.

Aeris giggled. Together with Sephiroth they made their way up towards the mansion. The crowd broke as if to reveal a pathway.

The mansion hadn't changed much. It was as she had remembered it before she left almost a year ago. Aeris heard the booming voice of her father. From the stairway, the red suited man appeared. Of course, with his tobacco. "Father!" She waved and jogged towards him.

"Aeris, my dear!" President Shinra gave out a laugh and accepted his youngest daughter, in fact child, in his arms. "It had been so long!"

"I'm so glad to be home, Daddy!" Aeris snuggled onto his soft top. They were noticeably very close as he was all she had. Right after she was born, her mother had died. President Shinra took all the responsibility of a mother. She broke the gesture still with a wide smile on, her brown braided hair swaying in jiggly motion. "Where's Rufus?"

"Oh, he's just on his way to Junon."

Aeris pouted. "I don't believe you. He promised me he'd keep himself free to accompany me today."

Alex laughed with a loud voice. Without a need of introduction, footsteps were heard from the stairs.

"Aeris!" The double-breasted and white suited man called out the name of his young and only sister. Though he looked snotty with his handsome red hair and blue eyes, many girls fell for him. Outside, he was 'business-as-usual', inside, he was the family man.

"Rufus!!" Aeris squealed and rushed over to her brother. Great joy was very visible.

Rufus Shinra gave a laugh and caught Aeris who had thrown herself over to him in his arms. "Aeris! I missed you so much!!"

"Me, too!" Aeris squeezed him tightly. She felt Rufus' arms around her soften and she let go.

"How was Midgar University?" Rufus asked her education first thing. She was done with her freshman years and will be college sophomore 3 months later.

"It was okay." Aeris answered typically. "It was no fun without Tifa."

"Have you met any boys?" Rufus knew it was a tease to her.

Aeris playfully hit on her brother. She's a growing woman and just like her brother, she was admired (and often envied) by many. "Of course not! There's too many books to read."

"That's my sister." Rufus patted her head. He turned his head and saw Sephiroth watching the little family reunion. "Please join us for lunch."

Sephiroth nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"Would you stop that and call me Rufus?? It's like we had not graduated together!" Rufus stretched out his left arm gesturing the invitation for the approaching Sephiroth. His other arm was on Aeris' shoulder.

"Which reminds me," Aeris looked at Rufus. "How's vice presidency?"

"Oh," Rufus said almost blandly. "I can almost count the number of days I sleep in this house in my fingers! Lucky me, Heidegger decided to let me off this day." Heidegger was his guide as he was young and inexperienced. In two years time, or whenever his father thinks Rufus is ready, he will not need him anymore.

*****

The warm afternoon sun brightened the fine grasses and porcelains on the marble table in the garden. Aeris listened to the white-gray clay fountain and the sprinkler's water as she was seated on one of the marble chairs around the table. She was waiting for her childhood friend to arrive. Rufus had told Aeris about how constantly Tifa Lockhart calls him for news about Aeris and company. She had also heard about how excited she is to meet Aeris.

A small civilian jeep slowed down in front of the black Shinra gates. The woman seated beside the driver, her father, leaned over to see Aeris and waved happily. She was the most unusual friend for a presidential daughter to have. With the skimpy outfit of a white sleeveless top that does not cover her abdomen and the brown pair of shorts that hadn't even reached half her upper leg, she looked more like a hostess in a bar. But she was a fighter, the equipments around her arms say so. And also one who has a very pleasant and enjoyable attitude.

Aeris waved back with a bright smile. She watched Tifa lean back to the jeep and kiss her father's cheek before she got off the vehicle. Her heavy red shoes hit on the ground hard as she jogged over to the gates. Aeris stood up watching Tifa wait for the guard to open the gates. She heard Tifa squeal as she rushed over to the grass and hug her old friend tightly. Aeris hugged back. "Tifa! I missed you so much!!"

"You don't know how silent I've been in Junon University!!" Tifa had not loosened her arms around Aeris for quite a long time. Soon, they were seated in front of each other while a maidservant serves them juice. "How's Midgar University??"

"Headache! I hardly slept!" It was as if Aeris boasted of how hard she worked while the glasses of juice were settled.

"That's funny, I hadn't experienced THAT much pain." Tifa took a sip of her orange drink. "Did you get any awards for excellency?"

"Well, I ranked top 1 in our class." Aeris showed a proud smile.

"Whoah! Coolness!" Tifa was in awe. But she was NEVER jealous of the intelligence of her friend. "Anything else?? Did you make it to the Dean's List??"

"Believe it or not, I did!" Aeris announced happily. Both girls had squealed in joy.

"That's just SO amazing!" Tifa said. "What did your family say??"

"They said they were proud of me, I feel like they've expected it." Aeris took a sip from her juice while Tifa spoke.

"Of course they did! You were valedictorian in Shinra High. And MU actually called them and informed them about it."

"And Rufus didn't tell you??"

"Aw, he would never call me." Tifa pouted and rested her head on her left hand. Ever since first grade, when she met Rufus, she had already this undying crush on him.

Aeris laughed beautifully. "Please excuse him, he's always like that."

"I can't blame him, can I? I mean, he's the vice president." Tifa took another sip.

"So!" Aeris rested her arms on the table. "Let's talk about you. How's JU?"

"Junon University? I was the all around party girl!"

"And you said you were silent??" Aeris gave a comedic mother look. "Now what did you do??"

"Well," Tifa leaned on her seat. "I and a group of people organized all the mixers, dance nights...y'know, party stuff." She shrugged.

"And you WERE still able to study??"

"Time management, that's what you need." Tifa had a smile on. "So, it was enjoyable. But not as enjoyable as Shinra High! You weren't with me."

"What can we do? Daddy had already booked me in MU even before we had graduated high school."

"And before I know it, Literature is booked up! Papa said it's better that I take the course in ANOTHER university rather than spend my time with you without passion of whatever course I'll take."

"Though it sounds mean, Mr. Lockhart is right." Aeris agreed. "So, tell me more!" She listened as the talkative girl told her more of her life in the past months.

*****

From the warm drive way, to the air-conditioned lobby of the Shinra Hospital, Aeris came to visit one of her Shinra friends with Rufus. Families were around, it was a mixture of joy, sorrow, worry, and relief. Of course, there are also patients waiting.

There she was, by the counter, talking to a man with short black hair in business suit with his body leaning over to the counter. This man was obviously her admirer. She had a long golden brown hair pulled up in a pony tail and green beautiful eyes. She smiled as the ruby eyed man talked to her. By the corner of her eye, she saw the two newcomers and looked at them. "Ummm..."

"Huh?" The man turned to wherever she is pointing and jumped to see the vice president. "Sir!" He saluted frantically.

"Ack!" Rufus waved his hand up and down gesturing for his bodyguard to be at ease. "This is your day off, Vincent. What's with you and your salutes?"

"Ummm..." Vincent Valentine looked at his hand before he had convinced himself to settle the arm beside him. He gave Rufus a sheepish smiled. "Sorry, sir." He heard the angelic voice of a muffled laughter from the nurse by the corner.

Aeris smiled at the nurse and waved. "Hi, Lucrecia!"

Lucrecia Gast, the daughter of Dr. Gast, held herself from laughing further and gave Aeris a smile. "Hi! How was your trip?" She leaned over to the white counter.

Before Aeris had spoken, Rufus heard ambulance sirens behind them. He turned around with a gasp. The door swung open and medics in plain green top and pants burst and charged in with a blond man on a stretcher. The man was badly wounded and very dirty. Rufus could only distinguish two wounds, though, the one on the chest and the leg. The loud voices fighting against each other for attention covered Aeris' gasp and shriek.

As Vincent immediately set to work to clear the area towards the E.R., Lucrecia had rushed out of the counter and followed her fellow medical workers pushing the stretcher along with them. "Get Dr. Gast, now!" She called to one of them and was relieved one of them had decided to look for him.

Rufus was confused of what was happening. More stretchers came in with critically wounded men. They were all from the army. His hand was settled on something. Suddenly, that something had jerked away leaving him looking for what had gone. "What the--Aeris!!" He called but the woman had followed. "Aeris, wait!" He followed with a jog.

Aeris jogged towards the E.R. but was held back by Vincent even before she could touch the door.

"Ms. Aeris, please stay back!"

"What's happening??" Aeris looked in panic at Vincent.

"Wounded men from the Wutai war, Ms. Aeris. I'm sorry but I can't let you go any further."

Aeris peeked through the glass on the E.R's door. She saw Lucrecia on top of the victim pushing his chest with her hands and listened to his mouth. She shouted something to the medics, it was faint because of the thickness of the glass. Then she got off. The noise was heard again when an old doctor entered the room with brisk walking. As the door swung close, the noise grew faint again.

But despite all the commotion happening, Aeris focused on the victim. He had an unruly blond hair, and his blue eyes were looking at her.

*****

"His breathing and pulse are faint!"

"Prepare the patient for ICU!"

"Hand me the syringe!"

Those were only the dialogues he could collect from the blurry images that move quickly around. His blue eyes tried to focus on one image but that image usually hides itself behind another. Then he felt someone leap on him. He felt his chest being pushed. He felt the image come close to his mouth and shout something he could not decipher. He was holding onto reality in hopes of finding the answers to his questions. What's going on? What had just happened? Will I survive? Where am I?

He felt he was being looked at by someone else, turning his head to what looked like a door, he saw emerald orbs looking at him. Everything went dimmer and more silent. Next thing he knew, there was nothing he can see and hear but darkness and silence.

- End of Part 1 -