Disclaimer: Squaresoft owns Final Fantasy 7. I do not have rights over it.

*****

Sweet Sacrifices - 4
By: Liv

Dinner in the Shinra Mansion was silent. Sephiroth was supposed to be with them but he needed to assist something in the military. It was an awkward situation, Aeris couldn't help but look around.

Plus, Tseng was tonight's guest.

The silence was deafening her. So, she thought she'd break it.

Aeris cleared her throat. "I went over to the hospital and visited Cmdr. Strife."

Tseng choked momentarily on his food. He swallowed hard and gave Aeris a bewildered look. "You what?!"

"How is he?" Was Rufus' interrupting question. He had paused from his meal to ask.

Aeris purposely ignored Tseng. "He's doing perfectly fine. It was as if he just got a sprain."

"I hear the man is strong." Rufus agreed, continuing his meal. "His recovery is very fast most of the time."

"Mm-hmm." Aeris nodded feeling more comfortable now, continuing her meal, as well. "Say, had Sephiroth taken his dinner." She faced Rufus.

"Yes." Rufus nodded facing Aeris. "What made you ask?"

Aeris shrugged and ate her dinner. "Nothing important. Just concerned of my Cousin." She stood up with her plate. "Excuse me." She walked over to the kitchen.

"Aeris,"

Aeris stopped and faced her brother. "Yes?"

Rufus whispered something so soft, no one else understood it but him and Aeris. "Will you come and visit him?"

Aeris nodded with a smile.

Rufus smiled. "I'll get the chauffeur ready."

Aeris turned her whole body to Rufus and bent to his ears. "I'd like to walk myself home."

Rufus nodded. "Okay, I'll tell the chauffeur that."

Aeris stood straight and went for the kitchen.

Tseng watched Aeris enter the kitchen. He felt eyes on him and saw President Shinra giving him a 'well?' look. "I, if I may be excused..." His plate clang noisily as he dropped his silverware onto it and stood up. He jogged over to the kitchen. "Aeris," He whispered loudly.

Aeris was washing her hands. She turned to Tseng with a senorita look. "Yes?"

"W..." Tseng was out of words to say. "...Why did you...do that?"

"Do what?"

Tseng groaned. "Why have you visited him??"

"Cmdr. Strife?"

"Yes! He's a man of war! He--"

"He's a very gentle man." Aeris pointed out as she walked over to the cloth hanging above the faucet and wiped her hands. "Contrary to how you define him, he is completely human. I enjoy his company." She eyed Tseng. "He's not barbaric if that's what you mean." She snubbed him as she left the kitchen.

Tseng watched Aeris go before he muttered to himself. "Swell move, Tseng..."

*****

"Father," Rufus finished his meal and gave a curious look at President Shinra. "You've been silent all this while. What is it?"

"How does your sister treat Tseng?" President Shinra said without looking at Rufus.

Rufus groaned. "You still cling on to the concept of Tseng getting married with Aeris?"

President Shinra turned to Rufus pausing from his meal. "Objections?"

"Yes!" Rufus automatically answered. "Father, Aeris is already a woman. Let her choose for her own."

"She doesn't seem to take time to choose." President Shinra got back to his meal.

"She knows when she is ready!" Rufus argued on. "Or maybe it is because you and Heidegger agreed on something??"

"Tseng is a very good man. I think he will be the perfect husband for Aeris and father for their children."

Rufus stood up throwing his silverware to the plate. "Well I don't." With that, he stomped over to the stairs leaving his father with his meal.

*****

"We have lost a great amount of soldiers and would need recruiting."

"And how are the negotiations doing?"

*Too many questions...!* Zack complained mentally but went on. "General Shella is doing his job, sir."

"Good." Sephiroth nodded. "You're dismissed."

"Sir!"

Sephiroth acknowledged the hand salute and turned to leave.

Zack sighed in relief and was about to turn when Sephiroth called him again.

"Zack?"

"Sir!" Zack stood straight again. Sephiroth's back was turned.

"How is Strife?"

"He's...recovering very quickly, Sir..." Zack's voice softened as if he was talking to a friend.

"Good..." Finally, Sephiroth left.

*****

"So," Cloud swallowed his food first before he went on with his...heroic story. "So, when I was near the child, I immediately and jumped and rolled away with him, missing the explosion our missile sent."

"Wow," Aeris was seated beside Cloud. "Then what happened?"

"I gave the child to the refugees and the truck set off."

"They didn't even smack you or what?"

Cloud shook his head. "And boy! Am I glad they didn't!"

Aeris giggled. "Besides, I don't think they have anything else in mind rather than escaping and being safe."

*****

The cross mark aimed at the pink dressed girl's head.

"Damn it, Biggs! What's taking you so long??" There came a loud whisper.

"This needs concentration, Wedge." Biggs waited for a couple more seconds as he made sure the pink girl wouldn't move from where she is.

"But that's too much concentration already!!"

"Stop whining, Wedge!!"

Wedge then shut up. Their whispers were too loud, he hoped no one heard them. "Where's Jesse?"

"Go look for 'er, damn it! And leave me be!"

Wedge shrugged and set off for the woman. *If I'm not mistaken, she's getting ready for Plan B.*

*****

"Will you come back tomorrow?" Cloud watched Aeris take his tray.

"Of course." Aeris nodded with a smile.

"Morning?"

"...Y, yeah, why not?" Aeris laughed. She thought it was pretty weird.

"You'll come and see me off?"

Aeris was then silenced. She had to let it all sink in. "You're...leaving?"

Cloud nodded. *I...wanted to see you...one last time...*

Aeris forced a smile. "Yes, of course...I will."

Cloud smiled, relieved. "Then...I'll see you...tomorrow..."

"Morning..." Aeris continued. "Goodnight, commander."

"Night..." Cloud waved and watched Aeris go.

*****

Outside, Aeris leaned against the wall and sighed. Cloud's going back to the army...how is she supposed to meet him? *I hope Rufus can help me here...* She'll tell Rufus...she was pretty sure Rufus can do something.

*****

"Shit!" Biggs cursed under his breath as he saw the commander alone in his room. Though it would be fun to snipe an army man, he wouldn't waste his bullets for what he is told not to do. Better yet, he would like to save his neck from being crushed. He took his radio and contacted Jesse. "Avvy! Avvy, this is Lance! Do you copy? Over."

"This is Avvy! I copy you, Lance. What is it? Over."

"Pinky's gone!"

"She's what?!"

"She left the hospital! Get ready for Plan B!"

"Roger that!"

*****

Jesse readied her pistol and snuck out of the dark alley from whence she was hiding. She studied the empty dark roads.

There she was...walking alone in the night.

*What a lucky day.* Jesse aimed her gun at where she assumed the Shinra would pass by making sure she hits her. *Target locked!*

Bang!

*****

A shriek was heard that awakened most of the street animals in the road. Aeris fell to the sidewalk, her hand clutching on her bleeding arm.

*****

*Jackpot!* Biggs' eyes enlarged in satisfaction. Quicker now, he aimed his sniper at Shinra's head. *Hell is waiting, woman.*

A snipe sound was heard.

- End of Part 4 -