"You're taking a great risk being here," a soft voice told her from behind. It wasn't a gentle voice, but commanding, sending shivers down her spine. She froze at hearing it, turning slowly to see none other than the man she intended to stop from destroying the Planet. He was only a few feet away, leaning on a pillar. She bit her lip, thinking that he must have followed her inside, since only Cetra could open the gates of the Ancient City. His green eyes were penetrating and frightening.

     "If it stops Jenova from hurting the Planet, then it's well worth it," she finally managed to reply, even though her voice was shaking. 

     He laughed, a low chilling sound. "I'm surprised you can even find a single flaw in my plan to disrupt it."

     She stepped closer, feeling nervous. "It's a horrible plan."

     "Perhaps," he replied, uncaring of the meaning of her words.

     "Jenova is using you, Sephiroth. You know that. She's controlling your mind!"

     He looked amused at her passionate words. "Lies," he said flippantly. "My mother and I are ascending to divinity. Don't you understand that? The power, the conquest.... the Planet will be mine to rule. Meteor is only the first part of the entire grand scheme."

     "Meteor'll destroy everything!"

     "I fail to see what's wrong with that."

     She backed away. "I won't let you summon Meteor," she told him as defiantly as she could.

     He laughed again and she fled as fast as she could until she couldn't hear him anymore. Inwardly, she felt ashamed at being such a coward. She was exhausted, finally settling on a bed of hay in a corner of an old house. Curling into a ball, she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
 

     Sephiroth, however far he had travelled, was not tired. The young woman had intrigued him, he admitted. What could she do to set back his plan?

     As he searched the buildings, he heard Jenova's voice warning him not to get so carried away in looking for the girl that he forgot his mission. Yet she hinted on an idea.... a little side adventure to the plan that would anguish Strife as much as killing the girl would. Sephiroth could use it against young Strife later.... 

    It was a tempting idea, to keep such a weapon hidden. Strife would be angry, wouldn't he, once he discovered what had happened to the lovely flower girl....

     He finally found her. She looked very small and very young lying on her side, her hands brought up in front of her. He stood over her a long while, admiring her delicate features. Her thick brown hair was loose from the braid he'd seen her wearing earlier, curling about her small frame. 

     He took off a glove and bent, trailing her cheek with a finger. She didn't wake up, merely stirred in her sleep. Jenova felt her hold on her instrument loosening, but she was not overly concerned. After all, what did Sephiroth have besides her? Instead, she watched with detached interest as the girl kept on sleeping, oblivious to the fact that the deadliest man alive was twirling a lock of her hair about his fingers. 

     Sephiroth was just about to get up and leave when Aeris rolled over in her sleep onto her back. In rapt fascination, he watched a brown curl fall down across her face , gently moving up and down with her breath. He traced her jaw line before finally grasping her chin gently as he lowered himself to kiss her. 

     Aeris woke up very slowly and as she awoke, she got the distinct impression she was being kissed. It felt very good, she thought absently, never having been kissed this deeply before. Not even when Zack kissed her had she felt like this. Without thinking, she brought her arms up and entangled her fingers through soft silky hair. Something was telling her that this was wrong, very, very wrong, yet she felt it was so right. 

     Who was kissing her anyway?

     She pushed him away, opening her eyes. It was a moment before she realized that her hands were cupping the face that belonged to no other than the ex-General Sephiroth. Shocked, she stared at him open-mouthed with her green eyes very wide.

     "Speechless?" he inquired. "Just as well." He kissed her again, this time lighter than before. She returned it, not really knowing why. It just felt right to do so, even though it didn't sound right. 

     He lifted his head to look down at her. There was no fear in her expression; just bemusement, surprise and a slight hint of bafflement.

     "Why did you do that?" she asked.

     A faint smile crossed his face. "I felt like it."

     Her dewy green eyes flickered strangely. She blinked. "Why did you stop?"

     He didn't know. "I don't know." Then, surprising himself, he asked, "Would you prefer for me to continue?"

     She opened her mouth to answer, but found herself uncertain of what to say. This wasn't the way it was supposed to work out. He took her silence for acquiescence, largely because he didn't care whether she had an answer or not and because she looked irresistible with her lips parted that way.

     Aeris was glad to have that decision made for her. She put her arms about his neck, trying to get as close to him as possible. Even if it was wrong, she didn't really care..... not now, at least. The feeling was wonderful, as if they belonged to each other. She wasn't satisfied, however. They weren't close enough, she felt.

     Her hands slid from his neck down across his chest, enjoying the feel of his powerful muscles beneath his skin before trying to push his trench coat off his shoulders. Sensing it, he sat up, shrugging off his armour and trench coat. She sat up as well, her fingers hesitantly moving over his bared skin. Even trying to keep her eyes from his, she felt his eyes on her.... the feeling was that intense.

     He lifted her chin. The eye contact was so powerful it almost frightened her. "Your turn," he softly commanded, his hands moving towards her red vest. She shivered a bit her shoulders were bared. 

     Sephiroth noted the blush on her cheeks with slight incredulity and a large part of possessiveness. It was hard to believe that this frail looking young woman had run off all the way from Gongaga to the City of the Ancients... all by herself. It was as if she had come here for this... for him.

     All previous intentions of using her against Strife and Avalanche dissipated. He understood why others enjoyed this so much. The pleasure was exquisite, he observed clinically as his fingers began unbuttoning her dress. One last button and the pink material fell away from her body. 

     Nervously, she watched his expression as his eyes moved over her body, approval and appreciation clear in those emerald orbs. When he finally met her eyes again, there was a subtle smile on his lips which moved her to hold out her arms to embrace him.

     Gently, he kissed her face in various places, carefully making sure he didn't miss anything. It was a moment before he realized she was fretting about something. His mind was so clouded it took him another minute to figure out what she wanted. The tugging at his trousers was a very broad hint. 

     In understanding, he got off her, removing his boots. She actually looked pleased as he took off his trousers, her slim legs going around his hips. "Love me," she whispered.

      He kissed her lips. "Yes," he murmured into the hollow of her neck. He let instincts take over since he was incapable of coherent thought. He slid into her, finding the gasp it elicited from her very gratifying. Jenova's grasp to control him once more seemed very far away as Aeris cried his name into his ear. His hands began exploring her body, like he used to explore uncharted territory, boldly and thoroughly. 

     Her breathing was ragged as she squirmed under his firm, possessive touch. She sucked in her breath when he very lightly brushed her breasts with his finger, her eyes flying wide-open to find him watching her. She could only hold his gaze for so long, her heart beating wildly with the pleasurable shame that coursed through her body. He moved his hips a little, adjusting himself between her legs ever so slightly and she arched her back suddenly, her eyes squeezing shut as a hollow rushing sound roared in her ears. She heard someone screaming faintly from a distance but the sharpest sensation seemed to be that of her body jerking as unnameable emotions swept through her. Her lover seemed to tense, holding her tightly, but she was glad because she felt she was falling.

     Her mind  swimming in some blissful realm, she sighed contentedly, enjoying Sephiroth's weight on her. For a long while, she was happy to just lie very still and very safe. She drifted off to sleep, subconsciously hoping he would still be with her the next morning. 

     Sephiroth, however, did not fall asleep immediately. He had enjoyed himself, to his consternation, and that stirred feelings very alien to him. He did not know how to react. He held himself up to look down at her. This was not meant to have happened, he reflected as he noted the flush on her cheeks. All he had wanted was to have her out of the way. In fact, having Strife kill her was part of the plan.

     But not now. The evening's last rays poured in onto her lovely face and he found himself unable to move, entranced as he was. Jenova's voice ordered him to leave immediately and proceed with his mission. He ignored her, replaying the recent events in his mind. Quietly, he rose and walked to a window, standing there even as he thought about what he'd just done. 

     Aeris woke up to find moonlight streaming in and her enemy staring out the window, arms crossed, looking lost in thought. She felt a bit apprehensive. Hadn't he enjoyed himself? She knew she had, though the memories made her cheeks burn. She had been delighted to find that there was a human beneath the cold-hearted monster that threatened to destroy the Planet, a warm-blooded human.... with whom she'd just spent very hot passionate moments.

     She turned her attention to him. Had she got through to him? She hoped she had. "Sephiroth?" she called softly, not wanting to startle him. 

     He did not reply for a long while. "Sephiroth? she inquired again, this time getting up. It was a warm night, and she figured that it would be ludicrous to put on a show of modesty in front of a man that had acquainted himself with her body.

     "It happens," he said quietly, almost inaudibly. "Sometimes things don't turn out the way you want them to."

     She agreed, but wanted to hear him clarify his feelings. "Like what?" she asked, walking up to his side.

     "Like this." His beautiful emerald green eyes closed, their unnatural glow disappearing. "I did not mean to... do this. I only wanted to....." he drew in a breath. "I only wanted you out of the way."

     She gently touched his arm. "It's all right to have these sort of feelings, Sephiroth. Why are you torturing yourself like this?" 

     "For so many long years..... life has not been kind."

     "People regard you as a freak, but you're just you," she said wisely. "Nobody understands you, and sometimes, you don't even understand yourself. It frightens you, but you try to hide it and be strong.... but it gets lonely, doesn't it?"

      When he did not answer, she asked again. "Doesn't it get lonely?" she whispered. She smiled a little when he nodded. "You don't have to be lonely if you don't want to be, Sephiroth."

     "I have not been lonely since I was given my mission," he retorted harshly. He turned a glare to her and she backed away. But her words struck true. He didn't want this anymore. He just wanted....

     Aeris sighed a little, giving up for now. There was only one solution she had left for this. "Come back to bed," she told him. A moment later, she turned to walk back to the pile of hay on the ground which was the bed they'd shared. 

     He came up behind her, putting his arms about her from behind, kissing her across her shoulders, then up her neck to behind her ear. "Let me love you," he beseeched. She nodded, a sigh escaping her as they both sank onto the bed. Their hands drifted over each other's bodies. He allowed himself to watch her lazily even as he kissed her all over. She had a flushed, heavy lidded look on her face which he found deeply sensual.

     She was his now and for the rest of the night, so he took his time, feeling thankful that there were still many more hours into the night. Her eyes were soft, and when they met his, they looked a little bewildered, which made him smile and kiss her again. He loved her for tonight and, if it was decreed among the stars, forever. 

     "Stay with me," she pleaded, her lips parted. He made love to her again and she let loose a gasp of pleasure. "Stay inside me."

     For as long as I can,  he promised her silently. His mind seemed to move at a languorous pace, her fingers dancing across his skin sensuously. It felt right to be here with her, like this, almost as if the moment was frozen in time. He looked down at her and she opened her eyes. The beautiful secret in her green eyes was for him alone, he felt. He would never let anyone else see her like this. He would never share this magnificent moment with anyone else. It was too intense.... too private.... 

     His thoughts trailed away into insensibility when she breathed "I love you" into his ear. He hoped she did. Because he felt the same....
 

     WAKE UP.

     Sephiroth's eyes opened. Sunlight streamed into the little room. He was lying on his side facing the doorway, Aeris in his arms. The command had come from his mother. Jenova wanted her son back on track. Sephiroth winced at the pressure he felt in his mind, the overwhelming compulsion to kill something, anything... most of all Aeris. Jenova wanted Aeris out of the way, he realized. 

     No, he decided. He wouldn't kill Aeris. But the need to do it was terribly strong. He would not, he vowed as he got up, gently easing away from his lover who continued to sleep peacefully. He dressed slowly, because every time the material moved, it reminded him of how much softer Aeris' touch had been. Where were his gloves? He looked around for them.

     "Sephiroth?" Aeris was sitting up, rubbing her eyes. She looked appealing.... beautiful.... She turned her green eyes to him questioningly. Then she realized the answer and those eyes became a little tearful. "Sephiroth...."

     Sephiroth went very still when he spotted his gloves beside her, peeking from under the slim legs, where he had lain them just before he had first kissed her yesterday. No... he could not go near her. If he did, Jenova would surely make him kill her. And even if he didn't, he would only be unable to leave her. Jenova would surely find her retribution against Aeris some other way. 

    She swallowed hard. "Sephiroth, come back," she begged, hating how pitiful she sounded. "Please..."

    He shook his head. I cannot love you, Aeris, he thought regretfully, no matter how much my heart wants it.  He didn't dare say the words for fear they'd come out another way. He wanted to get back his gloves, feeling that they shouldn't be left near someone as good and pure as her, bloody as they were. But he didn't dare move another step near her. 

    He began to turn away and walked out of the house. "Sephiroth," he could hear her cry. "Sephiroth!" Yet he kept on moving. 

     I am sorry, my love.

     His feet gained more confidence as he kept on walking. He could feel how pleased Jenova felt, the malice towards the girl he had left behind almost dripping from those feelings. He looked down at his hands, uncovered by his gloves. 

     Behind him, in the house he had walked out of, Aeris looked down at the gloves he had left behind. Tears fell down her cheeks, raining on the black gloves she held in her hands. She had failed to win him over. She had tried to reach his heart, but instead gained only her own heartbreak. The Planet cried along with her, and every Cetra in it shared her pain. For a long while, she cried, until her mother firmly spoke into her mind about her own mission to pray for Holy. 

     She rose and wiped the rest of her tears away. There was still hope she could try again, and hope that Holy would come. She dressed, wistfully remembering the night's events. She smiled and tucked the gloves into her vest pocket. She could always try again.... She made her way to the heart of the city, pleased that the platform, the altar of the ancient Cetra was still there, just as the Planet had said. She made her way up the smaller platforms and knelt. Bending her head, she began to pray....