Why should they visit the shrine of someone long dead? Sure, Aeris had been a heroine, a martyr who'd saved the Planet and brought peace to it. Why couldn't they just kick back and enjoy what they had before they ended up dead like her? Hojo had already contacted Jenova's kind, and it wouldn't be long before they came and destroyed what Aeris had so painstakingly restored.

It wasn't fair, Magdalena fumed. Just as it hadn't been fair that her father's space program be stopped just because they had a few setbacks. Magdalena was herself developing plans for a new space-ship, something she wanted to surprise her father with. The old man deserved to go up into space, after all, before he returned to the earth.

It was so uncool, how everyone seemed to be too busy to spend time with her. Erratic and Blazer always had to go running off someplace, Simon had his administrative business with Shin-ra and Runner stuck to Politesse like glue. Magdalena was not a slut, but she felt keenly the absence of her male companions with frustration. It was now night time, and she really didn't feel like being alone tonight when tomorrow they would be heading off to the City of the Ancients... and possibly someplace else very dangerous. Sephiroth had been avoiding her as well. Magdalena frowned when she thought of the tall, brooding, silver-haired man. He wasn't quite her type, since she preferred rowdy men that chased what they wanted. Of course, he was handsome: a rather irresistable treat to savour, after all. He had been available.

Maybe that's why he's been avoiding me, she thought, sighing mentally. Sephiroth was a nice guy, and he was, she reminded herself, only a normal human... well, maybe not so normal, but he had feelings too. She felt a little guilty at pushing into something he hadn't really wanted. She'd only wanted to show him something he'd never seen before, after all... Oh, shit, she'd just screwed up a fine moving friendship with her brash and wanton nature. That's great work, Maggie, she berated herself. Screw him, will you? Now he doesn't even want to look at you. You stupid #$(*ing slut! Be his friend, Storm said... but he didn't tell you to screw him!!

Magdalena sighed, knowing that punishing herself this way wouldn't do her any good, but she couldn't help herself. She supposed that was the reason why everyone was so reluctant to let go the past and forgive themselves, seeing themselves as the cause of all the troubles that had begun. There was a kind of insufferable smugness in herself that she was suffering for what she did. Guilt was possibly the best form of self punishment one could inflict on oneself.

She made her way upstairs to the swimming pool. Maybe if she dipped herself deep enough, she'd be able to clear her head and even garner up enough courage to apologize to Sephiroth for how she'd treated him the other night. She cringed, a little chagrined. She'd never apologized for having sex in the entirety of her seven yearlong 'conquest of men'. The men did the apologizing, after all, they were the ones who so blatantly took advantage of her... never mind that she was the one to initiate it. Oh no, Magdalena Highwind had never said sorry for having sex. She may be a harlot, but she had good taste and dignity too.

The water looked inviting, with the moonlight dancing on the rippling water. But the colour of liquid silver stopped her from stripping entirely. She had just taken off her outer blouse when she noticed the ex-SOLDIER at the railing, looking up at the stars. His emerald green eyes, glowing unnaturally with MAKO, looked haunted and he seemed to be listening to something inwardly.

"Hi," she said softly as she stood three feet away, not really wanting to alarm him.

Sephiroth turned to see the blond young woman standing, one arm across the underside of her breasts, the other at her side holding her blouse. She probably wasn't even aware of the alluring pose she cut, her blue eyes waiting uncertainly for an answer to her greeting. "Good evening," he said gravely. "What are you doing wandering about so late at night?"

"Looks who's talking," she said mildly. "At least I know my way around."

He nodded and she warily approached to stand by his side. They both looked down at the yard below. "I grew up here," she said quietly. "With Simon visiting nearly every day, and Storm was like my little brother. Uncle Vincent occasionally visited with Lucrecia, and we all used to play down there. We still do."

Sephiroth didn't say anything, merely nodding his acknowledgement of her words.

"I'm sorry," she confessed. "About the other night. I... I'm sorry if it caused you any discomfort or anything like that..." She took a deep breath. "I'm not really quite used to thinking about men's feelings on the matter all the time..."

"That is all right," Sephiroth said carefully, unsure of his own feelings on the subject at hand himself. "You were... only trying to show me another side of humanity... although it is not... very pleasant, it wasn't... unpleasant, either." He turned to her, but she was still looking down, biting her lower lip. Her face illuminated by the moonlight, she looked almost flawless.

"I'm a selfish person," she admitted ruefully. "I'm a cool pilot, but definitely selfish. I love my Dad, but I don't know how he'd feel if he knew his little girl picks out guys for sleeping around with like he picks at his food. I screw guys because I like it, and I don't usually feel sorry for it."

Sephiroth understood. He had been selfish before as well, but the way he had been selfish was to keep to himself... she was selfish in distributing herself. He wasn't sure which was worse. She sighed and turned to him.

"I'm sorry," she said almost tearfully.

"You're forgiven," he replied softly.

She smiled brightly, then suddenly threw her arms about him, standing on the tip of her toes to kiss his cheek. "Have sweet dreams," she whispered before backing away and running off.

Sephiroth watched her go, then turned back to the stars, trying to see if his glorious angel had a face there somewhere. Magdalena had offered, and he had refused. He had other things on his mind. Tomorrow, he would be going to a shrine built to honour Aeris Gainsborough... the very woman he had killed thirty years ago. The guilt was almost crushing. How could he go there?? How could a cold-hearted killer step into the place where a gentle young flower girl had given up her life to save the Planet he had been so willing to destroy? How dare he even-

There was a strange, hollow rush around him and those negative feelings suddenly fell away. You really shouldn't dwell on those kind of feelings, the voice scolded gently.

He lowered his head, feeling ashamed. "Glorious one, I'm not certain I'm worthy of your attention."

Nonsense. Everyone is worth some time and effort. What are you doing up so late into the night?

"The activities of the next day fills me with dread. It is hard to sleep with such thoughts weighing down on me."

Then sleep on it, not under it. With that, the presence quietened.

He straightened, wondering if he should continue the conversation with the silent voice within his mind. But as much as he wanted to, he still couldn't think of going to sleep. He realized that the training hall would be locked by now, so he couldn't depend on physical exertion to tire him out. Thinking of Hojo made his skin crawl, but his mind remained wide-awake. What could  he do?

He stared at the door where the blond pilot had walked through minutes before. There wasn't anything else to do. He was surprised to find himself at her door, knocking softly, half-hoping she'd be awake, half wishing he was already asleep. She opened the door, and a flicker of elation crossed her features.

"I couldn't sleep either," she said quickly, looking nervous. Then a smile brightened her face. "Wanna come in for a drink?"

"Candi, what're you doing up so late?" he demanded, standing in front of the television.

The young girl looked up at him, blinking. She'd obviously been sleeping. "Blazer?" she asked. When the sandmen cleared enough to let her see her elder brother properly, she smiled and held out her arms.

Blazer grinned and leant to pick up his little sister in his arms. She was the only good thing in his life, after all, besides the Turks and Avalanche. Already, he had been considering moving her to Avalanche Heaquarters where she would be safe. He had already suggested that to the welfare workers, but was declined when they saw how well-fed she was...

Blazer had been the one to feed and clothe her all her life, not their worthless drunkard parents. He had to goddamn support their stupid drinking habits as well. Blazer was often bitter at the hand life dealt him and little Candi. It would be soon before the authorities recognized his status as a Turk, then he could take Candi away from their parents... to a better life than the middle-class slums.

Soon, Candi, soon, he thought as he rocked her to sleep, carrying her to bed. Then we'll all be okay.

He stroked her blond curls, similar to his, softly before leaning down and laying her on her bed. Tucking her in, he began crooning a lullaby he recalled his grandmother used to sing.

"Goo' night, Blaz'r," she murmured, drifting off into dreamland.

"Good night, Candi," he said quietly. "Sweet dreams of sugar canes and ice-cream."

But the First Lady of Wutai found herself unsettled after what had happened that day. Hojo was still alive, and Yuffie remembered how powerful the jealousy felt when Hojo had mentioned Lucrecia. Vincent had looked so enraged, like his memories of his former lover still lived on in his mind, that Yuffie couldn't help but feel left out. Does he still love Lucrecia Heatherly? Yuffie wondered, idly running a finger across the golden claw. Yuffie had so often wished she knew the answer... she wanted a love of her own, too. Sharing Vincent with someone else, even if that someone else lived on only in memories, was something she couldn't bear thinking of.

Her children knew. Yuffie bit her lip, recalling how much she had to persuade Akiranni not to say anything to Vincent concerning the times she'd cried over him. After all, she only did that on her menses.

That was a rather stupid excuse, she told herself, frowning. She cried over Vincent even when she was wide awake and making love with him. Already, she felt the tears threatening to spill out. I am the Firsty Lady of Wutai, the heir of Godo, and a member of esteemed Avalanche. I have fought by the side of warriors such as Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockheart and the great Aeris Gainsborough. I will not cry over the affections of a man!

It was useless. She laid a hand over Vincent's claw and absently rubbed the back of it with her thumb. It was at these times, such quiet moments, when she wondered whether Vincent really had laid Lucrecia's memory to rest... and loved her, Yuffie, with all his heart. Yuffie realized she was being selfish, but still... Yuffie snuggled deeper under the covers against Vincent. She was acting the way toward him as if he were one of her materia beads... how she'd coveted them when she was younger, stealing and hoarding them. Vincent deserved better than that treatment. He had been through so much: the death of the woman he loved with all his heart, being experimented on and then locked in a coffin for thirty years before he was let out, having to follow strangers just to exact revenge on the monster that destroyed so many lives...

Yuffie turned over to put her arms about Vincent. No, she decided. She would never let him go through all that again. She would continue healing him until he was ready to tell her that everything was all right with him now, and he could love her with all his heart. Until then and beyond, she would be loyal to him. She would never leave him. She-

"Yuffie?" he asked groggily. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"Your grip is kind of painful, love. Are you having a nightmare?" he said tenderly.

"Well..." she considered telling what she had been thinking about.

"You don't have anything to worry about," he assured her, pulling her closer. "It'll be Akiranni's first time to Aeris' Shrine, won't it?"

Yuffie nodded into his chest. "Please don't let her steal any materia tomorrow."

"I promise."

Once she was sure Vincent was asleep once more, she leant back a bit to study his handsome face. Was it a trick of the moonlight... or was he smiling contentedly? Yuffie sighed and drifted off to sleep