Redeeming Grace

Chapter 4

Author: Fianna

Rating: R for violence

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and accompanying characters are the property of Square Enix and I use them with discretion and respect and without reward.

"Open your eyes, Anath."

The voice was familiar, the mocking drawl chilling if somewhat bland as she opened her eyes. Sea-green eyes stared into hers with … concern. "Sephiroth," she breathed faintly in shock.

His mouth curved slightly. "You didn't think to see me again."

She stared at him in astonishment. Sephiroth was kneeling above her, the Masamune in one hand. "Ash…"

"…should be forgotten," Sephiroth muttered coldly. He rose to his feet, staring around the pool. A distant roar announced visitors. "Cloud is coming."

Anath rolled onto her side, hand pressed to her throat. "I thought he was going to kill me."

Sephiroth turned to stare down at her. "He thought he could."

She met the blue-green gaze evenly. "But you stopped him."

Sephiroth smiled coldly. "In my way."

Anath shivered, damp from the pool, as Sephiroth caught her hand to lift her gently to her feet. "But how, I don't understand."

"I will explain later. We must flee."

She stared at him, drinking in the waist length hair, the sharp angles of his face as he scanned the trees around them. Long lashes fringed his eyes, his gaze icy as he met hers again. "What will you do?"

Sephiroth reached out to touch her cheek. "Does it matter, Anath? I am back."

The Finrir's roar filled the air and Sephiroth whirled around, his blade in his hand. Anath drew back behind Sephiroth when Cloud roared to a sliding halt and leaped off. Vincent dropped beside him, whipping aside his cloak in a flourish to point his pistol at Sephiroth.

Cloud flung out his arm, pushing Vincent back a step to his surprise. "So it is you."

Sephiroth lifted his sword to his brow. "Indeed, to my brother's demise. But it was his plan, in a way. He just thought he was the stronger between us." Sephiroth smiled ruefully. "He was wrong."

Cloud frowned, dropping his arm away from Vincent. "What do you want with Anath?"

Sephiroth glanced briefly over his shoulder. "She is mine. The final key to my existence, one way or another," he remarked oddly.

Cloud took a step forward and Sephiroth raised his blade, six foot steel ending next to Cloud's heart. "You cannot destroy the world and not hurt her as well," Cloud declared quietly.

Sephiroth laughed dryly. "Do you think she matters? Or that my plans remain unchanged?"

Cloud gripped the point of Sephiroth's blade, moving it aside. "Then you can release her and we will talk."

Sephiroth lifted a silver brow. "Talk? I have no time to talk, Cloud. I have much to do." He moved his blade toward Vincent. "And I am taking Anath with me."

Vincent smiled threateningly, his dark eyes gleaming. "Not an easy task I think."

Sephiroth reached behind him to draw Anath to his side. "I don't think she will complain." He ran a leather hand over her cheek. In the background the helicopter was returning. "We will meet again, soon."

Cloud stepped forward as Sephiroth laughed, springing high over the two men. Vincent followed swiftly, spiraling after them in a flare of tattered red cloak, pistol shots whining past them as Sephiroth landed perfectly on the Helicopter's support leg. He shoved her inside and then dropped from sight as Vincent leaped against the side of the machine to rebound off in a rolling spin after Sephiroth.

The two disappeared into the clouds as the helicopter veered away. Anath slid across the seat toward the open door. The clouds hid the three adversaries, the whirring helicopter droning out the sounds of fighting. She clung to the side of the door, nauseous from the height to see brief flares of light that could only be Vincent's pistols. She wanted only to see Sephiroth again, knowing the wish was foolish. Sephiroth would destroy them. But she did and gasped when suddenly Sephiroth was there in a laughing flurry of leather that ended up with her pinned beneath him on the seat.

"I have missed you, Anath," he murmured before his lips crushed hers.

She woke up being carried, confused by the moist fog around her. Sephiroth was alive! She looked up to find him staring down at her.

"Did you think it a dream?"

She glanced around her at the fog. "Perhaps it is."

He laughed wryly. "Indeed, it must seem so." He ducked into a low hanging opening in the rock wall beside them and then lowered Anath to her feet.

"My home away from home it seems."

"Where are we?"

"Somewhere hopefully Cloud and his friends will not think to search, at least right away."

She shivered in the damp air but hurried after Sephiroth as he strode rapidly across the narrow cave. He ducked through another low door, followed quickly by Anath and then paused, holding her back with his arm.

"I was not sure what I would find. Plans do go awry." He guided her to the side of the room, away from a tall collection of boxes but not before she had seen the blood sprayed over the sides of several of them. Something awful had happened here. The thought send another wave of goose-bumps rising on her skin.

"How long do you think you have before they find you?"

Sephiroth gathered some blankets from a box, and a few packages that looked like food. "It doesn't matter. We will use the time we have." He wrapped the blanket around her.

"Cloud has defeated you twice, Sephiroth. What makes you think he will not again? How many times can you return?" She flinched as Sephiroth scowled.

A finger under her chin forced her to meet his gaze. "I will not be defeated again," he stated fervently in such a tone that she shivered again.

"Then what will you do?"

Sephiroth smiled briefly and then released her to stride across the cave to stand in the doorway. "Such knowledge is dangerous for you to know." She pulled the edges of the blanket tighter around her shoulders as he turned to stare at her. She lifted her chin to stare back.

"It was pretty pompous of you to assume I would come without complaint."

"Indeed? But yet you have."

She clenched her teeth, turning away only to glare over her shoulder. It was easier to argue when she wasn't facing him. "Perhaps I did it so that you would not hurt anyone else. You did try to drown me."

"If I'd meant to kill you, Anath, you would be dead. I did not try to drown you," the pronoun was highly pronounced in a tone that sent warning signals flashing in her head. She ignored them and turned to the side to look at him from the corner of her eye. He'd not moved but his arms were now crossed over his chest. She realized his sword was missing. Where had he put it?

"Whether it was you or Ash matters little. At any rate, I don't think I had much choice."

"At any rate, Anath, you are here. What will you… do now? Escape is highly unlikely; it's a long walk back."

She had a good idea of where they were. "Perhaps you don't have as much time as you think." Surely they would narrow down the choices of just where Sephiroth would hide. The North Crater had obvious ties to him, the caves well stocked with supplies for quite some time.

"And why would that be, Anath? Do you have some ulterior motive you are trying to impress upon me? Perhaps you think to kill me yourself?"

She laughed at the incongruity of that. "Me? I hardly think so, Sephiroth. I think you've proved that quite well." She fingered the raised skin on her throat where Ash's blade had bit in leaving her with a faint red line across her neck. She shuddered and then sent a scowl toward the man striding toward her. Sephiroth stopped a few feet from her with an odd glance and she sniffed irritably, feeling suddenly chilled. It was from the pool that had to be it.

"So how would anyone know where we are, unless you have some kind of tracking device? Your spying for Avalanche was well known, Anath. A spy can be useful to both sides of the game you know."

She moved to the side only to find him following, a slow side-step dance as she tried to keep them apart. "I only know they aren't stupid."

Sephiroth nodded. "Indeed, you have become quite dear to them. Have they become close friends, or more than that?"

She didn't like how his eyes had suddenly narrowed, finally heeding the warning signals that she might have pushed too far. "Perhaps," she replied evasively, unable to meet Sephiroth's gaze. They were friends, she couldn't deny that.

Sephiroth leaped next to her before she could move, sliding his arm around her back in an iron grip while the other locked on her hip. She twisted against him but he only smiled at her, a cold calculating smile that froze the blood rushing through her. From hot to cold, her body couldn't decide how to react to him. He leaned closer, fingers gripping her hip painfully.

"So how close have you become, Anath?" Sephiroth's voice had dropped lower, his face tight with displeasure. "Have they sent you on a suicide mission, allowing me to take you without much of a fight because they knew they would find you? How could they?"

She gasped when his hand slid into the pocket of her skirt, taking her phone before she could grab it herself, flinging his arm over his head as she reached for it. "I would have thought this would be damaged while you were in the water, but you are much cleverer than Ash thought," Sephiroth stared at the small device in his hand, keeping it above her reach as she twisted to grab it. "Curious things… phones. You can find so much about someone with one." He drew her closer, catching one of her arms behind her back. "Who they think is important for one thing," he continued derisively. "Most people keep their close friends on speed dial, just in case they need them."

Anath struggled against him, fighting against the arm holding her against his hip with futile attempts to reach her phone. Sephiroth smiled grimly. She watched apprehensively as he glanced at the phone and then flipped it open, still holding it out of her reach.

"What would be the easiest number to dial? And who would it be?" He arched a brow and then pressed his thumb on one of the keys. The number five blinked and she could see the screen flash as it dialed.

The phone rang once and then twice. She prayed he would not answer.

"Anath?"

Sephiroth's slow smile made her blood turn to ice. He brought the phone closer to his ear, turning out of her reach. "Cloud!"

"Sephiroth! Where is Anath?"

"She's … busy. Interesting how close you have become."

"She's only a friend, Sephiroth. Let her go, she's an innocent victim. You've used her too much already."

Sephiroth frowned, his gaze still locked with hers. "Have I? But she and I have some business as yet."

"She can't help you."

Sephiroth laughed softly. "But don't you see? She already has! Besides, you seem to know a lot about her, Cloud. She's more than a friend I think. She's been a useful tool hasn't she?"

The phone was silent, and then Cloud sighed, a frustrated sound. "Let me speak to Anath."

Sephiroth released her, holding out the phone but she turned away, if only to avoid Sephiroth's mocking stare. "It seems Anath does not like your reply."

"Anath, please…"

Sephiroth clicked the phone shut with a frown. "Truth does not always sit well does it?" He crushed the phone in his fist and then threw it across the cave. It bounced off the rocks and skidded across the floor to lie blinking wildly for a moment and then it went dark.

Anath stared at the phone and then turned on her heel to duck out of the door. Sephiroth followed a few steps behind and she strode across the second cave ignoring the boxes and blood to where the helicopter had landed. The cavern was shrouded in mist, with only a few feet visible. Sephiroth stopped at the door as she took several steps into the fog.

"I would be careful. The Lifestream runs close to the surface here."

She whirled to face him. "I am a tool, for you, for Cloud. What does it matter if the tool gets damaged or broken? You've had your fun." She flung herself around and took two steps before he spoke.

"I cannot argue your point. But I do not wish to see you broken or damaged, Anath."

She stopped, if only to get her bearings in the mist. Sephiroth was lost in the fog, only his voice echoed around her. It made her nervous. She couldn't tell if he was still near the door. "You've already said you care for no one. So I don't believe you." She turned to the left as a sigh drifted through the fog.

"Things do change."

She turned back to the right, confused by the mist. Which way had she come?

"You will never change. You wish only to destroy us, nothing more."

He appeared in the fog before her, leather coat and thigh-high boots damp from the mist. "I wish …" He frowned and reached out a hand. "I wish that you would stop this madness and come inside where it is not so damp. Come."

She shook her head, determined to stand her ground. He didn't care for her; she was only a way to get back at Cloud and Avalanche. She wouldn't be a pawn in his game. Sephiroth's eyes narrowed and then he dropped his hand.

"You can become lost quite easily in the fog. Sometimes you see things that aren't there." He smiled grimly as he lifted a hand, palm open in a gesture she recognized with panic. She drew back as he flung his hand down and then froze at the faint growl behind her.

"Come, Anath. There are many dangers lurking in the fog. I would feel … bad if something were to bite you."

She glanced behind her but the fog seemed only darker, thicker. She shuddered and turned back to Sephiroth. He smiled holding out his hand. She stalked past him, hoping she was going the right way and found the door to the cave in a few steps. She crossed into the inner cave and then bent down to pick up the blanket she'd lost trying to get her phone. She wrapped it around herself but then felt Sephiroth's hand behind her.

"There is yet another room where it is dry."

She slid out of his grasp with a sniff, turning around. He appeared almost as part of the fog behind him, his silver hair a few shades darker than the mist. Only the leather coat gave him substance and the dim glow of his blue-green eyes. He pointed to the far wall where a wooden door was bolted into the rock.

"We will leave in the morning; you should at least try to get some rest."

As if she could with him so near. He gripped her arm and guided her toward the door firmly, obviously not willing to take no for an answer. He shoved the door open and pushed her through and then shut it softly. He leaned against it as she surveyed the room. A narrow cavern, dry as he'd said, with a couple of stools and a narrow bed along one wall. She avoided looking at the bed and crossed to drop into a chair.

"We are much alike you know."

She sent him a scathing glare. "I will never be like you."

He laughed softly. "Dear Anath. Jenova's blood runs as strongly in your veins as it does mine." He crossed the room and began digging into a large box near the wall. "Where my mother died giving birth, you had none to know. An experiment, cells merely to be divided and watched and once inseminated, placed into a birthing chamber to grow, a mechanical womb. Lovely wasn't it?"

She clenched her teeth as he continued, as if reading a report. The truth she knew only too well.

"But then once you were born, they kept you close by, locked into that tiny cage for so long, you didn't know much else. Only where they allowed me to grow into what I was, they attempted to suppress what Jenova was in you." Sephiroth turned from the box, looking at her from beneath a fall of silver hair. His voice was calm although she could hear the anger in it. "As I embrace what I am, you deny it."

She sprang to her feet, dropping the blanket to back away from him. "I am not like you. I have Jenova's blood, but I will not kill like you do. You can refuse, Sephiroth. You have more than one choice!"

He rose to his feet gracefully. "So you know of your past."

She flung out a hand keeping him at arm's reach. "I know it and have accepted what I cannot change. I am not angry; I have no need for revenge."

Sephiroth stood still, allowing her hand on his chest to hold him back. "You deny what you feel too often, Anath." He brushed aside her hand and caught her shoulders. "Do you refuse to admit what they have done to you?" He released her but caught strands of the silver hair that hung over her eye, allowing them to sift through his fingers. "Gast was a master of manipulation, chemically and emotionally. I have read his notes, Anath. Have you? Or did you only see what he reported to Shinra?"

She slid away from him, nearly stumbling over the chair. "I don't care what the notes say. It can't be changed."

Sephiroth tilted his head. "But it can be, Anath. You can accept what lies inside of you."

She snorted, whirling toward the door but he reached it first, leaning against it.

"They tried to suppress the obvious." Sephiroth insisted catching her wrist. "Jenova's DNA shows in my silver hair, as it did with Kadaj and the others, and you, Anath. Gast attempted to repress that gene, but her spirit is too strong." He drew her closer, bending over her. "But he couldn't repress her will, could he? Even as you were imprisoned within his mansion you fought what he tried to make of you."

"You have no idea what I went through," Anath snarled, jerking out of his grasp.

Sephiroth laughed softly. "Don't I? Gast was very good at keeping notes, Anath. You were an interesting study. Even your escape was planned well. You impressed him with your strong will to live."

She shuddered at the memories he was making her remember.

"Stop it. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I am not like you. I will never be like you." She crossed the room and threw herself on the bed. She wouldn't listen to him.

The bed sank down as Sephiroth sat next to her. "Painful memories are hard to bring back, Anath. But the truth is there. You have only to admit it."

She buried her head in the blanket. That was the easiest way to avoid Gast, pretending he was no longer there, staring, writing. She hated him, hated Sephiroth for reminding her of it. She would not hate. She wouldn't! Hate led to violence, to anger. Like Sephiroth. His hands brushed her hair, drawing it off her cheek.

"I did not wish to bring you such pain, Anath."

"You revel in pain, Sephiroth." She gasped when he rolled her over, his eyes glittering.

"I only want to see you be what you truly are. You have denied yourself so much, Anath. They denied you. Take what you want; the world can be yours, Anath, with me."

She closed her eyes, unwilling to see the fervent gleam his gaze had become. She had choices. She'd chosen to come with him, but not because of the others. She caught the front of his coat pulling him down closer. Take what she wanted?

"What do you want, Sephiroth?"

He laughed softly, his face only inches from hers, hands splayed on either side of her to keep him from falling on top of her as she grasped his coat. "What I want at the moment is not important." His eyes were emerald fire, his hair a cascade of silver beside her head.

"What do you think I want?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, his mouth curved in a mocking smile. "Admit you want me, Anath and I will kiss you, as I would like."

She stared into the blue green depths, knowing she couldn't deny it. "And if I won't?"

He blinked slowly and then peeled her fingers from his coat to sit up. "Then you should rest. Tomorrow comes all too soon."

She woke to find him next to her on the bed, the cavern dim with a sliver of light under the far door. Outside she could hear an odd snuffling. Sephiroth didn't trust her as much as he seemed to. His shadow hounds would guard the door until he sent them away. She turned her head to look at him. He was lying on his side, silver hair splayed out underneath one arm with one leg thrown over hers. She couldn't move without waking him. How long had she slept dreaming of him? Not the nightmares she would have expected, but of him leaving his anger behind, of a near normal life… she sighed faintly and turned to look at him again. Long eyelashes rested on his cheeks, far longer than she'd realized, with his narrow nose and lips. She wanted to trace the shape of his mouth, the curved bow that was so often mocking, but was now relaxed in sleep.

She was a fool. There could be no redemption in a man like Sephiroth; the blood staining his hands was black. Yet she had no desire to escape. The road with him would only lead to a heartache that could crush her if she opened her feelings to him. But she felt only a heady desire to admit what he wanted her to admit if only to have him kiss her.

"Such interesting expressions you wear, Anath. What do you see when you stare at me?"

She looked up to find his blue green eyes glowing in the near darkness. He'd not moved and she wondered how long he'd been awake. "I see …" she swallowed her words when he rolled over her, holding himself just above her with his thigh still pinning hers. He raised a brow, waiting for her to continue.

"I see a man who has no heart."

Sephiroth blinked with a frown. "I gave Cloud the strength and will to defeat me in our last fight, Anath. Do you know how?"

She shook her head, the memory of watching Sephiroth, surrounded by Cloud's swords was too horrible to recall. She really didn't want to know.

Sephiroth relaxed so that he was leaning on his side, leg still thrown over hers but with one hand free to caress her hip. "I wanted to destroy him, destroy all that he cared about. It gave him the will to defend himself, enraged him so that he was able to access his limit break to defeat me." Sephiroth sighed and rolled onto his back, pulling her across his chest.

"I did not understand, Anath." Sephiroth's arms slid over her back, pulling her against him. "But I do now, somewhat I think."

"He will use that against you."

Sephiroth nodded, staring past her. "Indeed, but I think I shall risk it." He wrapped his hands around her face, drawing her closer. "So tell me what I want to hear."

Anath sighed and then bent close until their lips were nearly touching, matching Sephiroth's stare. "I admit it then, Sephiroth. I want you, no matter how you are. I cannot decide whether I should be hot or cold with you near."

He chuckled and then brushed his lips across hers. "I would prefer you to be hot."

Voices woke her and she sat up in a rush of panic. She could hear Sephiroth's low drawl though, calmly talking to someone else so she fell back with a faint sigh. An embarrassed sigh when she noted her clothes were gone. She rolled off the bed, pulling the blanket with her to scan the room, looked under the bed. They were gone. Did he expect her to run about with only the blanket for covering? Or was it another ploy to keep her under his thumb, naked and locked in this room. She broke out in a cold sweat when she looked at the door.

He wouldn't lock her in. He knew what she'd been through. She forced herself to walk to the door calmly, reaching for the handle without a tremble to her hand. It would open; he would not close her into a box. He was not that cruel.

But she knew he could be. Her hand grasped the knob and she turned it and found the door opened easily, revealing Sephiroth just outside the doorway. He looked up, his gaze when it met hers amused.

"Where are my clothes?"

A silver brow disappeared beneath the overhanging bangs. "Last I saw of them they were sinking rapidly in the Lifestream ebb."

She stared at him, mouth dropped open in consternation. The man behind Sephiroth was staring curiously at her, a smug smile on his face. Sephiroth looked over his shoulder and the man abruptly turned on his heel and left.

"That was not necessary, Sephiroth."

He waited until the man had left the cave before he turned back to her. "Actually it was. The buttons were half missing on your sweater besides the blood on it. I thought I was doing you a favor."

She blushed at the mention of the missing buttons. "And so what am I to wear instead?"

Sephiroth's grin made the blush deepen, "Sephiroth!" her hiss echoed in the cavern.

He stepped close to the door, gripping the wood frame as he leaned down to whisper. "You thought I had locked you inside."

"The thought crossed my mind."

He clicked his tongue irritably. "I know what you went through Anath. I would not have been so cruel."

She didn't believe him. She knew he would if it suited his purposes. "What am I to wear?"

Sephiroth walked over to a large open box, drawing out a small pile of fabric. "I was hoping my memory was correct." He crossed back to the door and held out the fabric. "I think this will do better."

She took the clothes with a sniff. "I was fine in my old things."

Sephiroth laughed. "No, I think you'll find this much nicer, Anath. It will suit you."

She slammed the door to his laughter. Arrogant, cocky … she crossed to the bed and sat down with a sigh. What had she done? She ran a hand over her forehead. It was too late to back out now. She would do what she could. She unfolded the clothes to find a pair of black leather pants and short boots. Her eyebrows shot up at the sight of those and a shirt.

The pants fit like a glove, the short boots comfortable and warm after the damp stone on her feet. The sleeveless t-shirt was short, leaving her stomach bare. An odd outfit but one she was quite certain Sephiroth was going to like. She turned toward the door to find him leaning against the jamb.

"You seem to have a good memory."

Sephiroth's eyes were twinkling. "Indeed. You look much better, although the blanket wasn't bad either."

She threw the offending blanket on the bed. "You weren't serious about my clothes?"

The glance he gave her as he crossed to the large box told her he was. She sighed and folded her arms across her chest. "You could have asked."

"And you would have said no."

"So now what?"

He was rummaging in the box again, tossing off the lid. "We are leaving in just a few moments. I've had word Cloud and his friends have been sighted. I don't want to meet them here."

So they had figured out where she was, but not soon enough. Sephiroth straightened from the box, holding a large bundle. He replaced the lid on the box and then set the bundle on top to unroll it.

The revolver was familiar, as much as a gun as a short bladed knife. Both Yazoo and Loz had carried similar ones. Sephiroth stared at it and then held out the bundle to her.

"You will take this."

She stared at the weapon with revulsion. "I will not."

He sighed and removed the gun from the leather holster. "You cannot be taught to use it as a blade, nor can I teach you anything to aide you with a sword. The easiest weapon for you to use now is this. Until I can help you gain access to the power you…"

"I don't want that or your help in any way. I will not… use it." She stepped back as he frowned.

"You will, Anath. I cannot be sure to be near if you are attacked. There are many dangers where I intend to take you."

"So leave me behind."

He laughed coldly. "No."

He crossed the room and caught her hand, forcing her to take the gun. "You hold it like this." He folded her fingers around the handle. "If you pull the trigger slightly it will shoot once, the further back the more rounds you shoot."

He stepped back as she held it out away from her, dangling from her fingers. "I don't want this." She dropped her hand to her side as Sephiroth tied the holster to her hip.

"You will not argue."

He stood back and then smiled, tilting his head so that his hair hid one eye. "It belongs on you."

She shuddered. Sephiroth turned and walked to the door as she lifted the gun again.

The shots nearly took off her arm, the recoil flinging her around in a circle as she stumbled, eyes still closed, still hearing the twang of metal against metal. Two shots deflected with a sword that hadn't been there a moment ago.

Rough fingers on her chin forced her to look up into an amused blue-green gaze

"You might hit something if you kept your eyes open."

She let out a long breath, fully expecting him to be angry. "I could have shot you. Why aren't you angry?"

Sephiroth smiled, tilting his head as his fingers brushed her cheek. "Why should I be angry Anath, when you just proved my point? You are very much like me, if you can shoot me in the back." He nodded and then strode to the doorway before looking back over his shoulder. "It is time to go."

She stared after him with a shudder and then glared at the pistol in her hand. She was not like Sephiroth! He would not make her believe it. She shoved the revolver into the holster on her hip. But she would do what she could to stop him. Whatever the cost.

The helicopter was waiting, the mist heavy and damp as she ducked out the cavern door. Sephiroth glanced at her for a moment and then nodded to the pilot before taking the bundle the man handed to him. Anath crossed to the helicopter and then drew back at the object Sephiroth carried.

"What is that?"

"A bomb obviously."

Anath gasped and rushed to Sephiroth, catching his arm but he shoved her back gently. "You can't kill them, Sephiroth!"

He smiled coldly, placing the bundle on his hip as he fended off her grasp on his arm. "I plan to leave a nice calling card for Cloud. But I don't plan on killing him, yet. But he will find this an interesting welcome, don't you think?" Sephiroth grabbed her forearm and jerked her next to him. "You will join my pilot in the helicopter and wait for me when you land. I will be there shortly."

She jerked away from him with a curse. "And if I don't?"

Sephiroth shook his head slightly and signaled the pilot. "Take the lady and keep her with you until we meet again. Any harm to her will be highly regretful."

The pilot's grip on her arm was steel, yet gentle. "We will await you as ordered."

The pilot had to drag her to the helicopter as Sephiroth walked away, hidden quickly in the churning mist. She fought the arm around her waist, but found the pilot was far stronger than he looked. And when the second mp joined him in stuffing her into the helicopter she had no choice but to crawl onto the seat to stare at the mist below.

She had to stop him or warn Cloud in some way. But inside the helicopter she was useless. She pounded the seat in frustration as they cleared the mist and gently banked to the left to veer over the mountain terrain. Ahead of them the range spread out in sharp relief until it sank to the level of a large plain, green and dotted with forests and narrow rivers. She sat up; thankful they'd not sighted Cloud as yet.

Would they? Or had they passed each other in the mist? How long would Sephiroth wait? She glared at the pilot when he looked back at her.

"So where is Cloud?"

The pilot grinned at the other man and shrugged. "We beat him by an hour. He'll be along before you know it."

"And probably won't come back, if Sephiroth has his way," the other smirked.

Anath kicked the back of his seat. "Killing Cloud like that is not his way."

The pilot nodded in agreement. "She's right. But it will get rid of a few of his friends at least. They get in the way too much."

She bit her lip to hold back her scream of frustration. She turned to stare out the window and leaned sideways against the seat, pressing the holster against her thigh. She caught her breath and slid a glance to the two men in the front of the helicopter.

They couldn't kill her, Sephiroth would be furious. She might die as easily as they would, but the explosion would draw the Sierra's attention, perhaps keeping it from the crater long enough the bomb would go off before they reached it.

She didn't have much choice.

She drew the revolver, not sure how many rounds were left and aimed it at the dashboard in front of her. The pilot, laughing turned and caught sight of the gun. "Hey! What…"

The other man leaped from his seat, but the revolver went off before he slammed into her, sending an array of sparks and black electrical smoke into the cabin. The helicopter whined and then coughed as the pilot frantically punched buttons.

The other man had her pinned against the seat, hand outstretched as if to hit her then he brought it down with a snarl. The helicopter tilted crazily and they both flew against the side. They began to spiral out of control with the pilot screaming at them, but Anath only watched the whirling view of mountains and then plains with a smile. The co-pilot climbed to the seat, dragging her with him as the front panel exploded, showering them with glass and debris.

"He'll kill me, no matter what I do. But I can keep you from getting off so easy!" The co-pilot grabbed her shoulders and threw her against the door. The ground was rushing toward them too fast, but he jerked the door open, sliding it aside with a snarl as flames began to consume what was left of the dash and the now dead pilot. Anath struggled to free his grip from her arms but then suddenly she was outside the vehicle, gasping with terror as the helicopter whirled away in a string of explosions.

And then she was falling, the scream ripped from her throat as the wind tore at her hair. She was falling; she could not fly like Sephiroth nor leap in gravity defying bounds like Cloud or his friends. She closed her eyes, unwilling to watch the ground rush toward her.

The tree dragged at her, softening her fall in a bone-breaking crash that sent her deep into unconsciousness.

Vincent dropped gently next to the woman, kneeling down to place a hand on her forehead. She was alive, with numerous injuries that he could heal but an odd sense stayed his hand for a moment and he bent closer to run his fingers down her side. Ribs, two definitely broken if not more cracked, as well as severe bruising that was already turning her arm and shoulder blue, yet something else…

A minute sound behind him made him leap to his feet but not fast enough to avoid the powerful thrust as Sephiroth knocked him onto his back with his arm and then stepped forward to point the tip of his blade at Vincent's throat.

"Why don't you hit me again," Vincent suggested with a snarl.

"I know what you can do, Vincent. I choose not to be so foolish."

"She's hurt pretty bad."

"Indeed. And who is to blame for that?"

Vincent met the icy gaze before him with a smile. "Not I. The helicopter crashed awhile ago. We saw the flames and came to investigate."

Sephiroth grimaced. "And where are your friends?"

Vincent clenched his fist; they'd gone into the village nearby to check for survivors, certain the people there might have gone to help. "Nearby. You should kill me quickly."

A hand clamped on Sephiroth's arm, but not the one holding his sword. "Please don't."

Sephiroth's gaze moved to the woman holding his arm, barely staying on her feet to glare back.

"I'm begging you, Sephiroth, don't kill him."

"You are not well, Anath. What happened?"

She let go of his arm and staggered back to fall to her knees. "I shot the helicopter."

Sephiroth's face was a mixture of annoyance and amusement as well as anger. "You try my patience, Anath."

She brushed a lock of silver hair out of her eyes. "I'll do whatever I have to, I told you that."

Sephiroth sighed deeply and returned his gaze to him. Vincent couldn't move quickly enough, recognizing the gesture before the magic spell sent him into darkness.

Anath cried out, struggling to her feet but it didn't take much to shove her aside as Vincent fell back, sprawled on the ground before Sephiroth. The soldier smiled grimly and then his sword disappeared in a flicker of light while Sephiroth turned toward her.

The green glimmer appearing around her sent her reeling backwards, arms flailing as the healing spell hit her to leave her gasping for breath and decidedly nauseous. She rose on her knees, fighting to keep her stomach in control when Sephiroth reached her to drag her to her feet. "Why do I allow you to try my patience so fully?" he asked sourly.

Anath staggered when Sephiroth released his grip on her shirt. "Because you still need me for something."

"Perhaps not as much as you think."

She brushed a strand of hair back from her face. "Then kill me and be done with it."

Sephiroth reached out to touch the silver strands hanging over her eye. "Not yet, Anath." He clamped a hand on her arm and drew her closer to Vincent. "He lies asleep until such time as the spell weakens, but it gives us time to reach the town ahead. His friends will find him, or something else, but his death will be not by my hand. Does that please you, Anath?"

She gave Vincent one last glance and then nodded faintly.

"Good then, it's time to go. I can make use of the town ahead." He pushed her forward, forcing her to step quickly to keep up with his long strides. "I fear there are worse things lurking in these forests and plains, it would do you well to keep near I think."

She slowed, turning around to stare at the wood that now seemed to keep watch. What lurked in the shadows? She rushed back to keep up with Sephiroth with a nervous glance again. Whatever it was it would not take much to destroy her, hopefully Vincent would fare better.

They reached the small town and found a tiny inn where Sephiroth promptly took the last room. The stairs were steep and narrow, the hallway barely wide enough for the both of them, but the room was cozy if small, overlooking the village square. Anath sat one of the beds with a pale grin. "So which one will you take Sephiroth?"

The tall man turned from the window. "The one with you in it obviously."

She cleared her throat and then leaped up as voices sounded in the hall. She went to the window next to Sephiroth and touched his arm. He seemed distant and she hoped he had not heard the voices clearly outside. Cloud's voice was a familiar one and even with the others speaking she'd heard him. Had Sephiroth? She wrapped her arms over her chest as Sephiroth glanced down at her.

"Are you cold, Anath?"

"Not in a physical way, Sephiroth. You frighten me. What is it that drives you so mercilessly?"

He turned back to the window. "I would have thought today I was quite merciful. I did not kill when I easily could have defeated Vincent. He is a worthy adversary when…aroused."

She tried to quell the goose-bumps from his tone, so matter-of-fact, no emotion whatsoever. "What is so important that you must destroy everyone around you? Is there nothing you hold dear?"

He smiled, faintly in the reflection of the window. "Perhaps I hold my mother's desires dear. Is that not enough? To follow in her footsteps, take up what she began?" He turned from the window to clasp her arms. "But no, that was my plan before and I was defeated wasn't I? There are those who consider this life precious and will fight to the death for it. But now I see things differently. I will use you Anath, to teach me this feeling so that I can crush it and not be swayed by it."

She pushed away from him with a gasp. "Why does that not surprise me? A fine tool I have become for you. Do you really believe that you can do this? What about me?"

"What about you? I gave you no preconceived notions of what I wanted from you. I will make you what you are, though. The secretary/ file girl at Shinra exists no more. Even now you have grown and changed. What will your friends think of you?"

"I have done nothing wrong. If anything they would praise my efforts to stop you."

Sephiroth emitted a deep laugh and stepped toward her. "Ah yes, your attempts to shoot me were predictably inept. Your skill at begging for others is only irritating. I will tell you this, Anath." He drew her against him with a bruising grip on her arms. "My patience hangs by a thin thread. You have reached your limit. Test me again and you will not like my answer." He pulled her tight and then bent down to kiss her roughly. "Now stay here. I have some things to see to." He pushed past her, slamming the door on his way out.

She waited until she saw him cross the square before she left the room. She had to find Cloud and warn him. She crossed outside, moving amid the lengthening shadows along the square to the building across the street. Inside she could see Sephiroth talking with the store keeper and then they moved into a deeper room. She had an uneasy feeling the clerk might not see the light of day for as Sephiroth had followed she noted his sword was sheathed once more on his back.

She had little time to lose.

She slipped into a small restaurant and found it nearly empty but for a small table in back. The two sitting there looked up and then stared again. She sat down in a booth behind them, just far enough she could see the door and then waited.

A few moments later one of the two at the other table slid in across from her.

"Where is he?"

"Not far."

"Have you seen Vincent?"

Anath leaned forward with a grimace. "We left him lying in a field south of town. Asleep, Sephiroth said. I pleaded with him not to kill him."

Tifa sank back with a sigh. "Vincent and the shadows go well together. I do not fear he will be harmed, if that is true. He is lucky to have your aid. What are you doing, Anath."

She shook her head when the waitress came by. "I am trying to do what I can, Tifa. Perhaps if I am close to him I can learn ahead of time what he will do."

"Or he will kill you trying. If he catches wind of this he will hurt you worse than killing, Anath. He is not a nice person. You know this."

Anath pressed Tifa's hand. "I know it very well, Tifa. I can do this."

Tifa shivered, rubbing her arms. "I couldn't. The man makes me ill." She leaned across the table and touched Anath's hair. "It's changing, Anath."

She flinched slightly and drew a strand to look at it. "It's silver as it has always been."

Tifa drew a strand from the side. "Yes, but not this wide. What is he doing to you?"

Anath slid back. "Nothing that has hurt me yet. But I have to get back. If he finds out I've left the hotel I won't be so lucky. Just tell Cloud to be careful. I will do what I can."

Tifa nodded and Anath slid out of the booth. "All of you take care."

"And you too, Anath. This is crazy."

She left the restaurant and hurried back to the hotel, rushing up the stairs as quietly as she could and then slipped inside the door. The room was dark and she hurried to turn on a small lamp in the corner. The door opened a moment later as Sephiroth walked inside.

"We will leave in the morning. I have made arrangements for some transport."

Anath sat on a bed with her feet curled under her. "And where do we go from here?"

Sephiroth glanced at her and then smiled. "I leave that as a surprise for you. Come here, I have something for you."

She wanted to ask about the store owner but held her tongue. Sephiroth pulled a slim arm band from his coat. "This holds materia. It can endow you with some basic magical abilities. But for now it is only a pretty." He slid it over her arm onto her wrist with a snap. "If you behave perhaps I will supply it so that you have some protection against the beasts that roam this land. If not, perhaps I won't and you can find out how nice they are."

She touched it briefly. "So you do worry about me."

Sephiroth removed his coat and then settled gracefully on the bed. "Protecting an investment, Anath, is a wise choice." He folded his arms behind his head to stare at her. "I hope to get a large return on my investment."

She turned away from him, annoyed slightly, but more to avoid looking at him. The leather pants were sleek as he was, and lying there with his hair splayed out beside him was definitely weakening her sudden resolve to keep her distance. She didn't want to stay away from him. No matter what she'd told Tifa, her reasons for staying close to Sephiroth were far more muddled than just trying to aid Avalanche. She sighed, it might end up far more difficult than she imagined.

The two weeks Sephiroth dragged her about the forest seemed like forever. Two weeks of finding out just how dangerous the forests were and how little she was prepared against them. The revolver was hardly protection, she still couldn't hit the side of a barn with it, although she had learned to keep her eyes open and didn't stagger nearly as much when it went off. The arm band was still as yet unsupplied with materia. Sephiroth's nearness had been her only real protection.

And now he was gone. Not for long he said, but it'd been four hours since he'd left with the dune buggy. Not that he really needed it. She knew his materia gave him the ability to fly, perhaps he was conserving it.

She stood up and walked next to the stream nearby, rubbing the back of her neck. Two weeks, with only a couple of stops in anything remotely considered comfortable left her feeling filthy. The river was beginning to look pretty good for a bath, had it not been for the ranging nemesis' that she feared would appear when she was truly defenseless. Besides, she had no idea what might lurk in the water itself.

The rustle of grass behind her made her turn warily, hand on the revolver at her thigh. The creatures ambling out from the tall grass did not look dangerous yet she knew she was in for some serious trouble.

Damn Sephiroth for leaving her and for not giving her something more to defend herself with. She drew the gun as the penguin like creatures came closer. They squawked angrily and she took a step back when one of them flapped its wings madly and she was suddenly surrounded by arcing streams of painful light that dropped her to her knees. She staggered back to her feet, drawing the pistol up shakily to aim it but another stream of lightning threw her back off her feet to land hard on her back. Her body was trembling with the remnants of the blast, quivering with the effects of the electrical charges. She rolled over to her side, drawing the gun up to blast one of the creatures. It disintegrated into bits of fluff and then another lightening bolt sped toward her only to bounce back just before it reached her.

She dropped the gun as Sephiroth stepped over her, sword in hand. Another lightening bolt shattered around them, dancing along the ground just inches from Anath's face yet nothing touched her or Sephiroth. He snorted and then flung up a hand overhead and then forward toward the two creatures left.

The fire storm surrounding them blew her hair across her face and when she finally pushed it aside to look the creatures were gone. Sephiroth bent down and hauled her to her feet. "Materia can be quite useful, can it not?"

"Is this another lesson, Sephiroth?" Anath stumbled, still jittery from the lightening.

He chuckled ruefully. "Albeit a painful one. But your aim is getting better, Anath. Perhaps I will have to watch my back." He caught her around the waist as she stumbled again. "Do I need to heal you?"

She shook her head quickly. The second time he'd healed her, after being caught unaware in the forest she'd felt like tossing up every meal she'd ever eaten. The healing was nice, but the aftereffects were hardly tolerable. She'd rather be in pain. "No, I am fine, just give me a minute."

He let her go and crossed to the edge of the river. She took a step forward and then sank rapidly to her feet. The dizziness from the healing was nothing compared to what she felt now. She clasped her arms around her stomach and bent over, breathing deeply to ease the nausea that clutched her stomach.

"Are you truly ill, Anath, or is this another game you play?"

She shuddered, sucking in another deep breath. "Why don't you go trip and fall on your sword for me." She coughed and then decided that wasn't such a good idea.

Sephiroth laughed, crouching down next to her. "But Anath, what fun would that be." He slid a hand down her back and then she found a cool cloth pressed to her forehead. "You seem adversely affected by healing or I would do so whether you wished it or not. At any rate, you are not well. We need to get you somewhere comfortable for the moment." He lifted her into his arms. "Hold tight my dear. We have only a short journey, but not one I think of your liking."

She curled into his chest as he leaped up, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Flying might be quicker way to travel but the height and the distant terrain only made the queasiness in her stomach roil all the worse. By the time he landed gently on the outskirts of the village Anath could barely open her eyes.

It was some time later she found herself being dropped a bit hastily into a bath of hot water. She gasped as the water rose over her shoulders and sat up. Sephiroth was at the door, blocking it from who ever was attempting to come inside.

"She needs no aid. I can do what she needs."

The person outside mumbled something incoherent and then squealed loudly as Anath looked over her shoulder to see two feet dangling between Sephiroth's legs. She sighed, sliding back down into the water. A moment later the door slammed shut and Sephiroth sat on the edge of the tub.

"I thought a nice bath would improve your mood."

She sank deeper into the water, knowing he had most likely undressed her. "Thank you. I feel a bit better now."

Sephiroth leaned over her, trailing water along her shoulders. "You should eat and then we will speak later." He left her alone, shutting the door firmly.

She sank into the water with a sigh. The nausea was fading, but she still felt weak. What would he do? Would he leave her behind? Could she find some way to alert Cloud that she was here, wherever here was?

A while later she curled up in the bed with as many of the blankets as she could find. The room was dim but for the fire that crackled merrily in the fireplace. Sephiroth was sitting near the fire, the silver of his hair gleaming in the flaring light of the flames. His eyes were glowing faintly as he stared at her. Whatever his thoughts he'd not revealed

them to her.

He rose suddenly and came over to sit on the edge of the bed. "I have brought you something for your bracelet." He snapped the metal arm band over her wrist. He laid a hand on his left arm and slowly a small orb appeared beneath his hand. He brought the glowing orb next to her arm and then pressed it over her wrist. Instantly the orb vanished with an odd tingle into her arm. She shivered and glanced up at Sephiroth as he did the same again.

"Fire and Ice, Anath. Simple spells to cast, with a materia that is very powerful. They should help protect you when I cannot."

He seemed to read her thoughts suddenly for he leaned closer to tip her chin up with his fingers. "Any thought of casting them at me is futile. I will tell you this, as we stay within this village. Any effort to upset my work here and you will pay highly for your treachery. I will not allow it."

She shivered, drawing deeper into the blankets, knowing she'd pay the price if she had to. Again he seemed to sense her thoughts as he stood and crossed to the fire to stand in front of it, shadowed by the flames, a dark presence that towered in the elongated shadows cast by the fire.

"I will tell you only once, Anath. Each time you disobey my wishes, and I have a long memory, each transgression will result in a death of an innocent victim. Whoever I choose will receive your punishment, Anath. Death, placed in your hands. Do not fight me and none will die."

He turned toward her, his expression a barren iciness that told her he was perfectly serious. "If you meet with any of the members of Avalanche again, I will kill them, with your aid, as well as anyone nearby. I will have my way."

She met the stark gaze evenly. "I will do what I have to."

Sephiroth smiled. "As will I." She blanched as she understood his unspoken meaning. Once again they had answered similarly, if not in intention. No, she was not like him. She was not!

Vincent drew back from the doorway after it was shut loudly with a sigh. Anath was obviously ill yet Sephiroth was well able to heal anything she might have encountered in the wilds. But something tugged at him making him uneasy. Cloud would be interested to find Sephiroth had once again chosen Nimbelheim. How many times would the village be treated to Sephiroth's rage? Perhaps this time they could prevent such a catastrophe. He eased back into the shadows, silently gliding amid the darkness to the window at the end of the hall and then disappeared into the night in a flutter of red and then only a black speck against the moon.

"He has taken her to Nimbelheim, but most likely not for long. I do not know what would draw him there again. There is nothing left that might help him." Vincent noted later as he sat across the table from Cloud.

"Perhaps it's not for him, but Anath. Gast's library is still intact in the mansion," Tifa suggested. She sat drumming her fingers against the table, shoulder length hair pulled back as she stared at the others.

"She already knows of her past," Vincent argued vehemently. He too had born the experiments from Gast and Hojo. "Sephiroth has no hold on her regarding that."

Cloud frowned pensively. "Doesn't he? Tifa said she looks different, harder. Whatever he is doing to her is changing her whether she wants it or not."

Tifa sighed softly next to Vincent. "True, but I also sense she does it willingly."

Barrett snorted rudely. "Whatever her reasons, she is insane to trust that he won't kill her." The leader of Avalanche scowled at them all.

Vincent lifted a dark brow with a frown. "And why hasn't he already? What has she become to him? I see a faint glimmer of light there."

Tifa slapped the table angrily. "Light? You think she might redeem him? We are talking about Sephiroth here! He's killed too many of our friends and family ever to become redeemed. No matter that Anath loves him."

The three men gaped at Tifa. Cloud closed his eyes for a moment and Vincent shook his head. Barrett shoved himself away from the table. "Love. He has no clue what love is, Tifa. He's using her like he always does and then he'll crush her, laughing, in his fist." He sat down heavily. "And I don't know what we can do about it."

Tifa patted his hand reassuringly. "If anyone can figure it out, it will be Anath. She is far stronger than we expected."

Vincent nodded but held back the thoughts churning in his mind. Too many things yet to understand fully what they had to deal with, as well as knowing what it was that Sephiroth intended. So far he'd been quiet. God forbid it was Nimbelheim once again that would bear the brunt of Sephiroth's plans.

Anath followed Sephiroth out of the hotel and recognized instantly with a touch of shock where they were. Nimbelheim, once destroyed by fire from Sephiroth's own hands, the small village near the mountains was restored in a near exact replica of the original buildings. She hurried after the tall soldier, glancing uneasily at the villagers. They in turn reeled back when they caught sight of Sephiroth, to the point where they seemed to be followed by a ringing clamor of slamming doors and windows. If the villagers knew him on sight, then they should understand it might be in their best interests to flee. Some seemed to catch on as she looked back over her shoulder to see several heading out of the village.

Sephiroth merely smiled. Amused by the terror he was creating, he strode purposely through the streets toward a large building Anath knew all too well.

Had it only been a few months since she'd stood outside that mansion with Cloud and Vincent, thinking the night's work was simple and quickly taken care of? How neatly had Ash and his accomplices, perhaps with subconscious prodding by Sephiroth himself, lured her into their trap?

She held back as Sephiroth went through the gate, emotionally unwilling to trespass over that threshold again, but Sephiroth turned as she fell back and clamped a hand on her arm to draw her forward.

"What was there is now gone, Anath. I destroyed the labs."

She knew that, but the mansion itself was still there. Gast's library, Hojo's offices, they were still there, the ghosts still lingering to taunt her again. She had no choice, however as Sephiroth urged her forward forcefully into the house.

The main foyer seemed empty, echoing their footsteps as they ascended the curved staircase to the second level and then up another short flight to the main hall. The bedroom was as it had been years ago and the hidden door opened as if still used daily. She didn't care for the curved rickety staircase hidden inside the tower walls; with no rail her fear of heights once again sent her stomach roiling inside her.

Sephiroth pushed her forward, down the steps until they reached the tunnels below and with her dragging her feet, nearly carried her into Gast's library.

"Some things must be faced, Anath." She was shoved into a chair behind the huge desk in Gast's office and then a file was thrown in front of her. She recoiled from the pages as they slid out of the packet onto the desk.

"It's all there, Anath. Your life as you knew it. Your fears and terrors, the very minute details of the experiment named Anath."

She pushed the papers away from her. "I won't read it."

Sephiroth leaned over the desk. "You will, because you have to know. But I will not force you. You have some time to think about it." He straightened and walked down the hall connecting the library, "but not too long."

She watched him walk the length of the short hall before pushing the folder away from her, but not before a small photograph slid out to lie staring up at her. She was looking at the camera, young enough to still be frightened by those around her, yet in that youthful gaze Anath could see the beginning of the determination that continued to guide her. But it was a determination that was weakening rapidly with Sephiroth's manipulations.

He'd said Gast was a master, but in reality Sephiroth made the scientist's work look like child's play. Anath shoved the file off the desk but held the picture for a moment before dropping her head on her arms. How could the man know what she went through, no matter the details written by Gast and his cronies, she'd been the one they'd written about. She knew what that report said and more. What hadn't Gast written, even in his notes, or had he noted everything that had happened.

And worse, how many others had he changed, how many monsters had been released into the world, once human and then forever horribly changed by both Jenova cells and Mako energy?

And what about Jenova? How long had Gast thought to keep the creature alive, frozen in a tube of liquid until someone like Sephiroth destroyed it? A woman they had thought to be one of the ancients, the Cetra the original inhabitants of this world, but later found to be instead an alien. Jenova was a creature with a will that continued to live today in Sephiroth. How much of his insanity was truly hers? She had come to destroy the planet, and in that destruction to siphon the lifestream that would erupt in the planet's attempt to cure itself, gaining immeasurable power. How many worlds had had she already destroyed? But somehow the ancients had fought her and won, encasing her into a stone tomb that Gast found thousands of years later, still alive.

And had manipulated, taking cells in attempts to gain access to her formidable powers, injecting a child in the womb of his assistant, changing the very makeup of the child's DNA into something else. A child that grew into a fearsome warrior, with skills and strength that were far beyond that of normal humans, Sephiroth was that child.

And what did that make her? Even worse, she had no human mother or father, merely donated cells that had no notations of who they were. She was born five years after Sephiroth, but found her life far different. The reasons were in the report at her feet, reasons she didn't want to know about.

The pain was altogether too fresh, the memories she'd thought long repressed flooded back. But Sephiroth was not the only experiment, even after Anath and countless other trials, most gone horribly wrong. Gast and then Hojo, his assistant, had manipulated others. Three, no four she corrected herself, four men of silver hair and features remarkably similar to Sephiroth.

Shinra's hope to create a powerful military force had fallen apart once their prized son found out about his origins. And had found to its horror how powerful the man truly was. But even with all his strength, Sephiroth had been defeated, even with the masterful manipulations on Cloud. A child who had idolized him, become a Soldier in an effort to emulate him, instead the young man had become another tool for Sephiroth to use, combining Cloud's inherent powers with his own to control the materia that would destroy them all.

Cloud's memory had failed him, yet after the second duel with Sephiroth, he'd finally remembered and accepted what he could not have controlled.

A second duel, after destroying Sephiroth once, only to have him reunite – in a will that could have only been provided by Jenova, and Sephiroth himself, with Kadaj, the so-called leader of the young three silver-haired men. Spirits they had called themselves, alive yet not truly complete- the call for reunion had been foremost in their minds.

And they had nearly succeeded, finding the remains of Jenova in a small box once attached to her head. The remains of cells that they could absorb to reunite into the very person Cloud had thought dead. But their plans went awry, with the efforts once again of Avalanche and Cloud. After a long fought duel Kadaj, with the remains of Jenova, had nearly been destroyed but in a last determined effort had leaped from what should have been his demise, to clasp one half of the box to himself, reuniting the cells that called to him.

And became Sephiroth.

Only to be defeated once again. Sephiroth's mockery, his arrogance that he would destroy the adversary at his feet had left him vulnerable. Cloud had found his strength in the love for those close to him and in one appalling moment destroyed all that Sephiroth had worked for.

So they had thought.

Except there was one other to pick up the pieces left by Kadaj. Ash had taken samples of his brother's cells, along with the children afflicted with the Geostigma- the Jenova-instigated disease that killed many, as well as the second half of the Jenova's head. What little remained in the box had not been enough to reunite the cells again.

But Ash had found another source.

Another creature as viable as Sephiroth had been.

"You will not read it?"

She lifted her head from her arms, realizing she'd crumpled the photograph in her fist to stare at Sephiroth at the door. "I don't need to read it. I was there."

He frowned, leaning against the jamb with arms folded.

"You continue to refuse to see what is before you, Anath."

"I see it very well, Sephiroth. But I will not use it like you do. I can make a different choice."

He laughed softly and pushed away from the door jamb. "Is that so? Such a child's perception, Anath, to believe you can avoid the path you must follow. Perhaps I have to press the issue further." He sighed faintly and then moved into the room a step. "I can't give you any more time to decide." With that he grabbed the door and stepped back to slam it shut with a finality that made Anath grip the desk in front of her.

Waiting with a rising sense of panic for the lock to click shut.

It did, echoing so loudly she thought she'd faint. The memories rushed into her mind, terror so stark she fell out of the chair with a keening moan she wasn't even aware of.

He said he wouldn't lock her inside. But she'd known he would, but never here, never in a place he must know would terrorize her!

Anath pushed herself up on her arms, fighting the panic, swallowing the overwhelming desire to rush to the door to beat on it, screaming for Sephiroth to open it. He would not. Memory taunted her, visions of Gast standing over her as he had done countless times before made her tremble violently. But slowly she pushed the terrors back, staggering to her feet to stare at the chamber.

No windows, only racks of books and paraphernalia that were too familiar. As well as a heavy wooden door that she could not break through, now or as a child. Anath clenched her fists, struggling to control the fear and slowly focused on the door. She had advantages she'd not as a child. Gast was not here. Sephiroth had given her weapons. She glanced at the arm band. Fire and Ice. The room was small, filled with paper. Fire was not a good choice; the door would not burn quick enough before she'd be dead from the smoke. Ice was better, yet again the room was small, she might freeze or the door simply frozen might not move any better than not.

She touched the gun at her thigh. How many shots did she have left, if any? It was her last chance. She drew the gun with a trembling hand and fired.

The sound was deafening in the narrow chamber, but the door swung open with a creak of hinges in the smoke. Anath walked down the length of the hallway to the library to find Sephiroth leaning against a large table, book in hand.

"You were much quicker than I expected."

She shoved the gun into the holster at her side and picked up a book from the table beside her. "You are a monster."

Sephiroth lifted a silver brow and smiled. "Some call me that."

The book missed him by several feet but the next one came close enough he moved his head, if only that.

"How dare you."

Sephiroth had the nerve to smile. "I dare much, Anath."

The next two books made him throw up an arm to deflect them, yet he did not rise from the table. The glass lamp finally brought him to his feet.

"You said you wouldn't lock me in!"

Sephiroth stood up with a shrug. "I never said forever, Anath."

She screamed in fury and threw two more books, followed by another lamp and a vase. Sephiroth ducked the books laughing, and caught the lamp to set it aside but narrowly missed being struck by the vase. He grinned as Anath drew the gun from her hip.

"Your aim is not that good. Besides, we spoke about this before."

"My aim has improved tremendously and I don't care what you said before. You think to coerce me into helping you destroy this world, or take it over or whatever you think to do. But you won't! I will not be forced into anything anymore, by anyone."

She fired six shots that sent her stumbling back against the wall. Sephiroth deflected the bullets with his sword, slashing so quickly the blade was a blur and then leaped toward her. The gun though was not useless without bullets; the blade designed into the weapon was exceedingly sharp so she swung it across her chest as Sephiroth reached her. He ducked the slash and caught her arm, flinging the revolver across the room.

Anath twisted out of his reach, noting Sephiroth was still smiling, laughing in fact as he stalked toward her. The books launched at him did little to slow his advance and in the next harried moments books were followed by a table and then without realizing it the bookshelf itself flew across the room, split in two as Sephiroth spun with a cry wielding his sword.

Anath stared at the sword and then at Sephiroth as he straightened, weapon posed at his shoulder.

"Your powers are far better than I hoped for."

She dropped the book in her hand with a cry of horror. She whirled around, heading across the room but Sephiroth caught her around the waist before she could get to the door, swinging her around to face him.

"Accept it Anath. Face your fears, face what you can become." He laughed and then leaped up, slicing a swath above them through the building, flying up out of the mansion in a rush as below them fire erupted from the effects of Sephiroth's blade. They landed on the slick tiles of the roof as Sephiroth pressed her against the side of a chimney. "Accept what lies before you." He brushed a hand over her cheek and then kissed her in a bruising embrace before leaping away into the smoke rising from the house below.

"You can't leave me here!" Anath gripped the side of the chimney, not daring to move as her feet slid on the slippery tile. Nausea rose into her throat as the height made the ground look impossibly far away.

But below her Sephiroth landed softly, drawing out the great sword as Cloud emerged from the hazy smoke. Behind him Barrett leaped toward them as well as Vincent and Tifa. Sephiroth could not fight them all!

But the Soldier was confident and Tifa flew thirty feet away in a heap against a building, Barrett in a flash of glittering light was frozen in rage-filled leap. Vincent disappeared amid the smoke, but Cloud fought below her with a skill that took her breath away.

They both did, flashing amid the growing light of the flames; the two whirled in an effortless dance, blades clanging in a metallic resonant tattoo. Anath watched horrified, as with a grace of a long-honed skill the two men leaped together. Sephiroth's superior strength was obvious, but Cloud had youth and determination that paced him well.

Sephiroth leaped forward, whirling in a flare of silver hair with a thrust that slipped past Cloud's shoulder by a hair. Cloud retaliated with a hard flung hit that made the older soldier stumble back two steps in surprise.

Whatever they said to each other was lost in the roar of the raging fire below her, the mansion, burning from the tunnels below was now engulfed. Anath knew her position on the roof was precarious; her fear would be her death if she did not choose otherwise.

She once again had a choice and did so without further thought.

She leaped off the roof. Diving with arms wide, she prayed Sephiroth's adamant insistence that she had more power than she knew was true, she curled into a ball to fall with her feet below her. With hopes that she would land on those feet, if not breaking both legs perhaps at least not her neck.

But she landed, harder than she would have liked, on her feet only to sprawl on her face from the force of her landing. The two men fought ahead of her, hidden partially by the smoke from the burning mansion. Anath staggered to her feet and ran several steps only to leap back as Sephiroth sword flashed before her as he lunged at Cloud. The young man rolled to the side, gasping for breath.

Sephiroth faced her briefly with a grin.

"Well done, Anath."

She took a step forward but Cloud appeared, hazy in the fog, his sword gleaming as it swept toward Sephiroth. Sephiroth spun on his heel, throwing his blade out to deflect the slash and then ducked beneath it to slam Cloud with his arm, throwing the younger soldier to the ground.

But Cloud slid out of Sephiroth's reach, leaping to his feet and rushed forward. Sephiroth slid back a step to lift his sword but suddenly Vincent flew out of the smoke, hitting Sephiroth squarely in the chest to propel him twenty feet into the side of a house. Timbers crashed down but Sephiroth emerged, brushing aside the splinters that tugged at his hair.

He couldn't fight both. As much as she fought him, she couldn't let the two kill Sephiroth either. Anath rushed forward, spinning past Vincent she ripped the gun he had slung at his hip from its holster to point it at Cloud.

"You can't kill him."

Cloud gasped and the subsequent pistol shot flung him backwards, clasping his right shoulder to drop a now useless sword.

Sephiroth laughed.

Anath pointed the pistol at Sephiroth. "You won't kill them either."

Sephiroth smiled in amusement. "And how will you stop me, Anath? Even Vincent's pistols have little power."

"No, but perhaps I have another answer," Vincent declared softly as he appeared beside Anath, with a smaller revolver which he placed at her temple.

Anath froze, blinking as Sephiroth stepped away from Cloud but did not relax his stance. "I think you've forgotten I care for no one, Vincent. Why would I care if you shoot her now? She's been interesting but she's not that important."

Vincent smiled wanly, his dark eyes glittering in the flames. "I think you protest too much, Sephiroth. But no matter. Perhaps you don't care for Anath, but what about the child she carries?"

Sephiroth stiffened visibly and then laughed, but his eyes swept to Anath, blue-green bits of ice. "Is this another game, Anath? It will not work."

Anath couldn't speak; the knowledge of what Vincent had said sank in, leaving her gasping for breath. She felt the blood drain from her face as Sephiroth's eyes narrowed. He had to know what Vincent said was true; the vampire had excellent delving skills and intuition. How he had known it before she did, before she had admitted it to herself? She didn't know but Sephiroth was no longer laughing.

Vincent's hand clamped on her arm, if more to help her to keep standing than to keep her from fleeing which was a heady thought in itself.

A child? Sephiroth's child?

Cloud had risen to his feet clutching his shoulder. "What will you do, Sephiroth?"

Vincent squeezed her arm, as if to comfort her. Sephiroth lowered his sword with a rueful laugh. "Do you think I truly care?"

Vincent smiled grimly, still holding the small revolver to her head. "Yes I do. But I promised Anath. You see, she pleaded for my life and so now I return the favor, not for hers but yours."

Sephiroth lifted a hand but Tifa stepped up behind him. "Don't try anything. You are surrounded. We may die but so will you."

Sephiroth's gaze swept back to Anath. "What would you have me do?"

She swallowed and pushed Vincent's gun away from her head. "I would have you surrender, that you may live to see your son."

"My son?"

"Your son." She knew it to be true, instinctively.

Sephiroth sneered as Cloud stepped closer. "And what will stop me from escaping? You may take my sword but I have many other …options."

Tifa grimaced and then stepped in front of Sephiroth. "We've made provisions for that. Drop your sword, Sephiroth."

Anath held her breath as Sephiroth stepped back. He could easily slice the winsome woman in two but he lowered the Masamune to the ground. "You think I would surrender so easily?" Sephiroth laughed as suddenly he leaped up, spinning as Tifa ducked under the slash of the six foot sword.

Cloud sprang forward, healed unobtrusively by Tifa; he swept up his sword to bound after Sephiroth.

Anath screamed as Vincent caught her around the waist, deftly holding her against him as Cloud spun in the sky overhead, whirling in a light skittering duel with Sephiroth. Swords slashed furiously, sometime two then three as Cloud shifted positions and swords. Sephiroth laughed mockingly as they dropped again to the ground, leaping at Cloud before his feet even touched the earth.

The young soldier arched back away from the thin blade of Sephiroth's weapon, rolling under it to and then bent double to evade the return stroke. Sephiroth spun on his heel, bringing the sword around from behind him only to have Cloud's larger blade clatter against it with a loud screech.

Anath fought Vincent's hold, twisting in his arms as the others drew closer. Barrett, freed from his icy prison rushed forward but Vincent caught his arm, still struggling to hold Anath at his side with a curse.

"Leave them, Cloud has to finish this."

Barrett whirled to stare at him furiously. "And if he doesn't win this time?"

Vincent's fingers caught Anath's chin, forcing her to become still. "We have the key, Barrett. Be patient."

Cloud slid back in the soft dirt, grunting from the force of Sephiroth's blow, but then hurled himself forward to grasp the blade lying on the ground as Sephiroth slammed his sword down, missing Cloud by inches.

The two men rushed forward. Cloud's sword clicked loudly as one blade became two, but Sephiroth's speed and skill kept the younger man from gaining any advantage. Sparks flew from the force of their blows, metal blades ringing in the roar of the burning mansion behind them.

"I will not be defeated, Cloud!" Sephiroth snarled, whirling in a sudden flare of silver and steel that found Cloud retreating furiously, blade twisting left and right to deflect the superhuman effort attacking him.

Cloud's expression was grim as Anath watched horrified, held tightly now in Vincent's arms. Barrett was hopping from one foot to the other, enraged but holding back. Tifa drew close, fingers pressed on her lips with worry.

Cloud was worried. It was evident in his narrowed gaze, the short breaths as he continued to fight off the blade before him. But then suddenly he tripped, driven back by Sephiroth he fell, fending off a near fatal slash he landed on his back with no time to roll away from the arcing blade racing toward him.

Anath screamed, unable to turn away.

Cloud gasped and then froze as the blade stopped just as it touched his throat. Sephiroth stood above him, trembling with fury.

"I would not be defeated again," Sephiroth stated calmly, visibly taking hold of his anger to straighten slowly above Cloud. "And I have not. But I can surrender." He flipped the sword suddenly in his hand, gripping the point to hand the hilt to Cloud.

Cloud stared at it for a long moment and then carefully grasped the leather wrapped hilt. He rose to his feet as Tifa rushed toward Sephiroth. She shoved him back, standing between them.

"Take off your gloves."

Sephiroth's chin rose slightly but he removed them, dropping them into Tifa's hand.

"Your arm band… and rings."

A silver brow rose in amusement. Sephiroth slid the sleeve of his coat up his arm, removing an intricate arm band from his wrist. Two rings followed, placed into the waiting palm.

"And now what, my dear?"

Tifa glanced at Vincent and drew another arm band from a cloth bag at her hip. "You can wear these. She snapped one onto Sephiroth's wrist quickly and Sephiroth gasped, stepping back with a shocked glare at the band on his wrist.

Anath stiffened with a cry of anger at the obvious pain that flashed across Sephiroth's face. But Tifa scowled and stepped next to Sephiroth. "It is only fair that you receive some of the pain you have caused others." She slid the second band on Sephiroth's wrist, snapping it shut.

Sephiroth's eyes widened and then he suddenly dropped to his knees with a cry. Anath fought Vincent's hold on her waist but the Vampire held her tightly.

"We dared not tell you about them, Anath. Your feelings are too obvious. He deserves the pain."

She didn't care, only horrified to see Sephiroth struggling with what was clearly tremendous agony.

Tifa was wavering, her scowl now a frustrated grimace. "We could leave you in pain for as long as we like, but we are not like you." She bent down and with an odd movement touched one of the bands.

Sephiroth drew up one knee, crouching with gasping breaths to stare at the ground before him. Anath could feel his anger, quivering inside her head.

Tifa stepped back, but Cloud reached forward and pulled Sephiroth to his feet.

"Any attempt to take off the arm bands will make the pain return. You would do well to remember it." Cloud stepped back as Sephiroth shook off his hand, straightening to stare at the young soldier.

"An interesting item. Where did you find it?"

Barrett laughed sourly. "They were your mother's. The ancients invented them."

Sephiroth shuddered but then lifted his head to glare at Vincent. "Release her."

Vincent met the soldier's glare calmly. "She is your accomplice, although a shaky one at that. She will be held responsible for what she has done, as will you."

Sephiroth held out a hand. "Come to me, Anath." His voice was hoarse yet from the pain.

Anath shoved Vincent away and crossed slowly to stand before Sephiroth. He smiled ruefully and then dropped his hands to her shoulders to pull her closer. A tilt of his head and his hair shielded them as he brushed his lips along her cheek.

"A son?" he whispered softly.

She gripped the edges of his coat, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. "Maybe a girl?"

Sephiroth chuckled. "Like you?" He sighed, and she felt him shudder again. "Make no mistake, Anath, I did not surrender for the child."

She pressed her face into his chest. She would not cry. He had had to be stopped. Fingers combed her hair and then pulled her away from his chest.

"They will keep me imprisoned."

"I will see you as often as they allow it."

Sephiroth grimaced. "You will bring the child when it is born?"

She nodded; the tears were too close to speak further. Sephiroth rubbed a thumb along her eye.

"You cry for me, after all I have done to you."

She bit her lip, not trusting her voice. Sephiroth smiled wryly, twisting a strand of her hair around his fingers. "It is no longer red, Anath, but for the very tips. It seems you cannot be shed of all that is still Anath." He dropped her hair and then glanced above her head.

The others stepped back, but watched warily as Sephiroth lowered his head next to hers.

"You have done well. After all this you still remain true to your purpose. I cannot fault you for that. Such strength will do our child well."

He tipped her chin up with his fingers. "You are the key, Anath. You opened the door for me to step through into this life. I do not intend to throw it away, nor you." He smiled sardonically and then kissed her until a polite cough drew them apart.

Tifa pulled Anath as Barrett and Cloud caught Sephiroth's arms.

Sephiroth looked over his shoulder one last time, the flames behind her flickering in a blue-green gaze she would not forget. With a nod he turned back, allowing the rebels to lead him away.

The end