You really don't want to know how long this has been written. Its almost as old as the half-way finished 2nd chapter. Sorry!

Interlude One

The View From Above

"Finally!" crowed one of two observers, peering down through the hole in the ground. Flowers grew all over for as far as the eye could see, and around was a fuzzy whiteness that surrounded the entire field. Several feet away, there was a table and several chairs set up. On the other side of the field, barely visible, a tall plain-looking oak door stood in midair.

The second observer looked down as well, and sighed. "It took him long enough. He's almost as bad as Spike."

The first observer hit the second over the head with a staff. "Don't be foolish. You know it isn't his fault."

"Of course not; it's all her fault. No one, not even Sephiroth himself, would dare meddle with the forces of life and death. Except for crazy, power-mad Sorceresses."

"Speaking of Sorceresses, his partner should be informed of his pending arrival."

The door in the distance opened, and a blue-clad figure appeared out of the sudden light emitting from the opening. The figure's appearance blurred slightly, and suddenly the newcomer was behind them, peering down into the hole as well. "No need, a little Turk told me that you two were huddling down here whispering excitedly. He's finally coming, right?"

The newcomer swayed back and forth, looking at them with pleading eyes. "Please, tell me he's coming," the blue figure whispered beseechingly.

There was a bright smile. "He should be here soon, but you might not want to be here when he arrives. He might be a little…upset."

The second observer laughed loudly. "A little upset? You always were good at making things sound a lot less worse than they really were. Remember that time with those skittering things in the church, and one of them managed to bite you? 'Oh, it's just a little nip,' you said, when in actuality your arm was practically gnawed off at the elbow!"

The first observer waved the staff warningly. "Don't make me have to find your superior."

The blue-clad figure smiled, and turned around to leave. "Tell me when he arrives; we have much to catch up on. We can reminisce about our deaths, even!" The figure clapped excitedly, and blurred, only to be next to the door a few seconds later. The door slowly opened, and the other person walked into the light.

The two winced in unison. "I am not telling her," claimed the first observer. "I like my un-life just the way it is."

The second figure grinned. "Yeah, I can see how that could be awkward."

"Awkward isn't the word for it. Oh, look! What in…" There was a gasp. "Oh no. No. No. No. Don't you…don't you dare!"

Curious, the second figure followed the first's gaze. Eyes widened in shock and horror. "That is…That is not good. That is very not good. We are in deep shit."

The first figure turned to smile at the second figure. The second figure blanched. "I am so not telling her. That woman is scary."

There was a rather uncharacteristically evil smile, showing lots of shiny white teeth. "I'm going to have to tell her how he died. You get to tell her why he might not be coming at all."

"Aw, shit."