Author's Note: It was meant to be a one-shot but I've changed it to multi-chapter fic. It's an extreme AU, so be warned. I gave Sephiroth more colorful personality. He might seem a little OCC but I will maintain some of the "original" Sephiroth's characteristics. SephirothxTifa with slight hints of CloudxTifa Rated T for language. This story will not in a happy ending, so if you want a happy ending, I guess you have to find something else to read.

Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII. And I don't own the name "Rag-Tag." I got that idea from reading Sibilant Macabre's story, "Beginnings, After the End".

Some background info for my fic.

1. WRO and Shinra work together in my story. WRO's part of Shinra.

2. Cloud is a SOLDIER 1st Class.

3. Zack, Genesis, Angeal, Lazard, etc. aren't dead.

4. Angeal and Tifa are related—cousins.

The Black Widow

By Eclipse Storywriter

Many thanks to my co-writer, Sephiroth Owa13.

Chapter 1: Unexpected Phone Calls

"A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes"

-Mark Twain-

Sephiroth poured himself a cup of coffee, inhaling the sweet aroma; steam lightly tickled his nose and warmed his face when he inhaled. He took a sip and smiled and then resumed his morning duties. His morning duties consisted the following: making coffee, making breakfast—always with three strips of bacon when he cooked for himself and a slice of buttered toast—and eating outside, in the parlor where he could enjoy the beautiful sunrise.

Sephiroth Crescent, the famous legendary SOLDIER of the Shin-Ra Electric Company, had a physiognomy that spoke volumes of him: it presented pronounced characteristics of intelligence, firmness and intimidation.

His aspect suggested an extreme beauty. His hair was fair and extremely fine, silvery locks reaching down to his waist. His eyes were slightly slanted, like those of an elf; when he narrowed his eyes, they narrowed like those of a cat, radiating intimidation. The hues of his eyes were of a curious color. The color wasn't exactly green; it was fluorescent green, devoid of warmth, only coldness. He was far above the average height, broad-shouldered, and well built but not overly muscular.

Having just enough patience to carry him through each dragging day, without killing any idiotic person who annoyed him to no end, he was tranquilly sure of himself, if not slightly conceited. However, he had every right to be conceited in the minds of the people who looked up to him. Sephiroth had the fame, money, and the title; he also had the smarts, the strength, and the skills that earned him such a high ranking within the Shinra Company. But most of all—his beautiful wife. Indeed, he had every right to be conceited and to be a happy man content with his life. Sephiroth was a happy man, but not because of his fame or riches. No, it had nothing to do with such materialistic things. It had everything to do with his wife. He believed she was his greatest treasure and triumph. The mere thought of his wife brought a warm smile to his face whenever he thought of her, a smile that charmed those around him. His wife was the only person who was capable of making him grin like a fool.

He took a bite of a toast, washing it down with another sip of coffee. He stared at the mug meaningfully—with thoughts of his wife on his mind—and set it down with a sigh. He reached up and fisted his silver mane into a high ponytail and tied it up. He grabbed a morning newspaper from the table and stared at it without really reading it. He vaguely recalled his wife's comment about how "cute" he appeared with his hair tied.

"Tifa…" he whispered, missing her.

Sephiroth has not seen his wife, Tifa, for several weeks. Ever since she joined WRO to "bring justice" to the world, she was constantly called away to catch criminals. His heart was left in solitude and longing for his beautiful wife. She occasionally called with "Hey honey. How are you?" But it was not enough. It never was enough. He had to see her now in flesh, run his fingers through her chocolate locks that felt like silk, caress her over soft, smooth skin, and feel her soft, warm lips against his. One could not really blame Sephiroth either, for his wife was a natural beauty compared to those "artificial" looking women who applied copious amounts of sooty mascara and a shockingly bright red lipstick.

He jerked in surprise when his cell phone rang. He checked the caller's ID but it was unavailable. Frowning slightly, he answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hey, honey!"

Warmth crept back into him when he recognized the voice. He replied, "Hello, Tifa."

"Sephiroth!" her voice lilted with glee. "It's wonderful to hear your voice again. It's always wonderful to hear your voice. How are you?"

Sephiroth smiled. "I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm fine physically. Mentally? Not as much," Tifa replied.

Uh-oh. That didn't sound good. Sephiroth asked, "How so?"

"There's a cold-blooded bastard on the loose, that's what! That son of a bitch killed fifteen people this month. Fifteen! When I get my hands on him, I'm going to beat him to a pulp, making him wish that he was dead," Tifa scoffed.

Now Sephiroth was surprised. Tifa was not much of a vulgarian. Whoever this killer was, he was doing an excellent job of irking her. "Are you sure this is the same person?'

"It's the same person. He killed thirty last month. All of the victims had the same—ah, never mind. This is not the reason I've called," Tifa answered.

"What is it?"

"I haven't seen you for a long time and I miss you dearly. I'm your lovely wife, after all. I need to see my dear husband." Sephiroth could see the smile behind her voice. "I'm taking my day off today. I'm coming home."

Sephiroth's heart skipped. She's coming home! He thought and realized just how much he really missed her from the boyish thought. Calmly he asked, "So suddenly? Wouldn't Reeve—"

"Reeve can handle it without me," Tifa interrupted. "He's overworked me far too long without a pay-rise."

He laughed. "When will you be home?"

"Soon."

"How soon?"

"It's a surprise, silly!" she lightly teased, and Sephiroth rolled his eyes. "Speaking of a surprise, you'll be surprised soon. Anyway, bye!" The phone clicked off, dead.

With a sigh, Sephiroth shut his cell phone off and dragged his feet to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and stood with his arms crossed, deeply thinking. "Let's see…Eggs, milk, whipped cream, strawberries…" He had everything he needed to bake a cake for Tifa. She had a large sweet tooth and she enjoyed eating a slice of cake after a meal. He hummed a soft tune as he poured the batter into a cake pan and settled it in the oven. He set the timer to thirty minutes and sat on the chair contently. He fondly stared at the picture of him and Tifa eating the same cotton candy, their mouths messy and sticky. Good times…Good times…Where did those good times go? Ever since that no-good childhood friend of hers convinced her to join WRO…

Sephiroth frowned at the thought of the blond man. Cloud Strife, also a SOLDIER first class, was one man who could easily provoke Sephiroth by his mere presence. Sephiroth could not understand why Tifa was still fond of Strife, especially after what he had pulled her through.

"Ugh!" A pain shot through his head. His breath was cut short; his eyes darkened; stars danced in his darkening eyes.

"To me…"

Sephiroth clutched his head and fought to bring himself back to control. Breathe in and out. In and out slowly. After a minute, the pain ebbed into a dull throb. When he brought his breathing back to normal, he pushed back his chair to pour himself a glass of water, his heart still thumping treacherously against his chest.

"It's happening again. Damn…not now!" Sephiroth thought out loud, his voice ragged.

-Ring, ring. Ring, ring.-

His cell phone blared in the silent kitchen. He could not help it but to scowl at the call for its inauspicious timing. He checked the caller; it was Tifa. His scowl was instantly gone. Making sure his voice sounded even and smooth after the sudden pain, he warmly answered, "Hello, Tifa."

"Yo, Sephiroth!" A masculine voice answered him. Definitely not Tifa.

"Who is this?"

The voice sniggered. Sephiroth could hear rustling behind the line. Then the voice said, "Really, Seph? I'm hurt." The aggravating voice could only belong to one man: Zack Fair.

"Zack ..."

"Finally recognized my voice, eh, Seph?" Zack cheerfully chirped. "I used this cool voice modifier to distort my voice a little. But, man … I am really hurt, y'know. How can you not recognize your best buddy's voice?"

Sephiroth remained silent and glared at the phone.

"Damn, Seph … Y'know, I can hear you glaring at the phone … Anyway—Hey, hey, hey! Wait!" Sephiroth heard a loud whack behind the line followed by a muffled "mmph".

"Sephiroth?" It was Tifa.

"Tifa."

"Sorry about that. I meant to call you but I had to see President Shinra first and I accidentally left my phone on the desk. That Zack over there decided to be funny and give you a call," Tifa explained. "Hey, hey! Don't touch that. By Shiva's icy soul! I told you not to touch that, didn't I?"

Sephiroth arched an eyebrow, amused by her swearing at Zack. From the way they acted together, one could almost mistake them for siblings.

"Sephiroth, I'm sorry. Zack's being dumb."

"As always."

Sephiroth heard Zack's voice in the background. "Hey! I heard that!"

Tifa laughed and Sephiroth was sure it was accompanied by an eye roll directed toward Zack. "Anyway, can you come to Heaven? I want to meet you there."

Okay…What now? Didn't she say she was coming home? He thought. "Why the sudden change of plans? Isn't Heaven a ballroom/restaurant? One of Shinra's properties?" he asked, truly curious.

Tifa answered with a slight disappointment within her voice, "Yes, it is. I wanted to go to a fancy place to celebrate my birthday. You do remember today's my birthday, right?" Her voice stressed on the word "right."

Oh Ifrit. Sephiroth slapped himself mentally for forgetting a very important day. He was so caught up with SOLDIER, his thoughts, and many other things that it had slipped his mind. "Of course! I only thought that you wanted to celebrate it at home." Alone with me, he mentally added.

"I would love to but my friends invited me to a dinner with you! It'll be a lot of fun. The music and dancing…I haven't danced with you for a long time," Tifa said.

He sighed. So much for spending a night together by ourselves. Why is she so gregarious? "What time?"

"Five o'clock. Don't be late!"

"Do you want me to pick you up? Don't you need to change for tonight?"

"Oh," Tifa said, "I forgot to say. Aerith's bought me this beautiful dress. And don't worry, it's not pink. Anywho, I'll see you tonight at Heaven. I love you!"

"And I you."

With that, the line went dead.

"Damn!" Sephiroth swore. He swore again when he remembered he left the cake in the oven. He rushed into the kitchen to save the cake from burning. Thankfully, it was not burnt. He placed the cake on the counter with a great care. He placed his forefinger and thumb on his chin to ponder how he was going to decorate the cake.

"If my memory does not fail me…"

Tifa abhorred a cake only toppled with saccharine frosting; it was cloyingly sweet. Despite her infamous sweet tooth, she preferred less sweet Wutaian cake. Wutaian cake was similar than those baked in Midgar's style; the methods were almost similar but Wutaian cake required less sugar. It usually consisted of simple whipped cream, artistically draped around the cake, and fruits of multitude colors: strawberries, blue berries, tangerines, pineapples and cherries. Sometimes the whipped cream was flavored with either green tea or coffee for a healthier cake.

How ironic, though. "Just how in the abyss are you supposed to eat a healthier cake?" Sephiroth thought aloud. "It's a cake, for Odin's sake. It's meant to be unhealthy." That was what he'd told Tifa when she begged him to have a green tea cake. Only difference was that he told her with a fixed smile instead of giving her a skeptical look and a sarcastic comment.

He heaved a sigh as he applied a copious amount of whipped cream onto the cake. He did not doubt that she would be pleased to find this sweet (or less than what is considered "sweet") surprise waiting for her. More than pleased. She always enjoyed his homemade treats and Junon dishes. "So sumptuously delicious that your cooking could shut down the finest restaurants in Midgar," she once claimed. If it wasn't for the fact that Tifa was a fine cook in her own right, Sephiroth would have thought she was placating his ego. With a keen dexterity, he arranged the fruits on the cake. Satisfied of his work, he took a step back to examine his master piece. Perfect, he thought as he placed the cake in the refrigerator.

With his task finished, he headed off to the shower, ruffling his silver hair in bemusement. Warm water did nothing to pacify his tumultuous array of thoughts. He was more than pleased to see her…Truthfully, he had not expected her call from her work. And what was this birthday party her friends were throwing for her? "Strife," Sephiroth hissed. He clutched his temple when another wave of pain struck his head. The headaches became more frequent of late; neither a Remedy nor Elixir helped with reducing the pain. Not even the last resort casting of Esuna helped. He did not inform Tifa of his illness, lest she worry herself sick. He did not want that, no.

I need to see a doctor, Sephiroth thought.

That fool of a scientist, Hojo, offered to examine him when he heard Sephiroth complaining about a headache to Lazard, but Sephiroth belatedly reclined Hojo's offer. Sephiroth viewed Hojo as a mere scintilla of dirt, completely twisted and demonized, performing horrendous experiments—whether the subject be an animal or human. Without acknowledging Hojo, Sephiroth began to leave the room when Hojo grabbed him by the arm. A sickening wave washed over him when the scientist touched him. Hiding the repulsion that Hojo stirred within him, Sephiroth merely looked at the fool through his bangs and warned him in a low and threatening voice not to come within fifty feet of him. No matter how hard he tried to maintain civility with the scientist, he found the task nigh impossible and always struggled with maintaining his composure around the man.

Sephiroth turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He reached for a fleecy towel and with it, he wiped himself dry. Now for the hard part: his hair. He found his long hair cumbersome to wash and dry, yet he kept it long for a reason. For her. For remembrance of his mother. He never met her in person, for she joined the Lifestream the day he was born. But people always spoke of his mother in reverence; she was of a great beauty, her soft brown hair spilling down to her waist like silk under a bright moon and her soft brown eyes. According to others, he inherited his high bangs from her.

With the task of drying his hair accomplished, he headed to his closet. He picked out a button down gray shirt and black pants to wear. He doffed his T-shirt and jeans and donned the gray shirt and black pants. He checked himself on the mirror, slightly smiling when he found himself presentable.

He fetched his keys and wallet and double checked to see if he left any lights on. Then he started the engine of his car and drove to the mall. He checked the time. It was 2:15 PM. Less than three hours left. Realizing that he still had not eaten lunch, he pondered on different foods, not sure of what he wanted to eat. He wanted something light but he did not want a salad. Settling on a Cinnabon cinnamon roll as his choice, he wondered if he wanted to have it in a proper café or at the mall. Humph. I probably would save time if I ate in the mall. Heaven's about half an hour drive from the mall and if I spend about two hours at the mall…he shrugged. Although…I've to admit, going to the mall by myself is rather awkward. I'm bound to receive stares from everyone. It's not like any other person has a long silver hair or fluorescent, mako-infused green eyes. He rolled his eyes – a habit that rubbed off on him from Zack - as he parked the car.

He got out of the car, locked it, and started for the food court. As he'd expected, people shot him curious stares and gave squeals of recognition. The legendary SOLDIER was here in the mall with ordinary people, dressed in ordinary clothes! It was a sight to behold. Sephiroth nodded when people greeted him and hid frowns from the fan girls—with horrible, red blush—who lionized him and asked him for an autograph. He politely declined with a fake smile. No matter how much he wanted to give them the cold shoulder, his manners did not allow him. Also, Shinra threatened him—to his amusement—to keep up with his image as the Hero of The Wutai War and a polite people's man or be fired. The idea of getting fired did not daunt him; however, he only stayed with the SOLDIER in hopes of catching a glimpse of Tifa at work.

Sephiroth arrived at the food court without much hassle. He stood in Cinnabon line with an impassive face and asked for a cinnamon roll and one grande coffee. He blinked in surprise when the blushing cashier offered to give him the food for free, which he politely refused the offer with a smile and paid for his lunch. He settled down to eat in a reclusive area—while ignoring directed stares—and he picked up the fork to eat when he heard a too familiar voice call out, "Sephiroth?"

Sephiroth raised his head to find Angeal and Genesis standing by his table. "Angeal. Genesis. What are you two doing here?"

"We could ask you the same thing," Genesis said, looking highly amused. "You're not exactly the type to shop in a crowded mall."

Sephiroth rolled his eyes at Genesis but invited him and Angeal to sit. "I suppose I can't ask you the same question. You love the attention from every eligible female you lay your eyes on," Sephiroth said as a group of teenage girls passed by their table, their faces reddening and giggles being stifled when he looked at the girl Genesis was eyeing. He was sure that the girls went out of their way to take a peek at the three famous SOLDIERs in a causal setting.

Genesis scoffed, while Angeal laughed heartily at his sarcastic remark and the girls passing them. Angeal said, "We're actually here to buy a present for my little cousin. I suppose it's the same for you as well?"

"Did she invite you to Heaven?" Sephiroth asked curiously.

"Actually, Cloud did," Angeal answered. "He said it is going to be a surprise party for her. She thinks that it's a small gathering. From what I've heard, Cloud suggested organizing a surprise birthday party for Tifa to President Shinra and the President consented. Said that it was the least he could do."

Sephiroth's brow disappeared behind his silver locks. "Strife?"

Genesis sniggered. "Yeah, him. That kid's jealous of you. Haven't you seen him glaring daggers at you?"

Sephiroth was acutely aware of Strife's hatred toward him. He always ignored the blond's glare, feigning that there was no animosity between them.

"He's probably jealous of you," Genesis continued with his right fist under his chin, "for stealing the heart of a fair maiden. He was Tifa's childhood sweetheart once, wasn't he?"

"Cloud's a good kid like Zack, but considering what he put Tifa through, he doesn't…well," Angeal sighed. "I'm sure he's repented his ways and regrets what he did, but it's too late. But you, Sephiroth, are good to her. I'm grateful for that."

"Hm."

"So, what are you going to buy for her?" Genesis asked with a small grin spreading across his face.

"I'm not sure," Sephiroth sighed. "She's never asked for anything, so I've always baked a cake for her."

Genesis let out a dramatic snort of disapproval. "A cake and that's all?"

"Is there a problem with that?" Sephiroth asked with a raised eyebrow.

"A cake?" Genesis repeated, not believing what he had heard. "No romantic night out? Nothing 'special' planned after the party?"

"Genesis ..." Both Sephiroth and Angeal warned.

With a small laugh, Genesis raised his hands. "Sorry, but that's very typical of you, Sephy. She's your wife for Minerva's sake! You honestly don't know what she wants?"

Sephiroth frowned at both Genesis' question and the abhorred nickname. "Do you think I would've said that if I wasn't honest?" A grin slowly replaced his frown. "Besides, what makes you think you know what women want, Lil' Gen-Gen?"

Genesis' brow slightly tensed.

"Because he's a big flirt," Angeal answered with a chuckle. "One day, he met this red—"

"Anyway," Genesis interrupted, "We're not here to talk about that." Genesis shifted in his sit and looked at Angeal. "Since she's your cousin, maybe you can suggest what she would want."

Angeal stroked his chin before answering, "Even though I'm like a brother to her, I don't know all of her interests. I know she still practices martial arts…Speaking of which, Sephiroth, she did mention to you that she needed a new pair of gloves."

"A new pair of gloves? In middle of summer?" Genesis asked skeptically.

"For fighting. She wears leather gloves when she fights," Angeal explained.

"I knew that she worked with WRO to catch criminals but I didn't know she really…fights," Genesis said.

"You should spar with her one day. She's a formidable opponent," Angeal laughed.

"A sharpened sword against fists?" Genesis asked incredulously. "I doubt the match would last very long. A normal human against a SOLDIER? Please ..."

A smug expression washed across Sephiroth's face. "You'd be surprised, Genesis. She's quite agile and can easily avoid a blade. She dodges the Masamune's blade with a gracefulness that would put you to shame."

Genesis scoffed. "I doubt that. Besides, she's your wife. Of course you'd take it-"

"I don't. She hates to be babied," Sephiroth stated, interrupting Genesis.

Angeal laughed. "That's right. You never saw her spar with Cloud and I, have you?" Angeal asked. "She packs a punch. I still have an apple sized bruise on my side from the last spar."

Sephiroth raised his coffee to drink but it stopped in midair. "Wait. She sparred with you and Strife?"

"I thought you knew," Angeal said thoughtfully.

The lines on Sephiroth's forehead delve in deeper as he frowned. "No."

"That's interesting," Angeal commented. "They come to spar at the SOLDIER training room at least once a week. Oddly, they only come when you're away on a mission."

"Hm."

"Are you going to be aloof about it? What if she's cheating on you?" Genesis asked, amused.

Count to three before you answer, Sephiroth thought. Calm down. Then he answered, "I doubt that she's cheating on me. Don't leap into conclusions. It's most likely that Strife brings her there because he knows that I do not like to see them together, friend or not."

"Hey, you never know," Genesis commented.

"Hmph, you read far too many romance novels, Genesis. What was that favorite book of yours? Love—"

"Loveless and don't you dare forget it."

Sephiroth smirked, tapping his head twice with his index finger. "How can I not? When you beat it into my head?"

"All right, gentlemen," Angeal interjected when he felt the tension rise between the two. "Sephiroth, I believe you have a present to buy. It's already past three o'clock. If you want to know where you can find the gloves—"

"The Rag-Tag store. I've heard of it," Sephiroth finished.

Angeal clapped on Sephiroth's shoulder. "We will see you at five." He and Genesis nodded to Sephiroth and left.

oooOOooo

Rag-Tag store

A mixture of dust, leather, oil, and oddly, gunpowder scents hit Sephiroth's nose in full force, causing him to cringe his nose a little. This was one of the reasons why he hated the side effects of mako. Mako enhanced his five senses and it was useful, but it also had its drawbacks. He sniffed disdainfully and nodded at the dingy old man behind the counter, who waved his arm lazily in return, unfazed at the sight of the legendary SOLDIER.

"Put the items back where it belongs after you look through, y'hear?" the man drawled.

Sephiroth did not answer. He was too occupied on finding the section for martial artists. He had to admit, the store had an impressive array of goods. The goods varied, divided in sections for different style of fighting. On one wall were swords, stacked neatly by length and style. Other shelves included guns, ammunition's, boots, scabbards, and exotic items that he concluded were from Wutai.

"Ye find what y'like?" The store owner stood beside him with a cigarette clenched between his crooked yellow teeth. "A mighty fine SOLDIER like you would find something of interest, eh? How about that katana over there, directly imported from Wutai? Finest made, boy. Mighty fine."

Corner of Sephiroth's mouth twitched amusedly at the way this man casually approached him. He wondered if the man knew who he was. The man knew he was a SOLDIER…Interested in knowing how the man would reply, he kept his silence.

The man continued his musing, "I know you use that seven foot long sword. How in Ifrit's inferno can you wield it, I yonder? I guess that's from being a SOLDIER. Y'know, my nephew tried to get into SOLDIER. I think he—"

"Sir—"

"—got into Third Class. Maybe he's a Shinra grunt but—"

Sephiroth grew irritated by this man prattling; he gathered his composure and tried to interrupt the man politely. "Sir."

The man stared at him. "M'name's Pete, not 'sir.'"

"Mr. Pete, I'm looking for the section for martial artists." Sephiroth said.

"Just Pete, please," Pete said. He blew a cloud of smoke and said, "I thought ye were a swordsman."

"I'm buying it for someone else."

"Alright, alright. This way." Pete guided an impatient silver haired man down the aisle. "Martial arts ain't the most popular section. Not many practice it, y'see. Well, here we are."

Indeed, the section for martial arts was a lot smaller compared to the other sections. It, however, had every item that a martial artist would need. There were good selections of boots, gloves, elbow guards, etc. Sephiroth placed a thumb and index finger on his chin, examining various gloves. The colors mostly consisted of black, brown, red, and oddly, pink.

"They're all made with the finest leather," Pete said.

A red pair of gloves caught Sephiroth's eyes. It was bright red like blood; there were openings allowing the fingers to move more freely and three black beads were embedded on the knuckles, allowing the fighter to do more damage. He read the label that said "Premium Heart." He picked up the gloves and examined it, wondering if Tifa would like it.

"Premium Heart, eh? You have an eye for fine items. This here is made outta dragon hide. Real sturdy. Custom made. You see the black stones? They're hard as diamonds. Real nice, eh?" Pete's face beamed, looking pleased.

Sephiroth nodded curtly and picked up Premium Heart. He handed it to Pete and walked to the register, pulling out his wallet to pay. "How much?"

"Normally, I would make you pay 20,000 gil for those gloves. But today's yer lucky day. I know you've a mighty nice gal. Who was it—Tifa, yes. The busty gal. Nice curves too. Anywho, she occasionally drops by to buy or just to say hello. And that boy…who was it? He had a memorable hair style," said Pete thoughtfully as he wrapped the gloves in a paper wrapper.

"Did he have blond hair? Spikes?"

Pete snapped his fingers. "Yeah, that was it. He was holding her rather closely. I thought she was your gal. Ain't she?"

Sephiroth did not reply. So…they were here together too?

"Hey now, don't be makin' scary faces now. Take heart, boy. She didn't look too comfortable. Anyway, the pay," Pete grinned. "I'll take 15,000 gil from ye."

Sephiroth opened his wallet and handed the man his credit card. He then checked his watch. It was four o'clock. One hour left. He watched Pete place the wrapped gloves into a small square box and wrap it in a gaudy gift wrapper, finally finishing it with a bright yellow ribbon. "I know it's her birthday today. That cheeky girl came by last week with a giant grin plastered on her face. Said she's looking forward to spend her birthday with her husband. We are good friends, she and I. Well here ye go. Here are the gloves. And here—take this and give this to her, will ya?" Pete handed him another small box. "I know she'll refuse if I give this to her."

Sephiroth nodded his thanks. He accepted the boxes and bid the man goodbye. He checked his watch again. It was a quarter past four. He rolled his eyes. He appreciated Pete's generosity, but he was too garrulous. He brushed stray bangs out of his eyes, simultaneously sighing. He fished out his keys from his pocket and continued his way down to the parking lot. His brows and mouth twitched when he saw a horde of fan girls crowded around his car, admiring it lovingly and squealing in delight with "Oh my gosh! I touched Sephiroth's car!" He had no idea how they managed to track down where his car was parked. How in the world was he supposed to avoid these…stalking girls without being tardy to the party? As a punctilious man, he abhorred being off the schedule. Just the thought alone piqued his irritation further. As he approached his car, the battalion of girls surrounded him, their eyes locked on their prey. However, they quailed and backed away when anger flashed in his eyes. He ignited the engine and started toward Heaven. He sighed in relief when he could not see the fan girls with the rear mirror. The day wasn't over yet, but Sephiroth was exhausted. He could not believe so many events happened in one day.

-Ring, ring. Ring, ring.-

The cell phone interrupted Sephiroth's train of thoughts. Why is everyone so anxious to call me today? I should just discard the damn thing.

He picked up the phone and answered, "Hello?"

"Sephiroth. This is Lazard."

"Lazard? I'm on a vacation," Sephiroth said tersely before Lazard said anything.

"I know that you are. I apologize, but would you please drop by the office? Ah, scratch that. President Shinra wants to talk to you," Lazard said.

Sephiroth glared at the phone.

"Please, Sephiroth. I know you're glaring at your phone right now. Look, I'm just conveying his message to you," said Lazard exasperatedly.

"Tell Shinra that—"

Lazard interrupted, "Tell him yourself. If it is possible, get to his office as soon as possible. And please, don't run him through with your bloody sword," he said with a sarcastic laugh.

"Is this necessary, Lazard?"

"Do I ever call you if it wasn't nece—" Sephiroth turned off the phone. He frowned and changed his course to the Shinra HQ. The idea of running someone though with his Masamune suddenly seemed very entertaining …

oooOOooo

Shinra HQ

4:30 PM.

"You better have a good reason for dragging me back to work," Sephiroth said dryly, not caring to hide his impatience.

Rufus smirked, interlocked his fingers, and brought them to his chin. "I indeed do have a good reason to 'drag' you back here," Rufus said. Sephiroth suddenly had an urge to wipe that arrogant smirk off of blond's face.

"Elucidate."

"There has been a massive mako leak in Nibelheim and the amount of monsters has increased due to the leak. The mako contaminated many natural springs in Mt. Nibel. If we do not take action soon, mako will seep into Nibel Lake, the major water source for the people of Nibelheim," Rufus explained.

"And why is it my concern? I'm on vacation," Sephiroth demanded.

The smirk disappeared, much to Sephiroth's surprise. "You're aware of Hojo's disappearance?"

Sephiroth nodded. "Our last…and very eventful day. It was the day I actually tolerated his presence." His mouth twitched to a small smirk as he vividly remembered the scientist's expression of shock when he cleanly sliced off Hojo's right hand.

"We presumed Hojo dead, for we could not locate his body. We assumed that he fell into the pool of mako. However…few denizens of Nibelheim reported a sighting of a long-haired man wearing glasses and a white lab coat walking toward the abandoned mako factory. Some claimed to have heard screams in the middle of the night from the mountains," Rufus explained. "We are not hundred percent sure if the man was Hojo or not, but…if it was him, we cannot allow him to roam freely unchecked. He's too dangerous. Who knows what kind of abominations he is creating ..." He paused and looked at the silver haired man squarely in the eye.

Sephiroth said nothing.

"Therefore, I want you to go there and investigate. See if Hojo's there. If he is, I want you to bring him back alive. If he makes trouble, subdue him. Subdue, not kill. I am certain that he will stir trouble. I do not doubt your abilities as an elite SOLDIER. But I am assigning another SOLDIER, a Turk and three MPs. Ah, also a guide to help you navigate through Mt. Nibel," Rufus said, sighing heavily.

"Who's the guide?" Sephiroth crossed his arms.

"Someone you would appreciate being there with you." Rufus's mouth twitched to a small smile. "WRO."

"Tifa?"

"Yes, Ms. Lockhart. Or should I say Mrs. Crescent? As a native of Nibelheim, she is a great candidate as a guide," Rufus said.

"Who is the other SOLDIER?"

"I thought of sending Strife with you, for he's also from Nibelheim. But…take Fair with you." Rufus glanced at the clock. "My, it's already past five. I apologize for keeping you here. You've a party to attend. I should be going as well. It is a big celebration and I too, was invited."

Sephiroth turned to leave. When he reached for the doorknob, Rufus called, "Sephiroth. I am aware of what Hojo did to you. Do not let your personal feelings cloud your judgment."

"I never do." He slammed the door behind him. He could feel his faint scar on his left hand tingle.

Next up: Chapter 2 A Night at Heaven

Yeah...reviews are appreciated.