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Dream of Me (chapters 0-7)	By : ladysanzennine Category: Final Fantasy VII > Het - Male/Female > Sephiroth/Aerith Views: 2116 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Don't own ff7. Don't many no monies.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue
- 2-1
- 3-2
- 4-3
- 5-4
- 6-5
- 7-6
- 8-7
- 2
- 3
- 4
Dream of Me
Chapter 2
Standard Disclaimer: Everything is the property of Squaresoft Inc.

A cruel smile graced Sephiroth’s lips as he stepped into the night. The familiar weight of his shoulder guards and the smell of leather were welcome reminders of who he truly was beneath the title of ruler.
General Sephiroth.
He gripped the hilt of Masamune, the sword that had accompanied him for so long it was more of an extension of his body than just another piece of cold metal. The thick black material of his coat fluttered behind him and whipped against his legs as his armored boots carried him quietly away from the heavily guarded palace.
Sephiroth sighed, remembering days past when his duties were not so numerous. The main drawback of having everything beneath you power was the responsibility attached to it.
But not tonight. Tonight there was only the chase. The hunter stalking his prey.
Run, run as fast as you can.
I’m coming for you.
*          *          *
Midgar was so different from what Aeris remembered.
The entire structure of the city had changed since Sephiroth had come to power. The plate had been removed and the city had expanded to cover more than four times the land it had used to occupy. Through sheer terror, Sephiroth had managed to maintain much better control over his people than Shinra had ever managed to. As a result, few resources needed to be utilized to prevent rebellions and more productive construction could take place.
What was better, she wondered. Being oppressed and living in fear but better physical conditions, or life in the slums where almost anything was a go as long as you didn’t get caught by the wrong people?
She wandered the dark streets, not recognizing anything. Hunger gnawed at her belly, but she refused to appease it. First she’d find a weapon shop and try to bargain down the cheapest staff they had. It wouldn’t be much use without any materia, but there was no help for it. She simply didn’t have the money. Hell, she couldn’t even afford a regular guard stick at regular price. But at least she’d have some means of defending herself against average people who might try to take her in.
“Excuse me, do you know where the nearest weapon shop might be?” she asked a passing stranger. She really would have preferred it if she didn’t need to speak to anyone until she was safe.
“Have you been living under a rock, lady?” The man asked her rudely while giving her a strange look. She was after all, still wearing her sunglasses at night. “Lord Sephiroth banned shops from selling weapons and materia a long time ago. That way only SOLDIER is equipped properly.”
Crestfallen, Aeris murmured her thanks and hurried away from him. Where had she been recently? Off on her own little planet no doubt. She cursed herself for her ignorance.
Now what?
*          *          *
Sephiroth leaned against the wall of the nearest building, his eyes scanning the black horizon. He crossed his arms over his chest and mused over how to locate his little runaway.
She had to be the right girl, he felt certain. One of the two men that had come to report their capture and subsequent loss of her had informed him of the interesting fact that the girl had a unique ability to culture flowers even in impossible conditions. It certainly sounded like his Cetra.
She had to know by now that everyone was trying to find a girl matching her physical description, so she would have found a way to disguise herself, he thought. Either by dying her hair or concealing it somehow.
Would she try to hide her eyes as well?
He began walking again, his feet taking him in different directions as if of their own accord. Idly, he wondered if perhaps he somehow sensed her without realizing it.
*          *          *
Abandoning any sense of etiquette or grace, Aeris dug into the poor tasting fast food that she’d bought. God’s she was hungry, not having eaten since that morning.
The shoddy chair beneath her was cold and the table before her was dirty. She had enough money to last her for a few days at most, and she couldn’t risk trying to find passage back to icicle village. She couldn’t show her face in the light of day, had no real way of defending herself except a small dagger that she was only mediocre at handling anyways. The entire world was looking for her and she was truly and completely alone.
How in the Planet’s name had this happened to her?
She wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Tears that could not be held at bay trickled down under her shades and down her cheek to fall in small round stains on her pants. Just the other day she was still living in ignorant bliss, never dreaming that something like this could possibly happen to her.
To love the devil…To be hunted by him is more like it.
With a sob she recalled what her abductors had said when they didn’t think she was listening. He actually wanted her dead.
But why? What have I done to make him hate me so much?
“Excuse me miss, are you alright?”
Aeris looked up to see the concerned face of the one busboy working in the restaurant at that hour. She realized at that moment how many times she’d seen that expression directed towards her that day. Well, this would be the last time. No more tears.
Taking a moment to steady her voice, she replied calmly, “Of course, thank you. But, could you maybe direct me to the nearest inn?”
He looked at her skeptically, not believing her offhanded denial of her troubles. “Sure. It’s just a few blocks left of here.”
She thanked him and he went back to his work. Polishing off the last of the stale, greasy food, her mind went back to money issues. It would cost her a hundred gil a night, which meant that she could stay for all of one and a quarter nights.
Fuck.
*          *          *
Did she have enough money to afford a room at a tavern, he wondered? Or would she rough it on the streets of Midgar?
Somehow, the thought of that unsettled him greatly.
Surely she wouldn’t be so foolish as to spend a night in the alleys of the biggest metropolis in the world. That would be an invitation for rape or murder. Or both.
He paused his walking to glance at the fast-food chain restaurant across the street. It was one of the few buildings still open for business that late into the night.
Why not?
Sephiroth pushed open the door and stepped into the poorly maintained interior, frowning with distaste. Empty, he quickly noted, but he continued forward to the counter where a young man rushed out take his order. Upon seeing who his customer was, the boy froze and swallowed hard.
“M-my lord,” he stuttered. He glanced around nervously and unconsciously began tugging at the corners of his grease stained shirt. “What, um, br-brings your Lordship here?”
“Have you seen a woman tonight?” Sephiroth demanded of him. Pleasantries were not wasted upon the low class. “Looking as if she had something to hide?”
At first the boy just returned Sephiroth’s mako intensity with a blank stare, but after a moment, he suddenly looked startled. Now Sephiroth knew that somehow, miraculously, he was on the right track.
The busboy replied slowly with wide eyes, “There was a woman in here just a while ago.” He paused, trying to remember what she looked like. His brow furrowed with the effort. “Didn’t get a good look at her, she had a blue scarf covering her hair and sunglasses. I thought it was weird that she’d wear shades close to midnight.” Understanding slowly dawned on him as he asked, “She’s that girl you’re offering two million for, isn’t she?”
Sephiroth just nodded curtly and dismissively before heading towards the exit. Over his shoulder he asked, “I suppose she’s heading towards Chester’s Tavern?”
“Um, yeah, I think so.” The busboy mentally kicked himself for not realizing that she could be the mystery girl that was all of a sudden so wanted. That wealth had been so close, so close and yet it had slipped away just like that.
Idiot, Sephiroth thought as he began walking towards the tavern.
*          *          *
“It’s a hundred gil a night.”
“But the rooms are for three, and I’m only one person. Isn’t there any way?”
“Look, if I put you in a room, other people aren’t going to want to share that room with a stranger. It’s gotta be full price.”
Aeris worried at her lower lip caught in her predicament. Spend almost all of her money on a room for just one night? She couldn’t. If she did that then in a matter of days there would only be one choice left. To go to the palace and just turn herself in, hoping that whatever he planned to do to her, it would be over with quickly.
Damned if she was going to run into Sephiroth’s arms.
“Thank you,” she told the tavern owner sadly before walking away. Just as she reached the door though, she turned back to him. “Give me a drink, please. I’ll just stay for a bit longer.”
He smiled at her and passed her a full cup. Aeris paid the few gil it cost her and slumped down onto the nearest bench. Despair threatened to overwhelm her for the hundredth time that day, but she held the tears back. She could just hear Sephiroth’s voice, All you can do is cry. How nauseating.
At least it’s warm in here, Aeris thought as she took a sip from her cup. Normally she detested alcohol, but now it just seemed so appropriate. Giving in to exhaustion’s claim, she rested her forehead on her folded arms over the table. She glanced at the near empty cup beside her and thought sarcastically, A toast. To the end of my life.
Planet? My friend? She reached out with her mind. No reply.
Alone again. Gods I hate this. This beautiful, wonderful, accursed thing we call life.
Her eyelids fell gently to shut out the world, and at that moment, the tavern door opened. She didn’t notice the cold wind that blew in through the open door before it was shut softly, nor did she notice the man standing there studying her intently.
Sephiroth sat down at a table at the far back of the room before the innkeeper noticed his presence. In the dim light and black shadows, he was near invisible. He rested his chin on top of his fist, elbow propped up on the table before him.
The innkeeper walked over to his female guest, completely unaware of the only other occupant of the room observing them. “Hey,” he said softly, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. She raised her head to look at him, eyes still obscured by midnight dark sunglasses. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I wish…but, that doesn’t help very much.”
“Hmm, I know the feeling. You aren’t alone.” He told her. He sat down on the bench across the table from her and searched her concealed face.
“I’m not so sure,” Aeris responded miserably. The last of her kind, in a world where she could trust no one except the retired members of Avalanche. And in this moment of real need, she had no way to contact them for help. For that matter, she didn’t even know if Cloud and Tifa were still alive, though she had faith in their survival abilities.
“Say, um, you wouldn’t by any chance happen to be that girl Lord Sephiroth is looking for?”
He noticed the way she immediately tensed and looked about ready to flee at a moment’s notice. “Don’t worry,” he quickly added, “I’m not going to turn you in.”
“Why not?” she asked, looking at him suspiciously.
He shrugged, “Frankly, I don’t think it’s worth the risk. Getting close to his Lordship equals a higher chance of death. I’m just surprised that no one else has grabbed you yet, what with how you look right now.”
Aeris smiled tiredly, relaxing now that she sensed he was being sincere. “I look that conspicuous, huh?”
“With shades on at this time of night? Man, I always knew the people in this part of town were pretty dumb. You’re lucky I was right.”
Chuckling, she removed her sunglasses and placed them on the table, revealing her eyes for the first time since that morning. It was a relief to be able to be rid of them for at least a while. She could hardly see anything with them on in the low light. “Well, it was either the glasses or these eyes.”
“I see your point,” the innkeeper acknowledged. Damn, but she’s a fine one, he thought to himself, taking in the wide set golden green eyes that spoke of mysteries beyond human comprehension. “So how did you get into this crazy mess, anyways?”
“That’s the thing,” she groaned, slumping down in her seat with a frown. “I have no idea. We only ever met once – and that was five years ago.”
“Well, you must be one hell of a special girl, little lady.”
She muttered her reply, “Yeah.” A pause. “Do you believe in fate?”
“Fate?” He looked taken back. “Not really. Why do you ask?”
Aeris shrugged, “I don’t really know myself, except that an old friend of mine once told me that all of this was going to happen someday. I didn’t believe her.”
“That’s pretty crazy stuff. But who really knows? We’re all just human.”
Just human. A smirk crossed Sephiroth’s face, unseen in the shadows. Not this one, innkeeper.
“Hey, it’s getting late.” The innkeeper told Aeris, pitying the girl. “Tell you what, why don’t you go on up and take a room. On the house! I’m just going to finish cleaning up.”
“Oh…thank you very much,” she said with surprise. “Do you need any help or anything?”
He smiled at her as he rose and walked towards the counter. “That won’t be necessary my dear. You go get some sleep. And good luck with everything.” He disappeared into the kitchen with one last wave.
Aeris heaved a sigh and stood, feeling indescribably grateful to the man, but unable to express it in her current melancholy mood. She raised her arms over her head and arched her back slightly, stretching aching, stiff limbs. She picked up the sunglasses from the tabletop and turned towards the stairs that led to the guestrooms level of the tavern.
And found herself staring straight into the brilliant mako eyes of the devil.
Aeris stopped breathing.

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~LS~
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Dream of Me (chapters 0-7)