Chapter 25: The unthinkable happens
The sun shined down on us from the highest point in the sky. I would have been sweating profusely if we weren't driving so fast. I kept glancing over at Cloud, wishing he would say something or at least look at me. The determination on his face was indescribable, dead set on what he planned to do once we caught up with Kadaj. I liked this expression more than his previous one.
The fight with Jenova really shook him up, but I've never heard him sound so scared before. He always let his eyes explain how he felt before, but he seemed pushed to his limit this time. I was scared too, but that battle was behind us. Now, we had to stop the true battle from beginning. My mind was made up, Clouds as well I'm sure: We would do everything in our power to prevent the recreation of Sephiroth.
The sound of an engine up ahead caught my attention. I snapped my head up just in time to see Kadaj speed past up ahead of us. As he drove past, I recognized the slope behind him. It's the one I fell down, way back when I first arrived here. Now was a good a time as ever to use it to my advantage.
I made the sharpest turn known to man and took off for the top of the slope. I was over it within seconds and flying downhill to the next level. I drove around the back ruins, to keep from being seen. I could see Kadaj already at his destination, standing and waiting for us. I made it all the way around, but Cloud would definitely meet him when the road ended. I parked my bike and snuck back toward Kadaj.
Halfway back, I accidentally knocked down a sign that said "ShinRa building", making more noise than wanted. I waited, afraid of being bombarded by Kadaj’s seductive attempts to be me to come back again in disgust. When nothing happened, I continued onward. At last, he was in my sight, along with the box in plain view. As I tried to think of some way to get it away from him, Kadaj took it out from under his arm. He stared at the crack in concern, stroking it again and again.
"......................Mother, do you think...............she would have loved me if I hadn't given her the Mako? Or was it always meant for her to be with brother?"
"NO! No, I would never love you!" was what I wanted to scream in his face, but I didn't want to risk giving myself away. It wasn't long before I could hear Cloud approaching. Kadaj tucked the box back under his arm and waited near the edge. I peaked around the corner just enough to see Cloud staring up at Kadaj, his sword in hand, ready for anything.
"Brother, I'm with her at last."
"...So what's going to happen now?"
If I didn't hear his stupid laugh ever again it wouldn't be soon enough. "Mother's going to tell me."
"Not for much longer." I took a step forward to reveal my hiding place. I came out just enough for Cloud to see, but still remain unknowing to Kadaj.
"...I guess a Remnant wouldn't really know."
Even I didn't need to see Kadaj’s face to know that it's distorted with loathing towards Cloud. A comment like that would push anyone off the deep end.
"So what if I'm a puppet....."
His arm is glowing again, his target this time: Cloud. Keeping my feet planted was harder than being patient with Reno at anything. Just one more minute, one more second, one more moment.
"Once upon a time....." I jolted forward and reached. ".....you were too!"
Just as he finished I pushed it out of his hands. He turned towards me as I jumped after the box, his attack missing Cloud. I caught the box just as I crashed into an office near the top of the ShinRa building. As I crawled out of all the dusty boxes, I felt my phone vibrating. I tucked Jenova under my arm, flipping my phone open.
"Did you get my message, Reno?!"
"Reno?!"
"Tifa?!"
"Where are you?!"
"I don't know, somewhere in the ShinRa building. I have Jenova, though."
"You do?! Ge-I have the materia! Let's ki-WHOA!!!"
"Yuffie? Where'd Tif-"
"Watch it, Cid! You alm-Hey, shortie, save me some butt kicking!"
"Barret? Plea-"
"You want off?! Then jump! Get off my back!"
"Hello?"
"Give me the phone, Vincent!"
"He can handle this himself. Let them go at it-"
"DANG IT, PEOPLE, I'M STILL HERE! GIVE TIFA THE DANG PHONE, VINCENT!!!"
".............Finally! Wherever you are, come out and we'll get you."
"In what?!"
I hear the phone click as Cid’s ship comes into view. I close my phone and head for the exit. Just as I step outside I'm sent flying back in. I crawl out of more crushed boxes as Kadaj comes inside.
"Are you going to make this easy for both of us?"
"Does Loz have a brain that works?!"
"...Give me 'Mother', sister."
"Sorry, I was wrong. You're the one without a functional brain."
"Give. Me. Mother. Now!"
"Take it from me! That's the only way you'll get it!"
"Why are you so difficult?!"
"I don't know, maybe you made me that way when you gave me the Mako!"
The room became completely silent. Kadaj kept staring at me, completely bewildered by what I said. I could have knocked him over with a feather he was too stunned.
".....You heard me...........You heard me!...........YOU HEARD ME!!!"
Suddenly, Kadaj was in the air coming towards me, his sword pulled back behind him. I reached for my sword with my free hand as I stepped back. I forgot all about the crap I landed in earlier and fell back into it. I drew my sword just in time as Kadaj forced me deeper into the filthy remains of what ShinRa used to be. With only one arm holding my sword Kadaj had my sword pressed back on me in no time.
"Then tell me! Would you ever have felt the way you feel about brother towards me?! Would you?!!!"
"NO! No, I would never love you!" I can scream these words in my head over and over, yet I can't let them escape my mouth.
"......I-"
"ALYSHA!!!"
Before I could even look over Cloud was already going at it with Kadaj.
"Take it and go!"
I scrambled out of the dusty havoc and departed through the passage in the wall. As I began to fall downward, a sudden force shot through my arm. Kadaj’s sword continued going as Jenova flies back up in the air.
Once I reached the ground, I kicked off and jumped back up for the box. Just as I'm about to grab it, another hand gets to it first. I wasn't paying enough attention to notice the opposite hand grab around my waist till it was too late. I feel myself flying upward, being smashed against a wall.
http://www.imeem.com/people/xHBy_-/music/aSwl7Ct-/yoko_kanno_friends/
"Let me g-" Kadaj jerked me forward just enough so that our lips were embraced. I felt stuck in a trance that was impossible to break free. Kadaj pushed me back against the wall and pressed himself closer. His hand held the small of my back while the other dropped Jenova and cupped around the back of my neck. I could feel my cheeks flushing as he deepened this forbidden kiss. His lips, in the worst possible way, were warm, and inviting. His tongue traced the outline of my lips, but made no attempt to enter. I could feel every muscle across his chest we were so close. Only when he stopped did I remember to breathe again.
"I know now..........I never had a chance. Your heart has always belonged to brother. I know you'll never return my feelings..............but I want you to know that mine were real, not put here." He places his hand on my geostigma-infested arm. "....Like this."
"Kadaj!" Clouds sword is just inches away from Kadajs face. "Let. Her. Go."
Kadaj ignores his threat and and turns back towards me. "Good-bye........." He leans down to give one final kiss on the cheek.
That was enough to blow Cloud to the moon and back. He swung across just as Kadaj grabbed Jenova and went to grab his sword. Cloud followed and the whole brawl started again. Swords clashing together finally brought me back to reality.
I couldn't resist touching my fingers to my lips; they were still warm.
“Good-bye............”
His last comment finally sunk in; it's going to happen. I look over to see Cloud standing over Kadaj dangling from the building. To confuse him, Kadaj threw Jenova up at Cloud, instinct telling him to strike. I join Cloud as Kadaj quickly grabs Jenova as the box slides open. He cradles what's left of it as the box falls away.
"My Reunion.........Bet you're dying to watch."
It's happening. Cloud and I don't waste a second as we draw our swords and start after him. Kadaj presses Jenova to his chest and shrieks in pain. Cloud grips his sword tight as he prepares to strike.
My heart starts to beat faster once Kadaj stops screaming. He lands gracefully and puts his hands up as Cloud brings his sword down. The impact reveals the long sword crossing Clouds and the person who took pleasure in haunting my dreams.
"Good to see you.......Cloud."
I gasped as Cloud was thrown off and sent flying back towards me. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back with him towards the top of the building. As we landed Sephiroth floated up to join us on the other side. He grinned at Cloud, then smiled deviously at me.
"Your geostigma is gone?"
Obviously, he wasn't talking to me. Cloud refused to answer, still gripping my arm.
"That's too bad...........unlike her."
Cloud pushed me behind him and stepped forward. "Sephiroth, what do you want?"
"The last thoughts of geostigma's dead. Those Remnants will join the Lifestream and girdle the planet.........choking it, corroding it.........."
Cloud seemed just as unsure about this as I was. He didn't want to destroy the planet?!
"What I want, Cloud....is to sail the darkness of the cosmos with this planet as my vessel....just as my mother did long ago."
Scratch that, he wanted to do it in the most inhumane way. He raises his hand and the sky becomes engulfed in a sinister darkness. A memory flashes before my eyes.
“The world is dark, clouds surrounding all of Midgar....”
This is exactly what I seen in my dream from way back when. If this has happened.........then the rest...............
"No!" I stepped in between Cloud and Sephiroth, my sword drawn.
"Alysha?! What are-"
"Get out of here! This is my battle! You can't fight this time!"
".........I will fi-"
"No! Leave, please!"
"What's wrong?! Tell me!!!!"
"I'm sorry, I won't let you fight! I can't!!!"
I swung all the way around and hit Clouds sword hard. I watched him disappear out of this becoming prison of black Lifestream, then turned to face Sephiroth.
"I'm thrilled you've decided to join me. After all.............we were conceived to fight together."
".....What are you talking about?!"
"It seems mother didn't get to your memory as planned. Very well, it's time for you to learn the truth; You are my sister, the other half of Jenova. You, are the unborn child.”
Until the next chapter
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sephiroth is her brother?! Oh shoot, we've got some family crisis issues going on here. Did anyone see this coming? I won't lie, this was an idea from the very beginning, besides falling in love with Cloud. "Unexpected" is really playing its part now. Like I said, I haven't even started 26 yet so even I don't know how all this happened. I'm going to try to finish at least two of them or all of them before publishing, but we'll see what happens. See you in chapter 26.
