Final Fantasy Main Story RP ARC II

Kadaj hummed softly at Angeal's comment. Comfort had never really been high on the Remnant's list of priorities in the past. It had always been his duty to do as Mother had willed, comfortable or no. Now that he was free from that, he would have to re-prioritize.

Kadaj gave the room a customary glance over, noting the tech that he had never really had an eye or ear for. His bike and his phone had been the only tech he needed, so everything else was new and alien to him. The young remnant chose the bed closest to the far wall, finally totally removing the scrap of cloth that had served as a make-shift cloak and letting it settle down on top of the bed. The bed spread was a tannish color with a paisley print. He shook out his chin-length silver hair before he took off his scabbard which contained his Souba. He then unbuckled the straps around his legs that kept his coat from flying about when he was riding, unzipping the leather coat and shrugging it off to inspect the new scars from the magical healing as well as several nasty bruises that were forming from his encounter with Deepground.

Rolling his shoulders, he sat down to inspect his sword, pulling a small whetstone from a hidden pocket on his jacket to sharpen the dual blade, sitting down on the bed as he worked.

Nanaki shook his head, got behind Yuffie and pushed her out of the room. "You are not fine, Yuffie," he answered, making sure his voice was low enough to not be overheard but so she could hear him. "I can feel it. Jenova has marked you. I knew that when I saw you. I did not know about the wings until you mentioned it in there. You being in a coat suddenly simply means you have them too." He stopped and stepped ahead of her, looking up at her face so she could see him clearly. "Believe me when I say I am not afraid of you. Nor would any of the others be if they knew. We are your friends, Yuffie!"

Nanaki scratched at an ear. "I want to stay near you until we find out how to reverse the infection. Since I'm a guardian of this planet, I can sense it, so I can help you make sure you're following your own thoughts and that Jenova isn't taking over. She'll be subtle and she'll be relentless. I don't know if the others will notice, or if they'll be able to help you should Jenova get... forceful. I can at least anchor you." He nudged her with his head. "Go on and find somewhere you can take off that coat, gather what you think we'll need. I'll go back in and see which base we're checking out and if anyone else is coming with us."

It wasn't surprising that he was being sent with Zack, not when none of the others would willingly trust him, and it was not that he minded either. He watched the interactions, not saying anything as Zack asked for numbers. He knew he would need to get his own phone in order to keep in touch with Zack if they were seperated.

There was a sudden feeling and Sephiroth turned as Zack touched his arm. There was something wrong, he could feel it. "Yes," Sephiroth gave a nod as he turned towards the door and walked away. He could hear the familiar presence in his mind as fingers clenched slightly. He had returned to redeem himself and now she was there again. He had to fight it, couldn't let the past repeat itself.

"Yes, it is indeed," he said as he glanced back at him. There had been missions before of course, just the two of them, so this was nothing new. As Zack took off he quickly joined him, his single black wing stretching out and catching the wind. There was worry of course, the presence of her in his mind. It was just like Nibelhiem, and given history that specific mission had not turned out so well for him. He couldn't let it consume him but he was certain that it was only a matter of time before the presence returned to the words constantly in his head.

For now she was just there, not as strong as she had once been, but Sephiroth knew he was fighting against time now. He needed his redemption, needed to fight this, do anything to keep her at bay. He would not become her loyal child again.

At that Sephiroth turned towards him in response. "I know Zack, and I appreciate it."

The question however was not something he had an answer to himself and it was the same question that he himself was battling with. A slight sigh escaped as his eyes locked forward. "There is nothing you can do Zackary. She will consume you until you cannot even think of anything other than her will. She will become your mother, the one you serve completely, and nothing you do will matter. There will be nothing but her desire constantly in your mind until you give in and believe as she does."

It had been different, he had been betrayed by Shinra, by those that raised him. He had always known he was different, special, but he had never thought of how special. He was a monster just as Genesis had said. In the end all he had been able to think of was making this world pay for everything. He had wanted them all to pay even if it had been a few select scientists.

Gast and Hojo... they were responsible for his creation and there was nothing he could do now. He had always wondered when the others he trained with spoke of their mothers and fathers. He truly had neither and would never know what it was like, Jenova was not truly his mother though his cells were of her. He had been so much younger than the others yet special as well. What would Genesis say if he knew that Jenova renewed her attack? What would Angeal, assuming he had returned of course. And what would Zack say if he realized that he too now felt her?

It was not something he could or should hide for long. Zack needed to know of the danger he may pose, even if he himself posed the same danger.

Angeal frowned as he put his blade down in the corner of the room and heaved out a great sigh of relief. This blade was far heavier than the buster sword - he knew that - but as well, his muscles were sore and tired from just waking up and his mind was a little phased up. He wasn't exactly ready to transition back into the real world, besides the fact that he was a previous terrorist member, essentially, when he sided with Genesis' attack against Midgar. His whole sidings were... messed up, his thoughts were as well. he even began to felt as though he did not know his left from his right, and the world seemed as though changed, and advanced multiplicatively by downsizing on the technology.

The leave of ShinRa was most likely the best thing to happen to both the planet and the society of people who lived in it. He knew that. But he found it weird: most lights that he could see out the window was natural (by the sun, mind you). He was used to the green hollow light of Midgar, which painted the city in it's own colour - regardless of time. Only rarely did the light alter between day and night. But it was the same, the same green. Now, when he looked out... he saw sunlight, and it was almost disgusting, how happy it made him.

Putting his blade down in a safe position, he looked over to Kadaj and offered a small smile. "Well, do you like the room we'll be staying in for now? We both need employment... well, I need employment; I don't mind if I will be paying for you. In fact I would prefer that you not work until you are more adjusted." He bit his lip but went on, "Judging from your scars, I take it you were previously a mercenary, or some form of combatant? We may find jobs at the World Regenesis Organization, the WRO."

Lucrecia saw, from the corner of her eye, the being bearing white wings. A young girl, mostly in her late teens but not had hit twenty just yet, with white wings. She eyed Yuffie Kisaragi before she decided to step out and close the distance. Lucrecia was no assassin; Lucrecia was no interrogator; she was barely a threat to this girl and yet, the scientist pressed on. Those wings brought a very disdainful feeling to her gut. Slowly, she approached, gulping, swallowing hard, and tilted her body to the side a little and forced a smile. The Wutai Ninja was less than five meters away from her, "excuse me, miss... are you... with the WRO?"

Sephiroth could only wish that he had the same certainty as Zack. He knew it was probably just because he had no idea what truly awaited them. He didn't have the heart to tell him that he was already too late, that Jenova was in his mind already. He didn't want to crush this hope, not when it was all he himself had to cling onto. Hope had never been something he himself had use for, trained day in and day out, made into the perfect weapon for Shinra, never allowed a choice.

He was created to be a SOLDIER and that was the only life he had ever known. Things the humans took for granted, those he couldn't understand. There were so many things that were a mystery to him, emotions that he had never attained. He knew that his actions probably had always been confusing to those around him, to his friends, but that was what one could expect of a monster.

"For both our sakes I hope you are correct Zackary."

Parents...

Once again he was reminded that he would never know what that could be like. He was created from Jenova's cells, but that did not truly make her his mother. The love of parents was something had never and would never know. It was impossible to miss something he had never had in the first place. As Zack continued to talk he was suddenly reminded of Elfe. She had asked him why he fought, and he hadn't had an answer then. He fought because he was told to but after Angeal and Genesis had left Shinra he had begun to lose that belief that Shinra was right.

"I've fought for many reasons, because Shinra told me to, because it was what Jenova wanted, fighting for myself is foreign, something I have never done."

He had only once whispered his desire to leave Shinra before Nibelhiem, and never had he expressed his own personal doubts over the reason he fought. Long gone was the time when he could fight without question. He was not just a weapon, he thought and felt, and that was what spelled his destruction in the first place.

If it came to that Sephiroth was certain that between the two of them they would be able to handle it, though it was not an idea he relished. Killing innocents was the last choice, especially since it would certainly discourage the idea that he was truly after redemption. "We will survive this Zack, one way or another."

He was not anticipating dying, not in the least, but it was something he may have to accept, but he did not desire to once again die as Jenova's slave. He would fight that as hard as need be. He would gain his redemption even if it did take his death.

"It is fine Zackary," he said as he glanced back towards him. He had gotten used to the constant noise. He had done missions with Zack long ago, even his final mission had been with Zack, and after that there was always Jenova in his mind, whispering to him. The light talk was reassuring, something he hadn't realized he had missed. The lone missions were always lonely, separated from his friends with only those under him. They were always too afraid to make conversation.