Mirror Image

by T'Shael

Chapter 10

During the night Aeris woke up with a cold chill. She sat up in bed and stared at her window. A light snow was falling. She got out of bed and walked to the window. Suddenly she was freezing. She couldn't stop shivering. Danger, her mind told her. Danger is coming.

Sephiroth snapped out of a sound sleep and sat up in bed. Without knowing why, he got out of bed and walked to his window. There was something out there somewhere, his mind told him. Something dangerous. For some reason, he was suddenly chilled to the bone. He couldn't stop shivering.

Sephiroth felt a strong sensation to go to Aeris. He went to the door and opened it, hearing her door open at the same time. They met in an embrace. Aeris didn't notice he wasn't wearing his pajama top. He didn't notice she wasn't wearing a robe over her gown. As they stood together, each of them felt the cold begin to drain out of their bodies. Slowly they stopped shivering. Sephiroth heard a faint wailing in his ears.

"It's the planet," explained Aeris. "The planet is telling us the danger is here."

"Does it know what the danger is?" he asked.

Aeris raised her face and shook her head "It doesn't say, I just keep hearing the words "The danger is here, the danger is here!""

The wailing sound went on for several minutes then stopped abruptly. The last touch of the cold chill vanished and Sephiroth released Aeris.

"There's nothing we can do about it tonight," he said. "Whatever it is, we will find out soon enough. Go back to bed Aeris."

"I don't think I can," she said. "I'm too frightened. I think I'll find one of my fathers books and try to read until I feel sleepy."

"That means you'll be up for the rest of the night." Sephiroth was suddenly very serious. "Do you trust me Aeris?"

"I trust you." She smiled at him.

"How much?" he wanted to know.

"Sephiroth, if I didn't trust you, you wouldn't be here." Aeris pointed out. "We're sleeping under the same roof. That must mean something."

"Hold that thought." He took her by the hand and led her into his room. He pointed at his bed. "Get in."

Aeris wasn't sure she heard him right. "What?"

"You heard me," he said. "Get in."

"Why?" she asked.

"You can't go to sleep because you are frightened," he said. "The only way I know to help you so you won't be frightened is to let you sleep in my bed. That means you'll have to trust me not to get out of line. You have my word that I won't."

He waited. Aeris looked at him. She walked over to his bed and climbed in. It was a brave front but deep inside she was already regretting her action. He turned off the light and went to his side of the bed and climbed in. He rolled over with his back to her.

"Good night Aeris," he said yawning.

Surprised, she managed to answer. "Good night Sephiroth."

Less than ten minutes later, she knew by his breathing, he was asleep. Aeris relaxed. She had to admit she wasn't afraid anymore. She went to sleep.

When Aeris opened her eyes the next morning feeling warm and cozy, she found herself curled up with her head on Sephiroth's chest. He had his arms around her. She went red. She found herself hoping he was asleep so that she could sneak quietly out of his room. The problem was, how was she going to move his arms without waking him?

"Good morning sleepyhead," he said to her.

She jumped. He moved his arms. Quickly she moved to her own side of the bed. "How long have you been awake?"

"Just a little while," he said getting up. "I would have been in the shower by now, but I didn't want to disturb you. I'll see you at breakfast."

He went out the door to the bathroom.

Now that the sun was shining and the snow had stopped, Aeris was embarrassed by agreeing to spend the night in Sephiroth's room. She hurriedly climbed out of bed and ran to her room to grab a robe. Scolding herself for being too frightened to go to sleep, she rushed downstairs to start breakfast.

To her dismay, there weren't any eggs or milk in the refrigerator. With Cloud and the rest arriving, she had forgotten to do the shopping. Berating herself she ran upstairs to put on some clothes. She'd wanted to shower first but that would have to wait until she came back. Sephiroth liked a long shower and she didn't have time to wait. She hurried back downstairs and left a note for him on the table, explaining where she was going. She pulled on a coat and rushed out into the early morning air.

She went into a little market that catered to early morning shoppers. Quickly she grabbed a hand basket and starting gathering a few extra things she needed besides the eggs and milk. It wasn't until she reached for a loaf of bread and bumped into someone, that she realized she was not in the market alone.

"Oh excuse me," she began, then stopped when she saw it was Tifa.

"Good morning Tifa!" she smiled. "I'm surprised to see you up so early this morning. Doesn't the Lodge serve breakfast?"

"They serve three squares meals a day," answered Tifa. She made an attempt to return Aeris' smile but failed miserably. "I just couldn't sleep well so I'm browsing. What about you? Do you always shop this early?"

"Not usually," Aeris said. "I was getting ready to make breakfast this morning and I suddenly remembered I forgot to do my shopping yesterday."

Tifa picked up a loaf of bread and examined it. "Is Sephiroth a fussy eater?"

"No he isn't" Aeris put a loaf of bread in her basket. "He eats most anything I cook."

"He doesn't seem like the Sephiroth I met back in Nibelheim," remarked Tifa. "I thought he was coldest man I ever met once. He seems to have changed."

"Sephiroth is actually a very warm person," said Aeris.

Tifa reached over and pulled something out of Aeris' hair. She held it up for Aeris to see. Two silver hairs. "I can imagine," she said.

Aeris blushed, but tried to ignore the insinuation. "I'm really happy to see you again Tifa. I'm sorry we didn't come to see you guys sooner, but I didn't think Sephiroth would be welcome after what happened the last time."

"I'm sure Cloud would have been glad to see you," said Tifa. "Without Sephiroth."

Aeris was getting the idea Tifa wasn't too happy to see her. She decided this was a good time to retreat. She went to the register and put down her items. The merchant began to total them.

"I'd better hurry back," Aries said to Tifa. "I was hoping to have breakfast done before Sephiroth was out of the shower."

Tifa raised an eyebrow. "Lucky Sephiroth."

Aeris paid the clerk, and started for the door, intending to say goodbye as she left, to Tifa. She found Tifa barring her way.

"You're going to ruin it aren't you?"

"Ruin what?" asked Aeris.

"You saw how Cloud was acting when he saw you yesterday." Tifa's voice rose a notch. "You rode by the Inn with Sephiroth just to make him jealous."

"I did not!" cried Aeris. "Sephiroth was guiding the chocobo. I was just the passenger."

"You were snuggled up with Sephiroth," said Tifa. "You knew what you were doing!"

"Tifa, you're wrong! I . . . " began Aeris.

"You want Cloud!" snapped Tifa. "You're not going to win that easy Aeris. I saw him first. He's mine!"

"Tifa, STOP IT!" They turned to see Cloud. He walked up to them

"What are you doing here?" asked Tifa.

"I went looking for you," said Cloud. "The desk clerk said you walked toward the market. What's going on here?"

"Cloud, I . . . " began Tifa.

"Just girl talk Cloud," said Aeris. "I'd better get home now. Sephiroth and I will see you later when you come over."

Aeris hurried out the door.

Cloud turned to Tifa. "You didn't have to do that Tifa."

"I'm sorry Cloud," she whispered. "You're right. I shouldn't attack Aeris like that. She was being really nice to me. Wait here."

Tifa raced out the door. It took a bit of effort to catch up with Aeris. Tifa stopped Aeris with a hand on her arm. She was ashamed to see tears on Aeris' face.

"I'm sorry Aeris," she said. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Cloud."

"Because of me?" Aeris wanted to know.

Tifa hung her head tears ran down her face. "He still cares for you Aeris."

Aeris didn't know what to say. One part of her wanted to rejoice at this good news, but why did the rest of her feel . . . so guilty. This is what she wanted to hear . . . wasn't it?

"I knew he liked you," Tifa went on, "But until that day in the Ancient City, I didn't realize how much. It really tore him up inside, when Sephiroth . . . when Sephiroth . . . you know. Even after he killed Sephiroth, he couldn't let go of you. By the time I thought about giving up on him, he came to me on his own. Things were getting so wonderful between us. Lately I've been thinking he's ready to propose marriage."

"And then you found me," said Aeris.

Tifa nodded. "He never lost his feelings for you. He just pushed them deeper."

"Oh Tifa," said Aeris. "I don't want to make trouble for you."

"Tell me the truth Aeris," asked Tifa. "Do you love him?"

Aeris was torn with emotions. "I have feelings for him Tifa, but I don't know yet what they are."

"So my future hinges on what you decide," said Tifa.

"How can you say that?" asked Aeris. "I can't plan your future."

Tifa held up one hand. "Yes you can. Sooner or later, Cloud will come to you. Either you love him and he is yours, or you love Sephiroth."

"Sephiroth?" Aeris didn't know how to react.

"I saw the way he looked at you when Cloud started getting angry on the glacier," said Tifa. "If it wasn't your idea to ride past the Lodge with Sephiroth to get Cloud's dander up, then it was Sephiroth's. What does that tell you?"

Aeris was at a loss for words.

"Has Sephiroth ever kissed you?" asked Tifa.

Aeris went pale.

Tifa nodded. "Like I said, my future hinges on your choice. I hope you make the right one. If your choice is Cloud, I'll be happy for you because it means Cloud and I weren't meant to be. If your choice is Sephiroth, I'll be happy anyway, because I'll have the man of my dreams and you won't be getting such a bad deal either."

"What do you mean?" asked Aeris.

"If Sephiroth is risking a fight by daring to make Cloud jealous," said Tifa, "He must have feelings for you too."

Tifa turned and walked away. Aeris watched her for a moment, then turned around and started home. She went over the things that Tifa had said. She had some very serious thinking to do.

* * * * *

Cloud and Tifa walked back to the Lodge. Cloud hadn't expected to see Aeris that early in the morning. He'd gone looking for Tifa hoping to sort his out his feelings. If he'd found Aeris alone, he could have talked to her, but there would be time for that later. It was more important to clear the air with Tifa.

"I wouldn't blame you if you never spoke to me again," he said to her.

"I thought about that," she said, "But that would be pouting. I'm trying not to do that."

"You look just as pretty when you do," he said.

"Part of me wants to hate Aeris," she said honestly, "But I know it's not her fault. How can I blame her for being attracted to you Cloud? I am."

"You can say that about Aeris, after what I said last night?" Cloud stopped walking.

Tifa stopped, running a hand over her face. "There's something special about Aeris that draws people to her."

"You're special too Tifa," said Cloud.

"But not as special as Aeris." Tifa's eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"I don't compare you to Aeris," said Cloud. "You and Aeris are two uniquely different people. The problem is I love both of you, but there can be only one."

"Darn!" Tifa said suddenly blinking and brushing at her face.

Cloud thought at first she was referring to their conversation, but Tifa kept pulling at her face. Puzzled, he watched her.

"There's something getting in my eyes!" Tifa was picking at her face with both hands. Just as Cloud was going to ask if he could help, she pulled her fingers away from her face and looked at them. "I forgot I was holding these darn things. I rubbed them into my eyes."

"Holding what?" Cloud moved closer and looked at her hands. He saw two long silver strands of hair. He looked at her puzzled. "Where did you get those?"

Tifa suddenly dropped the hairs and brushed her hands off on her clothes. "Come on Cloud, we have to finish discussing Sephiroth with the others. They're probably waiting for us by now."

"Where did you find those hairs?" Cloud refused to budge.

"Oh Cloud," said Tifa taking his arm. "It's just a couple of strands of hair. No big deal. Let's go."

Cloud's voice was very quiet. "The only person I know with hair that color and that long is Sephiroth."

Tifa was silent.

"How did Sephiroth's hair get on your face?" He was watching Tifa closely. "What did you mean "I forgot I was holding these things?" Why would you be holding Sephiroth's hair?"

Tifa saw a blaze of jealousy in Clouds eyes. She'd hadn't planned to draw Cloud's attention to the hair, she's simply forgotten about it. "I pulled them out of Aeris' hair," she said.

Cloud stared at her. "You pulled Sephiroth's hair out of Aeris' hair?" he asked.

Tifa nodded.

Cloud gazed off into the distance. Tifa wanted to say something but she decided not to. Cloud took her arm and moved toward the Inn. "We don't want to be late for the meeting," he said.

* * * * *

By the time Aeris reached the front door she was very troubled. She was torn between her feelings for Cloud and her growing feelings for Sephiroth. She was still thinking about that when she reached for the door knob. Suddenly she could hear the Planet calling. She dropped her grocery bag and sank to her knees on the porch covering her ears. The planet's cries were so loud, it made her teeth vibrate. The door opened and Sephiroth was helping her to her feet. From the look of pain on his face, she knew he could hear the Planet calling too. The sound was deafening. Sephiroth held her in his arms and she buried her face against his chest keeping her teeth apart so they wouldn't click together. He buried his face in her hair. The Planets cry seemed to go on for an eternity, then suddenly ceased.

Shaken, the pair released each other and looked around them on unsteady legs. They had both heard the call. They looked at each other, "Nibelheim," they said in unison.

* * * * *

When Cloud and his group arrived later that morning, they found Sephiroth and Aeris a bit pale. Yuffie was the first to notice.

"Gee. It must have been some night! You both look tired!" she teased. Everyone stared at her and her face went red. "Uh- sorry, bad joke."

"It was the planet," Aeris said in the silence. "It called to us. It screamed!"

"You're not even Cetra," said Red XIII to Sephiroth. "How is it possible that you can hear the planet too?"

"I don't know," said Sephiroth slowly. "It must have something to do with being in the Lifestream."

Cloud didn't care why Sephiroth could hear the planet screaming. He was just glad that was the only reason Aeris looked tired. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he cast a guilty look at Tifa. She knew what he was thinking, but she smiled at him anyway.

"Whatever the danger is, it will make its first appearance in Nibelheim," said Aeris.

"Why?" asked Cid. "What is worth starting hell in Nibelheim again?"

Tifa and Cloud glared at Cid, but it went unnoticed.

"That's where Sephiroth killed all those innocent people," growled Barett. "Maybe taking him there is a bad idea."

Sephiroth seemed unperturbed. He sat next to Aeris completely relaxed. "Does that mean you believe I am here to save the planet and we will work together?"

"No," said Cloud. "We don't trust you at all. I think YOU are the only danger here."

"So that means we won't work together?" Sephiroth arched an eyebrow.

"It means," said Barett, "Most of us still want to kill you now and save ourselves a lot of trouble later, but some of us," he glared at Vincent, "think you might be telling the truth, and the rest of us" he glared at Yuffie and Red XIII "think we ought to wait and see."

"I see," answered Sephiroth.

"You don't see a damned thing!" exploded Cloud. "You killed my mother, Tifa's father and people I've known all my life. You caused Meteor to kill a lot of innocent people in Midgar. All you've ever done in your life is hurt people. If it wasn't for the fact that Aeris believes in you, we'd fight to the death right now!"

"And you're sure you'd win this time?" asked Sephiroth coldly.

"Stop it!" said Aeris.

"You wouldn't have a chance," said Cloud in a low voice.

"You pressed your luck twice before. Don't try it a third time." Sephiroth was suddenly very alert.

"Stop it!" said Tifa.

Cloud stood up. "I don't trust you and I never will."

"Stop it!" said Yuffie.

Sephiroth stood up. "I don't need your trust."

"Stop it!" said Red XIII.

"We don't need you!" snarled Cloud drawing his sword.

"Stop it!" said Vincent.

"Then one of us will have to go," said Sephiroth drawing his masamune.

"Get him Cloud!" said Barett.

"God dammit!" yelled Cid, "Both of you sit your asses down and shut the hell up! We don't have time for this shit. Sit down right now, or I'll get my Venus Gospel and beat the crap out of both of you! Sit down!"

Everyone stared at Cid in stunned silence, then Sephiroth and Cloud replaced their swords and sat down. Cid's glare would have stopped a super nova.

"Hell no, we don't trust you," he said to Sephiroth, "but we trust Aeris. She's never led us wrong before. If Aeris says you're here to help, that's good enough for me. You'd better not be lying either, because if we find out you're using us to do something evil, we'll put you under the Lifestream not in it. You won't get a fourth chance to come back here again good buddy!"

Cid turned to Cloud, "And you! You either lead this ragged bunch and forget your personal problems for now, or move aside and let someone else to it!"

Having said his piece, Cid dropped his stubby cigarette on the floor and ground it out completely missing Aeris' indignant expression. He pulled another cigarette out of the pack strapped in his goggles and lit it. He inhaled deeply and blew smoke at the ceiling trying to look nonchalant. He was glad he hadn't had to carry though on his threat. He seriously doubted he could beat either Sephiroth or Cloud in a fair fight.

"It seems to me, we ought to get out of here and let these kids pack." He yawned and started toward the doorway. "Don't forget your chocobo. He might come in handy. Meet us at the Highwind. You know where it's parked."

Cid walked out the door. Yuffie shrugged and followed him, Red XIII at her heels.

"You'll need a place to stay in town Aeris," said Tifa. "You and Yuffie can stay with me."

"Thank you." Aeris smiled at Tifa. Sephiroth looked at Aeris, who didn't notice his frown or Cloud's look of relief. Tifa went out the door.

"I'll be staying at the inn in Nibelheim," said Vincent to Sephiroth. "You can stay with me." He went out the door behind Tifa.

Cloud gave Sephiroth a smug smile and walked out the door closing it behind him. The moment it shut, Sephiroth turned on Aeris.

"Why do you have to stay with Tifa?" he asked.

Aeris was surprised by his reaction. "Why not? All of us girls can share her house."

"Why can't you stay with me, at the inn?" Sephiroth looked angry.

"Sephiroth," Aeris said patiently. "It wouldn't be proper . . . "

"Proper be damned!" he spat at her. "Proper hasn't bothered you all these months we've been staying together!"

"That's different!" she cried. "We live together because it didn't make sense to rent a room at the inn when this house was available."

"You found your fathers hidden money," he reminded her. "You could have sent me to the Lodge then!"

"It didn't make sense to toss you out once we moved in," she countered. "Besides, you were good company."

Sephiroth came closer. "But not now right?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Not since Cloud came, right? You can't stay with me because Cloud wouldn't approve," he said.

"No," she said, "I mean what has Cloud got to do with . . . why are you acting like this?"

He stared at her a moment longer then shook his head in disgust.

"Why bother?" he said. He turned and went toward the stairs. "I'm going to get packed and then I'm going to get Goldie. If you want to walk with me to the Highwind be ready in twenty minutes. If not, walk alone."

Sephiroth was as good as his word. Twenty minutes later he was walking the chocobo out to the road. Aeris locked the door and hurried to catch up. He gave her a cool look and kept walking. Aeris soon found herself struggling to keep up in the new snow.

"Sephiroth wait!" she cried. He acted as if he hadn't heard her. Aeris had trot to keep up. "Why don't we ride Goldie?"

"I thought it would give you time to think about what you want," he said. He still didn't change his pace.

Aeris was running out of breath. "Sephiroth please! Wait!"

Sephiroth brought the chocobo up short. As Aeris caught up he looked at her. She couldn't read the expression in his eyes.

"I will this time Aeris," he said. "But not forever."

He held her gaze for so long, it began to make her feel uncomfortable. When he turned and tugged at Goldie's lead, Sephiroth walked at a slower pace. Aeris made a few attempts at conversation, but Sephiroth didn't seem inclined to talk, so she fell silent. For the rest of the walk to the Highwind, Aeris tried not to pay attention to the heaviness in her heart.