What You Treasure

Chapter: Eleven


Warnings: Sexual content and violence

“It’s not my fault, she asked me not to say anything.” Yuffie crossed her arms and scowled at the former turk. She knew they’d blame this on her. Cloud was standing next to the bed staring at the unkept sheets. It had been empty for some time. So this was where Tifa had been stashed. A note had arrived for Cloud this morning telling him of this place. It was from Sephiroth telling Cloud where to meet him in a month’s time, this cabin. “They aren’t here anymore.”


“No, but from what you admitted to then they were here. This isn’t very far from where you saw her. She was close and you didn’t tell us. We could have saved her then, her death is on your head.” Vincent saw the ninja flinch at his words but he said what Cloud could not. The blonde hadn’t moved, he was still too shocked. “There is a small chance but I don’t see why he’d lie.”


“Is she gone?” His chest clenched in denial. Tifa was a fighter she wouldn’t just give up. ‘This was Sephiroth, she’d stand no chance against him.’ So why hadn’t she ran when she had the chance? Who had been injured? Had she stayed to spare someone only to be killed later by her captor? The note had told him to come here in a month’s time, to end it. It also told him not to bother searching for the girl. Sephiroth had boasted at taking away what he cherished most. Was Tifa dead? “I don’t believe it. Where’s the body? I think he’s playing with us. I’ll continue searching.”


“Good, we can’t give up.” Yuffie stuck her tongue at Vincent. He had no right to blame it on her. She hadn’t handed Tifa over to Sephiroth. Plus Tifa was an adult she could make decisions for herself. Yuffie knew she shouldn’t have explained about the bandages. But Cloud had flipped seeing them piled up in the corner believing the worst. “What direction should we start in? Got any ideas on where to go first?”


“The clone, we find it we find Sephiroth.” Cloud tossed the letter on the bed. This is where the horrible recording had been taken place. This was where Sephiroth had defiled his friend. If only he’d known where she was. He wouldn’t allow her to be dead, he’d get her back. He wouldn’t let anyone else die. He’d failed Aeris, he wouldn’t fail Tifa. “Let’s go.”


“Mmmmhmmm,” a loud yawn escaped as she stretched her arms. A wayward hand cupped her backside pulling her against a hard chest. Lips were on her throat, nibbling the sensitive curve. Dawn was seeping through the window. She guessed they’d be rising soon no matter how tired she was. He’d given her two more days of rest but he was ready to depart. She hadn’t gotten much sleep but had enjoyed the stay. It was easy to forget why she was really here. “Are we leaving today?”


“Yes, once we rise.” His voice brushed the lobe of her ear. She made the mistake of moving closer seeking his warmth. Despite having found release two hours prior his cock was rock hard. He hadn’t planned on engaging in sexual activity this morning. They needed to head out before the day got too late. The tip pressed into her folds sliding between them without any effort. She was still moist from earlier activities. “I believe you are trying to delay our departure.”


“Hm no not really but another half hour won’t hurt.” She lifted her leg as he guided the erection home. She’d lost count of how many times he’d taken her since their arrival. It all seemed one large blur of pleasure. Even after she lay exhausted and well sated he’d be ready to show her she still wanted him. It took only knowing he wanted it to have her eager for him. His shifted his weight to pin her beneath him. Her legs went around his waist holding him to her. Hands went under her back and waist lifting her off of the bed. She moaned into the hot mouth kissing her. He hissed as her nails scraped across the pale skin on his back. The pain had him pumping his hips wildly, thrashing between her thighs.


When it was over he collapsed on her momentarily. She nuzzled the side of his neck earning a grunt. A content sigh escaped her as he rolled off, it was time to go. Time to face reality and her grim future. Would it be so grim if he kept her with him? Yes, Cloud would never let him live, just like no one would forgive Sephiroth for his sins. The man had tried to destroy the planet, he’d killed Aeris. He’d tried to kill her on several occasions before. He was her enemy. It was so easy to forget that when she was lying in his arms. Her mind forgot his sins, her heart focusing on how it felt to be held by him. Wanting only to feel the pleasure he brought. To purge the feelings of hatred and anger at what he’d already done.


Tifa knew soon she’d have to make a choice. Was she willing to lose her friends by trying to hold onto a man that might never care for her? Would she give it all up and stay by his side until he deemed it was time to get rid of her? She ached to know the truth, she didn’t want to cry. Yet as she watched him pull on his pants she wanted him to climb back into bed and hold her. Even if there was no returned emotions, she longed for his embrace. A tear slid down her cheek and she swore.


The barn was very tiny with only two stalls. Tifa spotted their Chocobo grazing in the stall. It chirped seeing her enter, “Hey Boy!” The head cocked to the side in recognition. She giggled as it rushed forward to be petted. It was surprising that the evil Sephiroth had tamed the creature. A frown made the cheerful expression disappear. It was getting harder to see him that way. Which was stupid because she knew what he was capable of.


If she were really his captive would he allow her to come fetch their means of transportation? Was this a test? Did he want to see if she’d flee if given the chance? He had told her to fetch the animal while he took a quick shower. She’d washed off while he took care of their bill. The thought of escape hadn’t entered her mind until just now and she realized she didn’t want to run. Not even when it was possible for her to get away. He wasn’t near, she could ride the golden chocobo to wherever Cloud was and be free. Would she be free though? Had he captured her in a way she’d never be free of him again?


“Morning miss.” The older gentleman greeted her as he walked in. “I take it you will be heading out soon.” His eyes scanned the area not seeing the long haired fellow with her. The innkeepers said they were a married couple. He didn’t know about that, the girl didn’t wear a ring. If she was his, she’d have that one symbol of being spoken for. Besides the man acted like he had an iceberg up his ass. Every time he’d seen him the man had no expression on his face. The innkeeper’s wife had boasted how the prissy looking male had saved them from a monster. It’d probably been a jackrabbit that had eaten some red meat.


“Yes,” Tifa didn’t want to leave but it was Sephiroth’s decision. She noticed the man got extremely close but wasn’t worried. The man had taken care of their bird during their stay. He was older than herself but would have been considered handsome by most. Except she wasn’t most, she quickly dismissed his obvious good looks. Her mind switched back to a certain silver haired general. She wondered if he really trusted her not to flee. He had to trust her not to run. Right now she couldn’t bring herself to break that trust. “Oh, I forgot our bag in the room.” Sephiroth would most likely bring it down with him but she needed an excuse.


“I’m sure your man will bring it. That’s if he’s really your man. I’ve seen you staring out the window. Tell me why would a young lady like yourself look so sad?” he grinned seeing her stunned expression. “Yeah I’ve noticed you. Had to wonder to myself why such a fine thing would remain with someone that obviously made her unhappy. There are other options you know.”


Tifa opened her mouth to reply that it was none of his damned business. A slashing sound made the chocobo rear up in terror and blood started to squirt as the head rolled. Blazing green eyes focused on her face. The warm scarlet fluid hit her across the face and chest as the corpse’s knees gave way. The shock wore off and she took a good look at the one standing before her. For a split second she was going to yell at him for killing someone without just cause. Her eyes fell to the bangs that swayed as he tilted his head, it was the color of a raven’s wing.


Unless he’d dyed his hair in the last ten minutes then she wasn’t looking at Sephiroth. She stumbled back against the chocobo in fear. It wasn’t snarling nor did the smile contain sharp teeth. If it wasn’t for the hair and bright smile she’d have sworn her lover had caught the older man flirting with her. A hand reached out to touch her cheek. The bird flapped it’s short wings and tiny legs pegged the man in the chest. Tifa moved then adding her own kick to the man’s stomach. His back crashed through the wood and he disappeared from sight. The bird was already running out the doors, she followed suit.


The light surrounded her as the dirt stirred beneath her shoes. She didn’t have time to scream before a solid impact sent her skidding across the dirt. A hand fisted in her hair, she cried out. “Sephiroth!” Whatever this clone was it was just as fast as the original. She panicked, her elbow smacked a jaw as she tried to roll over on her back. A fist retaliated with enough force to make her head spin. The left side of her face stung and she was sure most of her teeth were missing. “Get off me, Sephiro......”


A hand covered her mouth as his weight settled on her middle. Her fist hit his shoulder but it didn’t phase him. The long hair cascaded down as the similar face lowered itself. She screeched against the palm trying to bite it. The free hand grabbed both wrists in a single motion. Holy shit she was in trouble. She didn’t even see the hand move, now hers were pinned over her head. The cool green eyes seemed to be studying her as if not understanding why she bucked beneath him. He was crushing her abdomen with his heavy weight. A horrible smile stained lips that resembled ones she’d kissed less than an hour ago. “I shall make you mine.”


His mouth hovered over hers, the only thing separating them was his hand. She felt relief when an enraged cry caused the man to jerk up. Before he straightened fully a thin blade impaled him through the neck. The hands on her loosened as the body slumped. It took all her strength to shove him off. She stumbled to her feet in a hurry. The clone was twitching trying to pull the sword out. She turned away and headed towards the Inn. Sephiroth was slowly walking towards them over ten yards away. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her fear threatening to choke her.


Sephiroth’s could hear the clone screaming as it attempted to dislodge the blade. His eyes remained on the girl as she ran towards him. There was blood on her face and shirt, she was crying. “Are you injured?” His brow pinched as she threw her arms around his middle. She held him in a tight embrace, her head buried in his shirt. She clung to him preventing him from stepping forward. “I have to retrieve my sword, stay here.” She nodded against his chest but took another minute before the hold let go. By then the clone had stopped twitching and lay dead on the ground.


Tifa wiped the offending tears off of her face as he walked to the dead man. Those words had terrified her, worse than when she’d seen Sephiroth walking into her bedroom. Something in his eyes had chilled her soul. Her captor might be an evil bastard but at least he was sane, mostly. Her fear remained long after she watched him pick up the corpse and deposit it in the ditch. She was probably overwrought with emotions. The chocobo was the first to rejoin her, Sephiroth came minutes later with their belongings.



Next Chapter: A slip of words and a change of fate... Please read and review..