Chaos Cursed

“Is…she okay?” The question was directed to the two SOLDIER sitting on either side of the nearly catatonic young woman, and as Sephiroth directed a glare to the lowly MP, the boy nearly jumped out of his skin. “I…I’m sorry, sir, it’s just-”

“…She’s in a bit of shock right now.” Zack’s answer was far kinder, letting the boy relax slightly, his blue gaze seeming relieved that he wasn’t going to get slaughtered for his impertinence. “I don’t know you, do I?”

“No, I’m sorry. My name is Cloud Strife, I was assigned to accompany you, but…she wasn’t mentioned in the information I was given.” He seemed confused, but as the girl merely let her gaze drift from the floor of the ship up to him, the pain in her eyes took him aback.

“…I’m sorry…I don’t mean to be any trouble…” She whispered, making him quickly shake his head, waving his hands before him as he blushed.

“No, it’s not any trouble, I was just curi-”

“…curiosity killed the cat.” Sephiroth’s growl came as he got to his feet and continued his death glare towards the boy, eyes narrowing on him. “Stop upsetting my sister.”

“Sephiroth, no…I’m not upset by it, really. Don’t be mean to him, he was just worried that something was wrong…” Sanura pleaded, getting to her feet to grab his elbow before he could really lose his temper. “I’m sorry, Mr. Strife, my brother’s really on edge…Our sister disappeared a short time back, and it’s really shaken the both of us up…I’m Sanura…”

“No, please, just call me Cloud…I’m sorry for being so nosy.” He bowed his head to her, then saluted Sephiroth, who looked ready to grab him and slaughter him for his questioning. At that point, he made a strategic retreat, looking like a puppy that had just been kicked.

“Sephiroth, that was rather cruel.” Zack was trying to hide his grin at the sudden reemergence of Sephiroth’s protective side, but failed miserably. “I’m sure the boy meant well.”

“Hn. Nosy little brat should have kept his mouth shut and not spoken to his superiors until directed to do so.” Sephiroth turned to see Sanura looking at him with something close to a pout on her lips - a good sign, though it did not bode well for him. “What is it, Sanura?”

“He was just being nice…I think he wanted to be friends.” She huffed, then moved to dash after the boy, who was only a little younger than Sanura herself. Though she had been thrown into shock due to recent events and neglected to spend time with her one friend she gained on her own, Aerith, she was feeling lonely now that she no longer had her to talk to.

“Huh?! Sanura, right?” Cloud looked startled as she leapt in front of him, then shot a horrified glance around to see if Sephiroth was going to appear to strangle him for it. She nodded slightly, looking shy, before holding out her hand.

“Yes…and you’re Cloud. Nice to meet you. Can we be friends?” As he blinked a few times, he nodded, shaking her hand. “…thanks…I’ve been lonely, with just my brother and Zack to talk to. Zack’s fun, but…my brother’s just so worried, like me…”

“It must be hard…but I have to get back to work. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon, since we’re heading for the same place.” As he walked away, Sanura nodded, moving back to where her brother stood waiting expectantly.

“…thank you for not swooping down and threatening him, big brother.” A small smile, before sighing and looking out at the ocean. “…I think I’m going to go below and nap for the rest of the trip…we’ll be there soon, right? Just come get me when it’s time to go.”

Within three hours, they had arrived at their destination that would begin the next leg of the trip, and Sanura found herself stuck between Zack and Cloud, looking from one to the other as they bantered constantly the entire trip. Only when they arrived in Nibelheim did the two stop talking, which gave her a bit of peace, as she was helped from the back of the truck by her older brother.

“Excuse me, my name is Tifa Lockhart…” The girl blinked at the sight of the woman who stood beside Sephiroth, before turning to face him.

“You are the guide, correct?” As she nodded slightly, he gestured back. “This is my sister, Sanura…she’s still weary from the journey. Where is the inn?”

“…oh…right this way. If you have anything you need to do here, I can show her to her room for you.” Tifa offered. When Sanura gave her brother a slight nod, he moved back to the truck to speak to his men, leaving Sanura to follow behind Tifa, her bag clutched in her hands. “…Sanura, right?”

“Yes…and you’re Tifa?”

“Uh-huh. So, are you a member of SOLDIER, too?” A curious glance, before shaking her head in answer to her own question. “No, you can’t be…you don’t have the right eyes for it. I’m sorry, am I talking too much?”

“No, it’s okay. I like this place, you live in this town, right?”

“Yes…that’s my house, right over there.” Pointing to it, she blinked as Sanura perked up. “…so, if you’re not part of SOLDIER, maybe you’d rather spend some time away from them, since they’ll be planning and everything.”

“…that’d be nice…I’ve been out of sorts lately, so my brother’s been playing like my shadow. Can I put my bags in my room, then hang out with you?” Though Tifa knew the woman was much older, she also saw a loneliness in her eyes that made her feel sad herself. Nodding firmly, she grinned and ran towards the in.

“Come on, Sanura. This way!” As she ran off, Sanura blinked, then her face seemed to light up as she dashed after the young woman, laughing. They pounded up the stairs of the inn, and after she tossed her bag into the room, they ran back out again, and across the square into Tifa’s home, Sephiroth and Zack watching all the while.

“…Looks like she made a new friend, Sephiroth.” A small smile as he glanced over to his superior, only to blink at the relief in the other man’s gaze, though it disappeared the moment Sephiroth realized he was looking.

“So it does…I’m glad of it, she needs something to keep her busy while we take care of matters here.”

“Right. We head to the reactor tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. But I’m sure she’ll demand we let her join us…she wants to see a reactor up close.” Shaking his head, he turned back to direct the others, though there was a smile in his eyes when he heard his sister come running out of the house with Tifa, both laughing like children. Sephiroth was very glad she made friends so easily. He hoped it would ease her pain over Seraphina’s disappearance.

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Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying what I've written so far. If you have any questions or comments, review! I won't hold the story hostage over them, but I'd love a review or two~!