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Interlude 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mid-day two days later found Sephiroth at the train station. His long silver hair was tied back in a thick braid. He was dressed casually in black jeans, a grey turtleneck, and a long black jacket. He carried no weapons, nor materia, only a letter in his pocket. A letter to a flower-girl that his lover had asked him to deliver. He stood near the main entrance to the station, watching people pass through the doors. No one noticed him or gave him even a second glance, save for the Shinra troops stationed here, and they quickly found other things to hold their attention. If the General wanted to wander the train station, that was none of their busines. "Flowers... flowers for sale...." The gentle female voice drifted to him from the doors, where the flower-girl was emerging. She was as Zack had described her, though she carried no staff today. She had a confident look and stride, sure of herself in the busy crowd. And she was making sales, he realized, as a couple stopped to purchase a handful of her yellow flowers. Still he lingered in the shadows along the wall, watching and waiting. A few minutes later, the crowds died off as the noon-hour rush ended. He watched while she counted the flowers she had left -- scarcely a dozen -- and then turned to survey the street. Catching sight of him, she walked over. "A flower for you, sir?" she asked. "For a loved one at home, perhaps?" He tried hard to ignore the twist of pain at the thought of his loved one elsewhere. "How much?" he asked casually, fingering the blossom she held out for him. He felt her studying him, and raised his eyes to meet hers. A shock of recognition sparked and fled from his consciousness as their eyes met. Death! the madness in the back of his mind screamed. Kill her! He shook his head, ever so slightly No! he told the madness. Begone. "Do I... do I know you?" she asked hesitantly, peering up at him. "I think not," he said coldly, retreating behind his familiar icy shell. She shrank back a little and he sighed. Reaching up to massage his temple with one hand, he reached into his pocket with the other. He reminded himself that he was not here as the General, and had no right to speak to her that abruptly. He held out the letter. "A friend asked me to give this to you." She glanced from him, to the letter, and back again before taking it gingerly. He wondered suddenly if she could read, if Zack had bothered to ask her that. She traced the lettering of her name on the outside of the envelope with one finger before opening it. "Will you... " she looked up at him again, eager and nervous. "Will you wait while I read it?" He couldn't see any reason why not. She is a traitor! Kill her! Shut UP! He rubbed at his forehead. "I'll wait." She smiled her thanks, and turned away to read. Sephiroth fought the anger and mindless hatred churning within him, struggling not to strangle her while she read the letter. Kill kill kill! the madness raged. He shook his head, turning away and pacing a few steps before turning back again. This was absurd, this sudden hatred of a girl he didn't even know. He would not lose control of himself, not here, not like this. "Are you... Zack says... would you --" "What?" he snapped. She cringed away from him. "I'm sorry. He -- Zack -- said in the letter that I could write to him, and you... the person who delivered his letter would be able to get mine to him. Will you?" TRAITORS! His turquoise gaze turned icy cold. "No," he said shortly. "He is in Nibelheim. The Shinra Mansion. Send it yourself." Clenching both hands into fists in the darkness of his pockets, he turned and quickly strode away. He could feel her gaze lingering on his back like a cool green stream as the madness seethed within him.
Chapter 10
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