Redemption Frägment

Interlude 01: White on Black

I stand in front of the mirror, looking at my reflection. Sora reminds me all too well of Him. That radical smile, the joking voice, the I-Can-Do-Anything-You-Can-Do attitude, right down to the wild hair.

Perhaps that’s why I don’t let him call me ‘Seph’ like Leon. I look around my apartment, seeing everything as if I would have had there been lights on. It’s the Mako in my bloodstream, years of therapy and scientific genetic manipulation. I sigh, run a hand through my hair and find a place to sit.

Sora’s offer is very appealing, considering this boy is the only link I have to my youngest son. Truthfully, the boy has been the only highlight in my day. He is a worthy opponent and despite his youth he is a skilled fighter. I actually consider him a friend at the same time I consider him a threat. Leon is the same. The man is a definite opposite of Sora… and Him.

Seeing Cloud here… I knew that He was alive as well. He had to be. If Cloud existed, than so did He, somewhere. Cloud knew nothing, didn’t remember anything about Him, only Aerith. I feel disgusted as soon as I think her name. Little Ancient bitch. Our first time, His and mine, our first night together we spent twined in each other’s arms because she had hurt Him. The love He gave her was given back to Him in lies and pain. That night, though, as He lay beside me, He confessed to me that I was the one He loved.

My eyes open to stare at the ceiling, my mind drifting away from that memory to another. He never left my side, always waiting for me, my shadow. I raise a hand in front of my eyes and stare at it. He trusted me, He loved me, and as much as He annoyed me, He was my best and only friend. And He paid dearly for all of that loyalty. Dearly.

- Masamune sliding effortlessly through soft flesh -

With these hands I hurt Him. I gave Him five years of hell and signed His death warrant. And He never once hated me for it. He became a part of Cloud through memories, those memories leading the blonde to do as He wanted, to help me.

And I knew it. I had tried so hard to get Cloud to stop imitating Him, to stop being Him. And when I fought Cloud in our own tournament, I knew that He was no longer a part of the blonde.

If I went with Sora, would I find Him? Would He be looking for me?

I surprise myself, feeling a strange wetness at the corners of my eyes. I wipe away the tears and settle my emotions again.
I shouldn’t be so pessimistic. He would look for me until the day the world ended. Hell, He’d look for me even after death. I should look for Him. He always said that if two people who love each other look for each other, they’re bound to meet one day.

He’s looking for me. I will look for Him.

Then we could find our sons.

I rise from the bed, changing from the lounging clothes to my customary black leather. I reach for Masamune and hook it to my side. My single black wing stretches out and then folds against my back. Once more, I look into the mirror at my reflection.

Green, cat-slit eyes stare back at me, lips of the reflection’s face curled in a small smirk. I move toward the door, step out. I don’t bother to teleport, rather enjoying the walk. I spot Sora and Leon sitting on the steps next to each other, staring off into the distance. They’re speaking to each other, soft tones that fade gently into the background. Since I see neither Donald nor Goofy, I assume they’re already on the gummi ship. They stand and quiet as I approach, Sora’s head tilting to the side.

“I will come with you, Sora.”

The boy practically beams and turns toward the ship, shouting to Goofy that I’m joining them. Once he vanishes, Leon turns to me.

“We’re going for the same reason, aren’t we?”

“To find someone we should have been looking for a long time before this?”

He gives me a rare smile and walks toward the gummi shop, vanishing within. I follow a few moments after.

Don’t you dare get yourself killed again, I think, picturing Him in my mind. I’m coming for you. So wait for me…

Zack.