Fic: Around the Block Again(FFVII/Bleach: Sephiroth/Zack, Yoruichi/Soi Fong)
Title: Around the Block Again Author: GW Katrina aka icedark_elf Prompt bits: - Final Fantasy VII - Bleach: characters either die or have the ability to see the dead, and get entangled with Soul Society and Hollows Rating: PG-13 Wordcount: 1,238 Pairing: Sephiroth/Zack, Yoruichi/Soi Fong Summary: Sometimes, dreams tell you more than you know.
A/N: Wow, I managed to get yuri in here as well.... Well, implied Yuri, anyway. Crossposted at fandom_fusions
She didn't really understand where the dreams were coming from. She had always had them. Ever since she was small. Didn't stop her from doing what she wanted anyway, but when she met the little girl, they had gotten even worse.
The look that Soi Fong had given her was one she got a lot. Something about her, though..... It tickled the back of her mind. But she was a busy girl, and didn't have time to play with dreams that probably didn't mean anything. So Yoruichi had done what she had to, and ignored the twinge it gave her to leave the other behind. It almost hurt, but the girl would be better off here, in the Soul Society. Where she'd have others like herself to be with, and wouldn't be burdened with having to hide herself on the mortal world.
///
"There's a way for him to go back. But not on this world."
The words from Aeris had Zack looking at her in curiosity. What did she mean by that? They had been looking for years, now, to find a way to get Seph back into the cycle of life and death, so that he -could- go back, and not stay stuck in the lifestream, where the endless Reunion of Jenova cells dragged him back to life, over and over. Cloud was tired of it, as he couldn't rest until they figured it out. Not to mention the constant lost of sanity that Sephiroth went through each time.
It worried Zack how every time Sephiroth ended up back in the Lifestream after fighting Cloud, it took a little longer for his friend to really come back, to drag his way out from under the Jenova madness. So the fact that Aeris said she might be able to stop it had his full attention. Though he wondered what the catch was. Other than the whole "not on this world" part.
"It's like being reborn from the lifestream. Only we've already found the issues with it here, right? He seems to shrug off the stage where his knowledge goes back to the lifestream and he is reborn with a clean slate, of sorts. Well, I -think- I can get around it. Spent a lot of time talking to those here, and we might have an idea."
Zack grimaced slightly. "You sure that they have an idea that isn't going to hurt him?" It wasn't hard to see that the Cetra in the lifestream really, really didn't want Seph there. So he was just a tiny bit wary of any idea that they might have for Seph's continued existence.
"I think," came a deep voice from behind him, "that we should hear what she has to say." Zack turned to look at Seph, who looked even more ragged than he had the -last- time this stupid cycle had played out. "It's getting harder to...focus each time this happens, Zack."
That was the fear, unspoken. That one time, Sephiroth wouldn't come out of the madness he would end up drowned in, and if that happened, there would be nothing they could do for him. Everything they did now was highly dependant on his cooperation. If that ended.... The Cetra would tear him apart before letting him linger in the lifestream with the kind of power he had, and no controls at all.
Sephiroth settled, looking surprising graceful, given the rest of his appearance. "If you'll explain, I would appreciate it," he said calmly, looking at the woman. Zack flopped down next to him, leaning some to provide a subtle support, which got him a small, grateful smile, then they both focused on Aeris.
Who explained exactly what she was talking about.
///
When she had finally got to meet Yoruichi again face to face, she knew it would end up in a fight. But the surprised look on the woman's face when she asked why she had left her.... That made Soi Fong furious. How dare the woman act as if they had meant nothing to each other. As if the things that were almost memories, but not, never existed.
That lead to all sorts of nasty thoughts, ones she tried to ignore through fighting. Through showing Yoruichi just how strong she had gotten without her around. That she didn't -need- the woman.
Though she wanted her there all the same. It felt good to see the cocky smile, to watch her move like a cat through the trees, as if gravity and the world had no claim on her. That was the woman Soi had always wanted to be, and who she had worked hard on pretending to hate.
When they fought, it was a wonderful thing, and she relished the burn of her blood as they battled.
///
"You okay with this idea, Seph?"
"What? Going to another world and living a life there, and hoping that I'll run into a familiar face that I won't even recognize when I do?"
Zack gave him a small grin. "Oooh, sarcasm. I've taught you well."
"I was fully capable of sarcasm long before I met you," Sephiroth shot back. Then he sighed and rubbed his temple. "I cannot say I'm fond of the idea, but if it comes to that or being destroyed fully...."
"Yeah, that would suck. I like having you around. And, if you think about it, it's not so different than being reborn here. We just will be on our own for a while. At least till the others find us." He reached up and tugged on a bit of Seph's hair. "The biggest issue will be not remembering until Aeris gets there. Think you'll be okay with that?"
"No. But I will accept it."
There was a tired tone that told Zack Seph was far too used to accepting things he didn't like in his life. "It'll be interesting. Just think, who knows, maybe we'll know each other anyway. Even if we don't know why. Wouldn't that be nice? Though I can think of all sorts of interestin....mmph!"
The sudden kiss took him by surprise, as did Seph's desperate hold on his shoulders. The man hadn't reached out for him since both of their deaths, and it was a nice, if unexpected, change in attitude.
He didn't fight as he was pushed back, hands moving to rest on his friend. They would be going in the morning. The sooner, the better, according to Aeris. So this might be the last time they actually saw each other for a long, long time. At least see each other and realize who it was. Zack didn't mind this version of goodbye. Not at all.
Kissing Seph back, he let them fall over. Tomorrow, everything would change. Right now was for this, for Seph and himself.
///
They didn't remember the other. Not for now. Later, they would. Aeris and Cloud were already there, leading their own division. All it would take was the right moment, the right situation, and all four would remember what things had been like before, and be able to adjust to new memories and old habits.
For now, all Soi Fong knew was she loved Yoruichi's smile, so much like the black haired man she dreamed about, and Yoruichi was strangely comfortable with Soi's stubborn intensity, which made her think of pale silver hair.