Something Precious (Sephiroth Love Story) Ch. 1

Name: Sophia Rhapsodos
Age: 21
Looks: Picture (your hair is naturally brown but turns red when you power up).  Clothes are the same in the picture, but you have studded leather straps crisscrossing around your thighs, lace up knee high boots, and one leather strap across your chest holding your sword on your back.  Then you have a silver cross necklace.
Family: Genesis Rhapsodos (25)
Description: New member of SOLDIER 2nd Class and striving to be in 1st Class, goes by Sophie.  Genesis is your older brother whom everyone believes that you are his twin.  However, your personalities are completely different.  You are genuinely tender hearted and want to lend a hand to people.  When you’re on a mission, the role switches and you can turn into a focused deadly person not to mess with.  Genesis continually quotes Loveless, and you hate that book now because all he does is talk about it.  He is quite protective of you so much that he was going to force you to not be a part of SOLDIER.  However, you have ways of making your brother back down.  You’ve grown up hanging out with Tifa (22), Aerith(21), Angeal (26), Zack(22), Cloud(21), and Sephiroth(26).  
Weapon: Suitchiburēdo (Means switch blade in Japanese.)  Not a knife it’s an actual katana blade that turns into a bow and arrow when you power up (hence red hair).
Love Interest: Sephiroth
Here we go again; Tidus will not leave me alone.  I’m walking through the halls of the academy looking for Cloud, and Tidus has to follow me and bug the hell out of me.  I was waiting for Genesis to come back from his mission with Sephiroth and Angeal.  But now I’m so bored that I just need some training so I went looking for Cloud and here we are.
“So Sophie, when are we gonna go on a date?  How ‘bout tonight or now, now might be better,” Tidus kept nagging.
“Rah!  Tidus for the last time, I am not going out with you so drop it!”
“C’mon it will be fun!  Besides there’s no missions being given to the newbies so-”
I turned my heel and got in his face.  “Tidus no!  I don’t want to please just stop!”
After I yelled I took a breath, and turned around.  Just as I was about to walk away I felt a hand slap my ass.  Really?!
“It’ll happen someday,” Tidus laughed.
Swiftly, I turned around and back fisted him across his face so hard that he flew about ten feet.  When I saw him land on the floor, three figures walked up to him.  It was Genesis, Sephiroth, and Angeal and they saw the whole thing.  Now pissed off, I charged towards Tidus as he was holding his cheek.
“TIDUS!” I snarled while running towards him.
“Sophia don’t!” Angeal called.
I ignored him and jumped on top of Tidus trying to beat the crap out of him.  Tidus moved his head in time before I punched him in the face.  Tidus tried to hold me back from grabbing his throat, but I clawed against him.  Suddenly I felt a force separate us, and then I was being held by Genesis, while Angeal and Sephiroth were dragging Tidus away from me.
“Sophia calm down!” Genesis commanded.
“Let me go Genesis!  No one slaps my ass and gets away with it!”
“Stop it now or you’ll get suspended!” he ordered.
I took a breath and stopped my rampage.  Genesis loosened his grip on me while Sephiroth and Angeal helped Tidus up.
“Tidus,” Genesis spoke, “don’t touch my sister again.  Next time, you’ll be dealing with me got it?”
“Loud and clear,” he answered.
Genesis fully released me and I just turned to him.  “I would say welcome back, but since you butted in I’m not gonna bother.”
“I just stopped you from losing your job, sister,” he countered.
“No one asked you to!”
“Stop making a scene you two,” Angeal said.
“I didn’t start anything…whatever.  I’m glad you guys came back safely,” I changed the subject.
“Where were you off to?” Genesis asked.
“Looking for Cloud,” I replied.  “I’m bored.”
“Why Cloud?” asked Sephiroth.
“Does it matter?’ I asked him back.
“Curiosity,” he said.
“And curiosity killed the cat.”
Sephiroth sighed.  Then Angeal was about to say something when I heard the familiar voice call my name.
“Sophie~” I heard Selphie.
“Oh no,” I gasped then went to hide behind Angeal.  “You didn’t see me.”
“Hey Genesis, you guys are back!  How was the mission?”
“It was fine Selphie,” he responded.
*If he sells me out I’ll kill him!*
“Well I’m looking for your sister, have you seen her?  She’s been down in the dumps lately.”
“And why is that?” Sephiroth asked with amusement.
*Bastard!  Don’t give me away!* I elbowed his back.
“Don’t know, might be guy troubles or she’s bored,” Selphie chuckled.  “Anyway the girls and I are trying to get her to go with us to town.  If you see her let us know.”
“We’ll be sure to let you know ,” Sephiroth said with a chuckle.
“Thanks,” she said and walked off.
I stepped out from Angeal, “Thanks for not giving me away.”
“Guy troubles?” Genesis questioned me.
“Please, she is completely insane.”  I turned to Sephiroth, “Thanks for making it so freaking obvious that I wasn’t here Sephiroth.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and walked away.
“Rrrgh, that guy really gets under my skin.”
“That’s just Sephiroth,” Angeal said.  “Why don’t you go into simulation training so you’re not so bored?”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?  It gets real boring when you’re always by yourself.”  I looked to Genesis, “Sometimes I wish you weren’t a general.”
“Sophia I’ve worked hard for this position.  And you have to realize how much better this has been for us.”
“I know that Genesis.  You’re just gone all the time.”
“I have responsibilities now.”
“Genesis maybe you two should discuss this.  Just take a break for once.  Our next mission isn’t for another few days,” Angeal explained.
“It’s alright Angeal.  I’ll just go and see if there are any missions available.”
I walked towards the other end of the hall just retreating to my room forgetting all about looking for Cloud.  I made it to the elevator and, low and behold, there was Cloud with a bleeding arm.  
“Just get back from a mission?”
He nodded his head, “Yeah.”
I boarded the elevator and hit the bottom 2nd floor.  “Headed to the infirmary?”
“No, it’s just a scratch.”
I smacked him upside the head.
“Hey!  What was that for?!”
“For being an idiot!  It can get infected.  Look, if you don’t want to go to the infirmary you can come with me and I’ll fix you up.  You don’t need to be acting like you want to have your arm amputated.”
“Tch, fine I’ll go.  Who pissed you off today?”
“Tidus for the most part, but it doesn’t matter.”
The elevator made it to the 2nd floor and we both exited walking over to my room.  I took out my keys then opened the door and walked in to be greeted by Shadow, my big black and white husky.
“Hi Shadow, what are you doing,” I scratched behind her ears.
She barked at me then went over to her bed in the corner of the room.  That was her space and what occupied it now were her two newborn puppies.  She climbed into the bed and cuddled with her pups.
“Wow, she’s a mom now?” Cloud asked.
“Yeah she is.  Just go sit on the couch and I’ll get the bandages.”
“When did she have them?” he asked while I was grabbing the bandages from the cabinet.
“Last night.  She did very well and I was relieved because I thought that she would be moaning and groaning.”  I walked over to the couch and started to work on Cloud’s arm.  “Especially since I’m not supposed to have her here and Genesis doesn’t know I have her.”
“Sss, that stings.  Am I the only one who knows about her?”
“Well don’t get hurt and the peroxide won’t ever sting you!  And no, Sephiroth and Zack know and it’s Zack’s dog that’s the father, but he’ll never get to meet them.”
“Oh yeah, Zack took that really hard.”
“We all did.  That dog was a real hero.”  I finished wrapping his arm.  “There you’re finished.”
“Can I see them?” he asked.
“Who, the puppies?  I guess just as long as you are nice because she’s very protective right now.”
Cloud approached closer to Shadow’s little den, and right now she was nursing the pups.  He crouched down next to me while I was petting her head.  Cloud slowly reached out to Shadow for her to smell him and then petted her neck.  Shadow licked his arm letting him know it was okay for him to look.  Then Cloud reached down and used his index finger to gently pet the nursing pups.
“There is still something innocent throughout this madness of a war,” Cloud mentioned.
“Yeah, I wish that it could always be like this; safe so that these little ones could run around and be free.  But it’s not like that.  We have to continually fight one another.”
“To make things better we have to fight.  We can’t go back on the vows that we made.  Our choices are solid and we have to see them through.”
I sighed, “You’re right Cloud.  Anyway, they need some rest and you need to go and rest that arm of yours.”
“Okay,” he agreed and stood up.  
We walked over to the door and just before I was about to open it Cloud turned to me.
“So, how does Sephiroth know about Shadow?”
I hid the slight blush that formed on my cheeks.  It couldn’t really hurt to tell him…or maybe I shouldn’t.  Oh what the hell.  “We were on a mission and we stumbled across her hiding in a creek.  I wanted to help it and after a lot of convincing, Sephiroth helped me bring her back here.”
“Who would’ve thought that the great SOLDIER hero has a thing for dogs,” Cloud chuckled.
“That’s not it, I just annoyed him enough to help me.”
Cloud laughed at me then turned to leave.  I shut the door and just collapsed on the couch.  Shadow barked at me; it was her way to get attention.  I chuckled and got up to go to her.  I knew she would be crabby especially with the load she has.  On the way I picked up her water dish bringing it to her knowing she was thirsty.  She drank from her water dish and I petted behind her ears.  I looked up and there on the shelf were some old pictures of me and Genesis when we were kids, and one when I first met Sephiroth at 7 and he was 12.  
That picture was something I always treasured because that’s when Sephiroth used to smile.  I loved his smile; it made him look normal.  As much as we bicker or argue, for some reason over the years I’ve developed feelings for him.  That night 2 years ago when I was still in 3rd Class was when we saved Shadow, the feelings just sank into me.
*~Flashback~*
Assassination of the Wutai Commissioner was complete.  Sephiroth and I were heading back to Midgar in the cold thundering rain.  The walk back was silent as I held myself because I was drenched from the rain and afraid of the lightning; but I wasn’t going to admit that to Sephiroth.
“Something wrong?” Sephiroth asked without looking back at me.
“I’m fine,” I replied.
“You’re usually talkative, but now I haven’t heard a word out of you the whole night.”  He turned around.
“Maybe I’m freezing my ass off and I’m trying to conserve energy by ignoring you!”
“Hmph, if you’re going to complain then you shouldn’t have come.”
“No one’s complaining Sephiroth, you’re the one who wanted to bother me!”
Before he could say something, I snapped my head to the right hearing some whimpering.  Thunder was masking the sound, but I could still hear it.  I began to follow the sound forgetting all about the spat with Sephiroth.
“Where are you going Sophia?”
“Shh,” I shushed and slowly made my way down the hill and listened for the whimpering.
When lightning hit again, the whimpering became louder but I couldn’t tell that if it was the thing or me.  I was close to whatever it was.  I slid down the muddy hillside and landed in what was a small creek.  At the other end of the creek, there was a huge pipe dripping water into the creek.  The whimpering was coming from there.  I stomped through the muddy creek over to the pipe.  I latched onto the rim and peered inside to find a small husky puppy shivering while covered in mud.
“Aww, are you lost little one?” I asked and reached in.
The pup scooted away, clearly afraid of me.  I had to think of something quickly for the pup to trust me because it could die from hypothermia.
“Sophia, what are you doing?!” I heard Sephiroth.
“There’s a puppy in here and I’m trying to save it.”
“Leave it!  We have to make it back to Midgar.”
“If you want to go back then go ahead, but I’m not leaving this puppy here,” I glared at him.
I heard him sigh, but I turned back to the puppy and saw how much it was shivering.  I felt the water rise to my upper thigh; the rain was filling up the creek incredibly high, and the higher it gets the greater chance that we’ll drown.  I tried to reach again, but the lightning strike on the ground made me jump and the water took the chance to make me fall; before I hit the water entirely an arm caught me pulling me back to the pipe.  Sephiroth was holding onto the pipe looking at me with those cyan eyes.  
“We need to hurry before the water rises,” he said.
Without warning Sephiroth grabbed my hips and hoisted me into the pipe.  I looked at the puppy’s frightened little face and slowly went to pet it.  It reacted and bit my hand but it didn’t hurt; after I let it growl and she saw that I didn’t react, it let go.  Her shivering form went and sniffed my hand then it put its head against my hand.
“That’s it,” I cooed.
I reached both hands and it hesitated but it let me pick them up.  Once I had a good grip on her I called Sephiroth.
“I got her Sephiroth!”
He pulled me out quickly and had me over his shoulder hauling us out of the creek.  There was a tree that sat low covering an area that wasn’t hit by the rain.  Sephiroth collapsed and we fell to the ground.  We were all soaking wet, and I noticed that he wasn’t wearing his coat exposing his chiseled chest causing me to blush.
“Sephiroth, where’s your coat?!  You’ll catch a cold!”
“I’m fine, I just need a minute.”
The puppy jumped onto him and started licking his face.  Sephiroth tried to push the dog off.
“Ah no, get off!”
I picked the puppy up in my arms and petted her.  I had nothing to keep her warm until we got back to Midgar.  I looked into the puppy’s icy blue eyes and saw how much relief she felt.  Her eyes were surrounded by a black mask and white underneath.
“Shadow,” I said.
“What?”
“That’s her name; Shadow.  She’s coming home with me.”
Shadow whimpered and then barked.  She reached up and licked my face signaling that she liked the name that I gave her.  Another bolt of lightning hit, and Shadow and I huddled together as if to hide from it.  Then I felt something come around my shoulders that engulfed both me and Shadow.  Sephiroth placed his cloak over us, and then petted Shadow’s head.
“I guess, it was worth saving a life for the one we took,” he said.
I blushed slightly harder at his closeness, but was thankful.
“Thank you Sephiroth.  You really are a hero.”
Sephiroth looked away for a second.  “I couldn’t let you drown.  Genesis would come after me and you would probably haunt me.”
Shadow looked up and licked his chin and I chuckled.
“She thanks you too.  Well even if that’s your only reason, Shadow and I still think you’re a hero, at least in our eyes.”
“Let’s get going Sophia.  We don’t need Shinra sending out a search party.”
“Okay.”
Sephiroth helped me up, I then handed him his cloak, but he shook his head.
“No you keep it.  We have to sneak the dog in and you both must stay warm.”
“So do you Sephiroth.  Take it.”
He sighed, then he took the cloak, walked behind me, and wrapped the cloak around my shoulders.  His strong arms felt warm, then he lifted me up bridal style close to his chest.
“S-Sephiroth,” I gasped.
“Look we both need to stay warm.  You’re light so I’ll carry you and the warmth from you will keep me warm.  We should be back at Shinra in no time.”
Sephiroth took off in a sprint at cheetah speed.  It surprised me how fast he was, and how warm he was.  I leaned in closer, and he pulled me closer into him.  I enjoyed the last moments we had like this knowing that it wouldn’t happen again.  Without warning I ended up falling asleep in his arms and the next thing I knew was that I was in my apartment in my bed.
*~End Flashback~*
That encounter caused me to develop stronger feelings for Sephiroth.  We still bicker and argue, but he hasn’t acted in that manner to me ever since then.  I petted Shadow, envying how she could have something so precious.  However, she did lose someone special to her.  She whimpered and laid her head down.
“I know, I miss Rex too.  Get some rest Shadow.  I’ll make sure no one comes and disturbs you.”
She leaned up to lick my cheek then returned to clean her pups.  With a smile I stood up and went over to the door deciding to go and see how Zack was doing.  When I opened it, there was Sephiroth with his arms crossed.  My heart jumped with surprise.
“What are you doing here Sephiroth, running from your fangirls?”
“Very funny?  Why was Cloud here?”
“Does it matter?  Why do you care anyway?  You better have a good reason for being here, or are you just wasting my time?”
“Lazard assigned a mission for me and I need one associate.  If you don’t want it, I’ll just go and get Angeal.”  Sephiroth started to walk away.
“What kind of mission?” I asked.
“A long mission.  Infiltration, search, destroy, and if you’re lucky you might just be able to blow something up.”
“You had me at infiltration,” I joked.  “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow, pack enough because it’s for about 2 weeks.”
“Yes!” I fist pumped.  “Finally!”
“How’s Shadow doing?” he asked.
“Hm?  Uh, she’s fine why?  You never usually care about her.”
“I just asked.  Don’t bring her on the mission.”
“Pfft, I can’t she’s got her hands full.  I couldn’t do that to her.”
“Do what?” he questioned.
“Don’t worry about it.  Anyway-”
I was interrupted by hearing the puppies whimper.  Sephiroth snapped his head towards the inside of my apartment.  I hadn’t shut the door all the way.  He pushed forward to enter my apartment.
“Sephiroth wait!” I exclaimed and ran after him.
He had stopped in the middle of the living room just staring at Shadow with her two pups.
“It multiplied.”
“Shadow is not an it, she’s a mom,” I said while stepping in front of him.  “You can’t tell you promised.”
“I didn’t think she would make more,” he said.
“No one but Cloud and you know.  Please, she won’t have another litter.  The father is gone okay!  Don’t tell!”
“Don’t tell what?” I heard Genesis.
“CRAP!” I shrieked seeing Genesis and Angeal standing in my doorway.  “Does everyone just walk into my house without knocking first?!  God!”
“What is this Sophia?” Genesis asked in an angry tone.  “You have a pet?!  You can’t have a pet!”
“Genesis calm down,” Angeal said while shutting the door.
“No I won’t!  Sophia how long have you been hiding this thing?”
“Shut up Genesis!” I countered.  “Shadow is not a thing!  She is a dog, who is a mother, that I saved 2 years ago and Sephiroth helped me.”  I turned to Sephiroth, “And you better vouch for me because you were the one who helped me get her out of the pipe and snuck us in.”
“But I didn’t think you would let it multiply!”
“Shadow is NOT an IT for the last time!!” I shouted making Angeal and Sephiroth back away.
Genesis just glared at me.  “You can’t save everything Sophia.  Get rid of HER or I will report this and she’ll be put down.”
Shadow whimpered from behind me and I turned to see her trying to huddle her pups closer in a protective manner.  I turned back to my brother.
“You’re terrible Genesis,” I said.  “Fine, try it I dare you.  She’s staying and so are her pups.  Zack was allowed to have a dog that fathered these pups, but I can’t have her; you haven’t even known she’s been here for 2 years.  I’m not about to let her be hurt when I saved her.  If you’re willing to kick something weaker than you then you’re not a real hero.”
“Genesis,” Angeal called.  “Why not let it be?  There has been no harm done here and you can’t just rip the dog out of her life.  Sophia obviously cares about her, and from the looks of it, she’s willing to kick your ass to keep her.  And Sephiroth gave his word, so he may just back her up because he never goes back on his word.”
I completely ignored Angeal and just glared at my brother.  “What’s wrong with you Genesis, you were never like this before.  Where’s the Genesis I knew that was kind and would always lend a helping hand when someone needed?  Where’s your honor, huh?”  
Then I thought for a moment then looked to his pocket.  I rushed him and swiftly slid my hand into his pocket pulling out that book he always carries.  He cherishes this more than his own sword.
“Ever since you read this you’ve been different.  Always reciting that poem, talking about the Goddess and whatnot.  I’m sick and tired of it.”
“Give it back Sophia, I mean it.”
I lightly snorted.  “You care about it that much?  What if I happen to mention to the director that this book is giving you other ideas than serving SOLDIER?  Damn your precious book might just be put out, all being burnt to ashes.”
“Sophia give it back right now!”
“Promise me that you won’t report anything about Shadow, you won’t threaten her, or you yourself won’t try to come in here and take her away.  Promise me, or,” I made fire appear under the book in my right hand; “I’ll burn this and do as I said before.”
“Fine, keep your dog!  I don’t care.  I give you my word that I won’t tell a soul about her.”
I searched his eyes looking for any deceit.  However, even if my brother and I argue like this, when he gives his word her means it.  I diminished the flame, and handed the book back to him.  There was a moment of silence, then Sephiroth broke that silence.
“Wow Genesis, you care that much about a stupid book.”
Genesis snapped his head at Sephiroth, but I spoke ahead of him.
“Sephiroth, we all have something that is precious to us.  Loveless is precious to Genesis as Shadow is precious to me.  And we’re willing to do anything to keep them safe; even if others use it for blackmail,” I snickered.  “But nonetheless, until you find something that’s precious to you other than yourself, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Whatever,” he said.  “Be ready by tomorrow at dawn.”
“I will now would you please leave.”
“Hothead,” he muttered and walked towards the door.
“Butthead,” I said a little louder.
“Okay,” Angeal started, “now that the madness is over why don’t we go and get drinks.  Would you like to join us Sophie.”
“She’s not drinking,” Genesis said.
“Oh grow up Genesis, I’m not a little girl anymore.”  I turned to Angeal.  “Thanks for the offer but I think I’ll pass this time.  I should get some rest for the mission tomorrow.  But can I ask a favor?”
“Sure.”
“If you guys aren’t going on missions for a bit, would you mind looking after Shadow?  Her food is in the cabinet, and just open the window in my room.  She knows what to do.”
“Uh sure, if anything I’ll let Zack know to.”
“That would be great.  Zack already knows what to do if you’re too busy.”
“Hey Angeal, you can go ahead, I’ll catch up with you both,” Genesis said.
“Sure.  See you around Sophie,” Angeal waved.
After Angeal left, Genesis looked to me then to Shadow.  “May I?”
I sighed then motioned for him to follow me.  Shadow growled at him as he got closer.  I let her growl until I sat next to her and petted her head.
“It’s okay Shadow, Genesis won’t hurt you.  Will you Genesis?” I looked up at him and he was staring at the puppies.
He lightly shook his head.  “I won’t hurt them.”
Genesis leaned down and extended his hand towards Shadow to sniff.  She sniffed for a moment then just watched as he petted her head gently.  He looked down to the two puffballs sleeping curled up next to Shadow.  He looked to Shadow for permission and she nudged his hand allowing him to touch them.  Genesis lightly petted the white one then moved to the black and white one.
“What are their names?” he asked.
“The white one I named Snow, and the black one I named Zorro because he has the mask like his mama.”
“Nice names,” he smiled.  “I’m sorry, for how I’ve been acting towards you.  I’ve been so busy and haven’t had time to spend with you.  There’s no excuse for it either.  And I just want you to stay safe, I didn’t even want you to be here in SOLDIER where you could get hurt.  But I can’t change your decision.  Just remain safe, is all I ask.  And call me if something happens anything, I’ll come and get you.”
I nodded and leaned on Genesis’ shoulder.  “Okay.  And you promise to always come back to me.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.  “I promise Soph.”
I smiled at the nickname he always called me.  “Good.  Now go with the guys.  I need some sleep.”
“Alright,” he said while getting up.  “And I’ll help with Shadow.  She’s actually a beauty.”
“Hey she’s Rex’s girl,” I joked.
“Oh shut up,” he scolded and left.
I watched him leave and this time I got up to lock the door.  First I went to pack for the mission and made sure I had enough for the whole trip.  Then I took a quick shower, brushed my hair, and made something to eat.  I decided to sleep on the couch just to make sure that Shadow was okay with the puppies.  Tomorrow I get some action finally.