Guardian Angel

Chapter 2

Sitting in the lab, waiting for her father, Aeris had a book opened in front of her. However, she was just staring at the text, not reading. Her mind was somewhere else, thinking about the reunion that would take place two weeks from now.

It had been almost two years since that day Sephiroth left to join the SOLDIER. He had come back and visited, just as he promised. But this reunion would be different -- she would not have to say goodbye to him anymore. Yes, he had finished his two-year training. Sephiroth was the top student in the entire training program. Rumors had that he would be promoted to First Class SOLDIER within the next year. All this news did not really surprise Aeris. To her, the most important news was that her prayer had been answered -- Sephiroth would station in Midgar.

Unable to concentrate on her book, she let out a soft sigh and approached her father, who had been sitting and analyzing test results in front of the computer monitor since Aeris had arrived.

"Daddy," Aeris started softly, not wanting to startled her father. "I'm hungry. Can I go to the coffee shop and get something to eat?"

"Of course, my dear," Professor Gast turned away from the monitor for the first time in two hours. "I'm so sorry. I was so into this research and I forgot about my little Aeris."

"Daddy, I'm not little! I'm thirteen already!" Aeris protested.

"You're always my little girl even when you're eighty." Professor Gast gave his daughter a gentle hug. "Here, take the gils."

"Do you want me to get you anything? Coffee, perhaps?" Professor Gast took down his glasses and massaged his tired eyes with his palms.

"No, I'm fine, dear."

"Okay, I'll be back soon."

******************************

Walking down the endless hallway, Aeris' mind was not on the food that she would get from the coffee shop. Her mind had been occupied by an image, a face to be exact. The face belonged to a young man she had known for all her life. Her best friend who had dried her tears when she cried, and always let her had her way. Her guardian angel who had protected her countless times, as if the purpose of his life was to keep her safe from harm. Keep her safe from harm... just like the prince and the princess in the storybook...

Aeris was lost in her thoughts. She did not realize she hit the corner until she bumped into... something, something that was not supposed to be in this building. A black panther.

Aeris' eyes went wide in shock and fear as the panther flexed its jaw dangerously. Slowly, she backed up, placing herself as far away from the beast as possible. To her dismay, the angry beast silently approached her with such a grace that somehow reminded her of Sephiroth.

"No, stop. I'm very sorry, I didn't meet to bump into you..." Even though she knew it would not understand human language, Aeris still apologized out loud, hoping somehow her voice would soothe her would-be attacker.

If only Sephiroth were there to protect her...

There was only one thing she could think of -- pray. Pray to the planet that somehow she could escape without harm, pray to the planet that the beast would not attack her, pray to the planet that her hero would arrive just in time to save her...

Then the beast suddenly leaped forward and knocked her down.

She kept her eyes shut, still praying to the planet. Part of her was hoping that miracle might happen, part of her was helplessly expecting to be attacked by its fangs and claws...

"Stop!!"

A voice echoed through the hallway. A male voice.

As if the beast understood the voice, it stopped. Slowly backing up from the poor girl, the beast waited patiently for the owner of the voice to approach them.

"Aeris, are you alright?"

Aeris slowly opened her eyes. Was it a male voice that she heard just now? Could it be...

She turned her head eagerly to the owner of the voice.

The young man quickly rushed to her side. A pair of sapphire eyes filled with concern. He went down on his knees immediately and examined for any injury. To his surprise, there was not even a scratch on Aeris' body.

"...Rufus..."

"Aeris, I am very sorry. Dark Nation escaped from his training session. I went to look for him immediately. He's still not tamed." The sixteen-year-old helped Aeris got back up.

"...Dark Nation? Your pet?" Aeris looked at the black panther with obvious fear in her watery emerald eyes.

"Yeah." Rufus chuckled a bit. "Or you can say it's my 'bodyguard'. He's not a normal panther, you see. He can use magic too, or at least he WILL be able to use magic after he complete his training sessions."

"What is that?" Aeris noticed a small remote control in Rufus’ hand as she regained her composure.

"This?" Rufus motioned the remote. "When I press this button, it will activate a device implanted in Dark's brain, and it will make him stop whatever he's doing."

Aeris nodded silently in response.

"I apologize for what happened just now."

"No, it's not his fault...." Aeris' explanation was cut out shortly.

"He attacked you. That's that." Rufus looked intently at the girl in front of him. "Please accept my apology as well as my invitation to the café."

"What?"

"If you don't go to the café with me, that means you're still mad at me..." Rufus slowly looked away.

"No! I am not!...But..." Aeris eyed the beast warily.

"Oh that!" His face brightened. "I'll take him back to training session first. He won't come with us. Don't worry. Let's go!"

He gently put his arm around her shoulders, deliberately protecting Aeris from Dark Nation, as he pushed back a strand of strawberry blonde hair with his other free hand.

************************

A pair of blue eyes was watching the whole event from a dark corner. A devilish smile played on the brightly painted red lips. She casually brushed a strand of platinum blonde hair off her face. As she stepped out of the dark corner, the sound of her three-inch red heels was absorbed by the thick carpet.

"How interesting! Her body glows and forms a protective shield when she is being attacked. Ummm… The President might be interested in this little piece of information... And if he does, then I might be able get all the funding I need this time. Sorry, Palmer. Kiss your Shinra-27 project goodbye, you sucker. Kya haa haa haa."

******************************