About 4 hours later Sephiroth awoke from his coma that the
dart seduced. He sat up ever so cautiously being careful not to
fall out of his bed. Beads of sweat poured down from his forehead.
He rubbed the spot where the dart had penetrated his skin. Then
he suddenly remembered what happened.
What happened to Vincent?
"Ugh." He groaned and lay back down. His head spun and
the world was a blur.
Zack got up from his chair outside Sephiroth's room and walked in.
"thank the ancients your alive." he said. Sephiroth
nodded with recognition and sat up daringly once again. "What
happened to Vincent and the warrior The Cat?"
"Well",began Zack, "after darting you both she
knocked Vincent out with her whip, jumped out the window and
landed on a huge black panther sir."
Sephiroth nodded and slowly stood up. His silvery hair slid off
the bed along with him. Starting off a bit shaky he eventually
took a few steps. "Zack has anyone gotten information on the
stolen weapon?"
"No," Zack replied, "but we have a full profile of
the cat and the hounds have scent of the panther they were riding
on. Plus we received another note. This time it is for you. I did
not read it because it was in an envelope with your name on it,
and I figured you would rather I didn't."
Sephiroth dismissed Zack and picked up the letter. He wondered
what this was all about. Why would someone want this ancient
weapon? Was there another who knew how to use it? He carefully
opened the envelope and noticed that it had a glimmer or gloss on
the edge. He picked up a magnifying glass and peered through it.
Interesting, he thought. The envelope was sealed with a glittery
mako. A sparkly glue that was used to seal certain confidential
reports. Only one showered in mako could open or handle such a
thing.
He finally set down the glass and plucked out the letter.
He read with a slight interest. His green blue eyes sparkled with
anticipation and excitement, a yearning for battle and bloodlust,
the very driving thing that made him such a warrior. The cat
wanted to meet him out on the white sanded beach at 9:00. It was
nearly 8:30 now though he did not notice he was still engrossed
in the letter. The Cat also wanted him to meet her mistress or
employer. But the thing that interested him most was the closing
sentence. I want a one on one battle. I want to test your skills
if the mistress allows. If you win you will gain 2 things you
have lost. none of which I will mention. I figure the poison will
wear off at around 8 so it gives you an hour to get here better
hurry.
Sephiroth moistened his lips and dropped the letter turning to
the clock. It read 8:40. He got up, grabbed his masumune and was
on his way.
Meanwhile at the hidden base in the rocks The Cat ran to meet her
mistress. "Saber!" she bellowed looking around until
she found whom she was looking for in the conference room. The
Cat sat down in a chair across from the mistress also known as o&qutsaber
wolf"
"Saber" The Cat panted, "Saber I must tell you
something. I have challenged the general to a battle on the beach
to the east. "
"Very good Natalie. I already know. I sealed the letter"
Saber Wolf replied. "do me a favor and don't kill him.
Remember, we need him for our mission."
"But Saber you'll never guess who the general is he's...."
":::::shhh:::::" the Saber shouted, "....I'd like
to find out myself. When you beat him bring him here I would like
a word. And if he does not agree we will kill him."
"But, but..." Natalie stammered. "You don....."
She was cut off by a chime.
Quickly Natalie got up and ran out to meet the general on the
beach. Amazingly she reached the meeting place before the 9th
chime rang. She stalked up to the dark figure she knew awaited
her in the shadows. Not worried she greeted him with utmost
kindness and backed away so that the general could reveal himself.
"So," Sephiroth said, "you are the famed cat.
Where is Vincent?" Natalie replied to him in one word "Safe"
Sephiroth smirked at the young warrior standing in front of him.
This time he could see her clearly in the moonlight. She was
quite tall perhaps 5'6' give or take an inch. She had Long orange-red
hair that blazed like the light of a dragons fire. Her armor
reflected in the dull light, leaving a blue-like color on the
sand. Her knee-high chocobo tan boots fight tight and snugly. At
her right hung a pouch filled with her dart gun and about 12
darts. At her left hung a black leather braided whip. The end
dripped and Sephiroth noticed what the liquid was the second a
drop hit the sand. Acid he thought to himself and yet again he
smirked. Clever girl.....
"Quite skinny for a warrior aren't you. "he remarked.
then the cat replied with an acid like edge in her voice.
"Damn fat for a legend god how could she stand you!!??"
ApparentlySephiroth was hurt because he grimaced and then
suddenly lifted his head. "who is "she?" Quickly
Natalie shut her mouth and shook her head.
Sephiroth inquired about her mistress and Natalie just said
"You'll meet her soon enough."
Sephiroth bowed low to this woman and said "My name is
Sephiroth I am general and 1st class soldier." "My name
is Natalie," she said as she curtsied deeply as a sign of
respect among her people. "First class warrior of the Shang
Hai clan. Shall we begin?" she remarked. Sephiroth shook his
head and told her to first remove the acid from her whip. Then
they both bowed and stood about 5 feet away from each other, the
battle had begun.