A/N: Written for the CxA Forums challenge. Short and to the point, but hopefully enjoyable.
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Flower
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"What kind of flower do you like best, Cloud?"
Terra's question had been innocent enough, but he had not been able to answer her at the time. It was personal, perhaps more so than the slender female had thought. Firion too had questioned the blond on it, after seeing how deeply his expression of his dream had effected Cloud. Both of his companions had found it intriguing, wanting to know what kind of flower would capture the attention of someone like the spikey blond, but he'd been closed mouthed on the subject.
His simple answer when pushed was that the flower he liked best wasn't a wild rose- that was Firion's. Terra had stared at him, apparently not satisfied with this answer, and told him that when he was ready to tell what his was, to let her know. Maybe he didn't know, Firion had suggested.
That was only partially true. Cloud knew exactly what flower he liked- no, loved, more than any other flower in the world. He just didn't know the same of it. It wasn't a sunflower, those were too bright, too flashy and huge, drawing attention. Nor was it a carnation, too frilly and fragile, no substance there. He'd seen countless flowers, had Terra name many of them, but none were the blooms that haunted his dreams.
They were passing through one of the fragmented worlds when mako bright sapphire orbs had saw a flash of white and gold amongst green and he had stopped cold, rooted in place at the familiar sight, the scent flooding his being and he found himself approaching slowly, kneeling amongst the ruins of an old wooden home, fingers reaching out to touch the silky petals.
"Terra."
"Yes?" The ash colored blond had followed, Firion steps behind her, watching Cloud with eyes flooded with curiosity.
"Do you know what kind of flower this is?"
Terra and Firion exchanged glances, and she spoke softly, her voice even and smooth as she answered him. "It's a lily. Traditionally, they are flowers that symbolize death, spirituality, purity, and innocence."
"Lily. . ."
Cloud closed his eyes, and in his mind he could see slender pale fingers offering him the same bloom, emerald eyes bright and sparkling, her voice sweet with a hint of playfulness.
"They're only a gil. . ."
It was a meeting imprinted on his heart, upon his very soul. Yes, there was a flower he liked better than any other. A flower he loved and cherished, one he wanted to meet again, more than anything. He'd received an answer from the Planet long ago, and he still followed the path, still searched for her. He believed he could find her again, the flower that even now haunted his dreams.