' Do you want to buy a flower, sir?'
It was snowing…
Cold, white crystals fell from the white heavens. Slowly, like a raindrop, they fell on to the ground, melting soon after from the warmth of the earth. The tall, almost branchless trees were covered in this thick sheet of white crystals.
It is already winter…and almost a year after the defeat of Sephiroth. On a small hill, a man, who had a unique style of blonde hair, almost like a Chocobo, was standing alone in the snow. His eyes were closed as though to feel the coldness of the chilly wind blowing softly on his face. The man then opened his cerulean blue, almost like the color of the ocean, eyes and then looks throughout the scene in front of him.
White. White. White…
All he sees is white everywhere. The white snow sparkled brightly as though they were small particles of diamonds scattered onto the brown earth. The man, Cloud Strife, sighed, his breath escaping from his lips in small puffs of white vapor.
" Cloud?"
A familiar voice reached his ears, and Cloud turned around to find its owner. Tifa Lockheart, his childhood friend and at the same time a strong, reliable comrade of him, was walking towards him, her feet kicking off the snow on the ground as she walked.
" Tifa…what is it?"
" You'll get a cold if you just stand there…here." Tifa said and then handed him his coat.
" Thanks…" Cloud said shortly as he put on the coat slowly. Tifa watched him and closed her ruby eyes. She wanted to know what he was thinking about, but it was useless to ask him since he will never answer back, just stare deeply into space again. Besides, she already knew what the answer would be.
She opened her eyes to see Cloud staring out into the snowfield again. "…Cloud?"
". . . . ."
No respond, which she expected so she continued on.
"…Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a year after we defeated Sephiroth. Times goes by fast when you're not thinking about it, do they?" She said softly as she breathed in the cool air. " I can't believe…it's been a year since…"
An image of a certain person came into her mind. She was a best friend, someone you can really trust and like, and at the same time, her greatest love rival.
"…since Aerith died."
She had expected the blonde-hair soldier to react or something, but he just stood there, silently watching the snows falling. Tifa let out a sigh and turns to leave, " I think we should go now. Barret will be furious seeing us not at the meeting place."
". . . . ."
"…Cloud?"
"…I'm coming…" Cloud closed his eyes and then turns to leave.
* * * * *
Three days later…
" Someone's happy," Barret said, staring at Tifa's expression.
The group (minus Cloud and Caith Sith/Reeve) were in Tifa's newly opened bar, " Promised Heaven " in Kalm. Yuffie was watching the television about Reeve being the new Shinra president with Red XIII/Nanaki lying on the wooden floor beside her. Vincent and Cid were drinking a few cups, while Barret was reading the newspaper.
Tifa was at the bar, wiping the washed glass wine cups and setting them softly on the table.
" So, what's up with you?" Barret asked, which took Yuffie's attention off the television.
" You mean, you don't know!!?" She yelled out in surprise.
" Know what!!?" Barret said in a hint of annoyance at Yuffie's tone of voice.
" Seriously, Barret, you really don't know?" Yuffie said again, she had a mischievous smile on her face.
" I said ' know what' !!? Damnit!!"
" Tifa is getting married…" Red XIII said beside Yuffie. Tifa soon blushed at Red's word and hid her face.
" You're gonna WHAT!!?" Barret shouted out loud, which made everyone, even Vincent, cover his or her ears. Tifa placed a finger over her lips, " Barret!!!"
Barret smiled, " Heh! It's about time! So, who's the lucky guy to marry a beautiful woman like you?"
" Honestly, Barret. Everyone knows except you," Yuffie rolled her eyes.
" Why you, you annoying brat!!!"
" H…Hey, stop it, you two!! No fighting in the bar! Take it outside!!" Tifa stepped in between them.
" It's Cloud…" Red XIII spoke up again, smiling up at Tifa.
" Cloud!!? So he finally decided to get over with it, huh?" Barret said in surprise. He didn't really think Cloud would do something like that.
" Well, he did, okay?" Yuffie said in a mocking tone.
" Grrrr, I swear to God that I'm gonna make you regret saying all those things to me, you stupid brat!!" Barret growled, his fist shaking with suppressed anger.
" Ah, will ya, two shut-up? You're making the sake (Japanese wine/alcoholic drink) taste sick!" Cid interrupted.
" So, when's the wedding!?" Yuffie said as she turned off the T.V.
" Well…" Tifa blushed, " It's two days from now…at the church nearby. And everyone is invited!!"
" Well…glad to hear that. I'm gonna bring Marlene…" said Barret
Tifa smiled softly and noticed Yuffie staring at her. " Hm? What's wrong, Yuffie?"
" Heh? Oh…nothing, nothing! Just thinking!!" Yuffie quickly covered it with a smile, " I was just thinking what a great couple you two will be!"
Tifa blushed and smiled, " Thank you…Yuffie."
" Hey, what are friends for?" The Kuno-ichi (Girl Ninja) stood up from her chair and walked towards the stairs, " Hey, um, Tifa? Do you mind if I rest in one of the rooms here? I…I think I gotta a head-ache from Cid's smoking."
" Oh great, is it my fault the kid's getting sick now?" Cid rolled his eyes as he drunk a cup of sake.
" Cid!" Tifa glared at him and turns to Yuffie, " No, I don't mind. You can rest as long as you want, Yuffie."
" Thanks, Tifa." Yuffie then slowly walked up the stairs, not knowing, Vincent was following her with his eyes.
" What's wrong, Vincent?"
Vincent looked up to see Tifa staring down at him in worry. He closed his eyes and stood up from his chair, " No, nothing. I'll…go take a short walk outside. For refreshment."
" O…Okay?" Tifa looked after him in confusion as he stepped out the door. " What's wrong with those two?"
* * * * * *
"…Cloud…"
The blonde hair soldier looked up to find Vincent walking up to him. " Vincent?"
" Surprised to see you here." Vincent said as he approached Cloud.
" Same here." Cloud smiled.
They both silently watched the wind blowing the green grasses when Vincent spoke up.
" I heard you're marrying Tifa…"
"Yeah."
" So…that means you're getting over her?"
"……" Cloud looked down at the grass under him but soon lifts his face up, "…yeah."
"…I see." Vincent closed his red, ruby-like eyes, " But even if you're marrying Tifa…know this. That no matter what the reason is…you shouldn't forget all the memories you had with Aerith. She…is still alive in you, Cloud, as long as you remember her. Forgetting the memories you had with her means the same thing as killing her. If you have forgotten about her…then that means that Aerith never existed inside of you."
"…yeah, I know. But I can't keep going on like this…I have to move on."
"…Then Cloud…, I hope you live happily with Tifa."
Cloud smiles at him, " Thanks, Vincent."
* * * * *
" Oh, Cloud!!" Tifa shouted in joy as soon as she saw Cloud and Vincent entering the bar, " Where were you? I was starting to get worried."
" I was just out taking a walk…" Cloud smiled and landed a small kiss on her cheek.
Tifa blushed and then lifts her face up as though she just remembered, " Oh, Cloud! I was wondering…the decorations for the wedding? Should it be flowers…or ribbons?"
"Eh?"
" The decorations! I'm trying to make the wedding as beautiful as possible. So…which one?"
"Umm…" Cloud made a thoughtful expression, " I…I guess ribbons will be fine."
" Ribbons!? Okay, then!" Tifa smiled as she wrote it down on her small notepad. " Just wait and watch, Cloud! This will be the greatest AND memorable wedding!"
" Yeah, I will." Cloud smiled and headed towards the stairs, " I'll be a taking a short rest, kay?"
" Okay." Tifa then went back into the bar, humming a happy tune along the way.
* * * * * *
Cloud was walking down the hallway when the door he was passing by suddenly opened and a familiar faced popped out.
" Yuffie?"
" Oh, it's just you." Yuffie said as she stepped out, " Thought it was Vinnie."
Cloud smiled, " Well, I'm sorry if I wasn't Vincent…he should be downstairs with Cid."
Yuffie blushed and soon glares at him. " What do you mean by THAT?"
" Nothing…"
Cloud then turned to his room when he heard Yuffie's voice calling out to him. " Hm?"
" Eh..?" Yuffie widens her eyes. She didn't really think he'd actually hear her…but then again…he was a formal Shinra soldier, " Oh…umm…can I talk to you?"
" ? " Cloud blinked his eyes in confusion but then followed her inside the room. " So…what is it that you want to talk to me about?"
Yuffie closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. "…So, you're marrying Tifa, huh?"
"…? Well…, yes."
" Haha, finally! After a year of thinking, you finally decided to get together with her, huh!? Hey, but remember this! If you make her cry I'll make sure you'll regret doing that!!" Yuffie said as she did a few punches in the air.
"…Yuffie, what's wrong…?"
". . . . . ." The Kuno-ichi stared into his blue, ocean-coloured eyes, and sighs, " Cloud…I'm truly happy that you and Tifa are getting together. Heh heh…I guess it's destiny? I don't know…but really, I am."
". . . . . . ."
" But…, when I think of Aerith…when I think of her…it's just…you know, it feels……wrong. Oh! Don't take it like I'm against you with marrying Tifa or something! It's just…Aerith…she said to me once…I think the day before she went to pray for Holy by herself…that if she was ever reincarnated as a normal girl…she would wish to be with the one she loves." Tears formed in Yuffie's eyes, " Haha…that time, I didn't really get the point on what she was trying to say. I guess…Aerith knew that though she was planning on coming back…there was a risk that she might not be able to. Maybe that's why…she was talking like that."
" Yuf…"
" So, Cloud! I really want you to be happy with Tifa! For the sake of Aerith!!" Tears flowed from Yuffie's eyes. Though, she was smiling. " Because…Aerith will be really disappointed if you're not! You wouldn't want her to see you like that!"
" Yuffie…"
" Oh god! Look at the time! Heh heh…" Yuffie wiped her tears away and headed towards the door, " I'm suppose to help Tifa make dinner. What do you want to eat, Cloud? I'll tell Tifa and I'm sure she'll be really happy to cook it for you."
" . . . . . ."
" Cloud?"
" Huh?" Cloud looked up from his thoughts. " Oh…umm…anything. Anything will be fine."
"…okay?"
The Kuno-ichi then stepped out of the door and went down the stairs, leaving Cloud in her room by himself.
'…Aerith…'
* * * * * *
' Cloud…?'
' Hm?' Cloud looked behind to see Aerith smiling at him as usual. She wore her usual pink dress except she wasn't wearing her red denim jacket at this time. " Aerith? What's wrong?'
' Oh…just couldn't sleep. Mind if I stay by your side for a while?'
' No, I don't mind.'
The flower girl smiled at him again and sat on the chair next to him. Cloud nervously glanced at her before taking a cup from the empty counter of the bar.
' Do you want to drink?' he offered.
Aerith placed a finger on her chin and made a thoughtful expression, ' Sure. Why not?' She then takes the glass cup from his hand and Cloud poured the red liquid into it.
' I hope it's not too strong for you,' Cloud said as he poured some into his own cup.
' We'll see…' Aerith giggled and took a sip. She then nods her head, ' Mm! Just the right taste!'
Cloud smiled, ' That's great…now I won't have to worry about carrying a drunken flower girl back to her room anymore.'
' Now what do you mean by that, Mr. Ex-Soldier? Hmm?' Aerith pouted but soon smiled, ' what about you? From the looks, I'm sure you have been drinking for a while before I came.'
' I'll be all right…I'm used to it. From Tifa's.'
' Ohhh, so now you're talking about Tifa, huh? When there's a pretty girl just right in front of you?'
' What do you mean?' Cloud blinked his eyes in confusion.
Aerith sighs, " Nevermind." She starts giggling and poking him with her slender fingers. ' You really are clueless about these kinds of things aren't you?"
" ?"
" Cloud…"
The blonde-hair soldier looks up, ' What?'
Aerith was staring him with this weird expression, almost as though in worry, but she soon replaced it with her usual smile, ' You really are strong, aren't you?'
" ?" Cloud looked at the glass cup in his hands, ' I don't…get your point.'
' You always try to solve everything by yourself…without asking for others to help…you are always alone. You never ask for any help but keep everything to yourself. You try to solve it alone because you don't want the others to become worried…I can understand that. But…'
' But…?'
Aerith smiled, almost sadly. ' But…why don't you try asking for help? It won't hurt…I promise.' She reached out her hand to touch his cheeks. Cloud felt the warmth and unintentionally wrapped his hand around hers.
' It's not good for you to keep everything to yourself, Cloud. Whenever I see you do that…I always see you making this sad and painful expression. I don't want to see you like that.' The flower girl lowered her eyelids, ' I want you to share your problems with everyone. With me…I want to share your pain…I want to do everything I can to help you…to free you out of your cage.'
' My cage?'
' Yes…your cage. So don't keep everything to yourself. Sharing your problems with somebody is not a sign of weakness…it's a sign of power… a power of teamwork…a power of trustfulness. Cloud, know this, that you're not alone. You have everyone to look after you…you have your childhood friend who knows about you…you have…' The flower girl stopped there, which the soldier blinked his eyes in confusion. He wanted to know what she was trying to say.
' Aerith…?'
Aerith smiled and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, ' Goodnight, Cloud. And even though you're used to it…try not to drink too much, okay?'
' . . . . . .?'
Cloud watched as Aerith left the bar, leaving him confused. ' What was she trying to say? That I have what?'
* * * * * *
Cloud woke up to find himself in bed. He turns to the window and found that night has already fallen.
' I must have slept long…' He thought as he slowly got off the bed. ' But…was that a dream? Must be weird…dreaming something like that…'
He walked into the bathroom to wash his face. ' But…come to think of it…I never got the chance to ask her what she was trying to say. Aerith…what were you trying to say? Why do I still…'
At that moment, he shook his face. ' Nevermind. I should stop thinking like this. I'm marrying Tifa now.'
After washing his face, Cloud decided to check downstairs to see if anyone is still awake.
" Oh Cloud! You're awake!"
Tifa was at the counter cleaning up after the mess Barret and Cid made a few minutes ago.
" Tifa…"
" Hm?" Tifa smiled at Cloud, " What's wrong?"
"…nothing."
"? Well…okay."
" I'm going to take a short walk…is that okay?"
" Yeah, sure!" Tifa smiled again, " Be careful!"
Cloud left the bar and walked into the dark streets of Kalm. He was only planning to take a short walk around just to cool off his mind. As he walked pass a corner, he noticed something. Something bright, glowing in the dark alleyways.
" ? " He walked towards the light in curiosity but soon stopped in surprise. " This is…?"
There seems to be a crack on the concrete ground since a green-ish blue light was flowing out from it like a fountain. "…Lifestream?"
Cloud whispered the word softly. He knelt down, examining the crack on the ground, wondering how it got there. ' An accident of some sort?'
The Lifestream itself seems to just flow out of the crack quietly and then disappearing into the air, as it grew higher. Cloud watched in amazement at the glowing light in front of him. But soon turned his eyes away because the light made him recollect the one person he vowed to protect. Yet he had failed to do so.
The one person whom he…
" Cloud…"The blonde soldier widens his eyes in surprise. He quickly lifts his face and looked around him.
' That voice…'
He started running further into the dark streets in search of the origin of the voice he had heard. ' That voice…it can't be…'
He stopped at the main square of the town where during the day; many couples and other people would hang out and just sit down. He once again looked around but found nothing.
' Aerith…?' He slowly walked up to the fountain located in the center of the square. Water was flowing from the fountain just like that Lifestream earlier, splashing into the pool of water underneath where people tend to throw coins thinking it would bring good luck if they did so.
He looked around again in hopes of finding something new. But still all he saw was the darkness of the night and the lights on the houses. He let out a sigh and shook his head.
' What am I thinking?' He thought to himself, ' I should get back now. Tifa would be getting worried by now…'
He took one last look around him and started walking back towards the bar. Not knowing that a dark figure has been watching him the whole time.
The figure then closed its green eyes and then disappeared into the dark.
* * * *
- Hikaru
Hi there! This is Hikaru and it's been a long time, ne? Well, I've been thinking of a Clerith fic for so long…just didn't how to put all these muses into words.
As you have read, this story follows after a year of Sephiroth's defeat. I know I know, a lot of people have already used that lame plot but hey, just forget about this whole lame plot thingy okay? I haven't been writing Clerith fic for a long time so…I'm not sure if it entertain you or so but I hope you guys enjoy it.
And before you all ask me questions, this is a CloudxAerith fic. It may look and sound like a Cloti fic…but it's not. I'm sorry CloudxTifa fans…but there needs to be more Clerith fic out there. Or else…Aerith will be sad. I don't like SephAer or ZackAer pairings…nope not my type. Clerith fics are and…they even sound right!!! ( I think…)
Well…let's just forget all the blabbering. Again, I hope you Clerith fans out there enjoy this fic…and I will be really happy if you decided to leave a review. Flames…are accepted but I don't really care about it so…but if you are going to flame just flame my story, NOT Aerith…she didn't do anything.
Read + Review!!