"The Beginning of Nowhere"
(Or Silent Tears)
A Final Fantasy VII Fanfic
By K. Valentine
Light shades of fabric brushed against the whispering wind in what seemed to be a soothing lullaby. Light shades of green and blue rustled in a silent welcome to the breeze that sashayed its way to his pale skin, kissing him on the skin of his cheeks. He opened his eyes at the feeling, gently, lazily.
She was gone.
He brushed the bangs of silver from his face, setting his lime eyes on the sight of the Sakura grove up ahead, just a quarter mile from where he sat now. He calmly stood up and placed a hand on the windowsill.
Perhaps she was waiting in the grove for him?
He almost smiled at the thought. After figuring who she really was? He looked down at the moment a cherry blossom caressed his calloused hand that was touching the windowsill. He stared at it for a minute, and then picked it up. He instinctively brought it to his lips and let himself reminisce of the moments they had shared together. This was the way her feathery lips felt on his…
He did smile at the memory. A pleasant smile…a smile rare to grace his lips. He clutched the blossom to his chest and looked up to the grove once more.
There was still hope—just beyond the quarter mile and loosened flower petals. He would check one last time.
One year before…
The soft pinks of her long sundress rustled against her figure when she walked. She smiled and closed her eyes whenever she tasted nature through her senses, soaked them through and through her being like a flower deprived of water. The smell of salty water assaulted her senses, and she loved it.
The men always watched her when she walked by. She walked with an unknown grace, which fit her personality and figure quite well. She had always had this air about her—a careless, kind air that every man found so attracting and addicting to be around. They were like moths drawn to flame—she was adored.
Although most women didn't think so.
Such as Scarlett and her posse, for example. Scarlett used to attract most any boy in the entire Midgar Academy, and she grew too used to it. The scales of justice must have found way to her at last, and brought in this new Goddess to take her place without knowing it. From that day on, Scarlett vowed to try and turn all odds against the new girl. So she tried…and failed many times on end. Scarlett did not seem to know it, though—and acted the same as she did when she was guaranteed a spot on the cheerleading squad. Bratty, snobby, and spoiled. Jealousy became a part of those easily, after failing to humiliate the new girl.
This girl did have a close friend, however.
Tifa Lockheart and she became instant friends when they met in dance class. Tifa saw Scarlett trying to pick on her, and as head of the self-defense team—used that position to their advantage. The girl thanked her, and they started to talk. They clicked and they had been friends ever since.
Aerith Gainsborough leaned against the railing of the luxurious cruise ship her class of College seniors paid to go on. They were to travel to Costa del Sol first, and they would get off there and continue their journey by chocobo. That, however, would be weeks later after spending two weeks or so on the beaches of the coast.
Aerith smiled about the way her adventures had gone before the cruise. Vincent Valentine was one of the few. She blushed thinking about his art and techniques he had used to paint a picture of her. He had shyly apologized, and said that he had inspiration right in front of his eyes that he could not refuse. She wondered if Vincent were on the ship. She hadn't been able to spot him just yet, but was determined to seek him out. She sighed and soon felt a hand on her back. She started, and turned to see it was only Zack.
"Hey, babe!" He hugged her, but she didn't even return the hug.
"Zack…could you please let go of me?" He raised an eyebrow at Aerith's suggestion.
"Personal space—no problem for my girl."
"Zack, I am not your girl." She stated calmly. She stepped away and made some distance between them. He had a frown on his face.
"What's the matter—"?
"Zack, please. You know we aren't together anymore!" Zack frowned and backed away.
"No need to PMS! I'm going!" Men from everywhere were staring Zack down, and some even got up—including the artist in the far corner of the area.
"Yeah, buddy! Get away from her!"
"Stay away from her!"
"She didn't do anything to you!"
"I think she oughtta slap him!"
Amongst all this, the raven-haired artist only spotted what won him the greatest honor in the art world. She had come after all…
He calmly rushed to her side to pull her out of the forming mob and into his spot of the ship.
"What—excuse me?" Aerith was pulled then face to face to the one she had been looking for, thus causing her to stutter. "V-Vincent!" She pulled him into a hug she never knew she would give to practically a stranger. He stiffened, and she blushed when she pulled away. "I'm sorry—I should have…uhm…" She stuck out a hand, earning an astonishing smile from the older man.
"It's a pleasure to meet with you again, Miss Aerith." He took her hand and shook it, nodding to her as a gentleman would do. She smiled as well, and then turned her head to his easel. It was…
"Is this me?" She noticed the colors of her sundress and designs, the way her hair was in a high ponytail atop her head with a ribbon to complete the outfit. She looked back to Vincent, who seemed to be blushing.
"I…could not help myself. The painting of yourself won the highest honor at the National Art Faire last year." Her jaw slightly dropped.
"Congratulations!" She finally blurted after a little while of silence. He smiled again.
"You were, after all, my inspiration." He replied when he picked up a paintbrush and rinsed it of the remnants of the previous colors. She looked at the painting again, smiling.
"It's beautiful…"
"It? You mean yourself, correct?" She blushed.
"No, actually the color scheme and all…"
"Oh…yes, I take pride in my slight ability to do so." They stood in a comfortable silence, until Tifa made her appearance.
"Aeris!" She turned to see Tifa in a short, white sundress with one hand holding a white hat on her head, the other trying to keep herself balanced. Men whistled, but she only ignored them.
"Hey, Tifa!" Aerith replied, exchanging hugs with her. Tifa nudged Aerith and gestured to Vincent with her head. Aerith rolled her eyes. "Tifa, this is Vincent. Vincent, Tifa." Tifa held out her hand for him to take, but he only nodded to her.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Lockheart." He only replied, and started to pack up his things. Aerith threw him a questioning glance. "The clouds overhead seem a little ominous, so I feel it is time to bring my things indoors." He replied to her silent question, and then picked up his things. Aerith nudged Tifa into saying her "flirtatious" goodbyes, and left the two alone. Aerith looked overhead. Sure enough, there were clouds that would be promising rain that night.
"Can I walk with you?" She asked him. He turned then nodded, a gleam entering his eye.
He felt something he hadn't in a long time when he was around her. It felt…good.
Vincent dropped his things off at his own room, and they decided to go to the dining hall together to get something to eat. All eyes were on the couple, some jaws slightly dropped, girls gossiping, other guys cracking their knuckles; the tension in the room began to build. The couple, however, did not take notice and ate in peace. They discussed art, how they were doing, food, tea, and the list of topics go on. One sensitive topic seemed to surface among tea and other beverages, however.
"Are you…engaged?" Aerith's happy façade fell and she sipped her tea before answering.
"No…not anymore." She replied while looking into the surface of her beverage at her reflection. Vincent noticed and immediately lowered his crimson eyes in shame and embarrassment.
"My apologies, Aerith…" She looked up, smiling suddenly at him.
"You just called me 'Aerith.'" She replied. It took a moment for him to realize his mistake and was about to apologize, but Aerith stopped him. "I like how you say my name…" She said, almost dreamily and unconsciously while dipping the little tea sack in and out of her tea. He looked at her almost wide-eyed on how open she was toward him. No one had ever been that willing to tell him about himself or herself that way.
"I apologize if…"
"Vincent…there's no need to apologize." She calmly replied, looking up with a smile on her face. "And thank you for the reminder! I've still got to give it back to Zack."
"You mean Zack Strife, Miss Aerith?" She nodded.
"Why?" She asked.
"I believe you have a chance to do so now." He paused. "He is walking towards us."
A/N: So, what do you all think? This has been (obviously) the first chapter in my new story. Actually, I combined about three little chapters into this one so it wouldn't seem so much as just a stupid story! I hope I got your attention, and enough of it to make you all review! Reviewing only takes but a few minor seconds of your time, and even if it's about something that bothers you in my story, then by all means--tell me so I may improve in any skills and tools in writing that you want me to put to good use in the future of this story! Thank you all for reading so far, and if you have any suggestions just review!
K. Valentine
