The Soldiers Pink Rose
"Hey light" said the tall man walking next to a pink haired young woman
"What is it Zack?" She replied as she was brushing branches away from her face since they were lost in a forest.
"Can we take a break, I feel like we have been walking for ages" complained Zack but she gave a brief sigh.
"You can, but be assured that you will have to find your own way out" said Lightning harshly to Zack and he started to groan.
"Awww but I don't want to be alone, I could get attacked by monsters, bandits or even emos" Zack stated but Lightning did not bother to listen and kept on walking.
"Boy oh boy, she can be so cold sometimes" he muttered to himself quietly and with no choice continued to follow her. They had been walking for nearly 3 hours and it looked like it was going to get dark soon. Zack tried going on his phone but got no reception nor did he expect it.
"Looks like it's getting late we should probably stop here and make camp" explained Lightning to Zack as he smiled of relief as he can now get what he wanted 3 hours ago. They got a campfire started to ward off any nearby monsters and they both sat down near to it in silence until Zack started to talk.
"So light, what are you planning to do when you get back to Bodhum?" said Zack
"Not sure probably just go back to my sister and that oaf she's marrying" she replied in a uptight voice.
"That's if we do get back" she added in a much sadder tone.
Zack smiled at her and then got up from his side of the fire to move next to her.
"Of course we'll get back I promise and I always keep my promises" Zack said as he smiled at her which made her give a small smile as well but turned away from his face.
"But we won't get there quicker if we keep stopping" she replied
"Hey you're the one that suggested it remember" he said as he gave one of his heart melting smiles
"But if you want we could go are own ways and then I would leave you here" said Zack as he was leaning upwards.
"No, you don't have as you could just get lost and-"she was cut off as Zack immediately sat right next to her.
"Ahh I'm just kidding Light, you know I would never leave you" he said as he put his arm around her shoulder but she pulled away and that made Zack laugh.
"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't leave anyway you would probably just get lost" she said with a little smirk
"Yeah, so that's why I decided to stay with the most beautiful person in the forest" he said while he looked at Lightning who was looking at him and then blushed and turned around quickly. She yawned and Zack knew she was getting tired.
"You should get some rest, you're gonna need a lot of energy if you plan on not stopping" Zack implied
Lightning nodded and slumped to the ground and used her arms as a pillow while Zack placed his giant sword against a tree.
"Goodnight Light" Zack said softly
"night Zack" murmured Lightning as she fell asleep but Zack felt the need to stand watch over her just in case there was any trouble. He then fell to the ground and decided that he should he get some sleep as well and then he closed his eyes and drifted off.
Zack then felt something holding him and as he opened his eyes he saw that it was Lightning she was shivering a little but she was still sound asleep. Zack smiled gently as he put one hand over her pulling her body closer to his and slightly kissed her forehead.
"I'm gonna make a promise that I'm going to protect from now on" he whispered and then fell asleep.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning Lightning slowly opened her eyes and gave a stretch and was looking around but there was no sign of Zack and she wonders if he really left but that thought fades away as she recognises him from a close distance. He gave a sigh of relief as she realized what he had just done and turned away in disgust as he pulled up his zipper.
"Zack you animal!" she said with a little smile
"What? It's a free country and besides it's not like any one was looking at me taking a piss" claimed Zack as he took his buster sword and placed it on his back.
It took them both a while to get their gear on and they decided to set off walking aimlessly into the woods.
"Light do you have any idea where were going" Zack said in curiosity
"Not really, wait don't tell me your tired already" Lightning said in an annoyed tone
"No of course not is just that we've been walking for nearly 45 minutes and I was just wondering if were going in circles" Zack said but she turned around to face him and started walking backwards
"will you stop complaining, its getting on my nerv-" she was cut off as she felt her foot slip backwards and realised she had stepped on a pit that had been set out for monsters. She was on the edge and lost her balanced Zack had realised this and quickly rushed towards her and grabbed her arm and pulled it towards him which caused him to stumble backwards with Lightning toppling on top of him. Zack was on the ground and Lightning realised she was on top of him and blushed as she was caught with a glare from Zack's bright blue eyes. This made her speechless but Zack was able to get a word out
"Umm, Lightning you can get off me now, not that I'm not enjoying this is just that your crushing my body"
Realising this she quickly got off Zack and stood up while Zack vaulted himself from the ground as he usually does.
"Man that was close if I came a second later you would have been-"he was cut off as he was embraced by Lightning as she kept holding on tighter to him.
"Thank you Zack, I'm sorry I was mean to you before" Lightning said in a soft voice and Zack replied by putting his hands around her
"It's alright I would save even if you liked or not , like I said before I not gonna leave you" he replied as he pulled her away
"We're gonna get out of here together ok?" Zack stated to Lightning as she nodded in reply
"Yeah, let's not waste anytime "she said
Afterwards the two finally found themselves out of the forest and on a barren waste land
"Ugh finally were out of that God forsaken forest" Zack shouted in relief
"Yeah Bodhum doesn't look too far from here as well" Lightning said with relief
"Can we take a break please" Zack quickly shouted and covered his head expecting to get hit by her but she agreed to his surprise which brought him a sigh of relief.
Like last time Zack sat next to Lightning again when they were resting
"So Light when we get back how would you suppose I take you out to dinner or something?" Said Zack
"Um, I don't know I mean were still on the run from PSICOM and I also have to check how my sister is doing and-"this was the third she was cut off but this time he cut her off touching his lips against hers. He made sure it was nice and tender and then pulled back from her and was expecting her to hit him but instead she pulled him towards her and kissed him.
Zack could not believe that Lightning, the girl that was so harsh and cold, turned into this loving and forgiving angel that is before him and has no other option but to enjoy this moment with her.
"That was nice" said lightning with a bright smile
"You're welcome…. Claire" said Zack proudly and saw Lightning's face in surprise and then smiled
"Well what do you say we get a move on?" said Zack with a grin standing up and giving a hand to Lightning
"Yeah let's go" answered Lightning
The two of them got up and started walking up to Bodhum and Zack realised that Lightning had been walking much closer to him than before which he did not mind. They came across a road and decided to put his thumb out to see if he could hitchhike any vehicle on the way to Bodhum. Lightning did not like the idea but to their luck a yellow truck stopped by and Zack recognised the driver
"Heya pops long time no see" said Zack while he greeted the man with a handshake
"Good to see you too Zack, hey who's that fine young lady with you" he said while staring at Lightning
"Oh this is Lightning my new girlfriend" Zack added which made Lightning smile and blush a little until she said
"Hey are you on your way to Bodhum"
"You're in luck missy, I was on my way there to my new house" the old man said
"You wouldn't mind taking me a Light there would you" Zack said with a puppy dog face which just made the man smile
"Sure Zack no problem just hope into the back" said the old man in delight
Zack jumped on the back of the truck and helped Lightning on as well and then the vehicle drove off to their destination.
On the journey to Bodhum Zack had an excited look on his face and looked at Lightning who was just looking out at the landscape.
"Hey Light" he started
"yes, what is it?" she looked at him and could scratch what was on his mind or what he was going to say until he said three words that made her gawp in surprise
"I love you" said Zack as he gave that heart wrenching smile
"Also know that once we get to Bodhum I am going to protect you and always love you" he added
"Zack!" she replied with tears in her eyes
"I" she was cut off for the fourth time by an explosion that made her lean forward and hit her head against the back of the truck which made Zack shout her name and told the old man to take them down.
The old man drove the car to the side of giant barren rocks where the attackers cannot see them. With this Zack waves goodbye to the driver and thanks him. Zack then hides the unconscious Lightning behind a giant boulder so that she is well hidden he then looks at her and smiles gently caressing her pink tresses he then walks off to face whatever threat stood in their way.
He realised that it was PSICOM and that they had raised a huge army to bring them down as Zack viewed the army he gave a giant sigh
"Wow, this might be even be tougher than shinra but then again the price of freedom is steep" he said to himself.
Zack slowly removed the buster sword from its holder and placed it in front of him and then placed it to his head as this was a symbol of his dreams and honour.
"Embrace your dreams and whatever happens protect your honour as soldier!" he shouted as he ran towards the horde of soldiers.
"This is for you Claire" he thought to himself in his mind and that's when the battle for his and Lights freedom began.
It was a long and tiring battle as Zack looked weak as he had fought and killed many soldiers but they were more enhanced that shinra. Zack tried to make a last stand but only succeeded in killing two soldiers. Two more came along and gunned him down which made Zack shout in pain and fall to the ground and with that the remaining soldiers left , leaving him for dead.
Zack opened his eyes to look to the dark sky and smiled a little as if he knew that someone was watching him and it was someone he cared for in the past but the he heard movement and thought it was a soldier and so awaited his fate. But to his surprise it was Lightning who was crawling over to him as she had just gained consciousness.
"Z-Zack" she said softly as she could not bear to see the man she loved covered in blood.
Zack twitched and looked up to see Lightning
"y-you know, I did this all for you" Zack said in a dying tone
"You idiot you could of tried waking me so I could help or running away" she kept babbling on as tears came upon her face until Zack said softly
"I'm sorry, but I had to make sure that you're gonna" he could not finish his sentence.
"You're gonna?" implied Light as she helped him speak. He then grabbed her head softly with his left hand and pulled it towards his chest
"Live!" he finished his sentence
"I would never forgive myself if something happened to you and It was my fault" he stated as he released her head and allowed his hand to drop on the blood stained floor mixed with rain. Lightning lifted her head from his body and it was covered in his blood with tears still streaming down her face. Zack smiled and went to his sword and dragged it towards Lightning.
"I'm not expecting you to use it as I know how much you hate big swords but could you hold on to it …as a reminder of me" Zack said gently
After hearing those words she fell into more despair and took the sword from Zack who helped her a little to maintain it. "This is a symbol of our bond" Zack stated
Lightning couldn't help to drop the sword and kiss him for one last time which he accepted. It was long and sweet but then she let go of him and he just smiled.
"This sword... Is a symbol of our bond?" Lightning questioned. Zack nodded in agreement and said his final words to Lightning
"I love you Claire" and with those words he smiled and closed his eyes and died peacefully.
"Zack,no, please don't leave me "she cried as more tears kept dwelling down her eyes and she hugged Zack's body ever so tightly and gave off an ear splitting scream of anguish and despair.
She thought of all the moments her and Zack had together and the time when he said that he loved her. She hears Zack's voice through her mind which tells her to carry on to Bodhum and meet your family.
"Thank you Zack, I will never forget you" she said softly as she stood up and carried the buster sword with her. Tears were still streaming down her eyes but she tried to hide it away and be strong.
"Goodbye and I will always love, Zack Fair" she said quietly as she walked off to Bodhum dragging the buster sword behind her. She looks back to see Zack's smiling face and that gives her hope that this is not the last time the will see each other.