A/N – I've been meaning to write a Final Fantasy story for some time now. Something that circled around Aerith and Cloud. Originally, this story was going to be a few chapters long, but I've narrowed it down to a one-shot. This has intentioned angst. Intended AerithxCloud. Apologises, if the Characters are OOC.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or the Characters mentioned.

Summary: Cloud, you wouldn't be the man you are today without his help! Zack, shaped you into who you are and yet you're so blindly walking through life, tainting the legacy that was bestowed upon you… I don't know what to think of you anymore, Cloud. ::Poem/Letter::

Withered

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'Blinding, darkness surrounds me… And I am reaching, for you, only.'

Cloud…? How have you been? It's me, Aerith.

It's been a while, since we've last spoken.
…I miss you…

You can't see me, but, I can see you.
I see the inner turmoil that surges beneath your porcelain features.

I worry for you, Cloud.

You don't need to be afraid.
I'm not here to hurt you.

I don't mean to hurt you.

I am only what I intend to be.
Your Guardian Angel.

But, I'm not perfect enough to be an Angel.
Not perfect enough to be your Angel, at least.

Zack is here, with me right now.
He worries for you also, Cloud.

Do you not see what you are doing?

You act as if everything is fine.
Is everything fine?

What are you hiding, Cloud?
What are you so sad about?

You don't blame yourself…
Do you?

You're moving through life.
Alone.

Pushing away everyone close to you.

Even Tifa.
I thought you cared for Tifa.

She cares for you, Cloud.

Your eyes…
Once so blue and energetic.

Are, lifeless.

Glazed over.
Their once vibrant colour…

Almost grey.

Why are you doing this to yourself?
Betraying every right reason that represents your existence.

This isn't what Zack had left you!

It makes me so mad.
How can you think that this is how things should be?

Why are you so sad?

Everything isat peace.
I am at peace…

So why aren't you?

Breathe, for me Cloud.
I don't want you to cry.

I want you to smile that smile I have come to love.

I want to reach out and wrap my arms around you.
Even though I know, I shouldn't touch you.

You need help.

Please Cloud!
Please!

Would you be like this if you knew how much this was hurting me?

Cloud, I'm losing it!
Sometimes, I feel like I can't breathe.

Sometimes, I swear I can feel your pain.

Cloud!
It hurts to say your name.

Does it hurt for you, to say mine?

Why?
Why am I begging to an unseeing cause?

Because I don't want to see you give up.

You looked up to Zack, right Cloud?
Would Zack give up?

No.

Then follow in the footsteps of the Hero.
The Hero that died, giving up his life;

For you.

Cloud, you wouldn't be the man you are today without his help!
Zack, shaped you into who you are!

And yet, you are so blindly walking through life.

Tainting the legacy that was bestowed upon you…
I don't know what to think of you anymore;

Cloud.

Cloud… I…
I love you.

But you're showing me why I shouldn't.

Stop mourning over what was.
Be happy for what is.

And look forward for what shall be.

A hopelessness that's drowning.
I'm sorry if I'm responsible.

For the pain you're feeling.

I'm hurting more now, than ever.
I feel like there's something missing.

You're missing.

Sometimes, if I clutch at my chest.
Where my heart should be.

The pain will go away, only momentarily.

I'm crying now.
I feel useless.

I'm sorry I can't be there for you.

This isn't good for me.
Isn't good for you.

Isn't good for us.

I'm leaving now, Cloud.
I'm moving on.

And, I hope you'll move on too.

Feathers are falling, and Cloud stands beneath them. His emotionless eyes, attempting to gaze wonderingly at the scene before him.

A slight breeze whispers elegantly around him, his blonde locks blowing effortlessly with the wind. Cloud lets out a small, audible sigh. Another spasm of emptiness washing through him. He clenches his fists tightly together, and manages to keep up the uncaring façade that he has formed.

Tifa, is standing idly beside Cloud. Her thoughts trained upon the falling feathers; small, tiny white feathers. She is intrigued, unable to understand why feathers are falling, seemingly falling from the sky. Out of nowhere.

Then a thought hits her.

Averting her gaze to Cloud, Tifa gently reaches forward and grasps his hand. A small, comforting smile forming upon her lips.

Not noticing Tifa's sudden act of reassurance, Cloud steps forward; further into the mass of falling feathers. His arms outstretched, palms facing upwards.

Feathers… What do they symbolize?

A low whimper escapes Cloud as a familiar scent fills his nose, he closes his eyes, fighting back tears that long ago, should have been shed. "It's her…" He whispers.

And his assumptions are proved correct, when her giggle echoes throughout his empty mind.

When Cloud reopens his eyes, he is confronted with nothing but white.

White...

"Have you forgotten…?"

Cloud's heart skips a beat, as her voice reaches him. That, ever familiar and soothing voice that he had come to cherish; a voice that he had expected to never hear again.

"… How could I forget?"

Aerith smiles to herself, before she looks over at him from behind her shoulder, "You've been… Sad."

Cloud shuffles uncomfortably on his feet, "I'm allowed to mourn,"

"You've been mourning an awful long time, Cloud."

It took all of Cloud's self-control, to not turn around and wrap his arms over the one person he had always loved.

Taking a deep, Aerith turned herself around to face Cloud's back. Her breath, fanning against his neck.

"… I've missed you,"

"I know," Her smile widened, "I've missed you too."

Clearing his throat, Cloud clenched and unclenched his hands, "Why… Am I here?"

Aerith reached out, meaning to touch Cloud. But, retracted her hand quickly, "I, wanted to see you, one last time."

He frowned, "One last time…?"

Clasping her hands tightly together, Aerith gave a feeble nod, "I've been watching over you, Cloud." She paused, "I can see the inner turmoil you're putting yourself through. I just, can't take it anymore."

Cloud remained silent.

"Zack said he'd watch over you, for a while." She continued, "But I—I'm not, right enough to look out for you. I-I'm not perfect, not perfect to be your Guardian Angel,"

At this, Cloud couldn't stop himself. He spun on his heels, and when his eyes locked on her. He reached forward and cupped her cheek gently, "Aerith… You're perfect enough to be more than a Guardian Angel," He muttered.

At this, Aerith smiled.

To Cloud, this smile was the most amazing and beautiful thing he had ever seen. His thumb, slowly caressed her seemingly perfect face.

"You need to forget about me,"

Cloud frowned and pulled his hand back, surprised by Aerith's words, "… What?"

She took a step back, "It's okay, Cloud."

He reached for her, "No. Please, don't leave me."

Aerith tilted her head; a smile still formed, "I won't ever completely leave you,"

Cloud took two steps towards her before embracing her into a tight hug, "I want you to stay with me… I want to stay with you."

Aerith smiled, pulling away from him. She looked him in the eyes, before giving him a light peck on the cheek, "Cloud, I…" She hesitated, "… I love you."

He was taken aback by her words, and his hands shook. An intense feeling twisting in the pit of his stomach, "… You have no idea, how long I've been wanting to hear those words." He muttered, pulling her back to him, "Because, I love you too."

And that was all Aerith needed to know.

Aerith pulled away from Cloud, and planted a small, light kiss upon his unsuspecting lips. Before turning around, and slowly walked away.

Cloud made to follow after her, but with each step he took; his eyes becoming tinted with approaching light.

She was disappearing from his sight.

Cloud's eyes, were being blinded by an approaching white, he couldn't focus on her. But, he could still hear her voice. He closed his eyes, at peace.

"… Have you forgotten…?" Her voice reached him.

"… How could I forget?" 'How could I forget, you?'

When Cloud, reopened his eyes. The feathers were still falling. He cracked a light smile.

Tifa stood before him, her eyes searching his face, looking for something that she had missed.

Grasping her hands, Cloud turned his head; refusing to look away from the feathers.

Feathers, they symbolized freedom.

She was free.

And it was time that he was also liberated from his pain filled prison.

Hey Cloud, it's Aerith.

I'm better now.
Zack said that you're also better.

I'm happy for you.

You can't see me.
But I can see you.

And what I see, makes me smile.

Tifa… She makes you happy.
I'm a little bit jealous though.

Because she has you, and I don't.

I'm being selfish, I know.
But, do you still love me Cloud?

I'm with Zack he makes things happier.
But he's not the same, he's not you.

You and I won't be a part for ever.
I'll be waiting for you Cloud.

Even if it takes, an eternity.

'Yesterday I died, tomorrows bleeding, I fall into your sunlight…'
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Withered

A/N – I feel slightly depressed after writing this, please excuse me, whilst I crawl into a dark corner and listen to sad music. I need a good cry anyways. ;D ~ Cloud seems a little OOC, if so. Please tell me, and I'll edit this straight away.

R&R! Pwease?

Thanks for reading~