Disclaimer: Aerith Gainsborough, Cloud, Tifa, Zak, Sephiroth, and everyone else in the Final Fantasy VII universe are (c) to SquareSoft/SquareEnix. Reilena Gainsborough is (c) Vinja Ryou, since she is my self-created character in the FFVII world.
A/N: The prologue takes place five years before the events of FFVII. Yes, and I play around with creative liberties muchly, so if something seems screwy, blame my imagination. Teeheehee.
Prologue
"Aren't you ready yet?" she called, folding her arms and tapping her heel. "Other people live here too, y'know!"
"Give me thirty more seconds, I promise!" a voice called from within the washroom. Rolling her eyes, the young woman glanced over at the clock on the wall, counting to herself. Sure enough, in thirty seconds' time the washroom door opened, and her jaw dropped.
"Wow…Aerith, you look like a princess." Aerith Gainsborough giggled shyly, tucking a strand of chocolate-brown hair behind her ear. The simple gown she wore was a pale rose shade, complementing her skin tone; her long hair was pulled up in a regular ponytail and tied back with a matching ribbon, and a few strands floated around her face to accentuate her aquamarine eyes. A simple silver bracelet on each wrist, silver chain, and diamond earrings completed her ensemble.
"Thanks Rei - sorry I took so long in there," Aerith replied, standing aside. Reilena Gainsborough shrugged self-consciously.
"No big deal. I don't have much to do anyhow, since you're the one with the reason to go to this formal in the first place," she said pointedly, dragging her heels into the room. Aerith followed her younger sister, and picked up their hairbrush, pulling it gently through Reilena's hair as the younger girl pulled on her own dress. A darker crimson, it was off-shoulder, but instead of poufing out a bit like Aerith's, it hung loose to her ankles. Aerith smiled, picking up a barrette as Reilena zipped up the back of her dress.
"Don't worry Rei - I'm sure you'll find someone there," she said reassuredly; Rei blew a strand out of her eyes, and Aerith laughed softly. "Besides, at least this gives you a chance to leave the house for a little bit, rather than sit at home." Rei's eyes widened - a deep violet shade, they contrasted with her long, dark saguine-red mane - and she nodded emphatically.
"Yeah…can you believe she's going to still run the shop tonight?" Rei said, referring to their adoptive mother's flower boutique. Aerith shook her head.
"Knowing her, I can," she replied. A few brush strokes later, and she stepped back from her sister, smiling proudly. "And we are finished. Do you like it?" Reilena gazed into the mirror, a happy smile crossing her lips. Aerith had pulled a bit of her sister's hair back from her crown and secured it with a silver rose-shape barette, then curled a piece so that it lay just to the side of her eyes.
"Thanks, sis," Reilena breathed. Aerith patted her little sister's shoulder gently; before she could reply, an older woman's voice called up the stairs.
"Aerith! Reilena! Zak's here!" Immediately Aerith glanced down at Rei, her expression asking for approval.
"Do I look alright? Am I forgetting anything? Wait, I have to…" Rei shook her head, laughing.
"You look fine - you're gonna knock Zak's socks off, I promise." Aerith shivered nervously, her face paling; Rei knew exactly what was going to come next, and she swallowed a sigh.
"Rei…can you go down there first, just so I have a second to breathe?" she asked. Reilena nodded slowly, stepping back from her older sister.
"Sure thing." She turned on her heel, picking up a bit of skirt from the back so that she could walk, and headed down the stairs. At the foot of the steps stood their adoptive mother Elmyra and Aerith's longtime boyfriend, Zak. The sable-haired young man had his long mane tied back presentably - although his bangs still spiked out - and wore a deep navy suit jacket over a white collared shirt and navy slacks. He smiled kindly to Reilena as she stepped off the stairs and saluted him; Zak was a member of Midgar's SOLDIER program, the very organization that was holding the formal get-together.
"Rei, you look great," Zak told her; Reilena arched an eyebrow, and Zak nodded, laughing. "I'm being serious!"
"Believe me, Aerith looks a million times better," she replied, dropping her eyes just as their mother gasped. Reilena turned on her heel, gazing up the stairs, and felt her own jaw drop; even though she'd been upstairs with Aerith when they'd been preparing, her sister still looked gorgeous. Aerith glanced down at Rei first, nodding quickly, and then smiled shyly to Zak; the young man's eyes had gone wide, and a light blush warmed his cheeks as he held a hand out politely. Aerith took his hand, bowing her head as he brought her hand to his lips. Reilena stood off to the side, wringing her hands as she listened to Elmyra gush over Aerith; she hated to admit it, but Reilena sometimes felt pangs of jealousy toward her older sister, and this was one of those times.
"I have our ride waiting outside, Rei." She shook her head, blinking; in front of her, Zak waved his hand in her eyes, laughing. "Wake up so we can head out!"
"Sorry." Reilena ran a hand through her hair nervously, raising her hand in farewell to her mother as Zak and Aerith climbed into the limousine before her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Are you sure you're okay, Reilena? I haven't seen you out on the floor lately," Aerith said, sitting down primly beside her sister. Reilena sighed, rolling her eyes as she sat back in her chair, arms crossed."That's because I haven't been on the floor. At all," she finished pointedly. "I've been sitting here watching you and Zak dance for the longest time." Sighing, Reilena stood up in a rush and turned to Aerith, shaking her head. "Why did you invite me here?" Aerith regarded her sister calmly, placing her hands on Reilena's shoulders as she gazed at her.
"I told you, Rei. You're my little sister…I thought you would enjoy it," she replied. Aerith gazed back at the buffet table - Zak was standing with a few of his SOLDIER comrades - and turned back to Reilena, her eyes widening when she noticed a tear drop down her sister's face. "Rei, what's the matter?" The younger girl shook her head, pushing Aerith's hands away, and wiped her eyes hastily.
"Don't worry about it," she muttered, turning on her heel. Rei needed to leave; she needed to get out of the fancy room, needed to get some air that hadn't yet been polluted by heavy perfumes or cologne. Ignoring Aerith's calls, Reilena strode toward the balcony doors and thrust them open, walked out to the bannister, and hid her face in her hands. Why now? she wondered. Why does she think it's so damned convenient to bring me everywhere just because I'm her little sister?
Additional footsteps echoed outside, and the door closed with a nearly inaudible click; Reilena quickly wiped her eyes again and gazed out across the skies, trying to stop her crying. The footsteps came closer, and stopped right beside her; a throat cleared itself, and she refused to acknowledge their presence. Instead, she brushed her hair out of her eyes, leaning her forearms over the balcony railing as she looked for the full silver moon.
"I'm sorry." A male voice broke the silence; Reilena hesitantly glanced to her right, looking over the man who had come out to the balcony. At six-foot-one, he was taller than her, with silver hair that streamed down his back - the bangs lay just before his eyes - and an outfit that resembled Zak's, only this man's jacket and slacks were pure ebony. He turned to Reilena, his jade eyes looking down at her with a sympathetic light; she shook her head, turning back toward the skies.
"What are you sorry about?" she asked. He walked around her, coming up to her left before replying.
"I saw that argument with the other young woman. I take it she's stolen your date?" he asked. Reilena laughed under her breath, wringing her hands in the air.
"No, that was my sister. She dragged me to this damn formal, and right now I'm trying to figure out why," she replied, raising an eyebrow curiously after the words had left her. Exactly why was she telling this guy? She didn't know who the hell he was!
He laughed, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he leaned against the bannister, folding his arms as he gazed down at Reilena. "Now I find that hard to believe," he said, shaking his head. Reilena sighed heavily, throwing her arms in the air as she pushed herself off the railing.
"Believe it, 'cause it's true," she muttered, moving toward the doors. Just before she grabbed the door handle, Reilena stopped. The band inside had just begun a slow, light waltz; she glanced inside and saw Aerith and Zak in the middle of the floor, just as if they belonged there, and she dropped her hand and her head with a sigh, shutting her eyes.
A hand on her shoulder; Reilena raised her head slowly, turning to look over her shoulder. The silver-haired man stood behind her, a warm smile on his face as he tilted his head curiously. She turned to face him as he took a step back, holding his hand out. "May I?" Silent, Reilena laid her hand in his, and he led her to the center of the balcony, laying her right hand on his shoulder as he took her left, and led her in a slow, graceful waltz. A violin took a solo; without a word, the man held his hand out, twirling Reilena slowly before bringing her back to him in a protective manner, and she laid her head on his shoulder as he held her closer.
The music gradually faded out, to be replaced by a more upbeat movement; Reilena sighed as she raised her eyes, meaning to head for the doors again. Instead, the man held her to him, gazing down at her with a light smile. Reilena smiled back before dropping her head shyly. "Well, uh…thanks, I guess," she began, gesturing toward the skies self-consciously. "I mean, for the dance…you're…uh…" she trailed off as a gentle gloved hand tilted her chin up; he looked into her eyes again, laughing under his breath when she raised an eyebrow curiously, and then leaned toward her.
Out of all the things that had happened that night, the absolute last thing Reilena had been expecting was a kiss. Nevertheless, she closed her eyes, slipping an arm around his shoulders as she accepted his kiss. He held her face in his right hand - his left rested on her waist, holding her close - and ever so slowly pulled away from her lips, gazing down at her as she opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed shyly. Brushing her hair from her face, he smiled down at her gently. "I should be the one to thank you," he replied, taking her hand in his. Reilena laughed self-consciously, letting him lead her back to the doors; he pulled one open with ease and allowed her into the ballroom first, closing the door behind them as he came up beside her.
Reilena heard a group nearby gasp, and she looked over at them; the girls and their dates regarded her and the man beside her with wide, shocked glances. Chancing a glance to her right, she saw Zak and Aerith out on the floor; Aerith's expression was a cross between happiness and fear, while one of Zak's friends - a blonde man Reilena had been introduced to earlier - eyed the couple with a narrowed gaze. Reilena tilted her head, wondering what the matter was, when her accomplice leaned down, whispering in her ear.
"I promise - I will see you again soon." He squeezed her hand once as he kissed her cheek, and then strode across the room, his hair streaming behind him as he left. The tense air in the room lifted as soon as the doors closed behind him; Reilena stood in place, unaware that Aerith, Zak, and Zak's friend had come up to her. The trio immediately assembled before Reilena, Aerith holding her sister's hand in both of hers. Zak and his friend regarded the younger woman tensely, almost as if she were an enemy; Aerith slapped Zak's shoulder when she noticed her boyfriend's stance, then returned her attention to Reilena.
"Rei, are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "Nothing happened to you outside, I hope?" To her shock, Reilena smiled as if in a daze, and gazed at her older sister.
"I'm absolutely fine," Reilena replied, patting Aerith's cheek. Zak leaned toward Aerith, whispering something to her; she gazed toward the blonde man, who nodded, and then stood aside. The blonde man knelt before Reilena, a hand resting on her shoulder as he spoke to her.
"Look, if anything happened out there - anything - please, tell us," he said in a calm, unnerved voice. Reilena rolled her eyes with an impatient sigh.
"I was outside because I was upset. He came out there, listened to me, and then asked me to dance. We did, and when I thanked him, he kissed me. Then we came in, he left, and here we are." Reilena threw his hand off. "Happy now, Cloud?" Silent, Cloud Strife stood again with a curt nod, and allowed Aerith back; she gazed at Reilena happily, her hands clasped.
"Oh Rei, that's so lovely! Will you tell me about it when we get home?" she asked. Reilena glanced over at Cloud and Zak - the two young SOLDIERs were conversing nearby - and then nodded with a smile.
"Of course, sis."