An attempt at the CloudxAerith 100 Themes Challenge. This is for the theme "Warmth" This will be multiple chapter, and takes place from Aerith's point of view.

I'm sorry for my long non-writing period. Massive writer's block brought by massive essays. But now the Christmas holidays are here, I should be able to write some more.

I'd like to take this chance to wish everyone an Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

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The People That Have My Love

Chapter 1: My First Friend

During the years of my childhood, if thats what you would call you would call it, I never had any true friends. Everyone was scared of the "freak" who talked to people who weren't there. Scared of the "demon" who could cast magic without materia. Not that I could control it, the magic would burst out of me suddenly. And once, I was caught casting magic. 3 children saw me, and wanted me to do it again for them, but I couldn't. Then they shouted at me, "demon child, demon child!" They ran off and soon word would spread of me, the so called demon.

I fell to the floor, crying and shouting, "Love me, why won't you love me?!" I never felt love before, except from my foster mother's. I never felt loved by my real mother either, when we were captured by Hojo, we were kept apart till she managed to escape and take me with her. Hojo, for some horrible reason, wanted me to call him "Uncle Hojo". Even then, I never felt loved, for the experiments he did on me never seemed to radiate love, only selfish needs.

I remember looking up, seeing black, glossy shoes. I kept looking up to see a spot on his forehead. I recognised him from the Turks, who wanted to capture me. This was the man who went into my house to ask me to come with them. I tried to run, but of course, he was bigger then me, and he picked me up. I pulled away from him, but he cradled me in his arms. "Why won't they love you?" he asked, and the whole story was ready on my tongue, and I spoke with ease. He knew what I was, he knew of my power, he knew I talked to people who wasn't there, so that didn't matter. For some reason, his soft voice calmed me, even though he was part of a group who wanted to use me for their own selfish needs. No, he listened to me, he understood me.

My first friend, Tseng.