I am back! Ugh, sorry, school's started again, and I've got coursework. But anyway, this is an story for the CxA 100 Themes Challenge, and this theme is kiss. Actually, I broke my promise, it's not fluffy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. BTW, there's one line from Maiden who Travels the Planet.

------------------------------------------------------------

Aeris' POV

Entering his dreams was quite difficult, and strange to be honest. But I wouldn't be able to talk to him face to face, I knew I would break down, and I wouldn't be able to go. But then again, he probably would have stopped me. So I entered his dreams. I created the setting, the sun, the smell, the wind. I wanted it to be perfect, thinking that I would say the words that I felt in my heart, but I didn't. I knew it would break Cloud's heart, Cloud's heart was like an egg that was on the verge of cracking open, and I knew if I said those three words, it would crack open, and then Gaia only knows what would happen.

But still, I had to give my heart some satisfaction. So, when I finished telling him what I was about to do, I left his dreams, pulling my mind from his back to my body. The pain was unbelievable, like my head was being ripped apart, but as the world around me started spinning, I knew I couldn't collapse. I had a mission to do. Slowly, the spinning stopped, and the sick feeling inside me started subsiding slightly. Stepping towards his sleeping form, I watched him as he breathed slowly, and my heart swelled with love, and my eyes filled with tears. I was going to leave him, right there and then. But before I did walk through the door in a house in Gongaga, I brushed my finger softly on his cheek, and I bent down, before my lips touched his. I felt a tear escape from under my closed eyelids, and I pulled away, grabbing my pack and walking outside, whispering goodbye to the man I loved, and still do love.

I suppose, kissing him was the only way I could have said those three little words, without him actually knowing.

Cloud's POV

Holding her lifeless body, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. He had took her from me, and now I could never say what I wanted to deep inside my heart. Sephiroth was going on about his quest to become a god, but to be honest, I can't remember properly. I didn't care about him, my thoughts were on Aeris, and Aeris alone. And then, he started talking about my feelings, and why I was pretending to be sad, and something inside me snapped. I just saw the woman I loved, and even now, still do love, killed before my eyes, without me doing anything, and he was asking why was pretending to be sad.

He left suddenly, I can't remember what he said, my mind was messed up, but I know he left Jenova behind. Placing Aeris to the side, I leapt towards the monster with such might, my heart full of anger, my eyes filled with tear of rage. I slashed at it with a helluva lot of fury, and before long, it was dead. I breathed heavily, then turned my head towards Aeris. The smile she gave me moments before her death still graced her lips, and then I remembered suddenly something she said some time ago.

How come I'm always happy? Because I grew up in a place where sadness is everywhere, to survive, you have to smile. And that's just what I'll do, I'll smile until the very end.

And as everyone came to pay their respects to the fallen flower girl, I realized she did just that, she smiled to the very end. With everyone walking away, I picked up her body. Walking with her for the very last time, I honestly couldn't help but left her up to me slowly in my arms, kissing her slightly cold lips. My heart cracked then like an egg, and I collapsed in tears, holding Aeris against my chest.

I know now, kissing her was the only way I could have said those three little words, now she couldn't hear me.