1. Another?

Aeris glanced worriedly at Cloud, who was clutching his head, flinching from unseen enemy, or pain in his mind. She, being the person she was, wanted to comfort him, but she knew that Tifa would beat her to it. For a while, Aeris had believed that she had a crush on Cloud, but it had quickly faded when she had seen how in love he was with Tifa. now as she sat in their makeshift camp, Aeris looked around, pretending not to notice Cloud as she subconsciously poked at the flames that roared with life before her. Her mind wandered back to a few days ago when she had been captured by ShinRa. Shivering with fear, Aeris remember Hojo as he peered at her through her glass prison. She remembered how Cloud had saved her and that they had also rescued Red XIII.

They had been captured, but mysteriously, Cloud had been freed from his prison by Sephiroth. Aeris had only heard of tales about Sephiroth, never actually meeting him. Cloud seemed rather disturbed by the fact that Sephiroth had been there, though Aeris didn't know why. Cloud wouldn't say why either.

Staring into the flames with her green eyes, Aeris wondered why Cloud thought of Sephiroth as a bad person. She knew he was very, very dangerous, being the ex-General and all, and she was a little freaked out by the fact that he was alive for some unknown reason, but otherwise, she didn't understand. Cloud seemed to stiffen up at the very mention of the name 'Sephiroth'.

As Aeris puzzled over this, she heard faint foot steps-no, paw steps, approaching her. Lifting her green eyes, she turned her head to see Red XIII walking towards her, his tail twitching back at forth. "Hello, Red," she greeted, smiling at the red wolfish creature as he gazed her at with his one golden eye.

"May I join you by the fire, Aeris?" he asked her politely. Aeris nodded, noticing how polite Red always was and how respectful he was for everyone. She smiled, glad to know there was at least one sane person in this group besides Tifa and herself. Cloud was sane, sure, just…strange at times. "Thank you,"

Red sat down beside Aeris, and then decided to just lay down completely, glancing occasionally over at Tifa and Cloud. He said nothing for a moment, but Aeris sensed that Red wished to speak with her. After a few more moments of silence, he lifted his head and looked at Aeris, "Tell me Aeris, is it true? That you are the last surviving Cetra?"

Aeris blinked, turning her emerald gaze on Red. She stared at him for a few seconds and then sighed, "Yes, it is true, Red. Why do you ask?" she asked the red wolfish hybrid curiously, glancing around her.

Barret seemed to be taking a nap, and Tifa and Cloud were still speaking quietly to one another. A look of sorrow past through Aeris's features. It did not go unnoticed by Red, "Aeris," he began, glancing over his shoulder to see the reason for the look of sorrow pass through the young woman's face. "You like Cloud, do you not?" he asked her quietly.

Aeris bit her lip, blushing slightly as she nodded very slowly, turning her pained green eyes back to the fire. She stared within its depths, wishing that she could just forget that Tifa was back there with Cloud and she wasn't.

"I see," Red said, nodding, "and you can see he is already taken by Tifa whether he realizes it himself or not. Don't worry, there will be others out there for you. Cloud is not the only one. But just look at me, you are lucky Aeris, to have someone of the same species still living. I have no one."

Aeris blinked, her eyes widening. She looked down at Red, pity for the red creature filling her eyes as it always did when she saw or heard something sad. "I'm sorry, Red." she apologized quickly.

"Nothing to be sorry for, young Cetra," Red said simply before standing up and padding quietly off into the shadows. Aeris watched him go, blinking her eyes.

She felt a little disturbed by the fact that Red could never be happy no matter what-not truly happy with someone he could love at least. Aeris was suddenly very aware of everything around her. She could mentally picture Tifa sitting beside Cloud, a worried expression in her face as she tried to get him to take some medicine or something. She could see Barret slumped over where he sat, obviously asleep. And then she could feel he golden eye of Red on her as he watched her with silence. The heat of the flames suddenly intensified, making Aeris gasp from pain as it felt as if her skin had been burned.

Just as she turned her eyes away from the flames, something moved in the forest. Aeris's first instinct was to yell out to the others and warn them, but something kept her silent. Her green eyes focused on the forest, staring at it intently. She titled her head, as if questioning the forest, trying to get some answer as to whom was watching them.

Subconsciously, Aeris felt herself rise. Before she knew what she was doing, she was walking into the shadows, away from the warm fire, away from the protectiveness of her friends. Aeris was hardly aware of the gaze of Red as she left. Something inside of her was telling her to remain as quiet as possible and just keep going straight. Aeris listened to whatever was guiding her, her mind numbed temporarily.

It seemed like forever had past when she finally stopped at a small clearing in the middle of the forest, very much like the one that Avalanche was camping at. In the very center of the clearing, was a large boulder that had been worn down until it looked like a very good place to sit on and watch the whole clearing from. Like an outpost.

In fact, there was someone sitting on the rock at the moment. Aeris froze, staring at the dark figure. Moonlight shone through the clear sky, casting dark shadows everywhere, and shielding the person who was perched on the rock, out of her view. Just as Aeris thought she was imagining things because the person or creature up there was so still, two fiercely glowing green eyes locked with her own two emerald eyes.

Fire and rage burned behind the oddly familiar color of the green eyes. Aeris's mouth dropped in shock as she exhaled sharply. Those eyes were the exact color of Mako! Only Soldier had Mako colored eyes, and even still, Soldiers' eyes were blue, not green.

"I see you have come," a deep voice spoke up. The green eyes vanished for a split of a second as the man blinked. "Though I do not know why you even bothered following me here,"

"F-Following you?" Aeris finally managed in a weak voice, her green eyes wide with terror.

"Yes, you followed me here when you saw me near your camp. I was foolish to let you see me. Such foolishness is unacceptable and will result in my death. It will not happen again. I see you are the girl who claims to be a Cetra. Is it true?" the man's voice held no emotion, but Aeris could have sworn she saw a flicker of unease in his green eyes as they continued to bore down into her small, helpless frame. Aeris suddenly wished she had brought her staff with her.

"Y-Yes, it is, but w-why do you want to know?" her voice was trembling. She knew nothing about her unseen enemy and just the look in his eyes terrified her. There was a look of hate, and yet, longing in those eyes. It scared Aeris deeply.

"Because I am the last Cetra. There was no record of another. I see no lie in your eyes, girl. What is your name?" he asked, his voice cold.

Aeris swallowed roughly and replied in a quiet voice, "My name is Aeris." She was quiet shocked to hear that this man before her claimed to have Cetra blood in him too. Could it be true? But why would someone lie about that? Aeris could find no reason. "What is yours?" she asked after a few hesitant seconds.

It was then that the green eyes vanished completely. Then Aeris noticed movement and saw a figure leap down from the rock. Silver glowed in the soft moonlight and dark leather was reflected and green eyes shone as the man landed in front of her with much grace. Aeris stared at the man in pour shock and horror and yet awe. Her green eyes widened as a smirk appeared on the man's handsome face.

"I am sure you have heard of me, Cetra. I am Sephiroth, and now that you know this, I am afraid to say that you cannot return to your friends." he spoke, his words sounded as if he were mocking her, and yet threatening her at the same time.

Aeris felt herself begin to shake with fear at the ex-General's words. Her fingers curled into fists as fear flashed in her eyes. She knew that Sephiroth was going to kill her. There was no doubt. In the way he had just spoken, it told her that. She swallowed, unable to speak. Aeris's mind was screaming for her to run, run far away from this man and return to Cloud and the others, but it was like she was in a trance. Aeris was unable to stop staring into Sephiroth's cold, green eyes.

And then, just as he reached out for her with one gloved hand, the connection was broken. Aeris's gasped as his fingers grazed her upper arm and then she did what she had been trying to do. She ran. Aeris ran harder and harder, panic seizing her. She knew she had just looked death in the eye a second ago.

Sephiroth was running after her, his long legs making him go much faster than her. Through her panic, Aeris was able to gain more strength and ran all the harder and faster. Her breath came in great gasps and her chest tightened in pain. Her legs' muscles constricted, making it hard to run, but she forced herself to, knowing that if she didn't, she'd die.

Several times, she felt Sephiroth graze her back with his long fingers, trying to grip the back of her pink dress. Every time he did, Aeris nearly screamed out in terror. She knew of the bloody trail made at ShinRa Headquarters, and all of the innocent people that had fallen at Sephiroth's hands, staining them with blood. Aeris knew that he wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

"Cetra," she heard him breath as he caught up to her. Aeris's eyes widened as her eyes met his for a second time, but this time, she was not caught in a trance, unable to move. No, she was blinded by her own fears for her life as she quickly turned, nearly running into a tree, but missing it by an inch.

Aeris was desperately trying to get back to camp and find Cloud. He would protect her, she knew he would. Even if he didn't like her like she liked him, he would protect her because he cared for her. "I won't hurt you," Sephiroth told her from behind, his voice deep, but it held no threat.

Aeris nearly stopped, almost believing him, but the image of all the blood spilled in the ShinRa Headquarters filled her mind and she bit her lip, shaking her head as she ran. Aeris wanted to scream, to alert the others that she was in danger, but she could not find her voice. Her throat was dry and scratchy from where she was breathing so hard.

Just as Sephiroth caught up to her again, Aeris spotted the camp. She nearly stumbled in joy of seeing it. Apparently Sephiroth saw it too, because just as the fire came into view, he stopped. Aeris did not slow down as she heard him growl, "Don't you tell the others Cetra, especially Cloud."

Aeris swallowed hard at the threat in his voice. She wanted to tell the others, she wanted to scream at them. But the threat in Sephiroth's words nearly made her stop again, but this time in utter terror. Her mind flashed with a vision of him killing her with one swift movement of the Masamune, or choking her with his hands.

Aeris could not help but turn her eyes to look back at Sephiroth. His glowing green eyes glared menacingly at her. Her heart leapt into her throat and Aeris feared she would throw up. Swiftly she turned her eyes back to the camp just as she burst forth into it.

Stumbling, Aeris dropped to her knees, breathing very heavily. She closed her eyes in utter relief that she had escaped. Folding her arms across her chest, Aeris felt tears begin to run down her cheeks. "Aeris!" she heard Cloud, Tifa, and Red shout in alarm. They awakened Barret in the process, who looked quickly around. "Wha's goin' on?" he demanded. "Why da hell did ya wake me up?"

Aeris shook her head, still gasping for air as Cloud, Tifa, and Red rushed over. Cloud bent down and looked at her with concerned Mako blue eyes. Tifa laid a reassuring hand on Aeris, trying to comfort her. Red, sat down, staring at Aeris intently, "What happen?" he asked in a soothing voice.

Aeris bit her lip, opening her green eyes. She looked carefully around, staring at the faces of her companions. Then, without answering them, still crying, she turned her eyes to look at the shadows of the forest. There they were, staring at her with burning fury, just daring her to tell them what had happened. Aeris yelped, turning quickly away and throwing herself into Cloud's arms, sobbing all the more.

"Aeris…" Cloud breathed, unsure what to do as he wrapped an arm around her shaking body. He gave Tifa a look of uncertainty and sympathy as he held Aeris. "What happened? Why are you so upset?"

Aeris buried her head into Cloud's chest, muttering something that no one could understand as she tightened her grip around him. "What?" Cloud and Tifa asked. Red continued to look at Aeris, and then, slowly, he turned his golden eye on the place where Aeris had been looking. There was nothing there.

"There's another!" Aeris yelped, raising her head for a split of a second, before burying it back into Cloud's chest, unable to look at anyone as she closed her eyes. She could still feel his gaze on her, threatening her to reveal what she had just heard and seen.

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Hope you guys like this chapter! R&R! I will update!