Note:
This is my first Final Fantasy VII English fic.
'Edge' is a town built beside the destroyed Midgar.
CHAPTER ONE
The Maiden, The Phoenix and The Weeping Gemini
It was a sunny afternoon, Caith Sith wanders around Edge. He can see buildings being built, roads being constructed and walkways being cleaned up. A year had passed since they all battled Sephiroth and Edge struggles to rise up again.
One thing that concerns him the most is his friend. His friend who listened to what he had predicted the previous year in the Gold Saucer… His friend who had seen these predictions come true… His friend whose heart is now suffering from endless tortures brought by the demons of the past. His friend, Cloud Strife.
The depressed fortune-teller sat at the nearby bench. It seems that everybody wants to grieve for Aerith's death yet nobody has the time to do so. Things in Edge became fast-paced ever since Sephiroth died. What can I do to help? He asked himself. With Barret rebuilding the 7th Heaven, Cid reconstructing his new model, Red back at the desert, Yuffie fixing things at Wutai, Vincent nowhere to be found and Tifa taking care of her own personal wounds, what can I do?
Tifa's personal wounds, you may ask? Well, Tifa is trying to help Cloud lately but the latter seems to refuse the help offered and worse, he returns to the Cloud that they know at the beginning.
These are the problems that haunts Caith Sith and everyone lately. Who would have known that the flower merchant's death would result to these downpours?
He reached for his bag and saw an old buddy he used to always carry around during his days at the Gold Saucer. My fortune-telling cards! Hmmm. I wonder if I can still use these…
Caith Sith closed his eyes and meditated for a short while. Then he shuffled the cards while they're suspended on air (wow, he finally learned how to do this stuff). The cards seem to have minds of their own. Caith Sith maneuvered his hands in numerous ways and when he finally opened his eyes, three cards fell on his lap…
The Maiden, the Phoenix and the Weeping Gemini? Caith Sith couldn't believe what he's seeing…
Someone will be back…
: 7th Heaven :
"Hey Barret!" Tifa called out from the basement. "Would you mind handing me the old blenders on the counter? I think it's high time we should replace 'em!"
Barret picked up the plastic containing three blenders that almost looked primeval. He handed it over to the smiling bar hostess and glared at her with sympathetic eyes.
"Thanks Bar—why?" Tifa said, alarmed with how Barret reacted upon her smile. "Did I interrupt you or something?"
Barret sighed. "You're a pro at these things, eh? C'mere." He sat on the nearby chair as Tifa followed him, still smiling.
Silence filled the room until Barret finally broke it.
"You shouldn't pretend everythin's all right when they're not, Tifa." He sounded sincere and serious. The smiles faded from Tifa's lips. Barret seldom acted this way before and Tifa can feel the butterflies in her stomach. She doesn't want topics like these.
"Listen, Barret. Everything's okay—"
"No, Tifa!" Barret suddenly raised his voice. "Aerith's dead, Midgar's destroyed, our friends are far away and that Cloud's returnin' to his usual dumb-ass self! I can't see anything 'ok' here! Not even being near that word!"
He heard sobs. When he turned his head to where Tifa is, he can see the girl crying her heart out. As if pouring out all that she's been keeping for the past few months. And for the first time in these past few months, Barret felt that he had done something good and worthwhile.
"It's okay." He said as he patted Tifa's back.
: Edge, Aerith's church :
Cloud opens a familiar door. The first time I've been here I never even had entered through this. The pain of reliving those memories stung his heart. As he went inside, he saw children. They were giggling over the flowers. They were all admiring the yellow blossoms. When at last the children had caught his presence, they all stood up looking scared as if someone will accuse them for doing something wrong.
"W-we didn't do anything!" said one of the girls. Nervousness was present in her tone. "We were just admiring these f-flowers!"
A boy rushed forward, tensed. "We were even w-watering them!"
Cloud remained silent and cold. This made the children run away.
I am alone… again.
Cloud walked to the flowerbed and recalled how he and Aerith first met. Again, instead of being happy it had stung his heart. Then, he remembered the smiles of the children over the flowers.
Wow. You are truly amazing, Aerith. Even in death, you can make people laugh.
He looked at his watch. 3:00 p.m.
He picked a flower and whispered "9 hours to go. Happy birthday, Aerith…"
: a place surrounded by white light :
"Hey…"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing."
"C'mon. Tell me. What is it?"
"I told you, it's nothing."
"I know you better than you know yourself, dear girl. Better tell me now or you'll die laughing endlessly from my tickles."
The girl chuckled.
"That's the first time I've heard you laugh since you've been here. I'm glad."
There was silence.
"Hey…"
"Hmmm?"
"Umm…"
"You're making fun of me, don't you?"
"Oh heavens, no!"
"Then tell me what's bothering you."
"H-have you ever thought of...
...coming back?"
To be continued.
Urgh! I just suck doing English fics! Please drop a review and let me know what you think. Thanks!