Shado: the next two days are finals, but tomorrow its easy tests. so I dont have to study as much or as hard as my math on friday.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 2 Rare Rose


The next morning I awoke to a very...well, lets just say, awkward position. The first thing I noticed when I was coming to was that there was something soft and warm underneath me. Then I realized that the soft and warm feeling was a body. My eyes snapped open, immediately widened in fear and shock. Right under my right cheek, was a blond spikey head of Cloud. A few strands of his hair tickled my nose and I almost sneezed.

Gently moving my head, I thought how this could've happened. I was in the bed, with Cloud who suffered a minor case of hyperhtermia. Who so happened to like cuddling with me for some reason, and somehow during the night I rolled on top of him. But I don't like to sleep on my stomach. I heard a chuckle within my head. Blinking, I instantly knew how this happened.

'You did this.' I growled at him.

"You like this anyway." Chaos grinned, making my stomach feel sick.

'But you did this.' I snapped at him, not liking whatever he's planning to set something up between me and Cloud.

"I wanted to see your reaction." he chuckled, echoing within my mind like a chamber. A very cold, empty chamber.

'Don't do it again.' I carefully moved my arms away from the lithe waist one by one. One arm free, I balanced on my elbow to get the other arm from underneath the blond. He groaned a little and shifted, rolling onto my other arm.

'Hehe. And you'll do what? Don't forget what I can do to your friends.' I visibly flinched, and tried once again to free my right arm. Damn Cloud was heavy.

'Leave my friends out of this.' I growled at Chaos, who just grinned again.

'But you like Cloud don't you? Ever since he woke you up you've envied everyone who was a possible lover to him.' I blink, why was Chaos trying to help me on a failed crush? I'm over Cloud now.

From underneath, Cloud wiggled. Visibly flinching, I tried to stay as still as possible again, waiting for the blond to at least to move and get off my arm. When he didn't I almost growled, Cloud's body was cutting off the circulation. Sighing, I gently tried to push the blond off. Of course, using my claw I had to be extra careful to not leave a mark. If I did leave a mark, then it would lead to some unwanted questions.

Cloud groaned and shifted again, eyes fluttered open. I froze on the spot, unsure what to do. He blinked a few times before looking up at me, eyes widening with shock and fear. Fear? I took a glance at my claw. It was placed over Cloud's left hip, the golden metal fingers poking through his pajamas and touching his smooth skin. Clearing my throat, I rolled off of him muttering sorry before sitting up with my back facing him.

How embarrassing. To wake up, lying over a small blond all because of a certain demon thought it was a funny joke. To try to get off, but both arms wrapped around Cloud's waist. Only to shift and wake him up with my clawed hand over his hip and touching him by accident. Well, the good thing is that I get to keep my human arm. The feeling gradually came back as my arm pulsed as if it had its own heart, coming back from its numbness and poor rythem of bloodstream.

"...Vincent...?" glancing over my shoulder, Cloud was sitting up slightly, his body still shivering, looking up at me with sincere in his eyes.

"Yes, Cloud?" Sigh.

"Um...what where you doing?" he asked nervously, shaking in fear now. He probably regretted for asking such a question after...a compromising position.

"...I was trying to free my arm from under your stomach." simple as that. I am not going into the details of having an inner arguement with my demon.

"Oh...you could've just asked..."

"If I did, then it would mean disturbing your sleep." I stood up. "It doesn't matter now, you're awake. I'll go and arrange some breakfast for you."

Cloud tilted his head, curious. "Why won't you eat?"

I chuckled and turned to him, halfway out the door. "Isn't it obvious? I don't eat. Never had the urge to eat ever since I woke up from my coffin."

With that, I left before he could ask any more questions.


I walked back into my bedroom, to find Cloud wrapped in blankets staring blankly out the window. Setting the food on the table, I strode over to see if he was in one of those moment's where he would just stare as his brain raced through the past, or just thinking deeply. When I sat down on the edge of the bed, he glanced over and smiled weakly. Good, he wasn't pondering over his past.

"Your breakfast is ready." I informed, about to get up and sit on the chair across the room.

"Hm."

I blinked and looked back, he was staring back out the window. I could see the look of longing, wonder, and sorrow. Sighing, I thought for a moment. How could one person hold such emotions with two eyes? Two, beautiful deep blue eyes...

"What's wrong?"

Cloud bit his lip. "I...was just thinking..."

"Over what situation?" I know Cloud well enough to know he's thinking hard about something in his past.

"...The snow."

"Snow?" I echoed.

"It would seem that...snow always gave me something. Something to hold on to. When I was younger, I heard of the story of the Blue Rose. I grew up, loving the story and kept it within my heart. The story gave me hope. But then...it also gave me love. When I first met Zack, we were walking in the mountains to Modeoheim on a mission. And he...he was able to make me laugh. It was odd, how it all played out. But..."

"But?" curious, I wanted him to continue.

"At first I thought, that the snow as trying to get something back from me last night. As if it wants my life for giving me...those things. But now I realize, it wasn't trying to take something away. It was giving me something else..." he glanced back out the window.

"...It gave you me." I finished.

Cloud nodded.

"Snow, is something I've found myself comparing to. I found that I just might as well be the snow." I chuckled lightly over my own cofession. Odd it was, I was much like the snow, and yet it always guided Cloud in mysterious ways.

"Tale of the Blue Rose? I've heard of Rare Blue Rose, is that the same thing?" it sounded random, but I was curious.

He nodded, staring out the window. Again.

'...Isn't that the rose you saw when you were in your coffin as a mirage?' I thought back to what Chaos said, trying to remember. I barely remember what happened while I was in the coffin, but I swore I heard someone opening it once. Someone I don't know, for it wasn't Cloud I'm sure.

Flashback

My dreamless sleep, dark and lonely, became a real dream. A mirage like dream when an unknown person opened the coffin. I continued to sleep on, unable to open or even move my eyelids to see the face of the stranger. A scent of mako and flowers filled my senses. It was a strange scent, I know that the mako is only in the bloodstream of a Turk and a SOLDIER. With the amount of mako within this man, was enough to convince me he wasn't a Turk.

Just as he was closing it, a bright light covered my eyes. It was so bright, I thought I had died somehow in my sleep. Instead the light lessoned, just when the stranger closed the coffin, and snow surrounded me. A snowstorm whirled around me, nearly knocking me off of my feet. The force of the wind surprised me, and my legs felt a little out of it for not being used for so long. I looked around for shelter, surley there's something around here.

A shadow caught my attention and I made my way towards it. It was something big and round, and I found myself having a little trouble getting there. Even if it was only five feet away, my legs felt numb but I dragged myself on. Soon I find myself in a cave, a deep and dark cave. The air was warm, to my surprise, and as tired as I was, I headed to the back of the cave. Well, I didn't know it went on for what seemed like forever. When I reached what I thought was the end, it turned out I found a small inner world.

There were exotic trees and flowers everywhere, creating a beautiful and yet heavenly atmosphere. But to my surprise, there was a very small hole above, creating snow to fall through. To my musing, the snow never landed anywhere close to the tropical and rare plants. Instead they land on or around a rose bush. I thought it was just any rose bush, until I saw the roses. They were captivating.

Blue roses, very few, but they were blue. A very deep blue from the stem, then slowly the color lightens up to the edges of each petal. At each edge of a petal, is pure white and frost forming underneath, adding to their beauty. It was tempting for me to touch one, but I couldn't. I felt a pressance within this place, and I didn't want to be rude.

"You're a wise one aren't you? Usually no one is able to stand and admire the roses without touching them."

I turn around, and before I could see a face or body, I fell back into a dark and empty abyss.

End of Flashback

Yes, it was the same thing. It could be, and I suddenly felt curious about it. Sitting down, I watched as Cloud continued to stare out the window.

"What is the basic storyline of the tale you know?" This caught his attention, and Cloud moved his head to stare at me with wide eyes.

"Well...it starts as two lovers. One born in the summer, who was a year older. The other in the winter, who was younger. Despite the laws of their village and high priest, they were in love. It was a forbidden love in many ways..." he bit his bottom lip.

I blinked. "Such as...?"

"Such as the fact they were both men. Young, handsome, a good life and fortune ahead of them. They both came from rich families, soon to be wed to someone they hate with all their hearts." Cloud paused for a moment. "And one day, out of nowhere, they fell in love. They denied it at first, but later they realized it caused them pain. So they confessed, and decided to keep it hidden."

"One day, it was snowing. And the two lovers weren't able to see each other that day. It was the younger man's birthday, and it was celebrated with great parties and lots of whine. His lover was no where to be seen the whole day and night. He grew worried of course, but he had faith in his love."

"What happened?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Well, it turns out that the other young man was with an Ancient. Not sexually or anything, but just to help get a perfect gift for his love. The Ancient suggested many things, such as clothing, amulets, even something as a locket. But the Man of Summer, was picky. He kept pacing and pacing, not eating much, or sleeping. And finally, the Ancient stood up and she said 'What is it that your lover, the Man of Winter, wishes most?'"

"He stopped and thought for a moment. Immediately he thought of flowers. They never grew in harsh, snowy winters. He told the Ancient the situation, and she smiled and promised she'll create a rose that only blooms in the winter. But it would only take a full day and night to create such a flower, and the man would have to stay by her side help creating it. Without sleep, he took the blue rose, and gave it to his lover a day late."

"Did the younger ever get angry at first?" this story was intrigueing.

Cloud shook his head. "No, instead, when he saw the rose, he broke down crying. He was so happy, for he finally found a flower that blooms in the winter. He kept it in his room, but word of such a rose spread quickly. The whole village wanted to see it, and kept asking who gave it to him. He never said who, only that it was from the only person he could love. Well, his fiance wanted to know."

"She was the type to be a whore who is rich, and gets whatever she wants. She wanted the man she was to marry. She snooped around, and found love notes betweent the lovers. Unfortunately, she found out who it was who gave her fiance the rose. She spread it out to the whole village. She screamed, saying her fiance was being raped and was giving a blue rose as an apology. The whole village gathered, and publically killed the Man of Summer on the spot."

"That..." I couldn't find any words to say.

Cloud smiled weakly, clearly understood my shock before going on.

"Unable to take it, the young lover fled, he took the rose with him and no traces of any kind for the world to grow a new set of blue roses. He fled to the mountains, where it always snowed. It was said he took shelter in a cave, living within it the rest of his days. But he organized it to grow exotic, rare, and even thought to be extinct plants that grew only in the summer within the cave. But in the middle, grew a rose bush. A rose bush that grows blue roses of winter."

I thought for a long moment, taking all of this information in. From what Coud had said, it described alot of my dream. The exotic plants I saw I knew grew in the summer, with the way they were bright in colors. And the rose bush, I barely remember, but I do believe it was in the center of the circle of the summer plants. I blinked. My dream...could it be the same thing?

"...Cloud...what would you say that I had a dream of the blue rose, with the same exact location you just described?" I asked without thinking. Immediately I wanted to rip my tongue out to never talk again.

The blond looked up in surprise, his blue eyes wide. "R-Really? But I thought you..."

"I what?" raising an eyebrow, Cloud made me curious.

"Never mind. But...did you really? When did you have this dream?" he asked, avoiding the question.

"I'm not saying anything until you tell me what you were about to say." teasing Cloud was fun, which was known to him when I smirked at him.

Growling a little, Cloud stood up. I didn't know what he was going to do, but he certaintly didn't get to do it. He was so into his plot for revenge, he forgot the blankets wrapped tightly around his body. It was like a cacoon, and it gave him very little resistance to move. Cloud fell face flat on the hard floor, groaning and wiggling trying to get out of the cacoon.

"Vincent...help...?" he glanced up at me with a faint plush and wide eyes.

The sight before me was amusing, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Cloud glared, wiggling some more to get freedom of his legs and arms. Without meaning to, I started to laugh hard, I had to lean on one side of the chair to control myself from not falling to the floor. This didn't satisfy the blond at all, for he glared once again and gave up trying. Once I regained my posture, I stood up and unwrapped him.

Cloud's legs must've been weak, for he stumbled and held onto me. This of course, caused a chain reaction and we tumbled onto the bed with me (once again) on top of Cloud. He squeaked and wiggled, while I growled in the irony as well at a laughing Chaos. Without knowing at first, I was staring into the blond's eyes. A very, deep shade of blue, a hint of mako injection, but beautiful and mysterious none of the less. The same shade as the darkest partes of the blue rose...

"Um...Vincent...? Do you think we can find the rose...?" Cloud's question brought me back down from my thoughts.

"Only if you know where that tale you know originated." The thought of looking at any possible village next to a mountain was not on my to do list.

"...Nibelheim..." He looked away, breaking my eye contact with those blue eyes of his.

"Well, we could always stay at the mansion." I suggested. Surely it was a good choice. It was far enough from Nibelheim, close enough to Mt. Nibel, and yet far enough to the mako reactor at the same time.

Cloud stared back at me. "...You're not going to sleep in a coffin again right?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "It'd be tempting but I'll sleep in a bed."

He nodded with a smile. "Good. Now could you get off me? I think I'm ready for some food."

For some reason I hesitated for a moment, I didn't want to loose close contact with Cloud for some reason. But I let him have his way and got off him. I rolled to the other side of the bed and allowed him to stand up and eat.

As he ate, my thoughts wandered about Cloud's eyes, and the shade of the blue rose. They were both a deep shade of blue, and a history of sorrow. And yet, they both look forward for the future. I sighed at my own thoughts. First I compare myself to snow, and now I'm comparing Cloud to a rare, possibly not real, blue rose.

'You know you want him.'

I shut Chaos out of my mind for the rest of the day. He was getting annoying anyway.


Shado: well I'm sure its long enough. I didn't exactly want it this long, but I wanted to get two things that will set up the whole plot. Oh and its not so obvious really, it has a few twists and turns that will be unexpected.

Some Information of this Chappie

1) The part where Vincent had his coffin open before Cloud ever found it, I pondered on what would happen, but then I just got the game Crisis Core. I started playing since Xmas Eve, but I'm actually almost done playing it. Anyways, theres a certain part in the game where Zack is looking around the abandoned Shinra Mansion for to talk to Sephiroth, and I got curious and opened coffins. In only one out of six, only one opened and it had a sleeping person in it. It didn't show him, but I was certain it wasn't a monster that jumps out and attacks you automatically. And I just thought it might actually help with bringing up the plot.

2) The story of the Blue Rose, well I wanted the rose to be blue like Cloud's eyes. As you can easily tell. But the story behind it, concerns a drawing I did recently of two fairies, one of Summer, and the other Winter. And I didn't want to use any plots that will be easily recognized about the story behind the rose, so I looked at my drawings for inspiration. The one with the fairies got my attention and thought, why not?

Review plz!