A/N: So I decided that my second chappy would COMMENCE ON THE SAME NIGHT! XP

Did that big word make me sound smart? Cuz I am! Lawl. j/k

Anyways, enjoy! :P


Final Fantasy:

Blood Relatives

Chapter 2:


Cyndii's P.O.V.


"Gotta go! Talk to you later!" I said sadly.

"Bye!" she hung up. Geez, some sweet dreams I'm going to have. I sighed heavily, back slouched, eyes and mouth drooped.

"Goodnight," my dad said, sounding like an inevitable order.

"Goodnight," I mumbled, my lips barely moving. I dragged myself, shutting the door almost instantly so my little brother wouldn't come in. I changed into a lighter pair of sweats so I wouldn't get hot, then tied up my hair and collapsed on my bed.

Nugh…Eva may be having nightmares, but not me, no siree, I thought sleepily, half awake, half asleep. Who cares about Cloud and Sephiroth? I'd rather think about Zack Fair anyway. Zack… I mumbled thoughtlessly, awake but still in a dreaming state. I was no good at imagining all of one thing. I focused on individual parts. His hair, his midnight raven hair…his piercing blue eyes…Zack…Zack Fair…

As his gorgeously unreal image blossomed in my head, my eyes closed, yet I was still awake. It felt like the room was spinning, but my eyes were too heavy to open. How did I get so tired so fast? Oh well, now I could dream about Zack, so much easier to imagine with my eyes closed….

Then, the spinning just stopped. My neck became sore out of nowhere. It was black again, then through my eyelids I could see light, but it was shaded, dim. I cracked my eyelids open. At first, the images my brain were trying to process were blurry, lots of yellow, then dim yellow, green, then dim green. Then I saw a tall figure in black, with something gleaming on his back. It was huge… it, or he, rather, reminded me of Zack… his sexiness, his huge silver buster sword, he was rather dreamy. Haha, dreamy. I thought deliriously. I AM dreaming. Haha. Dreamy.

I blinked. Abruptly, my eyes came into focus. I was in a forest, with the sun shining, glaringly bright, and the tall figure was… who… Zack!

He turned and looked at me, hands in his pockets, smiling a fake thin smile, while the worry was etched on his face all over it. He looked down nervously, the smile washing away.

I felt so… confused, angry, yet eager. Excited that it was almost tangible, almost as if I was here, and that Zack Fair was right in front of me. If I wasn't thinking this, I knew that I would have been squeeing.

Zack smiled crookedly at me, flashing his pearly whites, as if to be laughing at my fantasies. Which brought on the confusion. How could this be? I should have been at home sleeping, until my overweight father would wake me up in the morning, forcing me to get ready for school. But no. I'm here… with Zack Fair…for whatever reason, in a forest….

Okay, no no no, I'm imagining things – I felt something crawl on my back. I sat up and brushed it off. Ew, a spider! As far as creepy crawlies went, I hated every last one. I struggled to my feet and brushed myself off, coming to the realization that I was bare-footed. And wearing those ugly sweat-pants. I scrambled to cover myself, of course a useless attempt. Zack smiled again, laughing at my gestures.

I held my arms together and blushed, looking down. Zack fidgeted. A rather awkward moment ensued, and it sure felt real. Zack nor I had decided to say anything for a while now. We were both…nervous, speechless, I guess. Something along those lines.

I probably looked…well not very good right now. All these people wearing all these cool clothes and I'm stuck in these awfully drab sweats. Zack looked…well, like Zack. Which required no explanation. But besides the obvious, guilty, like the little boy who stole the last cookie out of the cookie jar, a look that was completely blatant in his expression. I felt like I was missing something. My head cocked to the side in bewilderment.

Speaking of that, why had I been laying on the forest floor? Was he some alien that was disguised as Zack that abducted me as its specimen for its research on Filipinos? ...Unlikely, especially since I didn't believe in aliens. So what then? What was I doing here though? Where was home? Where was I? Why was he here? I wondered. I felt like I was losing my grip. My eyes were wide and staring, and Zack just laughed incredulously, surprised at my reactions.

My breathing quickened, and my limbs began to feel weak, but I tried to take deep breaths, to retain a sense of calm, and yet, I felt distressed. Back to the questions I needed to ask. Was this a dream? Was I really here, and if I was, why? Has this ever happened to anyone else?

I was squeezing my arms so tight I lost circulation. I let them fall to my side, then continued my questioning. I—

"Okay, this is… weird," I jumped a little at his voice. He looked anxious, deciding to speak to me. "Well, uh, I guess you know that…I'm Zack." He looked down and blushed, trying to find the right words to say. Did I say all that stuff out loud? That's unlike me. "So…What's your name?"

"Uh, Cynthia, but my friends call me Cyndii." I answered, then instantly regretted telling him that.

Why did I tell him that? He could be some psychopath that…well, I dunno. Rapist? Murderer. SERIAL KILLER! Okay, what the hell is wrong with me? I'm delirious, this is a dream, AND I'M AT HOME SLEEPING! Moisture started to leak over and spill from my eyes. I turned my back towards him so he wouldn't see. I knew I didn't actually believe that. It felt too real. He looked so real. I then realized that I was actually shouting. Did I shout everything else I think I thought? Perhaps that's why he was laughing.

…I realized I said that aloud too. Oh great, I'm some demented freak that ended up…here, and doesn't know how to think anymore.

My tears became hot. I bit my lip, trying to keep my suffering quiet. They silently ran the length of my cheeks, before falling to the ground.

I wish my mom was with me. I wish I was home, back to my miserable, boring life, even though Zack Fair was here. A literal man of my dreams. But just dreams. Fuck, am I saying this out loud too?

I fell to my knees, at a loss for words, just wishing I was home. Zack ran up to me, kneeled down, and hugged me tightly, a reassuring yet uncertain expression on his face. At first I tried to remain stoic. I unclenched my teeth, and instead of the quiet keening I'd been doing, I started to actually weep, turning my face into his shoulder. I vaguely wondered if I had ruined his shirt.

But I knew that if I scooted out of his embrace he'd feel bad, so I didn't. I wanted to be held this way. I'd never literally had a shoulder to cry on. Another first for me, it seemed.

It was a while before I realized that my arms were wrapped around him, and I was hugging him back, too. "I'll help get you out of here, I promise. Let's just go back to the bar and try to figure everything out. It's not safe here, and I figure with everyone else's minds put together, it'd be easier to figure things out. Come on."

I hesitated momentarily, not knowing whether I should trust him. I wanted to, but I didn't know if I could. I didn't look into his piercing eyes, knowing that if I did it would alter my judgment and I'd cave in. I wiped my eyes and held my head in my hands. I had a throbbing headache now.

"I know you don't trust me, but please. I just feel like this is my fault, for some reason, that I should be helping you. Please," he pleaded. I looked at him involuntarily. His face had shame and remorse written all over it. I couldn't let him feel this way, not over me. Nothing was his fault, and I just hated people feeling sorry for me, taking blame for me.

"Listen, none of this is your fault." His face became angry but I cut him off as he opened his mouth to protest. I waved a hand warily to silence him.

"It isn't. I can't say I came here of my own accord, but I know you had no business in my appearing here. So just don't feel bad," I added on quickly. My fragile little heart contemplated his remorse, and it made weak tears leak from my eyes again.

He looked at me, that same piercing gaze that not many could resist, playing the guilt card. "Please?"

His question was irrevocable. I couldn't say no. "Yes, alright." I still wasn't sure, but I still had questions that need answers. Where else would I go?

He released me and stood up, helping me up. He placed a hesitant arm around my waist and acted as a crutch as we walked out of the forest. I squinted, the sun still shining too brightly, but the scenery was beautiful. Lots of wildlife encasing the beautiful glass buildings that reflected the sunlight, creating a spectrum. There were many streets too, and many people walking about, enjoying themselves.

"I know, this place is wonderful, isn't it?" Zack sat on his motorcycle and looked to the sky peacefully. I glanced around me once more. It really was the most beautiful place I'd ever been. But it was always surreal things that were the best.

"Yeah, it is," I agreed. I looked to my left. "Hey, is that Cloud's Fenrir?" I pointed to the motorcycle, all black and gleaming, beside Zack's.

"Yes –" Then he paused, and frowned. "Wait, you...know him?" He asked incredulously.

I shifted a little awkwardly. "Yeah. From a video game called Final Fantasy."

I saw his eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. "Hm...Never heard of that." He looked wary, but he smiled. I could tell there was burning curiosity in his eyes, but he had decided to save it for a rainy day.

"Heh, yeah." I wasn't sure why, but I found it rather amusing that he didn't know what it was, considering it was about him.

It took me a moment to realize someone was missing. "Hey, where is he? Cloud, I mean?" I asked, gesturing to his motorcycle.

Zack sighed, then took in another deep breath. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask. It's a long story. Okay. Cloud and I just got check-ups on our bikes so we were givin' 'em a test drive. We rode past this forest just when I saw a flash of a spectrum from the corner of my eye. Cloud said it was probably nothing, but I wanted to check anyway, just in case. I dunno...I was just sorta...compelled. It was just a case of overwhelming curiosity." He ran his fingers through his spiky hair, as his eyes went out of focus, and he frowned slightly, like he was thinking.

"It...could've been something dangerous, so we braced ourselves, drew our weapons and ran in." He glanced at me briefly, flashing me a blinding smile, something that clearly indicated that he must have been crazy to have ever found me a threat. He didn't know me very well, of course. But I wanted to snort, but I withheld the impulse.

"When we got to the flashing light," he continued slowly, "we saw a feminine figure, which we later found out was you, walk out, really slow and zombie-like. You still looked like a silhouette because of the light, and I didn't know what you were, so I...attacked you and... knocked you out." He stared downward resentfully. So that's why he felt guilty. I was pretty sure that attacking the innocent went against his policy of…well, protecting them. Plus, he had hit a girl. So he must have felt doubly bad.

"So that's why my neck is sore," I rubbed it a little, rolling my eyes. "Go on."

He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Where was I? Oh yeah. So when you woke I thought you'd be mad at me and like punch me or something." He laughed nervously. "Instead you were happy then confused, mad then crazy, and then you started crying. And you said a lot of weird stuff out loud. I was too afraid to say anything because I figured I'd distract you from sorting your thoughts out..." He trailed of a little, glancing at me sidelong. He seemed like he had something to say, but didn't know how to phrase it. My head tilted to the side in interest.

"And you looked kind of...different at first," he began in a rush, "But now you look normal. I can't explain it. You just…do." I thought about that for a moment, wondering what he meant. But then something occurred to me.

"Oh. Yeah. I get it. I am in an...animated world, I guess." I examined my arm to see if I was right. Of course I was. He looked down sullenly once more. Couldn't he just...stop?

"Don't feel bad for me," I said, trying not to sound impatient. But unfortunately, it sounded that way. "Yeah, you knocked me out, but I'll get over it." Maybe if I assured him of that, he'd feel better…Or well, I guess not. But I was going to get him one of these days. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly at that.

"I was half-asleep when you attacked me so I didn't feel anything, anyway." I shrugged, but he didn't look convinced. So I decided that since he had given me an explanation, I'd give him one, too.

"I was at home trying to sleep. But I was still half-awake. When I closed my eyes and thought of Final Fantasy, well, actually, you in particular," I blushed and bit my lip while Zack smirked, "I felt...vertigo, yet my eyes were heavy with fatigue so I couldn't open them. The next thing I knew I saw brightness through my eyelids, but then everything went black. I guess that was when you KO'd me," I said indifferently, while he shifted uncomfortably, "–Then everything became bright again, and I opened my eyes. There I was, on the forest floor, and there you were. That's when all the happiness…anger…and confusion, came in."

Zack's expression was thoughtful again. "Yeah, you made me wonder if anyone else could be here. So Cloud went to search the forest for anyone else. It seems like we'd see that light if it happened, but we could've missed it."

"But what if –? By some whack chance, what if...Eva's here?" I smiled hopefully, but then my face fell as the implications hit me. "Ah, wait, that would be...bad... Very bad. I wouldn't want – but well, I'd be happy to see her, but –"

Zack cut in with a question. "Uh, who's Eva?" His eyebrows rose again, his expression inquisitive.

I smiled ruefully. "My best friend." I elongated the sentence. I felt the anticipation, but worry, of her possible arrival, claw at my insides. It was another second before I realized I was frowning and my eyebrows had pulled together.

"That's a...unique name for a girl, I…suppose." He scratched his head.

I laughed. "It's Spanish."

He shot me a strange a look. "What?"

"You've been to Costa del Sol, right?" I asked. He nodded, but his expression was still blank.

"Yes, but how is this Spanish?"

I sighed. "Never mind," I said hastily. "But if she were here, and Cloud found her, she'd just trust him right away. Not that I blame her. She's the impractical, comical one. Not to say she's not mature, because she is, but I am...the more mature and introspective of us two. I mean, trusting people right away has downsides." I frowned then. "It's wrong of me to trust you though. If I didn't know you...then we wouldn't be having this conversation," I grimaced.

He looked rather pensive as he answered. "I see." He nodded, almost as if to himself, before he spoke again. "Hey, we should get back to the bar," Zack added suddenly. "They might be wondering why Cloud and I were gone so long."

"Who's they –?" I began, but then I closed my mouth as the realization hit me. "Oh, wait, never mind. Alright." I nodded, to show I understood.

Zack's expression turned affectionate. "You wear...my helmet. I want you to be safe."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like a mom. Why do you care anyway? I mean–" I paused. I sometimes had a habit of blurting things without thinking them through well. "That came out wrong. What I meant to say is...I'm not trying to sound rude, I'm just saying, we don't know each other."

He blushed and put his hands in his pockets again. "I don't know," he said so quietly it was almost a whisper. "I just…do. I don't know." It was nice to know that he cared, but it was embarrassing. "Let's go." He flipped the subject. I was glad he did. I had had enough of self-conscious moments for one day.

I humored him and wore the clunky head trap. I thought I heard him laugh, but I wasn't sure. He moved his legs over so he was sitting forward. I put on my helmet and locked my arms around his chest as I sat down. I was too tired to notice my hands pressed against his sculpted abs. I yawned.

"Why don't you rest for a while, Cynthia? It's a little ways to the bar from here."

"Okay," I said in another yawn. I rested my head to the left of his sword, on the dull side, so I wouldn't be cut. I closed my eyes. It seemed like I had an off switch, because as soon as I did, I drifted to sleep.


Zack's P.O.V


Cynthia's light breathing was soothing to the heat of the day. I would have thought it'd be cool while riding a motorcycle one-hundred plus miles per hour, but no. The wind wasn't even blowing.

That didn't matter. What matters is that I got her to trust me so I could get her to safety. Wait – why did I think that? She is right, why do I care? What luck fate has given me. Now I have brought it on my shoulders to look after this teenage girl. Or was it Jenova? Does Jenova want something? Or was it luck that once Cynthia thought of me she arrived here? No, that couldn't just be luck. Or the lack of it. No use pondering over this by myself. I should wait for the others' consent before coming to a conclusion.

As I parked my bike, I picked her up. She looked so peaceful, so tranquil, so angelic. Good thing she was asleep, because things were going get ugly.

I took in a deep breath. How was I going explain this to the others? Might as well give it a shot.

I kicked open the doors and walked in. Aerith was standing behind the bar, next to Tifa, meeting my gaze with incredulous eyes, full of questions. Tifa turned around from the bottles she was wiping to stare at me, jaw hanging open. Then disbelief flashed in her eyes. Barret and Cid in the corner, talking amongst themselves, looked up at me, their expressions becoming pissed, about to cuss up a storm. Barret ground his teeth together, and the cigarette in Cid's hand snapped in half.

Vincent's face, as usual, was indecipherable. His ruby eyes just watched, and calmly assessed the situation, his glance flickering between everyone's faces.

Shelke, however, talking animatedly with Yuffie, seemed happy to see another girl around her size, even if she looked younger than Cynthia. There was no hostility in their eyes. Curiosity, unbelief, and worry; they seemed to be the dominating emotions. All of their eyes flickered between me and the girl in my arms. As I read the emotion of each face, I vaguely wondered how this many people could fit in this tiny bar.

"Just let me explain –" I began, but was cut off by a chorus of voices.

I understood she wouldn't be received well, due to the fact that the bar happened to be crowded, among other things. "Please –"

"WHAT THE HELL?" Barret and Cid shot off …I was expecting more than that. Not that they didn't look like they had more they wanted to say, though. It looked like they were conversing in quieter profanities in the corner and shooting me dirty looks.

Aerith glanced warily at the girl, her eyebrows pulling together in worry. "She could be a threat," Aerith stated calmly, biting her lip, but I could tell, wanting to believe the best in people. In this girl.

"No, no," Yuffie disagreed, shaking her head, "Zack wouldn't have brought her if it wasn't to join –" But the rest of her sentence was drowned out.

Tifa glared at me, and then at Cynthia. "You brought in some stranger?! What were you thinking?!" Tifa screamed. "In my bar! In these times, Zack!"

I understood why she was upset, but I didn't get the chance to explain. As I opened my mouth to protest, Barret jumped in.

"Whatchoo thinking would be a better question, man!" Barret added furiously, shaking his head in disbelief.

Cid rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Zack brought in some stranger! Knowing full well how dangerous it is to let in strangers at this time into our–" Cid started to yell, but I interrupted him.

"PLEASE JUST LET ME EXPLAIN!" I raised my voice above the furious din. Everybody whose expression wasn't grim turned that way. I hated doing that, but at least I had gotten them to shut up.

Aerith, her eyes closed, opened them, glancing up at me with a trite air. She breathed deeply through her nose. "We're all listening," Aerith smiled at me reassuringly. I forced one back and sighed in relief. Finally.


After I explained everything to everyone as best as I could, they were all thinking. Wondering if they should trust my judgment, wondering if they should trust her. Aerith was the first to speak up. "Zack has always had reliable judgment, am I right?" Everyone nodded. "Besides, I always trust Zack." She joined my side.

Vincent walked over to me quietly. "She couldn't be a threat. She's not from here." To my surprise, Vincent strode over to me. He was one of the last people I would expect to say that. In fact, I had been sure he wouldn't trust her because of that. But whatever Vincent's reasoning was, he was standing for me. For her. So that was two.

"Yeah, there's lots of room here! And we'll watch her so she doesn't do anything bad!" Yuffie smiled, unnecessarily excited.

Shelke skipped over to my side. "Oh come on, you guys, lighten up!" Of course Yuffie came too.

"Ugh, another girl," Barret groaned, glancing at Yuffie as he said this. He still stood his ground, his stare not changing at all.

"Well... she is cute…Okay." Tifa's motherly side won her over. She ran up to me and gazed at Cynthia with curiosity. "I would never want to turn anyone away," she whispered quietly, eyes cast down, looking ashamed. "Just that we don't know her..." Tifa trailed off, mumbling to herself. She placed a gentle hand on Cynthia's forehead, her expression softening.

"It's unsafe in these times, but she looks so..."

"Sweet while she's sleeping," Yuffie finished, her voice warm with agreement. "Exactly."

Speaking of that, I was surprised to find that she was still fast asleep. I supposed she was a heavy sleeper. Or maybe it was that KO she'd taken earlier that helped. I felt a guilty twinge in my conscious again.

The only ones left were Cid and Barret. Still.

"Please guys, she's of no harm to us. She needs somewhere to stay," I pleaded, turning towards them. Cid shot me a weird look.

"Why the hell do you care?" He demanded, still glancing distrustfully at the girl.

"That's a good question," I whispered, half to myself. I glanced at the girl in my arms again. She was so beautiful, and young, maybe fourteen or fifteen. I couldn't find it in me to cast her away. Yet she could be the very...

"We decided to trust Cait Sith, and we all know how he was a traitor," Cid admonished, disrupting my flow of thought.

"Only at first," I argued, "And I don't see how -"

"And Shelke, she's cute too, but she was really a hell-spawn spit fire we all know as a Tsviet," Cid continued, ignoring me. Shelke glared angrily in his direction. I gritted my teeth.

"Cid, listen to me, it's different-"

"How?" He cried with irritation.

"I don't know. But just give her a chance!" I pleaded, my mouth frowning, a rare expression for me.

Cid shook his head incredulously. "You're crazy," he muttered, taking out another fag to smoke. He lit the cancer stick and popped it in his mouth. As I opened my mouth to protest, to take opportunity of his momentary silence, Barret waved a weary hand.

"Look man, all we sayin' is that it's never good to trust people you dun know well. It's nutin' against the girl, 'zactly."

I breathed through my nose, trying to stay calm. "Barret, Cid. All I'm asking for is a chance. Please."

Everyone watched in silence as Barret and Cid chose to assess this.

They glared at her, Cid sighing exasperatedly, rolling his eyes. "Fine," Barret and Cid said at the same time. Cid continued. "Just keep her out of my face." I knew by Barret's look he meant the same thing. So that was it. Finally we could keep Cynthia here. I don't know why I wanted her here, but as long as she's safe…


Eva's P.O.V.


"And that's it. Zack told me what transpired while I was sleeping." Her face was very serious, her chocolate eyes intense under her puckered eyebrows. "They knew Cloud was looking for someone else, and you didn't arrive here while the others were here, so you're lucky. Barret's decided to accept the situation, which is why he is nice now." She glanced over at him, as he shrugged apologetically.

"Sorry, man."

She grinned at him. "S'ok."

I blew out my cheeks. "So that's why everyone expected me to be here. That makes sense." I ran up to her and hugged her, for every reason. I would've missed her. I wouldn't have someone to talk to who I could actually relate to. And I might not ever get out of this world. So I could have never seen my best friend ever again. Tears ran down my eyes, and I know she was doing and thinking the same thing. Angrily, she furiously wiped them away, trying to be strong, her teeth clenched together.

"Okay, are you guys done with your little episode here?" Cloud sighed impatiently. Cyndii turned from our ruined reunion and stared at Cloud with incredulity.

"I thought Cloud was supposed to be nice, at least marginally? He helped saved the world, after all, didn't he?" She asked, her eyebrows pulling together. She looked a little disappointed; like she was expecting to meet the kind and heroic Cloud she must have thought he was. I shrugged.

"Yeah, well, you thought wrong Cyndii. He's a self-centered jerk." I tried not to sound bitter, but I was only just failing.

"Self-centered?! I saved your life!"

"With your attitude, I'm surprised I'm not dead!" I shouted back. Zack sighed and mumbled, complaining about us arguing. Cyndii rolled her eyes at him, as if to say 'It's inevitable.'

"That's why I can't stand kids. Stupid, ungrateful, girls!"

"Oh, so that's it?!" My voice went up another two octaves. "You just automatically hate me because of some past experience with them? You didn't give me a chance! I'm a nice person, and I know how to deal with people I don't like, but you? Maybe I'd appreciate you if you accepted me more! I don't know why I came back, just to hear this?!" Instead of waiting for Cloud to respond, I stomped outside into the dimly lit street and sat on the curb. As soon as I walked outside it started to rain. Of course. Not that it bothered me though. Rain was calming. It'd help me center my thoughts, calm down, then enable me to go back inside. Maybe. The rain was nice. If I didn't have to go back inside eventually, maybe I wouldn't have. I could feel Cloud's thoughts travel to my head. There was no point in trying to block him out, it never worked. I figured that I might as well listen while I was at it.

Cloud, quit upsetting her!

Why do you stand up for her anyway?! You don't know her!

Because, I, unlike you, am a nice person and I like to take care of children. And you know that she could be –

Tifa, Cloud, Zack started, Yelling never makes anything better.

Who the hell made you the mediator?!

Cloud, just listen, Tifa is right. You need to be nice to her because she's going to be here a while. She can't survive in this world without you. You're her…protector or something, you have to watch out for her. And I…have to watch out for Cynthia. I just know it.

Cloud shrugged and sighed. Fine, then. I knew he was coming out here. I clasped my ears, hoping to get some peace of mind for just a moment.

His sloshing footsteps sounded in the dark as he came out, and sat on the wet curb next to me. "Listen –"

"Cloud, I don't want you apologizing to me only because everyone else told you to. If you don't mean it, you might as well go back inside." I scooted away from him, shaking my hair out a little so it could cover some of my face. I then turned my head away, gazing off into the obscure shadows of the night.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his mouth open and close, trying to find the right words to say. I pretended to watch the passerby scurry off to their homes, briefcases or umbrellas placed over heads as they ran full out in the pouring rain. Yet Cloud and I sat out here, getting soaked. In the end, Cloud sighed, and stared at his shoes. "Seriously, I mean it. I'm sorry for being mean, I just – I'm just not...good with girls." He did something I never thought Cloud Strife would do. He blushed, twisting his head away from me.

I continued to stare off into the night, seeing nothing. "Aerith? Tifa?" I asked over my shoulder, but he just shrugged.

"...Kind of...But besides, Aerith is Zack's girl..." he mumbled, trailing off. He looked dejected as he said this.

I was confused. I had read a translated version of "Maiden Who Travels the Planet", and it was to my understanding that Aerith still harbored feelings for Cloud.

"But I thought-? I thought Aerith still liked you...?"

Cloud shrugged. "Zack had all the time he needed to change her mind."

I frowned, still wondering about that. Something seemed to be missing, almost as if he was deliberately not telling me something. I glanced up at his face. It was weary. But then again, it wasn't like what he said wasn't plausible. I could easily see Zack's engaging personality winning her over again. "Tifa, she's always liked you-"

He shrugged again. "I just don' t know," he whispered. "Okay?" There was some unfathomable emotion in his eyes, that looked a lot like he was in pain. I wanted so desperately to understand, but...talking about it was hurting him.

I nodded. "Alright," I said uneasily, realizing that I was making him uncomfortable. I wanted to know what was up between Tifa and him, but he seemed unwillingly to elaborate. So I didn't ask.

"So you still like them...?" I pressed. It was noisy, but I was somewhat interested.

"Not really," Cloud answered. His tone was strange, as if concealing some emotion buried beneath his words. "I'm just..." He paused then, not sure what to say.

"Mad about what happened?" I offered, rotating my body slightly to look at him. Well, Aerith had gone back to Zack, so that could be one. But shouldn't Tifa still like him? I pondered over this, watching the rain droplets on Cloud's hair glisten like tiny pearls in the dim light. I wondered why it captivated me, watching them slowly drip, silently fall...

"Yes," he confirmed, sighing with chagrin. Cloud looked tired suddenly…and miserable. He still gazed at me, his expression apologetic and sincere. When he looked like that, it instantly made me feel culpable for being mad at him. He knew this. Just when I wanted to be angry with him, too. Damn him. I sighed exasperatedly. "Okay, I forgive you. Just please be nice," I stressed.

He shrugged. "As long as you keep your girly stuff to yourself."

"Fine, but you keep your sentimental stuff to yourself."

"Okay, fine," he agreed easily, smiling a little regretfully.

I nodded. "We have a deal then." It was silent for a few moments, my head resting on my cupped hands contemplatively. Cloud shifted a little, rubbing his chin before deciding to speak again.

"Let's go inside before you get sick," Cloud suggested, holding out a hand to help me off the sodden sidewalk. I shook my head. He cocked his head quizzically to the side in response.

I breathed deeply, savoring the crisp scent of the rain. "No…" I wrapped my arms around my torso. "I think I'll stay out here, walk a little. Rain is dark and despairing...yet it has a lightness to it...I find it...soothing. Comforting," I said quietly. "It reminds me of home...I like it." Cloud glanced at me, a bemused expression coloring his features, before he walked off, shrugging.

"Fine," he agreed and started to head back inside. But then he paused, seeming to remember something. He hurried back inside, and a few minutes later reappeared, holding a jacket.

I don't want you to get sick.

He securely wrapped the jacket around me, almost protectively, before heading back inside again. I wiggled into it comfortably, shivering as warmth returned to me. I rubbed my head against his jacket, which smelt of dirt, sweat, and…him. I stood up, walking into the darkness, as rain encased my body. I glimpsed up into the stars, the pinpricks of light so much brighter and clearer here, and wondered what I was meant to do here. I just knew I needed to do something important; stuff like this didn't happen everyday. Maybe Cyndii and I were going to save Cloud and Zack's lives. Maybe I'll save the animated world with my best friend. Just maybe.


A/N: Yeah...this was originally part of the first chapter, but it was too long, so thus, the two separate chapters. D; Anyways, thanks to my beta reader again, and I hope you enjoyed this! (hands out Cloud plushies)

Reviewers get a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Happy thirteen and a day old to me...lawl. :D And hey, reviews will help me get this out faster...maybe. :)

And even for just reading, your awesome!