1Chapter 2 - Cloud's Decision
"Ugh..." Saru grumbled as she slowly opened her eyes. Nothing looked familiar. She went to sit up and got a sharp pain from her stomach. Rude had hit her pretty hard that it left a bruise.
"Oh..you are awake, thank goodness!" a sweet, feminine but older voice said. Saru turned her head to see a woman, in about her late 40's early 50's it looked like sitting beside her.
"...where..." Was all Saru managed to say. She felt light headed and dizzy. /Oh ya...I got punched out by that Turk guy...man does it ever hurt/ she thought.
"You're in my home, in Edge City..." she said kindly, "My name is Elmrya."
"How did I get here?" Saru grumbled.
"I carried you here, after I found your unconcious body...I thought you'd never wake up" Elmrya stated, "You had me worried..."
"Sorry..." Saru said, "...ugh...headache...bald man...ugh..."
"Would you like some ice?" Elmrya asked.
"Nah, I think I'll be fine for now..." Saru said, "I do specialize in this profession..."
"A white mage?" Elmrya asked.
"Yeah..." Saru answered, "Thank you for assisting me when I was in need-Wha! Head rush..."
"Please do not over exert yourself..." Elmrya said.
"...bald guy...The Turks were-" Saru began as she tried to stand up too quickly, tripping over herself and landing on the ground, "AKIRA!"
"Oh my word..." Elmrya said helping Saru back onto the bed, "Are you alright? Who is Akira?"
"Ugh...Akira, she's my friend! I was trying to keep the turks busy but they might have found her by now! Or worse...she...might've ran into some perverts...I have...to...ugh...!"
"You must calm down...or you are going to cause more damage to yourself..." Elmrya said, "Your friend is involved with the Turks? Dear me...so was my daughter four years ago...why are they after your friend?"
"...I...dunno...they've never tried to find us before- ...wait...what your daughter?" Saru questioned sitting on the edge of the bed.
"...that is odd. Well, my step daughter...Aeris...she died...four years ago...the Turks were after her, quite frequently...but then she met a man who became her bodyguard...maybe your friend has met him...I heard he's living here in Edge city now...the poor dear...he suffers...so much..."
"Oh...dear...I'm so...so sorry..." Saru bowed her head in sadness.
"It's okay..." Elmrya said shaking her head, "It was her decision..and I respect that..oh, here I am, rambling about my stories when your friend is still missing..."
"...ugh...that's right! So, who is this guy Akira-chan might have met- and...where can I change clothes? These are far too suspicious..." Saru said pointing down to her robes.
"Oh yes, I still have a lot of Aeris's old clothes..and clothes I used to wear, just go through the closet behind me to find something you like. It's alright, take whatever you need!" Elmrya said happily, "As for him...his name is Kuroudo..."
"...Kuroudo eh?" Saru thought, remembering the name, "Thank you miss. Do you remember where he lives now?"
Elmrya thought for a bit as Saru looked through the closet for a change of clothes, "Hmmm...head to the centre of Edge and look for a bar called Seventh Heaven...I do believe he's there."
"Thank you!" Saru said picking out an outfit, "You won't miss this right?"
"Of course not...I said you could take whatever you need," Elmrya said, "I never did get your name..."
"Saru." Saru stated as she changed into the outfit she found, "I'm sorry but I should be going now...I have to find my friend."
"I understand." Elmrya stated, "If...you find your friend, please stop by again...I would love to meet her. And Kuroudo, send him over as well...I haven't seen him in ages..."
"Yes I will, thank you for everything, bye!" Saru said running down the stairs.
"...Aeris..." Elmrya looked up to the ceiling, "Is...this what you wanted? What are you planning my dear girl..."
Cloud carefully placed Aki on Tifa's bed and pulled up the covers. She looked like she wasn't having a good dream at all. Tifa walked in shortly after Cloud straightened up after putting Aki on the bed.
"Kuroudo...can I speak to you?" Tifa asked. Cloud nodded and walked out of the room, shutting the door on his way out.
"What is it Tea-fa?" Cloud asked in return.
"What's going on? I thought after...the whole incident with Kadaju's gang...that everything went back to normal but...you still don't talk to me very much..and you always visit Aeris's church...what's going on Kuroudo? Why are you so..." Tifa said slightly upset.
"Tea-fa...nothing will ever be the same." Cloud said turning his eye sight away from her, "The threat of Kadaju...and Sefiros is gone now...and I don't feel so alone, like I used to but...Aeris...they are still gone, both of them died because..."
"It's not your fault!" Tifa snapped, "I thought you agreed not to blame yourself anymore!"
"I still pay my respects to Aeris and Zack by going to the church Tea-fa!" Cloud snapped back, "But...this is who I am...I'm not the same...person you grew up with...You hid things from me, didn't tell me right from the beginning my story was flawed...let me live a lie...then helped me out of it...and I still...care about you but..."
"Kuroudo..." Tifa began, she took a few steps closer to him but he backed away.
"...it's not...the same feeling as...back then." Cloud said turning away, "I don't understand anything anymore...I feel like there's more I need to do...before I can finally have a break..."
Cloud knew Tifa loved him, more then anything. But he honestly felt he couldn't be the man she needed; the man she deserved. He wasn't the same as back then, he was different now. He had deep feelings for Aeris but maybe that was the memory and life he was living for Zack taking control because Zack loved her. Tifa...something was missing. He couldn't stay with her, he'd only continue to hurt her so he never stayed at the Bar for too long. What was his place? He didn't know. He heard groans coming from the room and decided to enter in and talk to the newly awakened girl. He walked over and sat beside her on the chair.
"...where...am...I..." Akira asked slowly, looking around the room. She then spotted Cloud and sat up rather quickly.
"...You're okay...you're safe.." Cloud stated, slightly relieved she finally woke up.
"I'm glad..." Akira said, laying back down on the bed and shut her eyes, "...those men didn't catch me...who are you?"
"...I'm Kuroudo." He answered, "I told you this before..."
"Kuroudo? ...Kuroudo...I don't believe I know you..." Akira said as a sudden rush of head pain and images flashed in her mind, "..ugh...wait...the church...and those men...you're the one I talked to right? The one who helped me get away from those...people?...Thank you."
"...Your welcome...just..." Cloud began and nodded at her, "be more careful where you go from now on...okay?"
"Mmm...I will..." Akira nodded, "...I'm sorry...I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Akira..."
"You did already..."
"I did?"
"Yes, when I talked to you at the church...well, don't worry about those guys anymore...they'll leave you alone..."
"You going to protect me?" Akira asked and smiled when Cloud nodded, "...Then I won't worry. I don't know...what I've done to deserve..such kindness..."
"Oh, I'm sure you do." Cloud said giving her a small smile, "Do you need any food? Water?"
"No...I'm alright...thank you...but...what do you mean by that?" Akira asked, "I really don't...know what I did.."
"...Never mind." Cloud said shaking his head.
"...wait! Saru-tan! Where is she! Is she here?" Akira asked suddenly, catching Cloud off guard.
"..Saru-tan?" Cloud questioned, "Who's that?"
"She's my friend...I was traveling with her...but, she stayed behind to hold off those men in suits so I could escape..." Akira said, slightly depressed Saru wasn't there.
"Men in suits? ..oh you mean the turks..." Cloud began slight anger entering his voice, "She didn't give you a whole lot of time it seems."
"I hope she's ok..." Akira said. "I don't understand...why they want me. I've never met them before."
"Mostly everyone knows the Turks, ever since the incident with..Sefiros..and the meteor...hardly anyone doesn't know them. It's odd you've never encountered them before." Cloud said. /Why would Rufus be after her..?...could it be because she looks like me? Those eyes...just like those touched by Mako.../
"Sefi...ros? Meteor? I...don't understand..." Akira questioned. Cloud was shocked. Almost everyone knew of Sephiroth and everyone knew about the Meteor; it nearly destroyed the planet. However, this girl knew nothing.
"...Do you honestly not remember?" Cloud asked.
"No...I don't remember a meteor or anything like that..." Akira said.
"Not about Shinra's corporation being destroyed, The weapons, the planet dying?" Cloud asked again, he was still shocked.
"..." Akira lowered her head in sadness. Cloud leaned back in his seat.
"..I'm sorry." Cloud said.
"...I..." Akira said but couldn't really finish.
"Kuroudo I-" Tifa began, walking in until she noticed Aki, "You're awake?"
Tifa's eyes slightly went wider but not enough for Akira to notice. /Kuroudo was right..! She does have the Mako eyes, just like him.../
"...?" Akira looked sort of confused.
"Oh, my name is Tea-fa" Tifa said, "...are you okay now?"
"...I'm sorry...I must be a burden on you...I'll leave as soon as I can..." Akira said. She could sense the tension between her rescuer and this woman and felt it was partly if not all her fault.
"Well-" Tifa began but Cloud cut her off.
"That shouldn't be necessary, right Tea-fa?" Cloud asked. Tifa was a little upset that he jumped to this new person's side so quickly. /It's almost like...he thinks he knows her.../
"Hnn? Do you have anywhere to go?" Tifa asked
"...no...but I'll find something...somewhere to go...don't worry...I'll be fine..." Akira stated smiling.
"That's alright, you don't have to leave." Cloud said. Tifa couldn't understand it until finally it hit her. /I get it...now.../
"..I'm going to go...make something." Tifa said with sadness in her voice before exiting the room.
"..But I don't...want to be a burden on you..and her..." Akira said looking away from Cloud.
"You're not a burden." Cloud said.
"Are you...sure?" Akira asked.
"The Turks usually mean bad news...and you don't want to be caught by them right?" Cloud asked.
"...right." Akira agreed.
"..Then the safest place for you would be here...they very rarely bother me." Cloud said. /Except when offering me work it seems.../ he added in thought.
"...okay..." Akira said yawning.
"Why don't you get some rest?" Cloud asked, "I'll keep an eye out for your friend"
"...thank...you... my friend...she has black hair..short..and white mage robes on..." Akira said before shutting her eyes. Cloud got up from her side and walked out of the room. He didn't even look at Tifa before exiting the bar. He walked over to Fenrir and leaned against it, deep in thought. /...why do I care so much.../
"Hey!" A voice called.
"Eh?" Cloud snapped to attention and turned his head to the right to see a girl run up to him.
"You..! I know you!" Saru said pointing a finger at him, "Yeah...I knew your name sounded familiar, I treated you!"
Cloud gave Saru a really odd look, almost as if he thought she was on crack or something.
"You were completely out of it and at a dangerous near death level of Mako-UGH!" Saru threw up her hands when she saw Cloud still didn't get it, "Another time! Where's Akira!"
"You're Saru then?" Cloud asked. /how...odd...and I've come across really weird people in my travels.../
"How-" Saru began.
"She told me you had robes though, that..isn't very white mage-ish..." Cloud said raising an eyebrow.
"..." Saru's eye twitched before she took off into Tifa's bar, "AKIRA!"
"..?" Akira slowly rolled over in bed as Saru came through the door, "...Saru?"
"AKIRA oh,thank godyouarealrightIwassoworriedaboutyouandthatyouwerehurt pause areyoualright?didthesuitedjerkhurtyou!" Saru said, taking only one breath in that whole phrase.
"Calm down Saru...I'm happy to see you too...breathe...inhale...exhale..." Akira smiled, "I'm alright, really...thanks to Kuroudo,"
"The Turks..I'm glad they didn't catch you..." Saru said.
"Unn(1)..." Akira said.
"...we're safe then, for now." Saru said giving Akira a hug.
"..." Akira hugged back then looked up at Saru, "Saru...I don't...understand...why...are they after...me?"
"I dunno..." Saru said shaking her head, "But I can see...you are tired, go back to sleep...I just wanted to make sure...you were alright...we'll leave first thing tomorrow morning..."
"Okay...Saru-tan..." Akira said shutting her eyes again. Saru smiled and walked out of the room and out of the building.
"...did you see her?" Cloud asked.
"I guess I owe you one. Thanks for rescuing her..." Saru said bowing to Cloud, "Thank you."
"...whatever." Cloud said scratching his head, "I have a question though..."
"What is it?" Saru asked.
"Well, actually I have a few...but we'll start with this one," Cloud began, "Why doesn't she remember the Meteor four years ago, or any events actually, that took place?"
"...I thought you'd ask that if you talked to her enough," Saru sighed, "First, to tell you that...I have to answer a previous question of yours,"
"Previous?" Cloud questioned.
"Ya, I remember you because I was one of the nurses that helped look after you four years ago in Mideel. When you had Mako poisoning," Saru stated.
"...well you probably know why I don't remember you then," Cloud said crossing his arms.
"..exactly! It's the same for Akira-chan," Saru said nodding, "...She has/had Mako poisoning...a really bad case of it...but not one of where she was completely a vegetable, like you were. She could still do many things by herself...she just didn't know who or what she was...and she doesn't recognize anything unless she's seen it recently,"
"She had mako poisoning during the incident four years ago?" Cloud asked.
"Well...I found her near the end of it, after Mideel was destroyed. She was running away from Soldiers in Junon..." Saru said, "Another difference between her case and yours was...she didn't have anyone who knew her..so she had to recreate her own personality, from scratch.."
"From scratch?" Cloud questioned slightly depressed. /She was truly alone.../
"So I couldn't leave her like that, and stayed with her." Saru said, "We haven't been apart since. Every now and then, if she gets close to things of her past she'll have memory flashes and head pains...sometimes so severe she'll faint because of them. Like a brain overload,"
"..." Cloud didn't say anything, just looked down. /I had Mako poisoning...twice but both times I had someone there helping me figure out who I was...some memories are still...buried but at least I'm close to being back to normal. I think...but she...she doesn't even know if she's close or not...she has no one...she truly is alone. That's...not fair.../
"Anyway, I think it's best we leave Edge City first thing tomorrow morning," Saru said, "We came here looking for work but only found trouble. Besides, I don't want to run into those Turks again..."
"...why were they after you?" Cloud asked.
"...Not me, Akira." Saru said, "I'm not sure..."
"...they didn't tell me either," Cloud said.
"What do you mean?" Saru raised an eyebrow.
"They came to me, asking me to find Akira..." Cloud stated, "Normally, I don't do anything for the Turks...I...hate them. And their intentions but...Tea-fa...the owner of this bar...and a close friend of mine was in financial trouble...they offered to pay me if I caught her..."
"So you were HELPING them!" Saru questioned, "You jack ass!"
"Don't get me wrong, if I had taken them up on it, she wouldn't be here right now. I...couldn't do it. I was interested in her because very little, in fact barely any, females were exposed to Mako of that level to have your eyes glow that intensely. I've never met a girl exposed to Mako because you usually only get that when you're in SOLDIER. So I was curious in that sense...and when I met her, I couldn't do it." Cloud said.
"...alright." Saru said taking a step up to him, "I'll believe you then."
"...good." Cloud said nodding, "How are you going to get out of Edge City?"
"...dunno yet. Why?" Saru asked, "...looking for a job?"
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked.
"Well, we don't have a lot to pay you, but we can pay you something if you wana get us out of this town," Saru said, "You said it yourself you were curious about Akira and you looked sad when I told you her story. Plus, you said you needed some money... If you get us out of town, well...it'd help out a lot."
"Hmm..." Cloud thought for a moment. /I don't want their money...but...I do want to know...who...she is...and why...I feel like...I know Akira. Maybe I'll talk to Rufus myself.../
"Kuroudo!" Tifa said coming out of the bar.
Cloud looked at Tifa. /sorry Tifa.../
"Alright...I'll do it." Cloud nodded at Saru.
"Thanks!" Saru said.
"But why!" Tifa asked.
"They need help Tea-fa...they can't get out of here by themselves, with barely any money, and knowing no one...they'd be caught for sure. I want to know why Rufus is after them and why...Akira looks like me. I won't find that out if they get caught," Cloud said, shrugging, "Besides, I know how you can get your money..."
"She's NOT Aeris!" Tifa snapped. Cloud was taken aback by what she said.
"W-What!" Cloud questioned.
"I see the way you look at her! It was the same way you looked at Aeris!" Tifa said looking down, "Aeris is gone...and she's not coming back...Kuroudo...why can't you get over it!"
"I don't think she's Aeris!" Cloud snapped back, "...Akira looks like me...and I feel like I know her. I'm trying to figure out why! Don't get this mixed in with our problems!"
"Kuroudo!" Tifa said.
"I'm...sorry..." Akira's voice came from behind Tifa. Tifa stepped aside and all three of them looked at her.
"Akira you should be sleeping!" Saru said. /Not like..she'd be able to with all the arguing out here.../
"Kuroudo..." Akira began, walking up to Cloud and stopping just before him, "I'm grateful for your help so far but...I don't want to be a problem. We'll find a way out of the city some how. Thanks for the offer but we can handle it by ourselves."
"Akira we-" Saru began. Akira shook her head.
"We can handle it on our own." Akira said.
"Listen, I want to help you, don't feel like I'm doing this because I have too," Cloud began.
"You should...stay here. I don't want to pull you away. We'll be alright. Right Saru?" Akira asked.
"Ya..." Saru agreed. /His help COULD be useful, but I'd be doing the same thing Akira-chan is doing right now..they seem to have their own issues...Tea-fa and Kuroudo.../
"...I want to. You won't get out of the city without my help," Cloud said crossing his arms.
"Kuroudo!" Tifa said.
"But-!" Akira began to object.
"..I've made my decision." Cloud said. Tifa walked back inside. He felt bad but it had to be said. /I'm sorry Tifa...I can't stay here anymore.../
"Guess he's helping us," Saru shrugged. Akira sighed and walked back into the bar as well. She really felt like she was intruding now. She went back to the room and crawled into the bed.
"...she looked sad." Cloud said.
"...Akira-chan probably thinks she's troubling you...she does everything she can for other people but when she comes to herself, she feels she's insignificant and isn't worth people's time...it annoys me sometimes how...little care she has for her existence," Saru shrugged.
"...I see." Cloud said. /Wow...my I don't care attitude got thrown out the window...maybe it has something to do with these people...oh well./ He shrugged, "Well, let's go inside and sleep."
"Er..." Saru began.
"You can sleep in my bed." Cloud said, "I'll take the cot in the basement,"
"Nah I'll-" Saru began but Cloud was already inside. /Males! Stupid arrogant egotistical..MALES/
Sometime in the middle of the night, Cloud woke up. He was dreaming about his last encounter with Aeris, where she was in the church he woke up in with the orphaned children. In the midst of that it turned into the moment where Sephiroth stabbed her. He got up out of bed and snuck out of the bar. He headed down the street and around the corner to Jimmy's bar. He knew it'd still be open. He walked in and saw two guys at a table and Jimmy.
"Kuroudo!" Jimmy said.
"I got a favour to ask..."
Cloud walked back to Tifa's bar thinking about his encounter with the strange girl who resembled him. /Maybe she was experimented on...no...I would've read it or known about it. I don't get it. She's so strange. Nice, but strange. I don't give a damn but I feel the urge to help...must be the 'hero' in me/ he thought/Hero? Ha. Hero's aren't sinned...I don't think.../
He walked up to the bar counter and placed a grey envelope on top of it. He walked back to the cot in the basement, only to prepare his things. He couldn't fall back to sleep. /Aeris...why did it have to be you/
End of Chapter 2.
1 - Unn, a common Japanese expression usually a mumbled version, means 'yes', 'I understand' or 'ok'. A lot of the times Unn is used instead of Hai because Unn is more casual.
Cloud still has Aeris death issues...I don't think he'll ever fully recover from it. Especially Zack's as well. A lot of that, and his frustration is shown in this chapter. He doesn't hate Tifa, far from it. However, he does feel now he's no longer capable of staying with her because of his problems. They weren't all resolved in Advent Children
