Black Carnival
xxxmidnightstarxxx: First off, I want to thank every single one of you who reviewed, alerted, favorited, and all that good stuff. I'm seriously awed by how many reviews this simple story got…I mean, first it was 4 and I was amazed…and now SEVEN? Holy Chocobos that's a MIRACLE!
Zack: *poke* Am I in this story or not? D:
xxxmidnightstarxxx: In fact you are Puppy. As thanks to all the wonderful reviewers I've decided to make you and Aeris in this story. Kudos to Lady Renzies for bringing that up…I was planning to add the Remnants anyway but adding the Puppy and Aeris is a good idea too :D
Cloud: Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 does not belong to xxxmidnightstarxxx nor does its characters. They do in her dreams though.
Game Two: The Warning
"Cloud, are you okay?" Tifa asked me, her expression worried as she peered at me. It was just after my mom's funeral…Why was it that the weather had to be so gloomy? The ash grey clouds in the dark sky covered up the once-bright sun, letting only a few dim rays of light shine down on the barren ground. …? Why was it raining all of a sudden? Suddenly I felt Tifa's gentle hand on my cheek. "…Cloud?" she whispered, wiping at my eyes. It was then that I noticed that it wasn't rain; rather, it was me, crying like a baby. My tears were staining the ground, turning it dark like my mom's blood had to the ground in the forest. I turned away from Tifa, angrily wiping my face with my wrist.
"Don't look at me right now," I choked out, my throat constricting. I didn't want to be looked at like a child. I wished I was an adult so the police could take me seriously. No one paid any attention to a "brat" after all. The police officers had merely laughed at my testimony, saying that such a man didn't even exist in their records. They rubbed my hair playfully, telling me to just go home, relax, and act like a quote on quote "normal" child. Rage had filled up in me…a dark, ugly, gruesome rage that burned in my chest hotter than any fire ever known to man.
"Cloud, it's okay to cry…I mean, your mom just passed away and all…," Tifa comforted, touching my shoulder. I turned around to face her again tearfully.
"No one believes me but you Tifa. No one believes me when I tell them about the silver-haired man with that long sword…," I sobbed, rubbing at my eyes. Tifa looked at me in the face with her chocolate-colored eyes into my watery sky-blue ones.
"It's not your fault Cloud; it's the police. I bet you that man has something to do with Shinra," Tifa assured, her eyes flashing dangerously when she mentioned Shinra. She hated that company with a burning passion, and with good reason, too. I knew what she meant, though. Shinra controlled pretty much everything in our town…the press to the school district…everything.
Wait a minute…that was my answer…if the police couldn't help me…
Then I'd have to solve this case by myself.
"No…way…this-this can't be happening!" I yelled, flinging the vase at my wall, shattering it to pieces. I heard Tifa running up the stairs, and I could just picture her expression as she banged on my door.
"Cloud, what's the matter? Open up!" she called anxiously from the other side of my bedroom door. It was a wall that separated me from the outside world…it separated Tifa from my hidden darkness. I didn't want to get people involved. Because if they did…I was afraid they too would end up dead. I unlocked the door and opened it slightly, giving Tifa a ghost of a smile.
"There's nothing wrong Tifa. You were just hearing things," I reassured, inching out of my small crack and locking my door from the outside. She glared at me in frustration.
"Cloud, why do you always push others away from you? You act like your life is so damn hard, and there's a reason why it is: you never allow anyone to help you! If you just confided in me more-"
"…I'm going out. Leave me some dinner, please," I interrupted, quickly striding out the door.
"Cloud-!" I jumped on Fenir and roared off to the Shinra Mansion gates, parking my motorcycle there and leaned against the metal bars, slowing sinking to the ground. I closed my eyes wearily… Suddenly, the ground opened up under me, and I plummeted down like Alice falling into the rabbit hole. My destination, though, was different. I fell into a beautiful flower field, and the scenery was blank, like a fresh canvas. The air was scented with the flowers' perfume, and it seemed to almost sooth my very soul.
"You're lost, aren't you?" a clear resonating voice, like a bell asked me. I turned around to see a beautiful girl around my age with a light blue summer dress adorned with a flower pattern. She had sea-green eyes that shone with a gentle light, and long auburn hair tied back with a pink ribbon. Her smile seemed sad as she glanced at me, turning her head side to side.
"What do you mean?" I asked, blinking in confusion as she shook her head sadly.
"Your eyes…they look lost. You lost someone dear to you, didn't you? That man took it all away…," she sighed, sitting next to me. I glanced at her.
"Do you know him? My mom's killer, I mean." She bowed her head down and nodded, gently fingering the flowers. "Did he…" my voice started to crack," Did he…kill you?" She touched my hand softly, and it reminded me of my mom and the way she would sigh and kiss my scrapes and run her hands through my hair. I started to cry and bent my head so this girl wouldn't see.
"I just wish I could get rid of this weight…it hurts so much," I whispered. I heard the girl sigh.
"Pain…is hard to bear. That weight is hard to lift, but before that, you have to realize what is truly stabbing you." I looked up at her as she turned to me, smiling.
"Only you…can find the answer."
"Cloud? Cloud!" a voice kept calling out to me. I groggily opened my eyes to see that it was Sephiroth. One of his knees was bent and his long hair tickled my face softly, like feathers. I couldn't help but laugh a little at the feeling. One of his hands caressed my face gently, and his face was close to mine. "Are you okay? I saw you sitting here outside…" He helped me up, and I accidentally fell into his arms. I couldn't help but notice that he smelled nice…like roses and vanilla…I blushed as his arms tightened around me and I gripped his clothes tighter. I wanted to close my eyes and bask in his presence, and then slowly, gently, fall asleep. Yes…sleep, peaceful sleep, would be nice…I then heard Sephiroth chuckle, and I hurriedly pulled myself away, straightening my hair and clothes in a flurry.
"Um…I'm sorry," I blurted out, mentally smacking myself for acting like an idiot. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"What are you apologizing for, may I ask? I quite enjoyed that hug…Cloud." He purred out my name, accenting that very word while his mesmerizing eyes pierced into me like shards of glass, rooting me where I stood. "Well then…as seeing the night grows darker I must suggest to you strongly that you stay at my residence for the night." He gently pushed me towards the entrance while I kept protesting meekly. "Tanaka," he ordered to an elderly man at the doorway, "Take care of his motorcycle, will you?" Whoa, wait a second, he was asking an eighty-year old man to move my heavy bike? I started to say this out loud when Sephiroth put a gloved finger at my lips, smiling mysteriously.
"Sephiroth…?" I whispered, confused at his expression.
"It is nothing. Come, let me show you your room," he brushed off. I nodded and started looking around the room, while he closed the doors slowly…with an expression I couldn't see.
On top of a tree branch, watching Shinra Mansion was a young man in his twenties, with spiky black hair pulled back and intense blue eyes. His skin was tanned and worn from many fights, and the X-shaped scar on his face only added to his appearance of toughness. On his back he wore a large sword almost as tall as him, and certainly wider. His eyes were closed, but they opened as he felt a faint presence behind him.
"Aeris," he merely stated, not bothering to turn around to confirm his suspicions. His voice seemed oddly weary, not suiting one of his age. There was a faint trace of sadness as well mingled in with his tone. "What do you want?"
"Zack," she murmured, her eyes full of sympathy and sadness for the warrior who stood in front of her. "Do you intend to let that boy end up the same as me and Angeal? What about Genesis, and even Angeal's mother? Will you let Sephiroth repeat the same tragedy?"
"I'm tired of fighting, Aeris. I don't want to see anyone else hurt, but I don't want to lift up this sword again either." Zack lifted up his sword and bowed his head to its blade. "I'm just letting Angeal's pride and honor go to waste, huh?" he laughed without humor, making it sound hollow. "I'm a coward."
"Zack, you aren't a coward. If anyone had experienced the same amount of grief as you, then they would be at the same spot you are right now," Aeris soothed, putting a hand on his shoulder. He sighed and put his sword back. Glancing at Tanaka who was rolling Fenir away, he narrowed his eyes and crouched in an ambushing position.
"Alright then, I'll try my best. Watch me, Aeris!" he yelled as he lunged at the unsuspecting Tanaka, his hand at his sword.
xxxmidnightstarxxx: A cliffhanger! Yay! :D I updated this story kinda quick so you all can enjoy thinking of what's gonna happen next.
Zack: I don't wanna be an emo in this story D:
Cloud: At least you're not a naïve guy who's in love with your mom's killer…
xxxmidnightstarxxx: *rolls eyes* Shut up, Cloud. And Zack, your personality is much more cheerful in "When Siblings Collide." Which reminds me, my evil twin has some good plans for chapter 2…*evil smirk at Cloud*
Cloud: Oh $h!t…
Aeris: Please rate and review! Constructive criticism is also welcomed! Just please don't make it sound mean…And please continue to enjoy the story!
xxxmidnightstarxxx: I LOVE YOU ALL! *runs off to avoid being killed by Cloud*
