Cloud blinked his eyes twice. Before him, bathed in sunlight was a beautiful woman. A white ribbon held up her braided chestnut-brown hair and her bright green eyes held a surprised look. Her pursed lips were pink; she has a pale complexion but has rosy cheeks. She wore a light blue dress, her pearly-white shoulders covered by a white bolero that shimmered under the sunlight. On her back was a white bunny backpack and a white Sunday hat covered her head. Cloud blinked again absorbing the splendor of the lady before him but then pain occurred in his chest. He cringed in pain as he grabbed his chest. He covered half of his face with his hand, taking the pain. The woman stepped closer.

"Hello, Hello?"

Cloud opened an eye. She went nearer to the mysterious man, her heart beating erratically.

"You alright?" Her furred eyebrows showed a little concern.

"Yeah…" The pain stopped as he takes slow but big breaths.

"You startled me…" Her voice was now cool without any signs of fear. Cloud looked at the woman and froze. There she was sitting by him showing one of the smiles he can never forget. Then all came back to him and he suddenly took her shoulders.

"Aerith… Is that you?"

The woman's eyes opened wide in alarm. The startled look on her face was all the answer he can get. Cloud's face was downcast as he lowered his hands. "I'm sorry… I mistook you for someone…"

Cloud stood up and sat at a broken pillar, staring at the shimmering water. Aria tilted her head to the side.

"A friend?" she asked, curiously.

"Someone…" The sun was still shining outside and the birds sang their song above them. "Very important…" His words were full of sadness and guilt.

"A girl… friend?"

Cloud didn't reply. Aria faced the heavens as she slowly closed her eyes. "She must be very lucky…" Cloud stared at her with a confused look. The gentle wind blew upon her; a few stray locks that swayed with the breeze ran across her eyelids. She then opened her eyes and beamed at him. "To have someone like you. Someone that remembers and never forgets…"

Cloud was mesmerized by the strange glowing aura that surrounded the girl. Aria stood up and stretched her arms. Cloud returned to reality as he noticed that the lady had already stood up. Cloud's eyes followed her every move. No, it can't be her. There is something… different.

"We'll, I'll be going now." Aria started to walk towards the door. Cloud opened his mouth to speak when Aria turned back. She smiled at him. "My name's Aria by the way… Goodbye, stranger!"

Cloud's eyes followed her to the door. When she was nowhere from view he returned his gaze to the pool. Then he heard another set of footsteps. Cloud looked up to see Aria panting. Aria straightened up and she wiped her sweat.

"Say, do you know by any chance where the Seventh Heaven is?" Cloud's eyes widened. He stood up and he placed his buster sword at his back. He walked past Aria without saying a word. Aria pouted in disappointment. Cloud gazed at his side.

"I'll take you there…"

Aria's eyes widened in delight and she grinned. She then ran towards Cloud and she walked by his side. They stepped out of the church and Cloud hopped on to Fenrir. Aria's eyes widened out of curiosity. Cloud looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Something wrong?"

"I… I have never seen something like this." Aria touched the side of Fenrir. "It has a big engine. Must run really fast. And the tires must really work for the tough terrains. The exhaust pipes are large enough for it. Smoke pollutes you know. So you must have an environment friendly gasoline." Cloud stared at her in disbelief. Aria just smiled at him and she sat at the back of Fenrir.

"Why?" Aria stared at his back.

"Why do you trust someone so quickly? We've only met for a few minutes and you act as if we've known each other for several years."

Aria's eyes brightly shone. "Then why did you bring me along? One might not know that I'm a serial killer eyeing you as her prey?"

Cloud was dumbstruck but after blinking a few times he covered his mouth to keep him from grinning. Aria giggled and Cloud laughed along. After a few minutes of snickering, she touched Cloud's back.

"Lets go!"

Cloud's smile disappeared as he started the engine. Then they were passing through Midgar towards the Seventh Heaven.


"Another one for all times sake!" A beer slid through the table and a gloved hand caught it. Cid Highwind grinned at Tifa and drank the contents of the glass.

"Damn, Cid! All you drink is for all time's sake. Put a sock in it and drink already!" Barret also raised a glass and Tifa refilled it. Vincent was sitting at the far end silently watching the others. Yuffie gazed over at Vincent and sighed dreamily. Vincent noticed her and gazed at the side.

"When can I ever see Vincent's materia?" Yuffie sighed again.

Cait Sith and Red XIII were sitting on the floor. Marlene sat at Barret's lap while Denzel helped Tifa give out the drinks. Then the door of the Seventh Heaven opened. Cloud appeared holding the door's knob. Marlene beamed and she excitedly ran to the door. Cloud let go off the knob and stepped aside. Marlene slowed to a stop. A heavenly figure walked inside the Seventh Heaven. Everyone looked up and gaped. The woman smiled to them all.

"Sister!"

Marlene ran to the woman and she held her tight. The lady's eyes widened but she finally closed them hugging Marlene back.

Aerith… Tifa couldn't believe at what she saw. She looked over to Cloud. Who was still at the door with his face downcast.

"Aerith!" Yuffie stood up and embraced the girl. "I thought… I thought you…" Tears fell down her eyes. The woman's face was confused of all the strange people suddenly being emotional towards her. Barret and Cid were still gaping at her while Vincent still sat but he was eyeing her. Cait Sith jumped in joy and Red XIII smiled at her.

"She's not Aerith." Everyone stared at Cloud as he walked in. He walked past the woman and took a seat near the bar.

"What do you mean?! Don't you feel happy that she's returned?" Yuffie said through the tears in her eyes. Tifa looked at Cloud, concerned. Barret and Cid stopped drinking and they too glanced at Cloud.

The beautiful lady smiled. "He's right." Everyone now paid attention to the woman. "My name's Aria… Not Aerith."

"But… You look like Aerith, you sound like her. Have the same hairstyle as hers. How could you say that you're not Aerith? Maybe you have lost your memory during…" Yuffie cried again hugging Aria closer.

Tifa bit her lip. "Aria, is it? Where do you live?"

"At the far end of the Sleeping Forest near the Forgotten City."

"You're here now… So what did you want?" Cloud said without looking at her.

Aria took the cellphone from her backpack. She held it close to her heart. "First of all, I came here to look for someone named, Cloud. Does anyone of you know him?"

Everyone's eyes went to the blond spikey haired man. Cloud's eyes widened. "What do you want from him?" he said, slowly.

"Well, I just wanted to return this cellphone that fell in one of the ponds surrounding the Forgotten City. I was walking around when it caught my eye. So I took it and I came here." She explained.

"Quite the technician there, kiddo. Why don't you come round my house and…" Cid stopped talking when Cloud stood up.

"I'm Cloud…" He walked towards Aria. She stared at his cold steely blue eyes with her bright lively emerald eyes. Cloud looked at her face to face. The pain returned again. Aria presented the cellphone to Cloud. He took the cellphone, quickly. Aria smiled at Cloud and opened her mouth to speak. "Now that you've returned it… you can go."

Yuffie gasped. Cloud turned his back on Aria and he returned to the bar table. Cid and Barret gaped at Cloud. Vincent was as silent as before.

"But… but…" Cait Sith protested.

"You can go." Cloud's voice was unfeeling and cold. Aria's face downcast. When Tifa was about to speak Aria lifted her face and widely smiled.

"All right. Well, it was nice meeting all of you!" Aria turned her back and started walking towards the door. Marlene and Yuffie both whispered a word of protest. Cloud gazed at his side, his eyes showing a little grief. The door slowly closed. The Seventh Heaven was silent. Cid and Barret didn't drink anything. Vincent looked at Cloud. Cait Sith, Red XIII, Marlene and Yuffie stared at the door. Tifa bit her lip and her eyebrows crossed. She forcefully lowered the bottles of beer that she was holding.

"What was that all about?" Cloud didn't say anything. "Sure it wasn't Aerith but at least you could say something nice to her. But you made her leave just like that! What's your problem?"

"…It doesn't matter." Cloud stood up and he went upstairs slowly closing the door.

Marlene still stood there watching the door. Barret placed a hand over her shoulder.

"Wasn't that, my sister?"

Barret furrowed his eyebrows and slowly shook his head. Marlene ran to the door and she opened it. Aria was nowhere in sight. Then little droplets of tears flowed down her face. "I didn't even had the chance to say goodbye…"


Cloud gazed down from the window above. There was a gentle knock on Cloud's door.

"It's me, Tifa."

Tifa opened the door and walked in his room. Cloud was still looking outside the window. Tifa sat at his bed.

"At first, I thought it was her…" Tifa stared at Cloud's back. His arms were crossed in front of him. Tifa sensed confusion around him. "But… there was something different about her that I just couldn't see."

Tifa opened her mouth to speak but Cloud walked past her. Her eye's followed him out the door. Then he slowly closed the door. Tifa curled her hand into a fist. "Why? After all these years… It's as if, he's not even here."

Cloud hopped on Fenrir and he started the engine. When he was about to move a small weight jumped on Fenrir's back. Cloud looked back and he saw Marlene smiling up to him. He averted his gaze to the front as he turned off the engine.

"Come on, Cloud! Let's go to big sister!" Her voice was full on energy. Cloud took Marlene by the waist and he set her on the ground. Marlene crossed her eyebrows as she took off her helmet. "But I want to go too!"

"Listen, Marlene… I am not going to Aria." He lied. Marlene angrily ran back to the Seventh Heaven. Cloud breathed hard and he put on his goggles. He turned on the engine and Fenrir ran leaving off pitch-black smoke. Tifa watched Cloud disappearing in a corner.

"Do you believe him?" Tifa gazed at her side. The red caped man moved forward. "Of course I do!"

"She really does look like her." Tifa furrowed her eyebrows. Vincent took his place by her side. He touched her shoulder. Tifa flinched. "Tifa, are you alright?"

Tifa ran out of the room. A couple of tears fell from her face.