Act II: Blooming Flowers. Scene II

Aerith sat on a stool in the kitchen and recalled the conversation she had with Genesis. She bit her lower lip lightly. It had been five hours since their awkward conversation. Maybe she should go up and apologise.

Sunlight poured through the curtains as she made her way up the stairs. Aerith stood opposite her room and knocked on the door. She joined her hands in patience but there was no answer like last time.

"Genesis, I know you're angry on me for being nosy but I was just curious. I'm sorry," she spoke. She leaned against the door and listened for any sounds of movement.

There were none.

"I promise to mind my own business next time. Really, I will, only, don't be mad at me. Pretty please?" Aerith asked meekly. She was losing her patience and pushed the door open.

To her surprise, Genesis wasn't in the room. The window was open. The curtains were blowing frantically, scattering pages of her diaries around the room. The bed sheets were thrown on the ground.

Aerith walked towards the window. Her heart was heavy as she glanced at the forlorn view outside.

Genesis had left her without an explanation. She was alone again, the only freak living in Midgar.

Aerith placed one hand over her eyes and whimpered. She had thought that keeping a Soldier would reignite the feelings she had felt when Zack was around but Genesis was not like Zack.

Genesis was cruel, arrogant. He was no less than a monster.

Aerith kneeled to the floor, her hands clung the fabric on her thighs. It was never in her heart to hate anyone. The second man that had fallen through the church's roof had already found a spot in her soul.

For all that was worth, she had already forgiven him.

Genesis roamed the skies of Midgar for nearly two weeks. He observed people's daily lives and wondered how they lived without worrying too much about life's trivialities.

He held a scrumptious White Banora apple in one hand and settled on a high building. He recalled the time his mother went on a picnic with him back in Banora. She had a basket full of the apples he loved.

She was caring, always encouraging him to follow his dreams. She knew that him joining Soldier would mean that their time together is over but she didn't protest.

Genesis took a bite off the apple, the succulent juice dripped down his chin. Aerith reminded him of his mother. He never met a girl quite like her before.

Ofcourse, there were women in the past that he courted but none impressed him more than the woman in pink. Aerith was a Seraph, a divine creature on this Planet.

She was unafraid to speak what was on her mind and that trait terrified Genesis. He was scared that she would think him weak and a failure when she found out the truth about his injuries.

During the time that elapsed after his departure, Genesis had shamefully watched her actions in the city. He took in the way she enticed people into buying her flowers. He loved the way she talked to them, the way she laughed when men ludicrously joked with her, the way she shook droplets off her braid whenever it rained.

Genesis became obsessed with her every movement but he didn't dare to encounter her again. Instead, he watched over her like a guardian angel when he was tired of searching for Jenova cells.

was the only one in the lab who realised the Soldier's unusual behaviour.

"It's the first time I've seen you so content. What is there to be so happy about?" Hollander asked him one day. Genesis never replied. How could he explain that he had been enchanted by a beautiful Maiden, a graceful Nymph with the purest of hearts?

Genesis shook the thought aside. A monster like him didn't deserve Aerith and she didn't deserve a monster.

He saw her now, skipping through the allies in Midgar, swinging her basket back and forward. Her carefree behaviour caused a smile to spread across Genesis' face.

She resumed walking then came to a halt and cautiously surveyed the area around her. Genesis threw his apple behind him and squinted down at the ally as the rays of sunset obscured his vision.

"Not now..."he whispered as he lifted a hand to shield his face from the light. There came a bang from the street beneath him followed by a muffled scream.

"Let me go!"Aerith suddenly screamed. Genesis hesitated and watched a long-haired man shove Aerith towards the wall. The intruder attempted to kiss her, holding her cheeks between his fingers with one hand to make her mouth pout at him.

Aerith managed to slip away after kicking him low somewhere, Genesis didn't see exactly where. He curled his hand into a fist and pondered whether to interfere or not. If he saves her then he'd find it hard to run away from her divine charm this time.

"Vera, please! Stop..." Aerith sobbed. The wretched man-Vera- paid no attention and tore her jacket off. He received a slap from the woman which caused him to act with more efficiency.

Vera cornered Aerith against the wall once more and slipped a finger under one of the straps on her dress. Genesis knitted his eyebrows together, his wing heaved forward as he took flight down towards them.

"Let's see what you're made of," he heard Vera chortle as the lascivious man ripped Aerith's strap. She gasped in shock and held the torn area of her dress to prevent it from falling. Genesis landed on the concrete ground.

He didn't give Vera a chance to look around and grinded a fist into the skater's back. The Soldier gritted his teeth in fury. One hit didn't satisfy his desire to rip Aerith's tormenter into pieces. Vera groaned and knelt to the floor, giving Aerith enough time to get behind Genesis. She eyed him with genuine surprise.

"You have a boyfriend?" Vera chuckled but his smile faded from his face when he faced Genesis. Vera guffawed at Genesis' hideous wing and piercing blue eyes.

"A-a SOLDIER?" he whimpered. Genesis gave him a nefarious smirk and delivered a devastating blow across Vera's jaw, breaking the bone.

Vera screamed in agony. Aerith's hand flew to her mouth while the other remained holding the receding part of her dress. She still managed to look like a modest Seraph in this situation.

Genesis clutched Vera's arm and twisted it until he heard the joints dislocate. The injured man's shrieks were dimmed in his mind. He couldn't hear them properly. The only thought that crossed his mind was to avenge Aerith. This man toiled with her dignity. He had to pay for it.

The raged Soldier grabbed the sides of Vera's head, ignoring the pleas escaping from the skater, and smashed him against the wall – Once, twice and a third time. Vera dropped to the floor, motionless.

Genesis slowly turned towards Aerith. He recognised dewdrops forming in her eyes. She was afraid of him? Did she condemn his actions? He extended a hand to touch her face. She backed away swiftly, her tears hidden in the darkness.

"Aerith..."

Genesis removed his red jacket and placed it over Aerith's shoulders. She let out a sob and remained staring at the floor. The Soldier turned towards the wall again.

"I'm sorry that I killed him. He shouldn't have done that with you. It was wrong and it just got me so...Angry. You should get home to Elymra."

He sensed the friction of discomfort between them. Aerith made no movements. Maybe she left him quietly?

"Goodbye Aerith..."

Small arms suddenly shifted underneath his and settled around his strong torso. Genesis raised his eyebrow and gazed over his shoulder at Aerith who had her face buried on the back of his leather shirt.

"Please don't go...If you ever wondered why I helped you and took you to my house, it's because...Because..." Aerith swallowed and held onto Genesis tighter.

"It's because I'm a very lonely person. I just wanted some company-I needed a friend. Please...Don't leave me again, Genesis...I need you. I need a friend."

Genesis digested this information as Aerith wept behind him. Obviously he couldn't stay with this woman just so he could be her friend. He had a mission to fulfil. He needed Jenova cells. He needed to stay alive.

Aerith could never provide him that security. However, he needed her beside him. He wanted to spend time with her. He wanted her.

Genesis shifted to look at her. She avoided looking directly into his eyes. She seemed so vulnerable, a woman stained with her own insecurities. He could easily take advantage of that.

Aerith yelped when he embraced her.

"To tell the truth, I was in need of a friend also. Thank you Aerith," he whispered.

Yes, thank you for everything, for saving me, for believing in a monster, for existing.

Darkness closed in on the lonely woman, the selfish monster and a wasting corpse.