Chapter 7 - Communicable

The trip had turned dull almost as soon as Zack, Aerith, and Elmyra left. Not only did Tifa seem incapable of spending money on herself but she scolded Yuffie as soon as the ninja princess suggested a universal discount.

Then Reeve showed up and everyone started talking about boring things like sewage treatment and grid systems. Worse, it looked like they'd keep talking about it all the way back to Midgar. Death by boredom or death by motion sickness. Yuffie decided on neither.

"Hey, I'm going to make my own way back to Edge."

Tifa stopped trying to make sense of the graph Reeve had shown her to look down at Yuffie. "Are you sure? It's a long walk."

Yuffie waved off her concern. "I traveled way farther by myself as a kid. Besides, it's better than leaving a trail of puke behind that mobile smoke stack. Might even find some materia on the way."

"Well, all right. When are you leaving?"

"Now. Want to get a bit of a head start and there isn't anything to do around here."

Tifa knew Yuffie meant 'you won't let me do anything fun,' but didn't say anything except to wish her safe passage. Reeve wished her well, too, before returning to his conversation with Tifa.

"We'll need to test the new sewage treatment system first, of course. I'm going to talk to the city council tomorrow about redirecting runoff away from Lower Junon..."

Freedom! Yuffie couldn't care less where water came from or where it went. She had a goal and a plan and that was all that mattered.

First step, some 'free' supplies and a map.

*7*7*

When Aerith woke in Costa Del Sol she noticed two things. First, that it was far too early to wake up. Second, that someone was out on the veranda. It couldn't be Elmyra, she was in the bed next to her. Careful not to wake her mom, Aerith tip-toed to the glass door and looked out.

"Zack?"

The man in question looked over his shoulder from where he stood leaning against the railing. "Hey. Did I wake you? Sorry 'bout that."

"That's fine, but what are you doing up at two in the morning?"

"Couldn't sleep." Zack turned back to the view. Somewhere beyond the overgrown bushes and stiff grass lay a small beach and the rhythmic sound of waves on sand. "I've been here on vacation a few times, though it always ended up as a monster hunt."

Aerith giggled and hugged his arm. "You'd get bored with a normal vacation, anyway."

He breathed out a laugh. "Yeah. Probably."

Aerith snuggled in, enjoying Zack's warmth and the cool breeze. But she still wanted an answer to her question.

"Nightmare?"

Zack didn't answer right away. "Yeah."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Hmm." Aerith turned her attention to the scenery around them, at least what she could see of it. She was fairly certain Zack could see a lot more, which was comforting and irritating at the same time. It also gave her an idea. "Let's go for a walk."

He looked down at her, glowing blue eyes wide. "Now?"

She tried to pull him toward the stairs down to the sandy path. "Sure! Why not?"

"Well, we aren't exactly... dressed."

Aerith laughed. "Your boxers don't show anything I haven't seen before and my nightgown covers a lot more than the bathing suit you were ogling earlier."

"Hey! I was ogling you, not the bathing suit. Wait... That's not... ARGH! Can't I win just once?"

"You're a man, so no." Aerith smiled as Zack finally followed her lead. There were a few sharp rocks and prickly plants stabbing at her bare feet, but she ignored them.

Zack, however, did not. In a single movement he scooped Aerith, squealing, into his arms and started off at an easy lope. He didn't even think he was going all that fast until Aerith tugged at his hair.

"I said 'walk,' not 'race!'"

"Oops!" He laughed as he slowed to a walk. "Guess I was feeling a little cooped up."

There wasn't anything she could really say to that, so she just rested against his chest and listened to his heartbeat until they reached the beach. The moon illuminated everything in shades of blue. The ocean sang with life. Aerith jumped out of Zack's arms and danced across the sand, twirling on her toes with arms out to feel the sea breeze.

Zack watched her for a long time, incapable of doing anything except grin like a loon. Then Aerith bent over to pick something up off the beach, the collar of her nightgown not quite at the right angle for him to get a good view, and...

Smack!

He had to wipe seaweed out of his face.

"Hey!" He jumped after her, not really serious about catching her.

Which allowed her to duck out of the way and run down the beach.

Zack ran after her silhouette and crystal clear laughter. A couple laps around the beach later Zack decided to actually grab her, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning.

She shrieked, of course, so Zack fell onto his back, loosening his grip just enough so Aerith could turn around if she wanted. Apparently, she did. Her arms lay loose around his shoulders and her ear rested just over his heart.

They lay there unmoving until after Aerith's breathing returned to normal.

"It was about that time."

"Hmm?" Aerith shifted as if she'd been almost asleep. "What?"

"The nightmare. I was in the labs but I wasn't me. I was Cloud."

"You both went through a lot."

"Yeah. It's just... It's been over a year since we escaped. No one's chasing us now. It's over."

Aerith thought for a moment. "I was seven when my birth mother died and Elmyra adopted me. I don't remember much before that, but sometimes I dream of grey rooms and green lights and voices begging and screaming."

"Sorry." Zack's arms tightened around her. "Guess four years isn't much in comparison."

Aerith shook her head against his chest. "That's not my point. I didn't understand what was happening, you did, more or less. And you and Cloud had to endure a lot more than I did. There are some things you just never get over. That isn't something to be ashamed of."

Zack snorted. "You're the best, Aerith."

"I try."

She woke up to sunlight shining through the window of her room. The only evidence of her early morning adventure was the sand rubbing off her feet onto the sheets.

*7*7*

All the evidence was there. Zack hadn't said anything on the phone, but the implication had probably occurred to him, too. He'd also probably dismissed it right away, Kunsel only wished he could do the same.

Geostigma was a disease transmitted through the Lifestream. Not just people, the planet itself was sick. That alone pointed in a clear direction. Added to what Ifalna said in the video reports there could be only one conclusion. As much as Kunsel had tried to find another.

Jenova. Somehow, Jenova had survived and spread. If that was true, then Sephiroth had probably survived as well. This plague was most likely either his idea or born from a combination of his will and Jenova's instinct. Either way would end the same if past experience was anything to go by.

Kunsel took out his phone for perhaps the third time that day. Would warning Cloud do any good? What could Cloud possibly do to prepare? Not get sick? Even if he stayed cheerful and out of danger it might not be enough with all the Jenova cells already in him.

Not to mention that it assumed Sephiroth had such a straight forward revenge in mind. He could try infecting those Cloud cared about, or maybe he was using Geostigma to breed new Jenova cells to build a body so he could fight Cloud directly. Or he could try mind control again. Kunsel almost preferred that idea since at least Cloud could do something to prevent it.

There were too many unknowns. Warning anyone would only cause worry and panic over things they couldn't control. So, for the third time that day, Kunsel put his phone back in his pocket.


If you think about it, Geostigma being connected to Jenova seems rather obvious. Then again, who would want to think about that with the implications?

As for Zack, PTSD is the pits. Good thing he has Aerith around and has such a naturally upbeat personality.