*Just a friendly disclaimer. I don't own right to Final Fantasy VII Compilation. Final Fantasy VII Compilation and the characters herein is/are the property of Square Enix Co., Ltd, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

CHAPTER 8: CONNECTIONS

They walked back the same way that they had come to her house; passing the church as they made their way to the train station.

"What makes the Church so special to you?"

Aerith was taken aback by his sudden words, although they were soft and gentle, but they hadn't spoken since they had left the house. "Oh..." she said slowing her pace to walk beside him. "Well, it's a place where I feel truly connected to the Holy for one." She told him holding her hands folded together in front of her. "Second: for some reason the flowers seem to love it there. I've tried growing them other places but the Church seems to flourish. I think mainly, though, it's just a place where I can be alone, where only the Holy can hear me."

He nodded once and looked over at the building as they walked by it. "I see." He paused a moment she thought they were going to fall back into silence again but he spoke up again. "Do you have very many visitors while you're there? Any passerby's wanting to say a prayer perhaps?" She tilted her head at him curious why he would be asking such questions. "I ask because you seemed startled to see me when I came in earlier."

"Oh!" she laughed; he saw her cheeks flushing just barely in the moonlight. "I was startled; mostly because I could easily tell you weren't from the slums... No, I normally don't see too many people. Although there are a few every now and again who want to come see the flowers and maybe say a prayer as well. But mostly anyone who lives around here knows about the flowers and have seen them already. I think people come by when they're feeling upset about things; seeing the flowers make them feel better." She said now walking with her hands clasped behind her as she walked.

"I see." He said again. "What gave it away that I'm not from around here?" he asked her almost playfully.

He certainly isn't acting how I would have imagined from what Zack always told me… "Well… most people from the slums always carry giant swords around with them." She said sarcastically. A faint smile crossed his face, as he looked down at the hilt of his sword; again he rested his left hand on it, almost caressing it like a man would a woman. "Plus your clothes aren't something we can exactly afford down here in the slums…" Now he frowned. He hadn't meant to point out the poverty around them. She slowed her pace, unclasping her hands bringing them to her sides. "And your eyes mostly… well they were what I noticed first…" She stopped and looked up at his face. He stopped as well, looking down at her with his glowing eyes. Small world Flower Girl. She slowly lifted her hand up to his face, she heard him suck in a sharp breath as her hand approached him. He didn't draw away though, so she continued, she pushed his bangs from his face; fully revealing his eyes. He held his breath as she sweetly caressed his cheekbone, looking deeply into his eyes. "They're mako eyes… like Zack's. But yours are… somewhat different…" she said absent-mindedly tilting her head as she studied his eyes. He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as he did so. Commanding himself to breath normally, he allowed her floral scent fill his head, her touch spreading warmth across his skin all over again. She caressed his face once more; her thumb tenderly running over his thick eyelashes.

"I am much different than Zack, Little One." He said flashing open his eyes, making her draw her hand back. "They are mako infused though, on that part you're correct; however mine… from a somewhat different process I believe." She nodded as if understanding and blushingly looked down at her feet. "I'm not the only one who is different though…" he said gently raising her face up to look at him.

He caressed her face the same way she had done his. "Your eyes have a soft glow, not quite like soldier infused mako eyes… but still…" he ran his thumb over her eyelashes like she had done him; warmth moving all over his body as he felt how soft and plump her lashes were beneath his gloved hand. "Somehow you have mako in you… yet not a high dosage like Shinra soldiers… I do not know how nor do I understand why but you are somewhat like myself… you are quite different than most people, Little One. You have secrets that must remain hidden from the world." She allowed his gloved hand to caresses her face; although the fact he already was so adept in noticing her connection to mako caused a fury of worry in her. She didn't feel threatened by him; no she felt quite the opposite as his fingers ran over her lips and down the hollow of her neck: she felt safe for the first time in her life.

She slowly willed her eyes open, her lashes fluttering as she tried to focus on the man in front of her. "I will not pry, everyone has their secrets. I know you're hiding something about yourself though, Aerith. I know you have people watching you." Her eyes grew wide, How can he know!? He smiled gently brushing her bangs back from her pale face. "I am accomplished in seeing what the untrained eye cannot see; it's my job as General to pay very close attention to my surroundings and my companions."

He slid his hand down her back and pulled her closer to him; his hand resting on the small of her back keeping her close. He leaned down to her ear and barely above a whisper he said "I will keep you safe, if you will let me. Zack told me you were different, but I don't think he saw it fully, like I do. You and I are very similar Aerith. I do not know how or why, but I know you feel it as well." he said his lips barely brushing her ear, sending chills over her entire body. "Perhaps in time you will tell me more about yourself… why your eyes faintly glow, not so much different than my own… But I will not force you. You can let me help you… or you can go on alone again…" his words lingered as he pulled away to face her square in the face. "And trust me Little One, being alone… is something no one should go through…" he took a step back from her, his entire body radiating heat from the closeness of her body. He took a deep breath; her eyes intently watching him as he stood there, searching for an answer to his actions.

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She drew her hands up to her chest, and clasped them together, and tried again. "Beside Zack and my mother… I've felt so alone my entire life… not for lack of friends… but a feeling of true solidarity; that no one could understand me… no one has ever seen me how you have…How did you know?"

He stood there gazing down at her. There was so much he wanted to tell her… so much he felt that she would understand more than most… He never had been one to share his feelings with others, but he felt like she would understand, from experience, not just empathy.

"Such things I will tell you in time, if you allow me... Honestly, I myself am tired of being alone…" he continued in the silence that hovered between them. He looked down at his gloved hands, his palms open and facing up toward the moon and squeezed them tightly. "Everyone I've ever felt a connection to has fell through my grasp and left me… I do not wish to let the same happen to you… even before we get to know one another… Please, Flower Girl," he whispered gazing into her eyes again. " I'm tired of this solitary life. I need one friend in this world…"