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Chapter 9 - Reunion of Love
Song (1): Kita no Dakiuudu from the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Original Soundtrack
Song (2): ---Exclusive Track--- FinalFantasy9MelodiesoflifeArrOCRemix (found at ocremix dot org)
...7th Heaven...
The shear shock of Aeris standing before the group faded after two hours of silence and stand-still. They quickly turned to the more serious situation at hand...the return of Sephiroth. No one knew why these two came to be once more, and no one would question it out of fear of jinxing the event's outcome. The crowd sat around Aeris in the front of the bar as she helped to make sense of what has happened. (1.)
"You said Vincent was attacked, Cid?" Aeris asked Cid.
"That's what he told me." he responded. "I still think it was Sephiroth's ass who did that shit to him!"
"Perhaps." Nanaki interrupted. "But if it was Sephiroth, he would have already come here as I'm sure he knows where to find us."
"Maybe he's plottin' sumthin." Barret stated. "I 'on't think he came back to life just to kill us. Sephiroth's deeper than that."
"His plan to conquer this world still hasn't been completely played out." Reeve said. "We cut him short when Aeris destroyed Meteor. Do you think he might try an' call it back."
"Not possible." Yuffie explained. "I was taught in Materia Hunting 101 that when a spell, moreso an Esper, has been destroyed by the planet it can't be used anymore unless the spell itself is strong enough to live through an attack by the planet, and not even a mastered Esper can live through harsh judgement from the planet."
"She's right." Aeris added. "When we killed Meteor, that was it's end. Sephiroth can't use the Black Materia anymore because the spell was nullified."
"What if he's found another way to become a part of the lifestream." Cloud stated. "He won't give up after losing that, though it was a good and quick way to harm the planet. Maybe he's found something stronger than the Black Materia."
"There's nothing that's stronger than the Black Materia was. It was created for the sole purpose of death. It was also the strongest spell the Cetra could build by using the planet, making it with no equal."
"Hey." Denzel butted in. "Um, not to be rude, but do you think it's smart to sit here and think about why he's back instead of going out and trying to stop him? I mean, he did kinda knock off Costa De Sol today. Just in case you forgot."
Denzel made a valid point. They all knew Sephiroth was never one to hesitate as far as his plans were concerned. It would be foolish to wait for him to strike again. Cloud stood from his seat and move to stand beside Aeris, throwing Tifa's mind into a sudden frenzy. Although, Aeris didn't seem to pick up on it as quickly as her brother, Damian, did. He glanced at her out the corner of his eye.
"Denzel's right." Cloud started. "If we wait for Sephiroth to show up again, we could make a severe mistake. It would be best if we searched for him. We could at least find out how and why he's come back." Everyone agreed with him. "Alright. Then it's settled. Team Avalanche is back in business!" Everyone but Damian and Aeris joined in a unison shout of "HAH!!!". (1 off.)
That night, Cloud couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about Sephiroth. About Aeris. He laid awake in his dark but somewhat welcoming room.
"How could they be here..." He said to himself. "If I saw both of them die? How..." Before he could finish his thought, Cloud heard a knock on his door. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Cloud." It was Aeris. Cloud quickly rose to his feet to open the door. Sure enough, she was standing in the doorway, as beautiful as she had always been to him, wearing a silk nightgown with her hair flowing freely down her back. She smiled. "How are you doing with all of this?" Cloud recomposed himself as the two of them went to sit at the foot of the bed.
"I'm still in shock, I guess. I haven't been to sleep yet. I just can't close my eyes knowing he's out there somewhere."
"That's always been your downfall, Cloud." (2.) Aeris held Cloud's chilled hand in both of hers. "Don't worry too much. After all, you're still our leader."
"I know, Aeris. It's just that..." Cloud face drew blankly toward his feet.
"Just what?"
"I...missed you."
"I've always been here. You know that."
"Yeah, I do. But what's happening now means much more to me than you'll ever know." Cloud lifted his free hand to hold Aeris's. "You're here with me and that's all I could ask for. I don't need to know how you got here. I'm happy knowing that you're here and I can hold you." Aeris held back a small tear.
"I understand." she said. "And not even I know how I got here. I can't remember for the life of me." Then, Cloud's face filled with confusion.
"Aeris." he said to her. "What did you send your brother to me for? He said something about you sending him here."
"I did send him to you. I actually wanted you to look after him as I was scheduled to be away from the Astral Plane for a while. I needed you to keep Damian company. I see that Cid's having a great time with him. They've become friends very quickly."
"Yeah. After what happened to Vincent, I didn't think Cid would even come out of his room, much less talk to anyone." Cloud gave Aeris a small grin. "But then again, we're talking about a Gainsborough." Aeris gave a tiny chuckle, careful no to be too loud as the others were asleep. Then, her face became laced with emotion.
"Cloud." she said. "Can I be honest with you?"
"Of course, Aeris. Tell anything."
"...I missed this. Being able to laugh with all of you was a joy that nothing or no one could ever replace in my heart. Now I have that privilege again and everytime I think about it, I want to cry. I just can't believe that I'm here sitting with you and you can hear me. Feel me. Touch me." With these words, Cloud and Aeris wrapped themselves in a passionate kiss. Before, in Cloud's mind, he felt that there were no way he would ever have this chance again. Perhaps love had been on his that night, for his love had returned to him just as she was when she left him almost three years ago. The kiss seemed to last forever when the couple separated from each other. Cloud looked into Aeris's heavenly green eyes.
"Aeris?"
"Yes, Cloud?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
They each other with loving arms and slept through the night together.
If this is a dream, Cloud thought. I never want to wake. Let me die here if that's what it takes to stay with you.
