Howl at the Midgar Moon
Chapter 10
AN- Holy crap that last chapter was quite a doozy huh? This one should be good, but not like the last :P
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Vincent kicked the wooden door open with his iron covered foot. "Put Cloud on the couch. I'll take the girl up stairs." Vincent said as he carried the bloody girl up the stairs. He had wrapped his cape around the girl to keep her warm as she bleed. He laid the girl down on the bed in the room upstairs. "Yuffie! Grab me warm water and a rag! Also grab me some bandages." Vincent said as he removed the women coat as carefully as he could. He quickly tore her shirt enough for him to see the wound.
"Zack…you're lucky you moved as fast as you did… she would have been dead if you didn't sense Sephiroth." Vincent said as he looked at the wound. She had a deep wound just below her collarbone and a few inches above her heart. If Zack hadn't moved as quickly as he did Sephiroth's blade would have tore through her heart, killing her instantly.
Yuffie ran into the room with a small bowl in one arm and a bunch of bandages. She didn't speak a word; she knew the severity of the situation. Vincent grabbed the warm, soaked cloth and began to clean Aerith's wounds. The girl did not stir; she had been in and out of consciousness as they flew to Midgar. Vincent opened his palm as his hand began to glow a white light. Vincent watched as the wound reduced in size. It was the best a cure materia could do, no materia could fully heal any wound. It only helped the healing process and made the pain bearable. Vincent then reached into his pouch on his side and brought out a small bottle glowing with a bright blue liquid. He slowly picked the women's head up and began to pour the liquid down the girl's throat. Vincent then wrapped her shoulder in the bandages. Her blood began to soak the bandages, but Vincent knew she was going to be okay. "Yuffie, I need you to stay up here with her for me. Please give her a potion every twenty minutes." Vincent said as he stood and walked towards the door. Yuffie nodded as she walked over to a chair near the bed and sat down.
Vincent hurried down the stairs as he heard panic setting in below. "Sir! Help! I think he stopped breathing!" Tifa said with tears in her eyes. Vincent walked past the women and walked straight for the couch. He put his ear close to Cloud's mouth. He could hear the man's faint breaths. He pulled out a large feather from his pocket. "I need you to grind this up and mix it with a potion. The phoenix down can't bring someone back from the dead, but it will save someone who's close to it. You need to hurry!" Vincent said as he handed the feather to the women. She ran into the kitchen and began to grind up the feather. Moments later she brought back the potion mix and handed it to the man.
Vincent pulled off the blanket off of the near dead man and dumped the liquid onto the wound. The wound made a sizzling sound as smoke came from the wound. The deep stab wound began to seal. "He's not out of the dark yet. He has internal injuries, and the bleeding won't stop until he get's rest. If he moves he will tear open the wound again…I don't think a phoenix down will save him next time…they are very rare, we need to get more if we are going to combat Sephiroth." The man in red said as he stood up.
"Don't you have more?" Tifa asked.
"No…that was my only one." Vincent said as he walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Tifa said as she ran after the man.
"Someone has to get Zack…unless you forgot….that he took on Sephiroth alone so we could escape." Vincent said coldly. He truly respected Zack. He was brave, fearless and yet full of life. He would fight to his last breath if he needed to; there was a lot of honor in that. Vincent smiled as he looked out the open door. He had a friend, something he never had in his entire life.
"We need you here though…we don't know what we're doing…" Tifa said as she tugged on his arm. The man looked deep into her eyes. He could see a pain in them he could quite put his hand on it.
Vincent sighed. "Fine I will stay. You better hope Zack will be fine…his blood will be on your hands." Vincent said coldly as he walked into the house ignoring her hurt look.
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Zack walked out of the white forest, Blood dripping the entire way. Zack could feel his breathing getting heavier and heavier after each step. He pulled his hand away from his chest and looked down at his blood soaked glove. "Fuck…this isn't good. I can't die now…not yet…I need to see her first…make sure she's okay." Zack said as he walked into the bone village. The workers all starred at him as he walked through the site. Many weren't sure what to do, several wanted to help but were too afraid. The man was covered in blood and had a large sword. More than enough reason to make anyone nervous.
Zack walked straight through the dig site and walked toward the coast. His breathing began to hurt as he headed towards a small private dock. There was an elderly man putting his things in his boat. He was dressed in rubber overalls. He had a bucket of worms next to him. Zack sighed, he hated what he was going to have to do. "Sir…lease get off the boat…" Zack said as he pointed his sword towards the man's head.
The old man was taken back at the sight of the blades point. He looked at the man before him. His eyes seemed to be losing life with every blink. The man had pain and desperateness in his eyes. "Son…you look like you need a doctor. There's a doctor back at the…" The man was cut off.
"No doctor…I need…I need to get to Midgar." Zack said he moved his blade closer to the man.
The old man simply put his hand on the blade and pushed it away. "Get in. I'll take you there. You just use whatever items you have and rest." The man said kindly.
Zack let out a sigh, it didn't sound like a horrible idea. "Thank you." Zack said as he climbed into the boat. The old man smiled and started the engine and headed to south.
After two hours Zack could finally see Midgar in the horizon. Memories began to rush into is mind. He sat up in the boat and turned to the man. "Thank you so much for giving me a ride sir. It really means a lot."
"It's not a problem son. You look like you've been through a lot today."
"Hah…you have no idea. Thank you again. I can make it from here. I hope you get a big fish!" Zack said as he jumped into the water. The water around him quickly turned red.
"I can give you a ride a little further in if you'd like." The old man offered.
"Nah I got this." Zack said as began to swim away. The old man simply nodded and turned his boat around. Zack watched as the boat vanished into the distance. He turned and swam towards the shore. After a few feet Zack had begun to wish he had taken the old man up on his offer. The salt had burnt much more than he expected and each stroke hurt more than the one before it. Zack finally grabbed hold of land. He gasped as he plopped down on his chest. Blood began to pour and pool quickly below him. "Fuck…I need to move…I'm out of potions…I need to hurry or I'm done for." Zack said as he forced himself to stand up. He took a deep breath and walked over the hill, his feet continued to move on their own. He was running on empty, his only drive was to see Aerith. Even if it meant it would cost his life.
After walking for a half hour Zack had finally made it to Midgar. "Okay all I need to do is wait for one of those doors to open and I can slide in…hopefully unnoticed." Zack said as he walked up to one of the gates. Midgar had a great security system. Anyone coming in and out of the city needed a pass or a key card which would give them access. Zack looked up to the gray sky and sighed. 'Everything was a lot easier when I was in SOLDIER. I could go anywhere I wanted, and nobody questioned me. Nobody..." Zack said as he watched a young couple walk towards the gate. Zack smiled and sprinted after them as they walked through the gate.
Zack entered the city and quickly turned right avoid contact with the couple. He had to move fast before anyone would notice him. He did stick out like a sore thumb, he was dressed in a SOLDIER uniform and he was covered in his own blood. Zack hurried as he walked passed a familiar church. "Damn…it's good to be home." Zack said as he looked at the church with hopeful eyes. He hadn't been "Home" in over five years. He still could remember the day he left Aerith all alone.
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Zack grabbed Aerith's hand as they began to walk to their normal spot. Zack looked at the girl with sorrow in his eyes. He loved to look at the women, she was beautiful. Just looking at the women made him feel better.
"You're leaving again aren't you?" Aerith said unexpectedly.
She had sadness in her voice, it always felt like a knife in the heart. "Yeah…how'd yah know?"
"I can see it in your eyes silly. Those things tell me everything about you." Aerith said as she pulled the man's face close to hers. She gave him a soft kiss on his lips and sighed. "What am I going to do with you?"
Zack smiled. "How about another kiss?"
Aerith giggled and wacked him on the shoulder. "Somebody's getting greedy!" Aerith said as she walked away from the man. Her mood quickly changed as she sat on the nearby swing. She looked up at the man with tears in her eyes. "Where are you going this time?"
Zack walked up to the women and put his hands on her should as he knelt down in front of here. "You know I can't tell you."
Aerith sobbed a little bit and sniffled. "But you always tell me…"
"Crap…you're using that face! Not fair….I'll be in Nibleheim."
"Where's that?" Aerith asked curiously.
"It's out west, deep in the mountains. I'll take you there one day."
"You promise?"
"I promise." Zack said with a pause. "Hey when I get home...I have something for you…a little gift…but you have to answer a question correctly to get it! A little something for you to look forward to!" Zack said with a happy grin.
Aerith looked at the man and had a huge smile on her face. "You know I would have been looking forward to just you coming home…but now I get a present! What is it! Give me a hint!"
"Hehehehe! Let me think about that….um….no. You get no hint! You can just….suffer!" Zack said as he picked up the girl and spun her around. He placed her down in front of him softly. He kissed her suddenly catching her off guard. She like the surprise, she pulled him in close to her and kissed him deeply.
Aerith pulled away from the kiss just for an instant. "You come home soon…okay?"
Zack smiled. "As soon as I can…and you'll get your present." Zack said as he kissed the women once more.
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Zack refocused as a Shinra patrol squad walked passed him. He sprinted and jumped behind a large pile of rubble. He watched at the group of men walked to sector 4. Zack stood and looked down at the rubble. "Thank Gaia for the slums huh?...wait…this is a lot more rubble than what should be down here…" Zack said as he looked at his surroundings. Large piles of steel and debris were everywhere. Zack just shrugged it off as nothing and walked through the Sector 5 gate.
He walked through the gate and into the town center. Each sector had its own community. He picked up his pace as he got closer to Aerith's house. He could smell the flowers from the town center. Zack felt his heart beat slow. He had lost a lot of blood. He knew death was near. His arm had begun to go numb when he first entered Midgar. "Come on Zack! You can make it! You can smell the fuckin flowers…just a little further." Zack said as the house came into sight.
His knee gave way. Zack crumbled to the ground landing on his chest. Dust flew into the air as Zack starred at the dirt. "You're kidding me right…I'm here… come on!" Zack yelled. His scream was barely audible; his lungs were empty of air. With each breath he kicked up another dose of dirt into the air. "Calm yourself Zack…just focus your energy. You can do this." Zack said as pulled himself up to his knees.
Zack's barely beating heart stopped as he heard a familiar clicking behind him. "Put your hands behind your back…don't move." The patrol commander yelled.
"Sir he does fit the description of the wanted SOLDIER. This will be a great discovery! We will be rewarded handsomely. I'll call H.Q" One of the four men said.
"No…We will take him there ourselves. We don't want anyone else taking the credit now do we?" The commander said with a smile.
Zack forced himself to stand, he barely had the energy to breathe. He drew his sword, it felt heavy in his hands. He gave a grin at the four men. "I'm not going anywhere." Zack said in a shallow voice.
"He's wanted dead or alive boys…dead will be a lot easier to bring in. Open fire!" The commander said as he pointed at the man in front of them.
The men opened fire at Zack. Zack knew he was in trouble. These men were going to be a lot harder than he wanted. He charged the men. He gasped as he felt the hot steel enter his right shoulder. He grinded his teeth as he pulled his sword back with all his might. He was just a few feet away from the men as he felt two more hot pieces of steel enter his flesh. One went right into his stomach, the other in his bicep. He felt his left hand lose its grip on his blade. The bullet had made his arm useless. He pulled his sword down with ever last bit of energy he had when he felt another piece of his burning metal tear into his chest. This one went through his chest and tore through his lung. Zack collapsed in mid swing, his sword barely grazing the commander.
Zack fell to the ground lying lifeless. The four men grinned as the bent over to grab the man. The commander looked back at his men with a smile. His face quickly began white as blood began to pour form the man's throat. He looked at his men with panic.
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Vincent sat into the kitchen drinking a small cup of tea. Tea was one of few things he truly enjoyed. He sat at the table with Tifa. Tifa drank her tea with a shaky hand. "Calm yourself. Being a wreck will not help the situation. Take a few deep breaths." Vincent said as sipped his tea.
"I know…I'm just…nervous." Tifa said.
"You mean worried?" Vincent said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah…yeah that's what I meant."
Vincent studied the women. "No you didn't…you meant nervous. Explain." Vincent said as he placed his tea down.
Tifa looked around the room looking to see if anyone was around. The group had gone to sleep, most of them crashing where they last sat down. Barret had sat in an arm chair near Cloud. He was out faster than everyone else. Cid had fallen asleep leaning against the wall near the stairs. Red however was sleeping upstairs with Aerith, keeping her warm. Tifa let out a sigh. "Can you keep this between us?' Vincent could tell the women was carrying a heavy load. He nodded in agreement as he grabbed his tea.
Tifa felt tears in her eyes. "I knew Zack…from a long time ago."
"Continue." Vincent said as he sipped his tea.
"He came to my home town five years ago…almost six now I guess. And he and Cloud disappeared for a long time. Four years later I found Cloud at a train station. He was just laying there, his eyes were glazed over…and he had Zack's sword…and he smelled sour and salty." Tifa said wondering why the man smelled like that.
Vincent focused on the women and spoke. "Mako poisoning. Did he seem extremely out of it, almost as though he had no recollection of anything?"
"Yeah…he looked at me like I was a stranger and he never knew me. I asked him repeatedly what happened to Zack. But he claimed he never knew a Zack…but I know he did…he wrote me once telling me of his best friend Zack Fair. So I was a bit confused. I met Zack back in Nibleheim four years ago. I knew that sword the moment I saw it…it was Zacks." Tifa said.
"Then why are you nervous. You just know who Zack was…or is there more?" Vincent asked.
Tifa took a deep breath. "There is more. I…I knew he was alive…"
"Really…you knew and you didn't say anything to anyone?" Vincent asked.
"No."
"Why didn't you?" Vincent asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Cuz…cuz… I don't know." Tifa said.
"You better have a good reason. I know that girl must have been worried about Zack. He told me she was waiting for him…" Vincent said. "It would be cold to not let someone know the love of her life was alive."
Tifa looked at the man with a horrified look. She forgot in all the chaos what she said to Aerith…she told her that he was dead. "I don't want to break Cloud."
"What do you mean break Cloud?" Vincent said as he sat up straight. This conversation was beginning to get interesting.
"You see when Cloud finally snapped back into reality after finding him…he was acting differently." Tifa could see the man was listening intently. "He started to act like Zack…he believed he was Zack. His memories weren't his, I could tell."
"So he used Zack to fill in his gaps in his mind…" Vincent said as he stood up abruptly. He could felt a faint vibration outside the house.
Vincent knew it was somebody near the house. "Tifa. Wake the others. Protect the house." Vincent said as he sprinted out the door.
"Wait! Whats wrong!" Tifa yelled.
Vincent turned and sprinted down the pant next to the house. He could see five men in the distance. He watched as one of the men charged at the others. He could tell by just the way the man moved, he was injured, possibly fatally. It hit Vincent like a brick wall. "Zack!" The man yelled as he quickened his pace. He drew his gun as he watched the man fall from gun fire. He quickly fired several shots at the group of four men.
The commander stopped dead in his tracks as a bullet tore through his throat followed by several more to the chest. Each one of his men followed him to the grave in seconds as the felt the wrath of Vincent's gun. Vincent hurried to his fallen friend picking his still body in his arms and quickly ran back towards the house.
The man in red erupted through the doors and yelled. "Everyone grab the supplies now!" Vincent screamed as he pulled Zack into the kitchen laying him on the table. His blood flowed through the cracks off of the table and into the cracks of the tile. Everyone quickly snapped out of their slumbers except Cloud and Aerith. Everyone scampered into the kitchen and were shocked at the sight before them. The watched a man with black hair covered in more blood than any man should. It appeared that he had more blood outside his body than what was in it. Vincent turned the stunned group and yelled. "What are you standing around for!"
Everyone snapped back to reality and began to scurry around the house gathering all the healing items they could find. Yuffie came running in with a cure materia and a handful of potions. She laid them down on the counter and hurried to find some bandages. Vincent turned as he saw a frozen Tifa standing in the kitchen next to the stove. Vincent could see the pain and guilt in her eyes. He knew this was a time to be delicate. "Tifa. Why don't you go check on Cloud?"
Tifa looked taken aback at the sound of the man's voice. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she looked down at the man lying on the kitchen table. This man had fought to protect her twice. He was willing to sacrifice his life to protect others without any concern for his life and well being. He was a hero, someone anyone could look up to. "Zack…" The girl muttered as she looked at the blood pooling on the kitchen floor. She looked up at Vincent, her tears gone. "Fix him…I'll go check on Cloud."
The women quickly disappeared into the sea of chaos of the living room. Yuffie came running in the kitchen with a worried look on her face. "There are no more bandages. So I grabbed towels and extra blankets. She said as she put them next to Vincent. Vincent nodded as he put the cure materia in his arm.
Cid and Barret looked into the kitchen looking helpless and curious. Vincent could feel their eyes on his back. "I need you two to go outside. There are four dead Shinra soldiers. Hide their bodies and cover up the blood. We can't have Shinra on our tails, not when we're injured." Vincent said as his hand began to glow.
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The two men nodded and walked outside. They moved with haste as they grabbed the dead men and tossed them under a pile of rubble. Barret had grabbled large pieces of steel to cover the bodies. Cid walked over to the blood covered ground. He stopped and stared at the puddles wondering how to cover them up.
"Well how in the fuck sakes are we going to cover this shit up!" Cid yelled.
Barret dropped another piece of rubble onto the dead men and turned and looked at the man. "How the fuck should I know? Do I look like I sit around a house fuckin cleaning all day?" Barret hissed.
"Goddamn right you do! All you're missing is your little apron Ms. Wallace." Cid said with a snicker.
"What did you call me you little piece of shit! You want to see space? I'll make you see stars you little shit head!" Barret said as steam came out of his ears.
Cid just smiled as he walked back towards the house. He knew he had gotten a rise out of Barret. Barret always was easy to ruffle up. Cid stopped as he heard Barret yelling from behind.
"Where the fuck do yo thing yo going!" Barret yelled.
Cid turned and grinned. "To grab you a fuckin broom so you can clean women!" Cid said as he entered the house. He walked straight passed the commotion and grabbed a broom from the closet. He walked out the door and walked towards the steamed Barret. He ignored the man and put the broom down on the ground. He began to push dirt onto the puddles of blood. The dirt quickly absorbed the blood. Cid quickly pushed the blood to the side. Of the path. He looked up at Barret looking very serious. "I think they could use our help inside." Cid said to the giant man. Barret nodded as the two men walked into the house.
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Aerith began to stir in her bed as she heard a loud bang at the door below. She could hear the many voices and scurrying of their shoes on the wooden floors. She opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling deep in thought. "It hurts to breath… Cloud! I hope he's okay…" Aerith said as she motivated herself to sit up. Her mind was racing thinking about the events that had unfolded just a day ago. "Wait…my mind has to be playing tricks on me…I thought I saw Zack… it can't be…Tifa said he was dead." Aerith said as she began to cry.
"Ow…it hurts to cry…" Aerith said as she wiped her tears. Her body wasn't ready to weep. She stoop up quickly as she heard the others screaming at one another. "What's going on down there?" Aerith said as she opened the door of her room. She watched as Yuffie had run past her with her arms full of towels. She felt her heart beginning to pound. 'Something's wrong I know it.' Aerith said as she walked towards the steps. She slowly walked down the steps, each step felt like she had been stabbed again.
She finally reached the last stair. She watched as Cid walked out the door with a broom in his hand. She raised an eyebrow wondering why he would possibly need a broom outdoors. Her focus shifted to the blond on the couch. She could see he had a large wound on his stomach. Blood had soaked his bandages through. "Wait…this doesn't add up right…Cloud is hurt…that means…ZACK! " She said aloud as she walked towards the middle of the living room. Her eyes began to shake as she watched a small stream of blood flowing into the living room staining her carpet. "What's going on…who's hurt?" Aerith though as she counted everyone in her group.
Aerith made her way to the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. She felt her knees shake as she saw a leather covered hand hanging off of the table. It was lifelessly hanging as blood dripped off of the table on all sides. She tried to see who was on the table, but a man in red was blocking her view. 'Please move…' Aerith thought as the man finally moved. She watched as the man in red poured a potion into the man's mouth. Her jaw dropped, at the sight of the man covered in blood. "Zack…" Aerith said as she began to cry.
The man before her was covered in blood. His blue turtle neck sweater was torn and tattered. His arms were covered in bright red from the flow of the blood from his wounds. Tears began to overwhelm her as she followed his chest with her eyes. His chest warily expanded as he inhaled. Each breath he let out a wheeze. She walked toward the man. She needed to see him; she needed to see his face. She walked in her bare feet through the sea of red. She shivered as he toes touched the warm liquid below. "I have to see him…" Aerith told herself as she walked towards the man.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch the women in pink. She stopped beside the man and began to cry. His face was barely recognizable, it was covered in fresh blood along with dark dried blood. "Zack…you're alive…please don't leave me…. Not again….fight…I'm going to be here baby." Aerith said with a smile. She knew the man would groan at being called baby. She pulled his glove off and grabbed his hand softly. His hands were cold and clammy. He felt dead. She held his hand tightly and looked at him with tears falling from her face. She closed her eyes tightly and began to move her mouth, but no words came. 'Come back to me Zack…you can't…you're not allowed to leave me again.' Aerith thought as she prayed harder.
Everyone watched as a green aura surrounded Aerith and Zack. Vincent watched with great amazement as Zack's wounds began to heal. He watched as black smoke came from Zack's wound near his heart. "What…what is that…" Vincent said as the smoke disappeared in the air. He looked down at Zack's chest. His wound began to seal. 'How…that wound wouldn't heal…everything I did nothing work…what is this girl doing?' Vincent watched with amazement as the wound closed.
Aerith opened her eyes and smiled. She could feel the warmth return to his hand. She kissed his hand softly. She watched as Zack opened his eyes slowly. His eyes met her's for just a moment. He gave her a warm smile and closed his eyes once more. "Zack!" Aerith shouted as she shook the man's hand.
"He's okay Aerith. He just needs to rest. Tifa please take her to get cleaned up." Vincent said as he looked over at Tifa. He knew the girls needed a reason to talk to one another.
"Excuse me sir. When you're done cleaning him…he can have my bed." Aerith said with warm smile. "Thank you for taking good care of him…I will take it from here." The girl said with a warm smile. She turned and followed Tifa upstairs.
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Aerith walked into her room as Tifa went to grab a rag to wash her feet. Aerith removed her dress and walked towards her dresser. Tifa walked into the room. "Hey let me get that for you." Tifa said as she opened the drawer for the women.
"I can do it. It doesn't hurt that bad." Aerith said as she bent over to the bottom drawer. She winced in pain.
"Please let me do it Aerith. What do you need?" Tifa asked as she bent over.
"In the bottom drawer there's another SOLDIER uniform for Zack. He left two of them here…" Aerith said as she trailed off into thought. 'I used to hold them…I used to smell them when you were gone…but now I have the real thing.'
Tifa grabbed the uniform and placed it on the bed. "You need anything else in here?" Tifa asked.
"Um…yeah. Sorry to be a pain. But can you grab that moggle tee-shirt? It was Zack's favorite jammie shirt. We should put him in something comfy while he rests." Aerith said.
Tifa gave her a smile and grabbed the shirt and a pair of sweat pants. She smiled to herself as she looked at the tee-shirt. 'He would wear something like this.'
"Okay Aerith I will give them to Vincent in a little bit. Now sit down and let me clean you up." Tifa said with a smile. Aerith walked over to the bed and gingerly sat down. Tifa grabbed the warm wash rag and began to rub the dried blood off if the women's feet.
Aerith looked down at the women with great confusion. "Hey Tifa…"
Tifa looked up at the women. She knew what conversation was coming. "hm?"
"Why did you say Zack was dead? Cuz he's alive…" Aerith asked as she looked down in her lap.
Tifa looked at the women with sad eyes. She knew she shouldn't have been so cruel to the women. Aerith had always been so nice to her. But she knew she couldn't tell Aerith the whole truth. "I thought he did… he disappeared after Nibleheim…so did Cloud…and Cloud had his sword…so I assumed…" Tifa said not making eye contact. She was nervous her eyes would show her lies.
Aerith looked at the women stunned. 'It was Zack's sword…I never really paid much attention to it…but now that I think of it, it was his sword. "Oh, okay…I understand."
Tifa stood up. "We should get these clothes to Zack huh?" Aerith nodded as she stood up on her freshly cleaned feet.
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Vincent had just pulled the last bullet from Zack's flesh. Yuffie had run to the market to buy more bandages in the market. Vincent sighed as the women came into the house. Her seriousness was gone, it was now replaced with her annoyingness. She ran into the kitchen handing the man the bandages. "Here yah go Vinny!" Yuffie said with a smile.
Vincent ignored her and took the bandages. He quickly cut the man's shirt completely off and began wrapping the man. Yuffie help hold the man up as Vincent carefully wrapped the man's chest. Zack was covered in the white bandages, only parts of his chest and midsection visible. Aerith and Tifa came into the room carrying a tee-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Aerith smiled at Vincent as Tifa handed the man the clothes. "I guess you're going to have to change him. Us girls don't want…to see anything!" Tifa and Aerith both giggled.
Vincent looked at the women with annoyance. "Very well then." Vincent said as he grabbed the man and carried him up the stairs. He quickly dressed the ragdoll. He laid him on the bed and covered the man with the blanket. He looked at the man as he began to exit the room. "I'm glad you're going to be okay Zack." He said as he shut the lights off and headed down the stairs.
"Is he okay?" Aerith asked motherly.
"Yes. He is resting." Vincent said as he walked over to the arm chair and took a seat. He let out a sigh, 'things were easier in my coffin.' Vincent thought as he closed his eyes.
"Aren't you gunna help!" A familiar annoying voice cried.
Vincent opened his eyes and looked at Yuffie who was on her hands and knees cleaning up the blood in the kitchen. Cid and Barret both were trying to help. Barret held a mop as he cursed under his breath. Cid did his best not to break into tears from laughing.
"No. I did my part." Vincent said as he closed his eyes.
"Yuffie leave him be. He's done more than all of us. Let him get some rest." Tifa said pointing a wagging finger at the ninja. The little girl instantly held her tongue. "Now let's get this mess cleaned up. After its bed time okay?" Tifa walked towards the kitchen. Aerith walked closely behind her. Tifa stopped and turned around. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To help." Aerith said.
"No you need to rest… Why don't you go gather some blankets. And if you're feeling up to it, switch the load of laundry." Tifa said giving into the girls face. She knew Aerith didn't like being helpless.
Aerith gave her a smile and nodded with glee. She hurried over to the washer and dryer and began to work. Everyone made quick work of the mess. The kitchen slowly began to look like a kitchen once more. The sea of red had finally been push back to its shores. Everyone exited the kitchen and headed for the living room.
Aerith stood there with a smile. "Tifa and Yuffie. You tow go upstairs and sleep in my mom's room. No buts! Go!" Aerith shoed the two girls up the stairs before they could complain. "Boy's I made you beds on the floor. Don't worry! They should be pretty comfy! I put all the extra pillows down on the floor for you two." Aerith said with a smile. She walked over to the two men and handed them each a blanket. "Sleep well. And behave yourselves please."
Aerith giggled as the two men gave each other a glare. They both snarled at one another as they laid their heads down to rest. Aerith walked over to the light switch and softly shut the lights off. She walked over to the bed she made for herself. She gingerly slid under the covers and rested her head on the pillows. Aerith stared at the ceiling as she tried to get to sleep. 'It's been one heck of a day…you were this close to losing Zack Aerith…you better take each day as if it were a gift…you already lost him once.' Aerith thought as she closed her eyes trying to sleep.
'What am I going to do with Cloud… he really likes me….and I… I don't know. Look what you got yourself into Aerith!' Aerith scolded herself. 'You love Zack, you always have, and you always will. Cloud was nothing more than a crush…yeah that's it a crush.' She said trying to make things make sense. Even if it meant lying to herself. She let out a sigh, she couldn't get comfortable, and her mind would not rest. She sat up and looked around the room. The boys had fallen asleep within minutes of lying down.
"Fuck it." Aerith said as she slowly stood up. 'You love Zack, you know you do. You don't have to please everyone Aerith. Just do what makes you happy.' Aerith told herself as she grabbed her blanket. She headed towards the stairs and paused as she lifted her left foot to head up. She turned and looked at the blond who lay on the couch lifeless. "I'm sorry…Cloud." She said almost silently. She turned and walked up the stairs as quietly as she could. She tip toed past her mother's room and quietly opened her bed room door. She slipped in making as little noise as she possibly could. She closed the door as softly as she could. She turned and walked towards her bed, she smiled just hearing the man's soft breathing.
Aerith knelt down next to the bed. She bit her lip as she felt pain shoot down her back. Her shoulder was still very tender. She shook it off as she placed o=both of her hand on one another. Her chin softly rested upon her hands, she smiled. 'That's my Zack…he always did look at peace when he sleeps. I missed you so much Zack.' She thought as she watched the man she loved sleep. After watching him sleep for a little while Aerith finally gained the confidence to slide into bed with him. She laid her head softly on his chest as she looked up at the man's head. She softly kissed his jaw. "I love you." She whispered softly. Aerith smiled as she wrapped her arms around her love. Her eyes began to fell heavy. She closed them with a smile on her face. 'This is my heaven.'
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Zack opened his eyes as he heard the door open. He watched as Aerith walked into the room. He smiled to himself, 'I guess she forgot I was in SOLDIER. I could hear her coming up the steps. All my senses are highly tuned. Hell I can even see in the dark.' He giggled to himself. He followed the women with his half open eye. The girl walked next to the bed trying not to make any noise. She knelt down next to him and watched him pretend to sleep. Zack felt an urge to pop up and scare the poor girl, but he was far too tired and scaring her could be a bad thing. 'This is really awkward…how long is she going to stare at me?' Zack asked himself.
The women softly entered his bed and rested her head on his chest. Zack felt butterflies in his stomach beginning to flutter around. He had imagined there were actually butterflies in his stomach, and how they would have been dead dried up things by now. It had been years since he last felt this feeling. He felt her soft moist lips touch his jaw. He smiled as he heard her say she loved him. His mind froze. 'But you saw her with Cloud…if she loved you she wouldn't have done that…that's not love…' Zack said as he felt his smile quickly dissolve. 'But she's here with you stupid…she could downstairs with Cloud…but she's here with you…that has to mean something…' Zack said as he let his mind argue with itself. 'Fuck it…we'll figure it out right?' He said in his head as if he was asking Aerith. 'I love you too Aerith…I never stopped.' Zack said as he closed his eyes.
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AN- fast update…sigh. I only got 4 reviews on last chapter? I worked hard on that… come on guys I know you guys can spare a few seconds and give me a review. My reviewers! Thank you guys for reviewing! This chapter was written for you guys…for being awesome! So can we aim for 6 reviews this time? If I get 6 I will update again by Sunday!
Next Chapter- Cloud wakes…love triangle? Lots of Zack talking! Sorry guys but the next few chapters are going to be plot chapters. So stick with me please. We're just getting into the story now! Everything up to this point has been cupcake stuff! It gets awesome from this point on!