Chapter 9: Shadow of A Man

AN: The song used in this chapter is called Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh. I thought it would be appropriate for a scene with Aerith in her Wall Market dress. Due to FF (.) Net enforcing the 'no lyrics' rule, I have removed the lyrics from this version of the story. I will keep the original version up on my website.

Cloud looked about him as the music swirled around the room. AVALANCHE was throwing a party shortly after having arrived in Kalm. Cloud had told the others his story and what had happened to Nibelheim 5 years ago. They all didn't seem to mind his history with ShinRa and Sephiroth himself, a fact for which he was thankful.

Now that he thought about it, Aerith really didn't seem to care what he had done in the past. 'The past is past, Cloud, we need to live in the future and see what awaits us there,' she had said when he had broached the subject of his past once before.

With a sigh, he turned his attention back to the group dancing around and having a general good time. They were celebrating their small victory over ShinRa, but this party was also a wake for those that died when the plate fell, both the civilians and the fallen members of AVALANCHE; Jesse, Biggs, and Wedge.

Barrett and Tifa argued that rather than mourn their deaths, they should celebrate their lives. While none of us knew all the people that died, we still celebrated as though we had.

Slowly sipping his beer, Cloud watched as Barret swung Tifa around the floor, the band playing a sprightly jig. Red merely tapped his tail in time, his head bobbing along. Cloud smiled to himself, hiding it behind his mug as he took a sip.

They deserve to have a little fun, they never should have been involved in this battle with ShinRa, they're not soldiers, Cloud thought as he watched his friends dance.

But isn't a soldier someone that fights and dies for what they believe in? That's what he used to believe. Now, after watching AVALANCHE sacrifice themselves, he knew it was true, they were soldiers.

No, this is their fight. They're fighting to protect the people they love and the place they call home, even if that place is the entire planet.

Shaking off his thoughts, he watched out of the corner of his eye as Aerith walked through the door wearing her red dress from their 'mission' in Wall Market. Cloud could feel his breath catch in his throat when he saw her. She was breathtaking, her long chestnut hair tied at the end, leaving the rest to hang freely about her shoulders. She had pulled several strands to frame her face, giving her the appearance of an Angel, or an Elf. Her emerald eyes smiling as she watched her friends dance, her mouth matching the joy expressed in her eyes. She was wearing very little makeup, a little rouge on her cheeks and lip-gloss to give her naturally red lips a soft shine.

Cloud shook his head to the break the spell her beauty had cast over him. Taking a sip to moisten his dry throat he nearly spit it back out when a hand gently touched his shoulder.

"Hey," Aerith softly said as she sat beside him at the table.

"Hey," he replied as he struggled not to stare at her.

"So, how do I look?" she asked, not knowing how hard it was for him not to.

"Gorgeous, absolutely breathtaking," he said before he could stop himself. Quirking an eyebrow, he quickly examined the contents of his mug, almost full. He wasn't drunk, so mentally shrugging he accepted that he, in his right and sober mind, had told her how beautiful she was.

"Really? Thank you Cloud!" she said as she giggled and blushed, hiding her hands in her lap, her face turned slightly towards the table.

"Looks like they're having fun," Cloud said after a moment's silence.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah it does. Say Cloud," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"Yeah?" he answered quickly to hide the electric shock that ran through him when she touched him. It took her a moment to gather herself after experiencing the same shock.

"Uh .. would you like to dance?" she asked as she pulled her hand away from him, both missing the contact, yet not saying a thing about it. Neither knowing that the other felt the same thing.

"I can't dance fast, don't have the rhythm for it," he told her sadly.

"Oh, I see. Can you slow dance?" she asked innocently, he merely nodded before taking another sip of his beer. "Good," she said with an evil gleam in her eye. She got up and made her way to the band. Returning a few moments later with the biggest smile he'd ever seen on her face.

"What are you up to?" he asked her through narrowed eyes.

"You'll see," she said with a wink as the jig ended and the dancers applauded the band.

All at once the sound of a snare drum filled the air as they began playing a slow song.

"Come on," she said as she pulled Cloud from the table and to the floor, he only had enough time to put his beer down before it could spill all over him.

Before he knew it he was holding Aerith in his arms as they began swaying to the music, the words starting after the band repeated the intro to give people time to reach the floor.

Cloud silently exhaled as Aerith wrapped her arms around his neck, his own going around her waist. Her head nestling under his chin as she rested against his chest.

Cloud inhaled deeply of her scent, a fragrance combined of the Earth and the flower fields with a hint of lavender. The smell was unique to her and he knew he'd never forget it.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

"I know you, told me," she whispered back, nuzzling his cheek with her head. "I wore this for you, when we bought it, I noticed how much you liked it."

"Why?" he asked as they moved.

"Because I wanted to look nice for you," she replied with a smile, which he returned.

As they moved around the dance floor they were unaware of the fact that they were the only couple on the floor. The others were too stunned to join them. Barrett had to almost literally pick Tifa's jaw off the floor as she stared at the two, a cold fire burning in her eyes.

Aerith pulled slightly away from Cloud's chest to stare up into his ocean blue eyes. Cloud found himself unable to look away from her apple-green eyes. As the final chorus began, their heads slowly moved towards each other.

Just as their lips were about to touch, they became aware of clapping. Breaking from their trance, they looked around to notice that the clapping was for them. Glancing around they both flushed a deep red when they realized they were the only dancers, neither was aware that they had almost kissed.

Tifa had the mind to rush up to them and pull Cloud from that traitor's clutches, but Barrett's strong hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Let them have this moment together, Tifa, you'll get your chance," he whispered into her ear.

Instead of answering she silently fumed, pulling from his grip she stormed out of the Inn and made her way to the steps leading to the items shop, where she pouted. Although, if confronted about it, she would deny she was pouting.

Later she would regret her jealousy, knowing that she once had a chance with Cloud when they were children and she merely brushed him off.

Cloud and Aerith were unaware of Tifa's reaction, they were too busy being embarrassed. Taking her hand he led them back to his table as the band began another fast song.

"That was fun," she said as she hid in the shadows with Cloud, their redness still visible.

All he did was nod before reaching across the table and grabbing his slightly warm beer. Grimacing slightly when tasting that it was warm, he shrugged and downed it in one gulp.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I need some air, care to join me?" Aerith asked as she stood and planted her hands on her hips, challenging Cloud to decline her offer. Like the wise man he was, he accepted.

Arm in arm, they exited the Inn and out into the chilly night air.

Cloud awoke with a start, the memories of the dream fresh in his mind.

Shaking his head he was unable to remember if that had been a dream or a memory resurfacing.

Rising slowly from the hotel bed, he grabbed his cloak and threw it over his shoulders, the material coming to rest overtop his Ultima Weapon, which he had attached as he rose.

Securing his pack to his back and pulling his hood over his head, he made his way to the tavern below.

Glancing out a window as he passed he knew it was sometime around midnight. Lucky for him, the tavern was open all night in case a hotel guest got hungry. Well, that and for all the illegal transactions that usually took place at night. Illegal goods, drugs, weapons, you name it, and it probably could be gotten in any tavern like this one, in any town on the planet.

It was sad to say, but the world had gone to Hell in a hand-basket without ShinRa there to keep some order. Sure, Neo-ShinRa was trying hard to bring order to the world again, but Reeve just wasn't able to pull it all together, even with the help of AVALANCHE, of which he was no longer a member.

Approaching the bar he ordered a glass of Scotch on the rocks. Taking the glass when it was put before him, he swallowed the contents in one gulp, the ice ratting as he placed it back on the bar.

Looking to the bartender he waited to be told how much the drink was, his dull blue eyes tiredly watching the man behind the bar.

"That'll be 10 gil," he said in the drawl that was known to this region.

Placing the exact amount plus a small tip on the counter, Cloud turned and made his way to the door. Opening the wooden door, he stepped out into the moonless night, once again a shadow among shadows.

Leaving the bright lights of the Inn and tavern behind him, he made his way into the dark forest nearby, the shadow of the man once know as Cloud disappearing into the night like a dream in the morning's light.

End chapter 9 TBC
Chapter 10: Shattered Rememberences