A/N: Yes, I live! I've been seriously drained of inspiration lately. I'm also trying to graduate. A noble endeavor, I know. :) Life will consist mostly of insanity for the next two months, but alas, tis life.

Anyhow, this one needs a little explanation. The way I see it, Wutai is the FFVII equivalent of Japan/East Asia. Therefore, what is "Eastern" (used as an adjective describing a certain cultural aesthetic i.e. Asian) in the real world would be called "Western" in the FFVII world. If that doesn't make sense, just know that "Western" is meant to have Asian (as we know it) connotations in the FFVII world. The end.

ANOTHER LIFETIME

#36: Western
Summary: There was very little in the world that could convince Cloud that wearing a dress was a good idea.
Word Count: 600
Originally Posted: April 17, 2010

"Remind me again, why am I stuffed into this—what the hell is this called again?" Cloud Strife scowled as he held up the long flowing fabric that she called his sleeves for inspection.

Aerith rolled her eyes. "This," she explained with exaggerated slowness, "is called a kimono. It's a form of traditional Wutain garb, which I'm, as you put it so delicately, 'stuffing you in' because we're at a company social and the theme just so happens to be 'Going Western.' Clear enough?"

Cloud shot her a warning glare. "Do you want to also explain why I'm even at this company social when I clearly told you no?"

"Because you happen to be the vice president of Mako United. That and you know better than to cross me, of course," she replied in that overly-saccharine tone that meant anyone who did not conform to her will would be in trouble—and lots of it.

"Why are you my step-sister?" he groaned.

"Because—despite how disturbing it may be for us to think about it—your mother and my father are crazy in love and have been for the past ten years. Now, will you stop griping and smile? We're supposed to be representing the company."

With a barely concealed sigh, Cloud complied even as he wondered how it was possible that everyone thought Aerith was such an angel. He got along very well with his step-sister, but he knew better than to trust those innocent smiles. Too bad nobody would believe him, not even his best friend Zack, who'd been thoroughly sucked in by her façade.

And as loathe as he was to admit it, he had never been able to deny her either. Although she was technically a year older than him, they'd grown up with him fulfilling the overly-protective older brother role with gusto. She'd been constantly angry with him for scaring away any potential boyfriends all through high school and much of college, but she eventually conceded that it was indeed an amazing feeling to have her first boyfriend be her only boyfriend now that she and Zack were engaged.

Still, as much as he doted on her, he couldn't help but feel like he was wearing a dress.

But then he saw her and everything—dress/kimono thing be damned—was worth it.

She was amazing, slim body wrapped alluringly in the traditional silk trappings of ancient Wutain aristocracy. Her hair was done up in a loose bun, and the teardrop earrings dangling playfully by an elegant neck betrayed her into modernity. She was an enchanting fusion of the old and new and it made his heart beat erratically to see her gentle smile. Everything else faded away when he locked gazes with warm coffee eyes.

"Tifa! Over here," called out Aerith, not bothering to hide the mischievous twinkle in her eye, which—under normal circumstances—elicited in Cloud a strange urge to duck.

With a small, shy smile, Tifa approached them and though she was responding to Aerith's call, her eyes never once left Cloud's.

Under her breath, Aerith teased, "I told you it'd be a good idea to come, didn't I?"

Cloud resisted the urge to kick her, but when he gently pressed his lips against the soft skin of the back of Tifa's hand in greeting, he had to admit to himself that his little-older sister was right.

Many thanks: Seelenspiel, JingYee, et cetera et cetera, kerapal bubbles, vLuna, mom calling, kitsune13, Vanilla Raindrops, Tiny Cherie, AmberLeaves, Houdeanie Beanie