Chapter 21
The group had supper at 5:45, and then everyone went to do different things.
Vincent went to the spare room, and Barret, Cid, and Yuffie went to the bar. Tifa and Red Xlll talked quietly in the corner, because they had become closer due to the fiasco in the Shin-Ra building. Cloud and Aeris went to the bedroom, and Cait Sith sat alone, tossing a couple of dice against the wall, while he contemplated what the group might choose to do next.
Cloud and Aeris sat together on the bed; Cloud's eyes scanned the room while Aeris' where glancing now and then at him.
"So, what was occupying you a little while ago?" Cloud inquired.
"You know."
"Yes I do, but what about it?"
"Why I am leaving, and what it is that I must do. I know that I have Holy, which is White Magic, and that it is the ultimate good magic, while Meteor is Black Magic, and the ultimate evil magic. I know that Holy and Meteor are polar opposites; Holy preserves the planet, while Meteor destroys. I know that my ancestors had the power to summon forth Holy, and that it was to only be used in the presence of Meteor. I think that this is my fate, to summon Holy to defend the planet. But I think that Sephiroth will try to stop me. I must go to the Temple of the Ancients, and do the sacred ritual to call Holy and make a shield against Meteor." She explained to Cloud, who did not understand what she was saying exactly.
"What do you mean by this?"
"I am to go to the Temple, to summon Holy, because Sephiroth is going to use Meteor. You told me this when you said, that you thought Sephiroth wanted to become one with the planet, by smashing Meteor into Earth, to make a huge wound, that the Life Stream would try to heal. You said, 'He wants to see us dead, and to destroy the world, so he can become a god. He thinks that he'll have more power if he joins with the Life Stream.' I must prevent that from ever happening! If he did, then the world as we know it would end. I am the guardian of this planet; I intend to do my job... Even if it costs me my life!" Aeris' eyes flashed with a bright fire as she finished her explanation.
Cloud gave her a sad look.
"But you won't die." He protested, not wanting to believe what she was telling him.
"No one knows what is to happen. I fear dark things are going to happen, and that I must stop them. You are to defeat Sephiroth, while I am to rid the universe of Meteor. The life of an entire planet is in our hands Cloud. The fate of the world is hanging on the outcome of our actions. If I must die to protect what my ancestors believed was sacred, then I will! I don't want to die, but I do not fear death. I must continue on! I will be leaving in exactly one month. Don't try to stop me, and please don't tell anyone else." Aeris shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
Cloud looked at Aeris silently, a tear rolling down his cheek, and falling quietly to the floor.
"I'm going to Aeris. Sephiroth is my enemy as well. I will confront him at the Temple, and kill him there. You will not die while I am with you." Cloud said in an undertone, as more tears followed the first.
"No Cloud. I must go alone." She replied.
"But..." Cloud began.
"No! You will not come!" Aeris looked at Cloud desperately. "Don't follow me either! Promise me you won't follow me Cloud?" She pleaded to him, her eyes filling with tears as well.
"No. I can't promise not to follow. You are part of my team, and as the leader, I must protect my group."
"What about the rest of them?" Aeris countered.
"They have each other. Barret is a good leader, and he was the leader until I came into the picture."
"So! They need you to be there for them Cloud! You can't just say you are leaving, and that you will be back soon! They won't be able to go on without you!"
"No, I would not say that. You are the only one here who is saying that they are going to leave, but you aren't saying that you'll be coming back. I am going with you. It is not easy to persuade me to leave you all by yourself, while the others would have six others to watch their backs! Do you think it is good to do this thing on your own?"
"Yes. This ritual is sacred. I must do it is solitude. You should not come."
"I somehow think this is not a truth." Cloud said with a note of pain in his somber voice.
"Well, it isn't, but I still don't want you to come."
"But I am." He said quietly.
"NO!" Aeris turned to leave, but Cloud put his hand on her shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Aeris, please hear me out."
"All you are going to say is that you must protect your team, and that you will go no matter what I say, ask or demand! I don't need to hear that anymore! I get it already!" Aeris gave Cloud a look of impatient fury, and waited for him to release her.
"Aeris! I know you are afraid! Maybe not of death, but of what might happen to me if you where to die. Know this, if this is the only thing you get out of this conversation, other than that I am a stubborn bastard, just know this: I will move on. But I will carry the grief in my heart. I will not let it hinder me until this whole thing is over. I will then properly mourn."
Aeris looked at Cloud with tears in her eyes. He had found the one thing that hurt her most.
She broke down entirely after he had finished his sentence.
Her knees gave, and she began to fall, but was caught by the reassuring arms of the person she loved.
Cloud turned her around slowly, and then cradled her to him, and let her cry.
He went to the bed and sat down, holding Aeris while she purged herself of the deep-set fear in her heart.
He could do nothing more than that.
After about a half hour of crying, Aeris fell asleep, and Cloud lay her lovingly onto the bed, removed her boots, and covered her with the down blanket.
He left, and went down to the others; he needed to tell them, so that they could decide what they wished to do about the situation. He needed to get their support on this.