A/N: Chap 52. (A/N made by LTS, fantasydreamer94, oodball167, and PeAceLovEr 12... This is getting crazy, and I love it.)
Cloud: "Lady..."
LTS: *from the reviewers room* "I said no!"
Zack: "C'mon, Lady!"
LTS: "No!"
fantasydreamer94: *yawns* "Well, her decision is clear..."
Cloud: *sighs* "Now what?"
Zack: *shrug* "oodball is with Kou in the training room, and PeAceLovEr-"
LTS: "PeAceLovEr is with me too and I won't come out of here!"
Cloud: "Lady, you can't stay with the reviewers forever..."
LTS: "I don't see why not."
Zack: *sigh* "Disclaimer: LadyTeefStrife doesn't own anything. Anyone have a solution to this?"
fantasydreamer94: *scratches head* "Not really..."
Title: Skin.
__
Aerith took the lead of the group and scanned the area. "Okay, there are three shops we have to look in over here and one more over there," she stood on her toes to point over the other people's head in the general direction of the shop. "but that one will be our plan Z."
"Plan Z?" Zack asked while picking up his pace to catch up with Aerith.
When he caught up to her, she answered. "That shop is a sports shop. I'm sure they'll have swimsuits, but first we'll try the nicer ones before having to surrender to the practical ones. So that shop will be our last option."
"Aerith," Tifa called out to the other girl, causing her to turn around. "Why don't we try that shop first? I only need a swimsuit, nothing flashy."
Aerith's face had turned into one of disbelief by the time Tifa stopped.
"You're not serious, are you?" Aerith strode with a face of determination towards Tifa. "We're going to find you the perfect bikini! We can't leave that body of yours in the shadows, can we?"
Tifa's cheeks burned. "What!?" Her protest had turned into a shriek and she forced herself to calm down. After taking a few breaths, Tifa tried to reason with her friend. "Aerith, we're looking for a swimsuit, not a bikini. The sports shop will do."
Aerith was about to protest again when Zack cut her off. "Aerith, come here." He took her hand and with his other one he tugged lightly on Tifa's shoulder, instructing her to turn around.
Reluctantly, Tifa turned around, which made her face Cloud.
When Cloud realised what Zack was going to do, he took Tifa's hands in his and drew closer to her until his face was hovering near the right side of hers. When he was close enough, he whispered in her ear. "Stay still and don't worry Teef." She nodded weakly in response.
Zack lifted the hem of Tifa's button up vest on her back and slowly trapped Aerith's hand between Tifa's skin and his own hand. "... Tifa?" He asked when he felt her stiffen under the unexpected contact.
"... I'm fine." Tifa replied while squeezing Cloud's hands.
Aerith looked up at Zack, and he answered the silent question clearly written in her eyes. "It's okay, you'll understand soon." Aerith raised her head and searched in his eyes, but eventually gave up and turned her eyes to her trapped hand on Tifa's back when she didn't find what she was looking for.
Aerith hadn't found any of the normal traits she associated with the cheerful dark-haired boy. Not a trace of his cheerful smile, or his teasing smirk. His eyes had darkened and lost their glow, the one she always saw there. Instead, the only thing she found was a sad smile and sympathy in his eyes.
Aerith watched Zack and her hands disappear under the fabric of Tifa's vest, slowly rising up her back. The fabric blocked the view, but as Zack's hand moved upwards, she could feel something that reminded her an awful lot like scars. When Zack stopped, she let her fingertips explore Tifa's back. "Are they from...?" When she saw Tifa's nod, Aerith's question died in her throat. '… From when she fell off the well?' Letting her hand fall from its place on Tifa's back, she embraced her friend from behind. "... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..."
Tifa let go of one of Cloud's hand and put her it over Aerith's. "You didn't know, Aerith."
Aerith shook her head where it rested between Tifa's shoulder-blades. "I... I promise, I'll find you the best swimsuit in all of Nibelheim."
Tifa laughed softly and nodded. "Okay." As she let go of Cloud, Tifa turned around in her friend's arms to embrace Aerith back. "Someday, when the scars fade and I can wear a bikini, I want you to find it for me, okay?" She said while leaning back to see Aerith's face.
Aerith nodded and when she raised her head, she had a bright smile on her face. "Deal!" They let go of each other and Aerith's smile transformed into a slight smirk. "But then you won't be able to protest when I make you wear the sexiest bikini I'll find."
Tifa laughed and nodded. "Okay, deal."
A/N: End of chap 52.
Zack: "... No one?"
fantasydreamer94: "How about we just blow up the wall? That way the reviewers room will be the whole house and LTS could talk with all of us without having to stop writing."
Cloud: "... It's a good idea... But I think blowing up the wall is a bit too-" *the wall disappears*
LTS: "This is a dream world, we don't need to demolish anything." *turns to fantasydreamer94* "Man... that was a great idea!" *smile*
fantasydreamer94: "Don't sweat it." *hangs a high five but LTS ignores it* "Uhh...YEAH!"
LTS: "C'mon, everyone! Go explore the house!" *grin*
fantasydreamer94: "Yeah...I was getting a bit tired of being in separate houses..."
oodball167: *exits the VR room" "Did I miss something?"
PeAceLovEr 12: "Just the start of the real craziness... But at least we'll all be together."
LTS: "Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I hope no one gets lost..." *looks around* "Where's Kou?"
oodball167: "In the VR room, I broke a few more skulls than her."
LTS: "... I better go see her, she must be depressed now."
PeAceLovEr 12: "Read and review!"
oodball167: "Thanks for reading."
Cloud: *glares at fantasydreamer94* "..."
fantasydreamer94: "... Cloud, dude, just chill with those staring eyes! I like Tifa, okay? LTS likes you but Tifa and her are good friends. We should just get along, right?"
Cloud: "..." *sigh* "You're right. Sorry."
fantasydreamer94: "Don't worry, I like you, too."
Cloud: "What?"
fantasydreamer94: "Nothing!"
CIH!! 17/04/2010 fantasydreamer94: "Yep! I am NOT gay. Let's get that straight. o_O"
