Return

Aerith had come to balcony again to look at the town, rain had stopped for a moment, but wind did still howl and sky was dark. At the distance sun what it could be seen, had started to go down on the distant mountains.

Aerith remember how she had walked balcony of her home in Midgar's slums. In Midgar under the steel sky there where sunlamps brought light into under city. Wind did never blow hard in the slums, neither did it rain.

But in here in grassland under open sky, people just have to live with it. Free from shadow of Shinra, but open to other dangers. But now threat of Shinra has come back.

Aerith was worried, last days more Shinra troops had arrived into town. Thought most people were happy that more Shinra guards were present, there were restlessness in the city.

Barret and Aerith had tried to stay out of town. Big man with a gun for an arm, could draw attention.

Aerith herself tried to show up in the lobby and restaurant of the inn. If she would have been inn whole time, it might have raise suspicions, but she stayed out of town.

Tifa was the one who went to town to catch what was going on. Shinra troops were arriving at town, but most of them continued forward towards coast. Guards strengthen local garrison and guard train station. So they were not looking at them, least for now.

Tifa had tell them that talks about war had started to spread more again in town, how in Midgar one of plates of the city had fallen and thousands had died. Strike was made by Avalance, that was allied with Wutai, so cease-fire had started to broke apart.

Though unlike most of the people, Aerith know it had been false flag operation that Shinra had made to get reason to start to war.

But something unexpected had happen, old president of Shinra was killed, throwing plans into disray. Aerith remembered what has happen, she had been in the room when old president had died. She shivered remembering the event.

New ruler of Shinra, Rufus Shinra had taken control quickly, his fathers body was not even cold when he stepped on the throne.

But what President Rufus would do now?

Would he continued his fathers plans with war or did he have his own plans?

What would he do with her and others? Shinra still wanted to reach her but how much resources they would put to find her?

Cloud had stayed behind covering her escape and challenged Rufus a dual, to buy time then to escape, Rufus was forced to retreat front of her bodyguard. But now he did know about Cloud and might want to take care of him permanently?

Cloud Aerith thought of her bodyguard.

Cloud and Red were still on the wilderness and they have no way to warn them that Shinra Troops had arrived at the town. They just have to hope they would go unnoticed when they come back and Shinra troops would think they were townspeople.

That moment it started to rain stronger again, Aerith was about to turn and went back to inside, but she took one look down, dark figure was riding in the yard. Staple hand, young boy come there and took reins of the chocobo. Next to him walked flame furred beast whose tip of the tail was living flame.

Red Aerith realised and when she look more carefully she could see rider had large sword on his back.

Aerith smiled and left out of the rain. She walked quickly downstairs down to greet them.

When she get to main hall, she noticed Barret on one of the tables, he was eating his dinner. Aerith decided to ignore him.

She went the room that lead to backdoor and yard. That moment Cloud and Red come in from the rain. Cloud had cloak around him, but seemed not had helped him to stay dry. Considering they have ride through rainstorm that how they would look.

"Cloud you are soaking wet."

"Oh, nice you to tell me, I would have not noticed."

She looked at Red, he did not look any better. Wet dog literally. Then she realized that she had not before on her life seen anyone in that state. Aerith looked first Red then Cloud and back again. Then she started to laugh, she could not help it, scene was just so funny. Cloud and Red looked her annoyed.

Aerith took support at wall and covered her mouth with other hand still laughing.

"Hah hah, good to see you enjoy this." Cloud said and looked more tired.

"I'm sorry, this is first time I have seen anyone that wet." Aerith said and smiled to him. That moment innkeeper did arrive. For a moment he look at them, not exactly knowing what to do.

"Miss, do you need anything."

"No, I'm fine."

"Do you want I arrange washing for you dog miss." Innkeeper asked.

Right, innkeeper did saw me coming with Red.

"No, I do it myself if you don't mind."

"Do you have room, to clean up and sleep." Cloud asked.

"I'm sorry, but right now most of our rooms are full or already booked" Innkeeper said.

"I see, I look somewhere else."

After innkeeper went away, Barret walked to meet them.

"Here is some of advance payment what we got for killing Behemoths, I get rest of the payment tomorrow." Cloud said and give him pouch of Gil.

"Behemoths?" Barret asked when he took the money.

"There were two of them." Cloud said and Aerith could hear tiredness on his voice.

"We can't stay long in this town, more Shinra troops might come and chances that we could be recognized will grow." Red said.

"Barret, you and Tifa should go and buy us supplies." Cloud said.

"Alright I'll go get her." Barret said and left.

"What you are going to do?"

"I need to find place to clean up and stay at the night."

"You could use my room, it has bathtub and tell the truth Cloud, you could really use it."

Cloud open his mouth to said something.

"And then you can sleep at the couch, Red has dog's bed in there too." Aerith said firmly looking both of them.

"Alright." Cloud said swipe water from his hair. That moment Aerith could see under Cloud's raincoat, his sweater was torn and she could claw-marks on his side.

"Cloud you are wounded."

"It's nothing." Cloud said and waived his hand to dismiss claims.

"That is not nothing."

"Cloud you are clearly wounded and some reason wound has not healed properly, let me to take look at it."

Aerith put hands on her hips and took stern look at her bodyguard. Cloud looked for moment like he would refuse her help. But then he sighted.

"I'll eat little and come later." Cloud said.

Aerith nod to him and then she turned her attention to Red.

"Okay Red, we go upstairs." Aerith said and then lead them to her room.

"Red are you alright? Do you need me to heal you." Aerith asked when they did get to her room.

"No need, I was not injured at the hunt."

"Well, guess it's time to get you to clean up then."

Aerith put water bathtub ready to Red and let him clean up. She removed Reds collar and decorations he had on his paws and body.

"I can bath myself, if you don't mind."

"I get you some evening meal then."

Then she went go get food for Red. For a moment she was not sure should she get food for pets or humans. Hall was mostly empty, not much people were on the move now.

Aerith could see Barret was at the main door waiting. Cloud at the one of tables eating his meal, Tifa was talking with Cloud, but soon she made nod towards Cloud and then left with Barret.

Hopefully they would not be noticed by Shinra's troops.

"I want that my dog has good meal, do you chef does them." Aerith asked and give some gil to the innkeeper.

Luckily chef has served before some strange pets and hunting dogs people had. So Aerith did get some big meal that she believed Red would like. Roasted leg that part of some strange beast. Then she returned to her room.

Aerith helped Red to drying up with towels.

Red started his meal. Aerith turned her back, watching beast devouring meat had been interesting to watch few first times on they during train trip, but now Aerith has seen enough. Also it was not polite to stare when someone else was eating.

She check Reds collar and materia in it. Then she started to clean them up.

During all that Red did tell her how they went farm where the attack had happen how he had got scent of other hunting party that was hunting Behemoth.

Then he tell how they had heard something at evening and next day they had founded hunting party, Behemoth had managed to surprise them, only one wounded hunter had survive in that encounter.

Aerith listen worriedly how they had gone after Behemoth, then Red had noticed that there where two of them. How Behemoths had tried to ambush them.

They had got first Behemoth that was wounded it's fight against hunting party night before. Other Behemoth had been difficult, but working together and using Summon materia they had gotten upper hand and killed the beast.

Red also mention ruins of some kind of temple. He had senses something strange it there and it might have affected the beasts. After they got monsters horns off they left the place. Aerith thought some places in the Midgars slums, like train graveyard where that ghost creature had tried to capture her.

Red tell how they managed to get surviving hunter on ramshackle wagon and then they start they journey back. Nothing much happen, but they could not stop for long with wounded and last day storm had caught them.

They had arrive to gates of the town and they had noticed that there were also Shinra Guards on the gate. But they could not turn back without raising suspicions and they had wounded with them that they had to get into doctor.

Luckily that moment local guards did recognized wounded hunter and they had taken in. Guards had taken wounded to local doctor. They had returned to man that had given the mission and Cloud had tell him that they had slain the beasts. Horns of the Behemoths were proof that they had killed the beasts. He had given down-payment for the kill and said to came tomorrow for extra.

Red yawned and stretched itself.

"I think I'm going to get some sleep now."

"Alright." Aerith said and watched when Red went to dog's bed.

Soon after that door was knocked. Aerith open the door for Cloud.

"Well I'll take clothes to clean up and you can go to take bath." Aerith said, then she turned her back to Cloud and crossed her arms.

Aerith heard how Cloud took sword from his back and started to take off his boots and clothes.

She continued standing towards the door, but she took glance mirror at the other side at the wall. It was not exactly in right angle, so she did not get good look. For a moment Aerith remembered Honey Bee Inn in wall-market, when Clouds clothes were changed. That thought make her smile.

Soon she could hear that Cloud went the bathroom.

Aerith started to check Cloud gear.

For a moment her eyes stayed on the Buster Sword, Aerith, she sighted and closed her eyes for moment.

She took Cloud's clothes and noticed rips on his shirt and noticed the dried blood that were in it. Behemoths claws could do some damage. Thought Cloud Strife was not normal human, he was something more.

Then she sit on the couch and start to clean materia orbs.

Legacy of the Cetras Aerith thought and raised green orb on her hand.

Then she touch her hair, where she keep materia that her mother Ifalna had give her. For a moment she remembered that moment when her mother had give it to her.

Cloud came out of bathroom, just towel around his waist. For a moment Aerith looked Cloud upper body and his muscles. She also noticed fresh wounds on his side and shoulder. Scar-tissues were still quite fresh.

"I need to check your wounds Cloud."

"Look Aerith I'm death tired."

"More reason to check-up do now."

Cloud sighted and went to lying into couch. Aerith took healing and cleansing materia on her hand and kneeled next to couch. Then she put her free hand on Cloud's side. Aerith could feel his skin and muscles under it. Cloud moved little when she moved her hand across his side.

"Stay still." Aerith said, then she focused and use her powers.

He let materia power coerce through her and started to clean and fixed Cloud body's injuries. Cloud had used healing materia on his injuries, there where signs of that. Quite crude version of using healing materia, thought it would do the job, but she could do better.

Aerith fixed small fractions that were still in his bones, repaired some damage that were still on his muscles. Then she started to clean some of the infection that were still in him. Maybe Behemoths claws has caused that.

There where something that was lingering in Cloud wounds, but as Aerith increased her push, she felt how lingering effect did brake and soon it was gone. Perhaps after-effect of Behemoths spell that Red had tell her about.

Aerith felt how Clouds mako enhanced body was healed, now it needed rest. But there was something in his body that make Aerith little worried.

Jenova…

"Cloud, can I ask you about something?"

"Cloud…?" Aerith asked again when she did not get answer.

But her bodyguard did not answer, he was already at sleep.

Aerith sighted and let go of him. Then she took blanket and covered Cloud. For a moment he looked men that was sleeping front of her.

My bodyguard.

What future would have store of them now when fate was no longer set on stone.

Aerith sighted and then yawned, she started to fell sleepy as well. When she turned, for a moment she looked Red that was sleeping. Red's tail move little bit.

Do you really sleep or did you heard everything?

Then she took Cloud clothes and left the room.

As she was walking down the stairs she could hear that innkeeper was talking to someone. Something warned her. She from stairs down she took quick look behind the corner, so she could see reception table.

Group of Shinra guards were there. Aerith felt like her gut was squished, then she got grip of herself.

One guard leader with red uniform and two basic guards on they blue, with them were Shinra guard dog.

Aerith looked Binding Materia she had in her bracelet, it might be able to put innkeeper and guards to sleep. But it took time, others could notice that they were attacked by spells. If there were only two or three, it might work, but now...

"Well, I did see some suspicious people before." Innkeeper did say.

Aerith pressed herself against the wall, considering her options.

"This morning, few people asked place to stay, they looked like hunters, but not locals."

"Do you know where they are?" Officer asked.

"Well I said we did not have free rooms and asked them to look other inn."

"Alright, inform us if someone suspicious arrives." Officer said and then guards did left.

Aerith let air out of her lungs. Then she get posture back and walked the hall. There were washing room at the back of Inn. At this time there were only on maid there.

Aerith give clothes to maid. This was middle aged women, Aerith had seen her working on the restaurant and at the reception.

"Can you clean these for morning?"

"I believe so miss, thought I think your friend should buy new ones soon." She said when she looked Cloud clothes.

Aerith thanked her and did return the hall.

For a moment Aerith consider what to do, she could go upstairs and wake up Cloud and Red. But they would need they sleep and there where no imminent danger. So she decided to wait others to return.

Aerith took small evening meal and some tea. Then she waited on the table where she could see the main door.

Finally Tifa come from the door, Aerith waited for a while then she finished her tea and then walked up the stairs. Tifa was waiting her in the hallway.

"Barret is alright, he should come soon from backdoor." Tifa said when she saw Aerith worried look.

"There are more guards on the city and patrols." Tifa continued and looked around.

"Yeah, some of Shinra guards came here to ask innkeeper had he seen anyone suspicious." Aerith said quietly.

"Don't worry Innkeeper did said that only ones he had seen, were some unfamiliar hunters at the morning." Aerith added quickly to calm Tifa.

That moment someone was coming up the stairs, both of them turn to look. Luckily it was Barret, big man come to next to them. Aerith quickly tell him what had happen.

"Dammit." Barret cursed.

"Shhhh…" Both of the girls said and reach him to calm him down.

"Shit… sorry, where are others now?" Barret asked quietly.

"Currently Cloud and Red are sleeping on my room." Aerith said.

"Well, we got most of the supplies what we need when travel across continent." Barret said and looked around.

"But now using trains might be too great risk, there is more troops in the station." Tifa added.

"We need to get chocobos and equipment to get cross the grassland."

"Cloud has chocobo and Red tell me that he has contact to man who might get us more of them." Aerith said, remembering what Red had tell her about they hunting contract.

"Well it's getting late, we need to do that at the morning." Barret said.

"Yeah, let's try get some sleep and decide what to do tomorrow.

Aerith returned to her room, then she noticed that Red one eye did open and looked at her. Aerith walked quietly next to him and kneeled.

"Red." Aerith said quietly, not wanting to wake up Cloud.

"Tifa and Barret did return, but before they come back group of Shinra guards were downstairs asking innkeeper had he seen anyone suspicious."

Flame furred beast looked towards the door.

"Innkeeper did not tell about us, but he said that some suspicious people were looking for room in the morning."

"There might be something happening in the town, we should be on our way soon as possible." Red said quietly. Aerith nodded.

"Try to get some sleep, I sleep lightly." Red said.

Aerith changed her nightshirt in the bathroom and then went to her bed. She took glance at Cloud he seemed sleeping calmly.

Aerith closed her eyes and tomorrow they would leave town. This might be last chance for long time to sleep at normal bed.