Aerith did wake up, her dreams did trouble her. She had seen dreams about her mother Ifalna. Fights she and her friends had against Whispers. Also darker dreams about meteor that was coming down from the skies.

It was not as dark any more, morning had arrive, there were some light in the room. She looked at ceiling, old and sturdy planking. It did smell little different from her mother Elmyra's home in Midgar.

She had get little use to it, but now it would change again, today they would leave this town, tomorrow they would be in the wilderness.

Aerith turned and looked towards Cloud, he was still sleeping at the couch, hunt and fight against behemoths had taken they toll.

Hopefully his dreams were better then mine. Aerith thought.

Aerith looked Cloud's sleeping form for a while. He seem to sleep calmly, Aerith was glad of that. She was dependant of protection what he offered to her.

She had get promise that he would act of her bodyguard, as a reward she had promised date with her.

That had to be great date Aerith thought considering what kind of trouble he got her out.

For a moment she remember how Cloud skin and muscles had felt when she touched it. Other thoughts started to come to her mind.

Aerith closed her eyes and took deep breath.

I can't start to think that right now, things are already really complicated.

She did get up from bed quietly, went the bathroom to clean up and change clothes. Clothes were local dress she had bought with Tifa. Light brown dress and matching jacket. She had put her pink and red jacket on her backpack.

When she came out, she noticed that Red one eye was open looking at her. Aerith nodded, Red did closed his eye and continued to sleep. She left Cloud and Red to sleep.

Aerith went downstairs, there were some people already eating they breakfast.

Aerith did join them, she decided to eat well because in wilderness they would live with rations or what they could hunt or gather. During her train-trip she had read about surviving in wilderness, but reading things is different then actually being out there.

Breakfast was porridge, bread and meat in addition to some vegetables that she had not tasted before, but remembered seeing them in books, when she had studied to be a florist. They were different kind of food and ingredients what she was used in Midgar.

I'm other side of the continent, of course things are different here. Aerith remind herself and smiled little.

After her meal, she walked to washing room there were two people there, one was the older maid from last evening.

"Do you have the clothes cleaned up?" Aerith asked.

"They are here, but I think your friend should get new ones soon." Women said and hand them over.

"I did batch them up what I could." She added.

"Alright thank you."

Clothes have to go for now.

Aerith walked back to her room. Cloud was wake and seem just come out of bathroom, he was wearing towel on his waist and was talking with Red. For a moment Aerith's eyes wandered his upper body, muscles and scars he had.

Aerith forced herself to focus, after all Red was there with them and they were increasing danger if more Shinra's patrols started to look around.

"Here are you clothes they clean them up, but you need new ones before we leave." Aerith said when Cloud took clothes from her.

Aerith turned her back towards him, when Cloud put clothes on. This time she did get little look at the mirror across the room. Cloud did dress up quickly.

"Cloud, there were some Shinra Guards asking about suspicious people last night."

"Yeah, Red tell me about that."

"I did talked with others. We can't use train, least not in this town." Aerith said.

"Yeah."

"What is the plan?" Red asked and come next to them.

"I go with others to buy us mounts and wagons we can use."

"You and Aerith wait two hours and then come old man's shop. You know to place."

Red did nodded.

"Then we leave this town. Hopefully guards don't look us too closely."

Then Cloud took his sword and put it on his back, took his cape and left.

Aerith turn look at Red. He did stretch it self like a big cat, thought Aerith was not sure was he closer to dog.

Red is simple what we see. Aerith remembered him saying.

"Well, I guess you want breakfast?" Aerith asked.

"Yes, I would like that."

They went back downstairs, Aerith took Red to kitchen were she had Red's breakfast. Luckily cook from last night was there and prepared new meal to Red. Flame-furred beast did make short work of his meal.

But way to upstairs she noticed that there were few Shinra guards at they breakfast. Then she noticed that they had blades.

Soldiers

Shinra's elite warriors, enhanced with mako, life-force of the planet. They strength, speed, and agility was greater then normal people.

Were they after her?

Aerith felt coldness creeping inside her and felt her legs getting heavier. That moment she felt pressure against her leg, Red had come next to her. Aerith looked down, somehow his presence did comfort her. Aerith smiled and they walked back upstairs. Luckily Soldiers did not seem notice her, they were just eating they breakfast.

Nevertheless Aerith felt better when they got back to her room.

"Well we might well prepare to leave, could you put the materia on my collar?"

"Alright."

She put Red's collar with materia on his neck then she added decorations in place.

Then she prepared her own staff. Remembering walking sweepers what Shinra's troops had brought with them. Aerith decided to put lightning materia on her staff. She could overload those mechanicals war-machines electronics.

Aerith did get everything ready and the she waited. Red did go to rest on carpet. Aerith took book she had been reading and tried focus on that. Time did seem go slowly.

Finally clock did strike, two hours had passed.

"Time to go." Red said, Aerith simply nodded.

She took her hooded cape and backpack. Aerith looked around the room at the door, it had been nice to stay here. Aerith wonder when she could get sleep in the normal bed again. She sighted, closed the door and walked downstairs.

Innkeeper was not this time on the reception desk, it was the old maid.

"Hopefully you did enjoy your stay miss." She said when Aerith gave her the room key.

"Yes I did, thank you."

"I'm sure you did." Maid said and smiled knowingly.

For a moment Aerith did not get it. Then she remembered that this lady did know that Cloud had sleep in her room. Aerith try to keep her expression calm, thought she felt that her face was getting hot. Only thing she managed to answer was cough and small smile.

They walked across the town, Aerith followed Red closely.

Lot more guards could be seen. Some of them had guard dogs with them. Dark furred creatures with strong jaws.

Aerith keep her hood covering her face, luckily it did rain little, so many other people were also wearing hoods and umbrellas. Few people and guards did take look towards her, thought Aerith soon realised most of them looked at Red. Flame-furred beast did was not something that could seen everyday. Few Shinra hounds did growl at him, but Red simply ignore them.

Aerith forced herself look that she belong here and walked confidently forward. Aerith felt that her heart beat too loudly, when they walked pass bigger group of guards. The guard dog in there did growl at them when she walk pass.

Luckily no one did stop them.

Soon they come they destination. Big building, built from solid stone that looked quite old. Brass Chocobo was the name of the place. Sign also looked old, but it was well maintained.

Red took look at her and nodded.

Shop was quite large and everything was neatly at order. On walls were decorations hunting trophies and pictures of chocobo riders with cattle.

There were some people inside, thought Cloud or others were not among them.

Older merchant with suit give bag to women, who nodded and left. She did give them wider breath thought and looked Red little worriedly.

Then old man with good-looking suit turned his attention to them. He seemed to recognized Red.

"Can I help you miss." Older man asked with smile.

"I was supposed to meet my friend here."

"If we are talking owner of the hound that is with you, then yes he was here little while back."

"Did he leave?"

"He and his friends went to check chocobos and wagons they bought." Merchant did say.

"As you wait, there is there something you want to look."

"I don't know, what you have in here?" Aerith asked looking around the store.

"Perhaps something to your hound."

Red turned look towards old man.

"I see you have give it materia to guard." Merchant said and nodded at materia that were in Red's collar.

"Yes… something like that."

"Special collar that could hold materia better." He said and went behind counter.

"It looks that your hound is capable of guarding them." He said and node at Red.

"My grandfather had hound that guarded his purse."

"He put his purse on hounds collar and every time he needed spare money he asked hound to come."

Thought of that made Aerith smile. Merchant went and open big cabinet. Then he took out large collar.

It was looked old but was sturdy, small metal spikes, few slots for materia, there were decorations of beasts in it.

"Hunter's companion. One hunter had made this to his dog." Merchant said with smile.

"Materia that hunter needed and protect his dog. Also it protected his hound throat from other beasts."

"Well Red, would you like to try it?" Aerith said and looked down towards Red.

"How much?" Aerith asked, hoping that she had enough gil with her to pay it.

"To you and your hound it's free."

"What, why?" Aerith asked surprised.

"Hound and your friend hunted down beasts that had caused lot of grief to many."

"What happened?" Aerith asked, realizing that Cloud or Red never told what beasts had done. It had killed hunters, thought they had managed save least one hunter.

That moment she felt how Red's tail hit her legs, little bit stronger, it felt like warning.

"Those Behemoths did killed my daughters and my son-of-law." Old merchant said with heavy voice. Now smile had vanished and sorrow could be heard in his voice.

"I'm sorry." Aerith managed to say after a moment, it sound so pathetic in her ears.

"Well, least those beast don't kill anyone else."

"So we are thankful to your friend and his hound." Old merchant said and nodded towards Red.

"They also managed to bring one hunter one hunter back, thought we are not sure does he survive."

"How come?"

"He get some bad injuries at fight against behemoths, your friend did found him and brought him back to here."

"You know the wounded hunter?" Aerith asked

"He is my nephew." Old man did answer.

"Oh."

After that Aerith took collar and change Red older collar. It seem fit quite well, Aerith change materia into it. Merchant did smile and nodded when Red did straightened out and looked them.

"Well Red how does it feel?" Aerith asked.

Red did snorted.

Merchant was now looking Red more carefully.

"You have this shop long?" Aerith asked, to change subject and take attention away from Red.

"All my live miss." Old man said and turn look at her.

"I'm fifth generation who has this shop."

"I have duty to all before me to uphold it."

Aerith give smile to old man, when he turned away she touched her hair. On her hair were materia that her mother had given to her, materia that had was given to her by her parents, and many before that. It was connection to her heritage.

That moment Cloud stepped from back door.

"We have everything we need. We can leave now." Cloud said to them.

"I assume that you are content the chocobos and wagons?" Merchant asked.

"Yes, thank you."

"My pleasure sir."

"Cloud, I would like take look of that wounded hunter." Aerith said quietly to Cloud.

"What, why?"

"When I healed you I noticed that there where some kind of after effect, taint in your body. It might be from Behemoths attack, spell that Red tell me about. If so, I might be able to help that man."

"Besides you need to get new clothes before we leave, those are almost ripped apart." Aerith continued and pointed Cloud clothes and gear.

Cloud open his mouth to say something, but seemed to relent, he had learnt that sometimes she would not budge. Also Cloud himself did know that he needed new clothes.

"May I made suggestion sir." Merchant said behind them.

Both of them turn to look at him.

"If you don't mind, if you need new clothes, my nephew wife has a shop near were you could get them."

"Name of the shop is The Blond Dress at the main market."

"That sounds good we should make visit there." Aerith said and nodded.

They went to backdoor, in the yard on the back. There was they new carriage that they would use. Barret was sitting drivers seat at the carriage, two big chocobo were pulling on it.

Aerith looked the carriage it remind her little about wagons she had seen in Midgar. Thought this carriage was more sturdy, it had made to travelling in the wildness, not under steel sky of Midgar.

Tifa was there too she also had local clothes and big hat.

"Are we going now?" Barret asked.

"We might draw attention if we all go together."

"You three leave now, me and Aerith follow soon, we just go check that hunter that was wounded before leaving." Cloud said to them.

"Besides I need to get new clothes." Cloud added.

"Alright let's see outside." Barret said.

Tifa open the backdoor of the carriage and Red jumped in.

"If something happens we meet in hunter's hut, Red knows were it is."

"Alright we wait on the gate." Barret said and waved the reins. Chocobos started pull wagons forward.

"See you soon." Tifa added.

Aerith looked when wagons drive away, then she noticed that young boy was walking towards them. He was holding reins of big light orange feathered chocobo.

"Sir." Boy say to Cloud and offered reins to him.

Cloud looked at the chocobo. Aerith think it was a same she had seen Cloud ride before. Now when she looked at it close she could see it looked more bigger and stronger then ones she had seen before. It was more then match the ones that pulled they wagons.

"I have some things what I must do in town, but it back to barn, I will get it later."

"Yes, sir." Boy did say and started to take Chocobo back.

"The wounded hunter is in local clinic?" Aerith asked from Cloud.

"I think so, I roughly know were it is."

Local clinic was solid looking building like everything else in this town. Thought it had small garden next to it.

There were some people inside, one mother with her child that had seemed to hurt her leg. Coughing man and other man with arm in plaster.

They went to nurse that was behind the desk.

"Excuse me, I look local hunter that was brought here last night. He was attacked by Behemoth."

"Yes there is one hunter here. Who are you?" Nurse did asked at Cloud, looking him little suspiciously.

"I am the hunter that brought him back to town." Cloud did answer.

"Oh, you are the one." Nurse did say this time more friendly.

"Well, if you want to see him he is room seven." Nurse answer and give a sad smile.

In the room was the hunter and in the bed next to him was blond women in brown dress and red scarf. She was gently brushing mans hair of his face.

Cloud looked unconformable, he did not want to interrupted them.

"Excuse me miss." Aerith said gently as she could.

Women turned to look at them. He looked Cloud carefully. His sword and physique did certainly stand out.

"Umm, are you perhaps the hunter that brought my husband back."

"Yes, I am the one who find him." Cloud said after a moment of hesitation, he was clearly unconformable.

"We decided to come check how is he." Aerith said cutting in.

"Well…, they say injuries are not fatal, but he seem to have something else in him." Women said and turn to look hunter again.

Aerith looked at the wounded hunter. He seemed to sleep restlessly, also his veins on his face and body were black.

Cloud narrowed his eyes when he looked the hunter.

"He did not look that bad, when we arrive in town."

"Yes he even talked at the evening, but this morning he started lose his conscious."

"They think it might be some poison or something that beast did do?"

"Are you alright, you might be poisoned?" Women said and looked at Cloud.

"There was something in him, but I managed to get it out of him." Aerith said.

"I think it might be same in your friend." Aerith continued and looked towards bedridden man.

"Can you heal him?" Women looked her doubtfully. Aerith understand that, local doctors and medical staff must have tried many things already.

"With your permission I would like to try." Aerith said and stepped front of the women.

"I am sure that I can help." Aerith said reassuringly as she could.

Women did step away. Aerith come next to bed of the hunter.

When she touch him, she noticed same lingering effect that she had noticed in Cloud last evening. Thought taint was more stronger and seemed had spread more widely in the body of the hunter. Unlike Cloud, hunters body did not have strength to fight against it.

Aerith took healing and cleaning materia on her hands. Then she summon her power and started to remove taint that was in the hunter. This time it resisted more then with Cloud, but Aerith was not about to give up. He continued to increase pressure and power, then she felt how taint started to weaken?

Now I got you.

It still take some time to remove all of the taint. It took out of her more then she had thought. She did rested for a moment and then checked hunter. Blackness on his veins seemed to calmed and were more mild now.

He should have chance to recover it self. He seemed sleep more peacefully now.

She turn to look both Cloud and the women.

Cloud was at the door looking outside, like worrying if anyone would see. Women looked at her confused look at her face.

Then hunter moved and open her eyes.

"Helena?" Hunter said.

Women stood for moment there, then she went pass her to next bed and hugged the hunter.

Aerith smiled, well guess Helena get her love back when she looked hugging couple. That moment Aerith remembered that hunters friends were all dead, killed by the behemots. Next moment Aerith felt hand on her shoulder

"We should leave now." Cloud said quietly.

Aerith open her mouth to protest for a moment, but closed it instead and simply nodded. They left couple in they room. When they walk out they noticed that nurse at the reception was speaking with pair of Shinra Guards. Aerith stopped for a moment, that moment Cloud put his arm on her shoulders and guide her forward. They walked pass the guards, luckily nobody did not look at them.

Then they were out of the building.

"Wait!"

Cloud hand went instantly on his sword handle. Women, Helena was running after them.

"I did not get chance to thank you!" Helena said smiling.

"Well you welcome." Cloud said little uncomfortable.

"You take great risk to hunt that behemoth down and you did bring my husband back."

"Sorry that I did not get in time to help others." Cloud did say.

"Well I am thankful what you managed to do." She said and smiled a little, then she turn and looked at Aerith.

"This morning few others tried to heal him with materia, but they did not succeed were you did."

Aerith smiled.

"Who are you miss?" She did asked and looked Aerith more carefully.

"We just travellers that pass by." Cloud said, before Aerith could answer.

"Before you go is there something I could do?" She said and took look at them like sizing them up.

"I'm seamstress and work in clothing store nearby, do you need clothes?" Helena asked and looked Cloud torn clothes.

"Well actually we are looking new clothes for him, Behemoth did torn little these ones." Aerith said and nodded towards Cloud.

"I think I can arrange something, could you wait for moment, I just go tell my husband what is going on.

"Sure, we'll wait for moment." Aerith said.

Helena quickly went to back to clinic. Aerith took look at Cloud, he seem little doubtful and looked around carefully. Guards were still inside clinic and they should not draw too much attention.

Luckily Helena was back soon.

"Come with me." She said.

They followed Helena into her clothing store. The Blond Dress had colourful looking sign. In store were other women at the counter and customer that was just paying her shopping. There were lots of clothes there. Cloud looked little uncomfortable, he was always taken little back when people show him lot of gratitude and attention. Helena was quite lively person.

"I assume that you need clothes that would fit hunting in the wilderness." She asked from Cloud, looking disproving at his little worn and torn clothes.

"That would be nice, but we are kind of hurry." Cloud answered.

"Don't worry I think I have something that would fit you just fine." Helena said and went backroom.

She brought light brown jacket and pants with thick leather. Also there were sturdy looking harness that would be good holding his sword.

"This is actually local wolf leather." This was done for local wolf hunters and others that hunt big game.

Cloud looked clothes for a while, not sure what to think.

"Go on try it." Aerith urged him.

"Alright." He said, took clothes and went to dressing room.

"Do you need help to get it on." Aerith asked teasingly.

"No." Cloud said quickly, he sound little uncomfortable.

Aerith just smiled, teasing Cloud was fun and she know that Cloud could take it.

"You been together long?" Helena asked, taking Aerith by surprise.

"Oh, a while now." Aerith said trying to give vague answer.

"You have this shop long?" Aerith asked to change subject.

"Well I practically grow up in this shop."

"Is your friend a Soldier? His eyes you know." Helena asked and looked more seriously at her.

"He is former one. Thought don't ask him about it."

She looked her questioningly.

"He has little troubled past and has lost a lot. Also he is not people person."

"Well I am thankful that he show up and helped to kill those Behemoths."

"He has hunted some nasty fiends before, I did personally see him take down something really big."

"Like what?"

"Trust me you would not believe me." Aerith said with great amount of assurance.

"Okay, well he brought back horns of those behemoths. Also my husband tell that beasts did managed to surprise them. His friend managed to drive it away with a bomb thought it cost his life to do that." Helena said and sighted. For a moment both of them were quiet.

"Your friend did take care of my husband on they way back."

"He did go out of his way to help him." Helena said. Aerith give small smile to her.

"My husband s also said he thought your friend hound did talk during they trip back." Helena said and laughed.

"Well, that something." Aerith said and make her self laugh little. They should careful that moment people notice that Red could talk, they would certainly be rememberer. Cloud and Red had travelled days and most likely get careless, when they thought that hunter was unconscious. .

That moment Cloud came out of the dressing room. Aerith had to admit he looked like some hunter from tales and pictures she had seen on inns walls. It looked little like his old custom uniform thought this has beast hide and some metal protect his shoulders and arms.

"I assume that they fit well?" Helena did ask.

"Yes." Cloud did answer and fixed little on his other arm testing the glove.

Cloud took his sword and put it on his back again.

"How much?" He asked from Helena and take his purse.

"You can take it a reward for killing those beasts and saving my beloved."

Cloud looked little hesitant.

"Thank you again." Aerith said his behalf.

"If you need anything else just drop by."

Cloud nodded and then they left.

Outside Cloud looked little his new clothes.

"I think it fit quite nicely." Aerith said looking at him.

"Yeah guess we fit in." Cloud answer and looked around. There were some Shinra Guards with they hounds at the market but they were few and far between. Aerith still put her cape up.

"Well guess it is time to leave." Aerith said and looked around, this has been nice town. Something she has not seen before.

"Just a moment." Cloud said and looked towards market.

"I just need to buy something."

Cloud walked towards stall that was selling knifes. Aerith looked around when Cloud started to talk with seller. There were people at markets, but now there were little nervous atmosphere. Aerith rememberer few moments in Midgar when sector 5 had been same feeling. Sometimes something had happen, like fight or "accidents".

"Would you like some apples miss, just one gil?" One seller asked her when she looked around. Aerith turn her attention back to her. Seller was young girl with basket of apples. Aerith looked for moment remembering how herself had started to sell flowers in Midgar. For a moment she just look at the girl. After few moments girl started look her unsure.

"Oh..., yes like to have one." Aerith said and took one gil from her purse.

"Thank you miss." Girl said and give her a red apple.

Aerith took the apple, girl did smile and walked away. For a moment Aerith just stand there remembering how her live had change. She looked apple at her hand, not sure what to do. Then she decided put it on her pocket.

That moment Cloud came back.

"I have something to you." Cloud said

Cloud turned around and he showed a blade to her.

"Knife?" Aerith said and looked a the blade.

"It's dagger." Cloud corrected her.

"Daggers are sharp at both sides, knifes usually have just one side sharpen, thought some have tip of other side sharpen as well.

Aerith looked moment at her bodyguard. Cloud was sincere, he was giving her a gift.

"You know Cloud, I can see that you give this kind of gift to a girl." Aerith said.

"I am from countryside Aerith, and we are going into wilderness. It's good to have something like this." Cloud said and he sound quite serious.

Aerith took blade at her hand, it did felt sturdy. As a florist she had used garden tools but this was something else.

Of course she had learn to defend herself, thought she used her magic and staff to keep monsters and some unsavoury characters away. Were-rats and some other beasts were threat in slums. Also robbery or something worse was also a threat.

"I remember story about princess who did take name Dagger to conceal her identity." Aerith said remembering one story she had read.

"Here is the sheath to it, you can carry it on your belt or in your boot." Cloud said and handed sheath to her.

"Which place I should put it?"

"It's yours now, you choose."

"Which one you recommend?" Aerith asked and took the sheath.

"Well in here most women hold some knife on their belt. Mayby you should follow the suit." Cloud did answer.

Aerith put dagger in it's sheath and then tied it into her belt, it was now on her side. Aerith did pull blade out and looked at Cloud who seem pleased.

"You know my last boyfriend did buy me a hair ribbon." She said and hold dagger on her hand.

Cloud turned serious and looked her into eyes.

"I'm not him."

"Yeah, I know that." Aerith said and lowered her gaze.

"Did you buy other blade as well?" Aerith asked to change to subject.

Cloud put his hand behind his back and pull out sturdy looking blade, knife actually Aerith corrected herself.

"Well you are really prepared."

"This is frontier, attacks of different beasts are more common here." Cloud said, holding his blade on his hand.

Aerith looked at they blades, her dagger was slender. Cloud knife were more sturdier. For a moment they hold they blades there front of them.

"Are we going stand here and measuring about sizes of our weapons" Aerith asked and tilted her head.

Cloud did looked her for moment, sighed and put his knife away.

"Are you mad?" Aerith asked teasingly and smiled, when she put her dagger into it's sheath.

That moment sound explosion was heard at the market, Aerith did look around. People on the market where as stunned as she was. They looked around confused and try understand what has just happen.

Cloud was not confused, before Aerith could say anything, her bodyguard had grabbed Aerith on her arm and started to take her away from market.

Aerith take look back when Cloud take her through crowd, smoke had started to rise from direction of the train station. People had started to get away from market as well.

Some people had draw they weapons and looked around worriedly. Some shop-owners started to take they merchandises away. Mothers had started to drag they children away from market. Some people still stand around not knowing what to do.

Worse Shinra's guards started to show up on the market on greater numbers. Cloud took her on alleyway. For a moment they were out of sight. They could hear that guards and dogs were coming from around corner.

Would guards ignore them or would they look suspicious.

Aerith looked at Cloud, he was hesitating, making scene here would be great risk.

"Cloud, play along." Aerith said quickly and before her bodyguard could say anything, she dragged them both against the wall, pressed her body against his and hugged him as tight as she could. Next moment guards did come to alley.

Several guards and hounds went pass them. They did ignore young couple that embrace each-others on the street. Like they did ignore few other people that went against the wall to give them space.

Big mechanic sweeper also come with few guards, it's heavy footsteps make Aerith heart beat faster and her guts felt like someone were squishing them with a cold grip when mech did go past them. She remember when she and Cloud were forced to fight them before. Those had not been easy fights. But like guards it did walked pass them.

Except one guard with guard-dog slowed and looked at them.

Aerith took her best huffy expression and directed mean look at the guard.

"Would you mind!" She said with annoyed voice.

"I am sorry miss…" Guard said and after moment of hesitation he and dog went after others.

For a moment Aerith continued hugging Cloud, then they turn to look at the alley. People were moving at the alley, but most of them ignore them, people looked after guards or walked pass them.

People just tried to understand what had happen and looked towards station were smoke was rising. Aerith let out sigh of relief and she let herself relax again.

Aerith turn look at Cloud, they were still hugging each others. Their bodies were pressed against each others.

Suddenly Aerith's heart started to beat faster again. Her hands were on Cloud's body and arms , she could feel his muscles underneath. It felt nice.

Cloud arms were around her, his hand on her back, then his other hand moved down towards her backside. That sent shiver through her body and make Aerith gasp.

Her mouth felt dry and Aerith licked her lips. Cloud was so close, she could feel his breath, his glowing eyes were looking at her intensely. Aerith hands rise up and brushed his neck and hair. She felt how Cloud pulled her body closer against his.

Aerith closed her eyes and open her lips to receive a kiss.

That moment gunshots were fired. Instantly Cloud had taken her down the street, covering her body with his own. Aerith was stunned for moment; Cloud was looking around looking source of the gunfire. Then he was up, before Aerith could understand what was happening Cloud grasped her arm and pulled her up.

Now they were running. Aerith took look back, behind at the alley and in the plaza people were screaming and running. It was now full chaos. More gunfire could be heard.

Cloud take turn to side-street and they run there for a moment. Then Cloud take them on the main street that take to main gate. Something was happening at the gate. Cloud did stopped and they looked towards main entrance.

"Dammit they are closing the gates."

They looked when gates were closing and big mech was taking position middle of the road. Guards with hounds were there too. Worst few Soldiers could be seen there too.

"Do you think it was Barrets gun-arm that shoot." Aerith asked and tried looked over the crowds to see what was happening at the gate.

"No, gun that was firing had different sound and came from different direction."

"We must hope that Barret, Red and Tifa did get are out." Aerith said.

"We have to find place to hide and wait." Cloud said.

Aerith took last look towards the gate, it was now closed and heavily guarded. Some people were standing there not knowing what to do.

How we get out?

Then Cloud pulled her back to side-streets and they vanish among the crowd.