The sun shined brightly outside the open window, as cool air seeped through and into the quiet apartment. Cloud had awoke earlier than usual, sitting on the couch, as he thought quietly to himself. She looked exactly like her, but how could one person act completely different from before. He gently smoothed his fingers through his thick blonde spikes, as he pressed his hands against his face.
He quickly turned into another direction, as he heard the bedroom doorknob slowly turn. Aeris walked out, all dressed up in the brand new clothes that Tifa had brought to her. Cloud stared at her for a brief moment, as he let his thoughts carry him away. She was beautiful all right, her long brown hair was placed loosely behind her, not in its usual braid.
She was dressed in rather casual compared to her other outfit. Aeris wore a short mini skirt, with a knitted sweater, that revealed part of her stomach. Something Tifa would wear, Cloud thought. She slowly made her way into the living room, standing beside the couch, nervously fidgeting with her fingernails, that were painted a light shade of pink.
"Tifa should be here..," Cloud uttered, turning away. Aeris paused for a moment, when she finally build up enough courage to speak.
"You hate me, don't you?" she questioned, her voice fragile against the frail air. Cloud's eyes trailed to the floor, as he then looked up at her.
Quickly turning away, "What makes you think that?"
Aeris muffled something, as she continued, "You're never around. Do you really want to get away from me that bad? I mean...if you don't want me around I understand. Maybe, I'm just a burden to you, anyway."
Cloud held onto the hard expression upon his face, when the doorbell suddenly rang out, in alarm. He slowly walked over, and pulled it open.
"Hey," Tifa uttered, her arms around her body, trying to keep warm. She quickly invited herself in, kicking her boots against the rugged carpet, "Well, you're up early." Cloud only gave a hint of a smile, as he found his place on the couch.
"Aeris, those clothes fit you perfectly. That's a good thing. Are you ready?" she questioned, with a warm smile upon her face. Aeris nodded, as she stepped outside the door, without looking back. Tifa turned over, glancing at Cloud, who had a stern expression upon his face. He looked at her, then quickly turned away. Tifa took a deep breath, then exited the door.
"Are you sure everything's okay?" Tifa asked, a concern look upon her face. The air gently rustled through her honey colored hair, as the two walked in quietness for some while. Aeris looked over at a tall man seated outside a cafe, then turned back to her friend.
"Of course, I can't blame him, right? After all, you told me he's always been this way," she replied, with a pleasant smile.
"You don't remember a thing....if you did...," Tifa uttered, beneath her breath. Aeris gave her a look of uncertainty.
"What?" she questioned, glancing at the girl. Tifa shook her head, still with thought. Didn't you know he loved you? If you only remembered...maybe I wouldn't be here right now...
Aeris smiled, taking her by the hand, as the two entered a small flower shop, by the slums. Tifa smiled, as she glanced around at the different types of flowers that encircled the small room. The scent was absolutely astounding.
"It's beautiful...," she uttered, smiling. Aeris flashed her a smile, as she walked over to a vase, filled with an unknown pinkish flower, that showed much of it's beauty. Tifa stood still, admiring Aeris. The girl that was only found a couple days ago, but still looked the same, with every little thing that reminded her of the true Aeris.
"Tifa," she exclaimed, cheerfully, "Wouldn't these look nice in the apartment?" Tifa smiled, but although, inside she was dying. Everything was Cloud, although her words hadn't said so. She didn't know whether to envy the young woman or love her as every one of their friends did.
Tifa nodded, "Yeah...gorgeous."
The city was lit brightly with bright lights of the lamps upon the clear streets. Except, for the dark alleys just ahead. Aeris smiled, happily, as she sniffed at the flowers she had piled in her hands. Tifa gave her a glance, then continued walking in silence.
"Do you remember when I was telling you about Cloud?" she questioned, uncertain. Aeris glanced at her, with a confused look. Just as she was about to answer, she quickly turned to a shadow, that moved swiftly behind a tall empty building. Aeris stopped in her tracks, her face revealing startles. Tifa studied the young woman's features, then glanced around, at the nearly empty streets.
"What's wrong?" she questioned, interuppting the quietness. She stood still, her hands clenching tightly onto the flowers.
"He's here...," she uttered, her voice steady. Tifa's eyes tightened.
"What? What are you talking about, Aeris?" she asked, confused.
"I hear them...they're telling me...telling me...," Aeris' voice slowly trailed off, as she stood in silence for a brief moment, "He's after me....who is he???" Her soft emerald eyes slowly dimmed away, as she closed them, standing in the silence around her. Tifa studied her expression, that hadn't revealed much.
"Run??....Where do you want me to go??" Aeris uttered, nearly a whisper, as her expression tightened.
Tifa wondered, "Who are you talking to??" Suddenly a thought occurred, The Ancients...it has to be...Aeris is talking to the voice of the planet. But how? I thought she lost her memory...how? Why?
Before she had a chance to question, Aeris' eyes quickly opened wide, as she then began to run, away far from where she stood. Tifa's eyes adjusted onto her, as her shadow soon disappeared through a back alley.
"AERIS!" she called out, but to no avail, she continued to chase her down the empty streets. Where could she be?? No, I can't do this alone. Cloud. I'll call Cloud. He'll know what to do. Tifa quickly turned back, as she headed towards the city.
"Fuck no! How many fucken times do I have to tell your asses that this ain't my fucken que!!!" Cid yelled out, as his smoke dropped from his mouth. He quickly slammed the deck of cards onto the table, as he mumbled something, angrily. Yuffie sat in alarm, as she stared at Vincent. Who had sat calmly, as usual.
"Hey! No mild language in the presence of a lady!" she squealed, angrily.
"Some lady! Listen little girl. If you don't wanna get hurt....then stay the fuck away from me!! I haven't got time for your stupid ass whining!!" Cid called back. Yuffie stuck out her tongue, as she sat back down, pouting.
Cloud looked away, "I don't know...what the hell could I do, anyways?"
Barret took in a deep breath, "Well, first off, you need to start gettin' up off your lazy ass and get some work done. Get some shit straightened out." Cloud plopped down on the chair beside the kitchen table, as he exhaled deeply.
"She's not the same person, all right? Can't you just understand that??" he mumbled, standing up once again. He walked over to the window, as he peered out into the quiet streets. A small figure soon came into focus, as Cloud realized Tifa running quickly towards the building. He immediately walked over to the door pulling it open.
Barret turned to him, startled, "The hell are you doin'?!?!" But before he received any answers, Cloud had disappeared through the door. Cid let out a laugh.
"Hey, let him be..the kid's still young."
His boots thudded loudly against the hard concrete covered with rain. The skies soon grew dark, as the moonlight was then hidden away behind shifting clouds. Where the hell could that girl be? He thought. Tifa had precisely told that she was headed north of the Sectors. Cloud paused, as he stared into each direction, without any ounce of hope that he would find her sitting behind a dark alley.
He continued his pace, as he slowed down. Only to hear soft murmuring, and the quick shuffle of light boots against the puddles. He quickly followed the trail of voices, and stopped when he noticed a woman's body running through a dark alley, unsteadily.
Cloud began to run after her, when he noticed she had tripped over a puddle, and was quickly knocked onto the ground. Aeris struggled to get up, but was stopped by a looming figure before her.
"Aeris...," he uttered, staring helplessly down at the dirt covered woman. She had looked disorganized and unstable. He took another step towards her but stopped again. Only to see her emerald eyes that pierced into his, with fright.
"Get away!" she yelled out, her voice revealing her nervousness. He stared down at her, but hadn't made an attempt to move.
"It's okay...it's me, Cloud," he replied, kneeling down in front of her. Aeris quickly budged away, as she shuffled on the ground, her eyes not once blinking.
"Cloud...," she exhaled, staring into his blue eyes, "No...just leave...leave me alone..please..." Cloud stared at the helpless girl, as he reached out to her, but his hand was quickly slapped away, "I said, LEAVE!"
"Aeris...," he uttered.
She quickly turned away, "Is that all you could say?? Aeris...I'm not who you think I am. You're mistaken! Leave me alone!!!" Her voice slowly trailed off, left only a soft whimpering, "You don't understand...you don't know how it feels....how it feels to know nothing. Not even your own past. You don't know what the hell it feels like to suffer! You can't understand me! He wanted me...only as a stupid specimen!! What for...I'm human, just like everyone else."
As she talked, the rain suddenly grew harder, as it covered her face, completely. Cloud stared hard at her, his eyes not blinking, but showed of his anger. She had felt right then and there, that he wanted to yell at her, scream at her. But he just sat there, staring, without a word.
"I don't know....I don't know anything anymore....I don't fucken give a damn about life!! Just leave!! You don't know me!! You don't know what it feels like to live each day knowing that you'll never get peace in life. Living only by hardships...survival...," Aeris uttered, her hands pressed down on the cold cement.
Cloud quickly grabbed hard onto her small shoulders, startling her, "What the hell do you know?!?!? Don't you act like you even know what real pain is! You know how many times I go living knowing that I did something wrong?!?! Something that hurts more than your stupid loss of identity. Its the fact of knowing that the one you cared about so much, died because you couldn't save her. And now even if I found her, you think I still live happily knowing that she doesn't even remember me. Now, that's pain."
Aeris' eyes fixed onto his, as she felt tears surpassing her cheeks, endlessly. She looked away, feeling weak, "...That's right. I don't know. I don't know anything...I don't know anyone. See, that's my problem, I can't even figure out my own name!" Cloud's grip slowly loosened as he stared at the helpless girl. She then began to whimper, a soft whimper. Aeris quickly pressed her face onto Cloud's chest, as her cries soon softened.
He sat there, holding her with one arm, as she gripped tightly onto his body, crying out, into the night. But what was only heard, was her soft muffled cries. Tifa stood still, behind the tall building, as she stared at the two. She felt her heart begin to pounce against her chest, as she couldn't bare another moment. All this time, she had held it in. But that was no more, she stood there, watching them, as she felt the warm tears slowly surpass her cheek.