Part
Nine: Dance With Me
I shifted slightly placing my head in my hands as I lay on my stomach watching the reception dinner. All my friends were sitting at a table at the front of a large dance room. Cid sat next to Tifa in the center, Cloud to the right, with Barret and Marlene to the right of him. Yuffie sat next to Tifa on her right and Vincent next to Yuffie. Red XIII and Cait Sith sat at the end of the long table.
They had all finished the dinner and were reminiscing about this and that when Cid tapped the side of his champagne glass with his fork. Everyone shifted his or her attention to the front table. Cloud rose to give his speech. The crowd began to applaud.
"Alright, calm down." He said waving his hands in a downward motion to settle the crowd. They settled and he began his speech.
"Now, most of you know me and my friends. They need no introduction. I wasn't planning to talk about our battle, but I found it difficult not to do so. I won't go into detail, but must say this. There is no way I could have gotten through that battle without them and another friend who is no longer with us."
I knew he was talking about me. I whispered a thank you to him and listened in again as Cloud continued his speech.
"I grew up with Tifa. She was and still is my best friend. You were always there for me, thank you. Cid, I was intrigued by you from day one. Mostly due to your colorful choice of words."
"Oh stop, you're makin' me all teary." Cid cut in, faking a short whimper in his usual gruff voice.
The crowd laughed. Cloud waved his hands in the same downward motion as before. The crowd settled along with Cid.
"You both have been someone for me to confide in these past months. The whole group has. I've watched you two flirt with each other almost to an annoying point. It brings me great joy to see two of my close friends become one. I whish you both the best of luck."
He moved to sit down and the crowd applauded. About half way to the chair Cloud stood back up again and said. "Oh, and Cid," Cid raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement. "Watch out for her left hook. It'll put ya out. And not in the good way."
Everyone laughed again. This time Cid stood with Tifa following close behind. He raised his glass to make the final statement before the dance. Everyone listened closely.
"Thanks man." Cid spoke and he nodded to Cloud. "Now me and my beautiful wife, Tifa…" He paused and looked at her. "Damn that feels good ta say!" He joked and Tifa smiled at him.
He continued. "Seriously, we both have only a few things to say and then we can all get the dancin'' thing goin'." Suddenly, Cid's tone became very serious. "First off, we have to thank everyone at the front table."
Tifa cut in. "You guys are great. You have always supported us. I don't know what we would have done without you guys to talk to us when we got in fights, lecture us even, or even joke with us."
Cid looked at her and blinked blankly a few times. "Yeah… what she said. Also we, and I personally, have to thank one special person. There is one girl that is the reason we are standing here today. She is the only chance any of us ever had."
Cid knelt down and picked up something stashed under the table. He brought it up and showed the object to the crowd. "This was hers. She used it with ability and skill like no other. Her magic capability was unmatched."
The object was a rod, a metal guard rod. It was mine. They had kept my guard rod. Tied around the center was a pink ribbon, my ribbon, the same ribbon that had fallen from my hair when Sephiroth stuck me down. A tear rolled down my face. They had kept it and they were honoring me.
Cid held my rod with pride and said. "Sadly, she is gone. She sacrificed her own life to save the world. I have never known anyone more pure and kind. Aerith Gainsborough, we thank you."
Cid held my rod high in the air above his head. Then he slowly lowered it and handed it to Cloud. Cloud looked confused, so Cid leaned over and whispered into Cloud's ear.
"Keep it man. She would want you to have it." Cloud took the rod from Cid's hands and nodded to him, thanking him silently.
Several minutes later the DJ Tifa had hired began to play music. About a dozen coupes set out to the rather large dance floor. Tifa and Cid set out dancing closely to the swing song that played. Other than them none of my friends danced. They sat or stood around watching other couples dance.
Marlene tugged at the cuff of Barret's dress shirt and pulled him to dance over by the table my friends had moved to. After rolling his eyes Barret reluctantly obliged and trudged to the dance floor. He threw Marlene in the air in several different fashions. The whole time Marlene squealed with joy as she was tossed and twirled in the air and on the floor.
I laughed. It was really quite a hysterical sight to see Barret swing dancing. Even more peculiar was the site of Cid without a cigarette in his mouth. But just then, as he spun Tifa outwards, he reached for his lighter and lit a cigarette he had tossed in his mouth.
"Oh Cid, that's such a filthy habit." I sighed and rolled my eyes. Cid would be Cid. That's the way things were.
The lifestream river portal shifted to show Cloud sitting at the table with the others. Yuffie was sitting down in a chair opposite Cloud with Vincent standing behind her. Red XIII and Cait Sith were drowning themselves in the punch.
Cloud just slumped in his chair. He looked so sad and alone it tore my heart in two. Now, now was the time to tell him, to whisper a hint to him.
I stood up from the grass and brushed myself off. I stretched out my arms and concentrated. I am trying to create a dress for myself. I am going to the dance.
I concentrated hard and my clothes disappeared. The pink dress replaced by an ankle length red silk dress. The dress had two long ribbons for straps that started from the bust and crossed to meet around my neck and tie in the back, holding the dress in a halter position. No other support existed, only the two ribbons about three feet long supported the otherwise strapless/sleeveless dress. The ribbons hung down my back a tossed back and forth ever so slightly in the gentle breeze. Two strips of two-inch thick red transparent lace crisscrossed down the dress. The lace strips gradually become as thick as fifteen inches at the bottom. The bottom of the dress flares slightly and waves a bit. I have on red pumps with long leather ties that crisscross up to my knees. My gloves are only wrist length, but they also have two straps that crisscross and run up to my elbow. My hair is down and flows in smooth waves down my back.
I am ready. I concentrate again and my body begins to glow. I am teleported to the ballroom. I can see Tifa and Cid still dancing to the swing song and Cloud is still as melancholy as ever. It seems as though no one can see me. I pray Cloud can, though. He must see me. He doesn't.
He is looking down towards the ground. Perhaps he just hasn't noticed me yet. Oh, I hope so, dear Planet I hope so! I thought moving towards him.
I want this moment to be perfect. The perfect song must be playing. I whispered softly to the mind of the DJ. He looked puzzled at first but then started the song I wanted him to play.
Soft strings and synchronized snapping could be heard. Perfect. I walked up to Cloud who was still staring at the ground in front of him. I whispered in his ear, smiling. "Will you dance with me?"
He did not bother to look up; he only shook his head as a "no". Good at least he could hear me.
"Please, I didn't go to the trouble of getting dressed up so you could say 'no'".
Then a drum and other instruments joined in as the voice of a female jazz singer sung.
Wade in
the water children'
Cloud looked up slowly his eyes carefully examining my dress as they worked their way up my form. His eyes were hard and focused until they met mine. Once he saw my face he rubbed his eyes a little and his mouth fell open.
'Wade,
yeah, in the water
God's
gonna trouble the water, yeah'
I placed my fingers under his mouth and slowly closed it. I held out my hand just as these lyrics were sung.
Wade in
the Water'
His eyes still wide he took my hand probably thinking he was crazy. He did not utter a single word, yet he asked a million questions. I led him to dance.
'Must be
the children that Moses led
God's gonna trouble the water, oh'
Cloud wrapped his arm around my waist and dance slowly with me. I took his hand in mine as he pulled me close to him.
Wade in
the water children'
We danced slow and close feeling each move the other made even though I was not really there and we received many confused glares. Cloud ignored them all. He caressed my hair and pulled me even closer. He could feel me and see me, but
'Wade,
yeah, in the water
God's
gonna trouble the water, yeah'
I rested my head on his shoulder and continued to dance. I saw Cid dancing with Tifa and the way he was looking at her. Much the same way Cloud was looking at me, with intense love and desire. The couple was whispering sweet nothings into each other's ear.
Wade in
the water'
I loved this. The lyrics fit perfectly with what was happening, as I knew they would. I was dressed in Red, Tifa in White, and… well we would see who was the next young girl.
'Must be the children that's the Israelite, oh
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah'
We continued to dance and Tifa and Cid stopped to look at Cloud. To them it seemed as though he was dancing with himself.
Wade in the water children'
I saw Tifa and Cid frowning at us, confused. Then suddenly Cid smiled. I had told him I was here in spirit. He understood and told Tifa. She smiled with him and danced along with us.
'Wade,
yeah, in the water
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah'
The vocals faded out for about a roughly a minute giving way to an instrumental solo. All sorts of sounds could be heard, but the Saxophone and Drums carried the beat. Cloud turned me slightly and looked down at me. He opened his mouth to speak, but I quickly silenced him with a short sweet kiss.
"Not now." I whispered to him. He his eyes threatened to tear and I held him closer. Embracing him as we swayed back and forth to the music. I knew he was confused and hated to see him so. I would wait to tell him the truth. For now we simply danced.
We turned slightly and I caught a glimpse of Yuffie, now standing next to the punch bowl. She was tapping her feet and looked very anxious to dance. She heard someone approaching her from behind. She turned slowly to see Vincent standing with his hand in his pockets about five feet away. He lazily strolled up to her with one eyebrow raised and a charming look on her face. He tossed his hair back and gazed at her seductively.
The vocals returned this time adding background singers on a few lines.
'Who's that young girl dressed in Blue?
Wade in the water'
Yuffie looked confused. Vincent smiled devilishly and stepped up to her. He bowed and offered her his hand. Yuffie first giggled with joy and then stood up straight taking his hand and attempting to look as refined as he truly was.
'Must be the children that's comin' through
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah'
Vincent led Yuffie towards the dance floor and took her into his arms. Yuffie normally had a huge smile on her face, but the smile she had on now could blind Diamond Weapon.
Wade in the water children'
Yuffie and Vincent danced close. After a few minutes they whispered something about material and guns to each other.
'Wade,
yeah, in the water
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah'
This truly was perfect. Yuffie was the girl in Blue. All my friends had come together even Red XIII and Cait Sith were dancing now, with each other no less.
'If you don't believe I've been redeemed
Oh, Wade in the water'
We are together again, for these few moments. Everyone sensed it. I knew my friends cherished this time as I did.
'Just see the Holy Ghost lookin' for me
God's gonna trouble the water'
Everyone knew the song was nearly over. No one wanted it to end, certainly not I. I took a deep breath in and looked around, stilling dancing with Cloud.
Wade in the water children'
We all looked at each other. We knew and could feel the love in the air.
'Wade,
yeah, in the water
God's gonna trouble the water, yeah'
Everyone was aware of the situation and Cloud no longer received looks of confusion, a few looks of compassion perhaps, but mostly looks of awe. I looked at my friends.
'Oh, ooh, ooh, ooh, oooh, yeah'
Cid looked at Tifa and kissed her as only a husband may kiss a wife. The kiss forever sealed their unity.
'do, do, do, do, do doo, yeah'
Vincent looked down at Yuffie. Her eyes glittered and she leaned up and kissed him putting a surprised look on his face that soon turned to a content gaze.
'Mmm, mm, mm, mm, mmm, yeah'
I looked up at Cloud. The music began to fade out. Cloud stopped dancing and looked at me. "Don't go." He said, a desperate look in his eyes.
"I am not really here." I said.
"I miss you." He whispered, a tear ran down his face. I paid no attention to his remark, only smiled. I placed my hand on his cheek and brushed away his tear. I leaned in close.
"Come find me." I whispered in his ear. "Find me where the holy material is resting still."
He looked puzzled for a moment, but I said only enough to spark a light in his head. His eyes suddenly held an understanding in them that they had lacked for months. The song ended and I almost couldn't believe that with all that had happened only a few minutes had passed. Now it was time to go.
As I stepped away from Cloud he just gazed at me. He made no move to grasp me as I slowly flickered out of my partial existence. There was no need. He knew I was not even truly there.
I gazed back into his mako-green eyes and again saw the understanding he had yearned for so long. As I disappeared the last thing I saw was the intense glow of those eyes I loved so much. I knew now that those eyes belonged to a man who had found the answer to an everlasting question. "Why?"