Bring on the Rain part 2
"So, how's this look?" Cloud asked. He was in a snappy black tuxedo that looked prefect. Vincent nodded.
"It looks very nice. I believe Tifa will like it." Cid itched his eyes.
"Weren't you a little grumpy with her today?" he asked. Cloud sighed.
"I've just been under a lot of stress lately. I know she understands. She's stressed too. With the opening of the new bar and all." Vincent paid the storeowner and took out a list.
"Let me see…we did the menus, the price list, the tux, and the cake was ordered. I think that's it." Cid grinned.
"Now we can finally get around to your bachelor party." Cloud rolled his eyes.
"C'mon guys. Do we have to?" Vincent frowned.
"While normally I would side with you Cloud, it is a traditional wedding ceremony, as much as the wedding itself." Cid slapped Vincent on the back, causing his knees to buckle.
"Damn right it is! We'll get the strippers and get Tifa out of the bar." Cloud shook his head. Today was too stressful. What else could go wrong?
"I guess I'll pay a visit." Sephiroth set his sword down on the vivid green ground and smiled at Aeris. "Wanna come?" Aeris sighed.
"I really want to. I miss Cloud dearly but…Rufus asked me to help him find someone around here. The Tseng asked me to go for a walk with him. I'm busy the rest of the day." Aeris stopped and looked around. It was an exact replica of the living world, just green floors and full of dead people. They were on the outskirts of Wutai. "If this place has a night and day." Sephiroth laughed. It was a nice laugh, different from the ones when he was alive.
"You're too soft Aeris." She shrugged and turned around to walk back to Kalm, where Tseng and Rufus were. It would only take her a moment to get there, since she was dead.
"Perhaps." She smiled mysteriously. "But maybe you're too naive." Sephiroth shrugged and Aeris disappeared. He turned and walked into Wutai.
"I'm back Tifa." Cloud dragged his body to a table and slumped in his seat. Tifa came running in and threw her arms around him.
"Oh Cloud! I'm glad you're back. Since you came back early, we can relax before we open the bar up." He smiled.
"Good, I'm dead tired." He hugged her back and stood up. "If you want, I'll make dinner." She smiled.
"Not by yourself! I'll help." They seemed unaware of the other man in the room. Sephiroth walked next to Cloud into the kitchen. He watched the couple bustle around making dinner. He gave a short laugh.
"Hard to believe Aeris is in love with him." He said out loud. Of course, no one heard him. He heard the door burst open and Yuffie ran into the room.
"Guys, this is sooo cool!" she shouted. The couple turned.
"What is?" Cloud asked. Yuffie was grinning ear to ear. She reached into pocket and pulled out a Materia Orb.
"I dropped one and it broke open. Look what's inside!" The group looked. The orb was cracked in half and inside was pure lifestream. Cloud nodded.
"That is pretty cool." Tifa laughed.
"I always wondered what that liquid was inside!" Yuffie nodded and jumped up, clearly hyper. When she came down, she hit a loose board and the liquid went flying…into Cloud's mouth. He gagged and spit most of it out. But some trickled down his throat. Sephiroth laughed while Yuffie and Tifa huddled around to make sure he was ok.
"Are you alright?" Tifa asked in alarm. Cloud sighed.
"Let's not do that again…" Yuffie nodded.
"I'm so sorry. I just got so excited…" Cloud shrugged it off. But for some reason, he felt odd.
"I'm going…to go lie down." Tifa agreed and sent him to bed. While Sephiroth tried to leave to go see Aeris, he was tugged along with Cloud. He followed Cloud up the stairs, into his room and watched him lay down and fall asleep. For some reason, he too, fell asleep. It was strange, for a dead man to sleep. But he did. Very well.
"Cloud, ready? Are you feeling better, we need to open up the bar now." Sephiroth opened his eyes. Tifa was starring at him. Apparently, Cloud must be behind me, he thought. Tifa poked him. No that couldn't be right. She couldn't poke him. He had no body, nothing to poke. Yet he felt it.
"What the hell?" he wondered. Tifa smiled.
"Well, at least you can talk. Do you feel better?" Sephiroth blinked.
"You can hear me?" Tifa laughed.
"When I want to." He shook his head and sat up in bed. Sat up in bed…? "Is something wrong Cloud?" He turned to her.
"Why did you just call me Cloud?" he asked. She grabbed a hand mirror off the desk and put it front of him. Sephiroth gave a yell of surprise. He briefly wondered if Aeris had heard it.
"Hey, wake up Sephy. Time to go to dinner with Rufus and Aeris." Cloud rubbed his forehead and opened his eyes. Imagine his surprise to see Tseng standing in front of him. Cloud stood up quickly.
"Tseng!" he cried. "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!" Tseng laughed.
"Uh, duh? You killed me." Tseng frowned. "Something wrong?" Cloud nodded swiftly.
"First of all, Sephiroth killed you, not me!" Tseng held up his hand.
"What, are there two of you?" Cloud stopped.
"Huh? You think…I'm Sephiroth?" Tseng nodded.
"I know you are. Look in the mirror." Cloud turned to the mirror. He later realized his scream of surprise called them over.
"What's up with Sephy?" Rufus asked, appearing next to Tseng. Tseng shrugged as a familiar person appeared. A girl. Cloud decided this had to be a dream. It had to be. Because she was…
"Sephy, are you ok?" Aeris asked him. Cloud smiled and walked over to her, starring at her with a mix of joy and disbelief.
"Of course I am…Aeris."
Author's Note: Well well, Interesting no? Well, look out for the next chapter. When they truly realize who they are….