Chapter 5
DO I KNOW YOU ?
Tifa looks at herself on the mirror with astonishment. Whispering, she mumbles some words that express her disbelief on what she sees. Surely, there are many times she sees herself on her reflection on mirror, but this time is different. She wears her wedding gown, just to satisfy her curiosity how she would look like at her wedding day she always dreams about. A white satin wedding gown is perfectly suited to her perfect body. Tifa smiles at herself and imagines how everyone at the wedding party will hold their breath to see her in such fashion. All she does is for him, her beloved one. On that day, Tifa really wants to be perfect in everything, although only just for a day.
"Well…?", a voice comes from behind. From reflection on the mirror, Tifa knows who that is. Red XIII. He just passed by Tifa's room and found its door opened.
"Oh, hi, Red….come in…", Tifa greets the beast. Her eyes still stick on the mirror, looking for even a tiny thing that would ruin her perfect appearance. Red XIII sits next to Tifa and stares at her.
"How is my look, Red ?", Tifa asks Red for opinion. Being asked such question makes Red think what answer will satisfy her. Since he is not human, he cannot measure how handsome or how beautiful someone is. Tifa looks at Red with her eye corner, a sign that she wants an answer.
"You look good", Red finally replies. Tifa nods her head and speaks, "This will be my most important event in my life, I must be perfect on that day !". She smirks at her reflection on the mirror. Red glances at Tifa. "Do you mean your wedding day ? When will that be ?", he asks. As Tifa is going to reply, suddenly another person comes into her room.
"Gosh…Tifa…woooow…". It is Yuffie. Her mouth is opened as she watches a perfect beauty in front of her very eyes. Tifa giggles softly to see from the mirror reflection, how Yuffie is very amazed. "That Cloud guy would surely out of breath seeing you in this gown !", Yuffie smirks and snaps her finger. "Hey..hey…don't let him see me in this dress before the day comes…let this be surprise to him", Tifa responds with blush. At that point she remembers about something she wanted to ask before. "Red…about that day…What if you decide when will that the day be ?".
Red XIII looks at Tifa with puzzled look. "Why me ? I don't mind giving advise on good day to have marriage, but I guess Cait Sith is more accurate on fortune-telling", Red gives explanation.
"That's because I admire you, Red", Tifa replies with smile. She gives Red a pleading look, hoping that he will do her favor. "Well…", Red responds slowly, "I guess that'll be fine, heh, being a matchmaker is not a bad idea after all". Tifa smiles after knowing Red's availability.
"Besides, Cait Sith had done fortune-telling about Cloud and Aeris before, remember ?", Yuffie adds spontaneously. Hearing this, Red XIII quickly gives his sharp look to the young ninja who suddenly realizes that sensitive matter.
"Whoopss…", Yuffie closes her mouth with her hand. She looks sorry for what she just said. "…Tifa…I'm so sorry…I don't wanna mess this…you know…that's just..um…joking…". Yuffie speaks clumsily. Red XIII sighs.
Red XIII sighs.
Yuffie…Yuffie…when would you change ?, he asks himself, concerned. Tifa only smiles. "It's okay, Yuffie, we all know that…don't worry", she tries to cheer up Yuffie. She really wants to ignore Yuffie's words as she realizes those words make her worry. Having an engagement ring wrapped her finger does not guarantee everything would be fine. However, she knows very well how her best friend and rival's feeling does not change over time toward the one man they both love.
…………….
Cloud spins around his body half-heartedly. His eyes watch the person who shouted at him. He is the young man who just has won the fight. The young man leaps down from his chair and approaches Cloud. He shows a friendly expression of his face with a warm smile. Cloud only stares at the young man with a cold expression.
"Hi, there", the young man gives his hand to Cloud, requesting for a handshake. Cloud raises his eyebrow in questioning look. "You may call me Vic….", the young man introduces himself. He still hangs his hand, waiting for Cloud to shake his hand. "Vic…Skye", he repeats his introductory words, now mentioning his full name as he notices Cloud's unfriendly attitude. Cloud just rubs his chin, looks hesitant for a while, but finally he shakes the young man's hand carefully.
"You already know my name…", Cloud speaks up. The young man, Vic, grins at him. "Geee…you are still young….", he mutters. Cloud gives no comment. He releases his hand and studies Vic's good-looking, yet mysterious feature. As tall as he is, as young as his age, as fierce as him in fight, Cloud finds a lot of similarities between them. Vic's hair is spiky and rather messy too, but not as spiky as Cloud's. Beside, his hair is dark brown while Cloud's is blonde.
"Well…what's the matter…Vic ?", Cloud's tone becomes softer. He is not an easy-to-get-along type, but he cannot find any threats from Vic. He has no reason to ignore Vic, yet he decides not to get friendlier to him.
"Hey…any trouble, kid ?", Cid's rough voice joins them. He and the others approach Cloud and his new acquaintance. Cloud makes a gesture with his hand that tells he is in no trouble. Vic turns to Barret and watches the big man.
"Who is dis guy, Spiky ?", Barret asks Cloud for explanation. Before Cloud replies, Vic already cuts him off, "Hi, I'm Vic…You must be Barret Wallace, right ? Nice to meet you". Barret's expression shows that he is quite surprised. "And you must be the badass pilot, Cid Highwind, aren't you ? How is your plane ?", Vic nods his head to Cid and looks at Vincent and Cait Sith. "You are….Vincent Valentine…", he lowers his voice. Vic then smiles when his eyes meet Cait Sith. "Hey, and you are…that funny creature…Cait Sith !". Cloud and the other Avalanche members look at each other.
"How do you know about us ? And what's your business with us ?", Cloud asks directly to Vic.
"Well…I just…want to know you…", Vic replies. Although he tried to look normal, Vincent senses something more about him.
"You are the ones who saved The Planet…you got famous after that…that's why I know you, and I want to be strong like you", Vic adds. He spreads his smile to his new friends, but he finds questioning and strange looks from the others. This makes him feel awkward. After fixing his sunglass position, he then speaks, "Umm…well…this is my first visit to Midgar…I come from…Kalm. I only know the heroes that once saved the world now live here…and how lucky I am, meet some of them here..and now..". Vic smiles at the end of his words. Cloud lets out a sigh. Vic is right. After the fight, they became famous amongst the people they saved. However, Cloud did not keen on publicity and such things. Instead of seizing the opportunity, he chose to live a simple life. That is why he ends up in Neo 7th Heaven bar together with his pals.
"You're wrong Vic, we don't like being famous...we just want a peaceful life", Cait Sith explains. Still smiling, Vic responds, "Never mind that…Sorry for bothering you…Well I guess I'm leaving now since you already have your own business…See you". Vic slowly walks toward outside and leaves the bar.
Cid is the first who comments out, "That kid is surely a great fighter…I wonder if he joined us in the past…Sephiroth would be #$%#^ no match for us !".
"Yeah, yer right, buddy !", Barret agrees in his gruff voice , "and da great thing is he knew us !". Barret grins. He feels overjoyed that someone knows his name completely.
"But I sense something about that man…", Vincent speaks up with cold voice. Cloud glances at him. "Huh..?", he asks. Someway Cloud trusts Vincent's feeling although it is an unexplained thing. Vincent replies, "I guess he has another interest to us other than to know us, he's so…mysterious..".
"Hey, even a mysterious man I ever know calls other people mysterious too ! What's up, Vincent ?", Cait Sith finally joins the subject. Vincent does not reply, instead he looks at outside as if he wants to catch the path of the young man.
"Well guys, suit yourself, I am really leaving now", Cloud exclaims as he walks toward exit. For a moment, when the fight happened, he could forget his problem, but now it floods his mind again and makes his brain gasp for fresh mind outside.
………..
"Here you are…it's free….and have a nice life". A young woman hands over a flower to a little girl. That little girl looks happy and shows the flower to her mom. Her mother thanks for the flower and tells her daughter to do the same thing. With a cheerful tone, that little girl thanks the flower girl and continues her walk together with her mother. As they are vanished from the sight, the young woman, Aeris, smiles at them. She strokes her hair and looks at the basket on her hand.
It's almost empty…she thinks. Aeris lifts up her head and sees the sky is getting darker. Although the sky is dark because of the night, she can see a dark cloud hangs on the sky, emits a creepy feeling toward the city of Midgar.
It's cloudy….maybe it's gonna rain.., she concludes her thought and leaves her place. Mentioning the word 'cloudy' makes her think about the man who has such name. Aeris sighs again as she recalls how she felt downhearted because Cloud ignored her while they were in the church.
I always care about him…but he just…he never thought that…Aeris talks to her mind in bitterness. Eventually, she finds an empty bench, and she cannot resist it. She slumps her back on the bench, pushes away her tiredness for this day. Her eyes traverse her surrounding and find nobody around. Seems like everyone has gone to his or her home for shelter from uncertain weather. However she prefers to be this way so she can spend her time alone. Actually her body wants to go back to Neo 7th Heaven for some rest and hot water bathing, but her heart submits an objection.
Why…? Why do I find it hard to go back to bar ? She tries to ask her reluctant feeling. What's the matter ? Everyone is still kind to me, even Tifa didn't mind letting me to stay in her bar….but why can't I enjoy my life ? Aeris pauses for moment.
Is it because of….him ?
Aeris cannot forget every day she lived since she was being revived, until now. She cannot forget how her hope toward Cloud grew from state of void because of her death up to now, although Cloud has been engaged. She loved him at the past, and she still loves him, until now. However, she starts to ask her heart whether she will be strong enough to face the reality. Cloud and Tifa. Tifa and Cloud. That is the story of two childhood friends. There is no story about an ex-SOLDIER and an Ancient flower girl. Aeris smiles to herself bitterly.
Do I have to wait for him…? Although he never love me…? But it makes me suffer to see them getting closer every day….
Aeris frowns. She has to face that she cannot treat Cloud like she did before she died, yet she still cared about him, especially when they were engaged in second battle with Sephiroth. After they won, she had to witness how Tifa cared about him, taking care of his wounds every day. Aeris noticed how Tifa took care of Cloud with love, and she knew Cloud would be happy if he chose Tifa over her. If Cloud is happy, then Aeris will feel the same too, but she finds it is not that simple. It has deeper unrevealed meaning.
Why…it isn't….fair…? Finally she asks a question she should not ask. Planet…why did you bring me back to life if I have to suffer like this…? She asks desperately, trying to seek an answer. Wind blows softly at her face as it tries to ease her for its inability to give the answer. Aeris lifts up her head and gazes to the sky above with an empty look.
"Hey, nice flowers you got on your basket !".
Aeris is startled. She quickly turns her face to someone who called her. In front of her, a young man is standing, looking at her with smile on his handsome face.
"Uh…hi there…", Aeris groggily greets the man. She feels ashamed being caught daydreaming by other people.
"I am sorry for bothering you, but your flowers are interesting…", the man explains the disturbance, "..as interesting as a young woman stands here…alone…". His tone sounds concerned. Aeris manages herself to smile. She quickly moves away her thought. With a gentle motion, she picks up a flower from her basket and gives it to the man in front of her.
"If you like my flower, here…please take this…and don't worry about me…I used to be…alone…". Aeris says to the man with nice smile, as if she is okay. The man nods his head but he cannot stop thinking whether this sitting flower girl is an angel from heaven. Although she is obviously having some problems, he feels a warming and peaceful aura from her.
"Thank you…", he thanks to Aeris, " but may I know where did you pick these flowers ? Um…that maybe your secret…it's okay if you don't tell me…". His expression changes as he touches deeper subject.
"No…that's not it…I took them from church near here…actually I plant them there..", Aeris replies. The young man nods his head again and puts the flower in his front pocket. He then says, "I am new here…and I didn't see many women sit here. Now, while I need to rest my legs, do you mind if I…sit…next to you ?".
Aeris laughs softly. "Yes, of course, please have a seat", she agrees to the man's request. The man does not say anything, but Aeris can tell that he is quite happy. Although he is completely a stranger, Aeris does not find any potential harm from him. Besides, she can take care of herself if anything happens.
"Midgar is a big city, eh ? No wonder I got lost here", the man tries to open a conversation after he sat down on the bench, next to Aeris. Aeris winks at him and replies, "Yes, and you could be lost if you don't have a map or guide here". Suddenly Aeris' eyes sparkle as she catches an idea inside her brain. "Hey, maybe I could help you if you tell me where you want to go ! How about that ?". The man next to her considers her offering. Finally, he shrugs his shoulder and replies with uncertain tone, "Well…of course…if that doesn't trouble you…".
"Of course not", Aeris giggles softly, "now, where do you want to go ?". Right after Aeris asks her question to the man, they both feel water is dripping on their heads. Almost in unison motion, they lift their faces to the sky. The water is falling faster from the sky, forming a rain.
"Gawd ! It's raining !", Aeris cries out. She then stands up, followed by the young man. Quickly that young man pulls out an umbrella from his jacket. "Here, take this, and go home quickly", he hands the umbrella to Aeris.
"But…how about you ? You can't go wet !", Aeris tries to refuse since it means he will be caught by the rain. Smiling, the man replies only pulls out another umbrella, but now it is smaller, from his jacket. "Hey, what are inside your pocket ?", Aeris throws a joke, but actually she is relieved to know that the young man will not go wet. She opens her umbrella and runs to a safer place as the rain is starting to become a downpour. When she turns her body, she finds the young man does not follow her. He moves to another direction.
"Hey ! Where are you going ?", Aeris calls him with top of her voice because the rainfall almost swallows her voice. From other side, the young man replies with loud voice too, "I am all right, just go home ! Just call me Vic ! I will find some bars near here…and, what's your name, lady ?".
"I am Aeris ! If you need anything, just come to Neo 7th Heaven bar ! I stay there !", Aeris responds. Vic, the young man, shows his thumb and says, "Okay, Aeris ! See you tomorrow ! And…thanks for the flower !". He then spins back and quickly disappears to an alley. Aeris just watches her new friend's last spot. She is in debt with him, if it is not because of his umbrella, she will surely get wet. Moreover, her heart tells something about the man she just knew short time ago. She has an insight that she will get close to the young man, and it will not take a long time since their first meeting.
AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :
Well..well..well…life does not go smoothly, isn't it ? I haven't gotten as many reviews as my previous fanfic, and it strikes me with question : why ? I try to compare mine with others, but I realize that everyone has his/her own writing-style. Thus, I try to make chapters in this fanfic shorter, but at the same time I study how to balance different perspectives like manga-style described in words, but I find it is still hard ^_^. However, I'll keep on trying…wish me luck !
About the story, well, I put a new character named Vic Skye, and how he relates to other, just wait for more chapters while you R&R…please ??? ^_^