Chapter 22
FOREVER TONIGHT
Should I meet her ? Sure I've promised her…but it's different now. I'm already someone's…and I'm not supposed to go with other woman, especially her…What about my someone ? But those green eyes…they looked so deep, yet so sad…I can't stand seeing her in sorrow….What must I do ?
….
"Is he coming yet ?", Aeris asks Cait Sith once again. Her face shows nervous expression, as well as her tone. Gold Saucer's surrounding, and the crowd on it, are not enough to drift away her uneasiness. Cait Sith hops around and watches every corner around them, trying to find the one they have been waiting for. When he finds out that he does not find the person, he then shakes his head.
"Nope…not yet…geez…this is the fifteenth times you asked me such question !", Cait Sith lets out a slight grumble. Aeris just lets out a sigh from her mouth. "Well…", she says, "guess I'm just too nervous here". She shrugs her shoulder and gives Cait Sith a funny look.
"It's okay I guess…but this is just 7 pm now…what time did you tell him to come ?", Cait Sith asks her. Before Aeris answers, suddenly a hand pats her shoulder and makes her cry out in shock. Quickly she spins her body and her eyes catch a familiar form in front of her.
"CLOUD !!". Aeris and Cait Sith shout in choir upon seeing Cloud is now standing in front of them. "Well…that's me…", Cloud can only say these words. The first person who seems very relieved to see him is no other than Aeris. Suddenly her nervous feeling disappears, and with joyful tone, she exclaims, "Thanks God ! You're really coming !!". Cloud only smirks at her, then responds, "Yeah…time to fulfill my other promise !".
"Good !", Cait Sith joins in, "now let's waste no time ! Have fun, you two…I…have a business to do…see ya !". After showing his thumb to Cloud and Aeris, Cait Sith turns back and hops into the crowd, leaving the couple.
"Now what ?", Cloud asks Aeris with rather nervous tone after Cait Sith has gone. Aeris looks at his face and smiles, which makes Cloud more nervous. "Let's have fun and more rides !", she exclaims and pulls Cloud toward the main entrance. "WHOAA…waittt !!!", Cloud does not ever think Aeris will act like this, but he just lets her do that. Giggling cheerfully, Aeris then says, "Come on, Cloud ! It'll be fun !". Looking how she is very cheerful now triggers old memory inside Cloud's mind.
She's just like when we had date here…she's back….Cloud thinks, and he feels lighthearted to see the flower girl back in her old days attitude. For him, that is enough.
"Where to ?", Cloud asks as he and Aeris enters the main hall of Gold Saucer. Aeris scans her surrounding for a while, then she nods her head in playful motion. "Yes, let's try it, Cloud…Balloon Coaster !". She then pulls Cloud's hand toward a tube tunnel that leads to the ride. Cloud just lets her do that and finally he gives up himself on this cheerful moment.
"Wheeeee !!!", Aeris exclaims happily when they are inside the tube, gliding down to Balloon Coaster ride. Not so long after they came, Aeris and Cloud get the chance for the ride.
"Welcome ! Move in to the coaster and enjoy your ride !", The Ticket Man greets them warmly. Cloud looks at the coaster for a while, and then he asks shyly, "Umm…what kind of ride is this ?". The Ticket Man only smiles and replies, "Here you ride the coaster and tries to shoot balloons placed randomly along the track. The more your shot hit, the bigger your prize, and don't forget, special balloons, marked with yellow star, have special points. Have fun !". He then makes gesture to Cloud and Aeris to get into the coaster.
After they are inside, Cloud shrugs his shoulder. "Geez…I don't think I'm good in shooting field…Maybe I should ask Barret or Vincent…". Aeris punches his shoulder lightly and giggles, "C'mon, spiky-head, where's your wit ?". Before Cloud responds, the coaster is already moving. From slow speed, it gradually moves to fast speed, running through looping and curving track. Cloud and Aeris laugh and cry out together, enjoying the thrill when the coaster loops and sometimes makes sharp turn. Eventually, balloons start to appear, and with water guns from the coaster, they try to shoot them. Much to their surprise, they hit no balloon at all. Cloud can only look at Aeris with such disbelief look, while Aeris is still giggling, laughing their missing shots. However, they are quickly surprised by another sharp loop on the track. Again, they cry out in shock, but then laugh together.
When the coaster finally reaches pad with slow speed, a sign that the ride is over, Cloud and Aeris jump out from the coaster and look at each other. At first, they only smile at each other, but soon their smiles turn out to burst of laughter.
"That was really FUN !!! I love it !!", Aeris says happily. Cloud only nods his head and adds, "Yeah…me too…too bad we can't shoot even a balloon !". Aeris pinches Cloud's cheek and says with teasing tone, "Don't cry, spiky-guy, now let's try another ride !".
………
"Congratulation !! Here they are, the tonight's lucky couple !!", a man in dark and shiny tuxedo greets Aeris and Cloud when they reach Gold Saucer main hall again. Next to the man is Cait Sith with his megaphone. Other people around them take a glance at the occasion for a while. Cloud's eyes go wide in surprise, then turns his face to Aeris. The flower girl only grins to see Cloud in such expression. "How come…?", Cloud asks himself, scratching his head.
"And the prize is……", Cait Sith mimics the sound of drum roll, "…a play at tonight's stage !!!".
All of a sudden, Cloud feels his world is spinning around him. Sweat drops quickly formed on his forehead, cold ones. His mouth is opened, his jaw drops. Slowly, he turns his face to Aeris who is giggling.
"W-H-A-T ….???", with stammering voice, he tries to form a word that best suits his puzzled state. Aeris holds his hand and teases, "Yes…another stage play…". Cloud swipes his cold sweat from his forehead, and still in trembling voice, he asks, "Is it…is it…real….?". Aeris nods her head with playful motion, and she pulls Cloud toward the man and Cait Sith.
"Noooooo….not agaiiiinnnn…….", Cloud mumbles, but he cannot do anything. With reluctant steps, he follows Aeris.
"All right, now you two take roles as ex-mercenary and a flower seller. The ex-mercenary's name is Skye, and the flower seller's name is Iris. They meet eventually by accident…", the man in tuxedo describes the play. Aeris pays her attention to him on his words.
"Aww…how nice…it suits me and him ! How 'bout you, Cloud ?", Aeris claps her hand together, excited. Meanwhile, Cloud only looks at these people with blank look. With low voice, he replies, "Yeah…whatever…".
The man in tuxedo then continues, "Iris is actually a person with special ability to heal the nature. Alas, there is a villain who has twisted plan to destroy the nature, but Iris and Skye know the plan. The villain name is…is…..". The tuxedo man glances at Cait Sith, requesting for a hint.
"Severeign", Cait Sith says. The tuxedo man nods his head and continues speaking, "..ah..yes...Severeign. Okay, now Skye and Iris, hand to hand, together, they stop Severeign and his evil plan. On their struggle, Severeign kills Iris. This drives Skye mad and fights Severeign with all of his might. Skye wins, Severeign loses, but actually Skye loses, in his heart. When the fight is over, he finally realizes that he loves Iris and with a miracle of love, Iris is revived. They then live together in happiness…The end…any question ?"
"No…that's very clear…", Aeris replies quickly as if she has already known the story and smiles, "and it'll be fun though ! When do we start ?". The man in tuxedo and Cait Sith spontaneously replies in unison. "Now !". With that, Cloud really wants to be swallowed by the ground he is standing on. When they move to the backstage, Aeris shows her thumb to Cait Sith and winks at him meaningfully. Cait Sith shows his thumb as response.
"I've arranged everything", Cait Sith whispers to Aeris when they are close. "Thanks, you're very nice…", Aeris whispers back to him. She then smiles, imagining what will be happened next.
…….
"Stop it, Severeign ! There'll be no way to accomplish your evil plan ! We'll defeat you !", Aeris, acts as Iris, points her finger at the man with long hair wig. The man, Severeign, only laughs sarcastically. "You fool ! I'm Severeign, the mighty being of the universe ! Now you shall die, Iris !". Severeign runs to Aeris and with fast motion, he slashes Aeris several times with his fake sword. The background music now turns into dramatic one, impressing the killing scene. Slowly, Aeris kneels on the floor and says with trembling voice, "You…may kill me…but nature will…kill you….". After she finishes her words, she lays on the floor. Severeign laughs again, now louder.
"You ! Severeign ! Evil !!", Cloud a.k.a Skye, suddenly appears on the stage with his fake sword points at Severeign. After looking at Aeris who is laying on the floor, Cloud then says with louder voice. "You…killed Iris !! Damn !! You're not a human ! You're truly evil ! For that, and for Iris, I'll destroy you once and for all !!". With quick reflex, Cloud leaps forward to Severeign and opens the final fight. The background music now turns into heavy metal, depicting the great fight. After several moves, finally Cloud slashes his fake sword to Severeign and makes the evil character screams in fake pain.
"Nooo…I can't lose…I'm the super being of this universe…I….ahhhhh", Severeign finally lays on the floor and the background music changes into victory theme.
"Rest in hell, Severeign", Cloud says with cold tone, "…you may know one thing. Although I won, I…lose…in heart….". He then turns to Aeris' lying body, and walks approach her. The background music now turns into sad one, reflecting one's loss. While he is approaching her, Aeris almost releases her laughter. If she does not remember that they are on the stage right now, she will surely laugh.
"Iris…now you're lying here…lifeless…", Cloud then kneels next to Aeris. "I…I never confess my feeling to you…I…I love you…but it's too late now…you'll never know. Rest in peace, my love…You'll be in my heart until the time reaches the end….". Hearing Cloud's monologue makes Aeris smile. Somehow she hopes it is true.
Suddenly, a voice is heard, a deep and wise voice. "Great Hero…don't be afraid. I'm Nature, the one you saved. The lady is not supposed to die here, not yet. But, if she's alive, she needs someone who loves her, someone who takes care about her, through the sadness and happiness. Will you be that someone ?".
Cloud lifts his head and replies with loud voice, "Yes, Nature…I really love her ! I want her to be by my side, forever !". At a glance, Cloud feels he is like an idiot, yelling to someone he does not know behind the stage.
"Fine then", the mysterious voice is heard again, "now you must prove that you love her…give her kiss of true love, and watch the miracle happens !".
What….I must KISS Aeris ?????!!!! Cloud is startled in his mind. Damn…it's not written in my dialogue script…what the hell happened here ?!! Eventually he feels his head is reeling.
Hesitantly, he takes a look at Aeris' face. She is still closing her eyes, faking her death, but her lips form a smile, and her cheeks turn into crimson. Her heart beats faster, she really does not know what to do, or how to react. She just cannot think clearly.
Come on Cloud…if I just kneel here and do nothing, the stage won't be over…I must…do…something….Cloud seizes his thought. He takes a breath, closes his eyes, and with trembling motion, he moves his face closer to Aeris' lips. Since Aeris closes her eyes, she cannot see what Cloud does, but when she feels his breath swipes her face, she feels petrified. Her heart thuds faster and louder than before. At a moment, Cloud is unsure about this, but he then closes his eyes and quickly kisses her lips and pulls his face back. When their lips met, both Aeris and Cloud felt something like electrical shock on their nerves. However, since it happened very fast, they cannot interpret what kind of feeling that was.
"So be it ! ". Again, the mysterious voice of Nature echoes around the stage. "Great Hero, you showed your love to the lady, so she shall be brought back to life, to protect and to guard Nature, and to be by your side…forever !". Aeris now opens her eyes and smiles at Cloud lovingly. Her cheeks are still in crimson, she is absolutely blushing. Cloud cannot say anything but to help Aeris stand up, and after they both stand together, other actors and actresses come from backstage, huddling up together in the center of the stage. Handclaps of the spectators fill the air around them, and gradually fade out as the curtain is covering the stage again.
………..
Cloud and Aeris laugh hysterically together after they are back at main hall. Their superfluous laughter seems distract others' attention, but they do not care. It takes some seconds until their laughter slows down.
"Let's try another ride and attraction, Cloud !", Aeris pulls Cloud's hand again. As usual, Cloud lets her do that, but this time, his heart feels lighter. He must confess he really enjoys this moment with her. The reason, he does not know though. "And we must ride The Gondola !", she adds. Cloud nods his head and replies, "Yeah, sure !".
Aeris and Cloud together go to almost every ride and attraction in Gold Saucer. For a moment, they forget all of their problems and really have fun together. When Aeris plays the dancing game, Cloud never knows that the flower girl can dance too. When Cloud plays snowboarding game, Aeris never knows that the spiky-head is a kind of board-maniac ( Author : hey, on the original game, Aeris and Cloud never went to snowboarding game, right ? ). When they watch chocobo race, they both bet on the same chocobo. Aeris and Cloud really enjoy their times, unaware of the night is getting late.
………
"So…here we are…Gondola ride…", Aeris murmurs after they arrive in front of Gondola ticket box. Cloud nods his head, as his brain serves the past memory with her. "Just like old times, huh ?", he blurts out while getting inside Gondola, followed by Aeris. Short moment afterward, there is a little bump as Gondola caboose starts to move.
Different from other rides they have attended, this time Aeris and Cloud just remain silent. Aeris is sitting in front of Cloud, hanging her head down, meanwhile Cloud looks at the beautiful view of Gold Saucer from window. Eventually night wind blows his hair, giving him freshness of night.
For some seconds, silence fills the air between them, until finally Aeris speaks up. "Cloud….". Her soft voice makes Cloud turn his face to her. When his eyes meet Aeris' figure sitting in front of him, Cloud suddenly feels his breath is taken away by the beautiful figure in front of him. Aeris is still hanging her head down, her fingers are intertwined, resting on her thighs. Cloud imagines a pair of wings appears from her back, and it will surely make her like an angel.
"Yes ? What's the matter ?", finally Cloud responds. He is quite curious to see her in different feature now. When they were playing rides and attractions, she looked so cheerful, but now, she is not talking much.
Aeris lifts her head to see Cloud gazing at her, but she quickly hangs her head down again. "Nothing…", she replies shortly. Cloud only sighs, he does not understand the way women act or think actually.
"Thanks for fulfilling your promise…", Aeris pipes up and lifts her face, "I'm really happy tonight, Cloud…You…you're very nice to me…". Cloud nods his head and replies, "You're welcome…and guess I don't need to say this is just like the last time we're here…".
From his tone, Aeris can tell that Cloud is nervous, he seems to say anything that may hide his feeling. Aeris smiles nicely at him, and says, "I still remember every moment when we had date here…". She giggles shortly, then continues, "and I still adore the moment when we were inside Gondola, just right now…". Aeris takes a glance at the Gold Saucer view below. "I never thought that we are actually here again, me…and…you….". Her voice trails off at the end.
Cloud keeps his attention to Aeris. He cannot say anything, yet he does not know what to say. Aeris stares deeply into his Mako-blue eyes. "Cloud…all I can say is…I…never changed…yesterday, today, and always tomorrow….never….". Cloud's expression now turns into fully confused one. Aeris' words do not catch into his brain, he only senses she is hiding many things in her heart from him, and now she talks as if he already knows her heart-secret.
Aeris leans forward and her hand touches Cloud's cheek gently. She gives him warm smile and caring look at him, easing his heart. Cloud now looks directly into her eyes, and he sees the ocean of secret beneath them, secret that no one can tell, except herself.
"I still want to meet you…", Aeris says her 'mysterious' words. Cloud's eyebrow is raised, he then responds, "I…I don't understand…You said it first time a long ago, when we're in Gondola, and then you kept on saying it several times when we're on Highwind, and now….you said it again". Cloud takes a breath as he is going to ask something he thinks a sensitive thing. "Now tell me Aeris…what's behind these words ?". Aeris only smiles, not saying anything to him. Her fingers now play on Cloud's face tenderly. She stares into Cloud's eyes deeper.
"I want to meet you…heart to heart….", she finally replies with low voice. There, inside Gondola, comes a sudden pause as Aeris finishes her words. Although Gold Saucer is still alive with its gleaming light below, Cloud and Aeris feel they just stuck at each other. Cloud never prepares himself to hear such confession, directly from her. He is very surprised, reflected from his eyes. His reaction seems making Aeris feel awkward. Quickly she pulls her hand back and hangs her head down again. After that, silence rings again between them.
"I…I'm…sorry…I'm not supposed to say that…", Aeris apologizes with stuttering voice. Slowly, she lifts her head to see Cloud. There, she witnesses a different feature of him. Cloud now gazes to her with very deep and peaceful look, giving her heart a warm sensation.
"Cloud…?", Aeris calls him, curious enough to know how he is right now. "Aeris…", Cloud calls her name back, barely audible. Hesitantly, he moves his hand to her cheek and caresses it gently. They keep on in this position for some seconds. Aeris feels her heart is flooded with unknown feeling, she only knows her heart is beating faster. She holds Cloud's hand on her cheek warmly. She does not want to let it go, she wants to keep this night forever.
"Aeris…", Cloud calls her again with gentle tone. Aeris lifts up her face. "Hush, Cloud….please…don't say anything…", she responds almost in whisper and holds his hand tighter. Cloud feels something warm is flowing through his hand, her teardrops.
"What happened ? Why do you….cry…?", Cloud asks her in concerned tone. Aeris only shakes her head. Cloud goes more concerned when he notices the tears are falling down more intensely from her eyes. Her body is now choking lightly.
"Cloud…I'm sorry….I'm really sorry…", she sobs, "I know I'm not supposed to stand between you and Tifa…I've got to do something. I don't want to break your happiness…but I also wanted to have nice moment with you…the last one…but…but…".
"But what ?", Cloud asks her in sympathy, but he does not seem to be able to get the answer because Aeris keeps on crying. Cloud knows he must do something as anxiety growing in his chest. He stands up from his seat and sits again, now next to Aeris. With careful motion, he wraps Aeris' back with his arm, hugging her, easing her. When Aeris feels his arm is around her, she rests her head on his chest. The way Cloud treats her suits her heart very well. She now feels warm, secure, and better. Gradually, her cry is over, but then they only fall in silence again.
Aeris gazes to the night sky through the window, still resting her head on Cloud's chest. At a moment, fresh memory about their second date passes by in her mind. Actually she had Cait Sith helped her arranging the stage play, imitating their adventure when fighting Sephiroth. She also planned to have one last moment of togetherness with Cloud after she had made her decision about her position in this love triangle. Now as everything had gone well, she only needed to do one thing : telling her feeling to Cloud. She has prepared herself for that, but she never anticipated that Cloud would react like this. She tends to accept if Cloud just ignores her, but he does the contradicting thing. He shows his care to her, he does not ignore her at all. This is the thing she wanted to say when she said 'but' at her last unfinished sentence.
She knows she should be happy with that, but it also means she will lose him more as she already has plan for tomorrow. Aeris does not know whether she will be able to do her plan, all she wants right now is to have this night together with Cloud, hopefully forever, right in his arms.
AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :
Okie dokie, so the Mako-blue eyes and emerald green eyes had date again ! And now it turned to be a romantic one…but will life be easy for them ? What about ruby eyes…poor her….what should I do to her ? ^_^ But…poor Aeris too….what should I do to her too ? Heeheehee…Which version should I make this one ? CloTif ? CloRis ? Hmmm…I'm confused too….
One more thing, if you ever think that farewell dialogue between Aeris and Vic should take place before he goes back to the future, don't worry, it'll be presented as flashback in next chapter.