Chapter 23

EMERALD'S TRUE FAREWELL

It is dawning in Midgar. A little rain is pouring the city in constant rhythm, joined with the morning mist which is still hanging around the streets. This circumstance is too tempting to refuse for citizen of Midgar to stay on their bed. The city itself is still resting from its previous day, leaving only few people roaming on the streets, while most of them are still in their slumber.

Aeris looks again at the bar building like she did before. Her face shows a blank expression, as hesitation rises in her mind once again. She has planned to leave her friends this morning, yet when she is about to do it, she cannot tell whether this is the right thing to do. Aeris knows if she makes a step further, then it means she will be further from her friends as well. She will not be able teasing Yuffie anymore, talking to Red, witnessing Barret and Cid argue with each other, patting Vincent's shoulder, playing fortune-telling with Cait Sith, and more things.

Although they mean a lot for her, there is something that really mean for her : she will be no longer hurting The Ruby Eyes. After everything Tifa did to her, Aeris just cannot betray her best friend's feeling, yet it means she must let someone go from her, someone very special, someone she dated last night, someone she loves very much.

Guess last night's date is enough….she swipes raindrops that fall on her cheek as she seizes her mind . After grabbing umbrella from her bag and opening it to protect her from rain, Aeris turns again to the streets of Midgar. For a moment, she stands still in the rain. Light thunder rolls in the air when she recalls the moment several days ago.

/*begin flashback*/

"So you're leaving tomorrow ?", Aeris asked Vic who sat on green grass, in front of her. Vic only nodded his head and replied shortly, "Yeah…". Aeris glanced at him, studied his feature and then placed her hand on Vic's shoulder.

"I know you got something to tell…just tell me Vic", Aeris smiled at him contently, "you looked uneasy". Vic only stared at her for a moment, pulled his sunglass and said with low voice, "Look into my eyes".

Aeris stared into his eyes curiously and saw a pair of emerald green eyes that resembled to hers. There was a silence for some seconds. Vic kept quiet, curious enough to see how she would react. He then pulled his wig and revealed his spiky hair. Aeris noticed how Vic's real hair resembled to someone. However, Vic still could not guess what would be happened soon until she finally smiled and said with easing tone, "You don't have to tell me…I can feel it". Vic's mouth opened, his face showed a surprised expression, yet relieved one.

She can feel it ? Does she really know who I am ? Vic asked himself in disbelief.

"Honestly I still don't understand some things about you", Aeris murmured, "but it doesn't mind, because I feel we're close at hearts…". She then turned her face to the sky. "Maybe I'll know about it someday in the future…maybe…". Her voice trailed off at the end, she kept gazing to the sky. Again, silence filled the air.

"I'm sorry…", Vic suddenly spoke in low voice. Aeris turned her face to him, concerned. "Why ?", she asked back. Vic lifted up his face and replied, "The future may be different…". Aeris raised her eyebrow, her face depicted confusion. "..that's why I'm revealing my identity now", Vic finished his sentence. His words seemed attract Aeris' attention as she knelt on the grass, directly staring into Vic's eyes.

"Aeris…I just want you to know, even if the future changes, and I won't be here at all…", Vic paused for a moment, "…I want you to know that you and he are always in my heart…". When Vic said his words, he did not let his eyes go from gazing deeply to Aeris, and so did her.

"Did you really mean what you say ?", she asked with gentle voice, replied by Vic's nodding. Aeris smiled and stood up, eventually removing some hair strands from her face. She turned her face to Vic and said, "It's very nice of you…be careful in your journey, Vic…Let's hope we can meet again someday". Again, Vic only nodded his head, he felt unsure whether he did the right thing. After all, he sensed there was something more beneath her words, quite mysterious, especially when he said 'she and he'.

Does she understand what I REALLY mean ? That question roamed wildly inside Vic's mind, being left unanswered.

/*end flashback*/

I'm sorry, Vic…looks like you're wrong…Cloud and I are not supposed to be together…Aeris rides the golden chocobo, a memento from Vic, after she arrived at Midgar's outer part. She is wearing a simple cape with hood since it is still raining while she needs to go traveling. For the last time, she looks at Midgar city, the place where she grew up, the place she lived, the place where everything started…until now.

Good bye, everyone, take care yourselves, and Cloud…be with Tifa….I love you…Aeris desperately fights the tears that are brimming on her eyes. This is too much for her, yet she has decided it, no matter what. With her hand, she wipes falling tears on her cheek, along with some raindrops on her face. She must not cry this time, she has cried too much, and now, with her decision, she hopes she can leave her past behind, the life that hurt her, also the life that gave her love. Definitely, that is not an easy thing to do.

With a pat on her chocobo's back, the chocobo is now running, bringing Aeris away from Midgar to a place that she thinks will suit her better, alone. Sound of chocobo running on wet soil, together with soft morning rain accompany the last Cetra on her journey to her better place.

…….

Cloud picks up a flower and a small piece of paper beyond it with surprised face. He just woke up when he finds that flower and paper in front of his room. His heart beats quicker, his mind goes uncontrollable when his memory rewinds the event several days ago, when he found Aeris' farewell letter. This is just like dejavu for him. Bearing a hope that the letter is just not some kind of worst one, he slowly reads it.

To Cloud,

Hey, my knight Alfred, or my hero Skye ? It was very fun last night and actually I wanted to go there again, but…guess I can't. I'm leaving this dawn, going somewhere, to a place where I really belong.

Please, don't look for me this time, I really want to be alone. I also do apologize for not coming at your wedding day with Tifa. Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Aeris

"No way…", Cloud whispers to himself, his face goes pale. Somehow, somehow he knows there is something more beyond Aeris' written words, something strange, something unrevealed.

"AERIS !!!", Cloud quickly dashes toward her room and opens her door. Empty. Cloud's cold sweat is forming on his forehead to see her room is arranged nicely in peaceful aura, but no one there. He then runs downstairs in so noisy manner that his friends below startled to see him in such a hurry.

"Cloud…? What's happe...", before Yuffie finishes her words, Cloud already hands her a piece of paper while he is passing her. The ninja can do nothing but to accept it, looks at it with confused look, and when she lifts up her head, Cloud is already outside the bar, running toward the streets.

"Let's see what made him like this", Red approaches Yuffie, followed by the others, including Tifa.

Cloud almost runs out of his breath when he reaches the city perimeter. His heart is still beating wildly, trying to catch some air. He does not care the rain that makes him wet, he only cares one thing : to find Aeris, or at least, her trace. Cloud scans his surrounding carefully, hoping to find a clue that leads to her. After finding nothing suspicious, Cloud then takes some walk, still hoping. For about half hour, the spiky-head tries to find her trace desperately, his body and clothes are getting wet because of the rain until...

It's over…it's really over now…

Cloud drops his knees on wet soil, punching his fist powerfully into the soil. His head hangs down, he is really desperate. Aeris…where are you now ? Why did you leave us…why did you leave…me…??

As he has slight hope to find the answer, he only gets raindrops keep on pouring him, enough to make him really downhearted.

……

"C'mon, let's find her !", Cloud exclaims, his tone sounds uneasy. Cid, Barret, Tifa, and the others only look at him with concerned visage. Cid puffs his smoke from his mouth. No one responds, and for some seconds, this silence rings. Finally Cloud lets out a sigh, he then raises his both hands and says, "It's okay…I'll find her myself".

Just when he is about to go upstairs, Cid and Barret stands up from their chairs and approach him. Cloud stops his step and glances at these two men with cold expression.

"Don't get us wrong, kid..", says Cid with serious tone. Barret adds him, "Yeah…we really care 'bout you, 'bout Aeris…but…", he glances at the others behind awkwardly, "..let's talk about dis in your room…Ya know it..".

Cloud thinks for a moment, trying to guess what they will talk about, finally he nods his head. "All right", he responds shortly. They then walk upstairs, to Cloud's room. Cait Sith, Red, and Vincent follow them, leaving Tifa and Yuffie.

"This is men-world, ladies…sorry we can't invite you", Cait Sith apologizes to the women. Tifa and Yuffie look at each other with confused look, and finally only shrug their shoulders. "Whatever", Tifa replies lightheartedly. She looks fine, but Yuffie knows she does not.

"We're sorry, Cloud…and let's make this short", Cid starts the conversation. He calls Cloud with his name, not with word 'kid' anymore. Cid is really serious this time. Cloud reacts by raising his eyebrow.

"We read her letter you gave", Cid pipes up, "..and we concluded this time she really meant to leave us…". Cloud's eyes go wide to hear Cid.

"Leaving you, to be more precisely", Vincent adds with cold tone as usual. "WHAT ???", Cloud finally speaks up. Before he says anything, Red speaks up, "We're all just like family here…and we watched everything changed since Aeris was back. No, I don't mean we're not happy with her, we're all glad to have her here actually…but did you notice how Tifa changed since that ?".

Cloud is suddenly quiet being asked such question. Red takes a sitting position, and the wise beast continues with calm tone, "It's often clearer for outsiders to see what happened to you, Tifa, and Aeris. They both love you, Cloud…it's time to open your eyes and see the truth. Tifa loved you since our first journey, then came Aeris, she eventually fell in love with you too…even the most senseless person could see it. After Aeris died in first place, you looked so lifeless…but Tifa, with her patience, tried to rebuild your heart…and you know, we went through, until you proposed her, but then, Aeris came back again, still with her love for you…".

Red takes a breath for a moment, thus letting Cloud to digest his words. The others just stand, scattered around Cloud's room.

"But Aeris would never have a heart to break other's heart…", Vincent suddenly gives his opinion, "she knew it hurt her to leave the man she loved, but she…once again, sacrificed her love for other's happiness. That's why she left you". Vincent said last sentence with impressing tone to conclude his thought.

"She left us once because she wanted to settle Dark Ancient matter", Cid shares his comment. "That's why we sought for her, but now…it's totally different…she left you because she loves you". The pilot shakes his head slowly, he knows it is an ironical thing.

Red XIII now speaks up again, "The point is…if you seek her now, you'd just turn things to worse again…Aeris wouldn't want that…right, Cloud ?". Red stares directly into Cloud's eyes, hoping that he would have the same thought. Cloud keeps quiet, he thinks Red's words over and over.

"Besides…ya won't propose Tifa if ya don't love her, right ?", Barret's voice now enters Cloud's mind as well.

Silence rings shortly afterwards. It is Cid who steps outside Cloud's room first as he wants to let his buddy have his own time. The others understand Cid's action and follow him outside. The last person to go is Vincent. Before he leaves, he turns his face to Cloud.

"Whoever or whatever you want to trust, just trust your heart", says Vincent in deep voice. He then closes the door, leaving Cloud alone inside his room.

AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :

Well…sorry for late update. I didn't get idea how to write this chapter, so I spent some times to imagine what should I wrote, and finally, I did it. This chapter, in my opinion, should be a "turnover" for the love triangle, and I hope I could serve graceful way to settle this triangle…but hey, it's not really settled yet ! I can guarantee that, and it will be revealed in next chapter ! Hope you keep in touch, 'kay !?