Zack had been through a lot of dangerous situations that tested his endurance, strength of character, will, and patience before. He had battled man-eating chimeras in the desert near North Corel using only his trusty Buster Sword and a few hi-potions. He once battled the dreaded Midgar Zolom for four hours and although he never did manage to kill it, he had escaped with relatively minor injuries and, in the process, obtained the rare Beta spell (any fighter worth his fame always had an Enemy-Skill Materia with a Beta spell in it; proof that they had survived the Midgar Zolom). In one mission, he was leading a squad of ten grunts on the mountains near Nibelheim when a rather nasty Red Dragon chanced upon them. One of his soldiers apparently thought that a Red Dragon was as easy to kill as a drunken chocobo for he immediately rushed forward to it raising his puny sword, screaming like a pinched banshee. Up to this day, that same grunt had taken it upon himself to be Zack's personal slave after Zack had thrust his sword deep into the dragon's chest just as the monster was about to make a snack out of the foolish grunt who, after finding out that a dragon is exponentially more deadly than a chocobo, had been crying in a corner praying to whatever gods he remembered then. All in all, while Zack did not exactly welcome life-threatening danger, he was used to it.
For the past couple of days, though, he had been wishing that he was battling a couple of Red Dragons or a dozen Chimeras instead of sifting through mountains of old, dusty, and utterly boring research papers, documents, and other what-nots, in search of that elusive folder containing the child Ancient's data. It was, literally, like looking for a plankton in a swimming pool. Zack was trained to be patient, to be meticulous, but even a first-class SOLDIER has his limits. It was not the tedium that was killing him and his three companions. It was the utter boredom that came with doing it. You know everything's smashed up when you start getting excited when one of the soldiers makes a paper plane out of some old research paper and throws it across the room, shouting "Whee!!!"
"Hey look, Mr. Halcyon sir! I remembered how to make that paper boat!" one of the soldiers, Private Sindai, said, showing him a rather messed up attempt at a paper boat.
"That's good private," Zack said. "But can you do this?" He showed him an origami of a paper crane. When he pulled on the crane's tail, it flapped its wings cutely up and down.
It elicited an admiring "Oooo" from Private Sindai. Zack beamed proudly. Behind them the two other soldiers were throwing paper planes at each other.
All in all, the whole thing was utterly ridiculous. What made it sadder was the fact that they had been doing it since yesterday, during lulls. Zack was laughing helplessly, hopelessly. He couldn't figure out what was more pathetic: the fact that they had been acting like idiots, or the fact that he knew they were acting like ones and couldn't do anything about it.
Zack looked at his watch and broke out into a relieved grin. He got up. "Okay guys. Gotta go. Same old routine, ya? You keep searching for that blasted file. Remember, the sooner we find it, the sooner w'all are gonna be out of this hole."
The others groaned. "Can't we take a break while you're gone, too? Huh, sir?"
"Nope," Zack said. "I need that file as soon as possible. Don't any of you be slacking now. Remember. You're on the job."
Zack was already inside the elevator before the three soldiers could get out a litany of groans. He sighed as he leaned back on the elevator wall. This, too, had been a constant routine for the past couple of days. Every two o'clock in the afternoon, Zack went out of that dreary room and into a place of pure happiness and contentment, where he could be away from dark experiments and Shinra and Ancients if only for a blessed few hours: in Aerith's arms.
It was a wonder though, Zack thought, how Aerith could stand being with him for a couple of hours each day when all he did half of it was sleep. Maybe it was because of the whole ambience of the garden, or maybe it was because of Aerith's soothing voice as she talked about things (and she always talked about lots of things), or maybe it was the tiredness catching up with him after sorting out the files until dawn in that room, but in any case, that one place in Aerith's garden, under the lone tree, wrapped in her arms, was the most peaceful, serene place in the whole wide world.
Remembering Aerith brought to his mind the conversation they had yesterday. He remembered he told her that he wanted to buy something for her today. He yawned. Too little sleep for the past few days. Presently, the soft chime of the elevator came through, signaling that he was on the ground floor. He walked out. Claire the receptionist looked at him with hurt eyes. He had stopped noticing her days ago.
"I know you're there," Aerith said without turning around, smiling. "So you might as well think twice about surprising me."
Zack put on a disappointed face. And then, he sniffed his arms and clothes, wondering if it was his smell that tipped her off.
Aerith giggled as she turned around. "I saw your reflection on the store window across the street, silly." She reached out and hugged him tight, smelling the not-too-unpleasant muskiness of him.
"Oh," Zack grinned, putting his arms around her. "For a minute there, I thought I'm beginning to smell."
"You do," Aerith quipped, sticking out her tongue at him. "Don't worry. It's not too bad."
"Not too bad?" Zack asked, raising an eyebrow. "So I do smell?"
"Don't think too much about it, pretty boy," Aerith grinned, tapping his forehead with her finger lightly. "As I said, it's not too bad."
"So, how's business?" Zack asked. He was smiling, feeling light-hearted already.
"Going fine," Aerith said. She raised her basket. "Sold more than half of my flowers already."
"That's nice," Zack smiled. He grasped her hand as they started walking. "C'mon, I promised you I'd buy you something."
"Where are we going anyway?" Aerith asked, leaning against Zack as they walked.
"Wall Market," Zack said.
"Again?" Aerith asked.
Zack snickered. "You sound hesitant."
"Sorry," Aerith replied. "The people there aren't exactly the wholesome types."
"Hahah, don't worry," Zack assured her. "Nobody'll try and do anything to you there while I live and breathe."
"I'm not exactly worried about me," Aerith said dryly. "I'm more worried about you."
"Me?" Zack asked. "Why?"
Aerith rolled her eyes, and then leaned against him. "Don't play coy with me, pretty boy. You know what I'm talking about."
"Oh, that," Zack said, realization dawning on him. "Aw c'mon. I'm a good boy now." He grinned as he traced an imaginary halo over his head.
"Well, you better," Aerith said. "Or else your face'll get a basketful of flowers the moment your eyes will start roaming around."
"Yes ma'am," Zack said meekly.
Aerith grinned.
Wall Market was the oldest part of Midgar, existing way back when Midgar itself was first erected. Back in the day, way before Shinra established their headquarters there, even when it was just a flea market of sorts and not the bustling center of commerce that it was now, it had already acquired that name; the Wall coming from the fact that it used to be surrounded with a thick concrete barricade to discourage raiders from crashing in when the Market days were held. Now, all but one side of the Wall was left standing, the others being broken down when Midgar became centralized.
It was during the advent of modernization, however, ten or so years ago, when Wall Market slowly gained notoriety as being the red light district of Midgar thanks, in no part, to the self-styled kingpin of all things scummy and rotten, Don Corneo Gisioppe; the old but classy pimp who also happened to run the biggest white slavery ring this side of the Planet. In no time, Wall Market became synonymous with sex and stained money; the money coming from Don Corneo and his goons, and the sex coming from the various brothels which had slowly sprung up following the advent of people flocking in, the most famous of which was the Honeybee Inn. Disguised on the outside as a "friendly and warm hotel and spa where you can relax to your heart's content (LET OUR YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WIPE THOSE TIRED FEELINGS AWAY!)", the Honeybee Inn was actually a bustling hive for prostitutes and their pimps and the locals and foreigners who want nothing more than a quick fuck and company. And the various beautiful women, some barely of legal age, were there to insure that these people got what they wanted, for the proper price.
These and more were what made Aerith feel uneasy each time she stepped on these parts. With Zack, it was worse. When they first came here a few days ago, the women at Honeybee Inn were not at all shy in showing what they think of Zack, even with Aerith by his side. She gripped his arm tighter, her eyes darting here and there at the various legit shops and businesses which were littered by men with shifty eyes and women with pouting lips. There were, however, people who were decent folk, the kind who were there to make an actual decent living. These were the people who kept Wall Market from going totally to hell.
Today, from Honeybee Inn, various whistles suddenly erupted; melodious tunes which were like sirens' calls to unwary sailors. Aerith turned around to see new faces in Honeybee smiling and winking enticingly in their direction. And Aerith knew at once that they were all smiling at Zack.
"Zack, I think they're calling you again," Aerith said crisply.
Zack turned to look and saw four girls in rakish make-up and almost-not-there outfits. They shrieked and started to running towards them.
"Zack, you're back!" one of the girls, a blonde, said. She caressed Zack's face. "Shaya told us two days ago that you're in town and I just knew I had to see for myself."
"Is that so, uhhh..." Zack said. He frantically tried to dredge back names from memory, placing various girls' faces to names.
The blonde looked disappointed, in an exaggerated kind of way. "You forgot my name? I'm hurt. It's Mona, Zack! Don't you remember? We had such unforgettable nights!"
"Uhm...Mona. Yeah, uhh...sorry," Zack said. "Uhh...listen...I..."
Mona looked at Aerith and then, as if seeing her for the first time, asked. "Who's the broad? New girl from a rival brothel?" The others giggled. "She's kinda cute, Zack," a brunette with heavy make-up smiled. "I wouldn't mind doing her with you, no extra charge." There was laughter from the other girls.
Aerith reddened, thoroughly embarrassed. Her grip on Zack's arm tightened and she started to turn away. "Can we get away from here, please?" She whispered.
"Aw, Zack, stay, like you always do!" a youngish-looking dirty-blonde girl smiled. She went to Zack's other side and placed a hand on his muscular chest.
"I missed you," the third girl said. Her hair was coppery and she had a look which, in a certain way, reminded Aerith of a sly fox. To say that she was beautiful would be an overstatement, but she certainly wasn't unattractive, either. Suddenly, the girl gave Zack a searing kiss on the lips. Zack's eyes grew wide. The girl finally let go, smiling wickedly. She turned to Aerith, her eyebrow raised. She turned back to Zack. "C'mon Zack. Aren't you happy to see us?"
Zack swallowed hard and tried to smile, but the look on Aerith's eyes stopped him. Aerith let go of Zack's arm and held his hand instead. And she gripped it tight. Then, suddenly, she reached out and pulled Zack down to her and, tiptoeing, she clasped his lips with hers, hard. The others looked on, surprised. Even Zack was caught off guard.
The kiss was different from their usual kisses. It was hard, harsh, and long. And Zack realized that it was not meant for him, but for them, for Zack's past women. It was a statement. That she held his heart now, and that she owned him, in a sense. And Zack closed his eyes and relished on being owned by her.
After a few seconds, Aerith let go. Without even turning to look at the other women, she started to walk away, her hand still gripping Zack's. Her face was a serious, unreadable mask. Without saying anything, she had declared clearly, in a way that no words could ever convey, that they were out of Zack's world now. And that it would do well for them to stop if they don't want anything to happen to them.
The women silently looked on as they watched Zack being led by the young, pale girl in red vest away from them. And they knew, without ever being told, whom Zack belonged to, now.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"No, I'm really sorry."
"I said it was okay."
"Dammit Aerith, I know it's not. Please," Zack stopped walking; forced Aerith to look at him. Aerith did. And she looked up at him with misty, defiant eyes. "Listen, I don't know how they could still remember me, but I don't remember them. Not any of them.'
"Listen," Aerith answered. "I know how you are with women Zack, and I told you I've already accepted that part of you. I mean, at least I think I did. But what happened there was more than what I could've--"
"Aerith, they don't mean anything to me," Zack said. His eyes were pleading. "I mean, maybe back then, I shared a bed with them but...but I don't feel one speck of feeling for them! I only have feelings for you. No one else."
Aerith looked at him, silent. She already knew about Zack and his past with women. He had already told her about them days ago, one sunny afternoon, under that tree. Their afternoon place, she had said. He had been honest with her and she, in that honesty, had loved him more. And she had said that it was okay. That she didn't care about his past, or what he did then. She believed that once everything goes to the 'new', and to the 'now', the past wouldn't have any choice left but to stay there. She never imagined that it could hurt. She was new at this, after all. What did she knew about love and its intricacies and complications?
"Zack...just take me home. Please."
Zack opened his mouth as if to argue, but then decided against it. He nodded as he took her hand and started walking back towards the entrance of the Market. Mona and the three girls looked at them as they went past. They did not whistle, or call out. They just stood there, silent. Aerith's pretty face had on an edgier look, and they knew that they were responsible for it.
Morning came earlier to Mr. Toolstend thanks, in no part, to the loud knocking on the door of his closed store in the front of his house. It was to his belief that it was an advantage to have your house and your store on the same building, separated only by a wall divider. It saved on the space and transportation, and on the rent. Mr. Toolstend was the owner of the only weapons shop in Wall Market and he was doing a bustling business out of it, even if most of his wares were just dredged up from the large junk refuse situated just a few yards away.
Just as he thought that he only imagined the knocks and started to fall back to sleep again, the knocking ensued and in greater fervor. Grumbling and cursing, he got up, reached for his glasses and fumbled hazily for the door. He shuffled slowly to the door which led to the inside of his shop. "Hold yer damn britches. I'm comin'!"
He opened the door to see Zack standing there. "What the hell do you want? Don't you know it's still dar-oh. It's you. Waddahell do you want?"
"Good morning Mr. Toolstend," Zack said. "It's already seven in the morning."
"Yeah well, shop opens at eight," Mr. Toolstend said gruffly. "I thought you have sense enough to know that boy?"
"I know I know, but I really need to buy something, Mr. Toolstend," Zack said.
"Can't it wait for another blasted hour? I'm in the middle of a dream," the old man said, in a tone old men usually give when they're interrupted in the middle of dinner.
"Actually, yeah," Zack said. "But when I get it sooner the better. It's for someone and--"
"Ah feck," Mr. Toolstend said, rolling his eyes.
"C'mon Mr. Toolstend!" Zack said. "Who was it who gave you that adamantoise scale when you needed one? And who was it who provided you with first-class weapons for sale two years ago? And might I remind you about--"
"Yeahyeah, I geddit," Mr. Toolstend said. "Shut yer trap, boy. Come in."
Zack grinned in relief and he stepped inside.
Elmyra tapped gently on the door before entering Aerith's room. Aerith was still lying in bed, her back turned to her, still clutching her chocobo plushie.
"Mom, would it be okay if I don't go and sell flowers for today?" Aerith asked. "I'm not feeling too well."
Elmyra walked and sat on the side of the bed. She softly brushed Aerith's brown hair with her hand. "What's wrong, honey? You've been unusually silent since yesterday afternoon."
"It's nothing mom," Aerith said, her back still turned to Elmyra. "I-I'm just not feeling like myself."
"Did something happen between you and that SOLDIER?" Elmyra asked.
Aerith turned around and looked at her foster mother. There were streaks of dried tears on her cheeks. She had been crying herself to sleep last night. "I-it's not him, mom. I-it's me. Yesterday, we went to Wall Market because he wanted to buy me something, and there were these girls who...well, obviously knew Zack from before...and they were all over him like ants, and I was feeling jealous so I dragged him out of there. And then...I sort of got angry with him because of what happened. He said that it was nothing, that they don't mean anything to him, but I was too jealous to listen to his explanations so I just asked him to take me home. Mom, was I right in sort of blaming him...?"
Elmyra looked at her daughter for a minute before reaching out and hugging her close to her chest in the manner that only mothers could. She softly kissed the top of her head. "You already know how I feel about this whole thing, Aerith..."
"So, what are you saying...?" Aerith asked softly.
"I'm not saying anything," Elmyra said. "You're already old enough to know how you feel. And while I don't necessarily approve of the boy, I can see how much he means to you. I guess the question now is, even after what happened, has your feelings for him changed?"
"N-no..." Aerith said.
"Love between two people is not complete without jealousies," Elmyra said. "It's natural for you to be jealous, and perhaps it was your lack of experience in this matter which made you angry at him, as well. But the only thing in a relationship that is really important is sincerity for each other. If his feelings for you are sincere, and yours for him, then it doesn't matter how many girls will claw at him. They can't change his feelings for you. Do you understand?"
"Y-yeah, I guess," Aerith replied. "He already told me about his past with girls a couple of days ago. Told me that there were things in the past he really wasn't too proud of."
"He was honest with you," Elmyra said. There was a subtle change in her voice that might indicate that her opinion of Zack might have gone a few points higher. "That's good. Honesty, too, is important to any relationship."
"I...just didn't think it'd be that painful watching those girls go after him like that," Aerith said. "I know he doesn't feel anything for them anymore, but..."
Elmyra hugged Aerith again, giving her a "there-there-it's-okay" smile. It was then that there was a knock at the door. Elmyra got up. "You just stay in the house if you like. Take a break from selling flowers for a while. It's not like we'll really need the money now or anything, okay?"
Aerith nodded and she watched Elmyra go out of her room and down the stairs. She sighed and sat on the bed, her back against the wall, her chocobo plushie still held close. She was thinking about what her mother said. Sincerity and honesty, wasn't it?
Yesterday, when Zack said that he only had feelings for her, she immediately knew it to be true. Maybe it was her Ancient heritage whose attributes included a stronger than normal empathic link to every living creature around her, which made her so sure about Zack's sincerity, but when Zack looked at her with those blue eyes and said those words, there was no doubt in her mind that he meant them. So then why was she still so angry, even after knowing that? Aerith couldn't be too sure. Her anger was not directed at Zack; rather, it was directed against his past. So why had she claimed that she had fully accepted him, then? Had yesterday's event showed that deep inside, she really, truly didn't accept what he was before he met her?
You are a dolt. It was her conscience paying her a visit again. Zack had been sincere. He hadn't been anything but open to you. Honest.
Zack had asked her, that one afternoon a couple of days ago, if she could still accept him if he'll tell her about his exploits in the past.
With what, she had asked.
With women, he had replied. And he proceeded to tell him that he wanted to be honest with her because he had never felt anything like this to any woman before. And that the least she deserved if she would go out with him was the bare truth.
It hadn't been easy, listening to Zack recount the many women he had been. It hadn't been easy listening to him talk about his misgivings and darker nature. But she knew that Zack was taking a risk. He could keep mum about his past and not tell her about them, true, but he chose to, because he wanted to be open. Because he wanted everything laid out to her, so she would know him, the real, naked him. And when she had seen and learned everything about him, the good and the bad, she had smiled at him, and kissed him, and told him that she still wanted to be with him.
At least he had been honest. Were you?
Aerith leaned her chin on her knees. And she realized that her conscience was right. She hadn't been as honest. She hadn't told Zack about her true past yet. And thinking about it now, she realized that she had been afraid to. What would Zack think, she wondered, if he knew what she really was? That she was the last of a race that had special 'powers'? Would he still accept her?
If he really loves you, he'll accept you for what you are. Go ahead, take the risk, like he did. Tell him about your past. And if he really loves you, he'd still want to be with you. The suggestion, however, made her doubly hesitant.
"Aerith!" It was her mother calling from below. "It's for you."
Still in her nightgown, she slowly got up and walked down the steps to the living room. She turned to look at the open door and froze when he saw Zack standing there. He was carrying something long that was wrapped in brown paper.
She stood a few steps from the door, her hands clutched in front of her. Elmyra excused herself and Zack thanked her. Then, he turned to look at Aerith.
For a moment, it seemed as if Aerith was unsure of what to say or do, then, she started walking towards the open door until she and Zack were a foot or two from each other.
"I thought you'd be at work," Aerith said, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Didn't you say you have this sort of research going on?"
"I...I have this for you," Zack said. "It was the thing I was supposed to buy you yesterday." He gave her the long thing wrapped in brown paper.
Aerith raised an eyebrow in question. "What is it?"
Zack shrugged. Aerith ripped open the package to reveal a long, gold-colored metal stick with an ornamental knob at the end. The knob was carved with stylish designs, and there was a green materia at the end of it which gave off a muted, green glow. The stick was light but felt unusually strong.
"It's a...ummm...it's a..." Aerith said. Then, realizing she really didn't know what it was, she frowned. "What is it?"
Zack tried not let out a chuckle at seeing Aerith's confusion. Instead, he cleared his throat and said seriously, "It's called a Guard Stick; a rod. It's kind of a weapon, with slots for materia. I already put in a Cure materia for you. It's...sort of a gift. For you, I mean."
She hefted the Guard Stick in her hand, feeling the lightness of the weapon. She could easily wield it. "What am I supposed to do with it? Bash you in the head?"
"Will that make you forgive me for yesterday?" Zack asked. "Will that make you happy?" Saying those, he knelt in front of her, head bowed. "Beat me as long as you want, then. Just tell me I'm forgiven. "
Aerith looked at Zack, her face an unreadable expression of mixed emotions. Zack was still kneeling, his head bowed, totally vulnerable. He was shaking a bit, and it just occurred to Aerith that when he spoke then, his voice was fully apologetic and sincere and quivering, as if he was going to cry. She looked at his gift and then at him. And then, she suddenly knelt and hugged him, her arms clutching at his neck. She was crying.
"You silly, stupid twit," she whispered, in between sobs. "How can you ever think I could hit you?"
"I'm sorry," Zack said. He was crying, as well. "So very sorry. I couldn't sleep last night. All I ever thought about was how much I've hurt you...so very sorry..."
"You didn't hurt me," Aerith said, closing her eyes, her tears running down her cheek and onto Zack's shoulder metal pads. "I hurt myself. I shouldn't have acted like that...Zack, I love you...'
"I love you too," Zack whispered. "I love you more than anything."
And they knelt there just outside the door, in the cold chill of morning, crying their hearts out to each other, in each other's embrace.
"There's something I want to show you," Aerith said as they were walking out of the garden and into the path which led to Sector 5 proper. She was clasping Zack's hand with her left while her right was holding the Guard Stick he had bought for her. Zack decided that he won't report for work today, meaning to spend the whole day with Aerith instead, amidst the young girl's half-hearted protests. In the end, Aerith had to gave in. Zack could be stubborn when he wanted to.
"Is this, like, a surprise?" Zack asked.
"You could say that," Aerith smiled. "It's my special place. And I want it to be our special place too."
"I thought Mr. Oak in the garden was our special place?" Zack asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, that, too," Aerith said. "But this one's different, and its lovely. And I want it to be our special place."
"Why?" Zack asked, grinning.
"Because!" Aerith answered, frowning her nose at him. "Now quit asking questions. And just follow me."
Zack grinned but he did kept shut. They walked along Sector 5, into the familiar path which led to Sector 4. Aerith took the lead, occasionally waving her rod this way and that like a child being given a new kind of toy. Zack smiled as he looked at her, wanting to just suddenly stop and hug her tight for no reason at all. But he knew that it would freak her out.
Presently, they stopped, staring up at the huge structure before them. Aerith's 'special place' turned out to be the old, dilapidated church beside the road, which connected Sector 4 and 5. The run-down building's marble walls used to be pristine white but were now dirty gray due to pollution and dust. The huge brown double doors were made of tough oak, carved and chiseled with intricate designs by a master sculptor a long time ago who undoubtedly felt proud of his work. The stained glass frescoes shone, displaying their kaleidoscope of colors in spite of the grime and dirt in them. Part of the church's belltower was already crumbling down.
"Well," Zack said, after a moment's silence. "I think it's safe to say that Mr. Oak needn't feel any competition from this one."
Aerith chuckled. "Silly. It's the inside that counts. Come. I wanna show you something."
She grasped his hand and they entered the building via the double doors, which were open. And Zack realized that Aerith was right.
The inside of the church was, like its external appearance, a complete ramshackle. Stone and bricks littered the floor, together with bits, pieces, and parts of wooden structure and beams. The church pews were still at their places, but some of them were already on such a state of disrepair that they would only be useful as firewood.
But in the middle of the church, near the altar, there bloomed a whole garden of fresh, fragrant flowers of many kinds, very much like the garden Aerith had in front of her house. Directly over it, a part of the ceiling was completely destroyed, allowing a stream of sunlight to pass through, illuminating the small garden, making it look as if it's a treasure lighted for the taking. It occurred to Zack now why the stained fresco looked bright from the outside.
"Wow," Zack said, his voice soft and whispered. It was more because of the beautiful scene before him, than on the fact that he was on sacred ground. "I never knew an old building could hide such a beautiful place."
Aerith smiled and turned back to him. "Isn't it lovely? We're on hallowed ground, you see. Years ago, people worshipped here, to some god. Maybe that's why flowers easily bloom here, as the god's testament with the people." She walked towards the garden, into the circle of soft sunlight. She knelt down, and slowly touched the flowers, carefully tending them. Zack thought she looked ethereal, being bathed there by the sunlight, among beautiful, colorful flowers, amidst a broken down place. "This place...is one of the few sacred places where the Planet's voice can be heard. That's why it's so easy for me to grow flowers here. You might wonder why there are so very few flowers in Midgar. It's because Midgar isn't a good place for frail life. But here, life grows, unhindered. It's only a small patch of holy ground, but life grows here."
Listening to Aerith talk then, Zack thought she became a whole new different person. The way she touched the flowers, the way she smiled, the way her voice softly echoed in the large room. Aerith placed a hand on a stem of one flower, a white rose, mumbled something Zack couldn't hear, and picked it up. She held it to her nose, and smelled it, closing her eyes.
"Aerith...?"
Aerith looked up at the blue sky beyond the destroyed ceiling. "Whenever I feel lonely, or sad, or afraid, I always go here. Because its here when I can hear the Planet the clearest. And its voice soothes me, and calms my soul. Sometimes, I feel that I could hear my mother's voice talking to me. And in that moment, I am happy."
"Your mother? Y'mean, Elmyra?"
Aerith turned to look at her boyfriend again, and she smiled sadly, and shook her head.
"What do you mean...?"
"Zack, there's something you need to know about me," Aerith said. Zack cocked his head to one side, confused.
Honesty. Tell him the truth. Take the risk. Will he still love you, after everything?
"Elmyra is not my real mother," Aerith continued. "Ten years ago, when I was six, she found me and my mother in the train station. She had been waiting for her husband to come home from the wars, and instead she found my dying mother and me. So, she took it upon herself to raise me as her own. I've started calling her mom since then..."
"So, you're an orphan," Zack said. He gave a relieved smile. He thought Aerith's revelation was something graver, like she had committed a crime or something. He walked to her, and he was bathed in the sunlight, as well. He softly flicked back her hair with his hand. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, Aerith."
Aerith shook her head, still smiling sadly. She took Zack's hand and clasped it with both her own. "Zack, I'm not like anyone else...'
"I know," Zack said. "You're special. You're my Aerith. That's what makes you special."
"No," Aerith said. "It's nothing like that. Zack...I'm not a normal human person."
Zack looked at her blankly.
"My mom...I mean, my mom Elmyra...told me that if you really love someone, you have to be sincere with them, and I am, but she also told me that you have to be honest, as well," Aerith said. "Zack, you've been honest with me all this time and I suppose the least I could do was to be honest to you as well."
"Aerith, you're scaring me. What--" Zack said.
"Just hear me out, please," Aerith said, putting a forefinger lightly on his lips. "The reason why we were on that station that day, ten years ago, was because we escaped from Shinra; my mother and I. You see, as I told you, I am not just a normal human being. My mother and I, we were the last of an ancient race of people called the Cetra. The people at Shinra, they called us something else. Ancients. They said that they were going to study us. We...we have this ability to talk with the Planet. I, for one, can hear its voice during clear nights, when everything is silent. That...that is why I was able to make a garden thrive in the heart of Midgar. That is why a beautiful garden exists here, in this old church. I...I really can't explain it in words myself, but I feel as if I am a part of everything, and I understand their needs, and wants. My real mother...she had this ability to heal...I have it, too, though not on a great degree as her. But I've always done it, for the flowers..."
Zack would have found the whole revelation funny. Kind of like those things you see in movies, where one of the heroes or heroines suddenly drops a dramatic bombshell on the audience by revealing that they were really a group of powerful aliens in the guise of humans out to save the world. He would have found it amusing except for the fact that he knew it was true. Every little thing Aerith said was a fact. He should know. He had been looking for it all this time.
"Y-you escaped from S-shinra...?" For some reason, he felt as if he was starting to lose his breath.
"Yes," Aerith said. And she suddenly hugged him, her voice starting to break. "I know you're from Shinra! That's why mom...I mean, Elmyra-mom, she tried to discourage me from going out with you. Because she was afraid that Shinra would come and take me back to them. But I told her that you're not that kind of person, even if you are from Shinra. You'll protect me from them. Because we love each other..."
"...T-ten years ago...Ancients...?" Zack's vision started to blur. Suddenly, he remembered the faded photograph Professor Hojo showed him. He remembered how the green-eyed little girl with brown hair had looked sadly at the camera. His hands automatically touched Aerith's hair. It was the color of chocolate brown. Rich, and soft.
"Please, please don't say you're disappointed, Zack," Aerith sobbed. "Please don't tell me you're going to leave me. I should have told you sooner. It was stupid of me. Please don't be afraid just because I'm different...please...?"
"...Elle..." Zack was trembling. He was dizzy; his eyes looking at everywhere but focusing on nothing, and his breath was raspy. He felt as if something took hold of his chest and squeezed it slowly, painfully. He embraced Aerith, but it was more to steady himself than to comfort her. He wanted to tell her that it's alright; that everything's going to be okay. But he can't.
Because he knew, deep inside, that it won't.