He didn't know how long he had been drifting in and out of consciousness. He can't even scarcely remember how long it had been since he left Aerith in that dilapidated building to meet Tseng in that old warehouse. Has it been an hour? A day? Two? He wasn't really sure. All he knew was that every moment seemed to begin with pain until sweet darkness would envelope him again, and even before that could happen, he had to endure another round of pain again. Pain and darkness. But everything was nothing compared to the thought that Aerith was alive and far away from them. Aerith was safe now. That's all that matters.
And now, he hears a voice again. It was all booming and drawn out; slow as if spoken underwater and the time dragged on for eternity. It seemed to be calling him, mentioning his name. It seemed to be asking him something. The answer? What was the answer? He didn't even know what the question was.
Leave me to my darkness, please. It's nice here. It's comfortable. Go away! I want to sleep.
But still, the underwater voice kept trying to say something to him. Drifting out of the haze, he tried to open his eyes (he can't even properly do that) but instead, his head followed the direction of the voice like a newborn pup who has yet to open its eyes, relying instead on the sounds around him. He desperately tried to open his eyes (it seemed to respond better now). In his mind, he already knew who was calling him. Aerith. It will be worth the effort if he could only see her face just one more time (but wasn't she far away from here? Wasn't she, Zack?).
Slowly, his vision came seeping back in. It was all so blurry, like a mish-mash of colors were put in a blender and set to max. His mind slowly sorted the image being transferred from his eyes, focusing on the figure before him. A dash of red. And dark. Angry red. Slowly, the image sharpened, and with it, the sound. He could identify it a lot clearer now. Everything was a swoosh but slowly, it tapered off to something comprehensible.
"…-ake now, eh? Good…" the blur before him said. He focused again until he saw who it was. And regretted having to. It was Reno, minus the glasses, and when the Turk grinned evilly, Zack found that he was without a tooth, as well.
Zack wanted to creep back to the darkness.
"Oh no you don't!" Reno growled. He clasped the young SOLDIER's face with his hand and forced him to look at him. Zack looked like a mess; his right eye was puffed bluish-black, his lips were busted, and spit and blood dribbled past his chin. Multiple cuts and bruises adorned his cheek and his hair was a disheveled mess. He was naked from the waist up, and his hands were shackled on either side of him, forming a Y. His well-muscled body was covered with welts and bruises.
Zack took in a deep breath and tried to speak. "…go...away…"
Reno smirked. "That was one hella expensive pair of glasses, you fucker!"
Zack managed a weak but mocking grin. "Can't…say it was…much of an improvement. The…missing tooth…is, though." He tried a weak laugh but coughed out blood instead.
"Why you--!" Reno said before he let loose a backhand which caused Zack to fling aside his head. He lolled it back, blood running from his nose.
"Be thankful Rude is still out of it, no thanks to you," Reno said, rubbing his hand. "I'm thinking of letting you live at least long enough until he wakes up, so he can have a piece of you as well."
"Didn't know…you were the…sharing type," Zack commented mockingly again.
Spiked with anger, Reno was about to give him another vicious punch on the face when Hojo stepped in. "That's quite enough, Reno. We don't want him dead…yet. Back away."
Reluctantly, Reno stepped back, but not before spitting on Zack's face. He sauntered back to the corner of the darkened room, hands in his pocket. Zack squinted his one good eye to look at Hojo. Behind him, Tseng was standing. The Turks leader gave him a meaningful look.
"I really do admire your resilience, Mr. Halcyon," Hojo said in his casual, bored voice. "But really. There's no sense on you acting this way. You're wasting enough time and energy as it is. That is so very precious, don't you think? Just tell us where you hid Aerith and maybe, we'll let you live. Or at the very least, we'll make your death as painless as possible."
"Stick with…your daytime job, Hojo…" Zack said. "You're…lousy as a…negotiator."
Hojo just shook his head as if admonishing a child who didn't know he was neck-deep in quicksand. "Why do you have to be such a hero? I promise you, no harm will come to her."
"Just as…no harm came to Ifalna?! Is that it, huh?!" Zack growled, suddenly finding renewed strength. He tried to break away from his chains, but at his present state, he might as well try moving a mountain. He slumped down again, defeated and tired.
"We've learned much from Ifalna!" Hojo said. "At least now we'll know as to what extent we're going to subject her to! I promise you, Mr. Halcyon, what happened to Ifalna won't happen to her. You have my word."
Chuckling at first, Zack suddenly let out a weak laugh, which considerably went a little stronger. "Your…word?! Oh gods, Hojo. Stop…it. You're making my sides ache!" He let out a snicker at the end of it, and then an "Ow" as he did felt a stabbing pain on his side. He looked back at Hojo, fully serious now. There was steeled determination from his one good eye. "Kill me, Hojo. Now. But I still won't tell you where she is."
Hojo's jaw tightened. "I didn't want to have to resort to very drastic measures, Mr. Halcyon, but really. You leave me no choice." He was about to say something to Reno when an aide suddenly entered the room.
"Professor, President Shinra has arrived," the aide said. "He wants to talk to you. And Mr. Tseng. They're at the conference room, waiting for the two of you."
"The President?!" Hojo said. He looked at Tseng for a brief moment. The Turks leader just shrugged, indicating cluelessness. Hojo turned back to Zack and then to the aide. "Very well. We'll be there shortly." The aide nodded and went away.
Hojo turned back to Zack. "I'll let you think about this for a little more time, Mr. Halcyon. I'd advise you to think things over wisely. Don't be foolish."
Zack just stared at him. Hojo and Tseng walked out of the room.
President Wryes Shinra did not amass vast wealth and fortune through direct, violent means. Instead, he used subterfuge and subtle machinations to get what he wanted and to be where he was right now, which, of course, as history has proven time and again, made him a man to be feared and respected. Outside, he was fat and ungainly, indeed not the picture one would expect of a tyrannical corporation head. But anyone who made the mistake of judging the man because of his physical appearance seldom ever made the same mistake twice, for often, they simply don't get to live long enough to make it.
Right now, as Hojo had observed immediately upon entering the large conference hall, President Shinra looked somber and serious enough to make the wiry professor tread lightly. He knew that he was an indispensable part of the Shinra Corporation but still, he didn't get to where he was right now by being reckless.
Hojo surveyed the room. Hera Scarlet, the corporation's Weapons Development head was seated on the high-backed chair to the president's right, looking dangerously seductive in her slinky, shiny red dress as usual. Directly across her, Gorik Heideggar, Shinra's head of Space Exploration and Development was being his idiotic self. Laughters of "Gyaa ha haaa!" and "Kyaa ha haa!" were exchanged between the two heads. Sitting beside Heideggar, in his composed and silent stature, the head of the Urban Development section, Lars Reeve, was drinking a hot cup of coffee. On the far side of the room, the president's pudgy lapdog, Palmer, was preparing a cup of coffee for the president.
On the right side of the large room, behind and to the right of Scarlet, a huge screen was on. It showed Zack shackled. Reno was busy torturing him.
"Mr. President," Hojo said, bowing. "I did not expect this visit from you so soon."
"I do hope you have a perfectly good explanation for everything, professor," President Shinra said.
"Explanation, sir?" Hojo asked, acting perfectly innocent.
"I come here to find that a part of my building has been blown away, the laboratory totally demolished, and a man-a SOLDIER, by the looks of him-shackled on the building interrogation chamber. What the hell has been going on, Hojo?!"
"Sir, I can explain," Hojo said. "We…we briefly had, in our possession, the young Ancient girl who escaped here together with the mother ten years ago. I was planning to tell you the good news but--"
"'Briefly'?" President Shinra stressed.
"Well, sir…" Hojo said, not really knowing how to explain the rescue attempt. "We…lost her. Mr. Halcyon broke through our defenses and got her out."
"Idiot!" President Shinra suddenly said, standing up and at the same time slamming his hands on the table. His sudden outburst caused Scarlet and Heideggar to look up in surprise. Reeve just observed with curious interest. "You lost her?! To one man?! How the hell did that happen?! Who was in charge of the defense?!"
"That would be me, sir," Tseng said, stepping up. "I…was partly to blame. Mr. Halcyon was the one tasked to track down the Ancient girl. But…we failed to notice that he was bewitched. Perhaps by some Ancient trick. H-he attacked with extraordinary ferocity, sir. It couldn't have been anything less than extreme magic that was aiding him. Magic provided by the Ancient, perhaps."
"All the more reason for us to get hold of that girl," President Shinra said resolutely. He turned to look at the screen. "And that's him, I presume?"
"Yes sir," Hojo affirmed. "He came in highly recommended, so I picked him to track down the Ancient girl. He was successful but…"
"Hmm…he's quite cute," Scarlet commented. "Minus the bruises, of course."
"I assume you're now trying to get the information out of him?" President Shinra asked.
"Yes sir," Hojo said. "But he's proven to be quite stubborn. It would take time and more drastic measures to make him talk."
Scarlet licked her lips. "Give him to me, and I'll make him talk."
"What, Scarlet, you're going to 'pump' the information out of him? Gyaa hahaha haa!" Heideggar bellowed, lauging at his own crude joke.
"Fuck you, Heideggar," Scarlet said.
"Shut up, both of you," President Shinra said. He turned to Hojo. "Get him to talk, Hojo. I don't care how. Just do it."
"Of course, sir," Hojo said. "I do have a method, but it's still in its earliest experimental stage. No more than a working theory, at the most."
"And…?"
"It would require pumping the subject with a large amount of pure, raw Mako," Hojo said. "The natural triatoxins would trigger the resident chemicals in his head which came out of the doses of synthesized Mako he received when he was accepted into SOLDIER in the beginning. Hopefully, that would enable us to extract his memories. Of course, as I said, it's still experimental. Pumping him with raw Mako might kill him. But I think, even when dead, we could still extract some information. At least in theory."
"Then do it," President Shinra said.
"Very well then," Hojo said. "I will prepare the necessary equipment tomorrow. If that will be all, sir?" Hojo bowed and started walking away.
"Actually, that's not all," President Shinra said. "That is not the real reason why I asked you here."
Hojo turned around, confused. "Oh?"
President Shinra snapped his finger and Palmer immediately fumbled and got out his leather suitcase. He produced a sheaf of what looked to be like official reports. He handed it to President Shinra.
"This is the latest report we received from the troops based near Wutai," President Shinra said. "read it, and tell me what you think." He slid the sheaf of papers across the long table towards Hojo.
Hojo picked it up and started reading. His eyes widened a bit and his jaw tightened. "Oh my god."
"Precisely what they thought, as well," President Shinra said, looking out of the large window overlooking Midgar. "Apparently, there's something very wrong with your pet subject, Professor."
"Why, what is it?" the others asked. They started milling around the professor, curious.
"A whole battalion…?" Hojo gasped.
"Not just our battalion, but the whole enemy detachment, as well," President Shinra said. "There were a few survivors, so we were able to piece together what happened. Apparently, Sephiroth went mad briefly. He destroyed his own battalion as well as that of the enemy's. Three hundred strong, Professor. That's how many the enemy were. And his battalion was composed of elite Shinra soldiers. Almost all were brutally killed. Our rescue team found him in the field, surrounded by those he killed. He was bathed in blood, they said. He was licking his Masamune. When they found him, he was laughing…"
"My god," Scarlet gasped.
"You said he was stable!" President Shinra said, almost shouting. "And while I agree that he was the perfect soldier so far, this report is not to be taken lightly. Not to be taken lightly at all! What's the use of producing super-soldiers like him if all of them were going to go mad?! Do you even have any idea what the consequences would be?!"
"This is unexpected," Hojo said. "This goes against all pertinent data and hypotheses I and my team have come up with."
"Well, your team better come up with a good explanation of Sephiroth's behavior, professor," President Shinra said. "Or else I will be forced to cancel all and every research you have. And destroy Sephorth, as well. If this is going to be the after-effects of producing an enhanced super-soldier, then we might as well stick with machines and weapons."
"No!" Hojo suddenly said. The thought of losing his beloved pet project was unthinkable to him. "Don't destroy him! Don't stop the research! Please, sir, I've devoted most of my career, most of my life, for this!"
"But the report--!" President Shinra said.
"I think…I think this is a new development," Hojo said. "I would like to make some more observations. Sir…I, I think this is tied to 'it'."
"'It'?" President Shinra asked, not really understanding.
"Yes," Hojo said. "For the past few weeks, I've observed and gathered data which would support that there may be a link between the increase of monsters in the Mako reactor in Nibelheim and Sephiroth's behavior. You do know of the reports, don't you? The reactor in Nibelheim's been increasingly active lately. And you know what we kept in there."
"Jenova," Heideggar said. "That's where we kept Jenova."
"Precisely," Hojo said. "I've received reports that Sephiorth has been increasingly withdrawn, and he seems to be looking to the east. Towards Nibelheim, in fact. And the sensors we placed inside Jenova's chamber seems to be increasing lately. They're too synchronized to be coincidental, Mr. President."
"Sephiroth has Jenova's cells," Reeve suddenly spoke for the first time. "Isn't that right, professor?"
"Precisely," Hojo said. "Which is why…I have come up with a proposition. This is solely based on hypothesis but…"
"What?" President Shinra asked.
"What if…we send Sephiroth to Nibelheim? Under an official mission, of course. The monsters have been increasing as of late," Hojo said. "I am really curious as to what will happen. It could be nothing, or, on the other hand, it could cause an interaction which would give us an insight as to what's wrong with Sephiroth. Perhaps, we could find a cure, or…"
"Or…even a new weapon!" Scarlet said. "A new weapon! More funds for the Weapon Development!"
Hojo smirked in displeasure. "Scarlet is right. We could find a new weapon based on the data we could gather. Either way, we'd have nothing to lose."
President Shinra was silent for a bit, thinking deeply, debating the pros and the cons. Then, he spoke. "But what if…something does happen, and Sephiroth goes mad? If your theory is right, and Sephiroth's insanity could be linked to Jenova, then the havoc it would cause would be even greater than what happened in the battlefield near Wutai. The whole town of Nibelheim could be destroyed. Lots of innocent people would be involved. Normally, I could care less, but since Shinra's directly involved, we'd be besieged by protests from places the Planet over. And frankly, professor, I don't need more shit than I already am having."
"Then, we'll send an army with him," Hojo said.
"He killed a battalion of soldiers, Professor, and three hundred enemy troops," President Shinra said. "What makes you think an army would suffice? Besides, with the current war in the Wutai front, I need all the able soldiers I can get. No, Professor, an army sent to guard him wouldn't be practical."
"Then…what about him?" Scarlet suddenly said. They all looked to where she was looking at; at the screen showing Zack.
"Him?!" Tseng asked incredously.
"Yes," Scarlet said. "After all, he did singlehandedly bring down a squad of second-class SOLDIERS and your Turks, didn't he, Tseng? And if I remember right, there were two mechs and some sentry guns, as well. If you ask me, he's worth more than an army."
"Yes, but--!"
"Look at it this way," Scarlet said. "Professor Hojo's going to be doing an experiment on him, anyway. Which might, or might not kill him. Why not just make the most out of him while he's still alive? If Sephiroth'll go mad and kill him, it wouldn't matter, right? At least he'd be able to put up a good fight. Slow Sephiroth down enough for us to take over."
"He could be killed in the process," Tseng said, thoughtfully.
Heideggar laughed. "Gyaa ha ha haa! And what makes you think he'd cooperate, giving the treatment he's currently getting right now?"
Tseng suddenly let out an imperceptible smile. "Oh, he'll cooperate. Don't worry about it. He will."
"Reno, out," Tseng said as he and Hojo entered the interrogation room. "See ya later," Reno said. "I'll show you what my other hand can do." He chuckled as he went out of the room.
Zack slowly looked at the duo.
"Well well, Mr. Halcyon," Hojo said. "It seems that today is your lucky day."
"What…" Zack asked. "You're finally…killing me? Seeing your faces…is torture enough."
Hojo let out a chuckle. "Quite the contrary, I'm afraid. We have a mission for you."
"If it's…finding another…little girl," Zack gasped. "I'll pass. I've had…enough…little-girl missions…for a while."
"Nono," Hojo said. "This time it'll be different. And, get this. You'll be partnered with Sephiroth! I've heard that he's the reason why you entered SOLDIER in the first place."
Zack's expression changed. The sarcastic tone was off. He turned curiously serious, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"You're waiting for the catch?" Hojo asked.
Zack remained silent.
"No catch," Hojo asked. "You just accompany Sephiroth to Nibelheim. There's an…uhm, monster infestation problem there. And, from the prowess you showed yesterday, I would think that you and he will be a very good combination indeed."
Zack was silent for a moment. Then he said, "No."
"No?"
"You heard me," Zack said. "No."
"We'll kill you, if you refuse," Hojo said. "And trust me, it won't be quick."
"So far…all I've heard…is blah, blah, and…more blah," Zack said. "You should be…a politician, Hojo."
Hojo's face stiffened. He was about to say something when Tseng grasped him by the shoulder. "Let me convince him, Professor. If you'll just leave us alone for a few minutes, I'll make him agree."
Hojo looked at Tseng, then nodded. "Very well. Ten minutes."
Tseng nodded and Hojo stepped out of the room. Now, only he and Zack were there. Tseng walked over to a panel and flicked a hidden switch. A control panel slid out and Tseng inputted some codes. Clicks were heard.
"There. We should be safe from prying eyes and ears."
Zack remained silent, looking at Tseng. Then, he said, "What's this…all about, Tseng? Hojo's…offering me…a dream. Is this…a trick to get me…to tell him where…Aerith is?"
"'Dream'?" Tseng laughed. "I don't think it'd be appropriate to call this assignment a 'dream'. More like a 'nightmare'."
"Then tell me," Zack said.
Tseng walked over to Zack. He lightly ran a finger over Zack's chest, smearing a line of blood and sweat. Then, he licked his finger, tasting the saltiness and blood. "Sephiroth has been getting…well, let's just say, out of his mind lately. He's becoming more dangerous, if that's even possible. Nobody knows what he's going to do next. Now, he's got this assignment to Nibelheim, and the head honchos decided that someone must accompany him. Just in case something happens. You know, precautionary measures."
"Then…why didn't they…assign you Turks?"
Tseng leaned over and whispered on his ear conspiratorially, "Frankly, I'm not too comfortable working with madmen."
"Well…that's a laugh…" Zack said. "You're…in a group…composed of one."
"Hah, touche," Tseng said. "That's what I like about you, Mr. Halcyon. You don't lose your sense of humor. But no. They've decided that you will accompany Sephiroth. I'm not going to sugarcoat this one, Mr. Halcyon. It will be dangerous. In all probability, you will be killed. But hey, better to die in the hands of the Great One, eh? That would be a perfect end to your career. Sure beats being killed by us."
"You…want me dead," Zack said. "Why…don't you just…kill me, Tseng? Why…the playing around? You already…have what you want. Aerith…and I…are already apart. Just kill me now…"
"I don't want to be the cause of Aerith's grief if she finds out," Tseng said. "Besides, it's not really my idea that you were to be sent with him in the first place. You have Hera Scarlet to thank for that. I just thought it would be convenient on my part. Which is why I'm convincing you right now."
"Hah!" Zack mocked. "What makes…you think…I'll say 'yes'?"
Tseng grinned. "You're my puppet, Mr. Halcyon. When I pull the strings, you dance. You're my toy. Remember?"
Zack gritted his teeth.
"I assume that's a yes, then," Tseng said. "You've made me a happy man, Mr. Halcyon. Very well, I'll tell them you agreed." He started to turn around and walk away.
"When…?" Zack asked.
"Hmmm?"
"When…will this mission…start?"
"In a week."
"Tseng…"
"Yes?"
"I want to say goodbye to her. If you have any shred of humanity, you won't deprive me of this request."
Tseng looked at him for a bit. Then, he shrugged. "If that is what you want. A dying man's last request is always honored."
"Just make sure Hojo doesn't send anyone to follow me."
"Of course," Tseng said. "As I said, I have Aerith's best interest at heart. Good night, Mr. Halcyon."
Tseng walked out of the door. Zack was left in the darkness. He shed a tear but no one was there to see it.
Five days had passed since the rescue. Aerith was at her usual haunt, selling flowers (much to Elmyra's pleadings that it was still too dangerous). She was carrying the Guard Stick that had been Zack's first and only gift to her.
To say that she had been sad and confused the past few days was an understatement. After that night with Zack in that building, she had been sure that nothing would keep them apart again. She had been sure that, with what Zack did, he wouldn't be going back to Shinra. It would only be logical. They'd kill him there. So, if he wasn't there, then where was he right now? Where was he for the past five days? It's not so much the thought that he's gone that's killing her so much as the fact that she didn't have any idea where he was right now.
In a way, she was beginning to resent it. After all he said that night in the building, why did he disappear just like that, without so much as an explanation, or even at least a goodbye? Aerith was hurt. And the pain just wouldn't go away. She tried selling flowers again, partly to keep herself occupied, but also, partly (although she didn't want to admit it) on the off-chance that she might see him.
Just then, she felt a tug on her dress. She looked down, to see a little boy of about eight or so. Aerith tried to smile.
"Hello there little boy," she said. "Do you want a flower?"
The little boy shook his head. Instead, he handed her something.
Aerith looked at it quizzically. It was a piece of paper, folded. Once she took it, the little boy ran away. Aerith opened it and she let out a gasp. It was a message, written in that unmistakable handwriting.
"Meet me at the church now. I need to see you. I love you. ~ Zack"
She didn't know how she got there, whether she ran or walked, but the next thing she knew, she was already standing in front of the large oak door of the church in between Sector 4 and Sector 5. She was trembling as she looked at the stained glass window. Taking in a deep breath, she pushed the massive double doors in a little and stepped inside.
The only light was from the large hole on the ceiling which allowed sunlight to pass through to the center of the altar, filtered by the stained glass windows. Her garden was there, the flowers blooming beautiful and fragrant. And there, squatting to smooth the flowers, was the familiar back of the person she loved. The familiar dark hair was wild, as always, and that menacing, impossibly huge sword was placed on the floor beside him. She couldn't see his face but she always had it memorized in her heart.
She wanted to run to him, to embrace him from behind, to reach up and grab him by the cheek and kiss his lips. But she held back. For now, she needed answers and explanations. It was the least she deserved. She started to speak.
"I hate you."
It was the last thing she thought she would say, and she immediately covered her mouth. But it was already too late.
Zack didn't turn around. "I know. I…I guess I owe you an explanation…"
"Why?" The first question she should've asked. "Why did you leave me that morning? You were supposed to hold on to me."
"I did," Zack replied. "Until I had to go."
"Where?"
"Back. To Shinra."
"But why?" Aerith asked. Her voice was thick with confusion. "I don't understand…"
"I can't explain it," Zack said. "I'm sorry…I wish I could, but I can't. I wouldn't know where to start. Just know that I did it for you."
"I can't appreciate it if you don't tell me the reason," Aerith said. "You always say 'I'm doing it for you I'm doing it for you', but right now, Zack, I want to know more than that. Why did you have to go back?"
"I…made a deal," Zack said. "They'll leave you alone, just as long as I turn myself in…"
"NO!" Aerith said, suddenly running to him. She embraced him from the back, wrapped her arms around his waist. The first thing she should've done. She rested her face against his back and her tears wet his shirt. "I don't WANT you to do that! I don't want you to turn yourself in! Let's run away! Us, together! Away from here! Away from Midgard! Away from Shinra! I'll go anywhere you want me to! Just…just don't go away. I don't want to have to be apart from you. Not for one second more. Not for one moment longer."
"Aerith…"
"Look at me…Zack…please. Look at me…"
Zack turned around, slowly, hesitantly. And Aerith gasped at what he saw.
"W-what have they done to you…?" She slowly cupped Zack's bruised and battered face, which, although healed somewhat now, was still unpleasant to look at. Aerith's tears flowed harder like rivers. She bumped her forehead with his, closing her eyes.
"I had to do it," Zack said. "Or they'd take away everyone I hold dear. Not just you, Aerith…"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
"It's a decision I'm not regretting," Zack said. "Tseng promised me Shinra won't be after you anymore…"
"Shh, don't talk…"
Closing her eyes, Aerith's lips moved as if in silent prayer, still cupping Zack's face with her hands. Then, suddenly, a green glow enveloped them. Zack felt a tingly, pleasant sensation. The kind you feel when you're in the arms of someone you love. When you feel protected and secure. It was that feeling that Zack loved the most. Slowly, his scars started to heal, broken skin closing over flesh, blood drying up and disappearing. Finally, Aerith opened her eyes, and Zack's handsome face greeted her once more.
Zack buried his face in Aerith's chest, as though a child seeking his mother's protection and warmth. Aerith cradled Zack's head and they stayed that way for a while, each relishing on each other's soothing presence.
"I am going away," Zack said, finally.
"I will go with you," Aerith replied.
"No," Zack said. "Where I'll go, it'll be dangerous. But I'll be back."
"I want to go with you. I will always be safe with you."
Zack shook his head and looked up at Aerith. "No. You will be safest here."
"But--!"
"I will be back. I promise."
"I don't want promises. I just want you."
"I give you my word. I will be back."
Aerith looked at him, still unconvinced. Zack ran his thumb on Aerith's smooth cheek. Then, he leaned up and brought Aerith's face to his and kissed her soft lips. The lips he knew he won't be touching for a while. Then, he let go.
"Listen. Wait for me. Here, on this very place. On our special place. The one place in Midgar where flowers bloom. For as long as these flowers bloom, have hope that I'll be back."
Aerith nodded sadly.
"Don't be sad. This isn't goodbye or anything…"
"I will wait for you. If you come back here, I'll be waiting."
Zack stroked her hair. He placed a hand on her cheek, leaned over and whispered. "I will be back. In one way or another, I will be back."