Oc e Ne-
Yes and No
~*~ A Final Fantasy VII AU~*~
Chapter Three-Rudis("Staff")
AN~Back! Sorry about that uber-long break....I REALLY had to get out a new chapter in 'Hey! I Could Be A Messenger From Hyne, Ya Know!' before my 200+ reviewers skinned me to death.....*backs away nervously* Anywho, here this is! Written when I should be doing my AP US History DBQ's!*cough* Well, this had been itching at me for a while, so I decided to keep on with it. Although, if I don't get enough reviews for every chapter, then I'm going to stop with this. I thought 10 was a little extremist, so let's go for 8 a chapter, okay?*smile* ~Vereor Veritas~, ~*~tigerofthewind~*~
Aeris was screwed. She knew it, completely and in it's sucky, sucky entirety. Well, it wasn't as though she'd never FALLEN before in her life, but from a 200-ft. Mako reactor to an endless abyss of nothingness? Didn't sound like her idea of fun. For the first time in her life, she was actually.........well, she was actually scared.
Three, two...............
"...............Float."
(That voice again.........and the flower.............the lights from the reactor are so bright........... No, Float's too late to save me now..............)
Aeris felt herself crash through something hard than land on something both hard and soft as something cracking into the back of her head sent her into blackness yet again.
~*~*~
"................You all right?"
"..........Yeah."
"Ha ha ha............. You are an angel, Aerith, but it looks as though you cannot fly yet."
"Shut up."
"For what else do I lend you my wings? .........Remember, Aerith."
"What if I don't want to remember? It's you, isn't it? Am I dead? Or are you..............?"
"Only a fool asks the question they know the answer to."
"The hideout..........."
"Yes, that was me. ............I hear footsteps. Stay safe, flower of my heart, until we meet again."
"What---? When---?"
"You want to know? Then, wake up!"
~*~*~
"Hello, hello?"
Aeris twitched slightly on the ground. Or was it the ground? Was she really dead? Float..........
"Are you all right, miss? Hello, hello?"
Another twitch."Oh! She moved!"(Would you look at that, folks?)She managed to croak out some words."I'll..........be fine..........."
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Aeris fluttered her eyes open, blinking quickly to adjust her eyes to the light and dispel the spots that had covered her vision. Standing above her was the man from Sector 1, the one in navy blue that perfectly matched his eyes, and that shoulder- length golden hair............."You okay?"he asked, sitting back on his heels from where he had been squatting next to her.
Aeris sat up, putting a hand to her aching head."............Yeah."
This time, he stood up, dusting off his robes, articles of clothing Aeris couldn't quite get used to."The roof and the flower bed broke your fall. You're lucky."
"Flower bed...........?"Aeris looked around, and saw indeed that she was surrounded by violently yellow flowers. She jumped off of it in a rush, kicking at the floors of the building she was in rather embarrassedly."Is this yours? Sorry about that."
The man laughed; he had a nice laugh, but it did little if anything to ease the sadness in his eyes."No, it's not mine. It used to belong to a girl I knew, but she left from here to find a better life.............I think it was about ten years ago."
This time, he smiled a smile that reached his eyes, and made them glow almost akin to Aeris' own."Hello, Aerith."
She gaped, dropped her jaw open at him in the rudest of ways."Y-You're--- How---What---Who are you?"
"Me?"He pointed at himself."You don't remember me? I'm...............Cloud."
(Cloud.............)Aeris vaguely recalled the name. They made small talk for a while:"......Me? I do a little bit of everything........." and such. Until finally............
A man appeared at the back of the church, with flaming red hair and eyes the color of aquamarine. Cloud turned towards the back of the church and regarded him a little uneasily."Aeris, do me a favor. Will you get me out of here? Take me home."
(Hmmm. An interesting development. But hey, the gil was left with Tifa and Barret, so......)"Okay.....but it'll cost you."
It seemed to take him off guard."I.......I don't have any money............"Sheepishly, he bent down and picked her a flower."Sorry. I've got collateral."He seemed so distressed that Aeris decided to lighten up on him a bit. Maybe he had more money at home.
"Tell you what........."she offered, bouncing around the Titan Bangle she had found from Airbuster on her hands like a ball,"........how about if you go out with me once?"
"I, uh..............WHAT?"He looked so flustered that she had to laugh.
"I like dark and handsome myself, but you'll have to do............"she teased, and turned towards the redheaded man who was walking towards them."You don't know me?"Another glitch."No, wait. I know you."
Three of Shinra's regular soldiers were with him."Hey sis,"one of them cracked,"this one's a little weird."
Aeris was angry now."Shut up! You Shinra spy!"
"Hey, Reno! Want her taken out?"
The man whom Aeris supposed was called Reno shrugged."I haven't decided."
Cloud was already running for the back, woefully inadequate silver staff balanced in front of him."Don't fight here! You'll ruin Aerith's flowers! Aerith, the exit is back here!"
(My flowers?)Aeris removed her hands from where she had them placed on Vereorvis' hilt, and took off after Cloud. In the back of the church was a conglomeration of stairs, barrels, and planks. Aeris had started for the top with ease, but Cloud was having a few diffuculties. When they reached a particularly wide gap, he backed up a few steps and shook his head stubbornly. Aeris sighed impatiently and was about to argue with him when Reno and the other three appeared at the bottom of the steps.
"The Ancient is getting away!"he shouted, as though such a thing occuring would completely ruin his day."Attack! Attack! Attack!"
And at the sudden barrage of bullets, two of them were lucky and struck Cloud, one on his upper right arm and the other near his left shoulder. Aeris cursed the worst curses she could think of at the moment when he lost his balance and began toppling down the long pipe at the center of the church, robes flopping insanely. If the situation hadn't been so dire, she would have laughed at how absurd he looked.
"Think we killed 'em? They shouldn't have put up a fight, I say!"
(God, how I hate him. He's so friggin' annoying.)"Shut up, you ass!"she shouted down at Reno, causing all of the soldiers' heads to turn."No one likes to hear you talk but yourself! Rggggggh!!!!!"She was so angry that she actually managed to make a Barret-brand 'noise-of-annoyance'.
Cloud, making use of the rather humorous diversion, had headed for the lowest flight of stairs, but found his path arrested by a soldier. And, even more unfortunately, his staff was up at the top of the church where he had dropped it near Aeris."Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"
What the hell did he expect her to do? Fly?! 'Ha ha ha............. You are an angel, Aerith, but it looks as though you cannot fly yet................' Another noise of annoyance. Now was NOT the time. And up top, glinting from the silver metal bands around it's middle........"A barrel? Maybe if I push it over........."
Well, no harm in trying. She pushed it over, and watched as it made a satisfying thumping noise as it promptly squished the solder who'd been harassing Cloud.
(Oh, crap. An entourage.)Some dumb little orange ball thing was attacking her. A single hit killed it, but it distracted her from what was really important."Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"
This time, she just lunged at the nearest barrel and hurled it down. And, while it nearly beheaded the loathsome Reno(always a plus!), it failed in incapacitating the soldier who posed the more immediate threat."Damn!"
Cloud looked rather trapped, until Aeris(in a sudden stroke of inspiration to replace for her bout of stupidity a few moments ago) threw down the Titan Bangle she had stuffed some materia in to him, and he cast Fire, completely obliterating the man. Aeris, in spite of everything, was impressed. The man knew his magic, and was good at what he knew.
"Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"This time, she was ready for it, and smashed the man before he even had time to think. All soldiers minus Reno(who'd seemed to have suddenly disappeared) gone, Aeris and Cloud ascended to the top again(this time Cloud had no qualms about jumping the heinous gap) and crossed the rafters to the hole in the roof from which Aeris had originally fallen. There, they stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath.
Cloud, despite sitting down in a dejected heap and sounding horribly out of breath, managed a few wheezy laughs that once again, didn't reach his eyes."Ha, ha, ha.............they're after me again."
Aeris blinked."You mean it's not the first time they've been after you?"(Man.......not bad for a guy who dresses like the former Wutaian housewife next door, Mrs. Peili.)
He hung his head, hair shining like a halo."...........No."
"They're the Turks."
"Hmmm..........."
"They scout out for possible canidates for SOLDIER."
This time, Cloud looked up."Like this? I thought they were out to get somebody bad."
"Yeah, well........"Aeris suddenly realized that maybe Shinra HADN'T been the best company to run to."They're involved in a lot of dirty stuff on the side. Spying, murder.........you know."
"They look like it."
"But.........."('You'll ruin Aerith's flowers!'.........)"..........why're they after you? They must be a reason, right?"
He pretended to think hard about it."No............ Maybe they think I'm top-notch SOLDIER quality, or something."
"Maybe you are. If you want to, you should join."
"Well, I don't want to get caught by THOSE morons!"He stood up and looked at her, levelly. Those blue eyes, that navy glow burning into her own."Aerith, take me home, won't you?"
"Yeah, let's go."
They jumped from building roof to building roof for a while, until Aeris stopped on the top of an old shack after she realized that Cloud was extremely far behind her, nearly stumbling in his haste to catch up. Well, since she didn't want him falling to his death after all the trouble she had gone through for him.......
"Wait! Give me some time to catch up, will you? You don't even know the way to my house!"Clearly, rooftop climbs weren't exactly his specialty. Aeris sighed, and tried to wait as patiently as she could.(Well, if I had to spend my days wandering around and trying to do all the stuff I do in a pair of oversized robes, I guess I'd have a few troubles, too. This skirt is bad enough as it is, even though I cut slits in the side and wear pants underneath.)
Finally, a rather out-of-breath-looking Cloud appeared beside her, panting hard and propping himself up with his staff."D-Don't leave me........."Not feeling pity for him at all in his enfeebled state, her tone grew teasing.
"Funny.............I thought you were top-notch SOLDIER material?"
He looked at her as though he couldn't quite believe she just said that, then comprehension dawned."Hey, that's a pretty cheap shot!"he laughed, shaking his head. Gesturing around, he asked:"Can we take a breather here?"
Aeris nodded, and the two of them sat down on the roof, overlooking the slums below. She cast around for something to say, but Cloud picked up for her."Hey, Aerith. Did you ever make it into SOLDIER?"
".........Yeah. What made you guess?"
"Your eyes. They've got a strange glow........"
"It's the sign of those who have been infused with Mako."Aeris shuddered, remembering."........A mark of SOLDIER."A frown flitted across her face."But, how did you know about that?"
Cloud stood up and tried to look nonchalant."Oh, don't worry about it."
Aeris gave him a suspicious look, but stood up as well."You're telling ME not to worry about it?"
He nodded and started away."Right, don't worry about it. Let's go, bodyguard."
She wanted to smile and say something nice because of the name, but it wasn't in her nature. And, he was already jumping ahead to the next rooftop.
~*~*~
Blonde and brunette waited for the lone man who was walking towards the church to pray for his pet dogs like he did everday to pass before they jumped down a series of broken pipes and landed at last on solid ground. Cloud gestured off to the northwest."My house is over there. We'd better move before they find us."
Nodding her assent, Aeris drew Vereorvis and began to walk. However, something had been bothering her. While she had only seen Cloud in battle one time, he'd used Fire in that case and hadn't really proved his effectiveness in hands-on combat. The ex-SOLDIER wanted to get a sense of how good he was, especially with that woefully inadequate-looking staff. The truth was, if that Reno guy came back with some SOLDIER recruits, they might be screwed.
"Hey, Cloud."He stopped walking and looked at her. Aeris waved around Vereorvis."Your thing got a name?"
He looked slightly amused."My 'thing'?"
Aeris stopped; blushed."Shaddup, you ass. I meant that staff of yours."
His amusement only grew."I knew that. What did you think I was talking about?"
"Kghhh!"Wow, she was getting good at those noises."Just forget about it."
Cloud instantly looked sorry for it."Okay Aerith, I'll stop making fun, I promise."He held the slim stick of silver out to her."Yeah, this thing's special. Saved me more times than I can count. It's called Celoferrum."
"Hunh."Aeris looked at it, it was heavier than what she figured it would be, but still pathetically light."'Hidden sword', eh? I don't see one."
He took it back; twirled it around expertly. Even if it wasn't very strong, he still knew how to use it."Of course you don't. That's why it's named 'HIDDEN sword', obviously."And, drawing the thing around to his front and balancing it before him, two narrow and very lethal-looking blades popped out of the ends."See?"
They had reached a juncture in the streets, where two nasty-looking bandits appeared and tried to mug them. Before Aeris even had time to think Vereorvis had come naturally into her hands, completely obliterating the thug with a single movement. She had a few moments to watch Cloud, who was a little slower, whirl Celoferrum around in a tight double-loop to finish off the other one.
Aeris collected the gil, then frowned thoughtfully. He knew how to use magic and a staff, and use both of them well. How had he grown up.......?
"Over here!"Cloud was yelling, and running into the town below Sector 5. Shaking herself free from any rogue thoughts, Aeris followed him.
Nearly tripping over the woman who spent all of her days searching around on the ground for dropped items or gil, Aeris followed Cloud to a narrow triangle of light off to the right, where the drab scenery of Midgar changed.
Light from some invisible source spread across the area, and a large garden fenced in with brown wooden posts held a variety of bright yellow flowers like those at the church. A waterfall gleamed in the distance, and a short but cozy-looking house sat off to the left.
Aeris felt the whole world come crashing down on her all at once. Her house. This was her house.
(But how is it possible...............? Did......something happen to Mom?! Did she.......die?! Was the house sold?! Am I really alone now?!)
'You'll ruin Aerith's flowers!'
Still in a daze, she entered through the door after Cloud.
It was the same house, same interior. The kitchen stove off to the right, in that corner. The table set in the center of the room. The cabinents all around, the carpeted floor, and the stairs that went up to her room.............
"I'm home, Mother!"Cloud shouted, and thumped down into the kitchen chair unceremoniously, propping Celoferrum up in the corner. Footsteps, and the stairs creaked as a stately woman with brown hair pulled up in a bun came stepping down.........
Aeris felt the world give an almighty whirl, and she clutched the wall for support. Her mother........this was HER mother. But then, what about Cloud? Her mother still lived here.....and so did he?"Wha.......What's going on........?"she asked, bewildered. Elmyra Gainsborough slipped a speculative look in her direction.
"I didn't know you brought home company, Cloud,"she said, walking up to the taller brunette."I've never seen you with a girl before.........and this one's so pretty; reminds me of Aerith when she was younger..........."
Aeris felt dizzy again. So much was happening around her......... From far away, she saw Cloud turn red, and heard him speak.
"This is my bodyguard,"he told Elmyra, tactfully not looking at either Elmyra nor Aeris. In an instant, the elderly woman forgot about Aeris.
"Bodyguard?! You mean you were followed again?! You're not hurt, are you?!"
Cloud shook his magnificently golden head."No, I'm fine. I had Aerith with me."
Elmyra turned back to her."Thank you, Aerith---"she started, then her eyes grew large as she finally looked on the truth biting her in the ass."A- Aerith............?"
Fearing her mother might have a heart attack of sorts, Aeris spoke quickly before she could interrupt."Yeah, it's me, Mom. I'm back in Midgar, quit SOLDIER. Wasn't my life, I guess. Got a job around here; Sector 7. Just started working there, thought I'd come home and visit you when I saw Cloud get in some trouble. We're all right, though, but I really ought to--- "
"Aerith!!!"her mother shouted then, and pulled her into a great enormous expanse of a hug. Suddenly encompassed by the green and white of Elmyra's dress, Aeris was glad that no one could see her face break into a wide smile."Dear, you're home!"
Cloud looked extremely pleased with himself.
~*~*~
Some time later, the three of them sat down at the dinner table, enjoying a relative feast that Elmyra had whipped up in a frenzy, still hugging and crying over Aeris' return at the same time. Still, the ex-SOLDIER had a lot of questions on her mind.
"Mom...........I know I should probably know this, and I know it sounds rude, but..........who's Cloud?"
Aeris saw a flash of gold as he looked up at the sound of his name. Elmyra frowned."Well, it was so long ago when we took him in.............. About fifteen years ago, I think. You were already working hard at three jobs, wanting to earn enough money to be sent off to the military academy at Junon.........even then, you always wanted to be a SOLDIER."She smiled fondly at her daughter."Well, poor Cloud had no family of his own, and I thought you wouldn't mind. Still, not even a year after that, you left for the Academy.........I was proud of you, but I missed you. Cloud stayed here for a while when you were gone."
(Hmmm. So I DIDN'T really know him. Just happenstance.)But as she flicked a quick glance around in his direction, she saw that something in his face had changed, as though he had remembered............would always remember. Aeris turned her attention back to her mother and shrugged."Oh. I'm glad you weren't lonely all those years, Mom. I'm sorry I never wrote."
"It's all right. I figured you were busy; hoped that the Company would let you come home on leave.........."
(Like Dad?)But Aeris didn't say anything. Instead, it was Cloud who spoke."Hey Aerith, what are you going to do now?"
She thought.(Should probably find Big Boobs and Black Man Empowerment. They might actually be worried about me.)"Do you know the way to Sector 7? I want to go to Tifa's bar."
"You're a bar hostess, then?"A slight hint of reprove was on Elmyra's face, but somehow Aeris thought she'd dislike her being a resistance member even more than that, so it had to do."Yeah, it gets me some gil. Odd jobs here and there, Mom."
Cloud had mild interest on his face."Is Tifa a girl friend of yours?"
(Well, that's surprising. All the more power to him, though. I thought for sure he was gay.)"Not girlfriend in the weird sense, but yeah, she's a friend of mine. Who happens to be a girl."
He turned to Elmyra."Mom, I'll be back in a while. I'll take Aerith to Sector 7."
She began to look worried."But, dear---Oh, I give up. You never listen once you've made up your mind. But if you must go, why not go tomorrow? It's getting late now."
Cloud checked out the window."Yeah, you're right. Come on, Aerith, you can stay in my room and I'll sleep downstairs by the fire---"He headed upstairs in mid-sentence. Elmyra looked uncomfortable, then broached what had been on her mind.
"Aerith..........would you please leave here, tonight? Without telling Cloud."
(Hunh? She'd let me go by myself, but wouldn't DARE endangering her precious little baby......... Hmph. I feel shortchanged.)"Why?"
Her mother shook her head."The danger that he's in, the danger you put him in.........I can't explain. If you don't know, or don't remember, then I won't tell you. Ask Cloud."
And she refused to say anymore about the subject. Aeris didn't know whether to be pissed at her mother or worried for Cloud as she went upstairs. 'Ask Cloud.' Maybe she would, someday. But not tonight. She could make it to Sector 7 on her own, and something in her mother's tone warned her that maybe she shouldn't judge her words by first appearance...........
Cloud was standing by the door of her room when she entered the upstairs.(Well, I guess it's his room, now.)Aeris shook the depressing thought from her head. But it seemed as though Cloud was reading her mind, because he said suddenly:
"It used to be our room, before you left."He spoke a little fast."Mother had two beds put in, and we shared a room when we were smaller........I guess you don't remember."
A glitch, just when she thought she'd gotten rid of them."No, I........remember."
A small fragment, of her sitting at home crying because she'd failed her first entrance exam to the Academy, and Cloud, who was a year younger than her, sitting on the bed beside her and telling her angrily:'Who needs SOLDWER? It's stupid!' in the petulant voice of a young child. He had been six, she had been seven. It seemed like such a long time ago.
This time, a smile that lit up his eyes."I'm glad."
Aeris stepped into the room and looked around. It was the same, only a little bit messier than what she would have kept it. Two separate sides, even a line drawn on the floor with duct tape, a result of one of their rare disputes. Aeris' memory might not have been whole, but she remembered that for the few months they were together, they hardly ever fought.
It was all coming back to her, like a dream."I guess you can have your old bed,"Cloud was saying, scratching the back of his head embarrassedly."I'll be downstairs if you need something."And he left, closing the door silently behind him. Aeris shed her clothes, borrowed a lacy pink nightgown of her mothers' that was a little too short on her, and climbed into bed. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but before she had, one thought crossed her mind.
(..........I'm home.)
~*~*~
".......Aerith."
"What?! You're---"
"Do you remember when we first met? You were seven......it was fifteen years ago."
"Not long enough ago, I say."
".......Do not trust that other one."
"And I'm listening to you.........why?!"
"................Because I know the holes in your memory."
"What?! What do you know?! Tell me!"
".............You should try asking yourself."
"Stop messing around, damn you!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha................................................................"
~*~*~
Aeris awoke in a cold sweat. Another flower, like the yellow ones that grew outside her house, fell into her lap.(Oh, no.)
What were the point of all those dreams? Were they a clue to finding what lay behind those holes in her memory? She shook her head and stood up, walking to the threshold of the door. Without even being aware that she was doing it, she spoke aloud."Sector 7's through Sector 6...........I should be all right by myself."
She crept down the stairs slowly, skipping the first and last steps because she remembered that they creaked. She had just headed to the laundry basket near the stove to grab her clothes when a voice spoke out of the darkness.
".............Aerith?"Cloud.
"Well, I'm caught."She shrugged sheepishly as he turned and looked at her. He'd pulled a large armchair up to the fire and had been sitting there dozing, but he looked wide awake as though he'd never slept.
"What are you doing?"
"I, uh, I'm..........."
"You're leaving us again, aren't you?"It wasn't a question."Does Mother know?"
"........Yeah. She knows."
"Hmmm."A pause. Then:"Aerith, come here for a second."
(What does he want? I've got to find a change of clothes and get moving.)But she obediently crossed the room and sat down on the warm tiles next to him, leaning her head up against the chair leg."What's up?"
She thought he was going to say something deep or spiritually enlightening, but all he did was drop her Titan Bangle back into her hand."Thanks for letting me use it."
"But---"
"But what?"Was it her imagination, or did he sound...........ANGRY with her?"If Mother knows, I guess it's alright to leave, hunh?"He lowered his voice."Aerith, stay. If not for my sake, then Mother's. I don't think she could take it if something happened to you.......and with you getting mixed up with those resistance members, something's bound to happen, one way or another."
(Aha. So he knows.)"I can't explain it, but I've got to get back. Don't worry, though, I'll be fine."
He looked considerably distraught."Then, I'm coming to Sector 7 with you."
Aeris shook her head stubbornly.(Mom knows something's going to happen to him if I let him go. And since those guys are after him, for whatever reason it may be, I don't want him in danger again.)"Cloud, try to understand---"
His hair burned gold in the firelight, but he looked defeated."No, you're right. Mother says I'm too stubborn..........but it's not that. I know she told you to leave me behind. She's got cause; she's worried about me. But I'll be fine; you'll be with me."
For the last time, she shook her head."I'm sorry."
He shrugged."Well, at least you'll be able to visit when you come to bomb the next reactor they build above our heads."
Aeris yawned; at least he was taking it well. If anything, a little TOO well............ He leaned over and tousled her hair, which had come undone from it's braid and fell to her lower back in waves."You should get some more sleep, so you can head off in the morning."
She felt herself nodding, sleepily."And Aerith...........? Sleep well."
('Sleep well'..........or 'Sleepel'..........?)
But before she could think again, she was asleep.
~*~*~
Elmyra was angry. Well, it wasn't the sort of angry that you'd think, because she never showed it, but angry nonetheless."I thought you were going to leave last night........?"
Aeris shrugged, swallowed the pancakes she'd been shoveling down her mouth, and answered:"Well, I fell asleep. I'm leaving this morning, Mom."(Sheez. You'd think she WANTED to get rid of me.)
"I suppose it can't be helped. Cloud left for the church early this morning, so at least there's no harm done."
Another swallow."He......what?"
Elmyra looked at her like she was an idiot."He left for the church, dear. He goes there almost every day. Mayor Domino himself hired him to rebuild the place."Her face grew beaming."He's so good with building things and the like. To think! That the mayor of Midgar HIMSELF would come all the way down here.........."
Aeris wondered what Shinra was really after. If they KNEW about Cloud.......then why would they---? Oh, who cared? Maybe they hadn't been too sure of the facts or something until now. She tugged on her black jean jacket and sheathed Vereorvis."Well, I'm off, Mom. Tell Cloud I said bye."
Elmyra stood quickly, as if in protest."Wait---!"she cried, folding her hands anxiously. Aeris frowned. She and her mother had never been THAT close."Just.....be careful, Aeris. Come home and visit, won't you?"She crossed the table and enveloped Aeris in a hug.
"I'll be fine, Mom. I'll see you again."Trying to look cheerful, she waved and walked out the door. But really, she was sick at heart.
At the juncture between the road that would go through Sector 6, and the road that would take her back to the Sector 5 church, Aeris paused. Should she go and say a proper goodbye to Cloud? Although she couldn't bear to tell her mother, she didn't plan on coming back to Sector 5 for a really long time.
Ultimately, she decided against it. Turning swiftly towards Sector 6, she held her head up high.(If I go back there, he'll try and come with me. And I can't have that. Mom really seems to think something's wrong, and I---)
BAM! So intent was she on her own thoughts, Aeris didn't even notice as she ran right into someone, bouncing back off of them and falling on her ass on the ground."Ooh, sorry, I wasn't paying att---"
She looked up. Did a double take."Cloud?!"
He smiled and offered her a hand up."You're up earlier than I thought you'd be."
Aeris stood up and blinked at him."What are you doing here? Mom said that you were going to the church for the day."
His smile grew."I lied."
(Well, doesn't he look mighty happy with himself. Hmph, he can just turn right around and go home.)"You're not coming with me."
He nodded fervently."Oh, I know. I'm just GOING to Sector 7."That smile looked ready to break his face in two."Coincidentally, you're going at the same time. So we really ought to stick together, right?"
Aeris felt a vein twitch in her eye."Grrr.......... Fine! But if Mom finds out---!"
Cloud mimicked locking up his mouth and throwing away the key."She won't hear it from me."
Groaning about her miserable luck, the tall brunette marched through the hole in the wall that led to Sector 6. After a fashion, a house attacked them.
No, it wasn't a horrible joke. A house actually ATTACKED them. And violently, at that. Sometimes it would spit black liquid at them, other times it would fire a bomb out of it's top. Aeris truly hoped for her Limit Break.
Cloud jumped back from a single side-loop weave, Celoferrum glinting silver in the dull light. The house started to shake, then jumped up in the air, slamming back down and disintegrating, the seismic shock nearly causing Aeris to fall down. Then the stupid thing slashed at her with some arm-leg-blade things that had appeared from out of nowhere, causing her to drop onto one knee.(Ugh.......)
It was the same thing that one day, before she had jumped on the train heading out of Sector 1. From far away, there was a voice---
"Reis's Wind!"
---and her wounds HEALED. Again. Vereorvis slit the roof right off of the house, and it melted into a puddle of nasty-looking goo.
The breeze that had appeared and healed her cuts slowed to a stop, and there was just Cloud there, the last traces of the wind causing his hair to wave back and forth. Aeris, still panting, propped herself up on Vereorvis and regarded him warily."You......did that?"
He nodded, retracted Celoferrum's blades."Of course."
"So then it WAS you."
Another nod."Of course."He didn't play stupid, or deny it. Well, at least one mystery in her life was finally solved. Now the question was, WHY did he help her?
"Hey, thanks for your help."Vereorvis made a scratching sound on the ground as she picked it up and walked on, not bothering to resheath it.
Thankfully, no more of the Hell Houses appeared across their path, only a few purple bug-looking monsters that hunted in packs but weren't very hard to knock off. And then, they were off the road to Sector 6 and at the gates of Sector 7.
"I can't believe it's still here,"Cloud muttered, looking around at the dilapidated children's park that lay before them. He looked back at Aeris."Can we take a break for a second?"
(Damn, he tires out fast. Well, since this is goodbye, I guess............)"Yeah."He walked over to the slide and climbed atop it.
"Aerith, over here!"he shouted, waving. Feeling incredibly stupid, she went to join him. For a while they didn't say anything, until:"Hey, Aerith. What rank were you?"
She frowned."Rank?"
"You know, in SOLDIER."
"Oh."Stupid question."I was First Class."
A small smile, so small it almost couldn't be seen."Oh, so you DID make it. Well, I'm proud of you. Mother always used to talk about how you'd come back some day with all sorts of medals and stories about you in the papers........at least you've made it this far."
"Hey, I'm just not in the papers YET."
A laugh."Of course. It's just, I had this whole image painted of you, and now, you're not at all like what I had in mind."
"Good or bad?"
"Well, I guess it's neither."He suddenly looked uncomfortable."Can we talk about something else?"
Aeris didn't have much else to say, so she was extremely grateful when a chocobo-driven cart wheeled out Sector 7 and towards the area the locals refered to as 'Wall Market'. But in the back of the cart...........
"Tifa?!"
"Woah!"Cloud sat up straight."THAT was Tifa?! But it can't be, the person in the back of that cart was a MAN!"
(What's going on?! Where's Tifa going?!)"Look, I know Big Boobs when I see her! I've got to catch up to her!"
"Big Boobs? You actually CALL her that?! Wait, where was she going........? She looked a little odd.........aside from being dressed as a man, that is."Cloud jumped down from the top of the slide and raced towards the entrance to Wall Market, leaving Aeris standing there.
"Wait! I'll go on alone! You go home!"Her efforts were in vain, for he crossed under the electric sign and was gone.
Aeris frowned so deeply she thought she would forever have a face like Barret's, then took off after Cloud.
AN~*shrug* Well, this chapter was a little more informative than action........I guess it can't be helped. Anyway, notice the slight alterations from the real game? That's how it goes with an AU.......I didn't want to have the exact same storyline, with the only differences being that Cloud and Aeris switched parts.....that'd be too boring. So, this was the result. As the story progresses, you'll see that more and more things are a bit different, but not drastically so......or maybe drastically so? Ah, hell, I don't know! Ooh, question:What's the deal with Tifa being dressed as a guy? This is where you can put your input in! What should be going on with the big-time man/woman/whatever in Wall Market that invokes Tifa dressing up like a guy? Let me know! ~Vereor Veritas~, ~*~tigerofthewind~*~
Chapter Three-Rudis("Staff")
AN~Back! Sorry about that uber-long break....I REALLY had to get out a new chapter in 'Hey! I Could Be A Messenger From Hyne, Ya Know!' before my 200+ reviewers skinned me to death.....*backs away nervously* Anywho, here this is! Written when I should be doing my AP US History DBQ's!*cough* Well, this had been itching at me for a while, so I decided to keep on with it. Although, if I don't get enough reviews for every chapter, then I'm going to stop with this. I thought 10 was a little extremist, so let's go for 8 a chapter, okay?*smile* ~Vereor Veritas~, ~*~tigerofthewind~*~
Aeris was screwed. She knew it, completely and in it's sucky, sucky entirety. Well, it wasn't as though she'd never FALLEN before in her life, but from a 200-ft. Mako reactor to an endless abyss of nothingness? Didn't sound like her idea of fun. For the first time in her life, she was actually.........well, she was actually scared.
Three, two...............
"...............Float."
(That voice again.........and the flower.............the lights from the reactor are so bright........... No, Float's too late to save me now..............)
Aeris felt herself crash through something hard than land on something both hard and soft as something cracking into the back of her head sent her into blackness yet again.
~*~*~
"................You all right?"
"..........Yeah."
"Ha ha ha............. You are an angel, Aerith, but it looks as though you cannot fly yet."
"Shut up."
"For what else do I lend you my wings? .........Remember, Aerith."
"What if I don't want to remember? It's you, isn't it? Am I dead? Or are you..............?"
"Only a fool asks the question they know the answer to."
"The hideout..........."
"Yes, that was me. ............I hear footsteps. Stay safe, flower of my heart, until we meet again."
"What---? When---?"
"You want to know? Then, wake up!"
~*~*~
"Hello, hello?"
Aeris twitched slightly on the ground. Or was it the ground? Was she really dead? Float..........
"Are you all right, miss? Hello, hello?"
Another twitch."Oh! She moved!"(Would you look at that, folks?)She managed to croak out some words."I'll..........be fine..........."
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Aeris fluttered her eyes open, blinking quickly to adjust her eyes to the light and dispel the spots that had covered her vision. Standing above her was the man from Sector 1, the one in navy blue that perfectly matched his eyes, and that shoulder- length golden hair............."You okay?"he asked, sitting back on his heels from where he had been squatting next to her.
Aeris sat up, putting a hand to her aching head."............Yeah."
This time, he stood up, dusting off his robes, articles of clothing Aeris couldn't quite get used to."The roof and the flower bed broke your fall. You're lucky."
"Flower bed...........?"Aeris looked around, and saw indeed that she was surrounded by violently yellow flowers. She jumped off of it in a rush, kicking at the floors of the building she was in rather embarrassedly."Is this yours? Sorry about that."
The man laughed; he had a nice laugh, but it did little if anything to ease the sadness in his eyes."No, it's not mine. It used to belong to a girl I knew, but she left from here to find a better life.............I think it was about ten years ago."
This time, he smiled a smile that reached his eyes, and made them glow almost akin to Aeris' own."Hello, Aerith."
She gaped, dropped her jaw open at him in the rudest of ways."Y-You're--- How---What---Who are you?"
"Me?"He pointed at himself."You don't remember me? I'm...............Cloud."
(Cloud.............)Aeris vaguely recalled the name. They made small talk for a while:"......Me? I do a little bit of everything........." and such. Until finally............
A man appeared at the back of the church, with flaming red hair and eyes the color of aquamarine. Cloud turned towards the back of the church and regarded him a little uneasily."Aeris, do me a favor. Will you get me out of here? Take me home."
(Hmmm. An interesting development. But hey, the gil was left with Tifa and Barret, so......)"Okay.....but it'll cost you."
It seemed to take him off guard."I.......I don't have any money............"Sheepishly, he bent down and picked her a flower."Sorry. I've got collateral."He seemed so distressed that Aeris decided to lighten up on him a bit. Maybe he had more money at home.
"Tell you what........."she offered, bouncing around the Titan Bangle she had found from Airbuster on her hands like a ball,"........how about if you go out with me once?"
"I, uh..............WHAT?"He looked so flustered that she had to laugh.
"I like dark and handsome myself, but you'll have to do............"she teased, and turned towards the redheaded man who was walking towards them."You don't know me?"Another glitch."No, wait. I know you."
Three of Shinra's regular soldiers were with him."Hey sis,"one of them cracked,"this one's a little weird."
Aeris was angry now."Shut up! You Shinra spy!"
"Hey, Reno! Want her taken out?"
The man whom Aeris supposed was called Reno shrugged."I haven't decided."
Cloud was already running for the back, woefully inadequate silver staff balanced in front of him."Don't fight here! You'll ruin Aerith's flowers! Aerith, the exit is back here!"
(My flowers?)Aeris removed her hands from where she had them placed on Vereorvis' hilt, and took off after Cloud. In the back of the church was a conglomeration of stairs, barrels, and planks. Aeris had started for the top with ease, but Cloud was having a few diffuculties. When they reached a particularly wide gap, he backed up a few steps and shook his head stubbornly. Aeris sighed impatiently and was about to argue with him when Reno and the other three appeared at the bottom of the steps.
"The Ancient is getting away!"he shouted, as though such a thing occuring would completely ruin his day."Attack! Attack! Attack!"
And at the sudden barrage of bullets, two of them were lucky and struck Cloud, one on his upper right arm and the other near his left shoulder. Aeris cursed the worst curses she could think of at the moment when he lost his balance and began toppling down the long pipe at the center of the church, robes flopping insanely. If the situation hadn't been so dire, she would have laughed at how absurd he looked.
"Think we killed 'em? They shouldn't have put up a fight, I say!"
(God, how I hate him. He's so friggin' annoying.)"Shut up, you ass!"she shouted down at Reno, causing all of the soldiers' heads to turn."No one likes to hear you talk but yourself! Rggggggh!!!!!"She was so angry that she actually managed to make a Barret-brand 'noise-of-annoyance'.
Cloud, making use of the rather humorous diversion, had headed for the lowest flight of stairs, but found his path arrested by a soldier. And, even more unfortunately, his staff was up at the top of the church where he had dropped it near Aeris."Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"
What the hell did he expect her to do? Fly?! 'Ha ha ha............. You are an angel, Aerith, but it looks as though you cannot fly yet................' Another noise of annoyance. Now was NOT the time. And up top, glinting from the silver metal bands around it's middle........"A barrel? Maybe if I push it over........."
Well, no harm in trying. She pushed it over, and watched as it made a satisfying thumping noise as it promptly squished the solder who'd been harassing Cloud.
(Oh, crap. An entourage.)Some dumb little orange ball thing was attacking her. A single hit killed it, but it distracted her from what was really important."Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"
This time, she just lunged at the nearest barrel and hurled it down. And, while it nearly beheaded the loathsome Reno(always a plus!), it failed in incapacitating the soldier who posed the more immediate threat."Damn!"
Cloud looked rather trapped, until Aeris(in a sudden stroke of inspiration to replace for her bout of stupidity a few moments ago) threw down the Titan Bangle she had stuffed some materia in to him, and he cast Fire, completely obliterating the man. Aeris, in spite of everything, was impressed. The man knew his magic, and was good at what he knew.
"Aeris, can you give me a hand down here?"This time, she was ready for it, and smashed the man before he even had time to think. All soldiers minus Reno(who'd seemed to have suddenly disappeared) gone, Aeris and Cloud ascended to the top again(this time Cloud had no qualms about jumping the heinous gap) and crossed the rafters to the hole in the roof from which Aeris had originally fallen. There, they stopped for a few minutes to catch their breath.
Cloud, despite sitting down in a dejected heap and sounding horribly out of breath, managed a few wheezy laughs that once again, didn't reach his eyes."Ha, ha, ha.............they're after me again."
Aeris blinked."You mean it's not the first time they've been after you?"(Man.......not bad for a guy who dresses like the former Wutaian housewife next door, Mrs. Peili.)
He hung his head, hair shining like a halo."...........No."
"They're the Turks."
"Hmmm..........."
"They scout out for possible canidates for SOLDIER."
This time, Cloud looked up."Like this? I thought they were out to get somebody bad."
"Yeah, well........"Aeris suddenly realized that maybe Shinra HADN'T been the best company to run to."They're involved in a lot of dirty stuff on the side. Spying, murder.........you know."
"They look like it."
"But.........."('You'll ruin Aerith's flowers!'.........)"..........why're they after you? They must be a reason, right?"
He pretended to think hard about it."No............ Maybe they think I'm top-notch SOLDIER quality, or something."
"Maybe you are. If you want to, you should join."
"Well, I don't want to get caught by THOSE morons!"He stood up and looked at her, levelly. Those blue eyes, that navy glow burning into her own."Aerith, take me home, won't you?"
"Yeah, let's go."
They jumped from building roof to building roof for a while, until Aeris stopped on the top of an old shack after she realized that Cloud was extremely far behind her, nearly stumbling in his haste to catch up. Well, since she didn't want him falling to his death after all the trouble she had gone through for him.......
"Wait! Give me some time to catch up, will you? You don't even know the way to my house!"Clearly, rooftop climbs weren't exactly his specialty. Aeris sighed, and tried to wait as patiently as she could.(Well, if I had to spend my days wandering around and trying to do all the stuff I do in a pair of oversized robes, I guess I'd have a few troubles, too. This skirt is bad enough as it is, even though I cut slits in the side and wear pants underneath.)
Finally, a rather out-of-breath-looking Cloud appeared beside her, panting hard and propping himself up with his staff."D-Don't leave me........."Not feeling pity for him at all in his enfeebled state, her tone grew teasing.
"Funny.............I thought you were top-notch SOLDIER material?"
He looked at her as though he couldn't quite believe she just said that, then comprehension dawned."Hey, that's a pretty cheap shot!"he laughed, shaking his head. Gesturing around, he asked:"Can we take a breather here?"
Aeris nodded, and the two of them sat down on the roof, overlooking the slums below. She cast around for something to say, but Cloud picked up for her."Hey, Aerith. Did you ever make it into SOLDIER?"
".........Yeah. What made you guess?"
"Your eyes. They've got a strange glow........"
"It's the sign of those who have been infused with Mako."Aeris shuddered, remembering."........A mark of SOLDIER."A frown flitted across her face."But, how did you know about that?"
Cloud stood up and tried to look nonchalant."Oh, don't worry about it."
Aeris gave him a suspicious look, but stood up as well."You're telling ME not to worry about it?"
He nodded and started away."Right, don't worry about it. Let's go, bodyguard."
She wanted to smile and say something nice because of the name, but it wasn't in her nature. And, he was already jumping ahead to the next rooftop.
~*~*~
Blonde and brunette waited for the lone man who was walking towards the church to pray for his pet dogs like he did everday to pass before they jumped down a series of broken pipes and landed at last on solid ground. Cloud gestured off to the northwest."My house is over there. We'd better move before they find us."
Nodding her assent, Aeris drew Vereorvis and began to walk. However, something had been bothering her. While she had only seen Cloud in battle one time, he'd used Fire in that case and hadn't really proved his effectiveness in hands-on combat. The ex-SOLDIER wanted to get a sense of how good he was, especially with that woefully inadequate-looking staff. The truth was, if that Reno guy came back with some SOLDIER recruits, they might be screwed.
"Hey, Cloud."He stopped walking and looked at her. Aeris waved around Vereorvis."Your thing got a name?"
He looked slightly amused."My 'thing'?"
Aeris stopped; blushed."Shaddup, you ass. I meant that staff of yours."
His amusement only grew."I knew that. What did you think I was talking about?"
"Kghhh!"Wow, she was getting good at those noises."Just forget about it."
Cloud instantly looked sorry for it."Okay Aerith, I'll stop making fun, I promise."He held the slim stick of silver out to her."Yeah, this thing's special. Saved me more times than I can count. It's called Celoferrum."
"Hunh."Aeris looked at it, it was heavier than what she figured it would be, but still pathetically light."'Hidden sword', eh? I don't see one."
He took it back; twirled it around expertly. Even if it wasn't very strong, he still knew how to use it."Of course you don't. That's why it's named 'HIDDEN sword', obviously."And, drawing the thing around to his front and balancing it before him, two narrow and very lethal-looking blades popped out of the ends."See?"
They had reached a juncture in the streets, where two nasty-looking bandits appeared and tried to mug them. Before Aeris even had time to think Vereorvis had come naturally into her hands, completely obliterating the thug with a single movement. She had a few moments to watch Cloud, who was a little slower, whirl Celoferrum around in a tight double-loop to finish off the other one.
Aeris collected the gil, then frowned thoughtfully. He knew how to use magic and a staff, and use both of them well. How had he grown up.......?
"Over here!"Cloud was yelling, and running into the town below Sector 5. Shaking herself free from any rogue thoughts, Aeris followed him.
Nearly tripping over the woman who spent all of her days searching around on the ground for dropped items or gil, Aeris followed Cloud to a narrow triangle of light off to the right, where the drab scenery of Midgar changed.
Light from some invisible source spread across the area, and a large garden fenced in with brown wooden posts held a variety of bright yellow flowers like those at the church. A waterfall gleamed in the distance, and a short but cozy-looking house sat off to the left.
Aeris felt the whole world come crashing down on her all at once. Her house. This was her house.
(But how is it possible...............? Did......something happen to Mom?! Did she.......die?! Was the house sold?! Am I really alone now?!)
'You'll ruin Aerith's flowers!'
Still in a daze, she entered through the door after Cloud.
It was the same house, same interior. The kitchen stove off to the right, in that corner. The table set in the center of the room. The cabinents all around, the carpeted floor, and the stairs that went up to her room.............
"I'm home, Mother!"Cloud shouted, and thumped down into the kitchen chair unceremoniously, propping Celoferrum up in the corner. Footsteps, and the stairs creaked as a stately woman with brown hair pulled up in a bun came stepping down.........
Aeris felt the world give an almighty whirl, and she clutched the wall for support. Her mother........this was HER mother. But then, what about Cloud? Her mother still lived here.....and so did he?"Wha.......What's going on........?"she asked, bewildered. Elmyra Gainsborough slipped a speculative look in her direction.
"I didn't know you brought home company, Cloud,"she said, walking up to the taller brunette."I've never seen you with a girl before.........and this one's so pretty; reminds me of Aerith when she was younger..........."
Aeris felt dizzy again. So much was happening around her......... From far away, she saw Cloud turn red, and heard him speak.
"This is my bodyguard,"he told Elmyra, tactfully not looking at either Elmyra nor Aeris. In an instant, the elderly woman forgot about Aeris.
"Bodyguard?! You mean you were followed again?! You're not hurt, are you?!"
Cloud shook his magnificently golden head."No, I'm fine. I had Aerith with me."
Elmyra turned back to her."Thank you, Aerith---"she started, then her eyes grew large as she finally looked on the truth biting her in the ass."A- Aerith............?"
Fearing her mother might have a heart attack of sorts, Aeris spoke quickly before she could interrupt."Yeah, it's me, Mom. I'm back in Midgar, quit SOLDIER. Wasn't my life, I guess. Got a job around here; Sector 7. Just started working there, thought I'd come home and visit you when I saw Cloud get in some trouble. We're all right, though, but I really ought to--- "
"Aerith!!!"her mother shouted then, and pulled her into a great enormous expanse of a hug. Suddenly encompassed by the green and white of Elmyra's dress, Aeris was glad that no one could see her face break into a wide smile."Dear, you're home!"
Cloud looked extremely pleased with himself.
~*~*~
Some time later, the three of them sat down at the dinner table, enjoying a relative feast that Elmyra had whipped up in a frenzy, still hugging and crying over Aeris' return at the same time. Still, the ex-SOLDIER had a lot of questions on her mind.
"Mom...........I know I should probably know this, and I know it sounds rude, but..........who's Cloud?"
Aeris saw a flash of gold as he looked up at the sound of his name. Elmyra frowned."Well, it was so long ago when we took him in.............. About fifteen years ago, I think. You were already working hard at three jobs, wanting to earn enough money to be sent off to the military academy at Junon.........even then, you always wanted to be a SOLDIER."She smiled fondly at her daughter."Well, poor Cloud had no family of his own, and I thought you wouldn't mind. Still, not even a year after that, you left for the Academy.........I was proud of you, but I missed you. Cloud stayed here for a while when you were gone."
(Hmmm. So I DIDN'T really know him. Just happenstance.)But as she flicked a quick glance around in his direction, she saw that something in his face had changed, as though he had remembered............would always remember. Aeris turned her attention back to her mother and shrugged."Oh. I'm glad you weren't lonely all those years, Mom. I'm sorry I never wrote."
"It's all right. I figured you were busy; hoped that the Company would let you come home on leave.........."
(Like Dad?)But Aeris didn't say anything. Instead, it was Cloud who spoke."Hey Aerith, what are you going to do now?"
She thought.(Should probably find Big Boobs and Black Man Empowerment. They might actually be worried about me.)"Do you know the way to Sector 7? I want to go to Tifa's bar."
"You're a bar hostess, then?"A slight hint of reprove was on Elmyra's face, but somehow Aeris thought she'd dislike her being a resistance member even more than that, so it had to do."Yeah, it gets me some gil. Odd jobs here and there, Mom."
Cloud had mild interest on his face."Is Tifa a girl friend of yours?"
(Well, that's surprising. All the more power to him, though. I thought for sure he was gay.)"Not girlfriend in the weird sense, but yeah, she's a friend of mine. Who happens to be a girl."
He turned to Elmyra."Mom, I'll be back in a while. I'll take Aerith to Sector 7."
She began to look worried."But, dear---Oh, I give up. You never listen once you've made up your mind. But if you must go, why not go tomorrow? It's getting late now."
Cloud checked out the window."Yeah, you're right. Come on, Aerith, you can stay in my room and I'll sleep downstairs by the fire---"He headed upstairs in mid-sentence. Elmyra looked uncomfortable, then broached what had been on her mind.
"Aerith..........would you please leave here, tonight? Without telling Cloud."
(Hunh? She'd let me go by myself, but wouldn't DARE endangering her precious little baby......... Hmph. I feel shortchanged.)"Why?"
Her mother shook her head."The danger that he's in, the danger you put him in.........I can't explain. If you don't know, or don't remember, then I won't tell you. Ask Cloud."
And she refused to say anymore about the subject. Aeris didn't know whether to be pissed at her mother or worried for Cloud as she went upstairs. 'Ask Cloud.' Maybe she would, someday. But not tonight. She could make it to Sector 7 on her own, and something in her mother's tone warned her that maybe she shouldn't judge her words by first appearance...........
Cloud was standing by the door of her room when she entered the upstairs.(Well, I guess it's his room, now.)Aeris shook the depressing thought from her head. But it seemed as though Cloud was reading her mind, because he said suddenly:
"It used to be our room, before you left."He spoke a little fast."Mother had two beds put in, and we shared a room when we were smaller........I guess you don't remember."
A glitch, just when she thought she'd gotten rid of them."No, I........remember."
A small fragment, of her sitting at home crying because she'd failed her first entrance exam to the Academy, and Cloud, who was a year younger than her, sitting on the bed beside her and telling her angrily:'Who needs SOLDWER? It's stupid!' in the petulant voice of a young child. He had been six, she had been seven. It seemed like such a long time ago.
This time, a smile that lit up his eyes."I'm glad."
Aeris stepped into the room and looked around. It was the same, only a little bit messier than what she would have kept it. Two separate sides, even a line drawn on the floor with duct tape, a result of one of their rare disputes. Aeris' memory might not have been whole, but she remembered that for the few months they were together, they hardly ever fought.
It was all coming back to her, like a dream."I guess you can have your old bed,"Cloud was saying, scratching the back of his head embarrassedly."I'll be downstairs if you need something."And he left, closing the door silently behind him. Aeris shed her clothes, borrowed a lacy pink nightgown of her mothers' that was a little too short on her, and climbed into bed. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but before she had, one thought crossed her mind.
(..........I'm home.)
~*~*~
".......Aerith."
"What?! You're---"
"Do you remember when we first met? You were seven......it was fifteen years ago."
"Not long enough ago, I say."
".......Do not trust that other one."
"And I'm listening to you.........why?!"
"................Because I know the holes in your memory."
"What?! What do you know?! Tell me!"
".............You should try asking yourself."
"Stop messing around, damn you!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha................................................................"
~*~*~
Aeris awoke in a cold sweat. Another flower, like the yellow ones that grew outside her house, fell into her lap.(Oh, no.)
What were the point of all those dreams? Were they a clue to finding what lay behind those holes in her memory? She shook her head and stood up, walking to the threshold of the door. Without even being aware that she was doing it, she spoke aloud."Sector 7's through Sector 6...........I should be all right by myself."
She crept down the stairs slowly, skipping the first and last steps because she remembered that they creaked. She had just headed to the laundry basket near the stove to grab her clothes when a voice spoke out of the darkness.
".............Aerith?"Cloud.
"Well, I'm caught."She shrugged sheepishly as he turned and looked at her. He'd pulled a large armchair up to the fire and had been sitting there dozing, but he looked wide awake as though he'd never slept.
"What are you doing?"
"I, uh, I'm..........."
"You're leaving us again, aren't you?"It wasn't a question."Does Mother know?"
"........Yeah. She knows."
"Hmmm."A pause. Then:"Aerith, come here for a second."
(What does he want? I've got to find a change of clothes and get moving.)But she obediently crossed the room and sat down on the warm tiles next to him, leaning her head up against the chair leg."What's up?"
She thought he was going to say something deep or spiritually enlightening, but all he did was drop her Titan Bangle back into her hand."Thanks for letting me use it."
"But---"
"But what?"Was it her imagination, or did he sound...........ANGRY with her?"If Mother knows, I guess it's alright to leave, hunh?"He lowered his voice."Aerith, stay. If not for my sake, then Mother's. I don't think she could take it if something happened to you.......and with you getting mixed up with those resistance members, something's bound to happen, one way or another."
(Aha. So he knows.)"I can't explain it, but I've got to get back. Don't worry, though, I'll be fine."
He looked considerably distraught."Then, I'm coming to Sector 7 with you."
Aeris shook her head stubbornly.(Mom knows something's going to happen to him if I let him go. And since those guys are after him, for whatever reason it may be, I don't want him in danger again.)"Cloud, try to understand---"
His hair burned gold in the firelight, but he looked defeated."No, you're right. Mother says I'm too stubborn..........but it's not that. I know she told you to leave me behind. She's got cause; she's worried about me. But I'll be fine; you'll be with me."
For the last time, she shook her head."I'm sorry."
He shrugged."Well, at least you'll be able to visit when you come to bomb the next reactor they build above our heads."
Aeris yawned; at least he was taking it well. If anything, a little TOO well............ He leaned over and tousled her hair, which had come undone from it's braid and fell to her lower back in waves."You should get some more sleep, so you can head off in the morning."
She felt herself nodding, sleepily."And Aerith...........? Sleep well."
('Sleep well'..........or 'Sleepel'..........?)
But before she could think again, she was asleep.
~*~*~
Elmyra was angry. Well, it wasn't the sort of angry that you'd think, because she never showed it, but angry nonetheless."I thought you were going to leave last night........?"
Aeris shrugged, swallowed the pancakes she'd been shoveling down her mouth, and answered:"Well, I fell asleep. I'm leaving this morning, Mom."(Sheez. You'd think she WANTED to get rid of me.)
"I suppose it can't be helped. Cloud left for the church early this morning, so at least there's no harm done."
Another swallow."He......what?"
Elmyra looked at her like she was an idiot."He left for the church, dear. He goes there almost every day. Mayor Domino himself hired him to rebuild the place."Her face grew beaming."He's so good with building things and the like. To think! That the mayor of Midgar HIMSELF would come all the way down here.........."
Aeris wondered what Shinra was really after. If they KNEW about Cloud.......then why would they---? Oh, who cared? Maybe they hadn't been too sure of the facts or something until now. She tugged on her black jean jacket and sheathed Vereorvis."Well, I'm off, Mom. Tell Cloud I said bye."
Elmyra stood quickly, as if in protest."Wait---!"she cried, folding her hands anxiously. Aeris frowned. She and her mother had never been THAT close."Just.....be careful, Aeris. Come home and visit, won't you?"She crossed the table and enveloped Aeris in a hug.
"I'll be fine, Mom. I'll see you again."Trying to look cheerful, she waved and walked out the door. But really, she was sick at heart.
At the juncture between the road that would go through Sector 6, and the road that would take her back to the Sector 5 church, Aeris paused. Should she go and say a proper goodbye to Cloud? Although she couldn't bear to tell her mother, she didn't plan on coming back to Sector 5 for a really long time.
Ultimately, she decided against it. Turning swiftly towards Sector 6, she held her head up high.(If I go back there, he'll try and come with me. And I can't have that. Mom really seems to think something's wrong, and I---)
BAM! So intent was she on her own thoughts, Aeris didn't even notice as she ran right into someone, bouncing back off of them and falling on her ass on the ground."Ooh, sorry, I wasn't paying att---"
She looked up. Did a double take."Cloud?!"
He smiled and offered her a hand up."You're up earlier than I thought you'd be."
Aeris stood up and blinked at him."What are you doing here? Mom said that you were going to the church for the day."
His smile grew."I lied."
(Well, doesn't he look mighty happy with himself. Hmph, he can just turn right around and go home.)"You're not coming with me."
He nodded fervently."Oh, I know. I'm just GOING to Sector 7."That smile looked ready to break his face in two."Coincidentally, you're going at the same time. So we really ought to stick together, right?"
Aeris felt a vein twitch in her eye."Grrr.......... Fine! But if Mom finds out---!"
Cloud mimicked locking up his mouth and throwing away the key."She won't hear it from me."
Groaning about her miserable luck, the tall brunette marched through the hole in the wall that led to Sector 6. After a fashion, a house attacked them.
No, it wasn't a horrible joke. A house actually ATTACKED them. And violently, at that. Sometimes it would spit black liquid at them, other times it would fire a bomb out of it's top. Aeris truly hoped for her Limit Break.
Cloud jumped back from a single side-loop weave, Celoferrum glinting silver in the dull light. The house started to shake, then jumped up in the air, slamming back down and disintegrating, the seismic shock nearly causing Aeris to fall down. Then the stupid thing slashed at her with some arm-leg-blade things that had appeared from out of nowhere, causing her to drop onto one knee.(Ugh.......)
It was the same thing that one day, before she had jumped on the train heading out of Sector 1. From far away, there was a voice---
"Reis's Wind!"
---and her wounds HEALED. Again. Vereorvis slit the roof right off of the house, and it melted into a puddle of nasty-looking goo.
The breeze that had appeared and healed her cuts slowed to a stop, and there was just Cloud there, the last traces of the wind causing his hair to wave back and forth. Aeris, still panting, propped herself up on Vereorvis and regarded him warily."You......did that?"
He nodded, retracted Celoferrum's blades."Of course."
"So then it WAS you."
Another nod."Of course."He didn't play stupid, or deny it. Well, at least one mystery in her life was finally solved. Now the question was, WHY did he help her?
"Hey, thanks for your help."Vereorvis made a scratching sound on the ground as she picked it up and walked on, not bothering to resheath it.
Thankfully, no more of the Hell Houses appeared across their path, only a few purple bug-looking monsters that hunted in packs but weren't very hard to knock off. And then, they were off the road to Sector 6 and at the gates of Sector 7.
"I can't believe it's still here,"Cloud muttered, looking around at the dilapidated children's park that lay before them. He looked back at Aeris."Can we take a break for a second?"
(Damn, he tires out fast. Well, since this is goodbye, I guess............)"Yeah."He walked over to the slide and climbed atop it.
"Aerith, over here!"he shouted, waving. Feeling incredibly stupid, she went to join him. For a while they didn't say anything, until:"Hey, Aerith. What rank were you?"
She frowned."Rank?"
"You know, in SOLDIER."
"Oh."Stupid question."I was First Class."
A small smile, so small it almost couldn't be seen."Oh, so you DID make it. Well, I'm proud of you. Mother always used to talk about how you'd come back some day with all sorts of medals and stories about you in the papers........at least you've made it this far."
"Hey, I'm just not in the papers YET."
A laugh."Of course. It's just, I had this whole image painted of you, and now, you're not at all like what I had in mind."
"Good or bad?"
"Well, I guess it's neither."He suddenly looked uncomfortable."Can we talk about something else?"
Aeris didn't have much else to say, so she was extremely grateful when a chocobo-driven cart wheeled out Sector 7 and towards the area the locals refered to as 'Wall Market'. But in the back of the cart...........
"Tifa?!"
"Woah!"Cloud sat up straight."THAT was Tifa?! But it can't be, the person in the back of that cart was a MAN!"
(What's going on?! Where's Tifa going?!)"Look, I know Big Boobs when I see her! I've got to catch up to her!"
"Big Boobs? You actually CALL her that?! Wait, where was she going........? She looked a little odd.........aside from being dressed as a man, that is."Cloud jumped down from the top of the slide and raced towards the entrance to Wall Market, leaving Aeris standing there.
"Wait! I'll go on alone! You go home!"Her efforts were in vain, for he crossed under the electric sign and was gone.
Aeris frowned so deeply she thought she would forever have a face like Barret's, then took off after Cloud.
AN~*shrug* Well, this chapter was a little more informative than action........I guess it can't be helped. Anyway, notice the slight alterations from the real game? That's how it goes with an AU.......I didn't want to have the exact same storyline, with the only differences being that Cloud and Aeris switched parts.....that'd be too boring. So, this was the result. As the story progresses, you'll see that more and more things are a bit different, but not drastically so......or maybe drastically so? Ah, hell, I don't know! Ooh, question:What's the deal with Tifa being dressed as a guy? This is where you can put your input in! What should be going on with the big-time man/woman/whatever in Wall Market that invokes Tifa dressing up like a guy? Let me know! ~Vereor Veritas~, ~*~tigerofthewind~*~
