10 years on

He could not believe it. It was her. She was standing there, clear as day, selling flowers.

It had been ten years since he last had seen her… she was a young woman now, sixteen or seventeen. She was beautiful. Her green eyes sparkled, and her rich brown hair now fell to her waist. He watched her intently as she sold her trade to passers by… her voice was like a bird's song as she called out. "Would you like a flower? Only one gil each."

Cautiously he stood and made his way towards her. She smiled up at him. Could she remember..?

"Would you care for a flower, sir?"

His heart sank. She did not. Why would she? It was so long ago, especially for someone so young…

"Yes, I'll take a dozen please." he said quickly, thrusting the money into her hand. As he went to take his hand back, he noticed she was holding onto it. "Mr… Tseng? Pardon me, but are you Tseng Xu?"

She remembered… "I thought you had forgotten me Aeris."

Her face broke into a large smile. "How could I forget my great adventure with Mr Tseng?! You've hardly changed"

"You have" he said honestly, looking straight into her eyes. "You have become most beautiful."

He notice her blush as she averted her eyes. "Really, Mr tseng-"

"Just Tseng will do nicely, Aeris."

"You shouldn't say such things! I-"

"You cant think what to say when you receive a compliment from an older man?!" he laughed, noticing her embarrassed expression.

"No! It's just… you are still the enemy, Tseng! For all I know, you could be here to take me away to that evil man…"

He stopped laughing. Looking straight into her eyes he said "No, Aeris. I swear on my honour that I have no business with you. I merely wished to become reacquainted with you, that is all. If it is too much to ask then I understand. Goodbye, Aeris."

He turned away and started to walk.

"There is something I would very much like to show you, Tseng" he heard her cry from behind him. He turned back to see her smile.

"Then show me"

Such an unremarkable thing. An old derelict building deep in the slums of Midgar. But It housed the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Flowers blooming in the church.

Hundreds of them. Blossoming in the aisles, growing up the pews, all lit by a small ray of light that cut through the shattered roof of the remnants of the faith of a small town.

"It's… wonderful, Aeris. I… I cannot describe it… I doubt I have ever seen anything more beautiful…"

Except Mako-green eyes on an innocent child…

"Is this where your flowers come from?" he asked her, seating himself on one of the pews.

"Yes. I love it here. I'm the only person that comes here now… most people down here do not have any faith left now…"

She sat herself down next to him. "I used to bring Zack here."

"Who is Zack?"

She blushed scarlet. "Zack is… my boyfriend, I suppose. He's in SOLDIER. Away on a mission with Sephiroth as we speak."

Sephiroth.

The very name still haunted Tseng…

"Tell me more about this 'Zack'"

He did not know why he even asked. He didn't want to know about the man lucky enough to have her…

"Oh, he's nothing special I suppose… A good fighter! And one of Sephiroth's only friends. He says that Sephiroth is a great man. That he lives up to all that has been said of him. I would like to meet him someday, if possible…"

Tseng couldn't comprehend what she was talking about. A great man? The son of Hojo, the spawn of Jenova?"

"He's meant to return soon. I cant wait to see him.!" she continued, laughing softly. "How about you, Tseng? Is there anyone special in your life?"

You

"Yes" he lied. "Scarlet. She works at Shinra." He wondered what Scarlet would say if she heard that. She'd probably just laugh, 'kya-ha-ha' in his face. He wasn't even sure if she was that way inclined…

"Tell me more about her, Tseng!" she laughed, her eyes sparkling with glee. "What's she like?"

He smiled softly. "She's very beautiful." That was no lie. Or at least, she had been beautiful, before the strain of Shinra had got to her. "And devoted. And her laugh is like music."

Yeah, like drum and bass…

His train of thought was interrupted by the buzzing of his PHS. "Damn" he hissed as he took it from his belt. He flipped the mouthpiece and started. "Tseng. Talk"

"Sir? It's Reno. Dr Hojo requests your presence at the lab ASAP."

He let out an exasperated sigh. "Tell him I'll be there in 30"

"Yessir!"

He flipped the lid back down and turned to Aeris. "I have to go. I'm sorry…"

Her smile melted. "Will… will I see you again, Tseng?"

He thought of the promise he had made to her all those years back and failed to keep. "Yes. Yes you will. I'll come here to find you, ok?"

She smiled once more. "Here. I'll be waiting!"

He walked around the laboratory impatiently. He wasn't here. He was late.

He hated people who were late. Tseng himself was noted for his organisation, his punctuality and efficiency. That was why he was the best.

He looked at the cylinder where they once held Aeris… it was so cold, so empty now… he traced the glass with his finger, remembering how she had cried…

"Ah, Tseng. Punctual as ever, I see?"

It was him.

He turned round, forcing a smile. "Dr Hojo, I believe you asked for me?"

Hojo grinned maliciously. "No need for formalities, cousin. Come. Follow me."

Tseng did as he was told and came to Hojo's heel, falling in step with the older man. "What is it you wish to show me, Hojo?"

He laughed wickedly and patted Tseng on the back. "Much has happened, Tseng… much indeed."

He turned another corner and stopped at a specimen tube. "Look in there"

Teng shot him a puzzled look. "Go on!" prompted Hojo, his smile slowly vanishing.

Tseng looked down into the tube. He could see little at first, then the view became clearer. Two beings were in there, their faces pale and sullen, their forms white and shaking. They clung to each other; twisted forms amidst blood and worse. Then he noticed… the hands…

"Humans!" he cried out, horrified at the very thought. Hojo chuckled. "Yes, humans, Tseng. They are the killers of Sephiroth"

"What? Did you say… killers? But I thought-"

"- you thought he was invincible? I must admit, those were my thoughts, too. But it seems not. These two… Things… have killed my son."

Tseng could not believe it. He stood staring at the two wretched souls. "Who… who are they?"

Hojo laughed once more. "Ah! Always so ethical, Tseng! Well, one is a petty guard… there is no record of him. The other was- oh sorry, is" he corrected, smiling a little "A SOLDIER, first class. Name of Zax, or Zack… something similar…"

Zack

"What will you do to them?" he croaked, almost wishing he had not asked…

"It is fitting you should ask me that, Tseng. That is why I have called you here. I wish you to find the Ancient again."

Aeris

"-and I wish you to take a sample of cells from her. You need not bring her in, just collect some of her cells on this"

He held up a small slide. He couldn't do it, not now.. He could tell him.

"I… don't know if I can do this to her, Hojo" he sighed. Hojo cackled at the outburst.

"This is no place for morals, Tseng! This is Shinra! Do you think you are the first person in these wall to betray someone close to their heart! Trust me, you are not. Just get the cells. I will ask no more."

Tseng considered carefully. "Do you swear on your honour as a brave of Wutai?"

"No. I will not. It means nothing to me. I make no oaths. It is not in my character. Just do it and be grateful you are not in there awaiting their fate." he added, indicating to the two men before exiting the lab.

Tseng looked closely at the slide. Could he really betray her now? As Hojo said, it was just a few cells… but what would Aeris think if she found out she had contributed to the suffering of her own Zack?

He looked down at the pitiful creatures. So hopeless…

"Aeris? Aeris, are you here?"

He walked around the church, blinking through the sunlight. Sure enough, she was there, tending to the flowers.

"Tseng? Back so soon? Is there something wrong?"

He looked into her eyes… still so innocent. "I'm.. afraid there is, Aeris. I…"

So innocent…

"It's Zack… He's dead, Aeris."

Maybe it was best if she thought that, but still… he could see her eyes well with tears. "Oh… I see. I'm sorry, I-"

She broke off mid-sentence, covering her face with her hands. Tseng swept in and cradled her, much like he had those ten years ago on the train.

"I'm sorry, Aeris." he said truthfully, stoking her long brown locks. "I wish it could have been another way…"

He looked at the slide in his hand… he had to do it.

"I'm glad you're here, Tseng" she choked out between tears. "I don't now what I would have done without you."

He looked down again… with one swift action, he scraped the skin of her arm with the slide.

She yelped with pain. "What's wrong?" he asked, his acting skills surpassing him. "It's my arm… it stings…"

"Maybe it was a splinter?" he said quickly, indicating to the rotting pews surrounding them. She smiled slightly. "Must be."

They sat in silence for a few moments, looking at each other intently. Finally Aeris spoke up. "You will never leave me again, will you Tseng?"

He smiled at her fondly. "No. Never"

And this time he meant it.