AUTHORS NOTE: Got this chappy done quickly! I'm a tad uncertain about it's content actually.. well, you'll see what i mean - about what happens between 2 certain people.. *sobs*. See, when i write this - I make it up as I go along ( I find it just works better that way for me ) and so.. what happened just came out! But never fear fellow Aerith/Cloud fans, it may be a sure-fire way of insuring your read the next chapter ( I'm so smart! ^.^ lol.. not! ) but all WILL be resolved! (after all.. they're both drowning in guilt!) and it may even.. bring them closer together! *cheesy* ^___________^
k, to the reviewers:
Kaye - thanks for the review! read those next few chappys.. I want you hooked on this! ^.^
Chandavatika - o faithful reviewee! I bow down before you (I'm nuts remember - totally crazy! ^___^)! I totally agree with you on feeling sorry for Cloud in the 'Pinch Me' chappy, truth be told - I actually cried when I typed it up *blushes furiously* ok.. so i'm abit emotional! ^.^ But anyway, you really deserved that dedication! Keep reviewing and I might even give you a place in the ficcy! lol (oh woopee *rolls her eyes*) ^.^
Spooky - oh yeh, I know Tifa isn't that bouncy usually! lol Thing is - I'm not the biggest Tifa fan (like - I USED to really hate her - but now I think she's okay) so.. I think you prolly should learn to cope with bouncy - unless you wanna see how i'd really portrait her! *sweatdrop* Hmm.. but thanks for saying that anyway - I'll try and tone down the bouncyness a tad (for a start!). If anyone else thinks she's too bouncy aswell, please put it in your review - I wanna know if she needs the change! TA!
Peril - Really?. Am.I.really.moving.too.slowly?.Sorry!. Like.it.or.lump.it!. (It's just the way I write, I'm not changing that!) Actually - how do you mean this? like.. chapter-wise (as in, how long it takes me to write a chappy) or story-wise (the progress of events)? regaurdless, it is how I do it.. and it's my style! *pokes her tongue out* ^.^
Gosh.. my A/N's are too long! lol.. oh - one last thing: "wotcha" (Cid says it on the cellphone) means goodbye.. I got it from 'Asterix in Britain'! lol Cid.. british! *rotfl*
Enjoy! and R & R! *glomps* (gotta know I'v at least got SOME people who want me to continue wid dis!) ~Berry.
REMEMBER:
" " = speech.
' ' = thoughts.
Angel Reborn
************************
CHAPTER NINE
AERITH and CLOUD
in
"Unrest in Kalm"
~Entering Kalm - Kalm~
•°•
"The damage was more severe than we originally thought," Cids gruff voice explained through Cloud's cellphone. "Seems the storage room onboard didn't have enough materials to complete the Highwinds repairs, so I sent for a supply plane from Junon - it should be here by tonight. Hey listen.. sorry about the delay, kid."
"Don't sweat it,' Cloud laughed, flipping some hair off his face as he caught Aerith watching him from some meters away, a gentle smile on her lovely face. "We're covered for tonight - seeya when we seeya."
He heard Cid's hoarse chuckle on the other end in response "You're starting to sound like your old self again.. and the reason for that would be..?"
"You'll see for yourself, soon enough."
"Right-o, wotcha!"
Cloud grinned and shook his head slightly as he slid the cellphone back into the pouch by his side. '"Right-o, wotcha"?! Geez.. Cid really is getting on in years to say something like that!'
The small group of four - Aerith having accepted their invitation to join them - had reached the enterance to the little town of Kalm, trudging slowly down the cobblestone street towards a cosy Inn they knew quite well.
The petit Cetra walked just to the left of Cloud, admiring the lovely shingle-roofed fawnstone buildings (that were unique to Kalm) with wide eyes.
"Do you.. remember this place?" Cloud asked her quietly, studying her face for a reaction.
"Remember..?" Aerith seemed abit suprised at his question, her eyes widening a little. "No.. I.. No. I haven't been here before.. ."
For a moment they both walked in silence - Cloud deep in thought and staring ahead, at nothing in particular.. and Aerith taking little peeks at him from the corner of her eye as she played with a wisp of her hair.
Finally she broke the silence. "..Should I..? ..remember it?" Cloud smiled absently, still looking ahead.
"Yeah. We've all been here before - you, me, Tifa, Yuffie, ..and some of our other friends."
"Oh.. ."
"Hey Aerith?" Cloud began after another short silence, turning to her with a reassuring look on his face, "Don't worry okay? It's not that important.. I'm sure it'll all come back to you - just give it some time."
She just nodded, mirroring the smile on his own face. "Thank you.. Cloud."
Cloud savoured the sound of her voice speaking his name for a moment, 'It seems so right coming from her mouth', shortly before he nearly walked into a little man that seemed to have materialised from thin air.
"Hey, watch it Blondie!" The midget growled, glowering at Cloud as he tried to apologise. "If it weren't for the lovely company you're keeping, I'd bash you one!"
'Oh yeh, sure shorty'. Cloud smirked, but chose not to comment.
"Sooo.. Pretty lady! Can I interest you in some of the finest materia Kalm has to offer? Special discount price for you of course! Only one-thousand gil a piece."
Cloud was just about to tell the little man where he could go and shove his materia, when Aerith spoke up.
"Well.. Seeing as Snow ate most of Yuffie's materia, I think I should at least buy her some new ones."
"Aerith, that really isn't necces--"
"Quiet Blondie! It's the ladies decision!" The materia seller quipped harshly, shooting Cloud an icy look.
The young mercinary gritted his teeth in an attempt to stop himself from causing the rude midget some grievous bodily harm and folded his arms across his broad chest.
"Say.. could you tell me which materia you sell?" Aerith asked kindly, causing the mans almost-toothless mouth to break into a grin.
"Lets see here - I'v got Fire, Ice, Thunder, and Earth." He declared, holding each up as he said their names.
Cloud snorted in response. "You expect a smart woman like Aerith to buy one of those junky materias? Gimme a break!"
"JUNKY? Did you call my materias junky??! Why I ought to--"
"Calm down you two!" Aerith broke in gently, laying a hand on each of their sholders. "Cloud, I'm sure that his materia is perfectly--"
"CRAPPY!" Cloud exploded, his eyes widened after the outburst. Clapping both hands over his mouth, he took a step back. He hadn't ment for that to happen at all.
Aerith grew silent after this, and simply handed the midget one-thousand gil in exchange for Earth materia - thanking him and turning to Cloud akwardly.
"Aerith.. I-I'm--" Cloud began, but was cut short by Tifa, who came running up to them both at that very moment.
"There you guys are! Yuff and me were getting abit worried when you didn't come to the Inn after a while.. well come on! Lets go - I hear that there's going to be a big celebration in the town square tonight! Guess who it's for?! Yeah, US! Turns out the mayor found out we arrived, and he knows about our hero status' and all!" Tifa giggled in excitement and took Aeriths hand. "Girl talk time! Up in our room!" With that she took to her feet and pulled the confused Cetra along behind her, towards the Inn.
Cloud was left standing where he'd been for the past few minutes, a look of defeat written all over his handsome face. 'What have I done? I can't believe I actually.. god! I'm such a jerk sometimes! I didn't even get to apologise fully! Man.. This really sucks.. .' Kicking at the ground angrily and shaking his head, Cloud stalked off towards the Kalm bar, ordering a beer and laying his head in his hands on the counter top. 'Aerith.. please forgive me.. .'
Back up in the upper-story room they'de payed for, the three girls were chatting happily. Well, two of them at least - Aerith was sitting silently on the edge of her designated bed, staring at the fine-grained floorboards beneath her feet.
'Maybe I was wrong to think that materia was any good.. I wish that I hadn't have made Cloud so upset, but now he probably doesn't even want to talk to me and--' Aeriths thoughts were interrupted by Yuffies high-pitched giggle from where the spunky ninja sat - lounging in an old fashioned wooden rocking-chair.
"Yeh, Vincent WAS cute," Tifa was saying, looking thoughtful for a moment, "but not as cute as Cloud!!"
Yuffie made a face and turned to Aerith, who was now staring out of the window with an expression of sadness marring her pretty features.
"Aerith? Is everything okay?" she asked, walking over to where the Cetra sat.
"Aerith?" Tifa chimed in, peering over to see what was wrong.
"Hellooooooo, anybody home?" Yuffie continued, smiling as Aerith finally snapped out of the trance she'd fallen back into.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She blushed slightly and turned to the two other girls. "..Just thinking."
"S'ok.. so.. do you think Cloud is cute?" Yuffie grinned.
"C-Cloud?" Aerith stammered, feeling the heat rise into her cheeks. "I.. um.. I don't know him that well.. ."
"Aw come on! I mean purely from his looks! What do you think? Do you find that mass of blonde spikes appealing?" she pressed - obviously prying, and starting to chuckle quietly.
Tifa laughed too, although it was nervously and to herself, she felt uncomfortable about who the question was being asked to, so she quickly broke in.
"Ok.. so are you two happy with your sleeping arrangements? - Aerith in the bed next to the window, Yuffie next to her, than me, and Cloud on the end?" Both girls nodded and Tifa moved on, jumping to her feet for emphisis. "Boy, tonight's going to be just great! We'll all be celebrated by the entire population of Kalm and than we'll just eat and eat and eat till we pop!" She fell back onto her bed with a happy grin on her face. "Cloud usually stuffs down a mountain at these kind of events - I sure hope they prepare enough food!"
"Speaking of Cloud, where IS he?" Yuffie voiced, peering down to the street below their window. "I don't see his messy blonde mop anywhere."
Aerith searched in vain too, feeling the guilt gnawing away at her conscience build up even more. 'Cloud.. I'm so sorry for upsetting you.. .'
"Oh, he'll come soon enough - lets start getting ready for tonight girls!" Tifa smiled and showed them a small pouch filled with clinking gil. "How about new outfits?"
"Sign me up! What about you Aerith?"
"Oh.. no thank you - I'm.. I'm going to look for Cloud, seeyou all this evening!" With a wave she left the room - and two suprised girls in her wake.
"..Think she likes him?" Tifa asked nervously, after Aerith had been gone for some minutes.
"Cloud? Oh come on! She's only known him for half a day so far - not a chance!"
•°•
©Erica Runge - 16th of February, 2003. All main characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFVII.
k, to the reviewers:
Kaye - thanks for the review! read those next few chappys.. I want you hooked on this! ^.^
Chandavatika - o faithful reviewee! I bow down before you (I'm nuts remember - totally crazy! ^___^)! I totally agree with you on feeling sorry for Cloud in the 'Pinch Me' chappy, truth be told - I actually cried when I typed it up *blushes furiously* ok.. so i'm abit emotional! ^.^ But anyway, you really deserved that dedication! Keep reviewing and I might even give you a place in the ficcy! lol (oh woopee *rolls her eyes*) ^.^
Spooky - oh yeh, I know Tifa isn't that bouncy usually! lol Thing is - I'm not the biggest Tifa fan (like - I USED to really hate her - but now I think she's okay) so.. I think you prolly should learn to cope with bouncy - unless you wanna see how i'd really portrait her! *sweatdrop* Hmm.. but thanks for saying that anyway - I'll try and tone down the bouncyness a tad (for a start!). If anyone else thinks she's too bouncy aswell, please put it in your review - I wanna know if she needs the change! TA!
Peril - Really?. Am.I.really.moving.too.slowly?.Sorry!. Like.it.or.lump.it!. (It's just the way I write, I'm not changing that!) Actually - how do you mean this? like.. chapter-wise (as in, how long it takes me to write a chappy) or story-wise (the progress of events)? regaurdless, it is how I do it.. and it's my style! *pokes her tongue out* ^.^
Gosh.. my A/N's are too long! lol.. oh - one last thing: "wotcha" (Cid says it on the cellphone) means goodbye.. I got it from 'Asterix in Britain'! lol Cid.. british! *rotfl*
Enjoy! and R & R! *glomps* (gotta know I'v at least got SOME people who want me to continue wid dis!) ~Berry.
REMEMBER:
" " = speech.
' ' = thoughts.
Angel Reborn
************************
CHAPTER NINE
AERITH and CLOUD
in
"Unrest in Kalm"
~Entering Kalm - Kalm~
•°•
"The damage was more severe than we originally thought," Cids gruff voice explained through Cloud's cellphone. "Seems the storage room onboard didn't have enough materials to complete the Highwinds repairs, so I sent for a supply plane from Junon - it should be here by tonight. Hey listen.. sorry about the delay, kid."
"Don't sweat it,' Cloud laughed, flipping some hair off his face as he caught Aerith watching him from some meters away, a gentle smile on her lovely face. "We're covered for tonight - seeya when we seeya."
He heard Cid's hoarse chuckle on the other end in response "You're starting to sound like your old self again.. and the reason for that would be..?"
"You'll see for yourself, soon enough."
"Right-o, wotcha!"
Cloud grinned and shook his head slightly as he slid the cellphone back into the pouch by his side. '"Right-o, wotcha"?! Geez.. Cid really is getting on in years to say something like that!'
The small group of four - Aerith having accepted their invitation to join them - had reached the enterance to the little town of Kalm, trudging slowly down the cobblestone street towards a cosy Inn they knew quite well.
The petit Cetra walked just to the left of Cloud, admiring the lovely shingle-roofed fawnstone buildings (that were unique to Kalm) with wide eyes.
"Do you.. remember this place?" Cloud asked her quietly, studying her face for a reaction.
"Remember..?" Aerith seemed abit suprised at his question, her eyes widening a little. "No.. I.. No. I haven't been here before.. ."
For a moment they both walked in silence - Cloud deep in thought and staring ahead, at nothing in particular.. and Aerith taking little peeks at him from the corner of her eye as she played with a wisp of her hair.
Finally she broke the silence. "..Should I..? ..remember it?" Cloud smiled absently, still looking ahead.
"Yeah. We've all been here before - you, me, Tifa, Yuffie, ..and some of our other friends."
"Oh.. ."
"Hey Aerith?" Cloud began after another short silence, turning to her with a reassuring look on his face, "Don't worry okay? It's not that important.. I'm sure it'll all come back to you - just give it some time."
She just nodded, mirroring the smile on his own face. "Thank you.. Cloud."
Cloud savoured the sound of her voice speaking his name for a moment, 'It seems so right coming from her mouth', shortly before he nearly walked into a little man that seemed to have materialised from thin air.
"Hey, watch it Blondie!" The midget growled, glowering at Cloud as he tried to apologise. "If it weren't for the lovely company you're keeping, I'd bash you one!"
'Oh yeh, sure shorty'. Cloud smirked, but chose not to comment.
"Sooo.. Pretty lady! Can I interest you in some of the finest materia Kalm has to offer? Special discount price for you of course! Only one-thousand gil a piece."
Cloud was just about to tell the little man where he could go and shove his materia, when Aerith spoke up.
"Well.. Seeing as Snow ate most of Yuffie's materia, I think I should at least buy her some new ones."
"Aerith, that really isn't necces--"
"Quiet Blondie! It's the ladies decision!" The materia seller quipped harshly, shooting Cloud an icy look.
The young mercinary gritted his teeth in an attempt to stop himself from causing the rude midget some grievous bodily harm and folded his arms across his broad chest.
"Say.. could you tell me which materia you sell?" Aerith asked kindly, causing the mans almost-toothless mouth to break into a grin.
"Lets see here - I'v got Fire, Ice, Thunder, and Earth." He declared, holding each up as he said their names.
Cloud snorted in response. "You expect a smart woman like Aerith to buy one of those junky materias? Gimme a break!"
"JUNKY? Did you call my materias junky??! Why I ought to--"
"Calm down you two!" Aerith broke in gently, laying a hand on each of their sholders. "Cloud, I'm sure that his materia is perfectly--"
"CRAPPY!" Cloud exploded, his eyes widened after the outburst. Clapping both hands over his mouth, he took a step back. He hadn't ment for that to happen at all.
Aerith grew silent after this, and simply handed the midget one-thousand gil in exchange for Earth materia - thanking him and turning to Cloud akwardly.
"Aerith.. I-I'm--" Cloud began, but was cut short by Tifa, who came running up to them both at that very moment.
"There you guys are! Yuff and me were getting abit worried when you didn't come to the Inn after a while.. well come on! Lets go - I hear that there's going to be a big celebration in the town square tonight! Guess who it's for?! Yeah, US! Turns out the mayor found out we arrived, and he knows about our hero status' and all!" Tifa giggled in excitement and took Aeriths hand. "Girl talk time! Up in our room!" With that she took to her feet and pulled the confused Cetra along behind her, towards the Inn.
Cloud was left standing where he'd been for the past few minutes, a look of defeat written all over his handsome face. 'What have I done? I can't believe I actually.. god! I'm such a jerk sometimes! I didn't even get to apologise fully! Man.. This really sucks.. .' Kicking at the ground angrily and shaking his head, Cloud stalked off towards the Kalm bar, ordering a beer and laying his head in his hands on the counter top. 'Aerith.. please forgive me.. .'
Back up in the upper-story room they'de payed for, the three girls were chatting happily. Well, two of them at least - Aerith was sitting silently on the edge of her designated bed, staring at the fine-grained floorboards beneath her feet.
'Maybe I was wrong to think that materia was any good.. I wish that I hadn't have made Cloud so upset, but now he probably doesn't even want to talk to me and--' Aeriths thoughts were interrupted by Yuffies high-pitched giggle from where the spunky ninja sat - lounging in an old fashioned wooden rocking-chair.
"Yeh, Vincent WAS cute," Tifa was saying, looking thoughtful for a moment, "but not as cute as Cloud!!"
Yuffie made a face and turned to Aerith, who was now staring out of the window with an expression of sadness marring her pretty features.
"Aerith? Is everything okay?" she asked, walking over to where the Cetra sat.
"Aerith?" Tifa chimed in, peering over to see what was wrong.
"Hellooooooo, anybody home?" Yuffie continued, smiling as Aerith finally snapped out of the trance she'd fallen back into.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" She blushed slightly and turned to the two other girls. "..Just thinking."
"S'ok.. so.. do you think Cloud is cute?" Yuffie grinned.
"C-Cloud?" Aerith stammered, feeling the heat rise into her cheeks. "I.. um.. I don't know him that well.. ."
"Aw come on! I mean purely from his looks! What do you think? Do you find that mass of blonde spikes appealing?" she pressed - obviously prying, and starting to chuckle quietly.
Tifa laughed too, although it was nervously and to herself, she felt uncomfortable about who the question was being asked to, so she quickly broke in.
"Ok.. so are you two happy with your sleeping arrangements? - Aerith in the bed next to the window, Yuffie next to her, than me, and Cloud on the end?" Both girls nodded and Tifa moved on, jumping to her feet for emphisis. "Boy, tonight's going to be just great! We'll all be celebrated by the entire population of Kalm and than we'll just eat and eat and eat till we pop!" She fell back onto her bed with a happy grin on her face. "Cloud usually stuffs down a mountain at these kind of events - I sure hope they prepare enough food!"
"Speaking of Cloud, where IS he?" Yuffie voiced, peering down to the street below their window. "I don't see his messy blonde mop anywhere."
Aerith searched in vain too, feeling the guilt gnawing away at her conscience build up even more. 'Cloud.. I'm so sorry for upsetting you.. .'
"Oh, he'll come soon enough - lets start getting ready for tonight girls!" Tifa smiled and showed them a small pouch filled with clinking gil. "How about new outfits?"
"Sign me up! What about you Aerith?"
"Oh.. no thank you - I'm.. I'm going to look for Cloud, seeyou all this evening!" With a wave she left the room - and two suprised girls in her wake.
"..Think she likes him?" Tifa asked nervously, after Aerith had been gone for some minutes.
"Cloud? Oh come on! She's only known him for half a day so far - not a chance!"
•°•
©Erica Runge - 16th of February, 2003. All main characters, etc ©Squaresoft and FFVII.
