Aerith's destiny

Everything was so calm, yet so disturbing. Aerith was talking to him in her sweet tone, smiling and laughing all the time. 'Don't worry', she said, but he had very good reasons to. Sephiroth wasn't far behind…

- I will stop him, I know I can. Be strong Cloud. Let me handle it.

She laughed lightly then turned to disappear into the forest. Cloud couldn't move or call, the forest itself seemed to shield him in a thick cocoon, preventing him from following Aerith. He was still that powerless when Sephiroth landed on the same road, looking at him with a strange expression.

- You have to come, or else you know what I could do… You know I can't stop it…

Cloud watched him sadly turn away from him…

********

Cloud turned and tossed in the bed, crying out in his sleep. Sweat was running down his temples, his body was reacting violently to the fever he was victim of. However, he was not alone. Cid and Yuffie had reacted the same way, falling unconscious few hours after they left the Temple. Tifa picked up the washcloth laid on his forehead to soak it again in cold water. It seemed to work and Cloud clamed down. A rustle of cloth behind her made her sigh.

- Vincent…

- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that…

- Vincent, he is sick. Knocking him off was the best way to protect Aerith in the moment. Go back to sleep.

The red caped man walked back the way he had come, returning to his room to lay back at Cid's side. Well, Yuffie was sleeping soundly and Vincent would surely be up before her the next morning… The pilot sighed, startling him. He thought he was asleep.

- What's bothering ya?

- I shouldn't have hit Cloud like that… Sephiroth, I think, no, I am sure, Sephiroth raped him in the Temple. That's why he went berserk.

Cid paled dangerously. Sephiroth had raped Cloud? It took him several minutes before assimilating that information.

- That F?&*ing bastard Sephiroth controlled him!!!

- Cid, I… I need to speak to you. I need to talk to someone… I know Sephiroth, don't call him that, please, I know him from the very first day of his life. I knew his mother, too, and she's not JENOVA… her name was Lucrecia.

Cid sat up in the bed and lit up a cigarette, nodding to his mate. Vincent seemed anxious as he talked about that woman, and the torments she endured to give birth to her son. He could read between the lines; Vincent had loved this woman with all his heart, and was still feeling guilty about her death. From the very beginning of his life, Sephiroth was treated as an experiment, a specimen. Vincent was feeling pity for him. When he finished, Cid brought him closer.

- Vincent… why are you telling me all this?

- Because… when Hojo found out I loved her, he shot me and transformed me into this… He said that way, I would never be able to reach her again, even in death.

- How so?

- He… he implanted demons in me and transformed my body into an immortal… parasite… I need blood to survive, and if I don't hunt when the need is here, the demons will take over my body and hunt until the hunger is no more… I fear that I could hurt you without wanting it, sometimes I hear them whisper to kill… Hojo turned me into a monster! How can you love something like me?

To prove his point he held up his golden claw. Cid looked at it, then took hold of the metal prosthesis before kissing it. Vincent's eyes widened in shock and tears fell down his cheeks that Cid kissed away, too, before pulling him toward his chest gently.

- Vincent… I don't care 'bout all that shit. I care about you. Let go of the past… F?%&, thirty years in a coffin with only nightmares to keep you company… It's time someone shows you a little gentleness. Your demons can try to hurt me, I swear I won't let them hurt you anymore.

Vincent whispered something incomprehensible  and Cid smiled, cradling the dark-haired man as he wept his past. Someone in this world still cared about him.

********

Cloud's eyes slowly opened. The first thing he saw was a patch of black. After few minutes his sight adjusted and he recognized Barret. Tifa wasn't far behind, too. He immediately recalled what had happened with Aerith and Sephiroth… That was an awful memory and he almost began to freak out again, but Tifa brought him back to reality.

- Cloud… C'mon, get a hold of yourself, we have a problem right now. Aerith has left for the Sleeping Forest. It's on the Northern Continent… She wants to stop Sephiroth by herself! We have to help her!

- I don't know if I can continue this…, Cloud whispered back, buried his head into his hands, I had no control…

- Don't worry 'bout that, interrupted Barret, If ya're going to do anything stupid, we'll stop ya, /again/.

Cloud thanked his friends and got out of bed. In no time they joined the rest of the group and jumped into the Tiny Bronco. The sea ride was very long, about one week and a half, time that everyone took to rest up. Everyone but Cloud. He was constantly walking around the small airship in a sort of daze, sometimes whispering to himself. It hadn't escaped to Tifa or Vincent's attention, making them worry a lot. Tifa because she did not know what was going on with him and Vincent because he knew… Of course the black haired man did not tell anyone but Cid about what had happened in the Temple. When they landed on the Northern Continent, Cloud seemed to regain his energy, giving himself in all-out attacks against the local monsters. Finally they made it to Bone Village, the sleeping forest wasn't very far…

*********

The Forgotten City… Houses of Ancients full of confusing knowledge. Avalanche was astonished before the quiet sight. Nanaki was the most impressed and everyone was talking loudly, exploring the abandoned shells in hopes of finding Aerith, but with no avail. However, they did find some rare materias, and even what could be called an Inn. They hit the beds rather quickly after that tiring search. Vincent felt the hunger rising in him, and when everyone was sleeping, he left quietly in search of something to kill. He found a Vlakorados lurking not far from the village and the need immediately overwhelmed him. Without even taking out his gun, he threw himself on the beast, his eyes glowing like a fierce fire. He avoided the small but deadly claws and gripped firmly it's neck with his mythril prosthesis. Quick as lightning, his fangs pierced the main blood vessel. The next seconds were blurry for him as he slid to the ground, completely exhausted. He certainly didn't expect to be picked up by someone.

- Cid?, he asked weakly

- Yeah… Your eyes are back to normal, I see… D'you need a hand?, he looked at the body lying next to Vincent, At least you didn't make a mess like the other time…

Vincent smiled and let the pilot stabilize him. Every time he went hunting he was feeling tired afterward. It would clear up in few minutes, he knew, but he let Cid do as he pleased. Anyway, he was tired of being alone. When they arrived, though, Cloud was up and seemed disturbed by something.

- I can hear her… I can… hear her…

And with that he began to walk out. Cid and Vincent woke up everybody, and they followed their leader into the main shell house. In the basement they found a crystal stairway, leading to a hidden crystal city below the surface… Cloud was standing just in front of a pool. And further, on a rock altar, Aerith was kneeled, praying. The blond jumped from rock to rock to reach her… The moment he took his footing on that sacred place, though, everything turned sour.

- Kill her!!!!

Cloud got out his sword, slowly… The whispered order was hurting him, the world was blurred apart for him and Aerith. The sword raised in the air, against his will, raised up over her head…

- Cloud!!!!! STOP!!!!!

Avalanche screamed in unison, breaking the spell and the blond fell back on his knees, the huge sword clashing on the stone altar.

- Watch out!!! She's coming!!!

Suddenly he looked up as Aerith opened her eyes, smiling to him. A dark form fell from above, a sharp edge outstretched toward the girl… Cloud was paralysed. He saw the Angel Of Death that night… Aerith never had a chance. The Masamune pierced her heart as Sephiroth hit the ground.

- I'm sorry… Forgive me…

Cloud caught Aerith and looked at Sephiroth, tears streaming down his face.

- How could you!  How could you… What are we going to do now! She'll never smile or laugh again! You monster!!!

- Hahahahahaha!!! Why are you crying? You can't cry, for you have no emotions, puppet! No one can stop me, now!!!

A part of JENOVA then leaped on the altar. Cloud, blinded by anger and sorrow almost killed it by himself before returning to his Aerith's lifeless body. Without a word, he gently took her in his arms and walked out past Avalanche, climbed the stairs and found himself outside the shell house. The small lake reflected the moon sparkling rays. He stepped into the water and at waist level, he let her go. Something broke in him at that time, and when he was pulled out of the water, he realised he almost drowned.

End

Author's notes

Hm-hm… I would rather say 'Sephiroth's notes'… Yes, this is me, Seph… You surely ask yourselves why I am writing those lines right now, ne? Well, it's for a good reason, or rather bad news; Htress is hospitalized. She had a relapse. Her appendicitis got to her again. She had surgery earlier today, so Cloud is with her, now. I should be going in a few, too. It's just a little word to tell you not to worry if the next chapter comes a little late… And please thank you to Nwing, who posted this chapter… (Forthose who don't know, Nwing is a friend of Htress). She would love to have a lot of emails, so if you want to cheer her up… It's a good moment to do so. Thank you.

Next chapter: Cloud's insanity.