Flirting With Death: The Flower Bed of Sector Five

Morning greeted Tifa Lockheart with a light drizzle tapping against her windowpane. She lazily lifted her head from her pillows and stretched her hands high above her head, trying to curl her toes over the edge of the bed. She'd been up late into the evening, thinking about what she wanted to do, who she might run into, and what she would need.

Ugh.

The weather was of no consequence. She would still be leaving, as soon as she paid her respects.

Tifa rose from her bed and dressed hurriedly in her old combat gear. After pulling on her suspenders, she sat on the end of her bed and busied herself with socks and bootlaces. She reached into the top left drawer of her dresser and recovered a lockbox; the key was taped to the underside of the drawer opposite it, and she fit the faded copper into the lock and turned it until she heard a familiar click. The sound brought back memories.

She set the box atop the dresser and fitted her fingers around the edges of the lid. When the top was lifted, a faded cloth of tanned, brown leather was revealed. A satisfied smile crept across her face when she flipped the thin layer of material back; black, leather gloves lay before her, alongside titanium knuckles. The bands were still lined with all of her mastered materia.

She slipped the gloves on. She then pulled a black, leather jacket from her closet and donned it before stopping by the foot of the kitchen stool to pick up a backpack; it contained a few essentials and plenty of extra space. Tifa took one more look around the apartment and smile once again before turning to go.

Puddles lined the slick pavement of Sector Five as the rain continued to fall steadily from the sky. Tifa led Mayonee, her gold chocobo, through the wet surroundings as they made their way through the streets to the memorial grounds. Reeve had erected several pillars in front of the church, embossed with the names of those who had died in the Meteor tragedy. The construction would take place around the building, but the plot itself and everything still on it would remain untouched.

A stone wall had been placed around the church and its stone garden, a barrier to the harsh world outside. It was no protection from outsiders, as there was an entrance carved out in front. The walls were merely there to signify it as a safe place, set apart from the rest of the city. They seemed to say, "Come and take shelter within us, escape from your troubles and find peace within these halls."

A stone arch was placed above the entrance; neatly etched into it was the title, "Aeris Gainsborough Gast Memorial". It was a reminder to all who passed through the archway of her sacrifice, so that no one would forget her love for the planet. Maybe one day, others would come to appreciate that kind of love, and be willing to give up their comforts for those who had no hope.

Tifa studied the archway for a long while, then sighed as she lowered her head and led Mayonee through behind her.

When she reached the old wooden doorway, she glanced back at Mayonee. "I'll be back soon," she said, a gentle look overtaking her features. Mayonee warked in reply and then settled down in the dirt to wait. Tifa continued on through the entrance of the church.

As she walked towards the head of the building, she eyed the soft bed of yellow flowers in the center of the front of the room. Surprisingly, they were still growing. They had all assumed that Aeris' flowers grew in such harsh conditions because she provided them the care that only a child of the planet could give.

More flowers had been springing up all over the area, ever since the plate was dismantled. The rain could now reach the ground where the slums used to lay before everything changed. But these flowers were still the most beautiful, most perfectly formed blooms she had ever seen.

It was not long before Tifa found herself sitting on the floor of the church, gazing at the blooms with deep interest. Sweet Aeris, her friend and ally, and also the one person she'd ever had any reason to feel jealousy towards. So bright and cheerful, always able to let any cruel circumstances roll right off her shoulders. She forgave easily, even when Cloud had lost his mind. And then she had fled, her destination being their salvation.

He had felt so guilty when she'd left; the last thing that had passed between them before he saw her in the Village of the Ancients was his harmful attempt against her, as he struggled to maintain control of his synapses. His sanity had hung by only a thread, and still she forgave him. And he'd felt so responsible...

They had known each other only a short time, but she was sitting there, in the middle of her flower patch, and Cloud was speeding off to seek his peace.

Tifa awoke several moments later, soft yellow petals tickling her skin. The blooms carressed her face and comforted her troubled spirit as the rain fell through the cracks in the ceiling. Tifa rubbed at her sleepy eyes and slowly brought herself to her feet. It was time for her to go.

On her way out, she stopped in front of the doorway and turned to face the stream of dim light that fell down upon the flowers.

...Goodbye, my friend.

Tifa arrived in Kalm at dusk. She found some stables and rented a stall for Mayonee to stay the night in, before trudging to the inn herself. Once there, she paid for a room and went upstairs, tempted to simply flop down on the bed right away and fall into a deep sleep that would last for hours. She was quite tired, having not yet recovered from her nap in Sector Five, and looked at the bedsheets longingly.

She shed her cold and dripping clothes in defiance and threw them over the towel rack in the bathroom. Tifa then crossed the room in huge strides, making her way to the bed as quickly as possible. She sunk down into the soft mattress, curling into the sheets. She rolled around for a short while, warming her naked skin in the blankets wrapped about her form, and then she was asleep on the pillow.

The next morning found her newly energized and ready to go. She hopped from the bed, chancing a glance out the window. The rain had let up, and the sun was shining brightly outside. Tifa bounded over to the shower, making note to herself to grab the leftover soaps for the road. She remembered how hard it had been travelling for days before they'd acquired the Highwind; they had to bathe in streams or not at all, and she wanted to have some shampoo handy.

When finished with her wash, she pulled on her clothes and laced up her boots, anxious to get out of the town. She grabbed her coat and stuffed it into her pack, knowing that she wouldn't need it for a while. Soon, she was flying down the stairs, wet hair trailing behind her.

She stopped in the dining hall to pick up something quick for breakfast; she left with a blueberry muffin and juice carton in hand, shouting a quick "Thanks!" over her shoulder before rushing out the door. After stopping by a shop to pick up some supplies and greens, she headed over to the stables and loosed Mayonee.

"You ready for an adventure?"

Mayonee gave an energetic "wark," in reply, which Tifa took to mean a "yes," and they were off as soon as they had both eaten. Mayonee tore across the plains like a yellow fire with Tifa's brown hair streaming after her, dried by the winds that flew past them. They sped over the quickly approaching marshes, Mayonee's speed on their side. When they reached the caves, Tifa stopped her feathered friend and took one look back.

Goodbye for now. Maybe I'll come back once I've found whatever it is I'm searching for.