Chapter 2: Old Friends!

Aeris woke up covered in a huge bundle of blankets. She sat up; combing her fingers threw her hair as she searched around for her clothes. Her dress was completely torn in half! She slid her tattered dress's shirt over her under shirt, and then her skirt type dress over her under shorts. She sat down on the soft couch searching for her bow as she began to rapidly braid her long honey brown hair; ending it with a waving knot. Have finished that, she stood up feeling her stomach growl and decided to look for something to eat. Not knowing her way around the house frightened her, so naturally she didn't want to run into a room that was forbidden, but she thought that the best thing to do was to look into the rooms' closes to her.

Where am I, Aeris thought calmly to herself, making an effort not to panic. Where is that man who saved me? Huh…Aeris reached for the kitchen's door handle, but withdrew suddenly on seeing her hand covered completely in bandages, MY WRIST! I cut it … on that man's claw. She fingered her cast as she tried to find an opening so that she could see her wrist, which started throbbing terribly from her probing at it.

Aeris opened the kitchen door cautiously, making sure not to disturb anyone who may be beyond the door. When she found the coast clear, she thought it best to enter and make herself acquainted with this part of the of the house. She looked down at a little wooden dining table, which had a glass cup full of water with melted ice in it, and a little plate with a simply made sandwich on it. Her mouth began to water as her stomach cried out for food once again and the sight of it wasn't making things any better. She wasn't sure if the sandwich was made for her or not but a piece of paper lying near the plate caught her eye.  She reached out with her uninjured hand and retrieved the small not from here it was propped up against the plate, which had her name scribbled delicately on it the folded side. Slowly she picked up the glass of water, and subsequently slid her index finger around the tip of the glass, making a beautiful angelic note flow through the air. She then picked up the cheese and meat made sandwich and began to nibble slowly on it as she kept wide forest green eyes open to any movements possible. As she looked around herself, at all the kitchen appliances, her eyes cut short on a huge brown box that was brand new, so it seemed with a little bit of a padding on the insides.

Unexpectedly, the door flashed opened and Vincent came in carrying an old broken, moldy box filled to the top with guns. He carelessly threw it onto the counter, making a huge thudding noise. Aerith flew up out of her seat at the loud noise and accidentally dropped her sandwich as her eyes stared hard, wide in alarm.

Vincent paused from his work and looked at her apologetically, then picked up a towel as he pulled a gun out of the molded white box. He professionally cleaned it, without thinking, then placing it gently into the new brown box, he picked up another gun and started the cleaning process all over again. "How are you feeling?" Vincent said, observing her fatigued body quietly.

"…Tired."

"Who was that women chasing you?"

"Nott. Professor Hojo's science project…she doesn't know it though."

"She doesn't know what?"

"That she is a project that Hojo has been working on. I found out the day I left. I heard Zack telling..." Aeris looked down shyly feeling stupid because she thought she had said too much to fast.

Vincent asked restfully, "How did you figure out a way to escape from Hojo's lab."

"Umm…Hojo has a nice man working for him. He unlocked my cell for me, then gave me the keys to every locked door. I took it from there, helping Rufus to es-"

"Rufus Shinra?" Vincent asked, interrupting her sentence, "How is he alive?"

"Don't you know how he died?"

"Yes. An explosion."

"…No!"  Aeris said a bit baffled at his answer.

"How, then?" Vincent squinted at Aerith in confusion.

"Hojo dragged him out of the office, he was barely alive, then Hojo shot and killed Rufus and stored him away." Vincent's brows began to knit, confused at Aeris's story of Rufus's "real" death.

"What!? Why?"

"I don't know why he did that, or why he wants him."

"Where did he put the body?"

"In water, because water is life. Hojo said to me that water was eighty-ninety percent of our body. Hojo brought Rufus back to life later when he was strong enough to control his own body."

"Where was Hojo until then?"

"I'm not exactly sure, I just heard Nott and Rall talking about how he fed on living forms for a year, about sixteen to twenty feet under ground in some lab. I've been to the lab a couple of times. He would bring me to it, once in a while."

"Who was the man that helped you escape?"

"Rall. Nott and Zack despised him because he hated Hojo and his projects."

"Why does he work for him?"

"Nott is his girlfriend. Hojo said that he would release her if Rall would work for him. Hojo wants Rall to work for him because he is an engineer, and a doctor. He could help him with all the electronic things, and bandage us up."

"Who is Zack?'"

"Zack is just a man who works for money. He also has experience in the medical field. Hojo gives us to Zack, for him to fix up, after Hojo's done with us. Sometimes he would cut us accidentally, or sometimes he give us to Rall if we were really wounded..."

"What does Hojo want with you?"

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"Umm…Hojo never really talked to me. He just…did experiments on me." She looked down to the side, as deep sorrow filled in her eyes. "…Rufus…"

"What does Rufus have to do with you?"

"What, I don't understand?"

"Why do you call out his name. You did it yesterday also."

"Oh…He has just been through so much. Hojo had him for four years before he got me. We married…"

"Married?" Vincent was both surprised and confused.

"It was a request I had."

"Why?"

"…Because I was planning a way to escape at that point, but everything went wrong. I ended up getting punished by Hojo in the end; lashings. It didn't hurt though. He had already done so much to me, that I have become immune to some pains."

"What was your request?' Vincent said, as he placed another washed gun into the brown box.

"It was for Hojo to give me a proper wedding with Rufus, then I promised to cooperate in his plan. That I'd do what he said, when he said what he said."

"Why with Rufus?"

"I was going to try to help Rufus escape also."

"You lied to Hojo then. You ran away."

"Yes…but part of my request was to have a proper wedding, in which he never gave me."

Vincent nodded his head in understanding, and then spoke again on a different subject. "The soul he gave you?"

"Yes?"

"Why didn't he just bring you to life with your own soul?"

"Hojo had to bring my body to life first before my soul could enter it. Since it is alive now, the soul I was brought to life with is living within me, but not as strongly as my own soul is. The soul doesn't know my body as well as my own soul does. So when my soul entered, it shoved the other soul to the side. At times the soul will control my body, without me wishing so. The materia with the soul, that's not mine it has a life power in it. That's how I am living."

"And the materia in your heart?"

"That's where the soul lives, keeping me alive. It is also a homing device."

"How do you know that?"

"I read something that Hojo had on his desk before he gave me to Rall…"

"Is that all it is?"

"I'm not sure. I know though, that Zack and Nott helped make that materia."

"So what is the project that Hojo is doing on Nott?"

"He grabbed some girl off the street, which happened to be Rall's girlfriend, Nott, and tested on her to see if all the science things would work when he went to use them on me."

"Why won't Rall turn against Hojo, and run off with Nott?"

"Hojo has complete control over her. He can kill her within a heartbeat."

"Why can't Rall disconnect Hojo's mind power from Nott?"

"He is trying to figure out a way. Her real name is Jewel: she is a nurse and a waitress here in this town. She was such a sweet lady before she was mutated. I met her."

Vincent's face twisted in revulsion. He picked up the brown box, leaving the room when a thought hit him, "Why is it that you can't remember me, if you're reunited with your soul?"

"I…don't really know. I think the life materia that Hojo brought me to life with, is keeping this knowledge from me." After that was said, Vincent left the room.

* * *

Aeris backed into a counter as she stepped back in distress. On looking back she noticed a stack of pictures lying on the counter. She picked them up and started examining them. One looked a lot like Vincent, but younger and he was actually in a suit. He had shorter hair, and instead of those piercing red eyes, he had big ocean blue eyes. She put it down, subsequently picking up another picture that had Tifa and Cloud hugging side-by-side, and it was dated the current year. After looking at it for five minutes she put it down as she picked up one more picture.

This picture astonished her. She didn't expect to see herself somewhere, where she had never been. She slid her fingers down the picture, pausing on Cloud. Who is this man…I feel like I should know him very well. And her… Is that really me? Aeris looked at herself again, and noticed that in this picture that she had darker hair and it was shorter and that she was wearing the exact same dress that she had been now, except hers was cut in half, which frightened her somewhat. That dress…but how can she be me?

Suddenly Vincent came through the kitchen doors holding her hair tie that she had been searching for. He went up to her and put his hand out for her to take it. She looked down at his hand throwing the picture back on the counter while she hesitantly grabbed the bright pink bow. Vincent grabbed a book off the dining table, as Aeris professionally stuck her hair up in a messy braid. He was about to walk out when Aeris called out his name, "Vincent."

"Hmm?" He asked turning around to face her.

"My wrist is throbbing, and it's hurting me. Can I have an ice pack…please?"

Vincent opened a drawer and pulled out a bag, then filled it with ice. As he was wrapping the bag in paper towels, Aerith asked, "Is my wrist going to be okay?"

He looked down at her, handing her the ice bag, and said, "I don't know. If it gets worse I'm going to take you to see a doctor."

"Oh…"

Vincent turned to leave, and was just about to walk out of the kitchen, but stopped short on hearing Aeris's silvery voice again. "Vincent. Since you asked me so many questions…I want to ask you some of my own questions. Was I evil when I was me?"

"No."

"Were you evil?"

"Yes."

Aeris backed up a bit on hearing that answer, her heart began to pound wildly. "Are you now?"

"…Not any more." Vincent looked at her, before he attempted to leave incase she had any more questions.

"Vincent…How did you get that…claw on your left arm?"

"Huh…Aeris?" The raven-haired man sighed.  "I got this claw from Hojo." Aeris's eyes amplified at this answer. Vincent smirked mockingly, but still trying not to be "mean" or offensive.

"Were you once under Hojo?" Worry clouded her face as she asked this question, afraid to hear the answer, "Did you use to work for him?"

"Yes. When I was a lot younger, I used to work for President Shinra, so at times I would work for Hojo; protecting his projects and scientists," Vincent replied.

"How did you come to living here?"

"I killed Hojo and became an ex-Turk."

"Oh!" Aeris said looking down at her feet.

"Any more questions?"

"No…that's all." On hearing that, Vincent walked out to go sit down in the living room to read his book.

Aeris turned to pick up the picture once again to examine it, but noticed that the pictures had writing on the backs. From the words on the backs, she learned what all the names were of all the people in the picture. She learned Tifa's, Barret, Cloud's, Yuffie's, Red XIII's, Cid's, Cait Sith's, Reeve's, and the three Turks; Elena, Rude, and, Reno. She picked up the picture of her and Cloud and flipped it over to read the back, which is written down below…

Aeris and Cloud on a Date, at the Golden Saucer

Title

"ON A DATE"

Cloud and Me… Why can't I remember? Aeris jumped, when unpredictably the doorbell rang. She walked into the living room to peek at who it was. Tifa and Cloud came in; Tifa instantaneously hugged Vincent at sight as he put one arm around her. They all started talking while Aeris inched forward to try to hear what was being said while at the same time still not wanting to be noticed. She stopped when she saw Vincent cocking his head over in her direction, "She's really confused right now. Don't bring up anything that might remind her of Hojo."

"Yes, sir." Cloud beamed seriously.

"Where is she?" Tifa's heart began to pound, along with Cloud's.

Was she really alive?

Vincent looked over at Aeris as Tifa's body followed his eyes. Tifa walked slowly up to her, her hands to her lips in disbelief. Cloud stood in agitation as Vincent quickly shut and locked the door.

Aeris instantly recognized Tifa from the picture, which she had seen of her. Without warning, Tifa ran forward as both tears of joy and astonishment flowed from her dark chocolate brown eyes. She hugged her tightly, saying softly, "Oh my gosh. I missed you so much!" She chocked on a sob, than stood back, whipping a tear away from her silky cheek.

Vincent walked out of the room, up to his room as it was now Clouds turn. Aeris looked up at Vincent desperately, "Vincent," she cried in apprehension.

Cloud walked up to Aeris and made eye contact with her. "Aeris," he said putting his hand up to his head, "You're really alive!" Tifa stood there silently, as Cloud conversed emotionally with Aeris.

She had an extremely puzzled look, creep over her face. "Cloud?" She said, remember him from his picture also.

Cloud's forehead wrinkled up in trepidation, "What?!"

"Is that you?" Aeris asked.

Clouds light blue eyes were on Aeris, so wide. He looked over at Tifa, who exchanged wondering glances back at him.

"Aeris?" Tifa began asking, with her words piercing through Aeris's mind. "Do you not know who we are?"

"No."

"Say WHAT?!!!' Aeris jumped as Cloud unexpectedly barked out in confusion. He couldn't believe his own ears, nor would he. How could she not remember him? Tifa shot a warning glance at him, reminding him that Aerith was probably already frightened enough and that he was probably frightening her even more. "You don't remember who we are?" he asked softly, trying not to make her so uptight.

"No. I don't remember anyone…or anything for that matter."

"Oh! That's horrible." Tifa frowned.

"Wait!" Cloud said, as he pulled a cure materia out of his coat's pocket. "Do you know what this is?"

"No. What is it?"

"You don't know what this is? You don't remember using this?" Cloud said in shock.

Tifa walked up to Cloud and put her hand on his shoulder, leaning closer to whisper in his ear, "Remember what Vincent said. Try not to remind her of war or anything, especially Hojo."

"Yeah, okay." He whispered back apologetically.

"So Aeris," Tifa smiled, "How did you know our names?"

"Pictures. The ones on the counter, in the kitchen."

"Huh…Oh I left those there," Cloud said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"Yes. There was one of you and me sitting on a seat of some sort. At the Golden Saucer, I think it was."

"Yeah? That was a night to remember!"

Tifa began to look around as something suddenly caught her eyes, "Oh my…!" Tifa gasped, "Aeris, your clothes."

"Yes, I know. I don't have anything else to change into." She said as she pulled at her skirt/dress. "My dress is cut in half."

Cloud grinned, shaking his head, "Sounds like Vincent. Probably couldn't get the buttons-unbuttoned." He went up to Tifa, laughing on her shoulder, as Tifa smiled and shook her head.

"No. Hojo was the man who did this."

"OH, you poor girl. I'm so sorry to hear that! I'll bring you a pair of my clothes tomorrow. Does that sound good?" Tifa said, straitening up.

"Yeah I'll bring some more pictures over. Maybe that will help to bring back your memory," Cloud added.

"Okay," Aeris smiled shyly, still confused by a lot of things.

"I have to go home now. Cloud's going to help me close up my bed-and-breakfast. So I... we'll see you tomorrow, okay Aeris?" Tifa said, hugging her once again.

Cloud grabbed Tifa's coat and slid it onto her small body, than hugged her from behind. Tifa gasped in surprise, laughing out, "Uh…Cloud!!! Come on, stop."

"Hmm…I'm driving."

"Please, tell Vincent we left," Tifa smiled, then waved at Aeris as she walked out the door. "See you tomorrow. Bye!"

Cloud smiled up at her, waved then said sweetly, "Bye Aeris. See tomorrow." He shut the door as all became silent.

Vincent came down the stairs a couple of minutes latter, and looked at her aching face, "What's wrong?"

"I have a headache, and my wrist still hurts."

"Why does your head ache?"

"I did not know who those people were. Why did you leave me Vincent?"

Ignoring her question, he said, "Those two people were your best…friends, when you existed. They still are. Couldn't you see the concerned looks on their faces?"

"Are they married?"

"They're just going out."

"That lady was very beautiful. They are not living together, are they?"

"No! They aren't like that, they're to famous."

"What does famous have to do with it?"

"Cloud doesn't want people to know they're going out."

"Why?"

"To protect Tifa. Also to make sure that Tifa will find a man better than him."

"Oh."

"Your bedroom is ready. Are you hungry?"

"No. Vincent? Are they my enemy?"

"No!" Vincent looked at her face, and saw a tint of sadness on it. "Your bed is upstairs to the left. Do you need anything else?"

"Where will you sleep?"

"Out here."

"Alright." She walked up to her room and looked around herself. Everything was so mysterious, just like Vincent. She walked over to the window and looked out. She could see the main rode from their, and all the busy people. She pulled down the curtains, and then shut the door. She than laid down on the soft cushioned bed, pulled the covers over her body as she closed her eyes gently.

They were such sweet people…I wish I could remember them. She thought about Cloud and Tifa, until she was finally lost to her surroundings, as she fell finally into a deep powerful health-giving sleep.

****

Have a great day, everybody! Hope you liked it! Bye!!!

Next: Chapter 3: Memories!

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A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR: Please do not copy my ideas, I have worked months trying to think them up. Feel free to write a fan fic off of mine, but you can't use my ideas for your future book, or get it copy written to your name.. If that is what you are going to do, please discontinue reading my fic. I respect people's property, I would appreciate it if you would respect my ideas. I do admit I didn't think of all these ideas by myself, but I would never have somebody else's ideas copy written to me. So I hope you enjoy my fan fic. Please review. I LOVE REVIEWS, only nice ones though. That's what helps me to write. But if you do have something unkind to say, or you just feel like flaming... Go ahead and email me... at: impractically_me@happyhardcore.dj Put the subject as... FLAMING! So that I can erase it when I see it, so that I won't read what you no lives have to say. Because people that actually have lives, don't waste their time flaming. You Flamers only flame because you feel bad that you don't have a life. So I'll give you the opportunity to flame my story. Go ahead and take the time that you obviously have, (because peoples with lives don't flame, they just tell me what I need to fix, constructive criticism.) And email me at the above address. Thank you and have a great day, especially you no lives out there! See ya!

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