Chapter 4: The Walk!
Tifa and Aeris walked briskly on down one of the streets in a sector of Midgar, as they held a deep conversation. "So, Aeris," Tifa smiled brightly. "How's everything going? Is there anything you'd like to talk to me about?"
"No...Well," Aeris hesitated, "I just don't feel sure."
"Oh...how come?" Tifa inquired looking over at the green-eyed girl.
"I feel uncomfortable talking about one of your friends with you," Aeris confessed though not with hesitation.
"Oh." Tifa said understanding to…whom Aeris was referring. "This must be about Vincent. I could sort of tell you don't trust him."
"What," Aeris questioned as her tone of voice changed into worry and seriousness. She turned her head and look to Tifa with a frown. "Did I walk around with an I-don't-trust-Vincent attitude?"
"No," Tifa laughed out. "So? You don't trust Vincent? If it makes you feel any better, I didn't trust him at first either." Aeris gave Tifa a look of disbelief, for all she knew Tifa was just saying that to open her up. "No. I'm serious," Tifa continued with a short laugh. "The way he's dressed, not that it's bad, but it's just so dark and...well I just don't trust men who have red eyes and clawed hands. Don't get me wrong, I really like Vincent, and I do trust him."
"Why?" Aeris turned her head to look forward once more to watch the tall buildings pass as they walked. The side walk and street weren't all that crowded and Aeris though it was probably because it wasn't really a sight for business so people wouldn't have a reason to come to the place.
"Because he has done so many things for me, and has always been there…no matter the circumstances. Believe me, he is a man you can trust. Vincent isn't a person you should be afraid of, and he's definitely someone to be sure of. At first it's hard to see past his appearance and into the man's heart, but once you do... It's like nobody you've ever seen, it's so deep." Tifa had a somewhat dreamy look as she explained this to her friend.
"...Sort of like Rufus?" Aeris asked softly.
"Well, I never met him, not really, but...the way you carry on about him makes him sound like a real gentleman," the brunette commented with a self-satisfied nod.
Aeris's bright eyes began to sting as salty water began to fill them. "I really miss him. I can't stand the thought, of while I'm out here in the free world, he's in Hojo's lab."
"Oh!" Tifa began sympathetically turning into Aeris's path so that they both came to a stop. "Try not to worry about it right now. It might be hard, but just try to let your mind free for a change."
"Tifa…it's not like that with me. I can't just shove the thought of Rufus getting tested on and tortured, and pretend it's not happening. I just can't do that because I know that's what's happening to him."
"You always did have a big heart like that, but I'll tell you something if it makes you feel any better." Tifa moved aside but kept eye contact with Aeris.
"What?" Aeris wasn't sure if she really wanted to know but she thought it would be rude not to act curious though her voice let on to otherwise.
"Vincent is going to help get Rufus out of that lab of Hojo's, along with me and Cloud," Tifa offered with a big smile.
"Really," Aeris's face beamed brightly. "You'll all help me out?"
"Yes, of course. That's what friends are for." Tifa smiled, hugging Aeris to her side with her arm slung around her shoulder.
"I wanted to ask, out of curiosity sake. What happened after you defeated Sephiroth...and after I died," Aeris asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Well...the towns people got together and had a parade in our honor. I dated Vincent for a while-" Tifa stopped in mid sentence blushing bright red.
"You did?!!" Aeris's eyes widened as her brows rose at the thought of Tifa actually dating the mysterious Vincent. "What, how, when did you guys ever talk? I mean he's not the most talkative guy."
"Eh...we just mostly kissed, but rarely in public, because you know, Vincent and crowds don't mix well, especially when he's being affectionate towards a certain someone."
"I can't believe that that's true. Did you ever think of marriage?" Aeris was shaking her head in wonder.
"No actually. He was so...stiff. I never did consider marrying the man. But there was one thing I really did like about him. He was very protective, and not to mention really handsome." Tifa smiled, she had really liked Vincent and in fact…still did somewhat.
"Why'd you start dating him anyways?"
"Uhm...He never did ask me, we just ...did it. I'd come over to his apartment, then he'd come over to my house, until we just started dating. I really don't know how it all started," the brown-eyes girl confessed.
"What about Cloud this whole time?"
"He dated Yuffie."
"He did? I remember seeing a picture of them together, but there were mostly pictures of you two. So, how long did they date?"
"A week!" Tifa busted out laughing, she just couldn't contain herself.
"A week?!" Aeris's spat, surprised at that fact. "She must have been terrible if he broke it off in a weeks time."
"Well, she's not a terrible person. It's just she really likes to talk. And Cloud, though he is a talkative guy, he does like a few minutes of silence," Tifa smirked.
"Do you love him?" Aeris asked suddenly, making Tifa pause in thought.
"Y,y…Yes...," Tifa stammered, somewhat taken aback by Aeris's question. "Yes. I do." Aeris smiled to herself, as she now had the key to unlocking Cloud's feelings towards Tifa, in which she was going to use in do time, mind you.
"Aeris, Vincent thinks highly of you. He would never hurt you, in fact, that'd be the last thing he'd do. It was shocking to see him act that way to you this morning. He's never done that before to someone, not even me and I went out with him! He must think you're a special person, even though he doesn't really know you."
"Thanks, that's nice of you to say. That makes me feel better about everything. So why did you and Vincent brake up?" Aeris stared down at the cracked pavement as they made slow progress down the street.
"Well. We broke up like we hooked up. It just kind of happened. Nobody can explain, it just happened. Odd, huh?"
"No, not with Vincent. Anyways, I think you and Cloud are a better couple because he needs someone fun and nice, and you need someone you could always count on and who is light-hearted, like Cloud."
"True. Cloud didn't take your death very easily, in fact he took a couple of years to get over it," Tifa stated almost sadly.
"Why?" Aeris frowned.
"Because he finally accepted your death and finds out only months later that you're alive. It's a hard thing to follow, sort of like breaking a window into a million pieces like Cloud's heart, and then trying to put it all back together again. It just can't be done."
"He doesn't still love me does he?"
"Who told you he did?"
"Vincent."
"He loves you like a friend, but no, he finally got over you last year." At least I think he did… "It was hard dating him when all he thought about was you. I got sort of jealous, because he'd only talk about you and nothing else, for a while."
"I'm sorry that happened," the other girl murmured.
"It wasn't your fault, so don't apologize. I'm fine."
"Well, I'm glad he's over me, because I think it would have been even worse that if he still cared for me, but I didn't feel the same way."
"Yeah. That would have been really hared on him."
"Tifa? I wanted to tell you something, because it's been bothering me a little bit."
"Huh? And what is that?"
"Um," Aeris began, trying to think of a way to start her sentence, "I ...I remember things that supposedly happened to me, that really never happened to me."
"Like what?" Tifa questioned with furrowed brows, eyeing Aeris closely.
"Well, I really don't know, but I remember being in a room with Vincent long ago, when he as a Turk."
"What happened?"
"He was talking to this woman with brown hair and glasses. He was asking her something special, and I remember feeling really happy for him and this woman."
"Brown hair, and glasses? I was going to say Yuffie, but she never had glasses. Was her hair short?"
"No. Vincent's hair was shorter though. Both her and Vincent looked young, they also looked like they cared a great deal for each other."
"Lucrecia. Must be Vincent's love. Where are you in the memory."
"I'm off to the side watching them as they exchange words."
"Sort of like a friend who's just there?"
"Yeah. Exactly."
"That's very odd. I would hate to remember something I never did. Wow. That's just so crazy. I'm sure Cloud would like it though." Suddenly Aeris stopped dead in her tracks, the look on her face changed from peacefully happy, to a dark scared expression. "What's wrong?" Tifa asked seriously.
"I can feel it. Something's Wrong."
"What is-" Tifa's words were cut short when a loud screeching sound came from the front of the sector. A fast black car swerved into sight, ramming Tifa into the brick wall of a building.
Aeris screamed when she saw the sight of Tifa's helpless body flip through the air, and into the wall, "TIFA!!!" Unexpectedly, Zack jumped out of the car and walked quickly up to Aeris as Nott made her way to Tifa. Aeris body froze in fear at the sight of Zack and Nott. Zack grabbed her midriff as she silently screamed out for Tifa's help while Zack easily dragged her back to the car. "TIFA," Aerith cried desperately, "TIFA, PLEASE HELP!"
Tifa climbed slowly, painfully, to her feet while a fit of coughs chocked her breathing. "Stop," she yelled hoarsely out at Zack. "Let her go." Tifa quickly produced a gun out of her back pocket and pointed it at Zack, who froze at will.
Unpredictable, Nott kicked the gun out of Tifa's hand and onto the pavement as she stood in her way. "She's ours, so stay out of this," Nott growled evilly.
"She doesn't belong to you," Tifa growled protectively, while the pain the car had caused her, filled throughout her body.
"So? Do you think we honestly care?" Nott smiled mockingly back at Tifa's slouched figure.
Zack held his own conversation with Aeris, while Nott picked a catfight with Tifa. Zack looked down at Aeris's quivering body, then loosened his grip, revealing read marks he had caused her skin to make. She whimpered softly as Zack pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket that was drenched with a sleeping potion. She watched helplessly while he went on with his work. Down at the side of his waist, on his right, there was a gun hanging out by a thread. Without even thinking, Aeris snatched the gun out of Zack's holster and held it up to his chest, motioning him to step back. Zack stood in shock for a few minutes, then burst out laughing wildly as he spoke, "Give me the gun, Aeris," he commanded.
"Get away!" She knew the great power one bullet had on a single person, so the very touch of the gun made her small body tremble and her heart pound.
"I hope you're good at fighting, because I know I am," Nott yelled as she ran at Tifa. She swung her foot up hoping to hit Tifa's chin, but she had seen the move coming so she rolled over and rammed her body into Nott's only standing leg, making her fall to all four on the rough pavement. Tifa and Nott both rose to there feet, facing each other with so much hatred and rage, it showed threw their moves. Next, Tifa ran at Nott and wildly threw punches, landing every single one. Nott pulled herself together and was ready for Tifa's next set of punches, in which she had no problem blocking. Nott paused from fighting and began laughing at her persistence. "You ARE a silly girl."
Suddenly a gunshot rang through the air, catching Tifa and Nott's attention. They both turned in the direction of the loud booming sound, and saw the oddest thing in their lives. Aeris was holding a gun with a stunned look on her face as Zack hurled forward to the ground, clenching his chest in agonizing pain. Aeris threw the gun on the ground as she gazed compassionately at Zack. She ran to his side and placed her hands on the backs of his shoulder, saying sympathetically in a low whisper, "Zack...I'm so sorry...Zack."
Tifa took the golden opportunity to grab Nott while she was looking at the absurd scene Aeris had started. She yanked her arms back behind her body and yelled out to Aeris, "AERIS, RUN!!! GO, RUN!!!"
Aeris stood up and looked straight up at Tifa, asking, "What about you?"
"I'll be fine," Tifa shouted angrily, "RUN, AERIS, GO!!!"
Aeris hesitated, her forest green eyes wide with worry, for a moment, truly not wanting to leave Tifa, but thought it best to leave before Tifa lost control. Nott watched in disbelief, as her one hope of freedom slipped out of her hands once again. "NO!!!" Nott yelled desperately after Aeris.
Zack stood up unhurriedly, with one hand clenching his chest and the other holding the very same gun Aeris had shot him with. He made his way swiftly over to Tifa and Nott, stopping a foot away from Nott's face, "Tifa, let her go."
"No," the fiery fighter growled out from between clenched teeth.
"Zack," Nott growled, very annoyed at Tifa's frivolous actions, "stop talking and get her to let go of me. Better yet, SHOOT HER!!!"
Zack cocked his head to the side to quiet the loud ugly voice of Nott. "Nott, do me a favor and stop yelling, it does hurt my ears. Better yet, shut up! Man woman, you never stop talking...thanks; Tifa let go of Nott."
"NO!!!" she growled angrily once more.
Sick of being held hostage, Nott threw her head back and whacked Tifa in the face, making her hands attend her aching face. Nott passed Zack, who was staring at her with dissatisfaction for what she just did to Tifa, because he did like Tifa. She spat back at Zack quickly before she disappeared out of sight. "Shoot her then get in the car. I'll be waiting."
Zack turned to face Tifa, who had her head drawn down with her hair flipped over her beautiful features. Zack walked up to her and moved her hair away from her eyes with the nozzle of his gun while she just stood there weaponless and hopelessly powerless. Zack could hear the beating of her heart, as he inched closer to her womanly figure. He gently place his left hand on her chin, forcing her to look up at his wondering eyes, and gently spoke out, "...after all these years, you are still just as beautiful as I remember. Do you remember me?"
"Leave me alone," she said her voice shaking fiercely, as the cold sweat from her forehead streamed done her pale face.
Zack looked away as he tuned to face the car that was to the left of him, to see if Nott was still waiting for him. He looked back at her fear-stricken face and pointed a gun straight at her pounding heart, speaking sadly, "well, it's been a long time. I shouldn't expect you to remember me…I guess."
One loud piercing gunshot rang through the crisp air.
Clutching her stomach, Tifa cried out in pain, as Nott blew the smoke away from the nozzle of her gun.
Zack twisted around to face Nott who spoke out saying, "Zack. I gave you a chance to shoot her, but I could tell by the look of it, you would not have done so. You have soft spots you need to get rid of, or you might end up dead sometime."
"If, in my job, I have to shoot beautiful woman like Tifa, I'm going to quit."
"Beautiful? You call that ugly thing beautiful."
"Nott, shut up. You're only jealous because you can't look nearly, even on your best days, you can't look nearly as beautiful as Tifa." With that said, Zack plodded back to the car, leaving Nott standing there gapping after his cruel, yet true words. Though she was pretty, her sour attitude poisoned her once fair features.
* * *
Aeris ran swiftly on, down the sectors of Midgar, desperate to get far away from Zack and Nott, as her legs would carry her.
Without her noticing, the bright pink bow unraveled through her hair and fell onto the slopping wet ground of the alley, letting her long beautiful honey brown hair fly freely behind her in the wintry cold wind.
Snowflakes filled the air as she ran for her life. So peaceful in her time of frantic fleeing…it was ironic for one to say the least.
Have a great day everyone! Hoped you liked it. See ya!
Next: Chapter 5: Reno's Mishap!
Anybody that wants to post my story on their web site. Just ask. But you have to ask... please. Thank you.
A/N: Sorry everyone for the long wait…been busy, but the last chapters have already been fixed-up so when I get far enough I'll have the chapters up quicker. Until then, if you haven't already you should check out some of my other stories…though I didn't write this…the end will be mine and I did revise this as best I could.