Disclaimer: Surprisingly enough, I still don't own FFVII, Square Enix,
Squaresoft, or any of the people, places, or things mentioned hereafter,
except Ryan, but he isn't a character from VII anyway, so it's all good =)
Whoo, reviews.. well.. I appreciate all my reviews, but from now on, I'm just going to answer questions.. should you guys ask any.
Ryan: Basically, she can't separate the reviews for chapter 3 from the rest of them, and she's too confused to do anything about it.. ;
; Ahem. Yeah. I do love reviews though, and I love all you guys who are sticking with me, especially people who come back unexpectedly to review two at once, whoot for Alysia-Chan! Okay, so that was one, but I'm good now.
Chapter four, anyone?
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The Tiny Bronco had headed west over a first mountain range, arrowing towards Nibelheim. Aerith stood in the back of the cramped plane, trying her hardest to ignore Vincent lest she start crying. Thus it was that she didn't notice the glances he kept throwing her way. Crimson eyes flashed anxiously; he couldn't fathom the source of her enmity.
Of course, they had left Costa del Sol on sullen terms. After Vincent had stalked out of the basement and Aerith, stunned, had followed, he'd told her to take whatever she would need. Spreading her arms uselessly, Aerith had asked him what a ghost could possibly need. Disheartened, they had left the beach house and she had ascended the steps of the plane resting at the far end of the western dock without the assistance of Vincent's hand.
He thought she was eager to be away from him, to see Cloud; she thought he'd be glad to be rid of her. Her heart ached at the thought, icy bands contracting in her chest and making it hard to breathe. In an attempt to calm herself, she locked her gaze on the fuzzy, white-topped mountain scenery below.
Nibelheim was a middle-sized town nestled within a mountain range, backed by the lone Mt. Nibel. Vincent hardly noticed as the plane lost altitude, distracted perpetually by the dreamy expression Aerith's mien.
She asked for no help when the cockpit opened upon the grassy expanse behind Nibelheim, to the fore of Mt. Nibel. Descending the stairs with a spryness of step surprising in one so unused to moving, Vincent followed cautiously after, moving slowly for no reason other than to prolong his time with her. She didn't mind.or maybe she didn't notice. In any case, they headed to Nibelheim together, crossing the grassy sward that was the town's backyard. Shinra mansion loomed ahead, the final building in Nibelheim, or the first in their case.
Vincent could feel the expansive manse calling to him; could feel it in his blood as surely as he could hear the demons in his head mocking him, taunting him. He longed to return to his stolid, silent tomb beneath the manse, hidden away from everyone. He suppressed the need, however pacing himself to Aerith's slow gait when finally they stood before the imposing structure with its metal-barred gates, Vincent could stand it no longer. He turned to Aerith to say his good-byes. The broken-hearted expression she wore forced his words back down lest he choke on them. And so, he rephrased them.
"I am returning to the mansion, Aerith. Cloud and the others, their bar is where the inn used to be. If you need me, you know where to find me."
Aerith nodded her understanding and turned towards the western curve of the town. Treading slowly, she stood silently before the newly remade Seventh Heaven many minutes later, contemplating the consequences of her entrance. By the time she'd made up her mind, Vincent was already unlocking the secret door to the hidden spiral staircase and descending swiftly to the musty chamber housing his coffin.
Business within the Seventh Heaven ranged as usual. Their real rush had just started with the onset of dusk, and rosy-golden light filtered in through windows cleverly placed to keep half of the bar bathed in light while the rest was hidden in shadows. The registration desk of the inn had been cleared out, and the area it formerly took up was now dispersed through with random little tables and chairs. At the far end of the building, the desk had been moved and extended to form the structure of a bar, as well as heightened so the bar stools kept customers level.
A lanky youth presently stood behind that bar, his back to the door. He had the look of one just now grown into himself, though he had proven himself far more competent and serious years before. Blond hair rose in spikes and peaks with no sort of order, as untamable as ever before. He still, years later, refused to stubbornly give up the attire he'd worn as a SOLDIER. Tifa teased him mercilessly about it, but Cloud endured stoically. At the moment, she stood across the room, watching him anxiously. Long, dark chocolate locks still fell straight down past her waist, and were still tied at the very bottom simply. A short apron tied around her waist and a slight added length to the hem of her skirt showed as the only differences in her attire. Slight lines expressed the seriousness she'd adopted after Aerith's death, though many of them were still laugh lines; though not a constant optimist as her friend had been, Tifa was not one to give up hope and life.
Tifa noticed the uncertain woman standing at the door first. Wondering at her hesitance, she set the empty tray she'd been carrying on the bar and leaned over to tweak an especially awry spike of Cloud's hair before crossing to the door.
"Welcome to the Seventh Heaven. Are you looking for someone, love? Can I help."
Tifa's voice cut off in a choked manner when the woman raised emerald eyes brimming with tears to meet Tifa's own coffee-hued orbs. With a startled gasp, the slightly shorter woman threw her arms around Aerith, and, crying now, Aerith returned the embrace instinctively. Crystalline tears fell from both women's eyes, mingling and mixing as they cried and laughed within each other's arms.
Cloud frowned as he turned, having heard Tifa start her customary greeting and cut off suddenly. At the sound of her tears, he jumped over the bar and crossed the floor swiftly, though his expression deepened with confusion rather than anxiety as he saw that she was in no sort of danger other than being hugged to death. Feeling slightly foolish for his rash action, he stood awkwardly off to the side, trying to determine who the second woman was.
Tifa noticed Cloud's presence, but she was so overawed by the identity of the woman she embraced as a sister that she completely ignored him. In fact, it was Aerith who finally released her so that both could turn their attention to the bewildered man standing beside them, the worry in his features turned to puzzlement. As Tifa stepped back and Aerith turned to face Cloud, he froze in a sudden miasma of shock and disbelief. Mako blue eyes, opened in an immobile expression of that words he couldn't form, searched the misty emerald eyes staring back into his own.
Without words, he gently took Tifa's arm and pulled her backwards. "Aerith.." He swept her close, hugging the woman to his body. With Tifa besides, Aerith felt the faint, uneasy sense of awkwardness that always pervaded their relationship when Cloud showed favor over one or another. It faded fast when she caught a glimpse of the confused joy and relief on the other woman's mien. Aerith let herself veritably melt against Cloud, taking comfort in his solid willingness to simply hold her; Vincent was far too stoic and aware to ever let his feelings or wishes show.
"Aerith, why.. how are you back?" He loosened his arms from around her, holding her instead at arm's length. Mako blue eyes searched her own, and Aerith felt herself lost in his eyes, as she had felt that first time she'd met him, and again when he fell through her roof. Losing herself in those eyes was the reason behind her impulsive decision to ask him to be her bodyguard. Those eyes had been the impetus behind her decision to head to the City of Ancients alone, to die on Sephiroth's sword. They had all been so innocent then. Cloud's eyes.. she had forgotten them in the blurry haze of her afterlife.
"Vincent," she replied swiftly, the lengthy musing running through her thoughts in just a matter of seconds. "He brought me back. I, well I don't really know how."
Cloud's eyes flashed a moment at the mention of the recluse, but Tifa interrupted with, "Aerith, this is wonderful! I don't understand, but it's amazing. We have to get Vincent here to-"
"Vincent will not want to leave his coffin, Tifa." Cloud's voice brooked no arguments and Tifa subsided
"Why are you two so surprised? Didn't you all decide to bring me back together?" Aerith was genuinely puzzled at their unfeigned joy coupled with sincere ignorance of her revival.
"Together?" Cloud regarded her quizzically, shaking his head slowly. "No.. we hardly speak with Vincent. I had no idea of any intention to bring you back."
Aerith stared at him, surprise mixing with a creeping sense of dread. A cold indifference settled into her skin as she queried softly, "You guys, and Barrett, none of you had any idea about this? You didn't decide to bring me back with Vincent?" Cloud and Tifa's simultaneous head shakes made Aerith dizzy.
"I.. I need to sit down." Her voice was faint as she pulled out the nearest chair and promptly fell into it. Cloud immediately knelt in front of her, and Tifa lowered herself into a crouch beside her beleaguered friend. Neither understood what was going on in the slightest, but both shared similar concern for the formerly dead woman.
"Aerith? Is something the matter? Are you feeling all right, love?" Tifa's innocently excited expression had melted into one of pure concern. "I think you should go lay down for a while. You don't look well."
"N-no, I should be all right, Tifa. It's just a dizzy spell. I've had them since I came back to life," she added, the untruth rolling easily off her tongue though it made her head achy abominably to lie, even so negligibly to her friends. "Guess it comes with the territory." She forced a weak smile to her features, hoping to reassure the two.
Cloud impulsively reached out and took her hand, pressing it between both of his. Unbidden, the action sent a shiver tracing down her spine, but she wrote it off to chills. Neither Cloud nor Tifa noticed.
"Aerith, come upstairs and rest a while." Cloud straightened and helped the chestnut-haired woman to her feet. "You'll feel better. Tifa, you can manage here for a little while by yourself, yeah?" He raised one blond brow, regarding the other brunette. Tifa nodded her agreement as she rose. "Take care, Aerith, all right? Just lay down for a little bit, you'll feel better." Smiling amiably, Tifa headed off to the bar.
Still holding her hand, Cloud led Aerith upstairs, and she followed faithfully behind though the tug on her arm increased as they ascended, making her shoulder sore. She sighed softly as she stumbled as gracefully as possible up the stairs after him, emerald eyes searching the everpresent crowd below, forcing words to her lips to end the odd silence between them. "Shouldn't you help Tifa close up, or something?"
"Nah, we still have a few hours till last call. Don't worry Aerith, all right?" He smiled gently as he led her to the nearest bedroom, situated just above the bar. "Tifa can handle it, anyway. You know her."
She nodded again as she followed him timidly inside, sweeping her uncommonly serious eyes over the furnished inside of his bedroom. "If.. If you say so.." How much she had said that today, in so few hours of being alive.. maybe it wasn't as any of them said. She felt too dependent, even as Cloud tightened his hold on her hand and led her to take a seat on the edge of the neatly made bed. Being led like such, it made her sense of dependency even worse. She felt awkward inside, as if she no longer belonged; as if death had robbed her of the ability to fit in with those she'd been closest too. As an afterthought, she added quietly, "Thank you, Cloud."
He smiled as he sat beside her on the bed, twining his fingers through hers, meeting her eyes unflinchingly. "You're welcome, Aerith. I.. I have missed you so much." He leaned forward impulsively and kissed her, just barely brushing his lips gently against hers before she jerked away with a start.
She wore an expression of utterly naïve confusion. She didn't understand, and it had just hit her. She gazed at him, hurt reflected in her eyes as surely as her smile had, asking softly, "Cloud, why didn't you try to bring me back, after Sephiroth was gone?" She stressed the word "you", and he flinched backwards slightly, as if stung, his eyes lowering for a moment to the floor before he met her gaze.
"I honestly didn't think it was possible, Aerith."
She laughed, a startlingly bitter sound that didn't quite suit her. "Wasn't worth a shot, though, huh?" She sighed when he wouldn't look at her. "I need some fresh air. I'll come back later, Cloud. Don't worry about me." She forced a tiny smile to grace those lips, and swiftly bent to kiss his cheek lightly in almost the same movement as she rose. Straightening, she turned on her heel and disappeared through his door, hurrying down the stairs and out the door to the bar, praying strongly that she'd not be noticed by Tifa or Barret. Makou blue eyes stared after her, a hurt expression writ in every line of his features.
Cloud didn't understand. Had they scared her off? His frown got deeper as he glanced up at the ceiling, blinking away the tears that blurred his vision as she had left. Left him again.. Damn Vincent, why did he have to show him up? He balled his hand up into a fist, knuckles turning white with fury. "Damn him.." Rising from the deserted bed, he reluctantly headed back downstairs to work, though his every instinct screamed for him to chase her.
Aerith's heart pounded loudly in her ears, her racing pulse and dull, thudding headache making it impossible to think straight. After her stately exit, she had sidestepped and darted in a most undignified manner to the side of the building, leaning against it now. She sighed, closing her eyes as she fought to rein in her emotions and get a handle on the situation that now plagued her. Something wasn't right, and she was trapped in a miasma of untruths. Vincent. He had told her they all decided to bring her back. She needed to talk to him.
Why had he lied to her?
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A/N: Haha, my adoring fans, it's been a while, ne? Miss me? :D
So this chapter is kind of off, and I apologize if it seems different from the previous three. I have been absolutely floundering with it for days on end, and I wanted to give you guys something, so that was it.
Ryan says review :D
PS - okay, so I bet no one else noticed this, but I'm the author and it irks me, so I'm going to point it out. I spelled the name of Cid's wife 'Shera' and 'Shara.' Now, I know there are different ways to spell everyone's names (ie., my use of 'Aerith' rather than 'Aeris') but I HATE when I'm not consistent. So I'm sorry for that little mix-up. Even though I realize no one probably noticed. That's all. You may return to reviewing.
Whoo, reviews.. well.. I appreciate all my reviews, but from now on, I'm just going to answer questions.. should you guys ask any.
Ryan: Basically, she can't separate the reviews for chapter 3 from the rest of them, and she's too confused to do anything about it.. ;
; Ahem. Yeah. I do love reviews though, and I love all you guys who are sticking with me, especially people who come back unexpectedly to review two at once, whoot for Alysia-Chan! Okay, so that was one, but I'm good now.
Chapter four, anyone?
-------------
The Tiny Bronco had headed west over a first mountain range, arrowing towards Nibelheim. Aerith stood in the back of the cramped plane, trying her hardest to ignore Vincent lest she start crying. Thus it was that she didn't notice the glances he kept throwing her way. Crimson eyes flashed anxiously; he couldn't fathom the source of her enmity.
Of course, they had left Costa del Sol on sullen terms. After Vincent had stalked out of the basement and Aerith, stunned, had followed, he'd told her to take whatever she would need. Spreading her arms uselessly, Aerith had asked him what a ghost could possibly need. Disheartened, they had left the beach house and she had ascended the steps of the plane resting at the far end of the western dock without the assistance of Vincent's hand.
He thought she was eager to be away from him, to see Cloud; she thought he'd be glad to be rid of her. Her heart ached at the thought, icy bands contracting in her chest and making it hard to breathe. In an attempt to calm herself, she locked her gaze on the fuzzy, white-topped mountain scenery below.
Nibelheim was a middle-sized town nestled within a mountain range, backed by the lone Mt. Nibel. Vincent hardly noticed as the plane lost altitude, distracted perpetually by the dreamy expression Aerith's mien.
She asked for no help when the cockpit opened upon the grassy expanse behind Nibelheim, to the fore of Mt. Nibel. Descending the stairs with a spryness of step surprising in one so unused to moving, Vincent followed cautiously after, moving slowly for no reason other than to prolong his time with her. She didn't mind.or maybe she didn't notice. In any case, they headed to Nibelheim together, crossing the grassy sward that was the town's backyard. Shinra mansion loomed ahead, the final building in Nibelheim, or the first in their case.
Vincent could feel the expansive manse calling to him; could feel it in his blood as surely as he could hear the demons in his head mocking him, taunting him. He longed to return to his stolid, silent tomb beneath the manse, hidden away from everyone. He suppressed the need, however pacing himself to Aerith's slow gait when finally they stood before the imposing structure with its metal-barred gates, Vincent could stand it no longer. He turned to Aerith to say his good-byes. The broken-hearted expression she wore forced his words back down lest he choke on them. And so, he rephrased them.
"I am returning to the mansion, Aerith. Cloud and the others, their bar is where the inn used to be. If you need me, you know where to find me."
Aerith nodded her understanding and turned towards the western curve of the town. Treading slowly, she stood silently before the newly remade Seventh Heaven many minutes later, contemplating the consequences of her entrance. By the time she'd made up her mind, Vincent was already unlocking the secret door to the hidden spiral staircase and descending swiftly to the musty chamber housing his coffin.
Business within the Seventh Heaven ranged as usual. Their real rush had just started with the onset of dusk, and rosy-golden light filtered in through windows cleverly placed to keep half of the bar bathed in light while the rest was hidden in shadows. The registration desk of the inn had been cleared out, and the area it formerly took up was now dispersed through with random little tables and chairs. At the far end of the building, the desk had been moved and extended to form the structure of a bar, as well as heightened so the bar stools kept customers level.
A lanky youth presently stood behind that bar, his back to the door. He had the look of one just now grown into himself, though he had proven himself far more competent and serious years before. Blond hair rose in spikes and peaks with no sort of order, as untamable as ever before. He still, years later, refused to stubbornly give up the attire he'd worn as a SOLDIER. Tifa teased him mercilessly about it, but Cloud endured stoically. At the moment, she stood across the room, watching him anxiously. Long, dark chocolate locks still fell straight down past her waist, and were still tied at the very bottom simply. A short apron tied around her waist and a slight added length to the hem of her skirt showed as the only differences in her attire. Slight lines expressed the seriousness she'd adopted after Aerith's death, though many of them were still laugh lines; though not a constant optimist as her friend had been, Tifa was not one to give up hope and life.
Tifa noticed the uncertain woman standing at the door first. Wondering at her hesitance, she set the empty tray she'd been carrying on the bar and leaned over to tweak an especially awry spike of Cloud's hair before crossing to the door.
"Welcome to the Seventh Heaven. Are you looking for someone, love? Can I help."
Tifa's voice cut off in a choked manner when the woman raised emerald eyes brimming with tears to meet Tifa's own coffee-hued orbs. With a startled gasp, the slightly shorter woman threw her arms around Aerith, and, crying now, Aerith returned the embrace instinctively. Crystalline tears fell from both women's eyes, mingling and mixing as they cried and laughed within each other's arms.
Cloud frowned as he turned, having heard Tifa start her customary greeting and cut off suddenly. At the sound of her tears, he jumped over the bar and crossed the floor swiftly, though his expression deepened with confusion rather than anxiety as he saw that she was in no sort of danger other than being hugged to death. Feeling slightly foolish for his rash action, he stood awkwardly off to the side, trying to determine who the second woman was.
Tifa noticed Cloud's presence, but she was so overawed by the identity of the woman she embraced as a sister that she completely ignored him. In fact, it was Aerith who finally released her so that both could turn their attention to the bewildered man standing beside them, the worry in his features turned to puzzlement. As Tifa stepped back and Aerith turned to face Cloud, he froze in a sudden miasma of shock and disbelief. Mako blue eyes, opened in an immobile expression of that words he couldn't form, searched the misty emerald eyes staring back into his own.
Without words, he gently took Tifa's arm and pulled her backwards. "Aerith.." He swept her close, hugging the woman to his body. With Tifa besides, Aerith felt the faint, uneasy sense of awkwardness that always pervaded their relationship when Cloud showed favor over one or another. It faded fast when she caught a glimpse of the confused joy and relief on the other woman's mien. Aerith let herself veritably melt against Cloud, taking comfort in his solid willingness to simply hold her; Vincent was far too stoic and aware to ever let his feelings or wishes show.
"Aerith, why.. how are you back?" He loosened his arms from around her, holding her instead at arm's length. Mako blue eyes searched her own, and Aerith felt herself lost in his eyes, as she had felt that first time she'd met him, and again when he fell through her roof. Losing herself in those eyes was the reason behind her impulsive decision to ask him to be her bodyguard. Those eyes had been the impetus behind her decision to head to the City of Ancients alone, to die on Sephiroth's sword. They had all been so innocent then. Cloud's eyes.. she had forgotten them in the blurry haze of her afterlife.
"Vincent," she replied swiftly, the lengthy musing running through her thoughts in just a matter of seconds. "He brought me back. I, well I don't really know how."
Cloud's eyes flashed a moment at the mention of the recluse, but Tifa interrupted with, "Aerith, this is wonderful! I don't understand, but it's amazing. We have to get Vincent here to-"
"Vincent will not want to leave his coffin, Tifa." Cloud's voice brooked no arguments and Tifa subsided
"Why are you two so surprised? Didn't you all decide to bring me back together?" Aerith was genuinely puzzled at their unfeigned joy coupled with sincere ignorance of her revival.
"Together?" Cloud regarded her quizzically, shaking his head slowly. "No.. we hardly speak with Vincent. I had no idea of any intention to bring you back."
Aerith stared at him, surprise mixing with a creeping sense of dread. A cold indifference settled into her skin as she queried softly, "You guys, and Barrett, none of you had any idea about this? You didn't decide to bring me back with Vincent?" Cloud and Tifa's simultaneous head shakes made Aerith dizzy.
"I.. I need to sit down." Her voice was faint as she pulled out the nearest chair and promptly fell into it. Cloud immediately knelt in front of her, and Tifa lowered herself into a crouch beside her beleaguered friend. Neither understood what was going on in the slightest, but both shared similar concern for the formerly dead woman.
"Aerith? Is something the matter? Are you feeling all right, love?" Tifa's innocently excited expression had melted into one of pure concern. "I think you should go lay down for a while. You don't look well."
"N-no, I should be all right, Tifa. It's just a dizzy spell. I've had them since I came back to life," she added, the untruth rolling easily off her tongue though it made her head achy abominably to lie, even so negligibly to her friends. "Guess it comes with the territory." She forced a weak smile to her features, hoping to reassure the two.
Cloud impulsively reached out and took her hand, pressing it between both of his. Unbidden, the action sent a shiver tracing down her spine, but she wrote it off to chills. Neither Cloud nor Tifa noticed.
"Aerith, come upstairs and rest a while." Cloud straightened and helped the chestnut-haired woman to her feet. "You'll feel better. Tifa, you can manage here for a little while by yourself, yeah?" He raised one blond brow, regarding the other brunette. Tifa nodded her agreement as she rose. "Take care, Aerith, all right? Just lay down for a little bit, you'll feel better." Smiling amiably, Tifa headed off to the bar.
Still holding her hand, Cloud led Aerith upstairs, and she followed faithfully behind though the tug on her arm increased as they ascended, making her shoulder sore. She sighed softly as she stumbled as gracefully as possible up the stairs after him, emerald eyes searching the everpresent crowd below, forcing words to her lips to end the odd silence between them. "Shouldn't you help Tifa close up, or something?"
"Nah, we still have a few hours till last call. Don't worry Aerith, all right?" He smiled gently as he led her to the nearest bedroom, situated just above the bar. "Tifa can handle it, anyway. You know her."
She nodded again as she followed him timidly inside, sweeping her uncommonly serious eyes over the furnished inside of his bedroom. "If.. If you say so.." How much she had said that today, in so few hours of being alive.. maybe it wasn't as any of them said. She felt too dependent, even as Cloud tightened his hold on her hand and led her to take a seat on the edge of the neatly made bed. Being led like such, it made her sense of dependency even worse. She felt awkward inside, as if she no longer belonged; as if death had robbed her of the ability to fit in with those she'd been closest too. As an afterthought, she added quietly, "Thank you, Cloud."
He smiled as he sat beside her on the bed, twining his fingers through hers, meeting her eyes unflinchingly. "You're welcome, Aerith. I.. I have missed you so much." He leaned forward impulsively and kissed her, just barely brushing his lips gently against hers before she jerked away with a start.
She wore an expression of utterly naïve confusion. She didn't understand, and it had just hit her. She gazed at him, hurt reflected in her eyes as surely as her smile had, asking softly, "Cloud, why didn't you try to bring me back, after Sephiroth was gone?" She stressed the word "you", and he flinched backwards slightly, as if stung, his eyes lowering for a moment to the floor before he met her gaze.
"I honestly didn't think it was possible, Aerith."
She laughed, a startlingly bitter sound that didn't quite suit her. "Wasn't worth a shot, though, huh?" She sighed when he wouldn't look at her. "I need some fresh air. I'll come back later, Cloud. Don't worry about me." She forced a tiny smile to grace those lips, and swiftly bent to kiss his cheek lightly in almost the same movement as she rose. Straightening, she turned on her heel and disappeared through his door, hurrying down the stairs and out the door to the bar, praying strongly that she'd not be noticed by Tifa or Barret. Makou blue eyes stared after her, a hurt expression writ in every line of his features.
Cloud didn't understand. Had they scared her off? His frown got deeper as he glanced up at the ceiling, blinking away the tears that blurred his vision as she had left. Left him again.. Damn Vincent, why did he have to show him up? He balled his hand up into a fist, knuckles turning white with fury. "Damn him.." Rising from the deserted bed, he reluctantly headed back downstairs to work, though his every instinct screamed for him to chase her.
Aerith's heart pounded loudly in her ears, her racing pulse and dull, thudding headache making it impossible to think straight. After her stately exit, she had sidestepped and darted in a most undignified manner to the side of the building, leaning against it now. She sighed, closing her eyes as she fought to rein in her emotions and get a handle on the situation that now plagued her. Something wasn't right, and she was trapped in a miasma of untruths. Vincent. He had told her they all decided to bring her back. She needed to talk to him.
Why had he lied to her?
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A/N: Haha, my adoring fans, it's been a while, ne? Miss me? :D
So this chapter is kind of off, and I apologize if it seems different from the previous three. I have been absolutely floundering with it for days on end, and I wanted to give you guys something, so that was it.
Ryan says review :D
PS - okay, so I bet no one else noticed this, but I'm the author and it irks me, so I'm going to point it out. I spelled the name of Cid's wife 'Shera' and 'Shara.' Now, I know there are different ways to spell everyone's names (ie., my use of 'Aerith' rather than 'Aeris') but I HATE when I'm not consistent. So I'm sorry for that little mix-up. Even though I realize no one probably noticed. That's all. You may return to reviewing.