CHAPTER 9- GUARDIAN ANGEL

I HAVE NO RIGHTS OVER FINAL FANTASY 7 PLACES, NAMES, EVENTS- GOT IT?

'Hey! Knock it off...'

Somebody was pounding Cloud's head hard. He opened his eyes. Everything was blurry and out of focus, just like his memory. He struggled into a seating position and froze; it felt as though the pit of his stomach had dropped out. Vincent lay next to him cover drawn up to his face. Slow steady breathing confirmed he was asleep. Cloud started to panic. He couldn't remember anything from the previous night and started to worry if he did do something. He carefully slid out from under the covers so as not to wake Vincent. He staggered upright and started to dress, while trying to ignore his pounding headache. He then went to find some aspirin. A firm hand caught the back of his shirt and a gun was pressed against his temple. He looked up and stared straight into Vincent's unreadable eyes. He looked quite intimidating from this angle of fear. 'Nothing happened'

he said in a harsh whisper Cloud tried to say 'ok' but his voice had deserted him out of utter terror. He shook his head instead. Vincent stared him straight in the eyes as he reached out a hand. His eyes softened as he spoke 'You are so...' He caught himself in mid sentence and shoved Cloud back against the wall and whipped past him without another word, his cloak billowing behind.
Since the Yuffie incident Vincent had changed. The flickering light of his good soul had blown out and vanished. The depressing aura that radiated from him had grown stronger. He didn't seem like himself anymore, but he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with Yuffie.
On his way to the bathroom he met Yuffie. Cloud was about to speak to her but she let out a frightened squeak like a cornered animal and fled down the hall. He sighed and went into the bathroom. After taking a couple of painkillers he went downstairs. It was very quiet in the bar except for a few strangers. He took one look at the day outside -(thick sheets of rain)- and decided to go back to bed.
He lay in the semi-darkness, the in his head slowly subsiding as his mind slipped into sub-consciousness.... Cloud stood in the Forbidden City. His feet traced the path to the core of the place. She was waiting for him. She looked longingly at him as if he were an expensive doll she could not have. 'Cloud the horrors are returning everyone is in danger- especially you'

she gazed at him fondly. 'I was condemned to fight this evil but in my state I can't- I'm just a memory now'

'No you're not! You're more than a memory!' Cloud shouted, tears stinging his eyelids.

'Oh Cloudy! You haven't changed a bit!' cried Aeris as she jumped down from the rock. 'I suppose it is destiny that you have to do this task, but I will help you'

she put her hands together in a silent prayer. The white materia materialised in her hands. She held it above her head. 'I know what the purpose of this is now...'

as the materia had started to twist and elongate. It was like watching a movie on fast forward. At last when the light cleared, Aeris held a sword in her hands. It was sharp and silver and had a serrated edge like a breadknife. The white materia set into the blade shined in the watery light. She held it out to Cloud. 'I believe in you Cloud' she whispered as he took the sword from her ghostly fingertips.

'When there seems no hope left remember I intend no harm to befall you- I am watching over you as your guardian angel'

Cloud nodded, throat too tight to speak. He ran a finger up the blade. It reverberated in the air. Aeris knelt forward and took his hand in hers. She felt like a chill wind. 'Good luck' she whispered as she kissed him.

Cloud awoke with a jolt as something sharp poked him in the side. He threw back the covers to reveal the sword, materia glinting innocently. Tears threatened to fall again. His emotions were always close to the surface these days. For a moment he felt as though he had lost Aeris all over again. Suddenly there was an eruption of sound downstairs, full of screaming and the smashing of glass. Gripping the sword, Cloud ran helter- skelter across the landing only to go crashing into Vincent going in the opposite direction. He gingerly got to his feet.

' Yuffie and Tifa are gone! Come on!' Cloud's heart skipped a beat. He noticed there was a large cut above Vincent's left eye, dripping blood down his temple. Vincent hastily wiped it on his sleeve.

'Hurry up!'

They raced down into the bar and a horrific sight met Cloud. The bar was a complete mess. Twisted metal stuck out in all directions. Plaster covered broken tables, chairs and most of the floor. A woman's body lay mangled in the wreckage. It was sickening. Her large empty eyes stared unseeing through the smashed window. Cloud was reminded of poor Jessie. Red XIII crouched growling under the splintered bar itself. He emerged from underneath it as Barret, Cid and Cait Sith came in from outside.

'What happened- for god's sake somebody tell me!' Cloud shouted as he slammed his fist on a table.

Vincent found his voice first.

'The earth is once again injured. A gash formed under the bar and ripped it apart, exposing the lifestream. Yuffie and Tifa were dragged down by- by hands.' Vincent hesitated.

'What- why?'

'We dwelled enough to see...well...each hand had...

he turned to the nearest table and scratched something on the polished surface with a clawed digit. Cloud walked over and saw he had scraped the number '1' on it. He swore violently and turned away, not bothering to keep his voice down at all.

'Sephiroth! I knew it! I will get you, you crazy jumped up little bastard! Glorious, noble- my ass!' Cloud drew a shuddering breath and leant against a table. He felt a hand on his knee. He looked down at Cait Sith.

'We'll get them back- I shall help you'

'BUT HOW?!' Cloud shouted and lashed out with his foot, sending the little toy cat careering sideways. As if his question had been answered, the ground started to rumble. There was a horrible screeching, as the wooden floor was forcefully ripped apart, sending Barret Red XIII, Cait Sith, and Vincent all fell headfirst into the lifestream, quickly disappearing under the energising waves. Cid clung onto a broken rafter and Cloud wedged himself between the bar and the wall.

'It's closing again!'

Cid was right.

The split began to close as if it were healing.

'Oh no you don't'Cloud growled. He leapt over the bar and skidded into the lifestream.

'Cloud no!'

He felt himself floating as if he were in a warm bath. A shadow passed over him as he realised Cid had thrown himself in after him. As Cloud fell further into the planet's energy, he tightened the grip on Aeris's sword.

'I'll get you this time Sephiroth.'

He landed face down face down on bare floorboards. They were back in Shinra mansion

ooh the suspense! scandel!