Chapter 9: Leavin On a Jet Plane

And so it was decided. Tifa would stay and look after Marlene along with Red, and Rude, Reno's henchman.

"Tifa, before we go, I wanted to give you this." Reno said, handing her a brand new cell phone.

Tifa took it, and clipped it to her waist. "Thanks."

"You know, just in case you need to reach us."

Tifa nodded, and turned to Cloud. "Be careful, please."

"You too." Cloud told her. He looked around. "Where's Aeris?"

Yuffie yawned loudly and said, "I tried to wake her, but with all of her snoring, I'm surprised the walls don't cave in."

The others chuckled nervous laughter.

"I'll wake her." Cloud said, passing Shera and Cid on the stairs.

"Damn woman, I told you I'd fold my own damn socks!"

"Cid, I'm sorry!"

"You better be sorry! You put a hex on the whole damn mission!"

"What's wrong?" Yuffie asked.

"Shera lost my lucky socks!"

More nervous laughter.

Cloud knocked on Aeris's door. He could hear her snoring from the hallway. He walked in, and watched her for a minute. If it was possible, she had gotten more beautiful since he last saw her two years ago before her death. He cleared his throat, "Aeris."

No reponse.

He shrugged, and shook her shoulder. "Aeris, wake up, it's time to leave."

Out of nowhere, her right arm shot up as she stretched, striking Cloud in the nose. He cried out and stumbled back, and she opened her eyes. "What? Oh--- Cloud, I'm sorry."

"You've got an arm." Cloud said. "Why did you need a bodyguard?"

Aeris blushed, "My mom used to wake me with a pole." She stretched again. "It's morning already?"

"Yeah," Cloud said, "we'll be leaving soon."

Aeris hopped to her feet. "Alright. I want to say goodbye to Marlene, and then I'll be down."

"Okay," Cloud replied, leaving her and traveling down the stairs.

It was nightfall by the time they got close to the temple. Cloud let the wind tussle his hair as he stared out into the darkness. Barret was dozing, Cid was behind the wheel, and Yuffie was bombarding Vincent with questions about living in the Sleeping Forest. Aeris sat beside him on the floor. She looked up and smiled at him.

Cloud caught her gaze. "What?"

"Your hair--- it's just so perfect."

Cloud laughed, "We could all die tomorrow, and you're talking about my hair?"

Aeris shrugged, "Someone has to lighten the mood."

Cloud laughed again, "You're one in a million."

"So are you."

Cloud stared back into the darkness as she got to her feet and leaned against the rail next to him. "I'm still getting used to seeing you, it's been a long time."

"I know it has." She shivered despite herself.

"Are you cold?"

"I'm okay."

Cloud un-buckled his jacket and slid it around her shoulders.

Aeris snuggled against the black wool. "It smells like you." She took in a long whiff.

"Yeah…" He said. His gaze drifted down to her ruby lips. Aeris tilted her head towards him. Their faces grew steadily closer until a loud squeal interrupted them.

Yuffie had been watching them. Her gaze turned from Aeris's embarrassed one, to Cloud's surprised face.

"Awww, don't stop on my account!" Yuffie wailed.

Barret had been awoken by Yuffie's yell. "Damn kids! How can ya sleep with all ya'll screamin'?"

"We should all get some sleep," Vincent told Yuffie. "We'll be there by morning."

Aeris leaned over, and kissed Cloud's nose. "Goodnight," She whispered, and vanished inside.

"EEP!" Yuffie squealed when Cloud turned to her.

Tifa wheeled Marlene into the church, and sat in a pew. It was an hour after the others had left to go to the Temple of the Ancients. Red, and Rude stayed behind with her. She got on her knees, and stared up at the altar. She was never religious, but seeing Marlene and all the other children like that… yet she knew they'd stop Sephiroth again…

Suddenly, there was a loud commotion outside. Tifa jumped up when she heard the doors to the church open. A tall man dressed in black with short silver hair fanned out around his face entered. He wore a smirk, and stared at her, walking slowly, as if deliberate. Tifa's heart rose in her throat. Reno had told her about them, Cloud was attacked by them, and now one of them was here. Screams filled the streets. They probably all were here. Tifa got up and stood in front of Marlene. "What do you want?"

Loz grinned down at the foolish girl. "The kid, sweetheart. And you're going to give her to me."

"You'll have to go through me!" Tifa shouted.

Loz's smirk widened. "With pleasure."

The doors opened again, and Shera raced in. "Tifa! Tifa, we're under attack!"

"Shera, get out of here!" Tifa cried.

"I'm calling Cid!" She screamed and raced back out of the church.

Tifa and Loz eyeballed each other. He made a move to her, and she pushed him back.

Loz arched a brow. "I'm going to have fun taking you apart piece by piece."

Aeris, Cloud, Cid, Barret, Yuffie, Vincent and Reno had just gotten to the heart of the temple, after getting lost numerous times in its maze like structure.

Yuffie panted, clutching a stitch in her side. "Can…we… take… a break?"

"It's just a little further!" Aeris urged, running ahead.

Cloud stayed close behind her. And then finally, after walking across catwalks in the shape of hands on a clock, they reached golden double doors.

"This is it…." Aeris said, pushing the doors open. "Once we go in here, I can call upon the Lifestream to destroy the black materia." She pushed open the doors, and found they were in a room lit by torches. A small chest sat in the far right corner. Aeris dashed over to it, and took out a small black orb. Getting on her knees, she closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and prayed.