Chapter 8: For the Love of Cloud

Note: I bet these little notes I write aren't even being read. So why bother? BECAUSE IT DOES MATTER! This is owned by Squaresoft! Oh yeah, and due to my immense writer's block, I wrote down anything that came to mind. And don't worry, as usual, I'm still trying to make sure this doesn't come off as another romance, because God knows I've already written enough of that. But also keep in mind that this is a cute story. And keep in mind I have special episode coming, 'CAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON! (In reality, it really is.) AND, of course, we can't forget about LadyTifa26, for granting
permission for being able to use her as a character. YAY!

"I didn't know you took a picture with him!"
"Dih!", said Rachel as she fell to the ground. "I thought you found something!"
"But this IS a nice picture."
"Wait, he put that picture in his journal? Awww, Cloudy is so sweet."
"But the picture?"
"Yeah, after katana practice, he decided to take a picture to remember that."
"Aww, that is sweet. But did he REALLY talk to you?"
"A little."
"HAH! Me and Vinnie talked, QUITE a bit."
"Shutup."
"Don't get jealous. I'M just special."
"Yeah, you're special all right."
"Hey! That's not nice! Let's go find anything useful. . ." And so they continued flipping through Cloud's journal, still searching for information.
"Here's something!", exclaimed Rachel. "Today it seems a burden has been lifted. As much as I will always love Aeris, I realize her return to the living shall be impossible. So my love has been renewed for Tifa, but it's not like I never loved her. She has always been there for me in hard times, so I shall be there for her. Today, I rode to the north, back to the sacred City of the Ancients, in search of my lost love. I found her sleeping in eternal rest at the bottom of that clear pool that serves as her resting place. And giving her a flower I had picked earlier from the old church I met her in, I let if fall in to the water, and so I shall never return. So I am trying to lay down her memory, because it is hard for me to find the capacity to love a woman, let alone two. But I am still happy that I know now for sure that Tifa truly loves me. And I love her. She is quite possibly the most beautiful creature this planet has ever nurtured into being, and I trust I am quite blessed to have her by my side. And so, I leave you with a quote: "What is life without the radiance of love?" By J.C.F Von Schiller." Rachel stopped reading aloud at the end of his entry, and merely looked up. "Wow. That was sorta pretty for a tough guy. BUT THAT'S WHY I LOVE HIM!"
"But that really didn't tell us much. I mean, Aeris IS back, so he might have changed his mind."
"Maybe. But that's just because I wrote the part of the story where he wrote this. Although I never put him down as writing a journal entry. . ."
"Well then just skip to the part where we came in. You didn't write in that part."
"Okay then. AHAH! Here it is!", said Rachel happily. "Well, today was probably the weirdest in the history of man. It seems that these two strange girls come out of almost nowhere, said they wrote this universe as part of a story, then save us by destroying the new Weapon. But if this IS true, that means the super clingy one, Rachel, was the one responsible for resurrecting Aeris. So they might prove themselves yet. But I'm pretty sure Vincent didn't like Aeris' idea of letting them stay after saving her life. But we'll manage somehow. Tifa is a bit angry that Rachel won't let go of me, and Aeris giggles every time Laura, the other one, springs and tackles Vincent. And even though I had previously written that I would be with Tifa, I can't help but have feelings again for Aeris. She has quite possibly the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, and I'm always blown away when I see her in the early morning rays and I marvel at her sparkling emerald eyes. She always has a smile on her face. And I love that about her, that she always looks on the bright side. But Tifa, I love her as well. It's become very hard to choose since her return, and with the arrival of these two "hindrances", it feels that it will become even worse. But it also feels that maybe, time will tell me who. So I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Why doesn't he ever get to the point?", asks Laura. "Keep trying to find it. Go to a later entry than tomorrow. Go to when I left to go with Tifa and Aeris to fix the Highwind." "Gotcha cap'n!", saluted Rachel. "Okay here it is.", she started. "Well journal, today was sorta eventful, because I got to teach Rachel how to use her katana. It felt pretty good to be teaching something, and maybe I'll get a teaching job. But I never realized that Rachel had feelings beyond that of just a crazy fan girl on a sugar high. So, I guess I need to get past SOME first appearances, because she kinda nice when you talk to her. I guess I can see why Laura is her friend, even though they have a fairly large age gap. Too bad she can't talk to Tifa without having her blow an artery. Lately, she seems a little stressed. I guess Rachel hanging off of me is making her edgy. But I wish I could assure her that nothing could happen, because of how young Rachel is. And even then, it would be unlikely for anything to happen. You know, the stars themselves said that Aeris and I were perfect for each other. And something tells me that's true." "AHA! There it is!"
"Quiet! I'm still looking!", said Rachel. "I really love Aeris. And in an earlier entry, it says 'You were what made me feel alive again. But if you were right and was wrong, how come I'm here and you are gone? I'm still here. But you're not. And it feels empty inside. I promise I'll find you again. You and Sephiroth.' And now you're back. I don't know what to say Aeris. I love Tifa. But I'm meant to be with Aeris. I am still left undecided."
"JESUS! Why doesn't he ever just say who he loves?!", yelled Laura in frustration.
"Just think of it this way. You must choose between two people you love. Now, picture choosing between Vincent, and your boyfriend, Nat. Who would you choose?"
"Vincent, hands down."
"Over Nat?"
"Sure."
"WHY!?"
"Well, Nat isn't here now, is he?", she grinned.
"Hopeless. . ."
"Hey, just 'cause you're the introvert doesn't mean you know everything."
"And I know that just fine. But this is a choice between true love. Think about it. Now, who would you choose?"
"Vinnie."
"Sigh. Hopeless."
"Hee. . .Vinnie. . . But come on, I have a feeling Cloud and Tifa are gonna be back soon. Let's just take this back to Aeris."
"Are you sure she'll be happy? And won't Cloud be suspicious to what happened to his journal?"
"Don't worry, we'll just return it before he notices its gone."
"I hope you're right. . ."

"Aeris? Aeris? We have some info! Aeris?" Laura and Rachel peered into Tifa's house, and it was left dark and empty, with no sign of anyone.
"Yeah?" Aeris walked into the light, with a frying pan in her hand.
"What's with the frying pan?" Aeris turned on the lights, and Vincent sat unconscious with a lump on his head in a chair. "Oh, I see. We have some information."
"And? What does he think?"
"That's what we would like to know.", said Rachel.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, he seems to feel a bit undecided. Here." Aeris skimmed through the book, smiling at some parts, and looking a little confused at others.
"I see. He hasn't decided because he loves us both."
"Exactly. He's not the most decisive person on the planet.", said Laura.
"Well thank you. You risked a lot just to get this. But in the morning I'll need you to return these items. Is that okay?"
"Sure."
"Good. I'll pay you when you return these."
"Aaaawwwww. Darn. I can't get to throw it up and roll in it like I wanted. . .", said Laura, as she walked out the door.
"Sigh. Well, I'm tired. Being a ninja sucks. I didn't get to fight any evil ninja lords, fight any minions, talk like a drugged ventriloquist, and Vincent kept popping out. So Aeris, how are you doing? Aeris?" She sat there at the table, her hand holding her head, and a few tears came down. "Oh boy. . . Hmmm, comforting, comforting. . . How to be comforting. . .Oh, right!" She walked over to her and pulled up a chair, and began rubbing her back soothingly. "Hey, look. It'll be fine. He never definitely said who he loved, right? You've still got time. And even if he doesn't pick you, he's not the only man out there, right?" But she just began sobbing harder, and hugged Rachel, who hesitantly returned the hug, because ever since six months ago, the last time she had a hug from a girl, well that just proved fatal to her peace of mind to ever have a girl in her personal space again. But she did return the hug, despite the horrible mental scar, and began rocking her back and forth to make sure she'd calm down. "Dear Jesus, why me? Not another hug. . . Oh, well I guess if she's sad. . ." But surprisingly, Aeris began laughing. "Oh dear, she's snapped. ."
"Did you ever know about that time he dressed as a girl?", asked Aeris.
"Yeah, you mean at the wallmarket when you had to sneak into Don Corneo's place just to get past the guards?"
"Heh, yeah. You know, he really would go to quite some large lengths just to see Tifa. But then again, I wonder if he also did it for me."
"Aeris. . ."
"Hold on. I'm okay now. It just helps to remember something funny about the person to make me feel better." Aeris stopped the embrace, much to Rachel's relief, and stood up. "You know, you shouldn't be so hesitant to a hug. It really did make me feel better. You're not as bad as the others say you are. Thank you." She walked up the stairs, and Rachel just sat there.
"Oh my god, did I just let another girl hug me. AGAIN?" She shuddered. "Oh fateful day when I got that bear hug. . . It stings in my mind. . . Sigh. But she feels better and I can't stand to see people sad."
"It makes you soft hearted that way."
"AAHHH! STOPPPIT VINCENT!", yelled Rachel. Vincent awoke and sat up in the chair. "You know, I saw everything. That was nice."
"Says the crazy vampire across the table. . .", said Rachel.
"WHY DOES EVERYONE BELIEVE I'M A VAMPIRE!", he exclaimed. "Well, you're pale-ish, you have red eyes, black hair, funky cloak, you're mysterious, and let us not mention you sleep in a COFFIN in what seems to be an undead CRYPT. . ."
"I see. But I've been meaning to remodel!"
"Nope, it's official. You've been labeled."
"But that's beside the point. You shouldn't change the subject. I still say what you did was nice."
"Nah, me? I don't do nice. I fight people. That's what I do."
"Fight people?"
"Well, not all the time. Actually, it's more of a social war going on back at my home at school. You know me vs. Preps. That and other miscellaneous jerks who won't leave me and my friends alone. But that's an old war nobody has any idea to how it started. It's all just unreasonable."
"I remember somebody who said something very similar to that.", said Vincent, remembering Cloud. "And he had a soft heart, too. But are you really defending yourself, or your friends?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, it just annoys you to see your friends get picked on, so you defend them, just like a guardian."
"HAH! GUARDIAN?! I must be nuts to be talking to you."
"And here you are defending yourself."
"Look, I have a relatively short temper. I remember one time I took a kid and grabbed his collar and shoved him into the wall. Does that sound nice to you?"
"You probably had a reason."
"What? He was throwing around all our school bags."
"OUR school bags?" She realized she had been pegged by a vampire, and he was grinning at her.
"Oooh, you're good.", she said. "But why are you still here? Shouldn't you be outta here? IT'S 3 IN THE MORNING!"
"There you go, changing the subject again. But I SHALL be taking my leave." So he opened then door and in a sweep of his cloak, he was gone.

"Stupid Vincent. . .grumble grumble. . .", went Rachel as she headed up the stairs. Aeris was sound asleep when she got up the stairs. There was a window between their houses, and she could see into a window of Cloud's house. But she just continued changing, and before she fell into bed, she saw the light turn on.
"Hey Rachel, is that you?", asked Aeris from her bed. Rachel was still looking out the window, and it was Cloud and Tifa.
"OH SWEET JESUS!", she shrieked, because it was Cloud's bedroom.
"What? What is it?", asked Aeris groggily.
"Uh heheheh, ummm. . .", said Rachel nervously as she quickly closed the curtains.
"Come on, I want to see.", said Aeris.
"Oh really? Uh, it's nothing, really? Let's just say Tifa isn't going to be back until morning."
"It IS morning."
"Until the light of day."
"Okay. . .YAAWN!", went Aeris, and her head fell against the pillow asleep.
"Sigh, the sound of the innocent. No wonder Cloud likes her, sheesh." Rachel climbed into bed, and pulled out a calendar she had since she came here to record the days.
"Today is October 11, so. . . Oh boy, it's almost my birthday! I feel horribly old. . . I wonder if Laura remembered my birthday?" Laura sat up in her bed at Cloud's, and she was also looking at the same day on her calendar.
"Hey!", she said. "It's almost VINNIE'S birthday! It says something else here in smaller print, must not be important. Besides, it must be for the next day, because it has a 14 on it." All of a sudden, she heard moans and other sounds coming from Cloud's room. "I wonder what that is? It almost sounds like something dying. Oh well, I'll just see in the morning."

Meanwhile, back at Tifa's house, Aeris was having disturbing nightmares, and Rachel just sat up, listening to what she was muttering under her breath.
"Cloud! No. . . not. . .please. . . Come back. . . Cloud. . ." Rachel could see her tossing and turning, and even saw the slight glimmer of a tear as she slept.
"Damn. She's TOO innocent. It's a little creepy. Oh well, I'll give her this." She walked over to the desk and pulled out her sketchbook, and tore out a page. "And I like this one, too." And she left a picture of Aeris and Cloud with each other, together and smiling, done in a charcoal and left it on her night stand. "Dammit, if she ruins that picture, she owes me more than 50,000 gil.", she muttered as she turned off the light.

"Heh, she really has a conscience.", said Vincent who was hanging outside their window, looking through the small opening Rachel left. "I wonder how Laura's doing?" He turned around, expecting it to be Laura's window, and instead saw Cloud and Tifa. "HOLY %#!", he screamed, and he lost his balance and fell off the roof.