OMG! I updated! right so back in Febuary around my last update I had things going on, exams and funneral things and writing wasn't in me (its funny cause I wrote half of this in one night two days away from an exam) then I got horrible writer's block and ya... the point is I have it now!
As to the reviewers, I'm sorry, ever so sorry forgive me!
Disclamer- I don't own any final fantasy stuff its all Square Enix
Chapter 2
The city seemed to loom over Aeris. There was a sinister feeling to everything around her too. It seemed so dark to her too, the plate hanging overhead blocking out natural light.
She had only just gotten to the slums of the city and she already very lost. Once it started to get dark, she began to really worry, she didn't want to stay on the street over night but she had no money handy.
Then she saw it, a giant church, run down from what seem to be years of neglect. Windows were busted and it looked as if it would crumble if it were poked too hard.
She walked to it, placing a hand gently on its great wooden doors and pushing her was inside. The inside was much like the outside, dilapidated and old. The benches were broken as were some of the windows. There was one bright spot in the rubble that was the church; yellow flowers were in bloom at the front of the church.
Aeris's eyes lit up excited seeing the vibrant plants. She ran to the front of the church, standing over the flowers and looking at them in awe. She knelt down, cupping one in her hand and felt the soft petals.
She looked at the flowers for a number of minutes before she moved back, sitting with her back against the front bench. She pulled the pack her father had given her onto her lap and opened it up.
There was food, non-perishable things, or at least things that wouldn't go bad for a while, like bread and cheese. She rooted around further down in the backpack and felt some fabric. Clutching it, she pulled it from under the food and revealed another pair of cloths.
She looked at them and smiled. He father had gone through such preparations to make sure she was okay. He had done so much for her and probably nothing for himself. Thinking of that her eyes nearly began to water. She held her cloths up to her face, trying to gain some comfort from them and that's when the envelope fell out.
Aeris picked it up gently, holding it in a tender manner. She could tell, just by holding it that there was something more than just a letter in it. She flipped it over removing a piece of paper and what looked like a shiny greenish-white marble. Holding the marble in her hand, she read the letter.
If you're reading this, I know you must be confused, but trust me this is all for your safety. You are a very special person, and they, Shinra, are looking for you and you can't let them find you. They will be distracted with me at least for a little while. During that time, do what you can to find your godfather; he works for Shinra so be careful in your search. Take whatever precautions you have to, and don't do anything to put you at risk. Stay safe my lovely daughter Aeris.
I will always love you
Dad
P.S. the materia I sent along was you're mother's most prized possession, it is also important that you keep that safe and hidden.
Aeris read it over and over again. It told her nothing, but the words of her father gave her a bit of strength and calmed her a little. Once her eyes had started to go out of focus from reading it too much, the young girl turned her attention to her mother's memento.
She rolled it around in her two hands watching as it sparkled in the little light in the church. She had a bit of a memory of it, of her mother showing it to her when she was little. It was beautiful in Aeris's eyes. She had seen a few materia before, but this one seemed so different.
Exhaustion slowly snuck up on her and she yawned. She tried to think of a place to put the materia, thinking he pocket wasn't going to keep it safe enough. She eventually slipped it into her ribbon that held her hair. It wasn't the most comfortable thing, but it would hide the materia well.
Aeris placed the cloths back in the bag and lay down and put her head on the semi-comfortable backpack. She closed her eyes and was nearly asleep when there was an explosion and something crashed through the roof.
Aeris bolted up straight and let a scream escape her lips. She turned quickly to the cloud of dust that had been kicked up and all the rubble. As it started to settle she was about to make out the shape of what fell.
A young man lay there. He looked about Aeris's and had a mass of blonde hair that spiked up in numerous different directions. His cloths consisted mainly of dark purple and he had a huge sword strapped on his back.
Aeris gasped and got up, running over to the man lay. She knelt down beside him and shook him gently. "Are you okay?" she asked, though not really sure if he was awake or not.
The man stirred a little after she spoke, and raised his head a little. "Mmmph? Where am I?" he looked around groggily.
"Um... in Midgar," she replied a little timid.
"Obviously," the blonde said sitting up, "I mean what sector is it?"
"I'm not sure... I just... I just got into town," she said nervously. She was unsure how much information she should give away, how much of it would be safe.
"Oh, in that case, welcome to Midgar," He said rubbing the back of his head and smiling. He did that for a moment, until he seemingly hit a sore spot and winced.
"Oh, be careful," giving him a worried look.
"I'm fine, I'm Cloud by the way," the young man held out his hand, smile spreading once more.
"I'm Aeris," she said automatically and once the words were out she wished she could take them back. She was supposed to be careful; going around telling people her name probably wasn't the best idea.
She tried not to let him notice her sudden unease, so she reached for his hand. She shook it and spoke yet again, "What exactly happened... I mean what was that explosion?"
"Oh ya... the reactor exploded, I just happened to be up there and I fell. Sorry if I scared you," he said, going back to massaging his head.
"Exploded?"
"Yup," the blonde noticed the worried look on Aeris' face, "Don't worry it doesn't happen often... I mean it happened earlier this week and its planned to happen about six more times, but that's-"
His little talk was cut off by a banging on the door, and two men walking in, clad in armour. They looked around quickly, and then noticing the two at the front of the church, raised their guns.
"SHIT!" Cloud yelled moving quickly, he tackled Aeris, moving her to the cover of the pews just as bullets sprayed where they were. "Dammit, I didn't think they'd be on me this fast. Damn Shinra!"
Aeris was shell shocked, on the ground face down and now the mention of the people she had come to understand had ruined her life. Looking up at Cloud, who was slowly removing his sword from his back, she asked, "Shinra, what about Shinra? What's going on?"
"That's who these guys are... Shinra thugs, no doubt here about the reactor thing. Shit I hope Tifa and Zack are okay." He stay low though Aeris could tell his mind was on the men with guns that were moving steadily closer. "Do you have a weapon?"
"Um, a staff, but I can't fight and-"
"You'll have to learn then," with that, Cloud got to his feet, and launched him self into the air.
They hadn't expected an attack, they hadn't seen Cloud's weapon from far away. It took them a moment to realize what it was that was coming after them and then it was too late for one of them. A few bullets flew and the massive sword came down, the one man fell crumpled.
Aeris reached for her staff, getting up, just in time to see another swing of the sword and the second man fall. She picked up her bag and ran to the centre isle. Her stomach cringed a little seeing the two bleeding men there.
"They weren't fatal," Cloud reassured her, "just incapacitating. Are you all right? Didn't get hit with a bullet did you?"
"N-no... w-what was that all about?" she muttered, still feeling slightly weak at the resulting sight of the fight. The only blood she had ever seen in her life was when she hurt her knee, or her father cut his hand a little on glass. Little amounts of blood...
"Well, you know how I mentioned the reactor exploding... I'm kinda responsible." Cloud said sheepishly, "and on that note, we should be getting out of here. They'll realize we were here; They'll come back... If you're here... If you don't have a place to go, you can crash in my girlfriend's bar."
Did she really have a choice? They would be back and if she was here with two Shinra bodies what would they do? Then again her main option seemed to be going with a terrorist... but she couldn't get caught.
"Okay, I'll come."
Cloud nodded and ushered her to follow. She took a step down the centre then remembering the bodies, she went do the side instead. Out the door they went, just as a man with spiky hair similar to that of Cloud, only jet black, ran by.
"ZACK!"
The running man stopped and turned, "CLOUD! Man am I glad I found you. Tifa is throwing a hissy fit and there are Shinra all over the place.
The man came over, gave his friend a rough hug and his eyes fell on Aeris. "Who is she?"
"Someone who is coming along, her name is Aeris. Now lets go, I want to get back tot he Seventh Heaven," Cloud muttered.
The entire time Aeris tried to get the jest of what they were saying, names that she didn't know that kind of thing. When the two men started to walk she followed along with out a word, trying to match their quick pace.
Bring up the rear she heard them first, the footsteps that sounded from behind them. Aeris turned her head to look and saw the form of people. One... two... three... four... five... five people.
"Um excuse me..." she spoke up for the first time since leaving the church.
"What is it?" Cloud turned to look at her and saw the people too, "CRAP! TURKS! Run for it!"
And that's what they did, At Clouds words all three of them ran. Aeris tried her hardest, they were so much faster than her, she was so tired, she barley noticed when she started to fall, it didn't hit her until it... well hit her. She tried to get up, but a pain shot through her ankle and she fell once more.
Zack noticed, stopped and turned. Without thinking he started back towards her. It wasn't in his nature to leave a girl in trouble.
"GO!" Aeris yelled pointing back towards Cloud who had also stopped. "I'll be fine, they're after you right? Run!"
Sure if they found out she would be doom, but Cloud had helped her and Zack was about to do the same, they weren't the kind of people she wanted caught.
They hesitated, but in their minds she had a point. She hadn't done anything, why worry?
"I'll pay you back for this some day," Zack said before he turned his back and he and the blonde started to run once more.
Aeris lay there on the ground watching them leave, wondering what was going to happen to her, and trying to move. She didn't manage anything until the footsteps stopped and she could feel the people looming over her.
She rolled and looked up at five people all dressed in navy suits.
"Well, well look at what we have here..."
Author's Note: And there we have it, the end of the update that took to long, We're at a part I like so I should hopefully be able to have it up faster, again... sorry
