Chapter 8: Remembering a Heart Break

The tinking of glasses and general rummaging noises awoke Cloud from his sleep. Did someone break in? The rest of the house seemed quiet. He grabbed his Buster from the side of the couch, and walked in the direction of the noise. It was coming from the bar. He pushed open the swinging door, and saw a mane of brown hair wiping glasses clean.

Raine.

Cloud watched her tidying up the bar. She looked so much like Aeris, but it couldn't be her…

"Who are you?" He asked, crossing his arms, and starring at her.

She looked up at him, and cocked a brow. "Are you feeling okay?"

"There's something weird going on here… you can't look exactly like her and not…"

She sighed. "Cloud, I thought you were making progress. You have to let her go, no matter how painful it is, it's the only way to ever move on."

"Who says I want to?" He asked moodily.

"I can see it in your eyes." She replied.

"That's just the Mako."

"Liar."

His brows furrowed, "Listen, you don't even know…"

"Know you?" She finished. "I know all about you. I know your type. The brooding macho man. Cloud, I've seen the way you look at me, and I… I just want you to know that I feel the same."

Cloud was silent.

"You want me. I know you do."

Cloud heard the desperation in her voice, the pleading look on her face. "Raine, I…"

But their faces grew steadily closer.

………………………………………….

Images danced through Mary's mind as she slept…. Cloud swinging his huge sword at Sephiroth… Sephiroth! A tall silver-haired man! He was Sephiroth, and she saw Cloud fighting him… were these just dreams? The scene changed, and an image of Marlene hugging an African American man… her father, Barrett…It changed again, and she was in a helicopter, yelling down to Tifa… "Aeris, where's Marlene?" Tifa had yelled up to her. Aeris. She had called her Aeris. "Don't worry, Tifa, she's safe!" She felt herself shout, and then met the back of a man's hand… who was he? The scene changed again and she was in a cage along with a creature that resembled a lion… Red XIII, Nanaki…it changed again, and she was on her knees, in prayer, as a long shadow decended behind her, and then she felt a cold blade slash through her….

She sat straight up in bed, panting. And suddenly, she knew… she knew everything. Her name was Aeris Gainsborough, the last Cetra, and she had once died.

She brought her knees up to her chest, and buried her face in them. "Dreams, their just dreams…" She whispered. But then why did it feel so real? Why could she suddenly recall what happened to her, why she woke up in water, why there was a huge gash through her dress? Aeris. She was Cloud's Aeris, and right now, he was all she needed. She hopped out of bed to go in search of him. Her path led her to the bar, and she peeked in the diamond-shaped window. What she saw almost made her cry out. Cloud and Raine stood comfortably close to one another, their faces inches apart.

You're too late. He's moved on.

Hot tears stung the back of her eyes as she ran from the window. She remembered their Gondola ride at the Gold Saucer, how sweet he had been, how he was so concerned for her… but those days were gone now, and there was nothing for her here now. She opened the front door, and walked out into the pouring rain.

……………………………………

Cloud pulled away from her. How could you do this to Aeris? The sudden question popped into his head, and he felt a new wave of guilt. "No…" He whispered, and stepped back from her.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

What are you doing? "Nothing," He said quickly, and got to his feet. "Goodnight…" And he ran out of the room.