Tobikunai:Yay! Here comes my big CXA chapter! (starry eyes) sigh... Cloudy-kun and Aerith are so kawaii together...

Kansatsu: 9.9 There's already enough sappiness in this chapter without your help, thank you.

Tobikunai: Oh, you know you think its cute too.

Kansatsu: Yeah right.

Tobikunai: Say it...

Kansatsu: Don't think so.

Tobikunai: SAY IT!

Disclaimer: I don't own KH... T.T

-Chapter Five-

"Lets go back... lets go back..." Kairi was repeating under her breath, tears in her eyes. "We're gonna get caught, we're gonna get in trouble... let's go back..."

"She has a point." Squall said at last. "We have to get back to the Library before Ansem leaves, or he'll see us."

Cloud nodded, "But soon," he added, "We're going to have to ask him what this is all about..."

"It's not about anything!" Kairi interrupted, looking horrified, "It's not about anything!"

"Kairi-chan..." Aerith started to say.

"Don't worry." Yuffie said with a shrug, "Those nasty bug thingys won't hurt anybody, and if they try, I, Yuffie Kisagiri, the univere's greatest ninja, will-"

"Give it a rest, Yuff," Squall snapped, "We need to get out of here."

Yuffie glared at him, but followed anyway.

---

As the entered the Lift Stop, Aerith paused, "C-cloud." she stammered, "Can I...can I ask you about... something?"

"What?" he asked.

"Well..." Aerith paused, "Umm... I don't mean to be rude, but... ah... um... whyareyousoobsessedwithfindingSephiroth?"

"Huh?"

"Er... why are you so obsessed with finding Sephiroth?" she asked, forcing herself to speak normally, despite her nerves.

Cloud stared at her for a long moment. "...Its kind of a long story." he said at last.

"I don't mind." Aerith said with a shrug, climbing back on the lift. "But if you don't want to talk about it, its okay." she added quickly.

"Wait, where're you going?" Cloud asked.

"High Tower." Aerith explained, "Squall said it would be safest if we split up."

"Wait." Cloud said again, "I'll go with you..."

Aerith suspected her cheeks had just turned the same shade of red as her jacket, again. "O-okay." she managed to stammer.

"I mean.. um... like, just.. er.. 'cause its kinda easy to get lost here..."

Aerith smiled. "Okay."

---

Aerith stared off into the distance. The tiny, gleaming stars, like little diamonds, pinned onto their spot in the velvet heavens. So many stars, sharing the very same sky, the same destiny. "Its so beautiful." she breathed.

Cloud nodded. "It was kind of like this... that night. The years before are a complete blur, but I remember every second of that one evening, perfectly."

"What happened?" Aerith asked.

"Almost ten years ago... Sephiroth killed my parents. He attacked our city, burned it to the ground, and everyone was killed in the blaze except my family. We tried to run away, but he caught us as we fled. He tortued them to death, and said that if I wanted revenge, I could find him in Hollow Bastion Castle.Then... something happened. It was like... the whole world was falling apart... and I ended up here."

Aerith didn't answer, staring at the ground, biting her lip. "Th-that's awful... I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. But I have to find Sephiroth, I have to kill him, I have to avenge my parents. And I have to know why he left only me alive."

"Cloud..." Aerith started "I- I understand. But you shouldn't have to fight alone, Cloud."

Cloud stared at her. "You... you're truly brave..." he said quietly.

Aerith laughed gently. "No, I'm absolutely terrified. But... y'know... what kind of coward would I be if, after hearing all that, I didn't help?"

"...Thank you."

"Mmm. Now, I'd better get back to the castle, It's getting late... See you tommorrow, remember, we're all meeting in the library at ten o'clock sharp to make our plan for figuring out about those bug thingys!"

"Right."

Aerith left, hurring down the stairs. Behind her, a falling star gleamed as it tumbled to Earth, then another, then another.

A meteor shower.