Disclaimer: If I owned Final Fantasy VII, this fanfiction wouldn't be possible. Thank you, Square-Enix.

Notes: Translations for chocobo-nese are underlined. Some Before Crisis (Episode 18) spoilers… Saint Dominic is the patron saint of (among other things) falsely accused people.

Sorry about not updating. I had work, helped my aunt move, and I get to renovate my bedroom (get everything out, paint, pull up the carpet, install hardwood floors… oh, goody).

Aerithism

Six: Putting up with Idiocy

Nanaki perched upon the plateau, his mate beside him. In the distance, the intelligent beasts could see the approaching armies from Nibelheim. "They're kinda stupid, aren't they, Dinne?"

The female smiled. "At least the rest of Gaia can agree on one thing… That Bugenhagen's legacy must be crushed."

"I wonder if they even realize that I knew their precious Maiden."

"They're human. Individually, they're smart, but together they're all morons…"

Heiress shut her eyes against the harsh snow. Her sleeves blew freely with her arms within the torso of her blouse. The bright red made her stand out against the bright white.

"Thump."

The small brunette opened her eyes to see bright yellow. Her face, numb to the material, had to turn to see what she had run into.

A very indignant looking chocobo stared at her. "Um… Oops."

Heiress proceeded to run down the mountainside as the crazed bird chased her. "I TOLD YOU I WAS SORRY!"

She grabbed onto a rocky ledge and proceeded to climb downwards. The chocobo, still fuming, "Warked" at her. All that time in the Lifestream made the message loud and clear: You #$&'n' dumb human, get back here!

"Umm… No thank you!"

The teenager sunk against the front door. His long hair, almost black, splayed against the wood. He groaned at the touch. His black sweater was damp in a few places…

"Ho ho ho, Dominic! What have you done this time?" His younger sister had somehow managed to sneak past his defenses. She squatted upon the balls of her feet.

I wish she wouldn't look at me like that… He slid himself up, and forced himself to walk away.

"Dominic, don't you dare move!" She grabbed the back of his shoulders, and bent him towards her. "… For the 'best in the business,' you do manage to get shot a lot."

He gaped at her. "How…?"

"Let's see… The blood on the door, which I get to clean up. The holes in your shirt, which I get to patch up. You limping, which I get to examine… Take your pick."

The brunet groaned. I did not agree to put up with her. "Well, that's what I get for assassinating for a living… A living that supports you, by the way."

She released his back, only to push him onto a sofa. "That's why I went to the Father today and asked forgiveness for you… I'll go get my med-bag."

Does she realize I don't ever go to the cathedral?

She's kind of an idiot, I suppose.

Feel free to write a review. Or flame me, whatever.

Anyone else notice that all of my chocobos sound like Cid?

Rabid chocobo figurine for SilverKitsune013, lilalou, and FlyHigh4Life for reviewing.

Ages (for anyone who's interested; more later, if I feel like it):

Heiress: 8

Cirrus: 10

Teef: 4

Zax: 11

Yoshoko: 14

Sid: 12

Evere: 13

Wallace: 16

Dominic: 18