Chapter 4 - Labyrinth Vindication
Upon thousands of Gossamers I am bound
Of guilt, fear and loneliness untold
As aeons pass moons upon moons
Aching my heart does as it cries out for you
Watching Tifa climb into bed, I made my way over to the chair that was positioned near her bed post. Settling myself comfortably into the oak chair, I crossed my arms and looked back at her squarely.
She had this expression of utter surprise as though she was not expecting me to be there. Raising her eyebrows quizzically, she asked me a silent question.
"Just making sure you are okay, Tifa." I replied stoically to her telepathic question.
"Out of here, brother!" Tifa laughs, her crimson eyes incandescent with a beautiful light.
I stand my ground.
"Oh come on. You don't actually think I am scared of being alone, are you?" Tifa sneers jokingly.
"I..I want to be here if you have any more nightmares.." I conceded at last, feeling a trifle strange right after saying that.
"Nightmares?" she frowns, pushing herself up against her bed-head.
"Yes. You kept calling out for your father in the last 3 days, Tifa."
I notice her eyes well up with tears.
She quickly blinks it away.
"Oh…thank you Cloud." She mutters softly. "Doesn't this feel so much like old times? You always came around at night when either of us needed comforting."
I nod.
"Good night, Cloud." Tifa slips under her thick covers.
"Night Tifa." I am relieved when I see that she has fallen asleep moments after her head touched the soft pillows.
I'll guard her till the morning. I decided.
There was a delivery job I had to undertake the next day. It would take a few days and I was not sure if Tifa would be alright if I left.
Of course she will be.
She's a strong girl.
I smiled ever so slightly, as my child-hood friend started to slip easily into a peaceful sleep.
She deserves it.
Morning dawned faster than I could fathom and soon I had to get ready to leave. Tossing Tifa one last glance, I absent-mindedly flicked one of my blond hair strands out of my eyes and strapped my sword onto my back.
A trifle exhausted, I strode over to the mantle where Tifa kept the records of our customers and flipped through them to find the address of the place I was to go to for picking up items. Knowing that Tifa was stirring, I told myself firmly not to turn to look at her again.
"Cloud..?" Tifa rubs her eyes sleepily and then flashes me that brilliant smile I have grown used to seeing every morning.
"Morning, Tifa. I'm just about to leave for this next job. Will you be alright?" I look over at her as casually and cool as I could.
"As I would ever be! Now hurry along!" She practically chases me out of her house once she had jumped out of her bed.
Light winds brushed past me as I sped through the Ancient Forest on my vehicle. Dew glistered on the tips of olive green leaves that rustled on those old magnificent trees. Occasional rays of sun weaved its way amongst them and shed some light upon what would otherwise have been a depressingly dark area.
Late afternoon descended when I finally arrived at my destination. Pulling into the Gold Saucer parking area, I turned off the ignition of Fenrir and dismounted it. Gazing fondly at the bike, I placed my hand lightly on the handle.
What a ride it had gone through. All those fights with Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz.
A good choice Tifa made when she recommended me the vehicle designer. She had even, on several occasions, over-saw the materials used to manufacture Fenrir.
Tifa
I glanced at my cell phone subconsciously, scanning for any calls or messages.
Well, here goes. I thought, a trifle disappointed that there were none.
Jumping into the roller coaster cabin that had just rolled up, I shut the cabin door after me. The Gold Saucer had undergone rather big changes in these transcending years. Due to the Geostigma disaster, the Gold Saucer, like many parts of the world was ruined. That had not deterred the Gold Saucer Owner however, for he had put in his heart and soul into rebuilding it. Looking out at the fantasy-like world of colors and lights, I recalled a time when I was out on this ride too. It was as breath-taking as today.
That ride when I was with…Tifa.
"Cloud! You are here!" A voice booms, startling me. Why, I had not even realized it was the end of the ride.
Blushing ever so slightly, I alighted from the cabin onto the platform swiftly, trying to mask my embarrassment.
"What's the job today?" I ask, trying to keep my face straight.
"Over-seeing the few batches of Gold Saucer Chips that is to be transported from Wutai to here." The owner beams. "That requires a delivery man with some fighting skills you know, we get a lot of pirates." He laughs heartily.
I nod, deciding to set off right then.
"Don't you want to rest up the night here?" The owner places his hand on my shoulder.
"No, I have to get back to Midgar fast." A worry lies deep seated in me.
"Alright, here's the clearance permit for the docks." The owner sighs, resigned.
The job lasted 3 days, with one day of traveling to Wutai and 2 days of journey by ship. As the days trudged past, I found myself constantly checking my cell phone for any news.
None as yet. Its been 3 days. I hope she's alright. I scratch my head.
Impressing my fingers upon the cell phone buttons, my mind whirled as I went through the familiar action of dialing the phone number at 7th Heaven, only to switch off the cell phone again when the last number was dialled.
I have probably done this for the last six thousand times.
Staring down at my cell phone, I wondered why I could never bring myself to express my concern for Tifa properly.
Damn. She's your friend! I muttered to myself.
Sighing, I pushed past the ancient doors of the ruined church wherein was Aeris's resting place. Not knowing why, on my journey back, I had subconsciously wanted to come to this place.
The old church was in quite a state. Frowning, I kicked away a stone pillar that was hindering the pathway to the middle of the church where the floorboards were broken to let the flowers grow through.
"Looking for me?" A familiar voice that always made my heart skip a beat rang out.
Spinning around, I see Aeris seated at one of the long wooden bench which had thankfully been spared the damage. It had been quite a while since I have last seen her, I recall, as I remember her last appearance on the day when everyone was in the Church celebrating the end of the Geostigma disaster. With the holy water that had ran through the old building, it had miraculously alleviated the disease that might otherwise have caused Midgar to be destroyed.
I nod at her, acknowledging her presence but not knowing what to say.
"You never see, do you?" Aeris laughs.
"See?" I scratch my head again.
"Yes, you never see how beautiful or pretty the people you are talking to are." Aeris teases.
"Oh." I averted my eyes to look at the floorboards beneath me, suddenly very fascinated with the little ant that was scurrying across the surface.
"Are you feeling better now?" She asks, referring to my perpetual guilt for being unable to save her from Sephiroth's murder of her.
I nod again, rendered speechless.
"You do understand that it was necessary. If I had not died, I would not have been able to help much with your fight against the three brothers and the Geostigma. With my death comes the ability to harness the Lifestream and Holy to save the planet. Truth be told…I always wished…I could be like Tifa when I was alive with your group. I was always…so dependent on you all, and I could only heal." Aeris trails off.
I jerk my head up quickly, shocked
So this was what she had always felt.
Back in my mind, I hear Tifa's voice echoing. She would have said that this was what team-mates were for.
"Cloud?" Aeris looks at me.
"Huh?" Riverting my attention back to her, I felt a flush crawling across my cheeks for being caught day-dreaming.
"Did you ever wish you could be with me?" The question was simple.
Startled, I took a few steps back. It never occurred to me that Aeris would put forth a question like that.
"Confused as usual. How cute." Aeries chirps.
I shake my head in-volunteerily. I knew I was hopeless in such situations.
"Let's put it this way. If Sephiroth was going to kill both Tifa and me with his masamune on that fateful day. Who will you save?" Aeris's tone reduced an octave, her eyes surveying me with seriousness.
In that moment of truth, the answer rang loud and clear in the universe of my mind as meteors of confusion were smashed to smithereens and glorious light from the sun of enlightenment shone through, illuminating my world.
That day saw me leaving the Church a happier man.
No longer will I run away from my feelings. No longer will I hurt another. No longer…will I pretend not to love her.
I was never…alone.
She who was strong and sweet. She who had always stayed by my side.
The world suddenly seems so beautiful. I mused, taking in the sight of the little birds singing cheerily on the trees and the clouds that flowed past the heavens as though serenading to the tune of Nature as I sped past the Ancient Forest again back to 7th Heaven in anticipation of seeing my child-hood friend.
Out of this labyrinth of loneliness and emptiness, I am vindicated.
Little was I to know, that this vindication was not to be.
Fate decides to deal me a cruel hand.