He was standing in a field of flowers. He had never seen a place quite like this before. It felt almost like he was in Heaven, except Kadaj didn't quite know what Heaven was like.
The scenery would have taken his breath away, if he weren't so drawn towards a spot where the mist seemed to thicken around it. Kadaj moved closer, almost as if he was guided by an invisible hand to the particular spot.
Finally, he stood there, reveling the beauty of the field, the smell of fresh spring flowers and the cool morning breeze.
But then, his motivation to stay here was not because of the magnificent beauty of this serene place.
It was because of her. He knew he would see her here. Somehow, she brought him to this place.
"Where are you?" he called out but was only greeted with silence.
He was about to continue calling her name until she decided to show herself, when there was a sudden flash of light, right across his eyes. It was so sudden that Kadaj was taken by surprise and he leaped away by instinct.
However, the light did not hurt him in any way. But it did reveal something most astounding.
Right in front of him, stood Cloud and Aerith. They were standing, back to back with each other.
"What the hell…" Kadaj muttered, his eyes narrowing intently as he watched the couple before him. It was as if they didn't know he was there.
Cloud…She was speaking now. Kadaj could hear it so clearly in his ear, yet her mouth was closed.
What are you doing here, Cloud?Kadaj didn't care what Cloud had to say, and perhaps, that was why he couldn't hear him. All he could see was Aerith and the way her head lowered slightly, whenever she said Cloud's name.
Kadaj slowly drew out his blade. It was fortunate that his blade was still with him even when this was just a dream.
No, this is more than just a dream, he thought. Somehow, he was here in Aerith's dimension and Cloud was here too. Maybe she brought both of them here, but for what?
Kadaj didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. Seeing Cloud, and the way Aerith now had her small petite little hand wrapped around his shirt sleeve, made Kadaj fumed. He had never known a rage like this, and even now, he was even surprised at himself for feeling the way he felt right now.
He felt out of control. Like he was going to burst any time now.
"Aerith…" he muttered, but his voice held no affection nor love, only contempt.
"Did you bring me here just for me to see this?"
Naturally, the self-absorbed couple did not seem to notice his presence, nor hear him.
Not even capable of thinking clearly at this point, Kadaj drew out his blade. He began to make a mad, desperate dash towards the young, oblivious couple, with the sharp end of the blade aiming for Cloud.
Stop!Oh, so now she wants to talk to him? Kadaj laughed scornfully as he lowered his blade. Strangely though, Cloud still could not hear or see Kadaj, but Aerith clearly knew what was happening.
Don't do this…please…
She was still in that back-to-back position with Cloud, so Kadaj figured there was nothing they could do. They must have been in a different time space and that was why Cloud couldn't see him, nor know what was happening.
And Aerith couldn't do anything to stop Kadaj as well.
The sound of her pleading words did not soften him. If anything else, it made him madder. The way she plead for mercy on the behalf of Cloud sickened him to no end.
"It's over, Aerith." He suddenly said, darkly.
Don't do this. You don't want to hurt her.
"What do you mean it's over?" She asked suddenly and Kadaj was surprised to see her turned away from Cloud and faced him, directly in the eye. There was that usual innocent beauty about her, but her voice was strong and it sounded like she was challenging him.
Cloud, on the other end, was frozen in time.
"It's over between us." Kadaj said, gripping the handle of his blade tighter.
Stop talking like this, fool.
"Between…us…?" There was genuine concern in her eyes now. "Are you okay, Kadaj?"
"Shut up!" he shouted at her and she took a few steps back, her green eyes widened in shock.
"Kadaj…" her voice had softened and her expression told him that she felt sorry for him. He didn't need that right now. He didn't need anything, but her. Just what the hell was wrong with him anyway? Why was he feeling so goddamned messed up?
"You brought me here. You brought me to you every time I close my eyes. What do you want with me!"
He didn't wait for her answer. He was so blinded by the rage that was building up within him. A rage he didn't even know existed until now.
He raised his blade without so much as a warning, watched as Aerith's expressions turned from that of surprise to horror, then swing the blade down across her chest.
Crimson red petals flew straight into his eyes. It blinded him with deep red momentarily, as the fallen red petals encircled his body and finally, fall to the grass.
He closed his eyes, hearing his own breath, feeling his own heartbeat quickened.
Then he opened his eyes again.
He opened his eyes and woke up with a start. Beads of perspiration formed at his neck and forehead. He realized he was breathing hard.
Just a dream…just a dream, he thought to himself as he glanced around in the room. He was on his bed, his deadly weapon rest on the small table in the center of the room.
He quickly got off the bed and checked his blade. It was clean, with no traces of blood.
Relax, Kadaj. Don't be so jumpy, he told himself.
But the dream still lingered in his mind. He couldn't forget it, even though he tried to. The whole process of slashing Aerith with his blade remained fresh in his memory. He felt deeply disturbed by this, and he wondered if she was all right.
At last! The long-awaited chapter is up. I've been so busy with school and my social life that I'd almost abandoned this fic. Thanks for all the reviews and feel free to give suggestions etc in the comments box.