Chapter 3

"Tifa… Tifa… get up" where was I? "Tifa…" I heard a soft voice like…wait! Wasn't that voice… Aerith! I rose and I wasn't wrong. It was really she.

"Aerith? How could yo… does it mean I have already dead?" I still didn't accept this.

"Tifa…no you're not dead but I have something to tell you."

"What?"

"This is about Cloud. I know he accuses himself for my death. Please, I beg you to recover, to heal him"

"But I…"

"You can do it, I know it and I'm certainly sure about this. Only you can do this."

"Aerith…" I said. I really didn't know what to say. Can you imagine when people you think as a rival implore for your help? Well, that is my state now.

"Do you remember when I said to you that you were tough?" I nodded.

"Well it was true. You are tough not only from physic but mental as well."

"But Aerith, I really can't do it! I don't know what to do. Besides, Cloud needs you! And not me! I'm exist or not it's really not a problem for him." okay; now I think I'm going to cry. This talk just hurt me. But her response weren't as I thought. Instead of angry she was smiling or to more exactly, laughing.

"Who said that? Do you know your dead will be more painful than my dead for him?"

"Eh…?"

"So that's why you are jealous to me, do you?"

"Eh…? You know?"

"It's obvious. Anyway, please encourage him."

"Wait! Aerith!" she disappeared, still smiling. Vague but sure my sight came back to life. I was in a bewilder bedroom. I eyed the room and spotted there was a man standing in front of windowsill, frowning. I identified him as Cloud. I got up and came into a sit position. It looked he aware I had became conscious because then he said, "Reno and them are searching" I ignored him. There were so many things to say until it brimming in my head.

"Geostigma…isn't it? 'It's alright if I die…' is that what you're thinking?" I demanded his explanation. He didn't say a thing as the answer. "As I thought." And silent fell.

"There's no cure," he said suddenly.

"But Denzel was trying his best, wasn't he? Why don't you fight it with us instead of running away? We could help each other and try our best!" I scolded.

"…" Still don't answer, huh?

"Can't do it since we're not a real…friend, huh?" I almost smirked at myself by saying it. I can't say another word, can I?

"I…I can't save anyone neither friend nor lover. No one!" he looked down, averted my eyes. Why you are so pessimist?

"Drifting, drifting," I said.

"Eh?" he gazed upward.

"Drifting, drifting," I said again.

"How long are you gonna drag along like that?" said a man voice. It was Reno.

"Could you find them?" I asked.

"There was a witness who saw them bring taken away"

"Where did they go?" Cloud asked.

"The forgotten capital, Ajito."said a bald bodyguard named Ruth.

"Take care of it. I'm going to talk to Rufus." Okay! he's going to run away again. I must stop him.

"Don't run! I understand what you feel. Even if you find the children, you might not be able to do anything. They might be somewhere that we can't get them back. You're scared of that, aren't you? But you have to react to now, to more of this! A burden? Well there's no helping that, it's a heavy burden! Unless you want to live all alone, you have to deal with that. You don't want to be alone, do you? Even though you never answer, you always have your phone with you." I scolded him. it was all my feeling until now. What I wanted was just he stopped running away and faced the truth. Although it was a sad truth.

"You go to Ajito" Reno said. He and Ruth left the room to give us time to be alone. I looked at the floor as it was interesting. When Cloud didn't say a thing, I asked to him

"Have we lost to our memories?" I gazed upward. Does he want to keep silent? After some minutes, which seemed to be very long, Cloud said, "I'll save the children" hearing It, I smiled. Than without wasting time, he went down and took his motorcycle. I followed him downstairs and saw him until he was gone.

"You did it, huh?" said a familiar voice. I turned back and not astonish to see Reno.

"Ah yes, it was fortunate." I replied.

"It was a great speech" he praised.

"Was it?"

"yeah, it was."

"Thanks" and I came into the house again. I went upstairs, alone, to organize all that had happened so fast. I was with Marlene back then and…and… A man came and I fought him…than Marlene got caught because I lost. And I was unconscious. I woke up when Cloud called me but I was unconscious again. Did Cloud bring me here? I started toremember. Cloud…Did I have encourage him just like Aerith wanted me to do? I said to myself. But it not just because Aerith's request I wanted to do it, I cared for him too. I wanted him to recover. I protested.

'Knock, knock'

"Come in" than a man came in.

"Vincent! What's wrong?"

"Cloud went to Ajito and fought that 3 cried baby brothers who was searching their mother, Jenova." He explained.

"And how was it?" I asked. He raised his eyebrow.

"He almost got killed if I didn't come."

"How about Marlene?"

"She went with him" I relieved. Well, she will be save with Cloud.

"Did Cloud say anything?" I asked, curiously.

"He asked me whether sin could be forgiven or not and I answered I have never tried." He was lost in his thought, remembering all to tell me.

"Than he said 'I tried' or something" he continued. I grinned when I heard it. I did it.
"How about the kids?" I asked, became worried again when I remembered.

"Maybe they bring the kids to the town." Hearing it, I stood up and started rushed to the door.

"Thanks, Vincent" I said when I just wanted to close the door. Than I closed it and ran downstairs. I was on the last step when Reno and Ruth wanted to go up. Fortunately, I could stop myself before bumping. They were astounded.

"The kids are in the town with that shit brothers." I explained before they could say a thing and I continued running.

"wait! we go along"

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It was a big chaos in the city. Every citizen was running to save himself or herself from being eaten by monsters. I was looking for Denzel. At last I found him, surrounding the war trace 2 years ago with other children.

"Denzel" I called him. No answer.

"Denzel!"I called, harder. Still no answer so I shook his body.

"Denzel" and the third time I called him, he lifted his head and our eyes met. I was shocked looking at his cold strange eyes. What they've done to him? I kept shook him. Oh c'mon Denzel, wake up! Suddenly I felt a not pleasant aura near me. I turned my back and saw a monster was coming toward us.

"Denzel, you have to run!" if I could, I wanted to avoid battle in front of him. But the monster was coming to us with great speed and not even a minute, it was only five feet to us. Did I have a choice? I looked at the monster with suffering. It wasn't I can't defeat it but… I straightly put my gloves on and prepared for battle. It came into my range. I had just raised my arms to hit it with all of my strength when another monster defeated him so easily. I gazed upward. Damn! I just exited from crocodile's mouth and entered lion's mouth. The lion even more dangerous! The monster just started attacked me. I protected Denzel with my own body. No matter what, he must be safe! I shouted to myself. But it sight inadvertently shifted when it saw the trace and flew into it. Than it broke all the chains that bound the trace. What is it going to do? I asked inside, curious. The monster concentrated his energy to strike. Oh God! It was going to burn the city! I covered Denzel. And the explode happened…

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