Hearts are fragile

Chapter 6

Cloud came back from running errands. He was at the church again. He could not help but go there again. He loved this place, loved the peaceful atmosphere. Cloud did not quiet believe this woman was a product of his imagination, but knowing that he was friends with Tifa since ever he was a child, he believed her words were right.

(Cloud POV)

Today she told me her name when I stood in the fields of flowers again. Aerith, she had whispered to me. What a beaitiful name. It felt as though I heard it already somewhere. Might it be a popular name? Maybe someone called it when I was at the shop.

When I stood in front of the bar I saw a motorbike. It was huge and black but graceful. I saw the little head of a lion or wolf I had attached to my clothes on this bike. Might it have been mine? I Could not imagine Tifa to ride a bike like this. She appeared to be the softer type to me. How she amazed me when taking care of the children. Her smile, her words, filled with passion.

I could not find her anywhere inside. Did she go out? But eventually I found her in the living room, sleeping on the floor. Why on the floor? The couch would be a lot more comfortable. Did something happen?

I felt my heart jump as I rushed to her side and knelt down besides her. "Tifa?" I exclaimed resting her fragile body in my arms. She was warm, her skin was soft and she smelled good, really good.

She did not response. Her face, it seemed wet, tear-stained maybe. Was she sad? Did she cry? Why did she? Did someone hurt her?

I picked her up from the floor and carried her into her room. She was not heavy, she was light, really light. Before placing her down on the bed I brushed a few hairstrands out of her face. She grunted and opened her eyes a little.

"Are you ok?" I asked, a little worried.

(Cloud POV End)

---

(Tifa POV)

He held me in his arms, his big muscular arms. Oh how long I had been waiting for that, to feel my body pressed against his. "I-" I wanted to say but I couldn't. It would have been so pathetic of me, telling a guy that thinks of you as a friend and who has not even realized his old love is dead that you love him. I wanted to do something, say something. But I promised myself not to reveal his past to him, and I would not. I just needed to get his mind off her. I pressed my head against his chest, felt my cheek touching his sleeveless shirt and heard his heart pounding.

"What is it?" he asked me. Yes I wanted to tell you something, but I can't.

"Nothing. I was just tired and must have fallen asleep. Thanks for carrying me to my bed." I whispered. His face so close to mine. I nearly felt his breath touching my skin. I would have died for a moment like this when he was still the old Cloud. But he's the new one now, and I was quiet aware of the fact, that it would be rare for the old Cloud to even talk to me like he did. With all this feelings in his words. He showed me his feelings, even if it was just a little, he showed emotion, expressions, something I could have only imagined to be there in the back of my head when I was still talking to the Cloud that had lost his love. I could never let you find out she died. What if you would fall back into being the old Cloud again? I could not have that. I could not stand seeing you in such pain again.

"You are welcome." he placed me onto my bed. For some reason I would have loved to tell him everything right now, hoping he would tell me that it's ok, dead are dead and he still had me. But the chance that this would happen was close to non-existant.

My heart, my poor heart, it ached. Ached at the thoughts of the situation. Forget her Cloud, stop searching for her. And you will be happy. You wanted to be happy, right? Find happiness with me.

(Tifa POV End)

Cloud left the room to let Tifa sleep. She indeed was tired. He figured it was pretty late in the evening already so he would just bring Denzel and Marlene to bed too. Striding into the bar Cloud found the kids. "What are you two doing?"

"Playing cards." exclaimed Marlene and held up her cards. Denzel turned around to face the blonde too and grinned.

"Nice." he chuckeled. "But it's time for bed now, yeah? You can play cards for a little while more in bed if you want, ok?"

"Alright." agreed Denzel slightly dissappointed.

Leading them into their bedroom, Cloud put them to bed. Pulling Marlene's bedsheets over her little body he pressed a kiss onto her forehead. 'That's what parents do, right?'

Smiling at the little girl once more, he covered Denzel too and pressed a kiss onto his forehead too. "Good night." he whispered and shut the door. 'You would be a good mother Tifa.'

---

(Cloud POV)

There was nothing to do for me here anymore, and since I wasn't tired I left Seventh Heaven again and went for a stroll. A stroll, so I told myself, but I knew I just had to see her again. I had to feel these feelings again,s tanding in this pool of flowers and hearing her whisper to me again. Her voice, how I yearn for it.

So there I was, standing in all these flowers again, waiting for her angelic voice. But this time, nobody talked to me. I was confident, she always talked to me whenever I was here. A soft breeze blew through the ruines. I sat down on a broke pillar, still patiently waiting. I had trouble not falling asleep. As I checked the time on my watch I heard someone walk through the flowers. Spinning my head around my gaze fell onto a beautiful young woman with brown hair. "Aerith." I whispered. "It is you."

"Yes it is me." she responded. I felt my haert beating faster. But why? Was I about to fall in love? Or was I just enthralled by her? I took a few steps closer hoping so would she.

She had her arms crossed behind her back. "I am glad you have forgiven yourself and you came here." she told me. Forgiven myself what? What is she talking about? I was thinking hard, but the only think I would have to forgive myself for was maybe that I forgot her name. Yes, I had forgotten her name.

"Cloud." I heard her say. "I love you." Just as she had told me this, she vanished. She loved me? I felt a feeling arise, a feeling I could not define.

"Where do you know me from? Were we a couple?" I exclaimed, listening to my words echoe. "Answer me, please!" I was desperate. No, she was not a product of my fantasy, she was real.

(Cloud POV End)

---

Cloud stepped back into the house as a somewhat annoyed Tifa awaited him. "Where were you?" an angry tone underlay her words.

"I was outside-"

"at the church again." she interjected. 'Why did you go again?'

"Yes." he nodded. "She told me her name." Cloud behaved as though Tifa was nothing but his best friend, a friend he would share his experiences with and tell her about his crushes and all. "It's Aerith."

(Tifa POV)

My heart sank once again, as low as possible. So you told him your name, huh? Why wont you stay where you are and let the living live their life? Why do do you have to be so cruel to him? Don't you see you will hurt him at some point. This gleam in your eyes Cloud, it hurts me even more knowing it will vanish. Yes it will. "She told me she loves me. Do you know anything about her?" he asked me. You told him, hm? How immature could you be? Didn't you think ahead? You will hurt him again and it will be me to blame you.

"No I don't." I retorted sternly turning my back to him and walking away. Why didn't you listen Cloud? Why couldn''t you listen to your friend? If It hadn't been for my heart telling me I could never let you endure this pain again, I would have let you run to her and watch you cry. Cry on the inside, burst just like I did. And I burst again, like a glass you drop to the floor. Thousand pieces, you mended it once but I feel you can not mend it twice. Hearts are fragile Cloud, I hope you knew.

I heard him follow me. Were you desperate Cloud? Desperate to find out about the sadness you endured once? Foolish boy.

I felt anger growing inside me next to my pain. Anger about his stupidness. Anger at you, Aerith.

"Did I love her?" Cloud asked me again. I was boiling inside. "No." I snapped at him.

Cloud taken aback stared at me for a minute. "Just forget her. You are making her up Cloud, she is not there." the anger in my voice still did not vanish. I avoided looking into his eyes. His blue eyes that I love so much. I would cry, cry and not stop myself. I would have let him see my tears. I kept staring onto my empty bed.

"Why are you so angry?" I noticed some anger in his voice now too. Love, hm? You believed you love her just because she told you she loves you? How pathetic. "Are you lying to me?" this time he yelled. It stung me like a hot sword, right into my broken heart. You never yelled at me Cloud. And now you get angry at me because of someone who is dead? I used to believed you could never hurt me more, now you did.

"Leave me alone Cloud." I tried to talk as clear as I could. My voice trembled. I could not press a single letter out of my throat anymore. Hot tears ran down my face, my face I hid from him.

As I heart the door slam shut again I sank to the floor, weeping. My hot cheek touched the bedsheets and tears kept streaming. When I realized you love her I heard my heart suffering a huge crack. When I heard you fell for her again, I heard my heart shattering.

(Tifa POV End)

"Hearts are fragile."

---------

I hope you guys will enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it. :)