Hah! I'm back...but I'm not updating as rapidly as I used to. My parents just thought this can be my freetime hobby now. hehehe
Anyway, thanks for waiting people! Here's an update.
The mobile you are calling cannot be reached. Please call back later.
Aerith let out a sigh and hung up her cell phone. She was sitting on the bed in Cloud's room, and it was 11pm. Aerith leaned back and rested her head on the back wall as she redialed the number. She pressed the phone to her ear and waited anxiously.
The mobile you are calling cannot be reached. Please call back later.
Aerith closed her eyes, putting down the phone. She stared at it sadly for a moment, and then tried calling again.
Cloud walked into the room. He stopped by the door, watching her concernedly.
"He's not going to answer," he said after a moment. Aerith jolted at the sound of his voice, looking over at him. She cast a crestfallen look and placed the phone on her lap. Cloud sighed and went to the bed, sitting down next to her.
"I called him a few hours ago," he told her. Aerith turned and looked up at him, surprised. "He's fine."
"Where is he?" she asked desperately. Cloud could tell she was very worried.
"He's in Burton," he said gently. Aerith's look of anxiety slowly faded back to sadness and guilt. She dropped her gaze and leaned back. Cloud moved in closer, pulling the blanket over him. He tried to give her some hope.
"He's still going to come back to help out, though," he continued. "You know Leon would never abandon this town." Aerith coughed a little and hugged her knees. Cloud wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She sighed.
"He's done so much for us," she whispered, resting her head on him. Cloud kissed her forehead.
"He's a good person," he commented. Leon was more than a good person. He sacrificed his own happiness for Aerith, and that was the most selfless thing any man could do. Cloud sighed, holding Aerith tightly.
"He doesn't deserve to go through this…" Aerith said sadly. She wished she could do something, but she knew she couldn't. Cloud gently took her by the chin and lifted her face up to him. He smiled.
"He wants you to be happy, Aerith." He held her hand and placed it on his cheek. Aerith couldn't help but smile back. She reached up and kissed him lightly. She sighed deeply and laid her head on his chest. She played with his hand thoughtfully for a few moment before letting out a deep, sad sigh.
"I'm sorry, Cloud," she said after a while. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry for everything." Cloud pressed his face into her hair and rubbed against it. Aerith felt his hand tighten.
"You… loved him for real, didn't you?" he muttered. "You meant what you said when you told me." Aerith sensed a hint of sadness in his voice. She sat up, staring at the bed sheets. Cloud's hand moved to her shoulder. He smiled feebly.
"It's okay that you do," he said gently. Aerith exhaled deeply and slowly nodded, still not looking at him.
"It was real," she muttered quietly. "All of it." Cloud smiled.
"Is that why you lied?" he asked. His tone was gentle, with no sign of any aggression or jealousy. "Because you thought I'd get hurt if I knew?" Aerith closed her eyes.
"I didn't wait for you," she murmured. "I didn't want you to know about that, but I swear, I didn't want any of this." She felt his arms wrap around her firmly. "I knew it was wrong, but I just…" she opened her eyes a little. "I never meant to hurt anyone. I just wanted everything to be like it was. I'm so sorry." Cloud hugged her warmly.
"I know you wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose," he said. "I understand now." He pushed Aerith off gently and took her by the shoulders.
"That's why I forgive you." Aerith sighed sadly.
"That's not necessary," she said bitterly. "I've done too much." Cloud shook his head.
"I know you were hurting more than anyone," he said. Aerith's gaze drifted down to his chest, but he brought it up to him again. He looked serious.
"You did what you did because you love me, and that's all I need to know." At that, he pulled her into a kiss. Aerith couldn't help but smile a little.
They laid back down onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. However, something else was disturbing Aerith.
"Cloud?"
"Hmm?"
"There's something I need to know." Cloud sat up.
"What is it?" Aerith's expression turned grim.
"That time, when you caught me with Leon, I saw something in you I've never seen before…" Cloud blinked, and then looked away. "Your eyes, they turned black, as if they were clouded by some kind of darkness." Aerith placed a hand on his shoulder. "Cloud, I've been studying about the Heartless for 8 years, and I'm really scared." She tried to get his eye contact. "I know something else happened to you while you were gone." Cloud turned away, as if afraid to face her. "Cloud, please tell me. There's more to the story than you told me. What happened?" the young man looked down at his hands. He shook his head, a look of disgust on his face as he thought back.
"He took everything away from me," he muttered. "His seed drowned out every spark of light inside me…" Aerith rubbed his back to comfort him. Cloud stared at the bed sheets, his expression emotionless.
"I've done unthinkable things that have pulled me even further into the darkness." He looked at Aerith. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what I did. I just can't." He closed his eyes and leaned forward. Aerith wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down to her. She hugged him tightly, like a mother.
"It's alright," she said gently, "It's not your fault." She pulled him closer.
Aerith was afraid, and she didn't want to let him go. She could feel the darkness within him.
No, she wasn't going to lose him to the darkness.
Not again. But still, she knew there was still some light inside him.
He could still love, he could still feel. He was still her Cloud.
"Maybe he's really gone," she said, though knowing fully well that this was nothing but false hope. Cloud shook his head.
"No," he said firmly. "I can still feel him." He sat up again.
Cloud knew that seed of darkness had created a bond between him and Sephiroth, and his hatred for him drew him in even deeper. He would be able to feel it when the time came for Sephiroth's resurfacing.
"Aerith, I need the light." Aerith shook her head grimly.
"Only you can find your light," she said. "No one else's can replace it." Cloud looked away. "But you haven't turned your back on the light." She smiled. "There's always hope, Cloud." He looked away and nodded.
"Dark and light are forever," he muttered. He leaned back, resting his head on the wall.
"Aerith… will the Heartless always exist because of this?" Aerith sighed. She rested her head on his shoulder. She placed her hand on his chest.
"As long as there is darkness in a heart," she told him softly. "The Heartless will always continue to exist." Cloud shut his eyes, the painful guilt consuming him. Aerith rubbed his chest gently.
"Hush…" she whispered. "It's not your fault." She coughed, fixing up his blanket. "Get some sleep." She wrapped her arms around him. "Don't worry, Cloud. Your love is your light, and as long as you know how to love, you have nothing to worry about. Just go to sleep." Cloud exhaled sharply onto her neck, and Aerith felt his tense body begin to relax. She smiled to herself.
"Forget about everything," she said. "None of it matters right now. I'm here for you." She smiled gently, kissing his temple. She cradled him in her arms and started to sing softly.
#When I think back
on these times
and the dreams
we left behind
I'll be glad 'cause
I was blessed to get
to have you in my life…#
Cloud opened his eyes a little. He felt a sensation of happiness flow inside him. He smiled.
It was the lullaby Aerith always used to sing when they were children. He remembered she would sing it to Yuffie when she was a baby to stop her crying.
One time, she sang it to him when he was in bed with a fever, and it always made him feel better. It made him forget about everything bad, always making him smile.
Cloud smiled again and closed his eyes as Aerith continued to sing the lullaby.
#When I look back
on these days
I'll look and see your face
You were right there for me
In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There will always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be
And everywhere I am
There you'll be…#
Something happened to him, something that hadn't happened for a long time.
He was dreaming.
It wasn't about darkness. It wasn't about the painful past.
It was about the future. A future full of light, full of happiness.
A future with Aerith.
# Well you showed me
How it feels
To feel the sky
Within my reach
And I always
Will remember all
The strength you
Gave to me
Your love made me
Make it through
Oh, I owe so much to you
You were right there for me…#
Feeling her warm body next to him, Cloud 's will to continue fighting the darkness grew stronger.
#'Cause I always saw in you
My light, my strength
And I want to thank you
Now for all the ways
You were right there for me
You were right there for me
For always…#
He wanted to fight for her. He wanted to fight for the future, for everything that was good.
He wanted to fight for his light.
#In my dreams
I'll always see you soar
Above the sky
In my heart
There will always be a place
For you for all my life
I'll keep a part
Of you with me
And everywhere I am
There you'll be...#
Emitting one last sigh, Cloud slowly fell asleep, the smile still on his lips.
#And everywhere I am
There you'll be
There you'll be…#