a/n: Thanks again for the reviews, you two.

Whee, I'm sure you'll all be surprised at the end. xD

Chapter 6

Always Be There

"Hey Cloud, you ever been to the Wall Market?"

"...Um, no."

"... Me neither!"

"Um.. Aerith, are you sure we're allowed to be here?"

Cloud asked with a bit of fear and uncertainty in his voice, he wasn't a hundred percent sure that this place was right for children, and was a bit scared himself of the strange people that infested the suspicious streets of the Wall Market. Aerith just walked along side her friend, not noticing his discomfort and was instead looking around the strange place, mesmerized by how bright it was compared to the slums. They walked deeper into the heart of the market, Cloud was beginning to notice that there weren't any children walking around and started to become paranoid. His hands began to tighten in discomfort while he tried to avoid the stares of the weird junkies that sat on the streets.

"Aerith..." His voice was quiet and full of fear but again, Aerith didn't notice.

"Hey boy! How 'bout sparing some gil for you good ol' uncle!!" Cloud yelped at the man's sudden advance on him and jumped closer to Aerith, accidentally grabbing onto her hand. Noticing that he was gripping onto Aerith's hand, he quickly let go and blushed, not only because he actually held Aerith's hand but also because of the fact that he quickly cowered away from the man and found safety in the girl he was supposed to protect.

Aerith finally noticed his discomfort and giggled after Cloud had let go of her hand. They both stopped in the middle of the road and Aerith looked down at the mortified boy rather amusedly.

"Cloud... Are you scared?" A sly smile crept upon her lips and she watched as the boy quickly shook his head at her question.

"N-No!" His voice was hesitant and shaky, a sign showing that he was still embarrassed. He looked up to Aerith, glaring at her amused expression and looked away in a huff. He heard the girl burst out into a small giggle and scrunched his face in annoyance. "You know, I really wasn't sca—"

He stopped, noticing that something had slipped in-between his hand, and looked down in surprise. Aerith had stopped laughing and grabbed her friend's hand, a gentle smile graced her face as Cloud looked up, flabbergasted.

"Um... A-Aerith... ?"

Aerith giggled and spoke. "It's okay if you're scared Cloud, I'll protect you."

Cloud knitted his brows together, confused at what Aerith had just said. He tightened his grip around Aerith's and searched for her eyes. "Hu.h...? But I'm the one that's supposed to be protecting you..."

Aerith giggled at how ignorant Cloud was with people. She swung their arms together and continued to walk, dragging Cloud along with her.

"That's true... But you know, sometimes bodyguards need protecting too."

Cloud became even more confused, "But isn't the purpose of a bodyguard to protect...? Why would they need protection if they were already pro— Ow..."

Aerith lightly bonked Cloud on the head and laughed, watching as he tended his sore head with the soothing rubs of his hand.

"Just think of it this way, if you're ever alone, I'll always be there for you Cloud."

Again, Cloud was confused. Confused to the point that he didn't even know what Aerith was talking about anymore. He didn't know if it was because he was just stupid, or maybe Aerith was being random again... He assumed the latter and commented, looking at Aerith as they continued to walk around the market.

"Aerith, you're really random sometimes. You're so weird." Her green eyes found his blue ones, and she smiled delightfully. " I know But you still like me, right Cloud?"

Cloud laughed at her response and nodded. "Yeah."

It was Aerith's turn to laugh this time and she began to walk faster, releasing Cloud's hand in the process. She took a few steps ahead of Cloud and stopped before him, a benevolent grin tattooed itself on her face.

"See Cloud, when I hold your hand, it isn't so scary anymore right?"

Cloud stopped in front of her and didn't realize that he wasn't afraid anymore. He gasped in the sudden realization and nodded at Aerith, smiling graciously to her. Aerith took Cloud's hand in hers again and continued to walk. "Besides, I'm sure this place is safe for kids... Look at the girl, she's probably younger than both of us and she's walking around by herself!"

Aerith pointed to a young girl ahead of them, she was small and short with long black hair, a round innocent face confirmed that she was just a mere child like Cloud and Aerith.

Cloud turned his head in the same direction and looked at the girl Aerith had pointed out. Somehow, that girl; with the long, black and the large, black eyes, reminded him of someone he knew back then. He squinted his eyes, trying to get a clearer look of the small girl and tightened his hands in frustration because he couldn't pinpoint who she was. Aerith noticed the tight pressure on her hand and looked at Cloud, noticing his troubled state.

"Is something wrong, Cloud?"

Cloud kept silent, keeping his eyes on the small girl ahead of them and finally his mind and memory clicked together. His eyes widened in surprise and he gasped, hesitantly whispering something with disbelief in his tone.

"T-Tifa?"