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Disclaimer: I do not own Genesis, Aeris or anything Final Fantasy related.

She was sure that any moment now her heart was going to break. Her pulse was reaching dizzying heights, making her feel faint. Aeris blinked. The image of the man beside her was not going to fade no matter how hard she tried. She gulped when she felt the fragrant flower swirl around her face. She pushed it away with her hand but, alas, he kept going.

"What do you want?" she managed to utter all the while trying to avoid his insistent ticklish hand movements around her face.

"What do I want?" Genesis miraculously stopped bothering Aeris' face and looked up to the night sky as if to consider her question.

"Oh, I want many things my dear Aeris..." Genesis added. But right now what I would love to know most is WHY did you run away from ME?" and with those words he touched his heart as if to indicate it was broken.

Aeris blinked again. Was that man serious? Which kind of lunatic asylum did he escape from? she wondered.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Aeris screamed with all her might and got up to run away from him, adrenaline kicking in again. She wasn't sure how far she would go this time but she would not give up. She would at least die trying.

As she was turning around the corner she dared a quick glance behind her and saw him still sitting on the ground inspecting the yellow flower with the utmost fascination paying no attention to her running away.

Aeris didn't delay a moment further but kept running. This... is... just... a crazy... dream... Aeris muttered in between sudden inhalations of air. But why isn''t he following me? Is he that deranged? Why was he just sitting there staring at a damn flower?

She didn't care. The more corners she turned the more she hoped her chances of escape and survival would increase. She didn't know how he had found her in the first place, but maybe she'd be luckier now, she prayed.

One more turn Aeris, you can make it, she said to herself encouraging her to keep running. One more turn. One more turn and you're almost th...

She didn't see the crush coming. The tall wall of muscle clad in red leather made sure to interrupt her progression and make her fall painfully to the ground. Aeris winced.

"Tsk tsk tsk...You know that's not a nice behaviour..." Genesis said in a disapproving tone while looking down at the girl in front of his feet. "Running away and all..."

Aeris glanced up to his towering form. She shivered. He wasn't looking at her now though. His interest was occupied by something else this time. Her eyes settled on his hand which was holding something round.

"Oh, that?" Genesis asked as if guessing her question. "That's a Banora apple." That's the village where I come from you know... it's called Banora...hence the name. I grew up there..."

Aeris didn't stay to hear the rest of his speech. She got up and started running towards the opposite direction; only to be suddenly stopped in her tracks once again.

Aeris gasped and her eyes grew in horrifying amazement.

"Did you know that these apples grow in the Banora region only? Genesis continued his conversation - or rather monologue - as if he was never interrupted. "They grow nowhere else."

He held the apple slightly above his tilted head as if he was examining it. His eyes squinted under the insufficient streetlight, his hair, covering half of his face, making the task more difficult.

And then he continued.

"Did you also know that their unique taste and mysterious health properties are said to be attributed to the rich soil of the region?" Genesis informed her, excitement apparent in his voice.

Aeris forced her shaking legs to change direction one more time. Learning about the apple's history was at the bottom of her priorities. She started running again as fast as she could but she didn't think her legs would sustain her for any longer. With each running stride her gasps in need of more air got louder and more intense. She...had... to...breathe...

"Why don't you have a bite?" Genesis materialised out of nowhere once again right before the startled and desperate for breath girl. Aeris looked at him, despair in her eyes.

Genesis smiled and took one step forward offering her the apple. She didn't move.

"You're refusing my gift again?" Genesis enquired a bit more impatiently this time, grabbing her hand. Aeris remained speechless, defeat swallowing her up at last.

He came even closer and placed the apple on her hand. With his hand never leaving her own, he wound his other hand around her waist and forced her apple-clasping hand upwards bringing it closer to his mouth. He let his tongue slip out of his mouth and in deliberately slow movements he started licking the apple surface in between her open fingers, smirking eyes constantly on hers. Aeris forgot to breathe. His tongue had now moved from the apple to her fingers, slowly getting them wet one by one, starting from her little finger right up to to her index and thumb. When he finally reached her thumb he lingered a little longer. He smiled.

Genesis took a sudden large bite, finally making Aeris draw a sharp breath from the shock.

"Your turn," he whispered as he brought his mouth close to her ear.

Aeris shot a terrified glance at the apple she was holding, checking she had no fingers missing, and then back at him. He wasn't joking, she figured. Better do as she was told, she decided. At least it didn't seem to be poisoned, she reasoned, seeing that he had also tasted it. And with that, she took a small reluctant bite earning her a large grin from Genesis' lips.

"Good girl...." he mused. "Now swallow," he whispered seeing Aeris had not made any chewing movements.

Obediently Aeris tried to do as he said but the lump on her throat that had formed since her unfortunate first encounter was impossible to bypass. No matter how much she forced herself to swallow, it refused to stir even the slightest. With a final and forceful press of her tongue that made her choke, she gulped it down, throwing her body into a coughing fit.

Genesis chuckled. "Now what? Don't tell me you don't like it? They're the best apples in the whole world!"

"They're so good they made my parents rich... Made me rich!" he laughed.

"Do you like rich men, Aeris?" he added a moment later with his ever-present alluring voice.

He gazed down at her looking for a reaction. He was only met with silence.

"No? Well, too bad... Hmm... How about both rich and handsome men then?" Genesis winked at her.

"Oh... I would swear you do... judging by the way you were looking at me when we first met," he added chuckling, but was again met with a mute expression.

"..."

"Actually... you know what? Since you won't answer me..." he paused for effect, "I think I'll answer the question for you."

With a swift movement, Genesis forced the apple she was still holding drop onto the ground. It made a surprisingly thumping sound disturbing the eerie silence that surrounded them before finally rolling to a standstill. With another sudden movement, he grabbed both of her wrists and pressed her open palms on top of his torso.

Aeris' voice had stuck on her throat. She shook her head violently from side to side so as to indicate her strongly negative answer.

Oblivious to her ordeal, Genesis slowly guided her trembling hands upwards, towards his collarbone imitating a massage-like movement.

"I think you do... like...

"tall..."

"muscular..."

" men..."

" in leather..."

"uniform...."

His piercing blue eyes gazed down at her.

"Especially when it's RED..." he smirked.

Aeris didn't have time to react. With the speed of light, his hands forced her arms around his neck and almost immediately she felt strong hands coiling tightly around her tiny waist pressing her face against his chest.

Aeris screamed. She felt as if she was flying.

Literally...

She took a side glance which confirmed her suspicions. She was airborne... she was actually FLYING...but how...what... how was that possible... she wondered in terror as the dark streets and scarcely illuminated buildings below became smaller and smaller.

She closed her eyes and ironically pressed her body against the only means of relative safety she had available: Genesis'. She dug her nails deep into his neck penetrating the skin barrier and releasing copious amounts of crimson liquid which started spreading around her fingers. This only made her hold more unsteady and slippery.

Aeris screamed again. "Please Genesis! Put me down. I'm begging you!" she pleaded through teary eyes.

The man didn't seem to notice though. In fact he seemed to be in the middle of one of his mysterious trances again.

"Genesis!" Aeris screamed again overpowered by fear. "Genesis!" she cried not daring to make the slightest movement.

His eyes finally seemed to come to life again as he turned his head slightly for his stare to lock with hers.

"The most profound mystery is the Gift of the Goddess and in pursuit of this gift we set on a journey and take flight. Hopeless as it may seem we stand and carry onward with the ripples of water that surface on our hearts." was Genesis' only answer.

Aeris blinked. Her options were limited she considered. Maybe she should just release her hands from around his neck after all...

Oooh.... Poor Aeris.... her hope is all gone it seems...what will she do now??? Please review if you want faster updates! Thanks!!