Hey! Here's teh next chapter. Due to the fact that I am behind on my other stories, this one won't be updated until I update them. But I will finish quickly because...SCHOOL IS OUT! I tried to be romantic and sweet in this chapter...but there is plenty of sadness too. Enjoy!

Chapter Three

Dancing Among the Stars

Her eyelids fluttered, then opened.

She seemed to be laying down, but there was no ground. Nor sky. Carefully, she spread her fingertips, searching with a blind hand for some sort of ground. There seemed to be substance, as far as an arm's length from her body, at least. She squinted, turning her head various ways, trying in vain to see in the complete darkness. It occurred to her then, that she ought to be afraid. But no fear rose within her, not of this place or the darkness. There merely seemed to exist a faint curiosity- and an overwhelming need to find her daughter safe. Licking her lips, she cleared her throat, the sound seeming almost too loud as it escaped her lips.

"Hello?" Aerith called, noting that her voice seemed to carry no echo. "Is anyone there?"

Aerith bit her lip, wondering vaguely if she was blind, dismissing the thought almost immediately. Taking a deep breath, she cried as loud as she could- "MARLENE!" Once again, there was no sound, not even an echo from her shout.

For the first time, she felt a little afraid.

Trying to shake it off, she felt carefully around herself, making sure that there was something to stand on, and stood up. With a start, she realized that she did not have her staff; she must have dropped it, somewhere in the darkness...

Aerith looked around again futilely. There simply seemed to be nothing in this place, wherever it was. But then a faint sound reached her ears, a minute tinkling, like keys hitting each other, and a faint whooshing like that of a robin's wings...

And somewhere, light seemed to be coming.

It was faint, delicate, easy to shatter or extinguish with more darkness, but it plowed on, resilient. The sounds grew a little in volume, and Aerith turned, realizing that they were coming from behind her. A dark shadow was walking toward her, odd in shape, but obviously humanoid. Something seemed to be sticking out of one side...a wing? And the clothes the shape wore were loose- something like a cloak fluttering about it as it came toward her. But as it approached, Aerith became aware of one thing only- the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.

They literally glowed- she didn't know how that was possible, but it didn't matter. They were glorious, shining with a strength and will that nearly took her breath away. But there was a terrible sadness there too...a great and awful sadness, that was just held back by a dam of indifference. The sadness was in itself, more beautiful and horrible than anything Aerith had ever seen- the sadness was like flames eating him up inside. But as he came ever closer, she noticed that that sadness seemed to dim, replaced by something that seemed almost...bittersweet. But he did not look away from her, seeming almost entrapped, as she knew she was. He stopped; a foot away from her, and through her peripheral vision, Aerith took notice of the rest of him.

His hair was a starling golden, standing up in spiky disarray and framing his face. His eyes, and bit of the bridge of his nose was all that she could see of his face, a deep crimson flap that seemed to be part of a cloak obscured the rest. A shoulder pad peeked through the crimson mass, and one hand was encased in a golden claw-like gauntlet. Aerith couldn't help but widen her eyes slightly in shock, as she was the black wing that twisted a little as he moved, coming from his back and right shoulder. It looked faintly like a bat's wing, and though slightly menacing, she only felt surprise and wonder at seeing it. He was fairly tall, and she looked up, into his face yet again.

Slowly, never taking his eyes away from her own, he unsheathed his sword, laying it gently on the 'ground' at their feet. He straightened, his cloak flapping, the sound raising Aerith from her jumbled thoughts.

"What is this place? What's going on? Where's Marlene? I need to find-" She stopped, seeing that for a moment, the sadness in his eyes threatened to overflow. Swallowing, she whispered- "Where is this place?"

The man stared at her. Then, slowly, he pointed upward with his gauntleted hand. Aerith looked up, and found the source of the light that had come so gently.

"The stars...?" She whispered, looking back at him again.

He nodded, gently, still not taking his eyes off hers. Slowly, he extended his gloved hand toward her, fingertips pointing toward the sky. He waited, showing that he wanted her to take his hand. Her eyes flicked up to his face, and back down to his hand for a moment. Aerith knew very well that perhaps this man meant to kill her, but she was not afraid of him at all, instead she felt a strange, burning curiosity about him- a need to understand who he was, and to be with him.

Aerith Closed her eyes for a moment, before grasping his outstretched fingers in her own; the gloves were surprisingly war, though the temperature in this place was neither warm nor cold- there seemed to be no temperature at all.

The gloved hand curled around hers, pulling her forward a little. She stumbled, her feet feeling strangely leaden for a moment before she began walking with him. His grip on her tightened for a second, and Aerith glanced at him, seeing for the first time that he wasn't looking at her, but looking ahead, at whatever path they were taking. Feeling her eyes on him he looked around. For a moment his eyes seemed to smile sadly.

"Don't be afraid," He whispered, voice deep and resonating in the semi-darkness.

Aerith shook her head, staring in confusion. Why would she be afraid? Fear was certainly one emotion that she wasn't feeling right now.

He began walking again, and Aerith was unable to take her eyes off of his face. "Where are you taking me?" She whispered, staring at him. "Can you help me find Marlene...?" When he didn't answer Aerith found her voice rising in desperation. "Please, please help me! I have to find her!" She begged, gripping the man's hand even tighter as tears began to fall from her eyes. "Please!" The man stopped, quite suddenly.

He was frozen, standing as though locked in position, staring straight ahead as though willing himself to go forward. He began to tremble, violently, as though great pains were racking his body, his hand gripping hers ever more tightly. He turned, glowing eyes meeting hers in a stare that pushed out all of her thoughts. Aerith felt her eyes widen as he took a step forward, still staring at her, rising into the air as though ascending invisible stairs. Without thought, she stepped forward too, lifting her foot as though there was a step beneath her. Vaguely surprised, she found herself standing on the same level as him, still staring deep into his wondrous, broken, eyes.

They ascended like that, up a stairway that perhaps existed, perhaps did not. Hand in hand they climbed up, to the starry heavens that provided the only light that could be seen. They never faltered, never wavered, going up, turning when needed, and pausing if necessary. Finally, they stood as if on a pinnacle, surrounded on all sides by stars, so that no black space was without. Unthinkingly, Aerith reached for his clawed hand, feeling faint surprise when he drew away. Furrowing her brow, she saw something like fear in his eyes and a laugh escaped her. It was a sparkling sound, but deadened, with no echo to swirl it through the fiery cosmos, which surrounded them.

"It's alright," she murmured, ever so softly. "You won't hurt me."

His eyes widened a little, flicking down to her fingers, still reaching for the gauntlet with its sharp edges, and then back up to her face. Aerith saw the unwilling fear there- the fear that he would tear at this creature like which he had never touched before, that he might snap the stem of the flower that stood before him- smiling. Hesitantly, like a child which was waiting for a scolding, he gripped her fingers lightly with the gauntlet, closing his eyes as though in contentment.

He opened them, and it was then that Aerith forgot about why she was there, it was then that she forgot about Marlene and the friends she had left behind; forgot about the lives and people waiting outside, forgot of her reasons and wonderings, forgot why she had wanted to know where she was. She stared into his eyes and knew one thing- she wanted to stay here. She wanted to 'know' him. She wanted to see his eyes for all eternity.

Still holding both of her hands, he stepped back, bringing her with him. He stepped to the side, and she followed. He stepped forward again, and Aerith quickly moved her feet, lest they be stepped on. He glanced at her shyly, apologetically, and Aerith understood.

He released one of her hands, gently flicking her wrist out as he spread out one arm to his right. She followed the movement, slowly flinging out her other arm as she spun away from him. He pulled her back toward him, and she spun in, grabbing his shoulder in one hand, removing the other from his to grasp his waist. He mimicked her movements- hand on opposite shoulder and waist, stepping forward again.

She followed, and just like that, they were dancing- the stars sparkling around them like flowers of heaven raining from above.

They danced; slowly, at first, gaining their bearings, learning each other's movements and steps. Then they danced faster, sinuous, the music being that of their hearts and mingled breathing, soft, still in the ever-silent night. A star flew by above them, as a bridge, and they spun, moonlighting the moonless night as an enigma in the empty, mysterious world.

He stepped on her feet at least once, and she perhaps bumped him to roughly while moving, but it hardly mattered, and neither took notice. They didn't speak, and found no need for it. They felt no tiredness, though they knew it would come all too soon. For now they held it at bay as they discovered- each other, themselves, and the beauty of the stars when shared with another.

Aerith spun out, and in her pant she felt the first pang of fatigue, her arm splaying to the heavens still above them as though to catch a falling star, spinning back in as he pulled, gently. She spun, slowly, more than before, not grabbing his waist when she returned. Instead she stopped, hand held lightly against the fabric covering his chest, head tilted upward into his now surprised, melancholy, beautiful face. His eyes softened, as she gazed at him, her breathing now heavy, wing curling gently over them, as though hiding them from view. One of her hands gripped his arm, the other still on his chest. His hands sat on her waist, and they stared at each other, breathing more softly as the moments passed. He tilted his head a little to one side, and her fingers strayed to where his heart beat, counting each and concentrating until her own beat with his. His breath caught, and for a glorious moment, Aerith was sure that he was smiling.

It was then, seeing the glint of a smile in his sad eyes- that she fell in love with him.

But then it was gone and they simply stood there, neither willing to move. Finally he spoke again, voice quiet. Aerith strained to hear him, his voice like that which she longed to hear.

"Aerith," he said, and her name from his lips nearly made her gasp. She could not keep the smile from flowing across her face. A question came to her lips though, and she spoke it without thought:

"How do you know my name...?"

"Hn." A slight chuckle seemed to escape him, and he began walking, turned, moving his arms to grip her shoulders, her dropping to his waist. "I know everything about you," he said finally, and there was a bittersweet smile in his voice.

Aerith gaped at him for a second, green orbs staring up at him. "How...?"

He shook his head, and she let it drop.

Clearing her throat she tried a new tack- though curious, it was more that she wanted him to keep speaking that she asked these questions. "Where are we?"

He shrugged a little, still walking. "Everywhere, nowhere. It doesn't really matter."

"No, I suppose it doesn't," Aerith murmured, looking down at their feet and smiling.

He made a noise of confusion, staring down at her. She looked up, feeling his gaze. "Well," she said, tilting her head to one side. "I'm with you. So it doesn't really matter."

He said nothing, merely glanced away.

"Hey," she began. "Will I fall if I let go of you?" He jumped a little at her question. "I don't know," he muttered. He still didn't look at her.

Aerith fought to keep smiling. "Well, I suppose I'll have to find out. Catch me if I fall?"

It worked; he looked at her, eyes wide with an emotion that she couldn't quite place. Slowly, he nodded. She smiled, unwinding her arms from around his waist and stepping away, feeling his arms, though they slipped off of her, hang in the air as though unwilling to let her go. She didn't glance back, though she too wanted to rush back to him. She bent, ripping the boots off of her feet. They tumbled through the air, landing some distance away, the sound muffled. Aerith spread her arms out, palms up, and spun, feeling her dress flare about around her as she turned.

She smiled a little, liking the feeling, as though there was wind in this unnatural place. A laugh escaped her as she spun around again, spinning to a stop, grinning at him. He stood there, having not moved an inch from where she had left him. The expression on his face made her smile fall- he looked so scared and unsure- so fragile, that she berated herself for leaving him for even a moment. And yet there was this thinly veiled need in his eyes- want, as he looked at her. But it was quickly quashed by sadness. He averted his eyes.

Blinking back tears, she stepped, lightly, hesitantly, toward him. She stretched out her arm in front of her, lightly brushing his shoulder. He looked back at her for a split second- and she saw a profound relief that astounded her before he looked away again.

She dropped her hand so that it was held in his again; wordlessly, they began walking.

"So," Aerith said, swinging their twined fingers gently. "Who are you?"

He said nothing for several moments. When she looked back, afraid that her question might have hurt him in some way, she saw that he was gazing ahead, apparently lost in thought. Finally he spoke:

"I am no one." His tone was calm, almost nonchalant.

Aerith blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? Of course you are someone!" She stopped, staring incredulously up into his face. He had gone very pale; he looked stricken. When he spoke, his voice was a whisper.

"Not yet. Please..." He whispered. "Just a little longer, okay?"

Aerith stared at him for a very long moment. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay." She looked down for a moment. "Forgive me, but I have another question. I wanted to know your name before I asked it...but..." She sighed, softly. "All the same, I won't ask it just yet." She smiled up at him, keeping the tears that threatened to spill within her eyes.

They resumed walking, and the walk was in silence. Both were lost in thought, but at the same time, hyper-aware of the other. Occasionally, Aerith would bring herself closer to him, lean her head on his shoulder. And sometimes, he would tighten his grip on her hand, and she felt that perhaps he was smiling again- if sadly. The stars still sparkled, but with a far more dim, almost like the stars were reading their emotions and dwindling in their sadness.

Finally, Aerith spoke again.

They stopped, and she turned so that she was in front of him, staring at her feet. Her hands were pressed up against his arms. "I have another question...and this one matters a lot to me so please...answer honestly." She took a deep breath, before looking up, tears shining in her eyes like crystals.

"Can I...stay with you?"

His eyes widened, his breath halting. "Wh-what?"

Aerith took another deep breath. "Can I stay...with you?" A tear escaped, and fell, falling down her cheek slowly.

He raised his hand, wiping at it, stopping the crystallized water on his fingertip. His hand lingered at her cheek, brushing it with the lightest of touches. He closed his eyes as he touched her, as though reveling in it, his hand beginning to tremble. Aerith closed her eyes too, enjoying the feeling of his fingers on her cheek.

When he opened his eyes, the look in them was so heartbreaking, Aerith felt new tears start in her eyes. He was shaking. He took a step back from her, as though in fear.

"Don't..." He began, voice cracking. "Don't say that..." He took another step back from her, eyes glittering more than ever in his surge of emotion. "Please..." He took a shaky breath. "Don't..."

Aerith stared at him, her mouth open very slightly. Her arm reached out for him in vain, tears falling gently down her face. She stepped toward him and he lost it, crying out-

"DON'T!" He screamed, falling to his knees, hands gripping his skull as though afraid the contents would spill out. He was gasping, breaths rattling and uneven as he trembled. "Don't say...that...please..." He gasped, crouching even lower on the floor. "Don't..."

Aerith fell to her knees too. "Why...?" She breathed, one hand still reaching out for him. "If you don't...want me...tell me, and I can go!" her voice cracked on the last word as another onslaught of tears began to fall. He looked up sharply at her words.

He seemed almost angry. "How can you say that...?" He said, voice growing in volume as he spoke. "You...sitting there, like a flower, smiling and touching, laughing..." His voice broke for a moment, and then grew again. "How could I not want you?!" He stood up and gave a powerful snort, pacing up and down.

"You! You with your friends and your life and your daughter!" He stopped suddenly, turned away from her. "Your daughter..." He whispered. He shook himself. "You have a daughter to save, a life to live. A husband waiting for you at home." He turned back toward her, falling to his knees in front of her. "That is why you can't stay here, Aerith! You have a life!" His voice cracked again. "This was all done to keep you here, this illusion, but you have to go! You can't stay- you can't!"

Aerith stared at him for a very long time; tears frozen on her face as everything she had forgotten came rushing back to her. The circumstances changed a little, but she still wanted... When she spoke, her voice was slow. "I thought...you said you knew everything about me?"

He blinked, completely thrown by her words.

"I have a husband, yes. But not for long. We're getting a divorce- we never loved each other. I know now it wasn't even close to...the real thing..." She smiled a little at him, blushing. "I know, now, I can't stay here. Not when my daughter is out there but..." She paused. "Illusion or not, I feel the same. I can't stay so I ask- come with me. Please..." Aerith reached out her hand to him again.

He stared at her. "I deceived you, kept you here rather than looking for your daughter..."

Aerith shook her head. "I don't blame you; I'm glad I met you." She smiled more brightly. "Besides...Marlene needs a father."

He gaped at her- Aerith could see his resolve weakening, his desire to come overriding what he saw as sense. "But I..." He began. "I'm not..."

She shook her head. "No buts. Please, whatever your name is. I want you to come with me." Aerith paused, looking down for a moment in shyness. "I...need you to come with me." She looked up and smiled at him again.

When he spoke his voice was very quiet. "Cloud. I'm Cloud."

Aerith nodded, scooting closer to him. She smiled, and she wanted to touch his face as he had touched hers. "Please...come with me, Cloud."

He stared at her, eyes wide and hardly daring to hope that this flower wasn't lying, wouldn't leave without him...

"Let's go, Cloud..."

He reached for her hand. Their fingertips brushed, but before he could grasp them, Aerith found herself tumbling once again into darkness.

Hee. Another cliffhanger. Next chapter starts with Cloud, then switches to Aerith. No, he didn't go with her, she was pulled out of the illusion before he could. I tried to make this as romantic as possible, with lots of sadness and drama, so feel free to critique me on that. )

Eventually, I'll be doing this scene in Cloud's POV as a one-shot.

Reviews:

AerithGast88- Thank you! I'm glad you feel that way.

greensally- Thanks for reviewing again. Glad you love it ;)

Princess of the Knight- I'm glad that I acheived 'mysterious' and that you like it so far. Hope you like this update.