Chapter One: Meeting

"I-I'm Cloud."

Cloud mustered those few words after pausing for what seemed like hours. At first, he felt shock, pain, and then confusion. He probably would have never spoke if Aeris –as he still felt it was her- didn't tilt her head to the side and shift uncomfortably.

'This must be a nightmare…defiantly…but…I did feel warmth when I touched her arm.'

"Oh…um…I…I don't remember. Sorry." She turned her gaze on the ground, causing her bangs to cover her expression.

Another set of waves arrived at the shore, and even though it was usually silent, at that moment it seemed to sound nosily.

Now Cloud was really confused. Why was she apologizing? "Oh, no, I probably got the wrong person." He turned to leave, still not believing his eyes, or the reality.

"But-" The girl's voice made Cloud pause.

'Why does she seem so much like her though? Can there be two people in this world that looks so alike?'

"…I am Aeris." She said, looking up again.

Cloud looked at her, unsure when he asked, "Aeris…Gainsborough?"

Aeris nodded, which made Cloud's eyes widen.

'Don't tell me they have the same name too…'

"So…I just wanted to ask; how did you know my name?"

Cloud made some effort to make himself speak, as he was very unstable at the moment, "I…use to…I know someone with the same name…and face…as you…"

"Oh…um…that's…" Aeris breathed deeply and started again, this time with a lighter tone, "Why don't you come to my house? You might find something there."

'Find something…'

"…Aeris…you…really don't remember me? Or are you really a different person?"

"Huh?" She looked up in surprise.

'His voice…seems to be really hurt…I don't know why…but he…makes me feel comfortable, even though the situation is not…do I know him?'

She looked down,"I don't know."

"…Sorry." Cloud looked away.

'I want to help him…and I want to know too.'

"Come to my house!" She smiled, clasping her hands behind her back.

'I can't look at her…she resembles Aeris…my Aeris…too much…'

Seeing that Cloud did not respond, Aeris decided to act on her own. She went up to him, grasped his arm, and tugged him towards the direction of her house.

For a moment Cloud just let her do so, too shock to do anything else.

'They even act alike! This is too much!'

Cloud stopped abruptly, looking at the ground. This caused Aeris to also stop. She looked at him, then asked, "What's wrong?"

"…"

"Come on! It's just a little visit okay?" She pouted, then realized, "Hey…you're not from this town…so why did you come here?"

Cloud looked up at her. "…uh…you just realized…"

"Yeah." She laughed sheepishly.

'Ugh, can't look at her…too much.'

Cloud decided to look off to the side so it wouldn't be too rude. "I was just doing a favour for a friend."

"Oh…so when are you going?"

Cloud paused. He was going to go back tomorrow, but now…he wasn't sure.

"But that's okay! You can decide that later! Come to my house first! You have to meet my Aunt and Uncle! Do you have a place to stay? Why don't you stay over for the night?"

All Cloud could muster was a "Huh?"

Aeris laughed. "Just come over first." She started to lead the way.

Cloud just followed her, having a blank mind at the moment.

By the time they reached their destination, Cloud was stirring up a storm in his head.

'Why are they so alike? They have the same name and face, they talk and walk the same…they…can't be the same person right? No…that's not possible…right? And if they are different people…why is she treating me so good? This isn't a dream…or is it? What is going on? I hope I wake up soon…'

"We're here!" Aeris announced, presenting the entrance of her home. The small house was a light, reddish colour, with a simple square-shaped layout. There were many flowers lining the entire house.

'I'm…still sane…right?'

"Why are you still standing outside for? Come on in!" Aeris opened the door wide for him.

Cloud just numbly walked inside.

Aeris' aunt came downstairs and greeted her with a smile. "My, you're back early. How was the walk?" She was around her mid forties, and had black hair tied into a low ponytail. Even though her eyes were not large, you could tell that they were always smiling.

"The usual. And I bought a visitor."

"Hmm?" She turned to Cloud. "Oh hello. I never saw you around here. Did you just move in town?"

"He just came here for some business." Aeris answered for him.

"I see. And your name is?"

Cloud realized he had to answer, so he simply said, "Cloud."

"Nice to meet you."

"…"

Aeris noticed that Cloud was really awkward at greeting people so she said, "Auntie! We're going to go to the back first okay? Be back in a while."

"Okay. Have fun."

Aeris tugged at Cloud again, this time leading him to her backyard. Cloud was just letting her do so, still feeling too confused.

When they were out of sight, Aeris' aunt sighed playfully, "She bought home a boyfriend already? My, she's growing up. Well, she is twenty-four…I wonder what Dajyne (Da-G-neh) would think? I hope he's not going too be harsh on the poor boy. He is quiet, but he seems to be nice."

Meanwhile, Aeris paced around the yard, tugging at Cloud and telling him about every single species of flower. She crouched down, lightly tugged at Cloud's pants and made him crouch down beside her too. "See, this one is a Sunflower, since it looks like the sun. And this one is the Rose. Sounds romantic right?"

Cloud just slightly nodded.

Now that they were having a little conversation –more one-sided actually- Aeris finally took a good look at Cloud.

'He's actually quite…cute.'

Cloud's gaze was unfocused and was looking nowhere in particular, but when he realized that Aeris had stopped talking, he looked over at her. When they made eye contact, Aeris blushed and looked away to another kind of flower.

"Thi-this one!" Aeris pointed quickly. "Isn't this flower pretty? They were from another place, but my Uncle bought the seeds and so I tried to plant them here. It actually worked!"

Cloud looked at the one she was talking about, and his eyes widened when he recognized it –the only flower he would know. Cloud looked down and quietly stated, "They were from Migar…"

Aeris turned back to him, her blush gone from her face. "How did you know?"

Cloud was silent for a moment before he answered, "I bought a flower like that…in Migar."

"I see! So you are from Migar?"

"Um, yes."

"Is life hard in that city? I heard it used to be a big metropolis…"

'Maybe…she really isn't the Aeris I know…'

"It's…getting better…I suppose…"

"Hmm…that's good." Aeris added, "Even though I never lived there before."

Cloud fell silent again. Aeris realized she might have said something wrong. "Oh…I'm sorry, if I said anything-"

"No, it's nothing."

There was a moment of silence between them again. Aeris made up her mind and said, "I…actually…I bought you to my house for a reason."

Cloud looked up. "What do you mean?"

"You know how you said…you know me…or something like that?"

"Yeah but…you're another person…right?"

"Well…I'm not sure myself…maybe I did know you before."

"That's…impossible…because…because…"

"Because?"

"The person I know…is…" Cloud inhaled a shaky breath. "I won't be seeing her for a while."

"…oh…"

'I don't get it…why would she say I might have known you before? But somehow…somehow…I feel comfortable around her…maybe because she is so much like…'

"Do you have some place to stay?"

"…not yet. I was going to go to the inn."

"Didn't I ask you to stay at my house?"

"…"

"I'll take that as a yes. Then it's decided."

"What? What's decided?"

"You're staying here for the night. We have a guest room so don't worry, you don't need to sleep on the couch."

"…huh?"

Aeris laughed. "You're always so clueless, Cloud."

Cloud swallowed. She sounded exactly like her when she said him name. Actually, she always sounded like her.

'I'm still sleeping right?'

"I guess so…"

She laughed again, much longer this time. Cloud couldn't help but smile a bit. She reminder him so much of the times when he was with her.

"Who are you?" A voice interrupted the pair. They both looked up and saw a man in his mid forties. His head was starting to bald, and he looked at Cloud quite suspiciously at the moment.

"Uncle!" Aeris stood up. "He's a guest."

"Yes, he."

Cloud slight smile faded. He slowly stood up, cautious that the man might accuse him for something he didn't do if he was too abrupt.

"Uncle! It's not like he's going to do anything! I don't bring home bad people."

"Aeris, you can't tell who is bad these days."

"Well, so far he did nothing to me."

"That doesn't mean he will do nothing."

"Uncle! Why are you being so mean!"

"What? You yell at me for this stranger?"

"He's not a stranger okay?"

Cloud looked at Aeris. 'Did she just say that?'

"Quit looking at her, you!"

Cloud looked at the man blankly. 'Talk about over protectiveness.'

"Dajyne!" Aeris' aunt emerged through the back door. "He's having dinner here tonight okay? Now come inside!"

"But Maay!" Dajyne's voice faded as he followed his wife back inside.

"I'm sorry about that. My Uncle's just worried about me."

"Because I'm a guy?"

Aeris giggled, "I think so. I don't usually bring home visitors and well, you are the first guy I bought back home…"

It took them a while to register what had been said and both of them blushed when they realized what the sentence implied.

"Um! I guess you're eating dinner here!" Aeris rushed to the door to hide her embarrassment. "I didn't realize it was getting late. Come inside."

'Why is everything being decided for me? Oh well…'

Cloud followed Aeris inside and by that time he had regained his composure again.

Maay was starting to set up the table for four. Aeris went inside the kitchen to help her aunt. Cloud finally got the chance to observe the house. It wasn't very big, but it was comforting and had a loving air around it.

Unsure, he went towards the kitchen. "Do you…need help?"

Maay smiled at him, "No, no, you can just-"

Before she could finish, Dajyne grabbed Cloud's shoulder and made him go into the sitting room with him. "Okay, what's your name?"

"…Cloud."

"Why did my niece bring you home? Argh!"

"…"

"Anyways, I never saw you around? You new here?"

For some reason, Cloud thought this man had the same air as Cid Highwind. Ill mannered but still a hearty guy. 'Oh crap…I forgot to call him to tell him about finishing the delivery…and I didn't turn on my cell.'

Dajyne quirked his brow and repeated, "You new here?"

"Oh, ah, no. I'm just delivering something here."

"So where are you from?"

"Migar." 'Let's see…I'll call him tonight. What else…My bike is at the inn…should be okay.'

"Migar? That big ass city? Ha, it used to be grand, now it's just a bunch of rubbish. At least the people there are stilling trying to build it up again, I guess."

"Dinner's ready!" Maay called from the dining room.

"Okay!" Dajyne walked to the other room, and Cloud followed him shortly after.

When everyone was settled and started dinner, Cloud just realized it was his first time having dinner like this. What he meant by this was that he always ate by himself or with the others; he couldn't remember what the other dinners were like before, but defiantly not this peaceful. With this thought in mind, he couldn't help but feel awkward, nervous, and stupid for feeling nervous.

'I'm eating dinner with Aeris…well, another Aeris…'

"How old are you anyways?" Dajyne suddenly asked beside him, which caused Cloud to jump ever so slightly. Maay sat in front of Cloud and Aeris sat beside her.

"Twenty…three."

"Twenty-three! Twenty-three! You're one year younger than Aeris?"

In truth, Cloud was a bit surprised. 'They're the same age? But different people…right? Is that even possible?'

"My, my. That's okay." Maay smiled.

"What's okay?" Dajyne yelled, while Cloud thought of the same thing.

Aeris just smiled at her food.

…………

After dinner Aeris showed Cloud to the guest room and told and gave him all necessary things like a towel and a clean t-shirt and pants that Dajyne hardly wears. When Cloud said he would be fine, she went downstairs and started to help her aunt wash the dishes.

As soon as Aeris entered the kitchen, Maay winked at her and said, "He's okay right? I hope he wasn't scared by your uncle's little interrogation session."

Aeris laughed, "He's not that kind of person."

"Oh? You seem to know him very well."

Aeris cheeks turned pink, "Wh-What do you mean? I just met him today!"

"I never knew you could manage to bring home such a handsome boy. And to have him stay for the night too!" Maay teased, causing Aeris' face to go a beet red.

"W-hat? I was only trying to help him! Hmph!" Aeris marched over to the sink and started to rinse the dishes that had detergent on them.

"Really? Nothing else?"

"Nothing else!" Aeris answered quickly.

"You're not very convincing."

"But! I really did think of helping him! It was after that I realized…" She lowered her voice.

"Realized?" Maay smiled.

"….that…that. You know what."

"Hmm…I don't know."

"Auntie! Stop being such a tease!"

Maay laughed. "So I was right after all."

"No!" Then quietly, "Not entirely."

Maay laughed, "Alright, alright. I'll stop. By the way, when is he leaving?"

"…I don't know."

"You can ask him tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"And…I wanted to ask you. The reason you bought him here was to help him right? So…are you going to tell him that?"

"…I…think so…maybe tomorrow."

…………

Cloud lay on the guest bed and stared at the ceiling. The room light was off, and only the moonlight from the window gave some sort of lighting in the room. They ate dinner at a pretty late hour, so it was around nine when they were done. He looked at the clock, which read nine forty-five. He was lying there for the past fifteen minutes. It was too early to sleep, but he didn't want to go down there and have a confrontation with Dajyne again, so he just stayed in the guest room. Cloud shifted to the side, facing away the door. He still had a lot on his mind.

'So this Aeris is not the one I know, but she and her resemble each other a lot. They have the same face, voice, personality, atmosphere….but is that possible? It seems not, but then again…I…won't be seeing my Aeris for a while right? It's not like she could come back…'

Cloud suddenly sat up really quickly. "Or could she?"

"Could she what?"

Cloud whipped around to see Aeris, the one he meet today, looking back at him.

"Oh sorry, when I knocked you didn't answer so I just wanted to see if you were asleep or something…"

'I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even hear her approaching.'

"I should say sorry. I didn't hear you knock."

"No…were you thinking about that person that you thought was me?"

Cloud didn't answer for a moment, but eventually said, "Yeah."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure you'll find her someday."

Cloud said nothing in response.

"If you wake up early tomorrow, wake me up too, okay?"

"Why?" Cloud looked at her, a bit confused at her request.

"Oh, because…just wake me up okay? If you don't I'll kick you out of the house."

"O…kay."

Aeris laughed. "I'm just kidding!" She stuck her tongue out playfully. "But seriously, wake me up okay?"

"Sure."

"I won't bother you anymore then. Good night, Cloud."

"Um…good night."

Aeris opened the door to exit and closed it quietly behind her.

"Why does she have to resemble Aeris…the one I know…so much?" Cloud whispered into the dark. He thumped down on the bed. "She even said my name again…"

'I'm going to sleep…but was I really awake the whole time? Maybe I'm going to sleep in my dream…and the conversation in the backyard…what was all that about? I still don't get anything! It might be all over when I wake up tomorrow…I hope.'

…………

A/N: Poor Cloud, he's so confused. I bet all of you are too huh? Don't worry, it'll clear up soon. :)

And wow! That was a pretty long chapter right? Well no but…it seems longer than what I usually write…

Don't forget to review!