Chapter Nine: Remember, Remember
The world was silent around the girl who lay cradled by the grass, the blue sky with wispy clouds hung over her. "Identification number, 110228, second successful child of Jenova, given name Yoru." She breathed, sitting herself up she winced clutching her arm. When the pain had subsided enough for her to observe her surroundings she noted the bike. "Good morning sun-shine." A male voice echoed in her head.
When she looked around fearfully to find the origin of the voice she found nothing. "You won't find me; I'm sort of like your concisions. Now then, I'll teach you everything you need to know, just leave the bike there. Walking will give me more time to explain the world and the things in it." She nodded beginning to walk. "No! Not that way go to the right." She jumped but nodded heading to the right towards the barren rough brown surface.
When she finally reached the large gates of the Shinra company city Yoru was hesitant to enter. "Is this Midgar Zack?" she whispered to the voice. "Yes, you have friends here. I have to warn you though, what ever you do, don't ask about your past." She nodded obediently and stepped through following Zack's instructions to find herself in front of a small building with the name "Seventh Heaven Bar".
She pushed the door open gently, 8 people where standing around a table and a strange moving cat doll danced around the sides of it pointing things out and chatting up a storm of ideas. "Excuse me," she stuttered out, afraid that these might be the wrong people "I'm looking for…who was I looking for again Zack?" she wondered idly. "Cloud Strife." He whispered back amused. "Oh right I'm looking for Cloud Strife!" The young blond man turned to see who had called for him while the others had been gawking. The instant his blue eyes had connected with her own blue mako eyes, he rushed to her side pulling her into a tight hug as if he would lose her again if he where to let go. "Yoru, where have you been?" He breathed leaning his head down to her ear. A blush took her cheeks as she clutched his shirt lightly and closed her eyes taking in his warmth and sent. "I don't know." She murmured back.
Cloud only held her tighter, and when she opened her eyes after he had pulled away two women and a little girl who had been at the table smiled at her strolling over. "Hey glad you're back." The shorter of the two women grinned. "Perhaps you'd like a bath." The other smiled taking her hand and leading her up a set of stairs. "You've been gone for a week." She spoke again as the little girl ran ahead to call for some one named "Denzel". She hummed her agreement, though she had no idea who they where. "Their names are Tiffa Lockheart, Yufie Kisaragi, and Marlene." Zack murmured to her as she looked over each of the females. "They are also your friends." He continued on.
Yoru smiled at hearing this, they where her friends. They where her first happy memory, and would surly be something she'd never forget. Yoru followed Tifa to the bathroom and gently took the clothes Tifa handed her. The warm water felt good on her chilled skin, soothing her aching limbs from the countless mile walk. That man, that Cloud Strife, came to mind and made her cheeks heat up lightly when she turned the water off. He felt so familiar, like some one who had meant a great deal to her. "Zack, what is this feeling? You didn't explain this to me." She whispered to herself as her fingers slid over the fresh clean clothes sliding them on one at a time. "This is called affection, you have a crush on Cloud." He chuckled, a smile evident in his voice though a hint of something sad that was unrecognizable to Yoru was laced in with it.
"A crush." She repeated smiling lightly sliding the black sleeveless turtleneck over her head and slipping on the black shorts. She peeked around the corner of the door before coming out and heading to the stairs she spotted leading downwards. "She seems different then how she was a week ago, more innocent." Tifa seemed curious as she placed a glass of water in front of Cloud. "She's come back." Cloud answered simply starring at the ice as it bobbed in his glass. "Well yeah she's come back cloud." Tifa said a little confused by his comment. "No, she's truly come back now. The Yoru from 8 years ago." Tifa leaned in still confused, yet more curious now. "You mean she's lost all her memories? Even the ones of Kadaj's gang, the people in Shinra, Sephiroth, and you?" Cloud let out a light sigh nodding. "As long as she's not a shell." He murmured in reply. A shell, what did he mean by that? Was she a shell before?
Yoru stepped down off the last step and around the corner to reveal herself after a moment of contemplating what they had said. "Oh you're done!" Tifa smiled gently at her motioning to the seat next to Cloud. "Why don't you have a seat and I'll get you something to eat and drink. You must be hungry!" Tifa set a glass of water in front of Yoru, then dug around in a mini-fridge below the bar and set a sandwich in front of her on a shiny black plate. "Thank you Tifa." She murmured smiling and taking quick bites. Tifa was right, she was hungry, and Yoru hadn't even realized how hungry she was till now. After she was done with the sandwich Cloud turned his attention to her, making Yoru smile as he did so. "Yoru, how did we meet?"
Yoru gave him a blank stare as if confused, before looking up as if nervous and speaking as if she was reciting something some one had told her. "We met in Shinra electric power company. We where introduced by First Class SOLDIER Zack Fair." He hummed recognition of this but his expression seemed to sadden. "You've really forgotten everything that's happened, though maybe its better you have." Yoru looked down as if she was being scolded and the bar fell silent for a long time as Tifa watched the scene, shifting uncomfortably at the atmosphere. "Perhaps you should create new memories then?" Tifa suggested looking towards Cloud. "Yes!" Yoru cried out, though hesitantly tugging on Cloud's sleeve. "We'll make new memories. Then it will be okay, right?" Cloud didn't respond for a moment though seemed to resign to the fact that it would be easier to just accept these facts.
"It'd take a long time to make so many new memories, and try to forget the old ones." He murmured. "That's alright! If you're willing to take the time then I'd try my very best to create the very best memories!" Her eyes where pleading with him to create these beautiful things, of which she had very few of. He stared at the glass of water as the ice shifted as if uncomfortable under his gaze. "Cloud," Tifa murmured watching him carefully "It'd be good to help Yoru create new memories, not only for herself, but for you too." Cloud didn't seem to acknowledge Tifa's comment at first. "I know, even now I can hear Areth telling me that I should move on." Yoru looked down, seeing this as a hopeless decision. Whoever Areth was, she had beaten her to Cloud it seemed, though this didn't surprise her. Though Zack told her she had known Cloud for a long time, much longer then Areth could have known him she had doubts.
Cloud looked up finally and gave a slight nod to Yoru. "Let's make some new memories, Yoru." Her eyes widened and she smiled brightly throwing her arms around him. "Thank you Cloud!"