Chapter 7: Reunion
We were chasing down Kadaj, and behind us followed Yazoo and Loz. The chase was intense, and caused for Cloud and I to shift positions almost constantly. When we got to the tunnel, Loz threw his bike on us right when Cloud was locked in battle bike to bike. Yazoo released the lock between them, backing away on his bike with a slim smile. Cloud immediately jumped while telling me to take Fenrir and turned the bike in two right in mid-air, suddenly Loz lunged at Cloud. Cloud went on and threw him were the bike was landing, seconds later that same bike exploded.
Loz suddenly jumped from behind me, and I unleashed a non-stopping combos of smacks with one hand at Loz, while the other tried to keep control on Fenrir. He grabbed my hand annoyed, and Cloud landed on the front part of Fenrir. Cloud and Loz were rapidly locked in battle as I was between them. Don't ask me how I didn't crash the bike. They jumped once more in mid-air, and Yazoo joined in just as Cloud divided his Fusion sword in two, shaking both of them off smoothly. Cloud landed behind me, and told me to speed up and we finally outrun them.
On our way out of the Tunnel, we passed Reno and Rude, both of them were smiling. Minutes later, a mass of fireworks initiated from behind us. What did those two did now? Not a minute later, Cloud told me to jump into the next road, right besides us, and Kadaj was right there.
"Cynthia, no holding back." Cloud said as I shift roads.
"Right."I said, partly doubting myself.
Right then Cloud and Kadaj were both locked with their swords, they were both somehow connected for a small couple of minutes, sooner than later, I noticed the end of the road.
"Cloud!" right when I said it, we were dropping down, fast.
"Cynthia, careful!" We landed roughly on earth, Fenrir, going right into Kadaj. Just then "Cynthia, get down!" Kadaj's sword pierced Cloud's cloak. I lost balance and Kadaj went ahead as I tried not to crash Fenrir.
I turned around, and asked Cloud if he was alright. He nodded and took a look at the cloak that was covering his left arm. He ripped it off, and I saw where he had his geostigma… he also had a red ribbon tied on his arm… like Tifa's. I smiled at him, and he returned it. We shift places and took off after Kadaj.
I heard a cry were the church in Sector 5 was, and I recognized, somehow, it was Kadaj's. When we were in front of the church we could see him in the middle of Aeris' Garden. We burst inside with Fenrir, and Kadaj rapidly shot down a column that almost smashed us, he threw another blast at us destroying Aeris' flowers. Her garden… Kadaj was about to fire another shot right at Cloud, I immediately shield him with my body, stepping in front of Cloud.
"Cynthia, get out of the way." Kadaj flinched, he didn't dare to fire. He didn't want to hurt me.
"I won't… " I scanned the now destroyed garden, and there was something happening in it. Water was pouring out in the middle of it, and something like a fountain emerged. It suddenly felt like rain… I felt a sudden peace within me, unlike Kadaj, the water was hurting him, and he quickly escaped.
I turned to look at Cloud and I saw his geostigma disappearing completely. We both smiled, and we suddenly heard a very, but very familiar voice that filled us both with joy. Aeris has come to our aid, once again. We hopped on and caught up to Kadaj.
Shinra building was in view, Kadaj was on top of a pillar. He was waiting for us, I pulled out Ke Zhang, and a familiar strength was back within me, the same strength I had when I faced Sephiroth two years ago, maybe it was adrenaline, but it was back and it was there.
The atmosphere had taken a different turn, I felt my heart pounding as I look at Kadaj, and he was there… and he wasn't.
"Brother, I have finally found mother!" Kadaj said. It's hard to believe that there's actually a head in that little box.
"What now?"Cloud asked.
"Mother will tell me, you'll see." Kadaj said with a sad chuckle… one that shredded me apart.
"I guess avatar don't get the memo… "Cloud said, the fight was about to begin, I could feel it under my skin, Cloud glanced a look at me.
"So what if I'm a puppet?" No you're not… "Once upon a time… " he was unlashing another energy ball in his hand "You were too!" and he fired directly at Cloud which he easily dodged.
The fight shift between me and Cloud, Kadaj was faster than Yazoo and Loz. He engaged me a couple of time, all we did was block, neither intending to really hurt the other, but when the fight shifted to Cloud the fight was one to the end. Kadaj jumped up on a pile of stones, and I followed. We locked in, neither willing to let go. Our eyes made contact, and he knew I was bluffing. He threw my swords away from my hands and I immediately lunge him a combo of jabs, and our small battle ended with a front kick. Cloud took him on, and as they were locked in battle, an airship flew above us. It was the others, but suddenly seem to have decided to leave the fight to us. As I went to get Ke Zhang, I saw the unexpected, Kadaj has fallen from the pillars, losing his sword in the process, unwilling to let go of Jenova's head. My heart jump in fear of what might happen, even though there was distance between us, I could hear them… the words that stroke me were Kadaj's. It was going to happen.
Welcome to my reunion… Kadaj had said while swallowing Jenova's… head… cells… something from the box.
It happen, Sephiroth was back as Cloud went to take Kadaj down. Kadaj was no more, and I could see Sephiroth in the fledge, I began to move towards Shinra tower, when the sky suddenly turned black. Great, he can control the weather now? Hope I don't get struck by lightning. The fight was intense, and getting to Shinra tower was an epic adventure, especially when Sephiroth torn stone, walls, and part of Shinra building with his massive 6 foot long katana. The weather worsen, and lightning began to rumble making me flinch at the thought of being stroke by it. I felt my heart jump every time Sephiroth's and Cloud's swords collided, making white-blue energy burst out. The battle was long, and so was the climbing.
As I was reaching the top of Shinra's tower, I saw Sephiroth piercing Cloud's shoulder, and right there, before I scream Cloud's name. I heard Sephiroth speak to him, his voice was like ice and filled with arrogance.
What do you treasure most? I want the pleasure of taking it from you. Sephiroth said causing Cloud protective self emerge
Cloud took Sephiroth's pierce off, and took a stand. "How sad, you don't seem to understand…" They began to fight again, and right when Sephiroth jump up in the air, Cloud went right after him. "There is nothing I don't treasure!" You tell him Cloud!
That's when he released all his swords, surrounding Sephiroth and taking him by surprise for the first time. He slaughtered him good, ending the battle smoothly, I took Cloud's side.
"Stay in my memory… where you belong." Cloud said to Sephiroth.
"I will never be a memory." Sephiroth said, the sky turning back to normal as he had released a black wing. He surrounded himself with it, and Kadaj appeared once more. I dropped my sword as he was running right at Cloud. He was almost out of breath, when I caught him, his sword dropped to the ground (I swear he dropped that sword somewhere else), and he accepted my embrace. He was breathing hard, and Cloud stood behind me.
"Cynthia… Brother… " Kadaj said as I gently laid him down on my lap. Our eyes locked in, I began to caress his hair, his soft hair.
"Kadaj… don't fight anymore… " I said, holding back my tears.
Cloud level down, and we were quiet, until a voice echoed from above. It was a familiar voice. Her voice. One that could make you feel at peace with yourself.
Kadaj… you don't have to hold on anymore. It began to rain, and the rain, I could feel, was pure.
Mother… is that you? Kadaj said while letting a tear of relief drop.
Everyone's waiting… if you want. Kadaj rose his arm to the sky, as if taking someone's hand, and just like that, he began to vanish with lifestream. He was gone. Cloud and I stood up, letting the rain drop, I was crying softly too. I didn't get a chance to say good-bye at least.
As the rain was dropping, I saw the airship going towards us, probably to come and get us. But then, someone shot Cloud on the chest. My heart was about to stop, I turned to look, and it was Yazoo and Loz. The fight it's over! I felt everything in slow motion, Yazoo declared that we were to leave together, and Loz said something about "together we can play".
Cloud and I lunge at them at the same time, and the last thing I saw, was Yazoo causing an explosion, and then… everything went blank.
…
It smell good, and it felt familiar. I was sleeping in Aeris' garden. It was still intact. Even though, my eyes were closed, I knew exactly where I was, and at the same time, I didn't it. I opened my eyes as I laid down on the flower bed, I was in the church. It was completely untouched. Just when I met Aeris, when this flower bed save Cloud and me from a nasty fall. Nothing was change, and yet, everything here felt different. As if this was the only place left in the world. Nothing else existed; I began to scan my hand and then my arm. Not a scratch on me. Suddenly, the flowers warmed me that someone was approaching me. I refused to get up, so all I did was lift my head and I saw Kadaj. He was smiling down at me. That's when I rapidly stood. I didn't know what to say… I just listen what my whole body wanted to do, I ran to hug him. He slowly return it, I felt his heart pounding against his chest.
"Is this a dream?" I asked, not really caring, but afraid to wake up just the same.
"Yes, it is a dream… your dream." He chuckled. "I like it very much." I felt him smiling, I didn't want to break his hug.
"Why did we have to end up as enemies? Why did all this happen? It's not fair… "I said, one man… one vicious man came to my mind. This has had to be his work.
"I don't know… I was… just… lost… inside an illusion." That sounded familiar. "Maybe, in the next life… we can be together. I'll see you again one day. I'll hold on to that hope."
"Kadaj… you're really difficult to understand, but I hope you're right." He was caressing my hair.
"It's time to say good-bye" Kadaj said.
"What, no out of the blue laugh" he chuckled.
"I don't feel like laughing." He forced me to break our hug by putting his hands on my shoulders. His cat-like eyes stared at me, he smiled. "Until next time."
I nodded and there was a sudden splash of water on my face. A voice that I hadn't heard in quite some time was constantly calling for me to wake up.
"Come on and wake up sleepy head! You're missing all the fun!" Yuffie was splashing me with water, and all my friends surrounded me, even Vincent was here, and a bunch of kids were playing in the water with Cloud. I was suddenly disoriented. It really was a dream.
"I was having a great dream Yuffie Kisaragi!" I stood up and ran towards Yuffie clobbering her with masses splashes of water. I found out that all the kids with geostigma were healed thanks to the water that emerged from Aeris' garden. Everything was finally back to normal. I stayed a couple of week with Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Marlene and Denzel. That light that was meant to return me back to my world appeared after everyone was visiting Tifa's Seventh Heaven bar. I even met Reeve, Cait Sith behind the scenes; he was quite funny and gentle. I had the exact same clothes that I was wearing the same day I came back here. I knew these clothes were taboo! I froze when I saw the light, it was shinning right where I left Ke Zhang, and therefore my sword disappeared. I saw everyone's gaze on me.
"Yup, time to go back home… " I said, trying to swallow my remorse.
"You'll come back won't you?" Denzel and Yuffie asked at the same time.
"I really don't know, but I'll forever keep trying." I stood up and I hug everyone tightly. I kissed Marlene and Denzel on their forehead. I also hugged, awkwardly, Reeve. Just before I went into the light, I turned to look at everyone, and gave a real smile this time. "Until next time!" and went right into the light.
…
Like last time, I woke up inside my room, I stood up, and I heard Nora's foreign voice. "Cynthia, did you died in there! You'll going to be late! Hurry up!" I opened the door and she stared at me. "You look…" Oh shit, my brother believes (sort of) but Nora, she'll call a mental clinic and send me there for the rest of my life, I can't tell her the truth. "Plain… all that time you took, and this it is… I was expecting a gala dress and everything… Gee, come on, you're going to be late.
Just like that I ended waiting for a random guy to present himself as my date. As my cell phone vibrated, I check to see what else did Nora texted me this time. She was asking me for the one-hundredth time, if he was there yet. As I texted her a "No" with a bunch of exclamation marks and exaggerated angry faces. Someone approached me, and my heart was shot up to my throat while butterflies were unleashed in my stomach.
"Hey Cynthia, so we finally meet." He said with a wide smile as he combed his silky smooth, shoulder-length hair. I honestly couldn't believe this, I was tempted to look around to see if this was one of those Hidden Camera's jokes. "Not sure if your friends told you, but, my name it's Calvin." His smile was intact. I was momentarily speechless.
"As in… Calvin Klein or Kadaj?" I asked unconsciously, but he let out an adorable laugh.
"No, and yes… I didn't think you were a fan of Final Fantasy series. You don't see the type." I'm part of the team sweetheart, and that's a secret.
"Ok, I'm going to ask you this, and you better answer seriously and honestly… " he waited for my question, half serious and half still smiling. "Are you really my date?"
He smiled innocently "Yes I am."
"Why did you bother my friends just to meet me?" I asked him trying to hold my smile.
"There was something about you that caught my attention, and I'm not sure why myself, but this was the perfect moment to meet you. Call me crazy, but it's just something more than love at first sight." He was combing his hair again, the only difference between Calvin and Kadaj, was their hair color. Calvin's hair was pitch black. Kadaj's words resonated in my head Maybe, in the next life we can be together. Maybe Calvin was Kadaj's reincarnation, or maybe not, but there was that same feeling inside of me, it was the same when I met Kadaj. That feeling of sudden happiness, maybe I can take Calvin with me in my next visit to Final Fantasy world.