Who you really are... I will never know
_________________________________________________
Hi! First of all, I want to say thank you kokoronai, theyreallyloveme and ms.heartilly for reviewing! Thanks a lot! Oh! And ms.heartilly, I was thinking about really putting Rinoa in the story, but I wasn't so sure about it! And since you asked me to, don't worry, she will enter in the story too. In time, she will, I promise! ^-^
__________________________________________________________
What happened? Why did weakness took control over me? Leaning against the cold white wall of her room, Aerith, sitting on the floor, hugged her legs to her chest and rest her forhead on her knees.
~~
"Cloud..."
"What did you say?" Leon asked revealing confusion on his voice. She quickly sat, pushing Leon to get on all fours position. His right hand next to Aerith's waist, his left hand softly pressing the back of her right hand. His right knee in the middle of her legs and the other knee next to her right leg. She blinked at the sound of his voice and gasped silently, trying hardly not to blush. He watched her shook her head in an embarassed expression, causing his confusion to increase. She bit her lower lip and in a slight movement of her body she pushed the hand under his, away from him and got up to leave the confused boy, alone in the living room. Closing the door behind her, she felt her shoulders shaking like they never did before. Raising one hand to her mouth she slowly walked to her room.
~~
Why was I so stupid?! I could have, at least, said something to him... She kept saying to herself, torturing her mind and soul. What made me think of Cloud? What made me act like that? Now, he will think that I'm a complete... freak! No... Leon is a friend... He knows me... He won't think like that! Will he? She, at last, lifted her green eyes. From outside, the light of the street candles were faintly iluminating the room, softly showing the single bed with a red chinese bedspread covering it, the perfect brown closet where she keeps her clothes and the wooden chair at the corner, next to the window. Aerith observed it as if she was seeing those things for the first time in life, noticing every pormenor, drawing or colour the objects had. Trying to forget about her life.
***
As the first ray of sunlight met his face, he took a step forward to the morning that was waiting for him. The night mist still in the air, the dew on the few plants Traverse Town had. He walked... His sword with him wherever he went. His thoughts... none... His mind was free at that moment. No problems, no worries, no feelings, nothing. Only the desire of training again, to pick his sword and fight again. The deserted streets were quite, just as he liked it. Silence, for him to focus on the practise he was going to do. Only his smooth steps in the morning could be heard. Arriving at the "cave", Squall Leonhart, took out his sword from his belt and closed his eyes. Concentrating all his strengths to gather on his hands, legs and heart. The sound of the water flowing was all he could hear and for him, it was all he needed to hear.
***
"I can't believe you slept on the floor!" She heard a familiar voice surprisely telling her. She opened one eye and then the other just to see someone's feet in front of her face. One of the feet started to stamp loudly on the floor. Her eyes looked up to the person whose foot was disturbing her, and saw Yuffie with concern and worry drew on her childish face. Yuffie sat down next to her friend and shook her head. "What happened?"
"Nothing..." Was all Aerith said. She placed both hands next to her head and effortly stretched her arms to get up, helped by Yuffie who was not convinced with her answer. "Where's Leon?"
"I haven't seen him yet!" Yuffie said finding her attitude rather strange. Aerith raised one hand to her forhead and let out a heavy sigh. Watching her, Yuffie placed her hands on her own waist and giggled. "Did you dream about Squall?" Hearing that coming from her friend's mouth, Aerith quickly looked away, again, trying to hide her blushing cheeks. "Oooooh.... I see... Well, anyway! I'm going to make our breakfast, ok? Meanwhile, you try to put a smile upon your face!" The girl said ready to leave the tired Aerith on her own world. Watching her go, Aerith shrugged her shoulders and undressed her pink dress. She's right once again! I'm going to take a bath and... Smile!
***
His black jacket somewhere on the floor, away from his practise area. He kept slicing the air with all his might. A sweat drop fell down his forhead, passing on his scar. The same scar that marked his life forever. The slightest memorie of the fight which made him that dreadful pain on his forhead was all that was needed to leave his heart full of pain from the dark Past he had. But then again, it made him remember of the reason he had for living. Rinoa... He tried not to think about her, because now that she was gone, he had nothing more to do in the world. Now that I will not see her again... What is keeping me here?
"Leon..." A voice brought him back to reality. He broke his lively movements with his sword and looked back at the place where he heard his name being called. Seeing who it was, his sword slipped out of his strong hand to lay inches away from his feet. Aerith watched his reaction and looked away from his deep blue eyes. "I... just wanted to say that I'm sorry... For reacting the way I did, the night before..." She managed to say between her ashamed voice.
"I'm the one who should apologize... But, I just want you to know that I didn't do it on purpose..." He said not looking away from her face. Her hands met and her fingers playfully moved, revealing unease. Noticing that, Leon cooly shrugged his shoulders and grabbed his sword. "Forget about it, ok?"
"Yes..." She replied looking up with a rosy smile crossing her pink lips. So... I was worried about how he would react, but after all, it was like it was nothing! He is a box full of surprises! "Say... Have you been here for a long time?" She asked not letting the conversation between them fade away like it was used to do. She wondered how mysterious he was. How she wanted to know more about him.
"Yeah..." He finally said returning to his training. She admired the way he moved with his sword. The way his sudden gestures crossed the air. He must be a very good fighter... just... like him... God! How I miss Cloud...
"And what about you? Have you been there for a long time?" He asked back at the girl, this time, in a blue long dress. She snapped back to reality and smiled.
"You mean... watching you?" She asked getting more confortable with her interresting friend. He nodded without smiling. "I've just arrived!" She giggled giving three more steps closer to him. Looking at the white t-shirt he was wearing, a t-shirt that let her see his musculate body underneath, she swallowed silently. "We should fight against each other." Hearing those words coming out from her mouth, his whole body froze. "I mean... for practise!"
"You're out of your mind! I will never fight you!" His eyes widened at the giggling girl.
"You scared?" She provocked placing her arms behind her back. His expression turning to surprise and admiration. She giggled one more time. "I'm kidding Leon... I would never use my magic against you! Not even during practises!"
"Oh I see... So, you're the one who is scared!" He said putting his sword on his shoulder, but yet, not giving her a smile.
"Guess I am after all!" She smiled getting closer to him.
"Aerith... Who is Cloud? I thought I heard you saying that name last night..." Leon asked changing the subject. He was also interrested in discovering more about her, although he didn't show it. Aerith's smile faded away really fast and her face turned pure white. Noticing that, he cursed himself to ask her that question whatever the answer was.
"Cloud Strife... He is the most important person in my life..." She said, staring blankly into space not knowing what to say next. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out from it.
Staring seriously into his eyes, she raised one hand in front of his face. Slowly, she touched his scar, feeling his breath on her wrist, she studied it with her hand. His eyes not leaving hers. But in an abrupt shake of his head, as if he had finally noticed what she was doing, he gave two fast steps away from her warm touch.
"Don't ever do that again!" He yelled. She, staring at his threatening and yet scared eyes, gasped, again not knowing what to say or do. "Leave me alone!"
"I'm sorry Leon..." She said with her voice lowering as she was speaking. Aparently, the apology wasn't good enough for him. Turning his back at her he touched his scar himself. "I didn't know-"
"Leave me alone..." He cut her off. But she didn't give up on him. Determined to find the reason why he was like that, she walked towards him again. This time, she touched his shoulder and he moved away once more. "I asked you to leave, didn't I Aerith?"
"Damn it Leon! We seemed like friends a minute ago, and now... This! Why are you acting like this? I don't understand you!" She snapped at him, almost knowing how useless those words she was saying were for him.
"There's nothing for you to understand about me! Besides, even if there is, it's none of your business!" He shouted at the girl whose heart was beating like crazy. "Why can't you just leave in peace?"
"I said I was sorry! It won't happen again... I promise. You just don't have to get that mad!" She said realizing that his hands where squeezed and that they were shaking dangerously. She approached him and carefuly touched one of his hands to calm him down. He remained in silence, shaking for no explainable reason. A cold shiver trespassed her body.
"Ahem!" They heard Cid's voice breaking the moment, so the couple quickly moved away from each other. "I hate to interrupt you two... But we have a problem."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That's all for this chapter! I hope you liked it... Please review!
Until the next one! ^-^
Love,
Mint
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
