Zack's Final Mission

Chapter 8: The Blue Sky

Before reaching Junon, the group of three decided they should camp for the night to rest. They mounted their instant tents and started a bonfire in the middle of the small camp. Cloud sat thoughtfully looking at the fire burn while Barrett was starting to snore leaning on a fallen trunk of a tree abandoned on the ground. Tifa joined Cloud sitting next to him on the floor and hugging her legs to her chest.

"What are you thinking about Cloud?" She softly asked following his gaze into the orange fire.

"Nothing important." Sephiroth, he wanted to say but hid it as he was used to.

"Nothing you say…" Tifa smiled kindly. She sighed thinking she would give anything to know his thoughts. "You look different Cloud."

"How?" Cloud asked curiously, his eyes didn't leave the burning logs.

"I guess Shinra changed you after what I've seen you do. You finally became what you wanted to be back when we were children." Tifa slowly rocked her body back and forth and rested her chin on her knees while she spoke and Cloud waited silently for her to continue. "I've seen you fight and when you do it's like you really enjoy doing it. They have turned you into this fighting machine. When you get an objective you only focus on it and then suddenly there is nothing else around you, just the enemy and you. And your eyes… I've seen them glow when you fight. I don't blame you though… After all this is why you left our hometown to do right? SOLDIER first class." Although she looked at him in awe whenever he used his skills, Tifa spoke worried about him, afraid she'd lose him to that kind of monster she was afraid to think about.

"That's right…" Cloud nodded maintaining a serious expression on his face not daring to look at Tifa.

"I just wish you could trust me more. I wanted you to talk to me." Tifa looked up at the starry sky for a long moment just sitting there next to the quiet blond man and then got up to go to sleep in her tent.

I wish I could too… But I don't want to involve you in what I'm supposed to do for now. Things have been difficult already so far, I don't need the fear of something happening to you, again. Next time I probably won't be so lucky. Just you following me is a risk I'm constantly taking.

I know he's out there and I will find him to make amends.

Zack silently crossed the exit doors of Midgar and walked head down completely lost in his thoughts to notice the hesitant steps the girl next to him was taking each time they got closer to being entirely uncovered by the edge of one of Midgar's plates.

Cissnei is my sister? Dang it man, I thought my sister was hot when I first met her… Zack shuddered at the thought. I sure wasn't expecting that. How could have they hide something like that from me? What if I had gone there to visit and found a little brat playing with my stuff? "Oh! Zack! We weren't expecting you! Huumm…This might feel a little awkward but this is your sister!"

"A little awkward… You think?" He said it aloud distractedly.

Aerith glanced at him but figured he must have not been talking to her which made her thankful because she was starting to see the blue colour of the sky already appearing as they walked under the protective roof above them and the ending of the dark shadow of the plate was getting closer with each step. Soon enough they would be out in the opening and into the morning light. She had to focus on that.

Angeal's sword… I haven't had enough time to think about that either… I remember giving it to Cloud when I was attacked. Zack felt the weight of his new sword on his back and it was nothing compared to the previous one, not that it also had been much of a burden to carry thanks to the magnet in his uniform that did most of the work for him. Still, it didn't feel right without it there, he had grown attached to it. Well, wherever it is now it's in good hands!

Aerith came to a halt just at the edge of the plate's shadow on the floor. Her breathing started to accelerate and as much as she wanted to move her legs they didn't obey. A few steps ahead of her and already illuminated by the bright sun light being off of the plate's shade Zack noticed he was suddenly alone.

He looked around at both sides and then back at where Aerith stood petrified looking at the contrast between the dark shaded ground and the lighted side one. She had a concerned look upon her face and there it was, Zack regarded, whenever she was worried about something her lips pressed together in one firm pink line just like the way she had them at that moment.

"This is it." Aerith finally spoke. "One more step and I'll leave Midgar at last."

"It's going to be alright! I'm here with you!" Zack smiled walking back towards her.

"Yes, but…" Aerith spoke reluctantly. "I have a feeling I won't be back here that soon. And Elmyra will be alone."

"Don't worry about her! It's not like you're leaving for good!" Zack noticed as her expression didn't change. "Do you trust me?"

He smiled delightfully while extending his hand for her to take. Aerith watched as his lips puckered and his bright blue eyes stared at her confidently. She found herself wondering how she had been able to stay away from those eyes for so long. Looking back at that time it felt like she had been asleep while away from him. He had just woken her up back to life, which in a way was true since she had been asleep before they met a few days earlier.

As for Zack he couldn't hide the fact that he was having fun encouraging someone who had never left those boundaries, especially if that someone was Aerith.

"Yes." Aerith directed her green eyes at his blue ones and carefully lifted her hand to take his. Slowly he pulled her to him taking one step back as she took one forward to the light. A second later the sunlight had completely engulfed her body and the plate was no longer above their heads, only the light clear blue sky.

She looked up at it but not being used to be in such an opened place and just like she thought it would happen she felt light-headed and as if the ground was rumbling under her feet. Hopefully Zack was there to hold the flower girl and realizing her knees were failing on her he quickly placed his arms around Aerith's shoulders clenching on to her as she stumbled.

Her face came inches away from his and Aerith felt her cheeks instantly burning red in his embrace. She could feel his warm breath on her lips tempting her to move her head forward and close in on his. He could see her eyes firmly shut, he just didn't know if it was because she was nervous of their proximity or the fear of falling or both.

He smirked looking down at her and she slowly opened her eyes to see him smirking.

"I said I wouldn't let you fall." He smugly said.

"I'm sorry!" Aerith quickly pushed him by the chest away from her and embarrassed with her actions. Her heart beat slower but she could still feel her face flushed. If that had been an attempt for Zack to kiss her she almost went for it but achieved in time their first kiss wouldn't be based on her dizziness because of the sky. Or he probably just meant to catch her. "I feel so silly. Have you ever met anyone that is afraid of the sky?"

"No…" Zack shook his head a little disappointed she let go of him. "But then again, I never met anyone like you. I mean it in a good way."

Aerith swallowed and managed to smile at his words.

"Can you do something for me?" Zack asked placing one arm around her shoulders and pointing with the other one towards the horizon ahead. Aerith nodded. "Just take a close look around you, to the sky, to the desert and the sun."

Aerith did as he asked and embraced the warm light of the sun rays gently hitting her face while looking up at the blue sky where a couple of white clouds moved very slowly. The breeze was warm and carried the smell of sand with it. She had to agree with him, the outside was beautiful. Her eyes absorbed every image intently and she smiled relieved the scary part was now over.

"What do you think?" He asked joining her on the smile.

"Thank you for being patient with me." She turned to look at him realizing his arm was still on her shoulders, she felt safe.

"Don't worry about it."

"I do have one question though."

"Humm?"

"What now?" Aerith wondered where were they going and how were they going.

"That's a very good question." Zack looked around at the nothingness.

Suddenly they heard the roar of a gear running along with the loud sound of the iron doors of Midgar closing behind an old baby-blue motorcycle which had a small open truck at its back, coming out of from the city.

"There is always a solution." Zack grinned widely winking at Aerith and taking a few steps forward to start waving with both arms at the approaching vehicle.

"Wait!" Aerith grabbed one of his arms and pulled him to look at her. "Do you think it's safe?"

"Yeah... Shinra doesn't use this kind of transportation." Zack lifted his arms again so the man inside the small motorcycle could see them.

- to be continued

Note: My oh my! Where are they going next? Thank you so much for the people reviewing!! It keeps me going! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! Until the next one!!