Zack's Final Mission

Chapter 14: The Wait

Zack helped Cloud get to the Inn his friends were staying at. He couldn't help thinking that what they had just been through reminded him of that day all those years ago. Was it possible that some things hadn't changed? Sephiroth was on the loose with a piece of black materia in his hands. Zack wondered what Sephiroth was going to do with it but whatever it was that he had in mind, it couldn't be good. Black materia was known to possess dangerous power within, power that used with the right quantity and the wrong magic could be deadly, not just for some but for the entire planet.

He knew Sephiroth was mad in his own head but he couldn't believe how treacherous he had become. He saw evil in his eyes. Zack didn't recognize one bit of the old Sephiroth he once had met.

Zack finally laid Cloud down on the bed from that Inn. His head moved restlessly from one side to another on the pillow as he slept an agitated sleep. Inside of his head a tornado twirled furiously he could tell. Zack wished he could do more to help his friend.

He looked around the quiet room; it looked the same as before… Everything looked the same and the feeling made him shudder. For someone who had been five years away from everything things didn't seem much different. It wouldn't surprise him if he saw Angeal or Genesis walk through the door if he hadn't known better.

The black spiky-haired man sat down on a chair close to Cloud's bed and rested his forehead on his hands sighing. Life was pretty confusing at that moment. He knew he couldn't trust a word Sephiroth said though he couldn't help but wonder. He had been waiting for Cloud to show up there, what would have happened if Zack didn't interfere? Shinra had created a monster… once again. They had twisted up Sephiroth's mind with their lies he couldn't tell reality from fantasy anymore. Zack was glad he woke up in time. Or more like, he was lucky not to go down the same path as Sephiroth although Zack knew he wasn't that easily controlled.

He was no monster no matter what they told him and he was glad he had something to live for and protect. He was glad he had been given a second chance to live.

Zack's thoughts were then interrupted by the squeaking sound of a door opening and he turned his head to the side to take a look at who was coming inside the room. His eyes caught a glimpse of the dark brown long-haired girl coming in. He knew who it was; she hadn't changed much as well, apart from the cowboy hat she wore when she was their guide and showed them the town around. She looked older now of course, her face and body was no longer child-like.

"Is he ok?" Tifa whispered walking carefully across the room trying not to make any sound that could wake Cloud up.

"Yeah he will be fine. He kind of had a brain meltdown. He just needs to rest and organize his mind." Zack got up from the chair stretching his arms. "And that's why we're here right?"

"I will do my best." Tifa nodded looking down concernedly back at the blond SOLDIER who sometimes moaned some inaudible words in his sleep. "I care so much about him."

"I can see that." Zack watched as worry spread across her pale face. He wondered why Cloud never spoke about Tifa. It was clear they had something hanging there. You silent dork. He thought chuckling at his friend. "Hey do you know where my girl is? I mean who I came here with."

"You mean Aerith? She's outside."

"Thanks." And Zack turned to leave them.

"Hey Zack!" Tifa called and he turned around holding the door open. "Welcome back."

He smiled before walking out.

Aerith looked up and the dusky sky above. She breathed in fully just waiting there in front of the small well in the middle of Nibelheim. Suddenly but carefully darkness took over her as someone covered her eyes placing their hands on her eyes from behind.

"Are you mad at me?" His voice asked as his hands slid down from her eyes to rest on her shoulders.

"I was worried." Aerith replied softly.

"You should trust me more." Zack slowly spun her around on her feet so she could look at him.

"I do, but I almost lost you once…" Aerith sighed sadly. "I guess I got scared."

"I understand and I'm sorry. I think the thought of having Sephiroth so close got me berserk!" Zack explained. "Just imagining him doing something to you…" Zack shook his head making a painful expression with his eyes and crooking up his mouth. "I couldn't control myself."

"You do realize that you're being overprotective of me." Aerith asked smiling and lifting his head up by the chin since it had started to look down to the ground.

"I can't help it." He grinned. He looked down at her green eyes thinking that that small delicate flower girl was worth so much more than his own life that he would do whatever it took him to keep her safe. How could he not be overprotective when she looked so tiny between his muscled arms he was afraid he could break her in two if he squeezed her more tightly. "But I'm here now."

"Excuse me." Someone interrupted clearing his throat. They turned their heads around looking for the person speaking when they saw a man with long black hair who dressed in black and had a heavy crimson red cloak over his shoulders as if he was carrying it like some heavy burden he had been forced to carry. His face was serious, matured with age and experience in life. Definitely that person had had a tough past they could have guessed.

Another thing that was curious about that character was that he held his arm up and his hand was holding by the back of her neck a very upset ninja teenager with her feet off the ground and arms crossed with a grumpy face while she exhaled impatiently. "Is this yours?" The dark character asked in a smooth dragging voice.

"No way!" Zack exclaimed wide-eyed and terrified remembering who that girl was and the hell she had made him go through with pointless missions. "Keep that thing away from me!"

"Hey!!!" The ninja exclaimed surprised, her face lightened up in a huge grin. "I know you!" She pointed at Zack and her feet balanced up in the air when she moved. "You are that good-for-nothing soldier guy who kept getting me good-for-nothing treasures!"

"I found her down the Shinra Mansion nosing around." The dark person informed. "She made such a mess there she woke me up from my slumber claiming she wanted my materia."

"She's not with us!" Zack shrieked and the ninja made a hurt face.

"Don't be like that." Aerith smiled at them. "I'm sure she's just an innocent girl; I don't believe she meant any harm."

"That's right! You heard the lady!" Yuffie grinned and winked at Aerith. "Put me down!"

"As you wish." The person holding her lowered his arm until her feet touched the ground and she could stand. The ninja girl shook some dust out of her arms and grinned at her new achievements: Zack and Aerith.

"We're going to have so much fun looking for treasures and stea- I mean finding new materia!" The girl excitedly jumped up and down.

"Hey, is that brat bothering you?" A huge muscled dark-skinned man asked approaching the group.

"Yes." Zack answered.

"No!" Aerith corrected bumping Zack in the arm.

"Barrett!" Yuffie grinned happily. "I was wondering if everyone had left town without me."

"Like they'd let me do that!" Barrett replied sarcastically rolling his eyes.

"I got lost for a while I have to admit but creepy guy number one here found me." She pointed behind her with her thumb at the cloaked man.

"The name is Vincent." He spoke in a low moderated voice. Very cordial for someone like Yuffie the loud-mouth, Zack thought.

"Cm' on Yuffie, we should go check on Cloud." Barrett pushed her away wondering why the others had asked him to go get her. "And stop bothering people around."

"Wait! I know him!" Yuffie struggled to get free of his tight grip pushing her arm but it was no use. Aerith giggled and Zack sighed in embarrassment.

With the introductions done, Vincent joined Zack and Aerith and later Cid when they found him again smoking a cigarette at some alley. Vincent had told them that since he had been awaken from what kind of slumber it was that he was taking, he wouldn't mind joining their group. As they waited for Cloud to get better, Zack had had enough time to think that they needed all the help they could get if his feeling toward Sephiroth was right. The man was up to no good. Vincent could come as an extra help.

Now all they had to do was waiting for Cloud to come back to his senses and regain his strength. Zack knew exactly where Sephiroth could get a large amount of black materia and he needed to tell Cloud what was on his mind. Cid told Zack that if they needed any sort of transportation for everybody he could get an airship in his hometown that could get them anywhere easily. He would take his offer because they needed to move, to act faster than Sephiroth. Zack was thankful to Cid although he would never admit it.

He looked at Aerith sitting on a wooden barrel not far from where he was standing and watched as she looked blankly into the air silently. She knew she was worried about Cloud and that she was feeling guilty she had asked him to go meet him at the reactor but something was telling Zack that wasn't the only reason her eyes seemed so sad.

From the barrel Aerith was sitting on she quietly thought Zack was getting that frown on his face he always had when something was bothering him at work. It usually meant his mind was racing trying to find solutions to his problems. She found herself wondering when would they finally get some piece. But hopefully and if things worked for her accordingly she would be able to help.

Suddenly their attention turned to the sound of the inn's door opening.

"He's awake." Tifa came out smiling in relief. Their tight hearts could beat freely again.

Note: Hi everyone! I'm so sorry I updated a little bit late but I've been away from the computer for a while because where I was staying the last couple of weeks there was none there! I updated as soon as I could. Thank you so much for the support seriously! See you next chapter!