Author's Notes: INTERLUDES. Well, from now on I'll be putting up chapters called INTERLUDES, these chapters would mostly focus on a character or two and their story, I'm planning to make some for Roxas, Sora, Kairi and hell even Riku…

I think INTERLUDES would be important for Namine, this is also a significant part of the story because some of the questions mostly asked from me will be answered here and will reveal more of the whole Black-Gray-White system, and Roxas and Riku's relationship, by means of getting a flashback from Ms. Aerith Gainsborough.

A bit of OOC Cloud and Aerith here…but hey…this is my story:P

Monochrome

INTERLUDE: Cloud and Aerith

"So, are we friends now, Aerith-san?" nagged Namine with a smile as she and Kairi followed the brunette in the library.

"I told you…that I am not in for a cheesy and cozy relationship." Aerith reminded as she sat on a chair. She opened up her book and the two joined her. "Why not Aerith-san?" asked Kairi.

They're too nice, I would admit, I'm actually flattered and touched…no matter how much I would reject them…though they don't know me at all…and if they knew…I might end up heartbroken again…

"I might just break again." The brunette unexpectedly answered.

Three years ago…

"Okasan told me that, I should stay away from Gainsborough-san…"

"Her presence alone…scares me a lot…"

"She's really solemn…"

"I thought that it would be better…if she would just go away."

One hot summer day my life started to change.

Aerith winced at the heat of the sun. She was alone at the back of the school, near the basketball court. So hot…

"My hottest girl would be, Tifa Lockhart!"

"Iie…I vote for Kisuna!"

"Haha! I'll go for Aerith!!!" there was a loud boy conversation inside the basketball court. Aerith looked through the barbed wires to see who called her name. It was Cloud Strife. She immediately blushed and got flattered. The whole school thought she was weird, well, maybe except for Yuffie and Axel, who grew up with her…to be called like that from Cloud, it was a different story.

"You're joking, Strife-san!!!"

"Nobody would agree with you!!!" but Cloud just smiled. "I think she's really pretty." He said in dream mode. The other guys weirdly looked at him. "Her presence alone scares me."

"Yah, she like, talks to herself!"

"And sometimes she would laugh or smile in no reason!!!"

"She always gives us the annoying look when we talk about girls!"

"I bet she has the worst personality!!!"

Upon hearing this, Aerith looked at her feet and made a weak smile. It is true… But Cloud unaware gave her some self-esteem.

"Don't even say such things to a person you haven't talked with. Don't judge them."

Cloud Strife…you're nice… Aerith managed a small sincere smile as she turned her heels to get inside.

I'm sorry for thinking you as a stupid, average boy…

We started talking…for a very simple reason…

Aerith was again found alone. She was having her lunch at the school rooftop. Her eyes caught the door as it creaked open. It revealed a guy just around her age, although she was a year older. He had a very wild blonde hair that came naturally.

"Ah," Cloud stuttered as he sipped on his juice. "Someone's eating alone!!!" he laughed. "Shut up." She retorted. Cloud gave her a smile, but then suddenly faltered when he spotted her lunch.

Variety of oriental food. It had shrimps and crab—his favourite. And the best of all, it was organized.

"WOAH!!! Whatta scrumptious delicious looking lunch!" exclaimed Cloud. Aerith gave him a weird look. "Oh…our head cook forced me to bring it…" she answered.

"You have a head cook in your house? That is so cool!!! You are rich!" said Cloud as he went starry-eyed at her lunch. Aerith closed her lunch box, making him alerted more.

"What?! You're not eating them anymore?!"

"I'm full…"

"Can I have it?!" favored Cloud, but before Aerith could even answer, he was already pigging out the food with her chopsticks.

"Wait! I haven't said yes yet!" a frantic Aerith said. My chopsticks!!!

"Amazing! You get delicious and luxurious lunch like this everyday! I can eat them for you if you're going to leave it behind." Said Cloud in between munches.

"No way!"

From that on, he came to the rooftop everyday…I said not to, but Cloud Strife just didn't listen.

"Hi hun!!! What do we have for today!!!" a joyous and enthusiastic Cloud said with a grin. Aerith sweat dropped. I attracted a dog…

Cloud sat beside her. "I've been growing taller so quickly,"

"Too quickly, I think."

"I've been hearing my bones creak every night, I wake myself up with weird sounds! I bet this was karma for copying homework!" narrated Cloud.

And for that stupid story, Aerith smiled for the first time on front of someone.

"That's just impossible!" she waited for his comebacks but none came. The silence became awkward.

"You…you have the prettiest smile I've ever seen…" he muttered. "And it's the first time I saw it too!" he added. She immediately covered her mouth with her handkerchief, completely embarrassed. "If you always smile like that, people won't call you something ugly anymore." Aerith's expression was dull again. But her cheeks were turning pink. "It's okay…I don't care what people may assume to me." She said, looking at her feet.

"No…I don't think it's okay…people misunderstood you…Aerith. Iie…it's not okay…" he protested. "Try to break down your walls…I honestly think…you're a great person…" he added with a mere smile, avoiding her gaze.

Break down the walls? I remember Cloud Strife copying homework from me…I remember Cloud Strife accidentally hit me with a basketball at my butt…maybe I was the one who was misunderstanding him too.

Aerith found him at the back of the school, he was refreshing himself on the sinks near the basketball court. Weird. I thought he looked cute in wet hair. She thought. When he felt her presence he immediately looked up and gave her a grin.

"Hi Aerith! Are you going home?" he asked.

"Ah, yeah."

"Oi, stop flirting with her!" said one of his teammates.

"Clever for someone who doesn't deserve to be the captain ball."

"You can't even pass the ball directly! I bet you just have a connection with the coach!"

Cloud glared at them as a vein popped on his head. "WTF…I'll-" he was about to give his smarter retort, but Aerith cut her off.

"If you're jealous because of him taking your place, get it back without blaming other people's asses!!!" she retorted.

"WAH! Is she—"

"For real?!" the players stuttered in shock as they walked away. Cloud then laughed. "Aerith! You are so cool!" he exclaimed, holding back his stomach as she blushed more with a frown.

After when Cloud recovered, he smiled. "So! Aerith, I want you to be my girlfriend!!!"

Her jaw dropped and so as her heart. "YOU WHAT?!"

"Thanks for backing me up. I fell for you for that." He added now in a serious manner. She was redder than before. He then realized she was in the brink of tears. "S-Stop teasing me!!!"

"Y-you're just concerned…because you feel bad about me!" she stuttered, walking away.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" asked Cloud as he followed her.

"No! Or maybe, you just want my lunch? If that's it dun worry I'll make yours too. So, stop bothering me!"

A vein popped on Cloud's head, but he was stern. "Baka. Do you really think I've been going to the roof top just for your lunch?" she stopped dead tracks and listened to him. His features went softer as she turned around.

"The situation…it's different. My parents and I don't get along well, but I depend on them." She wiped her eyes.

"Please, don't get confused. It's not your fault. Let's just take it easy, okay?" and after that lil talk, Cloud pondered as his hand rubbed his chin.

"Anyway, if you want to be my girlfriend, come to the rooftop tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you." He said in a serious manner. But then he met her eyes and determination filled his.

"No, wait! You will be my girlfriend! It is confirmed! I confirmed it now!" he said, pointing to her. "I'll hunt you down if you won't come!"

Aerith leaned on the wall, blushing furiously as she gripped her bag.

"W-what are you talking about?! Are you crazy?!" She exclaimed with bemused and lost eyes.

"Don't get confused…it's not your fault…let's take it easy."

"I…I've been waiting for someone to tell me that…"

"Try to break down your walls…I honestly think…you're a great person…"

The following day, in early morning, Aerith showed up at the rooftop. Green eyes met blue ones. Cloud laughed at his unsaid victory.

I decided…to 'break down my walls'…he was the first one to help me…

He took her hand and she would smile.

"Do you like reading books?" asked Aerith with a tiny smile. Cloud squeezed her hand gently.

"Hehe, no, I think they suck. You?"

"Well, I'm currently reading Chi's Prince by H. Chirine…" answered Aerith with a laugh as she squeezed his hand back.

"Oh, really…maybe I'll start reading too…" said Cloud with a smile.

"Haha, I never thought you would actually skip classes. For me." Said Cloud as he laughed. Aerith shyly smiled.

We would spend the whole day, talking. About our classmates, basketball, our childhood…

Later on, I learned he came from a broken family.

"My dad's the group leader of Cetra Mafia." She expected a horrified look, but instead, he was shocked but he grinned widely.

"Really?! I didn't expect a person like you would be that pretty!"

I let him in me. About my family…and the gang thing…

"Nah I dun wanna talk about it."

He didn't want to. It hurt me more because he can't show his weakness to me.

That was the first day. The second day was their date at the park. They would continue on with their talking.

"Favourite flavor?" he asked. "Strawberry. You?"

He mischievously grinned. "I like whatever you like!"

"Hey hun, you want some ice cream?"

I never thought…I could be talkative…

He would keep on teasing her. There was one time, he tapped her shoulder and when she turned around, he pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Oh no…I think…my heart's going to explode." Whispered Cloud.

I didn't know what I was thinking back then…but it felt right.

But never would've I thought...that I would set this love free with my own hands…

That was the second day. And today…was the third day.

Their relationship went public.

"Weird couple," a student muttered to the person beside him as they watched Cloud pinch Aerith's cheek.

"I don't want to see them together."

Aerith sadly looked at her shoes upon hearing that. Cloud's laugh faltered as he saw the melancholy of her face. He frowned.

"Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head with an assuring smile. He smiled back. And then said,

"I don't care what they would think. What matters is I'm with you."

Promises melted my heart. But then again, promises are easily made, easily broken.

"Hm…what happened to Strife's beautiful woman?"

"Ah, Lockhart? I think they broke up."

Hearing those rumors, I admit I believed them too quickly. But who knows. It was true.

"Aerith, I'll be late today, so you can go ahead. See you tomorrow!" he bid goodbye as he went to the basketball court.

So I decided…to wait for him.

This is stupid…now I feel like a stalker… she thought as she looked at the fountain. He saw his figure across the fountain and saw a girl with long, black hair beside him.

She was Tifa Lockhart.

"I'm sorry I'm a little late!" she apologized.

"Nah, it's okay…"

"Hey Tifa…can I crash in you and Nigasa's house tonight?"

"Why?"

"I need to ask you about something…"

"What is it? Girl problems?"

"Shut up…you're the only one who knows this, you know me…"

'You know me...' Funny. Me, as his girlfriend doesn't even have a clue about it.

After hearing their conversation, Aerith weakly smiled. "Cloud…so you have that person after all…"

It tore me apart to know that he never showed me that weakness.

The clouds started to rumble. She looked up at the sky as it became darker. The rain poured down. Weird. It's summer.

But he has shown it to her.

"Hi Aerith, what are you doing here? Came to say you love me?" he teased. She looked at the floor as she opened her mouth to speak.

"It's over."

He looked at her in horror.

"Aerith! Wait! What happened to you?!" she was walking away while he followed her. They didn't care, if people in the hallway would see it. Neither of them just cared. He grabbed her wrist. "Aerith!!! Look at me!!!"

She stopped dead tracks.

"Cloud…you should go to the person who only knows you…" confused, Cloud pulled her to face her. "What are you talking about?! I don't understand!"

She put a hand on his shoulder, her eyes in the brink of tears.

"I…I don't need you…if I don't know you at all…" she stuttered. She then looked up to his eyes one last time.

"

"Aerith!"

She ran out of his life.

"Ah, Aerith-san, you're spacing out!" said Kairi. "Aerith-san…are you okay?" Namine snapped Aerith from her thoughts. She nodded nervously. "Dun need to worry…" but it seemed to fail, because she went back to her memories.

After a week or two, some sort of new system of Gakuen Tasogare was made.

"Monochrome???!!!" Aerith looked at the paper confused.

"Eri-chan! We should go to the Whites!!!" said Yuffie.

"Iie!!! The Blacks!!!" argued Axel. And they went on and on.

"I wonder how he got the power to establish such system…" thought Aerith out loud.

It was Cloud Strife, who made the whole Black-Gray-White system, or what it was originally called, the Monochrome Method…he was the leader of the Blacks. And weirdly, Tifa was on the Whites.

"This is stupid!" she exclaimed.

"Why so ojyou?" asked Axel.

"I think it's cool!!!" chirped Yuffie.

Aerith stood up from her seat and went to wherever Cloud was, confused to see people wearing black and white uniforms, not their casual clothes.

She found him at a room that was used to be a classroom, now the 'BLACK HQ', he too was wearing a Black uniform, and so as his followers.

Cloud lost his funny bone touch. He went hot to cold. And from what I heard, he closed his world.

She glared at him, ignoring the fact that they went out.

"WTF is the meaning of this?!" she demanded. He lazily smiled at her.

"Ah, nice to see you, you must be Aerith Gainsborough! I'm Nigasa Riku, Tifa's relative!" a silver haired elementary student introduced, who was sitting on the bench, but she ignored him for her eyes were settled on Cloud.

"Don't you like the new system, Aerith-san?" asked Cloud. The two of them lost their intimacy after what happened.

"What do you think you're getting at? What's the purpose of this antic?!"

"It was because of Tifa, that's why you broke up with me. She hates me so now, for choosing you over her. So I'm dividing this school. You don't know how desperate I am."

Subtext: I'm doing this for you.

"Shut up!!!" she retorted, not liking the fact she was pouring his heart out.

"So, what side do you want? Black or White?"

Subtext: Me, or Tifa?

"You are crazy!!!" she retorted.

Cloud glared at her. "Just choose damnit girl why are you making this so hard?!"

Subtext: Forgive me now.

She went quiet and looked away.

Aerith didn't answer for awhile. Neither was her favored option.

"Gray."

"WTF was that supposed to mean?" he snapped, his now frozen cold eyes looked at hers.

She slightly winced at his defiant stare. "It means 'Aerith'. My rules are wearing casual clothes. They could have their individuality. They don't want to get it your silly war. That is all."

He weakly grinned.

"For you, then Gray it is. Spread the word," Cloud turned to one of the Blacks and spat. He immediately obeyed. "But I'll tell you this, Gray leader. Those who don't have some sort of specialty can't get their choice as a Gray."

She turned her heels to leave. "I don't care. I have no intention of getting dragged in your behavior."

And that's how the whole system was really born. But our time faltered. A year later on…as soon as I didn't come to school often anymore, Cloud put down his position to Tifa's relative, Nigasa Riku. And when Cloud did, Tifa did too. She dropped her position and gave it to the Student Council's President, Tsukamoto Roxas right after they got sent at the hospital at first day of school. As the Gray leader however, I left my fellow Grays, and I wasn't considered as a Leader anymore, and the number of Grays died.

But that wasn't the complete reason…how Tsukamoto and Nigasa became the Leaders yet.

"Hey Aerith-san, can we be friends now?" Kairi snapped her back to reality.

Friends? With them?

"I told you that I am not into—" Namine cut her off. "I know, you don't want another cozy relationship. But it's just friendship."

"Yeah, we'll always be by your side!!!" said Kairi. Aerith blushed.

"Haha, I never thought you would actually skip classes. For me."

"Hey hun, you want some ice cream?"

"I think…my heart's going to explode."

"Hi Aerith, what are you doing here? Came to say you love me?"

"So Aerith-san, what do you say?" asked Namine hopefully.

Aerith turned her back. "I'll…think about it."

The two of them quietly cheered.

Weird. That summer still affects me so…I couldn't even forgive a childish love…maybe because I got betrayed…no matter how I may assume that I hate him, I know I can't, because he was the first one to break me.

"I don't care what they would think. What matters is I'm with you."

An unforgettable summer.

I'll be clean...it's not good and corny, isn't it? Oh well...if you don't review...we can say sayonara to Monochrome...and the ROXAS and NAMINE INTERLUDE I was writing...

Achii