-Cloud-

I swear to Gaia if ever I'd get my hands on her, I'll wring her precious little neck until her eyeballs pop out! That… that little hell brat Aerith brought this morning torments me to kingdom come! I admit when I first saw her I saw an innocent little girl who is shy, collected, and mature; but when she opened that tiny mouth of hers all hell broke out! I particularly remember that irritating remark when I helped Aerith pull down the dry blankets.

"Hey, Cloud!"

I turned to the little girl as my arms went up the lines to take the last blanket. "What?"

"Why don't you have hair on your pits?" She almost asked the question with naivety, but the glint in her eyes made me think otherwise.

At once, the circulation of my blood went back up past my heart and into my face.

"Really?" Aerith's chestnut brown head appeared from behind the blanket then she stared up to see my underarms. She giggled when she found that there really was no hair in my pits. I glared at her intensely and she stopped a few seconds after. Really? How dare she mock me!

"Ehem… Yuffie!" Aerith scolded while keeping a stern face but failing at it. "That's rude. Apologize to Cloud this minute!"

Hell's daughter Yuffie ran up a few meters before sticking her tongue at both of us. "Not until Cloud grows hair on his pits!" Then she dashed off with her horselaugh echoing behind.

Damn her! I forcefully threw the cloth in the laundry basket and stormed off, but stopped shortly when Aerith called my name.

What does she want now? Laugh at my pits too?

As much as I want to ignore her, the burden of my mission made me turn back. She had on a worried look; her eyebrows were furrowed in guilt.

"I'm sorry for Yuffie's impoliteness, Cloud. She grew up without a mother so no one teaches her correct manners."

I crossed my arms and let out an arrogant 'hmph'. That was no excuse. I also grew up with no parents but I have good manners!

But then, do I only think that way? What about the people around me? Do they think I have good manners? I think I understand a bit now. I only lived here for a few days yet I've learned so many things. Taking back my attention to the woman behind me, my ears grew hot. What did she think of me?

"Do I…ummm…"

"Yes, Cloud?"

Cold sweat trickled down my neck as I scratched the back of my head. The words seemed to be stuck at my throat, but I forced them out. I know they're stupid but I just wanted her opinion. That won't hurt right?

"D-Do I look bad without…you know…w-withou—"

"That's ok, Cloud." Hearing her answer I slowly turned back and froze when she had on that smile. "You're fine, just the way you are."

Feeling the rush of blood in my face again, I ran towards the shed, but then thinking about the things that are crawling within that shed, I sidestepped towards the backdoor of the kitchen.

Damn you, Aerith…

-Aerith-

Cloud, control yourself…

I kept those thoughts to myself as I watch the man's grip on the pepper bottle shake and tighten. We were having dinner and at the start of the meal Yuffie and Cloud started to argue about trivial things. Of course, I have to pardon Yuffie because she was still a child but Cloud; oh he is in a different level alright. Now, they're fighting over what spice the little girl had asked to hand over.

"I told you salt!" Yuffie argued.

"You clearly said pepper," Cloud retorted calmly but with a hint of irritation.

"Salt!"

"Pepper."

"Have some common sense, Cloud." Yuffie hissed with her nose upturned. "Would you sprinkle pepper on your soup?"

Cloud and I exchanged glances at Yuffie's statement. Actually, it was natural to put pepper in a broth to make it spicier. On the other hand, salt wasn't needed for I made the dish as perfect as it could be. I breathed hard and realized Yuffie loves salty things.

"I would if I really had common sense," Cloud answered back, his nostrils flaring.

After glaring at each other for a few seconds, Yuffie turned to me first.

"Aerith, I said salt right?"

My gaze travelled from the girl to Cloud. The latter was squinting his eyes at me rather seriously. Oh boy. I sighed in defeat, took both salt and pepper bottles, and laid them in front of Yuffie.

"Satisfied?" I asked both of them.

Yuffie gave me a toothy grin and continued to eat, as did Cloud. The dinner went on peacefully, but the ceasefire was only brief when Yuffie deafened herself from the blonde's order to wash the dishes. I already volunteered myself but Cloud didn't want to hear any of it.

"I'm tired! Do you have any idea how many days it took me to get here?"

The older man rolled his eyes and answered sarcastically. "Oh, it took you a century."

"What's that?" Yuffie raised her brows and continued, "2 days, Mr. Grumpy-pants. My body is aching all over and a little girl needs her beauty sleep. Goodnight!"

Cloud didn't have a chance to fight back for the quick Yuffie already exited to a vacant room I prepared for her when she came. She's such a naughty sprite but she's all I have. I wouldn't entrust my inn to anybody else, though I wish I had more options. While I was contemplating to myself I hadn't noticed the silent blonde looking at me with steely cerulean eyes. At that moment, my heart skipped a beat. The stare he gave me was penetrating my very being like I was a thief caught red-handed.

"You knew?" His strict, military gaze never left mine as he spoke. "I arrived 2 days ago and it took her 2 days to get here. You knew I was going to take you away?"

I really didn't have an answer to his question. Maybe I did. The answer was…

"From the moment I saw you, it reminded me of him…of how you were very similar to each other," I smiled gently as I took the empty plates to the sink, a feeling of guilt replacing the warmth I had moments ago. "I knew you'd take me away just like what he was ordered to do."

His heavy footsteps resounded within the kitchen and they stopped at the door. I could feel the coldness emanating from him though we were so far apart. It was unfeeling, the darkness covering him.

"Don't compare me with somebody else. It pisses me off."

And he left.

-Cloud-

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!

The pail used for drawing water from the well seemed to be the likely object for my frustration. I couldn't sleep; I kept on thinking about what happened after dinner. The scene kept replaying and replaying in my mind, like an old beat-up record. And every time I remember it, my fury only grew greater and greater! It was the first time I felt so… so… No words could describe what I feel at this moment. Only that I'm angry. For a reason, I don't even know! And that makes me angry even more. What is this feeling?

"I was like him? Don't compare me to a dead person!"

I kicked the pail once more for good measure. Looking at it so badly beaten up doused my anger a bit. The feeling of bloodlust began to fill my body to the brim. I cracked my neck and knuckles, letting the stinging pleasure extend through my fingertips. My hands itched to hold a sword again, to let the blade pierce through something… anything! My breathing became heavy, my pulse racing, my senses heightened. Oh, this feeling. I'd give anything to kill again! And like an answer to my prayer, something rustled from behind. A monster? I grinned deviously as I prepared to strike. I certainly hope so.

Within a heartbeat, I crouched down and pivoted with great agility to the phantom that appeared. My hands were on a tiny knife that I always bring along. As I jumped forward I brought the knife up to take down my foe—

"Cloud?"

My eyes narrowed as the white silhouette looked up to reveal a pair of emerald green orbs. But—it's too late! My knife was about to slit her neck when, fortunately, somebody kicked my body from the side. The force of the kick was so strong that I was thrown a few meters away. I couldn't believe it. It was like the foot that kicked me weighed a thousand tons! Somebody that strong existed in this wasteland? I immediately stood up when I landed and stared at the attacker.

"Huh!" Yuffie brushed away the dirt from her pyjamas and glared at me with disgust. "You're a hundred years early to touch MY Aerith."

Yuffie? My eyes widened at shock first, and then it turned to disbelief. A brat defeated me? Me, a SOLDIER from the institution? I bit my lip so hard it almost bled.

"Now, explain yourself!" Yuffie half-asked half-shouted with rage in her voice. I couldn't answer her. I was too shaken to speak. And for that silence, Yuffie cracked her knuckles and advanced threateningly, her eyes glowed with a murderous intent. "If you have no reason, then I have no reason not to send you to Hell. Prepare yourself!"

She was about to lunge forward, when a hand stopped her. Aerith took Yuffie by the shoulder, whispered something to her and smiled. I watched dumbly as they exchanged a few words. After flashing me with an I'm-watching-you look, Yuffie retreated to the house. The once heated atmosphere turned peaceful at the passing seconds. Clouds that covered the sky overhead finally dispersed and the moonbeams lit our bodies like two candles in the night. I was watching her, and she was watching me. And like always with her, I couldn't find words to speak. Only that… would an apology suffice?

"I…" I started but when I saw her eyes, I looked away. "…sorry."

"It's ok." Her gentle voice was carried by the wind to my ears, and the kind words penetrated my heart. Oh, the guilt… is killing me.

Seconds passed in silence. I had nothing to say, rather, I didn't know what to say. I decided to bask in the darkness of my room; so, without meeting her gaze, I walked past her.

"At first…"

I froze in my steps. Something stopped me from advancing. What it is… I didn't know. The only thing I could do at the moment was stare at her back.

"It bothered me how you looked exactly alike. Two completely different people, but looked exactly the same. The way you walk, gestures… I think I must have seen him again in you." She sighed greatly and shook her head. "But you're different. Things are different."

Slowly, she turned towards me and our eyes met.

"Cloud… I'm searching for you. I want to meet you."

I was taken aback. "But I'm right here."

She giggled lightly, her emerald green eyes concealed by her long lashes. "I know, I know… what I means is…" She raised her eyes to me and beamed a smile that was even brighter than the moonlight. "I want to meet…you."