-Cloud-

"Take care of her alright? She may seem like a toughie but she's still a girl."

Those words were the last I ever heard from Fred when we parted from the gates of North Corel's border. He was heading west to Gaia knows were. I looked at Aerith, who was playing with some children by an old run-down tent, and sighed. From here on out, everything will change. With a made-up mind, I approached a nearby town folk and asked around.

"Where could I buy a map?"

The burly man looked at me warily but replied, "I know somebody selling maps by the lift to Golden Saucer. Gotta hurry though, he closes shop by 5 o'clock."

I nodded at him and returned to the brown-haired girl. When I approached, the kids suddenly hid behind Aerith's back. I'm already used to that though, people fearing me. The green-eyed girl smiled, sidestepped, and pushed them towards me. My eyes widened, a feeling of warmth accumulated in my face.

"Children, this is Cloud! Say hello," she happily announced.

"H-Hello…"

"Ummm…hey, mister Cloud."

They were stealing anxious glances at me, not really sure what to do next, but one brown-haired little girl in particular ran up to me and hugged my knees! I was so surprised by her action that I froze at the spot.

"Cloud, Cloud, Cloud! I'm Marlene!" She introduced through a toothy grin. The little girl was looking at me with her huge brown eyes, her face beaming so brightly, that I couldn't help but stare. "Will you be my bodyguard too?"

I looked up at Aerith, who was staring innocently at the vast horizon. I grinned inwardly and crouched down to the little girl's level. With a slightly nervous hand, I shook her tiny head and let a smile leak through my lips.

"You'll have your own bodyguard someday, kid," I said while looking directly at her brown eyes. She reminds me of somebody, and that certain somebody is watching us right now. I leaned down to Marlene's ear and whispered, "Too bad, but somebody else owns me now. Let's keep that a secret between us, okay?"

"Sure, Cloud! Just be sure to keep her safe, for me too~"

I grinned at her. "Deal."

But, is this okay? I'm changing. I'm slowly softening, giving in to her magic.

"Let's go," I motioned to Aerith—who was being nuzzled by the snotty brats.

She nodded her head and said goodbyes, kissing their teary faces one by one.

Even though she had met them for the first time, people are drawn to her, charmed by her. I guess, she has this other certain magic in her. Figures. Little did I know, the more time I spent with her, the more I was trapped by her magic as well.

We walked a few meters towards a platform that holds the lift towards the vibrant city of Golden Saucer. When I saw the store that the muscle man talked about I quickly approached it and purchased a World Map.

For what purpose?

We're running away. I have made up my mind in taking Aerith somewhere safe; somewhere the institution could never find her. That is my decision.

Why?

That's… because I…

"Hey, Cloud, let's go visit the Golden Saucer…" Aerith muttered as she gazed dreamily at the floating city.

I stared at her blankly and replied, "No."

"Oh, please? It'll just take a second!" She pleaded.

"No."

Now, where were we? Ah, Junon. That might be a good place, but the military visits there often. I know, my comrades have been there several times. Gongaga? It housed a broken factory of the institution; maybe we could… damn it! I don't care wherever we'll end up! As long as we're out of sight, everything will be okay. As long as I'm with her, she'll be safe. We'll find a secure place sooner or later. Even if it'll take us years, I'll find a way.

"Aerith, let's get going. It's getting dark and—!"

My eyes widened when I saw her grinning face behind the window of a lift that was moving upward. She even waved at me!

"AERITH!"

Damn it! Why did she? Shit! I quickly entered the second lift that was also going towards golden city, but it'll take me a while to get there! What the hell entered her cuckoo brain this time?

After 15 minutes or so, the lift that I got in reached the 'arrivals' platform of Golden Saucer. When I approached the gates to the Saucer itself, a provocatively dressed teenage girl offered to give me an entrance ticket and a private tour for a discounted price of only 150 gil. Annoyed, I gave her 200 gil to shut up and leave me alone.

My steps quickened when I felt the evening setting in. In no time, I was shoving through crowds of people that were enjoying the festive-like activities that swarmed Golden Saucer. Then, out of the blue, I saw long brown hair being held by a pink ribbon that was bouncing up and down. It had to be Aerith!

"Aerith!"

The woman looked around, and indeed it was Aerith! She looked at me with frightened eyes and started to run! What the hell is up with her?!

"Aerith! Where are you going?" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I followed her. I was beginning to get irritated. First, she left me all alone in the platform and now, she was running away from me? Does she hate me that much?

She turned back slightly and replied, "Jerk off!"

I stopped at my tracks. Jerk off? T-That couldn't be Aerith. She would never… My anger was at its boiling point. Jerk off? JERK OFF?! With all my might, I ran after her. I forcefully shoved all that was in my way. Men, women, men that pretended to be women, machines, kiosks… everything! I'll destroy everything till I catch up with her.

I ran and ran until her hand was inches from mine.

Damn it! If I catch you, I'll—

Then, the lights that surrounded the kaleidoscopic city went out simultaneously as a firework shot up through the night sky. When it reached the highest point, a booming sound resounded in every corner of the Golden Saucer and that firework bloomed into every colour that Gaia could possibly have made.

At that moment, I felt her fingers melting into mine.

"I won't let you go."