A.N. Okaaaayy I didn't mentioned it but of course brought Cloud and all the others Materia, items, tends and a few clothes (for day and night) along. I mean they would be really stupid if they didn't bring items and those things along, huh?XD
Faded Memories
Chapter 4: Beach Holiday in Costa Del Sol
Cloud awoke as the sun shined through the window and straight on his face and was blinded as he wanted to open his eyes. Cloud shielded his eyes with his arm and sat up. As he looked around he noticed that everyone else are gone, but he didn't really care, he awoke every hour from the same nightmare but thankfully he slept the last few hours dreamlessly.
Cloud got out of his bed and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower (The group rested here several times in the past that's why he knows where everything is). As the cool water touched his skin lightly he let out a deep sigh. He's glad to finally continue their journey so he won't have this nightmare again.
As he finished his shower he put a towel around his waist and went back to his room to get dressed. Just as he put his pants on the door suddenly burst open and Aerith dashed in. „Cloouuud! Wake uuup~!", she yelled as cheery as ever but went quiet as she saw him half dressed. „Oh...You already awake, hehe! Come on, we're all waiting for you!", she said giggling and left him again.
She's doing it over and over again...I wonder if she's doing it on purpose..., Cloud thought as he put his shirt, shoulder-guard and all the other things on. Cloud went outside, where the whole group is. „Hey, our sleeping beauty is finally awake.", Barret said to the others as he noticed Cloud.
„Change of plan.", Cloud said to everyone, who payed him their full attention. „We'll ride on Chocobos, so we don't have to fight against the Midgar Zolom. In Fort Condor we just rest for a while and restock our items. And then we go straight to Junon. Aerith and I take my golden Chocobo, you guys...just take the others and the rest have to catch their own. Red you can catch up with us right?", Cloud asked the red wolf-like animal. „No problem, Cloud.", Red XIII replied.
„Eh? Wait!", Aerith stopped them as they wanted to head off. „Why do I have to go with Cloud? I can take care of myself!"
„No, you can't.", said Cloud sternly and went to the studs. You won't get away from me that easily anymore. Not like last time..., he thought as he and everyone else took their Chocobos. „You guys go ahead.", Cloud said to the others, who are ready to go. They agreed and rode off, leaving Cloud, Aerith, Cait Sith and Red XIII alone. Cloud turned to Aerith, who turned away from him with her arms crossed over her chest.
„Aerith...", he called her with a long sigh, while she continued to ignore him. „Aerith, come on.", Cloud tried again bust she still didn't budged. Cloud sighed one more time and went to her. „Aerith, we have no time for this." But Aerith turned away from him, stubbornly.
„Red, can you help me?", the blonde man asked, while Red XIII and with him Cait Sith, who's still riding on him, approached them. „Aerith, let's go. You don't want to make Cid angry, do you?", the red wolf-like animal said. „But I want to ride a Chocobo by myself...", she mumbled, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
„Cloud knows what he's doing, Aerith. And he's just worried about you.", Cait Sith said and Aerith looked over her shoulder and glared at them. „But yesterday I rode a Chocobo too and nothing happened!"
Cloud sighed once again and kinda regret to let them all alone the day before. He went to her, turned her around and looked straight into her emerald green eyes, still holding her on her shoulders and threw once again all his pride away.
„Aerith, please, just do what I say. I want you to be save and...You can't be saver when you're with me, okay? So...I want you to stay with me.", he said and murmured the last part, hopefully unknown to everyone that he meant it in more ways but just to protect her...Aerith just stared at him as she felt his grip on her shoulders tightened a bit as he said this, revealing Aerith that he really meant what he said. „Okay...", she gave in but smiled slightly at how cute Cloud could be. Cloud himself gave her a small smile of his own, but it disappeared as fast as it came.
„Okay, ehm...let's go.", Cloud said and cleared his throat after he admired her eyes again. Aerith and Cloud went to the golden Chocobo, which knelled down and Cloud took Aerith by her waist and placed her gently on the Chocobo and climbed on him as well.
„Why are you behind me?", asked Aerith as Cloud sat behind her. „You have to hold onto something and because of my swords you can't do it on me.", he explained to her. „Oh, that makes sense.", she replied giggling and held onto the Chocobos back feathers, while Cloud leaned on her to hold on the Chocobo too.
Both of them began to blush instantly, but none of them noticed it of course. „So...", Cloud whispered against her neck, which let Aerith shiver slightly. „Do you want to navigate Choco or shall I do it?", he asked her, while Aerith tried to control her shivering. „Uhm, you.", she replied plainly, while Red XIII and Cait Sith chuckled quietly at their behavior. „Let's go!", Cloud interrupted them and they all head off to Fort Condor.
They passed the lake with that Midgar Zolom and continued running really fast. „Wow, Choco's really fast!", said Aerith in amazement. „Yeah, golden Chocobos are naturally really fast but I trained him to make him even faster."
„Wow!"
Cloud looked back to Red XIII he still is close to them and Cloud noticed for the first time how fast Red XIII could run. They ran so fast that they even outdistanced the others, although they started earlier than Clouds group. „Cloud, wait up!", called Tifa as they outdistanced her, and the others. „Run faster!", Cloud called back.
„We don't have fucking rang-S Chocobos like some spiky ass!", yelled Cid, but Cloud ignored him and soon they arrived Fort Condor.
They entered Fort Condor and climbed up some ladders and gathered again. „Tifa could you check our Materia?", Cloud asked his childhood friend, who nodded. „Sure."
„Hey, why not me?", whined Yuffie. „No. After you stole all our Materia...", Cloud replied and rolled his eyes in annoyance. „Vincent, take care of our equipment.", he said, while Vincent just nod. „Aerith? Could you restock our items?"
„Sure, Cloud!", the green eyed Cetra replied and head off. „Hey, Cloud, what's wrong?", Tifa asked him worried. „You're so odd today..."
Cloud went quiet and looked worried to Aerith. „Is it about Aerith?", Barret guessed, while Cloud just nod. „What's wrong with her?", Red XIII asked him curious. „I...had a dream...", Cloud mumbled and looked to the ground. „Do you mean where you and Aerith...", Cid guessed smirking, but couldn't finish his sentence. „NO! Not THIS kind of dream!", he yelled with a bright blush on his face. „What dream did you had?", asked him Cait Sith.
„It was about Sephiroth.", Cloud finally said and looked at his companions with a serious look. „You mean, you and Sephiroth..."
„NO!", Cloud interrupted Cid once again. „He'll come back...to kill Aerith."
„What?", Tifa gasped in horror. „Do you think he really comes back again?"
„It was way too real to be just a dream. I'm sure he'll come back. We have to protect Aerith, no matter what!", Cloud said his serious expression still on his face, in this time Aerith came back. „Cloud, I restocked our items!", she said and smiled happily at her companions, but just as she saw their expressions she frowned too. „What's wrong?"
„Nothing. Don't worry.", Cloud said and glared at the others to tell them not to tell this Aerith, who nodded slightly in agreement. „Okay guys, let's rest, we head off to Junon in an hour.", Cloud said to the group, who split up. Aerith went with Tifa and Barret somewhere and Cloud looked after her with a sad and almost hurt expression. „Hey, spike, don't cry again!", Cid said to Cloud, who shot him a glare. „I'm-not-crying!", he yelled back and left the rest of the group.
„Hey, Aerith!", he heard Tifa call Aerith. „Do you remember as we took the boat to Costa Del Sol? As we all had to wear Shin-Ra clothes?"
„Oh yeah, I remember! That was really funny!", she replied and the two girls began to giggle. „And you remember how Barret looked like in that uniform?", she asked her and began to laugh at this thought. „Japp! I remember...that someone said he looked like a bear in a marshmallow, or something like that." At this Clouds eyes widened, and he dashed to her. As he approached her he held her tightly on her shoulders.
„You remember that?", he asked her, while she just stared at him wide eyed and nodded. „I said this.", Cloud said more calmly and loosened his grip on her a bit. „You?", she asked him in confusion and tilted her head. „Really?"
Cloud let his head hung. I almost thought she remembers me..., he thought sadly, as his heart began to ache again. „I'm sorry, I still can't remember you...", Aerith said and also looked sadly at him, but he just shook his head. „It's okay. You just need more time...I understand.", he said, let her go and went somewhere else, where he could be alone.
About an hour later the group's well rested and ready to go to Junon. They all climb on their Chocobos, Aerith and Cloud with Choco again and rode off in their own group again but this time with Cloud, Aerith, Red XIII and Cait Sith ahead.
„Cloud, I still can take care of myself.", Aerith said as they rode off. „I wouldn't be so sure about it."
„Besides I grew up in the Slums. I'm used to danger."
„I know you are. You already told me that and after that you were kidnapped.", Cloud said, while she suddenly began to giggle. „Really?"
„What's so funny about that? I was the one who had to save you.", he said, but Aerith ignored him and continued to giggle. „Cloud! Watch out!", warned Red XIII from behind and Cloud looked to his right to see a few wolf-like monster running towards them. „Red!", Cloud called and Red XIII sent a fire spell to them and a few of them died instantly while the others jumped up to attack Cloud.
Aerith turned to Cloud with a surprised yelp and practically snuggled on him, clutching tightly on his shirt, while Cloud wrapped an arm around her shoulder protectively and pulled with his free hand his main sword out of its holster, to slash the monsters in two pieces.
„See? That's why I wanted you to go with me.", Cloud said, as he sheathed his sword back in its holster, but then he finally noticed their position and suddenly his heart skipped a beat or two and he also began to blush furiously. „I don't know how you did it, but you did it on purpose, huh?", Aerith said teasingly as she looked up at him, her face just millimeter away from his own, which caused him to blush even more.
Cloud gulped heavily and quickly looked away from her, while she began to giggle as she, once again, noticed his flushed face. „You're cute, Cloud.", she murmured and continued to giggle, while turning around again and Cloud looked at her questioningly as he heard his name. „What?"
„Hm?", she asked him innocently. „What did you just say?"
„Nothing.", she replied, trying to sound like she's the innocence in person. „I just heard my name.", Cloud countered, but she still won't tell him. „Not important.", she replied plainly. „Come on, tell me.", Cloud urged but Aerith got in a fits of giggles now, which prevented her to talk, while Clouds expression turned into one in confusion.
About half an hour later Clouds group arrived Junon. „Go back to the farm.", Cloud said to Choco, who warked happily and ran off. „Looks like we have to wait for the others.", Cait Sith said as they entered the town. „And what now?", asked Red XIII their leader, who just shrugged. „Do what you want. We can rest for a while before we take a boat to Costa Del Sol.", Cloud said, but no one budged. „Um...you can't do much in Junon...", stated Cait Sith with a sigh.
„Oh!", they heard and they turned around to see a little girl running towards them. „You guys are back?", she said and smiled at them. „Do you remember me?", she added and looked at them questioningly. „Of course, you are...", began Red XIII, but was interrupted as Aerith began to speak. „You're the girl with the dolphin as a friend, right? Um...Priscilla!" The little girl, called Priscilla, nodded happily in agreement.
Cloud looked away from them to, once again, hide his hurt expression. He could practically feel how his heart began to break one piece by another. And now it finally hit him, it's not because their time was too short to remember. She remembered Tifa and Barret too and she knows them as long as she knows him.
But Priscilla...they just met vaguely and Aerith remembered her! This thought let his heart ache painfully. „It's good to see you again, Priscilla, you really grew up.", Red XIII said and smiled at the not so little girl. „Thanks, hihi.", she replied and began to giggle. They all, except for Cloud, talked for a while before the others finally arrived Junon as well.
„Okay, now that we're together again...let's get going.", Cloud said and began to walk towards the port, but Yuffie and Tifa held him back. „Hey, we need a break too!", whined Yuffie, while Cloud pushed her away and continued walking. „You can rest during our boat trip.", he said plainly, and everyone followed him, once they all said their good bye's to Priscilla.
Now that the elevator isn't guarded by the Shin-Ra anymore they took it. Once they arrived the upper town they went to the ports and took a ship to Costa Del Sol. On the ship, the girl went together somewhere to find a good place to relax and Cloud was stuck with the guys.
„Hey, Cloud.", Red XIII addressed him, without Cait Sith, who stayed by the others. Cloud jumped in surprise and quickly snapped out of his daze. „I think we overlooked something in this book.", he said, while Cloud looked at him curious. „I mean...Aerith remembered Tifa, Barret, the people who lived in the Chocobo farm and Fort Condor, Priscilla, everyone we met as we traveled for the first time, but you. There's something wrong about this.", he explained with a serious tone in his voice. „We have to go to the Cosmo Canyon as fast as possible."
„Hm...guess you're right. I mean...I met her first, so she should remember me first, right?", he asked the wolf-like animal, who nodded. „That really makes no sense...But it's still a long way to Cosmo Canyon. Once we arrive Costa Del Sol we have to go to North Corel, Gold Saucer and Gongaga.", he said, while Red XIII just shrugged. „We just hurry."
„Hey, Tifa.", Aerith addressed her best friend, who turned to her. „What is it?", she asked her and smiled at her. „Is Cloud always nervous and clumsy around girls?", the green eyed Cetra asked her and began to giggle. „No, he isn't", replied Yuffie. „He's not that nice when I'm around him...", she growled at this thought. „Well, there has to be a special girl and then...maybe, he is like this.", replied Tifa, her smile still on her face, even if it hurts her heart to say this.
„Oh...okay.", said Aerith and ended this conversation. „Why do you ask, Aeri?", asked Yuffie in curiosity. „Oh...just...no reason.", she said and smiled widely at her friends, who she only remembered one of them. „Hey, you still can't remember Cloud, huh?", asked Tifa her after a while and Aerith shook her head sadly. „No. But I really want to remember him. He's...very interesting.", she said and began to giggle. „Interesting? CLOUD? Chobobo-head? Oh my...what's so interesting about him?", asked Yuffie in disbelieve. „My secret.", Aerith replied and continued to giggle.
About three hours later they arrived Cost Del Sol. The group gathered again. „Okay guys, do what you want it's almost nightfall so we don't have time to arrive North Corel yet.", Cloud said to everyone. „Aerith, let's go to the beach!", Tifa said to her excitedly, while Aerith agreed happily. „Cloud, do you want to come too?", the green eyed Cetra asked him, who blinked in surprise. „Um..."
„Come on!", she said and linked her arm with his and dragged him along, Tifa and Yuffie following her. „Hey, I accompany you!", called Red XIII after them and followed him with Cait Sith, who's riding on him again. „Me too!", agreed Cait Sith.
„But...", said Aerith and stopped, the others looked at her questioningly. „I don't have a swimsuit...", she said and now the girls realized what's missing. „Oohh...", Yuffie and Tifa said. „Then...Let's go! Swimsuit shopping!", Tifa said excitedly, and the girls agreed. „I guess I go somewhere else and...", murmured Cloud, but was interrupted by Aerith. „Oh no! You come along!"„Yeah!", agreed Tifa and they ran off and entered the first shop they saw.
„How about this one?", Tifa asked Aerith and Yuffie as she revealed herself of the changing room. „Really good. Black suits you very well, Tifa.", said Aerith and smiled at her widely. Tifa wore a simple black bikini. Cloud is sitting on a chair near the girls, his head leaning on his hand and looked at them bored. „You think?", Tifa asked again as she regarded herself in the mirror.
„Of course!", Aerith said and Tifa nodded. „Then I'll buy it."
„Now it's my turn!", Aerith said and suddenly Cloud perked up. Aerith disappeared in the changing room with her bikini and came out a moment later, with a bright pink bikini with a bow on the top section. „Well?", she asked everyone and turned around, and Cloud couldn't help but stare at her. As he examined her body he instantly began to blush furiously.
Cloud gulped heavily, all he could think about was how soft her skin must be and felt the urge to touch her, but he withheld himself. Wow..., was the only word which came in his mind as he stared at her with a flushed face. „What do you think, Cloud?", Aerith asked him suddenly, which let him jump in surprise. „Um...eh..i-it looks...um...g-good...", he stuttered, which caused the girls to giggle and Cloud to look away from them to hide his blush of embarrassment. „Are we done?", asked Yuffie, who already picked a green one.
The girls payed for it and went straight to the beach. After they all changed, Cloud bought black shorts to swim to (Aerith and Tifa urged him to do so...), the girls ran excitedly into the water. „Cloud, come on!", called Aerith and waved at him, while Cloud sighed but didn't budged. Aerith pouted and stomped towards him, took him as roughly as she could on his wrist and dragged him to the others into the water.
Red XIII watched them for a while, before he lied down on the sand to take a nap. Aerith forced him to play with her, Tifa and Yuffie, even if he always said he didn't want to, but after a while Cloud had fun as well, he even smiled a bit. But as the others arrived the beach too, he immediately became himself again.
A few hours later, at nightfall, they all went into an Inn to eat dinner. „Hach, that was fun!", said Aerith dreamily, to everyone. „Yeah!", agreed Yuffie. „Even Cloud had fun!", Tifa said, while Cloud groaned. „No. I just pretended to have fun.", he said and turned his attention to his food again. „Yeah, that spiky ass really smiled!", said Cid and began to laugh, while Cloud just glared at him. „Yeah, I saw it too.", agreed Barret, who joined Cids laughter.
„And I taped everything.", said Cait Sith. „You can't deny it, Cloud.", he added teasingly, while Cloud glared at HIM now. „I'm going to go to bed.", Cloud said and sighed as he stood up and went to his room. He sat down on his bed, and suddenly he heard a knock on the door. He didn't said anything and didn't budge to open the door either, in hope the one behind that door would go away.
But just as he thought the door opened a gap and Aerith perked inside. „Hey, Cloud."
„Hm?" Aerith came inside and sat next to him on his bed. „You really didn't have fun today?", she asked him with a sad expression. „...A bit...", he replied shyly, and looked away from her in embarrassment. „And why did you...?", Aerith asked as she sat next to him on his bed. „...Don't really wanted to admit it front of Cid and Barret...", he mumbled and looked to the ground, while Aerith began to giggle. „Okay then...good night.", she said and hugged him, Cloud just blinked in surprise and before he could hug her back she pulled away from him and left his room, while Cloud, once he stared at the door for a few seconds, got ready to sleep.
A.N. So now I wanna tell you something about this story. It actually should be a oneshot^^' to tell Cloud's feelings after Aeriths death. But then this idea "Cloud revives Aerith" came in my mind and I thought:"Write it down, let's see if this idea is good enough to upload it here." And then I wrote and wrote and wrote and now 4 chapters are done^^ not bad at all, hm?XD
Animefan111: Thank you for your review^^ Weeell...about the phoenix down...I think it would be TOO easy don't you think? I mean...If Cloud could simply use a phoenix down to revive Aerith, why didn't he do it in FFVII? I think that somebody dies during a fight they just fell unconscious and the phoenix down regains their conscious again. And yeah it's kinda cool that Cloud blushes about practically everything Aerith's doing to him, hahaXD
Imashitowareto: Thanks for your review again^^ That's actually a good idea. I didn't plan it to let it happen, but she'll defiantly remember something in the Forgotten City. But they'll arrive there later. 'cause I use the exact same route Cloud and his friends had to go in the game.