A.N. Okay, now you can find out why Aerith doesn't remember Cloud at all. Enjoy^^
Faded Memories
Chapter 6: The Conditions
Tifa entered the tent and lied down. She glanced to Aerith and wondered if she's asleep. „Aerith...?", whispered Tifa, not wanting to wake her up if she's really sleeping. „Aerith, are you awake?"
„Yeah.", she replied, opened her eyes and leaned on her arms. „What is it?"
„I just...wanted to say...Thank you.", Tifa said and smiled sweetly at Aerith, who tilted her head. „For what?", the Cetra asked curiously, but smiled at her. „For everything. I just told Cloud how I feel. Well...how I felt.", she said and suddenly Aerith got up in a sitting position. „Really? Wow! Tell me everything!", she insisted, while Tifa began to giggle. „There's nothing to say. I noticed that my feelings for him changed into the love best friends share. You know, just like how I love you. As my best friend, and he wanted the same and he also told me the same as you did."
Aerith pulled Tifa in a hug. „I'm glad you did it."
„Thanks to you.", she replied and hugged her back, while Aerith giggled. „But I didn't do anything.", the green eyed girl said modestly, while Tifa shook her head. „Wrong. You did so much for me. You gave me new strength to move on. Thank you so much, Aerith.", Tifa said and hugged her a bit tighter. „T-Tifa, please not so tight...!", Aerith choked out and Tifa immediately let go of her. „Oh...sorry." Aerith took a few breaths before she smiled at Tifa. „It's okay. You were just happy. But always remember: I'm just a flower girl from the Slums, you're a martial artist. I'm not as strong as you.", she teased, while Tifa began to giggle. „Maybe not on the outside. But on the inside you're way stronger than me.", she said and smiled sweetly at her best friend, who looked at her curious.
„Really?" Tifa just nod and suddenly got an idea. „Oh, how about this? In gratitude for helping me, I'll protect you from now on!"
„But I already have a bodyguard.", said Aerith and began to giggle. „I know, but Cloud can't always be by your side! Hm? Say yes!", Tifa begged and used Aeriths puppy-dog-look herself. „Okay, okay.", Aerith said and started to laugh, while Tifa joined her. Outside the tent Cloud could hear Tifas and Aeriths laughter. Looks like they enjoy themselves., he thought as he continued to examine his surroundings, to make sure there's nothing dangerous.
On the next morning Aerith and Tifa tried to wake up Cloud, who fell asleep. „Cloud, wake up! We wanna go now!", yelled Tifa at him, but he didn't budged. „Cloud!", called Aerith, but still no reaction. Then Cloud began to mumble things and to tremble, his eyes were tightly shut and it seemed he had a nightmare. „Looks like he has a nightmare...", said Aerith worried and knelled down next to him.
„I hope I kick the hell out of him in his dream.", said Tifa a bit amused, while Aerith looked over her shoulder. „Tifa, that's not nice.", she said and turned her attention back to Cloud. She lied a hand on his forehead and cast a cure spell, hoping it would make him feel better.
Suddenly Cloud began to relax and he even smiled a tiny bit. „Okay, now it's time to wake up!", said and annoyed Tifa and pushed Aerith gently aside. „CLOUD!", she shouted near his ear, but he didn't seemed to hear her, while Tifa began to growl in annoyance and kicked him hard on his Cloud jumped up and looked around hectically. „What...! What...?"
„Finally! Now let's go!", said Tifa and went ahead angrily, while Cloud looked confused after her and then to Aerith. „You fell asleep and Tifa couldn't wake you up and kicked you. I think we should follow her...", Aerith explained and quickly followed Tifa. Cloud looked after her, but then shook his head, stood up and followed the girls, but still thinking about this dream he had before...
It was dark. So dark that Cloud couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. But he could clearly feel a presence...a presence just as dark as his surroundings or even darker. He knew exactly whose presence it is. It belonged to his most hatred enemy. „Show yourself!", Cloud shouted into the darkness and all he got as a reply was a chuckle.
Suddenly he felt him behind him and pulled his sword out of its holster to only just block his attack on time. As they swords clashed together, the sparks, which arose from the impact, lightened up his surroundings and revealed the silver haired man, Cloud hates so much: Sephiroth.
They both glared at each other, none of them said anything, they just stood there and tried to push the other away, but their strength was equal. „Oh? Looks like you got a bit stronger?", the silver haired man said, almost teasingly, while Clouds glare grew more hated. „Yeah. That means you still don't have a chance against me.", Cloud replied in an emotionless tone, but Sephiroth could still hear the rage out of it.
„Hmph, is that so?", asked Sephiroth and smirked devilishly at him. „But you seem to forget that I know your weak spot." Cloud tried hard to keep his face expressionless. „I don't have any weak spots!", he said, but Sephiroth began to chuckle. „Really? And what about that ancient? It was so much fun to see what her death had done to you. I wonder what will happen when it repeats?"
„Don't you dare to touch her! It's something between you and me!", Cloud shouted his rage now more than visible in his eyes, while Sephiroth just smirked devilishly at him again.
„Don't you dare!", Cloud yelled again, while Sephiroths expression didn't changed at all. Suddenly he felt another presence behind him, a brighter one, he could recognize it everywhere. Sephiroth looked passed him and his smirk grew, while Clouds eyes widened as he realized what he's about to do. Suddenly a black wing appeared on the silver haired mans right side and he got the strength to finally push Cloud aside and dashed to the third figure.
Cloud fell to the ground, but quickly stood up again and tried to stop Sephiroth, but because of his wing he's faster than Cloud. Cloud ran as fast as he could, but it seemed like he didn't move from the spot. Even from this distance and that darkness he could see her, it's almost like she radiated. She looked at him, but she wasn't frightened, no, she smiled at him, her hands were folded in a praying manner.
„I know you'll save me, bodyguard.", she said, but in this moment Sephiroth raised his sword, while Cloud eyes widened in horror. He reached out to her in hope to somehow take her and pull her to him, where she's save, but she was out of his reach, which let him get frustrated. „NO!", Cloud shouted as Sephiroth attacked her, but suddenly all his surroundings changed and he felt the power, which held him back, vanished and he fell face first to the ground.
He looked up and found himself in the middle of an endless flower field. The blonde man got up in a kneeling position and looked around. Why was he here? Where was Sephiroth? Where was she? But then he heard a giggle behind him and he quickly turned around. „Helllloooo!", said a very cheery and beautiful voice. As Cloud turned around he immediately saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen: he saw bright, glittery emerald green eyes, looking down at him and straight into his soul and he was relieved she was okay.
„Aerith...", he whispered her name, while she smiled at him, her eyes showed amusement. „Hi, bodyguard. How are you?", she asked him and knelled down in front of him. „You know how I feel...", he mumbled, while she got a bit closer to him. „Huh? What did you say? Talk a bit louder!", she said teasingly and began to giggle.
„What do you think how I feel, when you don't even remember me...?", he asked her a bit louder, while she looked at him curiously. „What are you talking about? Of course I remember you!", she said amused, while Cloud blinked at her. „You remember me?"
„Why not?" That left Cloud speechless, he thought she lost her memories...„Well? What is it? Aren't you happy to see me again?", she teased, while Cloud couldn't do anything but to stare at her. „Cloud?", she called him and reached out to him, but he immediately took her wrist and pulled her into a hug. „I missed you...", he mumbled against her shoulder, while she just nod and hugged him back.
„But...how come you remember me now?", Cloud asked her, still holding her close to him, like he never wanted to let go. „I would never forget you! What makes you think that?"
„But you DID forget me."
„I would NEVER forget you.", Aerith whispered into his ear, while he began to smile a bit. „CLOUD!" He suddenly heard a voice calling him and he pulled away from her a bit. „What is it?", asked Aerith him curious and tilted her head. „Didn't you hear that?" Aerith just shook his head, while Cloud pricked up. „Cloud...!", he heard a male voice calling him, which confused him even more, because the voice he heard before was female. „Cloud, can you hear me...?", the voice asked, but was still far away and before Cloud could do anything he felt a sudden pain on his stomach and awoke on the ground and looked up to an angry Tifa.
Cloud went next to Aerith, while Tifa lead the way, and glanced at her every second, thinking about if he should ask her or not. Then suddenly Aerith looked to him and he quickly turned his head away from her and began to blush. „Is something wrong?", asked Aerith him worried, while he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, still trying to hide his blush.
„Well...I wondered if...", he began, while she smiled at him, urging him to continue. „Do you...remember me?", asked Cloud hesitantly, while her eyes showed a tinge of sadness and Cloud immediately knew the answer. „I'm sorry...I still don't remember. B-but I'll try hard to remember everything!", she said reassuringly, to cheer Cloud up a bit, but it didn't really worked. Cloud just hide his emotions and smiled a bit at her. „No, don't rush yourself.", he said and then went in front of Tifa to lead the way.
During their walk they had to fight with several monsters. „Take that!", yelled Tifa as she kicked another monsters ass. „Tifa, look out!", warned Aerith. Tifa looked to her left to see a monster's about to attack her, her eyes widened, because she didn't had time to react. Shit! „Thundaga!" Suddenly the monster was hit by a powerful lightning bolt. „Thank you, Aerith!", said Tifa and smiled at her, while Aerith smiled back and clutched tightly on her staff. „You're welcome!" Cloud gave Aerith a few black magic Materia like thunder, fire, water and blizzard, so that she can defend herself when she has to.
Meanwhile Cloud slashed with Blade Beam several monster in two pieces. He didn't really noticed what just happened, because he just concentrated on defeating these monsters as fast as possible, so that Aerith won't be attacked, but...„Aerith, look out!" As he heard Aeriths name he quickly turned around to see Aerith standing there and the last monster, dashed to her to attack her.
He quickly ran to her, but he knew he won't make it in time, which frustrated him intensely. He saw Aerith froze on the spot, she looked at that monster in shock and held her stuff tightly in her hands. Aerith, what are you doing? Don't stand there! Run! He couldn't say that to her though, it was like he had a knot in his throat which prevented him to talk.
It felt exactly like in his dream, she's in danger and he can't do anything to prevent her to get hurt. He stopped, though, as he saw Tifa running towards her from behind. The black haired woman pulled her on her shoulder, away from the monster, jumped up and kicked in the monsters face, sending it against a wall and still holding Aeriths shoulder. She landed on the ground and turned to Aerith. „Are you alright?", asked Tifa her worried, while she nodded. „Hm-hm. Thank you, Tifa!", she said and hugged her tightly, while Tifa hugged her back and rubbed her back lightly. „Hey, no need to thank me. I promised to protect you and I'll keep it."
„Yeah and you're doing great!"
As Cloud watched them together like that he can't help, but feel a bit jealous of Tifa...No that's nonsense. I'm not jealous of Tifa., he told himself, but his heart replied with a sting, telling him something else, but then he realized what Tifa said to Aerith. She promised her to protect her? But that's my job., the thought, but quickly tried to dismiss these thoughts immediately. „Let's get going.", Cloud said to the girls as he lead the way again and put his sword back in its holster. „Right, leader!", said Aerith and playfully saluted, before she and Tifa followed him giggling.
A few hours later they arrived North Corel, where everyone else waited for them already. „Hey, what took ya spiky ass so long?", yelled Barret at him as he noticed them, while Cloud just ignored him. „He didn't want to wake up!", replied Tifa instead.
Aerith looked around as she just followed them and went into Cloud, who stopped in front of her. „Oh, sorry!", Aerith apologized and backed away from him. „It's okay. Well, let's get going."
„Yeah, to the Gold Saucer! My place!", said Cait Sith, who still rides on Red XIII. „You're place?", asked Aerith the stuffed cat, who nodded. „Japp! That's the place I joined your group."
„And deceived us.", added Cloud quietly and lead the way, while the others followed him. „Come on, Cloud, you're not mad anymore, huh?", asked him Cait Sith. „A bit. But it's the past anyway, so it doesn't really matter.", he replied, as they entered the ropeway. „Oh? Suddenly you tell us the past doesn't matter?", asked Yuffie him sarcastically, while Cloud just ignored her, he knew exactly what she's hinting.
As they arrived the Gold Saucer Aerith looked around with glittery eyes. „WOW!", she exclaimed and they entered it, once Cloud bought the tickets. „Let's have some fun!", said Aerith and was about to go, but Vincent held her back. „Aerith, we're not here to have fun. We're here so that you remember something.", he said, while Aerith pouted at him. „Alright..."
„Let's go to the Wonder Square.", suggested Cait Sith and they all head out. During their walk through the whole Gold Saucer they ate something and finally stopped at the Chocobo-Racing Square. Aerith thought hard and they all looked at her, hoping she would remember something. Suddenly Aerith ran to Cait Sith and hugged him tightly. „Cait Sith!"
„Please not so tight, or you squeeze out my wadding!", said Cait Sith hastily, while Aerith immediately let him go. „Oh, sorry! I remember you Cait Sith and..." She stopped as she saw more flashbacks, and suddenly glared at him and put her hand on her hips. „How could you?"
„I-I'm sorry! I didn't meant to! I swear! I...wait...what am I sorry about?"
„You betrayed us! You're a spy! And you kidnapped Marlene!", she said a bit angrily, while Cait Sith apologized a few more times. „But now, he became a good friend.", said Tifa, while Aerith began to giggle. „I know, I was just kidding. I just wanted to know if he's really sorry."
„You mean I feel bad for nothing?"
„Aerith, do you remember anything else?", asked Cloud her hopefully. Our date for example., he added in his head, while Aerith thought for a while. „Hmm...no...That's all...", she said thoughtfully, while Cloud looked to the ground again, but then heard her gasp and looked up at her again, his eyes showing hope once again. „No! That's not all! We...we were in a prison...in the middle of a dessert! Um, and we...we met an old friend of Barret. Dyne! The real father of Marlene! He told us he wants to destroy everything, but then...He let himself fall into a gulch. Am I right?" Cloud sighed quietly, she still can't remember him...not even their date.
But even though his heart broke more and more, he still can't give up. They just have to arrive Cosmo Canyon and then they know why she can't remember him. Or at least he hoped so. „Yeah...you're right...", Cloud replied with a broken heart, but he tried to ignore this pain. „Let's get going. I'm sure we'll make it to Gongaga today."
„We can't even take a break?", whined Yuffie. „That's right."
„What makes ya think we arrive Gongaga today, spike?", asked Barret, who's exceptionally on Yuffies side, while Cloud quickly turned to him and glared fiercely at him, which let even Barret back away a bit. „We go there, NOW! No discussions!", he shouted, gaining everyone's attention, friends and tourists, who immediately backed away from him to not goad him more. His friends immediately followed him silently, as he head out of the Gold Saucer and into the ropeway back to North Corel.
As they left North Corel behind, they all noticed it's passed noon, but no one said anything. They all knew they won't make it to Gongaga before nightfall, but they also knew it's better not to goad Cloud more than he already is. They went into their little groups again, most of them are glad not to stuck with Cloud, but had sympathy for Aerith and Tifa, hoping they will make it through.
Aerith and Tifa went far behind him, chatting quietly to not to disturb him in any way. As Cloud suddenly looked over his shoulder to the girls, they immediately went quiet. Cloud looked at them guiltily and waited for them to approach him. They stopped next to him and remained silent, wondering why he stopped and waited for him to do something.
Then Cloud sighed quietly, took a deep breath afterwards and began to speak. „I'm sorry for shouting.", he said, which surprised Tifa and Aerith a bit. „I didn't wanted to take my anger out on you guys, but there's something really important I have to do."
„What is it?", asked him Aerith curious. „We have to arrive Cosmo Canyon as fast as possible. Because...Because I think we can figure out there why Aerith lost her memories.", he explained, while the girls gasped. „Really? Why didn't you told us before?", asked him Tifa a bit angry, while Cloud just sighed. „I didn't want to give you guys any hope and to disappoint you if we find nothing..." It's enough that I give myself so much hope..., Cloud added in his head and the girls immediately understood him.
They continued walking and after fighting several monsters and also fighting their sleepiness, they arrived Gongaga in the middle of the night. They went into the Inn, where everyone else already slept and joined them. Tifa and Aerith went into the room where Yuffie is and immediately fell asleep once they changed and lied in their beds.
Cloud changed his clothes too and as he collapsed into his bed, he immediately fell asleep in a second. In his dream Cloud found himself on the spot where his best friend died. Why am I here?, he wondered himself as he examined his surroundings and noticed that the buster sword was gone.
„Cloud!" He suddenly heard the same male voice again, but now much closer. He recognized this voice. It belonged to someone really important to him...„Hey, buddy!" The voice was now behind him and Cloud quickly turned around to see a man with black, spiky hair, blue eyes and dressed in a SOLDIER uniform, just like he remembered him...„Z-Zack?"
„What's up?", he greeted and smiled at him like he always did. „What...are you doing here?", Cloud asked him, while Zack frowned about this. „Yeah, typical Cloud. Go straight to the point and no chit chat!", the black haired man said and began to laugh, while Cloud still stared at him in confusion. In confusion, because he never ever dreamed about Zack and now wondered why he's here.
„Well, to go to the point...", Zack began and now his face became really serious. „I've tried for the past few days to reach you."
„Y-you mean you're...you're...?", Cloud stuttered and looked at him like he's seeing a ghost, which wasn't that wrong at all. „Yeah, man, it's me. I came from the lifestream to talk to you. And I can tell it's not that as easy as you think!", Zack said and digressed a bit. „But whatever. What I want to tell you is that you have to be careful! Really careful. You know who is back. Alive once again, ya know. Back on the planet! With one goal."
„'I know who'?", Cloud interrupted Zack and tilted his head in slight confusion. He had a guess who it is, but he still hoped it's not the one he thought it is. „You know! Sephiroth!"
„He's back? He really came back? When? How?", he asked Zack frantically, while Zack answered his questions. „He is. He really is. I don't know when and I also don't know how, but I know that he IS."
„How do you know...?"
„Simple! I can't feel his dark present in the lifestream anymore. Ya know, since Sephiroth came into the lifestream there's not only white, but also black lifestream and now this black one's missing. So I can guess that he's on the planet again. Like...you know. Eh, three years ago, or was it four? Whatever, on the time these three guys appeared. Eh...Kadaj and..."
„Yeah yeah, carry on!"
„However...Where was I...?" Zack thought for a while and Cloud almost lost all his patience. „The black lifestream is missing...", Cloud helped and Zack carried on. „Yeah, right. He came back to...he came back to...to..." Now Cloud really lost his patience. „To WHAT?"
„To...I don't know..."
„Do you even know ANYTHING?" Cloud yelled and then sighed and held his forehead for a while. „Sorry for yelling, but it's really important, Zack.", he said now more calmly, while Zack just shrugged it off, he knew how Cloud's feeling and he would react the same. Cloud thought for a while, but then it hits him. „No...", he said in utter shock, while Zack looked at him curious. „What? Do you know what his plan is?"
„He came back to kill Aerith again..."
„Aerith? But she's already dead."
„No...Not anymore. I...revived her...", he said as panic completely struck him. He thought he, at least, has some time before he revived himself, but it was already too late. He's already on this planet. Alive! And for several days now! „Oh...is THAT why I couldn't find her the past few days?"
„Yeah. She's alive again."
„Wow how did you do this?", asked Zack curious, but Cloud didn't want to chat with him now. „Zack, what shall I do? What if he followed us the whole time? What if he's next door right now and kill her during our talk?", Cloud shouted, his eyes now showed fear as he imagined Sephiroth to be near them all the time, just waiting for the perfect moment to struck her down.
„Hey, calm down now, Cloud.", Zack said and put a hand on his shoulder, comfortingly. „I can help you a bit with it. I could try to sense him and tell you where he could be."
„You can do this?"
„Weelll...I'll try. But I'm not a Cetra so I would need a bit more time...Just carry on with your journey and I do the rest, alright?" Cloud just nod slightly, he had to trust him a bit more. „Yeah...I'm counting on you!"
„Just leave it to me! Alright, now that I told you everything...how 'bout YOU tell me something now? I saw you're going on a journey, but why?", Zack asked him and sat down on the edge of the cliff. „Well...", Cloud started and sat down next to him. „It's because of Aerith."
„Of Aerith?"
„Yeah. As I revived her, she lost all her memories. And we help her to regain them.", he explained, while Zack looked at him in slight shock. „She lost her memories?" Cloud just nodded and carried on with his explanations. „But now she remembered a lot lately. Her childhood, you, Tifa, Barret, Cait Sith, the townspeople we met on our first journey...", he numerated and faked a small smile, but then stopped and looked to the ground to hide his sad expression. Zack knew somethings wrong with him and he also noticed that Cloud didn't mentioned she remembered HIM.
„And you?", asked Zack him quietly, while Cloud just shook his head. „No..." Even though Cloud wanted to hide his sadness and his broken heart, Zack noticed it, they knew each other long enough for him to notice Clouds feelings. „Hey, don't worry, man.", he said comfortingly and lied a hand on his shoulder. „I'm sure she will remember you. She just needs some time."
Zack knew that Cloud fell in love with Aerith during their first journey, Aerith told him so and he also could see it himself, and he could imagine how it feels like when the one you love suddenly doesn't know who you are. And it's even sadder to know that Aerith felt the same about him and now didn't knew anything at all.
„I know..." Zack fought for a plan to encourage him a bit and then he got an idea. He knew it won't be easy to keep this promise, but...„Hey, how 'bout I look around a bit and search for a Cetra and ask him to help us? He can figure out Sephiroths localization and also could talk to the planet to find out something about this whole reviving stuff?" At this Cloud pricked up and quickly looked at his best friend. „Really?"
„Yeah 'f course! I promise I'll search everywhere in the lifestream to find someone!", he said and ruffled Cloud hair. „Well, I have to go now." Zack stood up and left Cloud on the edge of that cliff. „See ya soon, and have fun on your journey!", he said over his shoulder and vanished, as well as Clouds surroundings and then he found himself in his room again.
Cloud jumped as Aerith suddenly dashed into his room, smiling brightly and more hyper than ever. „CLOUD! Wake uuuuup!", she yelled happily and then saw that he's already awake. „Oh, you're awake! Come on, get up! Or else we won't arrive Cosmo Canyon today!", the Cetra said, pulled his blanket away and pulled him on his arm to force him to stand up. „Come on!", she urged again and now Cloud stood up. „What's wrong with you?", he asked her with a raised eyebrow, while Aerith tilted her head and looked at him puzzled.
„What do you mean?" Cloud stared at her for a moment, it was like he saw her old self for a moment, the Aerith who knew who he is, but now she's just like always, after the reviving. „Oh, it's nothing. What did you say?"
„Let's go, or we never arrive Cosmo Canyon today."
„Oh...right...Cosmo Canyon...Eh...I'm ready in a few minutes.", he replied, still drowsily, while Aerith giggled again and left his room. Once Cloud changed his clothes and got ready for the next day, he met everyone outside in front of the Inn. „Cloud?", Aerith called him before he could say a word. „I hope you're not mad at me, but Tifa and I went to Zacks parents and told him what happened to him."
„Why should I be mad at you? They have a right to know what happened to their son, after all.", he replied, still a bit drowsily before they head out to Cosmo Canyon. Cloud yawned loudly, and that every minute, which let Aerith and Tifa get suspicious. „Why are you so sleepy today?", asked him Tifa and began to giggle.
„Did you sleep well last night?" Cloud just replied with another yawn and they immediately understood him. „Oh, good.", said Aerith and smiled brightly at him. „Tifa, can I talk with you...eh in private?" Tifa raised an eyebrow at him, but followed Cloud a bit forward, away from Aerith. „What is it?"
„Zack appeared in my dream. I mean...the REAL Zack, straight from the lifestream.", Cloud whispered, trying to explain, while Tifa didn't got the point. „Why are you telling me this?"
„Because he told me something really important. He said Sephiroths back. For several days now." Once he said this, Tifa gasped in pure shock. „Really? He's already back? Did he even knew WHERE he is now?"
„No, but he promised to try to figure out where he his, or to find a Cetra who can do it. I hope he contact me as fast as possible. I mean, Sephiroth could be a few steps from here." Tifa looked worried to Aerith, who's walking a few meter away from them. „So...let's protect her together. I promised her to protect her too, as a compensation for helping me. When you can't by her side I'll do everything to keep her safe, okay?"
Cloud nod. „Alright. I'm counting on you." After this Tifa went back to Aerith and began to chat with her again, while Cloud took the lead once again, but they didn't came far because they were attacked by a lot monsters. „Oh man, not again!", whined Tifa, before she kicked some monster asses. Cloud quickly ran back to the girls, to stay close by Aerith.
Aerith suddenly screamed, which immediately gained Clouds and Tifas attention, as she blocked an attack. „Phew...I still have to get used to this fighting...!"
„You know, you don't have to...", began Cloud, but she quickly interrupted him. „But it's alright, as long as I can help you two!", she said happily and cast a thunder spell to some monster in front of her, while the other two killed everyone else. „Hach, that was close call...!", sighed Tifa, as she stretched herself, while Aerith agreed, but Cloud looked around frantically. „Hey, wasn't there another monster left?"
„Aerith, stay on guard!", warned Tifa as she searched for the monster as well, but what they didn't knew is that the monster hide behind a rock, just behind Aerith and got ready to attack her. As they heard the monster it was already too late. Aerith quickly turned over and saw the monster jumping up towards her. Everything went in slow-motion for her as she stood there, frozen, and watched the monsters going to attack her, but then Cloud shoved her away.
They both fell to the ground and Cloud skids on his back a few meter on the ground with Aerith on top of him, while Tifa waited for the monster to approach her and kicked it in its face, sending it against the next rock, where it brake its chine and slowly died. „Wow, that was even closer.", said Tifa as she recovered from her shock. „Yeah, no kidding.", groaned Cloud as he got up in a sitting position. „Are you alright?"
Aerith got up to and smiled at Cloud. „I'm okay. Thank you so much, Cloud!", she said and pulled Cloud in a tight hug, which caught him completely off-guard. „Um...you're welcome...", he replied and hugged her back. Tifa watched them a few meter away from them, but with a smile on her face. Her little conversation with Aerith was all she needed and now she finally felt strong enough to move on. „Well, let's get going!"
Cloud and Aerith parted and got up to go to Tifa, but then Aerith stopped and turned to Cloud. He looked curiously at her, waiting for her next step and suddenly his eyes widened as he saw her lean in to him. She gave him a light peck on his cheek, smiled one last time at him and ran back to Tifa, while Cloud stood there for a moment, kinda baffled, but happy. He reached up to touch his cheek lightly, where she kissed him, before he quickly hide his feelings behind his mask again and followed the girls.
As they finally arrived Cosmo Canyon everyone sat around the cosmo candle, waiting for Clouds group to arrive. „Spike, Red's already waiting for ya!", called Cid, as he saw him. „Where is he?"
„Over here!" Red XIII ran down the stairs to Cloud. „Follow me. You have to read it yourself.", said the red wolf-like animal and ran back upstairs. „Wait here.", he said to Aerith and Tifa and followed Red XIII to the room where Buggenhagen once lived.
He leaned a bit on the table, where the book lied and began to read. He read again the way to revive a Cetra. „...The door to the revive Materia will open.", he read aloud. „But..." His eyes widened as he read this single word. „There's a BUT!"
„Keep reading."
„But...", he began and gulped heavily and kept reading. „The Cetra will loose all her memories. If the Cetra's lucky they can still remember their childhood immediately after their reviving. But they will forget everything what happened before their death. These memories can be reconstructed, though." Cloud sighed in relieve, but Red XIII still looked at him with a sad expression. „Keep reading..."
„But they will loose..." Cloud eyes widened in pure shock as he read this sentence. „But they will loose their most precious memories forever." He quickly turned back to Red XIII. „D-does that mean...?"
Red XIII nodded in agreement. „That's right. It looks like her memories about you are her most precious ones...she won't remember you ever again..." As Cloud heard what he most feared he fell down on his knees and stroke a blow on the table. „Cloud..." Red XIII came closer to him and nudged him lightly with his snout.
„It's okay...I'm alright...", he heard Cloud mumble. „I just..."
„I leave you alone for a moment..." Red XIII left the room, but Cloud still tried to hide his emotions. Why didn't I read this earlier? He let his head fall on the table with a loud thump. I had to know it's not that easy...I should have listened to her as she told me to stop! Cloud got up again and stared blankly at the book.
His eyes widened slightly as he felt something warm glide down his cheek. Tch, not now! He quickly and roughly wiped his tears away, as he heard someone enter the room. „Are you okay?" Tifa entered the room and went next to Cloud. „Read." Cloud pointed to the book and left the room, while Tifa began to read.
Now Tifa understood why he looked so broken, more than he already was and gasped loudly. „Oh no...", she murmured in shock, but then she turned the page noticed there's something else. „Huh?" She read it and her eyes widened. „CLOUD!" She quickly left the room and down the stairs, where Cloud is.
„Cloud, listen!"
„NO! I don't want to hear another word!", he said angrily and entered his bedroom and slammed the door shut. „Okay...When you don't want to know...I don't care!", she yelled against the closed door and kicked it as hard as she could and left.
What a jerk! What was the reason I fell in love with him? How can he be so damn stubborn? I want to tell him good news and what does he? He slammed a door shut in front of me! „Just don't tell me I didn't want to tell you!", she called over her shoulder to him, but he didn't replied, like she assumed and went back to her friends, who still sat around the cosmo candle.
A.N. Alright! That was chappy 6. Now you know, why Aerith can't remember Cloud, sad, huh? And what were the "good news" Tifa wanted to tell Cloud? What else did she read what Cloud overlooked? You can find out on chappy 7 (when I want you to find out thoughXDD) nono, don't worry, I defiantly will tell you in the next chappy.^^
PLEASE REVIEW! ;3