The blonde suddenly ran to the farthest corner of the flower patch in a blink of an eye and hauled a huge sword hidden among the flowers with ease. He quickly returned in front of Aerith with the sword's handle firmly held by his hands. The girl's eyes widened as she stared at the man's back. Something was coming out of him, a deadly…but protective aura.
"W-When did you—"
"I just took what's mine from Shinra…" He explained without taking his eyes off the pillar. "Now…"
From behind the stone column, something mechanical cracked. At the sound, Cloud drew back his weapon and concentrated his energy on the blade. When he closed his fierce sapphire eyes, a blue light came out of nowhere and it encircled him and his huge sword.
A gun?! Aerith's heart began to beat fast when she realized what was happening. They were going to kill themselves! Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't breathe; her knees were going to give away. I must stop this immediately!
Before the blonde took off, Aerith grabbed the sleeve of his shirt with her hands. The basket that held the utensils fell to the ground with all the silverware scattering everywhere. The blonde stopped at the sound of the noise and looked back with a murderous glint flashing in his eye. This side of him was intimidating and scary; but, she wasn't afraid. Somehow, she wasn't scared of him. Gathering her strength, Aerith smiled at him and at the pillar.
"Dad," she whispered hoarsely. "…you can come out now."
The blonde blinked many times and repeated what she had said,"D-Dad?"
A middle aged man in a grey suit came out of the shadows with a hand behind the back of his head and the other on the inside pocket of his suit. Color was rising up Cloud's face as he sheathes his sword, ashamed. Reeve slowly stepped towards them with a wary smile.
"Your senses are sharp and uncanny as usual, Miss Ae—" he paused when Aerith coughed and swiftly shot him a worried look. Reeve's eyes traveled from the girl to the blonde and suddenly remembered the name that Cloud murmured a while ago. He nodded at Aerith and coughed. "…uh…Ti…Tifa."
The girl sighed in relief and she turned to smile at the bewildered Cloud.
"I'm afraid you haven't met each other, right?" She walked towards Reeve and faced the blonde. "Dad, this is Cloud Strife. Cloud, this is Reeve Lockheart, my father."
Reeve stared at Aerith, flabbergasted. Never in his 15 years of service under the Gainsborough household had he ever done something like this. The girl slightly nudged the butler's rib, causing him to smile consciously at the blonde.
"N-Nice to finally meet you, uhh…Cloud Strife." He said with a shaky voice. "Ae—T-Tifa…has told me many things about you."
Cloud, slightly confused, bowed his head in greeting. There was an awkward silence between the three as time passed them by. Aerith broke the deafening silence when she gathered up the used utensils and cradled them in her bosom.
"I'm going to wash up. Why don't you two get to know each other a little better?" Aerith beamed at them and curtsied. "Gentlemen, I shall excuse myself now…"
Reeve and Cloud opened their mouths simultaneously to disagree then sighed when the girl had already skidded towards the back of the room. Reeve's steadfast gaze followed the brunette as she walks away from them; and as she steps in the darkness, she turned around to face the butler with those pleading saucer-like eyes. Getting the message, Reeve nodded and settled himself on a sturdy pew nearby. He sighed heavily and wiped the perspiration from his face, while the blonde crouched at the edge of the flowerbed and began to inspect the flowers.
What are you planning now, Ms. Aerith? His brown eyes followed Cloud's every movement. Why are you so interested in this…person? Every now and then, the blonde stole a suspicious glance at Reeve which gave the older man the creeps. He looked like he was about to kill somebody. It can't be helped. I need to start a conversation with him.
"So…"
"Thank you, Sir."
Reeve raised a black eyebrow. "Pardon me, Mr. Strife?"
"...for the clothes." Cloud's head was lowered as he spoke. The color never left his face and this made Reeve smirk.
So naïve…
"It's fine, Mr. Strife. A friend of Ae—" He held his tongue as the blonde's head shot up. "uhh…Tifa…is a friend of mine."
Cloud nodded and returned his attention to the flowers. The butler mentally hit himself as he remembered what he was about to say.
I must be cautious of the words that are coming out of my mouth. With determination, Reeve moved closer to the blonde."What are your hobbies, Mr. Strife? Gardening?"
"N-not really…" Another apparent blush raced across Cloud's face as he took his hands away from the petals. He stared at his sword that stood among the flowers. "I like swords...and fighting."
Reeve grimaced at the word fighting.
He's dangerous… I couldn't leave Ms. Aerith with the likes of him.
"And your profession?"
"P-Profession?" Cloud blinked and scratched the back of his head. "N-none… I left my job a long time ago."
The butler shook his head disdainfully. Unemployed… what did she like in this one?
"Your fami—"
"They're dead."
Aerith's heart skipped a beat as he said those words. Their voices though meek passed through the stone walls and into the room where she was in. His voice was abrupt and emotionless like he needed no time to think what to answer. She placed her hand in the flowing water coming out of the old faucet. This was like his voice, his heart. Pure yet cold; transient and translucent…one she could not decode.
So…he's like her. Reeve watched his sad eyes and sympathized. I understand now.
"I'm done!"
The two alarmingly looked back and came face-to-face with Aerith's beaming radiant face. As she walked towards them, a flowery scent filled the whole room and everything felt light. Sure Aerith had this aura always with her but somehow, today was different. Reeve unconsciously averted his gaze to the blonde and his eyes widened in surprise. The murderous look had completely disappeared in his sapphire orbs and was replaced with something very, very different. The butler stared at them both and finally realized something.
She's trying hard…for him? For his sake… Reeve's eyebrows furrowed in thought. But why?
Briiiiing!
Reeve's cellphone buzzed in his secret pocket. He took it out and answered promptly. Aerith and Cloud looked at him with curious faces.
"Madam…" The butler looked at Aerith's worried face and nodded. "I understand. I will send Tifa to prepare Miss Aerith for the reception."
It seemed all colors were flushed from Aerith's face when she heard those words. Her Mother did not know she went outside the mansion, and if she finds her gone…there will be dire consequences. However, there is no consequence greater for Aerith than the thought of leaving the church again. There were so many things she wanted to learn, to discover about Cloud.
"Go…"
Aerith turned to Cloud with eyebrows furrowed. The blonde quickly shot her an assuring look before turning to the flowers.
"I'll be back soon…I promise."
The girl took dainty steps away from the blonde when he replied, "I'll be waiting then…"
Aerith stopped and looked back at Cloud's sturdy back. Tears welled up her face as she held her heart in her hands. She nodded at him and walked happily out of the church with Reeve trailing behind. After disappearing from the corner, Aerith picked up her skirts and sprinted towards the limousine. The butler opened the door for her and he too entered the vehicle.
"How does things fare, Reeve?"
The older man started the engine and the car began to move forward. He took a swift glance at his clock and at Aerith's troubled face.
"Don't worry, Ms. Aerith. I've already prepared a replacement for you in the mansion. We have 10 minutes to return before Madam does."
Aerith bit her lip and remembered the words Reeve had said before. "At the church, you mentioned a reception. Of whose?"
Sweat trickled down Reeve's face and he drove faster.
"Her…"
Sneak Peek: Aerith was suddenly summoned by her mother. Could she return to the mansion before she's missed? Somebody arrived in the Gainsborough mansion unannounced…who could this 'her' be? Introducing two new characters…
Next Chapter!
Chapter 12: Unexpected Visit
See you then!