This is my first time in writing a fanfiction. I really like Cloud and Aerith being together! Please read and review! Enjoy!
Disclaimer Note: I DO NOT own Final Fantasy VII… it belongs to Square Enix. But if I do there will be a LOT of changes…
"I'll come back… When it's all over…"
A man in black stood in the middle of a flower field. He opened his eyes and gazed up at the sky. His eyebrows were furrowed in grief. "I need to talk with you again. I can't seem to find peace anywhere I go…" He picked a flower and he held it up to his eyes. "Do you remember how it was? When we first met? You sold me a flower for only a gil. And then I became your bodyguard. But…" He gritted his teeth as he curled his fist. "Why did you have to go? I never even had the chance to say it… How I really feel…" The wandering clouds passed his eyes and they continued to the west. "But… Do you… really mean it? To come back… when it's all over?"
A gentle breeze blew upon him and he smiled. "I know we'll meet again. So… I'll be waiting."
He jumped on his Fenrir and started the engine. He paused for a moment and smelled the sweet aroma of the flowers. He sighed deeply and he put on his goggles. With a soft purr from Fenrir, he was riding along by the countryside with a considerable amount of speed. As he left the flower field, the tender wind began whispering his name…
Cloud…
"Cloud…" Tifa gazed down at the heaps of dishes in the sink. She closed her eyes and sighed. Then little footsteps were heard from the back. Alarmingly, she turned back. She froze when she saw Marlene and Denzel coming down the stairs.
"Is Cloud here yet?" Tifa gazed at the yawning Marlene. Behind her was Denzel who was still wearing his pajamas. Tifa smiled at both of them.
Tifa crouched down on her knees and caressed Marlene's hair. "Not yet, sweetie… But he said he'll be back soon… Don't worry…" She turned back to her unfinished work and sighed. "I hope so…"
It has been five months since he defeated Sephiroth… But why hasn't he changed? Tifa picked up her phone and dialed Cloud's number. "Come on, Cloud… Pick up."
"Sorry, this number is either not in coverage area or has been shut down. Please try again in the short future. Beep… Beep…"
Tifa breathed hard and she continued with her work.
Cloud's cellphone was lying in the water floor. Bits of moss have covered the screen but its silver coating still shone in the deep waters. The bright light was reflected in the water and Cloud's cellphone shimmered. Then a pale, white hand picked it up.
The old creaky door of the Seventh Heaven opened. A dark shadow appeared in the light. The person stepped forward and his image became clearer. He had blond spikey hair and bright blue colored eyes. He was lean but muscular; a red ribbon adorned his left arm. Marlene's eyes sparkled in delight.
"Cloud! You came back!"
A lop-sided grin appeared in his face. Marlene suddenly hugged Cloud. He frozed and stared at Marlene. Marlene smiled at him with the widest grin she ever made. Cloud half-smiled and hugged Marlene back. Cloud knelt in front of her and gave her a bouquet of flowers. Marlene took them happily and hugged Cloud again. Tifa smiled at the both of them.
"Have you been good, Marlene?" He asked.
Marlene faced him smiling. "Of course I have!"
"Where have you been?" Cloud looked up. He saw Tifa looking down on him with her two hands on her hips. Cloud stood up without looking at her.
"Hi Teef." He smiled at her and her heart fluttered. Tifa stared at him unbelievingly. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Well… It was a long journey so I better get some sleep."
Tifa nodded. Cloud walked up the stairs and softly closed the door. Tifa touched her heart. His smile made her heart beat erratically. She sighed deeply and returned to her work, humming.
Maybe… He changed after all…
Denzel and Marlene stared at each other with confused looks.
"Hmmm? Where is she?"
A head popped out from the water. The person breathed in deeply and held the cellphone in its hands.
"Aria!"
The person turned around and smiled. She had a pale complexion, rosy lips and bright green eyes. She took off the ponytail from her hair and it cascaded down her white shoulders. She was in her late twenties but her face was somewhat that of a teenager. She faced the person that called her and smiled again. She waded across the water and stepped slowly out. Her wet clothes wrapped her body tightly that showed her curves. She was like a water nymph that descended from the water.
"Here…" A boy her age with short blond wavy hair and blue eyes handed her a fresh towel. Aria smiled and she gladly took it. She placed them on her shoulders still clutching the cellphone she found.
"What were you thinking? Don't you know it's dangerous out here on your own." He scolded.
"Come on, Clay… I was just walking around when I felt the need to freshen up." She grinned at him. "Do you deny me of taking a bath?"
He blushed as he turned his back on her. "Well… Come on… I've cooked lunch."
She smiled again and she followed him holding the cellphone in her heart.
Clay and Aria arrived at a dainty little cabin at the far end of the Sleeping Forest. Clay proceeded directly to the kitchen while Aria went upstairs to her room. She had a small room. Her bed occupied one-fourth of it. She had a small study table, which had a vase that contained flowers. A small trunk was at the side of her bed that held technical gadgets and screwdrivers. Her room was feminine with a touch of modernity. Aria sighed as she slowly closed the door, afraid of creating noise. She went to the study table and sat down. She placed the mossy cellphone above the table and took a few screwdrivers from the trunk. She began to take off the outer covering and she cleaned the inside of the cellphone.
"Hmmm… It's a bit rusty but I think I can put it back together."
After hours of working with the cellphone, finally, the screen brightened. Aria smiled in delight and she quickly opened it. She opened the Voice Messages and she listened to a female voice that was saved in the cellphone.
Hey, Cloud. The kids are looking for you. Were alright. The Seventh Heaven is doing great but a couple of drunkards have been messing around. You already knew what I'd do about that problem, right? Well, the group have been getting together and the only one missing is you… So why don't you come home for a while? We'll be waiting. Take care of yourself, OK?
"Cloud…"
"Aria! Lunch is ready!" a booming voice from downstairs called.
"Coming!" Aria placed down the cellphone unto the table and she rushed downstairs. As she entered the kitchen a mouthwatering smell entered her nose. Aria smiled and she settled down the table. The plates and eating utensils were already set. Clay placed down their meal and he also sat down. After saying grace Clay and Aria ate together.
"Why are you so silent all of a sudden?"
Aria looked across the table. Clay was staring at her, his eyes turned to a steely blue.
"Don't look at me that way…" A pout was on her lips. The blue-eyed man gazed at her and grinned. She also smiled and they laughed heartily together. After a few moments they stopped and returned to eating.
"Ummm… Clay?" Clay looked at her with one eyebrow raised. "Do you know where the Seventh Heaven is?"
Clay was about to bring a heapful of rice in his mouth when he froze. His eyes widened in surprise. He lowered his spoon calmly on his plate. Aria bit her lip as she sensed a sudden change in him.
"Why'd you ask?"
"Well… while I was swimming I saw this cellphone in the water floor. I took it and I fixed it. At the voice messages I heard a lady talking about someone and kids and... "
Clay stared at her. He closed his eyes and he touched his chin in deep thought. She waited for his answer. He opened his eyes slowly, he was silent. Aria, having lost all hope, sighed.
"I think it's in Midgar."
Aria's eyes widened. She smiled and continued eating. Clay also ate all his food. Aria stood up and she took her plate to the kitchen. Clay followed her placing his plate on the sink. Aria started washing the dishes. Clay walked towards the sliding door of the kitchen. He stopped at his tracks and gazed at the side. His masculine body almost covering the door.
"Aria…"
"Hmmm?" She turned to him.
"Nothing… I'll go to my room now."
Aria nodded and smiled. Clay slowly closed the door and he headed for his room.
"Excuse me… Do you know where the Seventh Heaven is?"
"Sorry, miss… I don't know…"
Aria breathes deeply still holding the phone on her heart. Then with a look of determination she started to ask more people. She searched one-fourth of Midgar but to no avail. Exhausted, she started to walk more slowly. Aria slumped to an old wall. She sighs and gathers the strength to move on.
"Maybe I should take a break…" She moved on holding the wall for support. Out of the shadows and into the sun Aria smiled as she felt the warmth of the light on her skin. She opened her eyes and she saw an old building up ahead. She slowly walks toward it. Aria's eyes moved around. There were pieces of metal scattering on the road and the broken buildings were covered in dirt and dust.
"Midgar has had a lot of battles lately…" Aria felt a tinge of pain that occurred in her chest. She touched her heart and breathed in deeply. "I'd better go to that building and rest for a while.
Aria walked slowly towards the building. Then she noticed an open door at the middle of the wide wall. Aria looked inside and smiled. She saw yellow and white lilies surrounding a wide pool of crystal-clear water. Aria stepped inside but suddenly froze. Her curious eyes wandered around. There were many worn-out, broken pews and beautiful stained glass windows were ahead. Some of the pillars of the church were missing and the broken parts of the pillars lay on the ground. A large hole brightened the room. The sunlight bathed in the waters and the pool shimmered under the sun. It seemed like a war was broken out in the room.
And old church… It seems…very peaceful here…
She walked forward her steps bringing about noise throughout the whole room. In reaching the pool she knelt and touched the flowers, smelling them one by one. Then she heard a groan. Alarmingly, she stood looking for the noise. And then her emerald eyes gazed down on a pair of startled sapphire eyes.
Aerith?
Well, that's the end of the First Chapter... Please Review. Any will do... I'll be writing my next chapter soon so please watch out for it!!