Hey, it's been a long time! I'm really sorry for not updating this story. ^.^; Writer's block can be very evil at times. I have thought of making this chapter my final one for this story, but I've decided to make more chapters to tie up some loose ends.

As always, I do not own Final Fantasy 7, Yu Yu Hakusho, or anything else that is not mine.

Aerith & Rylon belong to me. ;3

And I hope you all enjoy this chapter. ^_^

AERITH...THE REINCARNATION OF AERIS?

PART XX

WHAT'S GONE NEVER FORGOTTEN

Watching the sunrise with a soft sigh passing through his lips, Cloud stood outside the 7th Heaven bar. He barely had any sleep mostly due to staying up to give Aerith some comfort. The day has finally arrived. He thought to himself. The mako energy within his blue eyes gave off its glow as the eyes themselves seem to zone out. His only thoughts are focused on Aerith's safety as well as her very well-being, deciding that maybe he should go with her to make sure she reaches her destination safely rather than having Rylon escort her. After hearing about what Cait Sith had said about people disappearing, the last thing he wanted is for Aerith to be among the missing people. If this man did indeed have a connection to those missing people, then there would be trouble.

A soft sigh had passed through Tifa's lips as she watched Cloud through a window. She didn't know what to say to him, but she knew that he has to be strong for Aerith. She also felt that they should heed Cait Sith's warning and have Cloud go with Aerith rather then letting Rylon escort her. For now, she must wake Aerith up and have her get ready. She would make her way upstairs to Aerith's room and knocks on the door. "Aerith?" She asked. "Are you awake?"

"Yes." Aerith's voice answered softly before Tifa opened to door to see that Aerith was already dressed and ready. Aerith's eyes had a sadden look to them as she looks around her room, having this thought that she might never see it again. Tifa frowned at the look in the young girl's eyes before going over to her. "Remember, Aerith..." She said softly, placing her hand on Aerith's shoulder. "No matter where you go...No matter what you are, you're always welcomed here. This place will always be your home. Think of it as just saying good-bye."

Aerith hugs Tifa tightly, blinking back tears. "I'm going to miss this place alot. You and Daddy have been so good to me." She said in a soft tone. "I really want to stay here and help you take care of the 7th Heaven as well as going with Daddy places to help him with his deliveries. If only I was more human than monster..." This made her feel like she was being a burden to both Cloud and Tifa. All she wanted to be like any other teenaged girl...living a normal life. However, with her current condition, it made her life even more difficult.

"Don't say that!" Tifa exclaimed, causing Aerith to jump a bit. "You are not a monster. You're every bit as human as every one of us. You may have a curse as well as having demon blood in your veins, but you're still human. No matter what you are now, what counts more is who you are within." As she spoke, Aerith lowered her head a bit. Tifa then gives her a soft smile. "Come on, let's get you something to eat. No need for you to go any long trips on an empty stomach." Getting only a nod in response from Aerith, Tifa would then walk out of the room and make her way downstairs.

Aerith gazed over to the mirror for a moment, though only to see her own reflection rather than seeing Aeris. Please don't let me do this alone. She thought to herself. She figured that she wasn't going to get any responses from Aeris unless if she personally showed herself. As she left the room, a ghostly figure of Aeris would appear in the mirror once again. "Be strong, Aerith." She said in a soft tone. "I hope your journey will be a safe one, and maybe someday you might find the answers you're looking for." With that, the ghostly figure would disappear.

After a while, Aerith stepped outside the 7th Heaven after having breakfast only to find Cloud talking with a familiar red-haired young man. "Shuichi?" She said in a confused tone as she slowly walks over to the two. "What are you doing here?" She asked. The only time she saw the red-haired young man was at the school she attended at. It was unusual for her to see him here in Midgar.

Cloud's mako-infused eyes gazed over to Aerith when he heard her question to Kurama. "This young man here has offered to escort you to your destination." He responded.

The red-haired young man gave a nod to Cloud then glanced over to Aerith. "Indeed. A man, by the name of Reeve, had informed me of your situation and sent me here to assist you in your trip. That is, of course..." He would glance back over to Cloud. "If you don't have any objections. Though you seem to be very weary."

Cloud stood with his arms folded over his chest, giving himself a moment to think. Kurama was right. He did feel weary due to having stayed up all night, though he was feeling uneasy to let Aerith go alone with this young man. If Reeve had sent him, then it should be okay. He knew that it would seem unlike Reeve to send someone who intended to harm Aerith. "Very well." He said, nodding. "You may escort Aerith. Just be sure that she stays safe."

"No harm will come to her I can assure you." Kurama responded. "I'm a friend of hers from the school she had currently attended." He then looked over to Aerith. "Shall we be on our way?"

Despite being confused about the whole thing, Aerith gives a slight nod to Kurama. "I...I'm ready." She said just before she glanced over to Cloud. She ran over and hugs him tightly, as if it was like she wasn't going to see him again. "Goodbye...Daddy..." She said in barely a whisper. Tears have threaten to spill, but she had blinked them back.

At a loss for words, Cloud only hugged Aerith back. He didn't want for her to go, but he felt that maybe this was the right thing to do. "Aerith..." He said in a soft tone. "I do hope that someday that you do find your family."

"Even if I do find them, you'll still be my dad too." She said before she let go of her adoptive father and took a few steps back. "Someday, I'll be free from this curse, and be human again." With that she turned around slowly and began to make her leave with Kurama following close by. But then, she stopped and looked over her shoulder at Cloud. "Thank you..." She said, making a small smile on her face. "Thank you for everything you've done for me these past 10 years. I won't ever forget the kindness you and Tifa treated me with, despite my curse." Tears finally began to roll down her cheeks. "Take good care of Boco for me." She would wipe her tears away as she looked back forward slowly and continued to make her leave.

"..." Cloud only watched until they were out of his sight. "Goodbye...Aerith." He murmured softly before he headed inside the 7th Heaven. He wanted to go with her and make sure she made it to her destination safely, but having pulled an all-nighter was having its toll on him.

Inside the bar, Tifa watched Cloud come inside. She would walk over to him and places her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Cloud. All we can do is be strong for her sake." She said reassuringly. "You should get some rest." She only got a nod as a response from her childhood friend, whom decided to go upstairs to get some sleep. A soft sigh passed through Tifa's lips as she watched. Not only was she concerned for Aerith's well-being, but for Cloud's as well. She knew it was hard for him, having lost a couple of good friends who were dear to him and now having to let go of the girl he had taken in as his daughter. "Someday..." As she spoke, she looked through a window. "Someday, we'll see her again."

Meanwhile, in a house in another sector of Midgar, Reno slept soundly on his bed while snoring. The sound of his cellphone soon went off, playing 'Telephone' as the ringtone. Groaning, Reno reaches for his cellphone and answers it. "It better be good waking me up this early in the morning..." He said groggily. All of a sudden, the expression on his face turned serious while he was listening to what was being told to him. He would get up from his bed. "Right on it." He said before hanging up his cellphone. He would look through a window before making a slight smirk on his face. "Wonder if we should tell him?"