Title: Memory is the key

Main Pairing: Cloud & Aerith

Sub Pairing: Zack & Tiffa

Situation: Alternative story line. Rewrote and changed the plot.

Disclaimer: I own everything that everyone else doesn't own. And yes this is going the be a Clerith or Clorith fic, don't like it? Then get the hell out of here.

Thoughts

"Dialogue"

Prologue:

Zack POV

Ergh… It hurts. I thought, clutching the bed cloth tightly.

Wait, where am I? Didn't I die? Oh, who cares? I passed my legacy onto Cloud, I proved that I lived. I hope he didn't die. And Aerith, I'm sorry. You should move on. I hope you're safe too, I've always loved you like a little sister and I always will. Then I closed my eyes again, preparing for the worst as I began to lose his consciousness. Before I fell asleep, I felt the bed being moved somewhere, I didn't mind, it was still comfortable. I thought about two people that I cared for most again as I felt myself being taken out of the bed by a pair of strong hands. I opened my eyes slightly and inspected the surroundings. I was in a cylindrical metal box. I tried to move my hands, but stopped when I felt something poking into my skin, a tranquilizer, the drug shutting my system down and I was falling asleep. The door in front of me closed and cold air was the last thing I remembered as I finally fell asleep.

Normal POV

Outside the 'cylindrical metal box':

"Professor, the readings are normal, we can proceed to the next phase." A young voice stated as he read from the chart.

"Good. We can only hope he survives this. The next time he wakes, he should be fine." The professor commented, "Start the hibernation process."

The young side-kick pressed a button and the door to the container closed as cold air fills it.

Within a minute, Zack's heart readings zeroed. The professor checked the latest readings, and said:"That much damage, huh? If you didn't save my ass back in the day I wouldn't have helped you like this." He began calculating the time needed for his recovery. Hmm… a month for freezing; six months for repairing; and another for de-freeze. Eight months, huh? But since you caused me a little trouble… He grinned a little and told his side-kick:"Program the machine to defreeze him in a year. He deserves a little rest."

"Yes. Sir." A reply was heard as the side-kick pressed a few more buttons and flipped a switch.

After that, they left the room. I hope you survive, Zack. You deserve another chance at living. The professor thought.

Meanwhile:

Cloud dragged the Buster sword behind him, crossing the desert. It wasn't heavy for him, but he had little strength left. Zack's last words stayed in his mind. "Live, Cloud. Live for my part as well…" After that, he said many more things, but he didn't remember. All he could do to honour his memories was to live on and try to be as happy as he can, it was the least he can do. They were heading toward Midgar when they were attacked, there were too many enemies, and Zack died protecting him. Why they retreated and didn't kill him as well? He didn't know.

After walking for an hour or so, he hitched a ride on a passing truck and fell asleep on the back of the truck with the Buster sword secured tightly on his back.

Cloud's POV

I was shaken awake by the hands of the old man that was driving the truck. His face was wrinkled. "Alright lad, we're in Midgar. Hop off." I nodded his thanks and jumped off the truck. I managed to squeeze a 'thank you' out of my mouth as I walked away into the city. I had some money with me, but it wasn't going to last me long. I needed to find a job, what could I do though, other than the obvious: fighting. I remembered the one-sided conversation I had with Zack, regretting that I didn't provide my friend's last hours with someone to talk to. A single teardrop fell out of my eye, several more followed. How long as it been that I've cried? Seven, eight, nine years? I couldn't remember. I quickly wiped his tears away. Zack wouldn't want me to feel this way. No. He would want me to be happy. Yes, happy, it seemed to be such a big word to me, but I will work towards it and live his part for him as well. After some quick decisions, I decided to become a fight merchant. The people I inquired told me to head towards the 8th street, saying that there was a bar there that hires people to fight. I headed there.

Normal POV

Cloud's skills were quickly approved by his new 'boss' and received his first mission: to kill and retrieve a materia from a forest, it looked easy enough, and he set off. Cloud didn't tell his 'boss' that he was a CLASS 1st SOLDIER, it made things easier for him that no one really recognized the SOLDIER 1st CLASS's uniform.

……

The mission was surprisingly easy, and Cloud came back 4 hours later with the material and not a scratch on his clothes. His was paid and refused the next mission.

"Any specific reasons?" His boss asked. He was wearing an oversized hat and brown T-shirt with tight jeans. He was impressed with Cloud's speed and efficiency but is now a little irritated.

"I just came into this town." Cloud replied in monotone as his bright sapphire eyes stared into his boss's.

"I see. So you need to find a place to stay first. Huh?" the man asked, the irritation disappearing from his face.

Cloud nodded.

"Alright then, come here tomorrow morning at nine, you'll be given your next mission then."

Cloud raised an eyebrow, why so late? He thought to himself, and then remembered that normal people needed longer sleep than him, everything in his body has been enhanced by mako. His eyebrow fell back down as he stood up and said:"I understand." and he walked out the door.

A job like a fight merchant was really easy and paid well. The mission just then earned Cloud enough money to live a week in the city or two weeks in the slum. Cloud bought a drink in the bar and paid after he finished it. As he walked outside, he spotted three Shin-Ra soldiers patrolling the area. He immediately hid behind a tree as he waited them to pass, damn… I can't believe I dropped my guard like that! He thought after they passed by him without noticing. I guess I'll have to live in the slums to decrease chances of being seen by them. He thought as he walked down the street, no idea where he was going to. Oh, well, I'll just explore the area first.

Cloud kept walking even as the sky darkened. People were getting back to their homes as he saw a church up ahead. He walked there on impulse, ignoring everything else. He walked into the church, there was no one there. He sighed in relief as he walked in. To his surprise, there was a flower patch near the middle of the church, the part where the roof had a hole in it. He walked over to the flowers. It was obvious that someone had taken care of the flowers. He sat near the patch and touched a petal with his right forefinger. It felt soft against his skin, he liked the feeling. Then he remembered the main reason that he was here. He stood up and walked up to the altar. He kneeled in front of it and prayed quietly. This was his first time praying or more likely vowing:"I vow in the name of Cloud Strife that I will continue living and try to be as happy as I can. And if you can hear me God I would like you to give Zack a good afterlife. He has been the best person and friend I've ever met. Thank you." Tears started rolling down his cheeks again as he stood up and instead of using the door, jumped out of the church's broken roof, hoping it to be a little more quiet and peaceful. Little did he know that his confession was overheard by another.

Aerith was walking back to the church after a long day of trying to sell flowers when she saw a blonde haired man walking into the church. That was rare. She thought, ever since I've been here there's been absolutely no one except kids and him that has even taken a step in there. She was saddened again when she thought of Zack, how he fell through the roof and landed in her flowers, how they had a date together. He promised to come back, yet it has been five years. And she had gotten over it, especially after seeing him going to dinner with a girl from Shin-Ra. She had been through all that. And now all she wanted to know was who that man was. She sped up a little bit.

As Aerith stepped in the door, she saw him patting a flower with a hand, and smiling slightly, before standing up and walking towards the altar. The man's hair looked interesting, to say the least. How much jell does he use on that hairstyle, gosh. She didn't see his face yet, and she was oddly curious/ However, she didn't take another step towards him since there was a chance that he might hear her. Then she heard his voice, it sounded so beautiful to her ears, so soft and silky but steady at the same time. She mentally slept herself for thinking about it, and slightly blushed. But when the man got to the part about Zack's death, her eyes widened. Was there a chance that it was the same one as the one I know? She thought. She was about to take a step forward and ask him when she saw the flooding tears on his face, she stopped as she saw him turn around. She was stunned to say the least, to see that his eyes were exactly the same colour as Zack's. But then her eyes moved to other parts of it, including the hair, the ears, the jaw, the neck, everything and felt herself blush even more when she realizes just how handsome he looked. The tears continued to flow from his sapphire eyes. That person must mean a lot to him, she thought, she was about to offer her help when she saw him suddenly jumped out of through the church's roof. She was awed, the only type of person that can do that was SOLDIERs, was he one of them? That would mean the Zack he was talking about is the Zack I know then. So that means Zack was dead, right? She quickly got rid of all the thoughts in her head and left without even entering the church, she needed to get back to her home and think. And she did just that.

Prologue END

Phew… So what do you guys think? Good or bad?

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