He’d been silent all this time…

She glanced at him.

How could a person be so quiet for how many hours? How can he take the deafening silence?

She sighed.

But I guess he’s like that all the time.

Her heart skipped a beat.

He looked at me.

She looked away, blushing.

Damn…Why am I feeling this way when I’m with him?

She looked away.

He averted his gaze to the shimmering pool.

She really looks so much like her. The same gestures, the same hair, the same voice. Did Hojo clone her when she was held captive in ShinRa?

He glanced at her and sighed.

I hope not. I don’t want to remember anymore. I want to put the past behind me and move one with what I have now. But I’m still holding on. Holding on to her. But…

The water from the pool reflected in his blue eyes.

Is she a ghost to haunt me? To make me pay for my sins? But she made me smile and laugh like there’s no tomorrow to look forward to. She had been close with the group these past few days and the kids are looking up to her as an older sister. Is this a dream?

He raised his eyes to the sky and breathed in the cold air.

She’s also talkative but now she’s very silent. Is guilt getting to her? I hope she doesn’t think about the cellphone bit. Maybe she doesn’t really need the phone. I still can’t believe she took the phone from the storekeeper after saying she didn’t need it.

He smiled to himself.

How could a mechanic not have a phone? Can’t she make one for herself?

He smiled!

She flushed again.

Is something wrong?

She smacked her forehead.

Oh no! Maybe he’s smiling because he’s thinking about all the crazy stuff I did these last few days.

She looked at him longingly.

Cloud, please don’t take me as a fool. I don’t really want to be thought as one.

She rolled her eyes.

Who wouldn’t take me as a fool? I’ve been very klutzy around him. Normally I don’t do that. But when I’m with him…things are different. I want to make him laugh all the time. He looks better that way.

She smiled to herself as a warm breeze passed her by.

He also accompanied me to mom and dad. I thought he’d never do that. He really is a good person underneath all that stiffness.

She looked up and saw a big white butterfly with pink linings hover on the gleaming water. Her eyes widened and she looked at Cloud who was also looking at the butterfly intently. She averted her gaze to the butterfly.

Is it her? Aerith? If it is you then would you tell Cloud that everything’s ok? I don’t have the courage to tell him that but I know you do. She smiled bitterly. Maybe he won’t even listen to me. He had been lonely when you’ve left. I think he really loved you. Yeah…he loved you.

Her heart felt a little heavy. She touched her chest and her eyebrow’s furrowed.

Why am I feeling this way? I can’t breathe…but I wear loose clothes today. Tell me, Aerith, why am I feeling this way when I’m with him?

A butterfly…Aria said a butterfly represents the soul of a dead person. Aerith, is that you? Are you visiting the church? For the flowers? They’ve been blooming quite heavily this season, don’t worry. Yes, they’ve been blooming even though…

His eyes darkened.

Why? Why did you have to go? I have been a wreck without you. I really miss you. I know it’s too late but I want you to know…I love you. Yes, I love you. Now I had the strength to say it but it’s too late.

He clenched his teeth.

Why didn’t you wait for me? Why couldn’t you wait a little longer? Then maybe I had told you. Maybe I had prevented him for…I don’t want to talk about it. Aerith…I need you now…more than ever.

She glanced at him and saw his eyes. The Mako-infused eyes that she grew fond of. At times she saw those eyes softened and then her heart would melt. But now they were fierce, piercing. For the first time in her life she felt fear creeping down her spine.

Cloud, are you in pain? Please…don’t feel that way.

She felt hot tears flow down her cheeks.

What is this? Why am I crying? Damn he’s looking at me.

She quickly wiped her tears and smiled at him. He pulled back and averted his gaze again at the pool. She curled her hands at the top of her lap and frowned.

He must think I’m weak. I don’t want to be pitied. I don’t want to see pity in their eyes. I want to be strong. I want to show them I’m capable of something. That I’m not a defenseless little girl.

She sighed as she gazed over at the SOLDIER.

But at times like these I just want someone to hold me. To reassure me that everything’s ok. To wipe my tears away and make me feel warm. I want to be loved…

Why did she cry?

He looked up to the heavens.

Was there something I did or said? I didn’t do anything or say anything to her. I had been silent all this time. But I think it’s me. Should I apologize?

He slowly nodded.

Yeah…I should do that.

He turned to her but she already stood up. He raised his confused eyes and saw her clutching her bag tightly. He saw her biting her lip and then he knew something was up. He also stood up.

What’s going on? Damn…it’s all my fault. I should’ve apologized earlier. Now she’s angry with me. Aria…tell me what’s wrong.

His eyebrows were furrowed as he stared upon her gleaming emerald green eyes. He saw signs of sadness and insecurities in them. His heart began to beat faster when her gaze went to the side.

“I should get going now.” She said without looking at him.

Already? He caught himself. “Do you want me to accompany you?”

Her heart skipped a beat. More than anything.

“No, I’ll be fine…”

His heart dropped. Are you sure?

“Alright. Be careful then…”

Her heart dropped and she faked a smile.

“Sure. See you around, Cloud.”

She turned her back to him and began to walk towards the exit. Every step was like a dagger piercing her heart. She didn’t want to leave yet. She wanted to stay with him. To talk with him. To know everything about him. His likes, dislikes. His strengths…his weaknesses. But she knew it wasn’t her place by his side.

Cloud…

His eyes followed her as she walked down the broken church aisle. It would be lonely without her. He didn’t want her to go. Not yet. There was so much to discover about her. How she came to be a mechanic. About her past. He wanted to know everything. He wanted to know if she is what he’s looking for. If she was the very person he lowered in the lake. But it was an illusion. The flower girl had died right before his eyes and no one could ever replace her in his heart but…

Aria…

She felt a cold leather hand enclosed in her wrist. She looked back and her eyes widened when she saw the SOLDIER looking down at her with his soft azure eyes. This is what she always wanted to see. What she always prayed to see. At that moment she felt like hugging him. To make him feel he’s not alone. But she knew her place.

“Is something wrong?”

He took back his hand, blushing. He scratched the end of his head in embarrassment. Then he heard her laughing. His heart lightened. It was like music to his ears. Living alone in desolation had been hard for him and hearing her whimsical laugh made him think about other things in life than sadness. She showed him that there is life even after sadness.

“Nothing… I just… Well… Ummm… Did I do something wrong to you? I mean… Did I say something that… offended you or something?”

She stared at him and smiled. He began to stutter again and she found that endearing in him. She stopped and thought about his question. There was not a thing that he had done wrong to her. All that he did brought happiness to her and that’s one of the things that she had been grateful for these past few days. She shook her head.

“Nothing Cloud…you did nothing wrong.” Without hesitation, she took his hands into hers and looked deeply in his eyes. He stared at her in bewilderment, his cheeks turned into a deeper shade of pink. “Thank you so much for everything, Mr. Strife.”

She withdrew her hands and turned her back on him, clasping her hands behind her back in a childlike manner. He blinked several times and called out to her.

“H-Hey!”

She looked back and smiled at him. When he saw her tender smile, his gaze went to the side.

“What for?” He whispered, softly.

She pointed a finger to her chin and thought deeply. After a few seconds she shrugged and giggled at him.

“Nothing, sir! Don’t mind me!”

With a curtsy she finally left the old church. His gaze never left the doors of the church. He closed his eyes and smiled. He sighed as he opened his eyes again. He walked a few steps back and faced the gleaming pool. He saw his reflection on the still water. His eyes widened when he saw his own smile. He raised his eyes to the heavens and breathed hard. He closed his eyes as a warm breeze passed through his body making ripples on the water’s surface.

Strange… I’ve never felt this warm since you’ve been gone… Is it a good thing?