Sakura

note at bottom

Aeris's beautiful voice slid over, the door was cracked open, and most people silenced themselves to listen. People nearby opened their windows, able to hear from the strength of the microphone.

Yuffie tugged Vincent along behind her as they walked to the festival, decorated in pink and white. Her kimono was tied just right, her paper fan held tightly in one hand, Vincent's hand in the other. Fresh flowers adorned her hair, and her cute face sparkled with an air of a woman descending into a child's body.

Vincent stopped when they resided on a wooden bridge, away from the crowds. He held her still by setting his hands on her shoulders, and he looked over her slowly.

He realized she wasn't just his student. His Roomate. His friend. A child. She was…

"I love you."

Yuffie prepared for what she had been waiting for, but when their lips came together, she still was taken by surprise.

Jenova sat in front of the cell, hand placed between the bars. She fingered her son's hair, who slept on the cold floor. She pillowed his head with her jacket, her head tilted against the iron bar.

"Baby boy…" she whispered gently.

"Ma'am." A guard said, a general behind him.

"I know…" She stood up, and prepared to leave.

When the guard put a key into the lock, and turned it.

"He's free to go."

"Why?! He-"

"sh." The guard winked. "Court order. Don't tell."

Tifa found herself at the festival, drearily watching all the couples, hand in hand. She leaned her head back, and looked to the stars, envious of their constant togetherness. She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she placed her hands over her eyes to block them.

"Tifa?"

Tifa turned around, and faced the black haired boy with green eyes. In his arms he carried a bouquet of flowers, on his heart he carried a promise.

"ZACK!!"

She forgot the burden of a year, and ran into his arms, throwing her own around his neck. She cried wistfully, happily. Zack stroked her hair. "I'm sorry I've been away, so long Tifa… I just had some loose ends to-"

"I don't care… all that matters now is you're back."

So she looked up and allowed him to do the thing she'd felt in her dreams over and over again.

Aeris waited on the empty park bench. Cloud had said he had to do something, and she waited for him to return. She had a plushie of a white bear with purple wings on her lap, which she had her hands about the waist of. She hung onto it, it was the first thing Cloud had won for her. He had stood there trying for about 30 minutes with Professor Highwind screaming at him. He was the manager, after all.

He finally returned, she looked up and smiled. Cloud sat down next to her, and took one of her hands and clasped it in his own. He faced her silently, and placed the other hand up against her cheek. He rubbed it, and lavished his hand against her soft skin. She smiled gently.

"I love you…"

"You're my only angel." He whispered.

He closed his eyes and kissed her lips, moving his hand to her chin, tilting her head up toward him.

She loosened her grip on the Mog and wrapped her arms around his waist. The seal of years of sadness and wear had been broken.

He was brave, he was beautiful, he was all hers.

If the reader must know, Yuffie and Vincent started dating from there, and he helped her through her treatments every step of the way. Yuffie works at the same diner that Tifa and Aeris do, and she became best friends. She beat her Lung Cancer four years later, and as a celebration, Vincent proposed.

Sephiroth was able to get over the loss of his sister, Koijini, by staying away from Aeris from a year, to keep away the haunting resemblance. He came back to School in the Senior Year and was able to take an Honors art class and get into an Art College to perfect his already mostly perfect drawings.

His mother, Jenova kept teaching, and helped her son get into Art College. She visits Aeris frequently to check on her, almost like she did for Koijini. She was able to get a grant for her own cooking program, and was used the money for Sephiroth's work. She often traveled with him to watch over him like a mother should.

Zack, coming home from a long trip to America to check on his father's company, continued the long relationship he had with Tifa. They grew stronger, and he soon afterward took her into his large condo in uptown Tokyo, instead of her Apartment. She worked at the diner with Aeris and Yuffie, and is constantly bugging a frequent customer, Proffessor Highwind. Tifa's disposition has gotten better, and she's happier much more often now.

As for Aeris and Cloud, they stayed together willingly, happy, and the night of Aeris's close brush with death still remains imprinted in his mind. She moved in with him, the moderate size apartment seemed large enough to house both of them.

"Aeris." Cloud said gently, one night, a college textbook on her lap.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Cloud." She placed her head on his shoulder as she studied.

He carefully picked up her hand and slid a ring onto her left ring finger.

She felt the cold metal against her hand, and her eyes closed happily. "Yes." She said softly. "Or maybe, I do."

The cherry blossoms whisked into the window, and played about the lovers. The same way a petal is attached to the flower, the hearts of two teenagers intertwined, time did not matter to them, it was always springtime in their eyes, and there were always cherry blossoms in the seasons of their hearts.

THE END

Note from Aeris: Well, this is it. I plan to write a long note, so hang in there.

Sakura has been a rewarding experience. I finally have a story which I can proudly say people read and liked. These past two Months have had ups and downs, but I never expected to get this far. I am really humbled.

I want to thank Mint, Ms. Maxwell, KrystalClear, Tori, Shadow Pals, Daze Riot, and Callista-san.

You all have kept my spirits up with your positive reviews, and have somewhat gotten my confidence repaired since the "Westport" incident.

This Fanfiction has a dedication…

To my Boyfriend, Jimmy. He has encouraged me, and kept me alive by encouraging me. Almost all the romantic actions are actually things he does to me. The romantic parts kept me feeling loved, almost as if he was here. Jimmy is coming home soon, and so I dedicate this fanfiction to him.

But I also present it to you, my fans. You all have been so wonderful, and I thank you. It hurt so much to end Sakura. I'll miss seeing Aeris and Cloud, Sephiroth, Tifa, Yuffie, Vincent… I'm going to miss their high school antics and plotting while taking notes in Bible class. cough

To get to the point, thank you so much. bows

I have began preparations for Yuri, my new fanfiction. It's going to be FF8, and much of the same concept. An AU. But also WAY different from Sakura. Yuri means Lily, not Yuri as in Lesbian, you sickos! But, if you want Aeris/Cloud goodness… please read Hands. It's by me, too… It's barely gotten any attention. It's a songfic.

Please look out for Yuri, and God Bless you all.

Aeris ()

P.S. …I have a website, but Envy.nu died. So I'm getting a domain name! But what should it be?