Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Premonitions: Uncut	By : Hippo_and_Friends_with_Benefits Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 3901 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, and I am not making any money of of this writing.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Chapter 10: The Flower Girl Revealed
Tifa was laying in her bed in the fetal position. Her door was locked, and for a good reason. She had been sobbing for hours. Cloud had not returned. Was he dead? That fall seemed too high for anyone to survive. Then again, Cloud was not just anyone. Tifa knew she had to concentrate on the mission. Reactor Number Eight was next on the target list. But she could not stop thinking about Cloud. There was so much she had to tell him.
If he was alive...
MEANWHILE...
"You all right? Can you hear me?" called a voice in Cloud's head.
"Yeah," Cloud replied.
"Back then, you could get by with just skinned knees," the voice reminded him.
"What do you mean by 'back then?'" Cloud asked.
"What about now? Can you get up?"
"I'll give it a try."
"Oh! He moved!" called a female voice.
"How about that? Take it slow now. Little by little."
"Hello, hello?" the female voice called again.
"I know. Hey, who are you?"
"Hello?" the soprano repeated.
Cloud slowly opened his eyes.
His surroundings came into focus; it appeared that he was inside some kind of church. Yet he could not see the person that he was obviously in there with.
"You okay?" called the voice from behind him.
"I think so," Cloud replied as he sat up. "Where am I?"
"This is a church in the Sector Five slums," replied the female voice. "You suddenly fell on top of me. You really gave me quite a scare."
"I came crashing down?" asked Cloud, as he turned to view whom the voice belonged to.
Before him stood a beautiful girl. She had light brown hair and beautiful green eyes. She was wearing a pink dress and a red jacket. Cloud immediately recognized who she was: the flower girl he had met the previous night.
"The roof and the flower bed must have broken your fall," replied the flower girl. "You're lucky."
"Flower bed…is this yours?" asked Cloud as he stood up and immediately stepped away from the flowers. "Sorry about that."
"That's all right," the flower girl replied. "The flowers here are quite resilient because this is a sacred place. They say you can't grow grass and flowers in Midgar, but, for some reason, the flowers have no trouble blooming here. I love it here." She paused, and looked him in the eyes. "So, we meet again. Don't you remember me?"
"Yeah, I remember you," he replied. "You were selling flowers."
"Oh, I'm so happy!" the girl replied with a smile. "Thanks for buying my flowers."
I think I know this girl from somewhere else, he thought to himself. But where?
"Say, do you have any materia?" the flower girl continued.
"Just some lightning," Cloud replied. "Nowadays you can find materia anywhere."
The flower girl then raised her arm, touching a spherical object embedded in her hair braids.
"But mine is special," she said. "It's good for absolutely nothing."
"Good for nothing?" dismissed Cloud. "You probably just don't know how to use it."
"No, I do," insisted the flower girl. "It just doesn't do anything. I feel safe just having it. It was my mother's."
"If it makes you feel safe," suggested Cloud, "that's something it does for you."
The flower girl smiled. "Say, I feel like talking. Do you feel up to it? After all, here we are meeting again, right?"
"I don't mind," Cloud replied.
"Wait here. I've got to check my flowers. It'll be just a minute. Or a little longer." She then paused as a most obvious realization came to her. "Now that you mention it," the flower girl continued, "we don't know each other's names, do we?"
"I guess not," Cloud laughed.
"My name is Aerith," she said as she stretched her right arm. "Aerith the flower girl. Nice to meet you."
"The name's Cloud," he greeted as their palms met. "Me? I do a little bit of everything."
"Oh, a jack of all trades?"
"Yeah," Cloud replied. "I do whatever's needed."
Aerith was silent. She had been hoping to see him again, but she hadn't been expecting to see him again this soon. And she realized that, so far, she liked him. He seemed cute and nice. She still felt the buzz, and even a larger buzz when she touched him. There was magic. This was definitely someone she wanted to get to know more. With all this on her mind, she began to giggle. She couldn't help it; she was so happy.
"What's so funny?" asked Cloud. "What are you laughing at?"
"Sorry... I just…" Aerith's eyes widened. "Bad timing on my part."
Cloud turned to see a disheveled man in blue standing in the doorway. He had red hair. He seemed familiar to Cloud, but he couldn't put his finger on it. In any case, he looked suspicious.
"Cloud," warned Aerith, "don't let it get to you."
"Let what?" asked Cloud.
Aerith sighed. She knew exactly why that man was here. It was happening again.
"Say, Cloud," she asked, "Have you ever been a bodyguard? You do everything, right?"
"Yeah," replied Cloud, "that's right." He quickly realized Aerith wanted nothing to do with the stranger.
"Then," continued Aerith, "please get me out of here. Take me home."
He looked at the red-haired stranger again. It seemed that she wanted to get as far away from him as humanly possible.
"OK, I'll do it," he agreed. "But it'll cost you."
"Well then, let's see," she replied as she crossed her right leg with her left. "How about if I go out with you once?"
Before Cloud could respond, the stranger approached him.
"I don't know who you are," Cloud began, "but.…"
"You don't know me?" asked the stranger.
I know you.
"Oh yeah," Cloud said. "I know you. That uniform…"
Before he could finish, three Shinra troops entered the church.
"Hey sis," taunted the stranger, "this one's a little weird."
"Shut up!" retorted Cloud. "You Shinra spy!"
"Reno!" called one of the troops. "Want him taken out?"
"I haven't decided yet," Reno replied.
"Don't fight here!" protested Aerith as she grabbed Cloud's arm. "You'll ruin the flowers." She quickly led him to the back of the church. "The exit is back here," she informed him as they both made use of it.
Reno stood perplexed. "They were….Mako eyes. Yeah, all right. Back to work, back to work. And don't step on the flowers!"
Meanwhile, Aerith led Cloud through the graveyard behind the church. They hopped over several tombstones, and finally over the gate. The next building had a ladder that led to the roof. Someone had carelessly left it there, so Cloud and Aerith took good advantage of it. They climbed up, and quickly began leaping from roof to roof.
"They're looking for me again," Aerith laughed. "I knew they weren't going to shoot us if I led you away; they want me taken alive."
Cloud was surprised. "You mean it's not the first time they' ve been after you?"
Aerith shook her head.
"They're the Turks, an organization in Shinra," Cloud explained. "They scout for possible candidates for SOLDIER."
"This violently?" asked Aerith. "I thought they were kidnapping someone."
"They're also involved in a lot of dirty stuff on the side. Spying, murder, you know; the usual."
"They look like it," Aerith observed.
"But, why are they after you?" asked Cloud. "There must be a reason, right?"
"No, not really," Aerith replied. "I think they believe I have what it takes to be in SOLDIER!"
"Maybe you do," Cloud suggested. "You want to join?"
"I don't know," she responded. "But I don't want to get caught by those people!"
"Then, let's go!" instructed Cloud as he was gaining distance ahead
"Wait, I said!" Aerith shouted, puffing and wheezing. "Slow down! Don't leave me!"
"Funny, I thought you were cut out to be in SOLDIER."
"Oh!" gasped Aerith. "You're terrible! Were you ever in SOLDIER?"
"I used to be," Cloud replied. "How did you guess?"
"Your eyes," observed Aerith. "They have a strange glow."
"That's the sign of those who have been infused with Mako. A mark of SOLDIER. But how did you know about that?"
"Oh, nothing," Aerith replied. "Come on, let's go, bodyguard!"
Cloud led Aerith over two more houses. The last house was only one story high, allowing them to reach the ground. From there, Cloud could see a lone house with beautiful gardens surrounding it.
"Whew! Finally made it off!" exclaimed Aerith as she gave Cloud a hug. "You're awesome!"
"What now?" Cloud asked.
"My house is over here," replied Aerith, pointing to the lone house. "Let's hurry before they get here!"
Cloud duly followed Aerith inside. It was a modest house. It had a peaceful aura too it, one that made him feel relaxed.
"I'm home, mom!" called Aerith as soon as they were inside.
"Early, I see," replied her mother.
"This is Cloud, my bodyguard," Aerith introduced.
"Bodyguard…you mean you were followed again!?" exclaimed her mother. "Are you all right? You're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm all right," Aerith assured her. "I had Cloud with me."
"Thank you, Cloud."
A few moments later, Aerith's mom had gone upstairs, leaving her alone with Cloud.
"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" asked Cloud.
"Well, it's a little too soon to start making out, I would say."
This girl was a huge flirt. Cloud quickly took the initiative to change the subject. "Is Sector Seven far from here? I want to go to Tifa's bar."
Aerith was silent for a moment. "Is Tifa a girl?"
"Yeah," Cloud replied.
"A girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend?!" Cloud exclaimed in surprise. "No way!"
"You don't have to get that upset!" Aerith laughed. "Let's see, Sector Seven? I'll show you the way."
"You've gotta be kidding!" Cloud responded in a somewhat upset tone of voice. "Why do you want to put yourself in danger again?"
"I'm used to it," Aerith replied.
"Used to it!? Well, I don't know, getting help from a girl…"
Aerith placed her hands on her hips. "A girl?! What do you mean by that!? You expect me to just sit by and listen, after hearing you say something like that? Sexist!" She then turned her face towards the top of the stairs. "Mom! I'm taking Cloud to Sector Seven. I'll be back in a while."
"But dear," protested her mother as she came down the stairs, "I give up. You never listen once you've made up your mind. But if you must go, why don't you go tomorrow? It's getting late now."
"Yeah, you're right, mom," Aerith sighed. She felt tired, and was in no mood to argue.
"Aerith, please go and make the bed." her mother commanded.
Aerith did as she was told. She was cross; she knew her mother wanted to say something she didn't want her to hear.
"That glow in your eyes," continued her mother downstairs, "you're from SOLDIER, right?"
"Yeah," Cloud replied. "Rather I used to be Mrs…."
"Please call me Elmyra," she interjected. "I don't know how to say this, but could you please leave here, tonight, without telling Aerith? I don't want her in trouble again. You understand, don't you?"
Cloud nodded. He then ascended the stairs, where Aerith greeted him at the top.
"You need to go through Sector Six to get to Sector Seven," Aerith explained. "Sector Six is a little dangerous so you'd better get some rest tonight." She led him to a bedroom, which he presumed was the guest room. "There's a bed made for you and everything," she informed him as she opened the door. "And Cloud," she said, "goodnight."
She then smiled as she closed the door.
Cloud sat on the bed, thinking of how his day had had just ended. He had a fall that should have been fatal, but, instead, he had just met this really nice girl by pure chance. She was beautiful and really seemed...interesting.
"You like her, don't you, Cloud?" he whispered to himself. "She certainly seems to like you. We do click."
He wondered if he should ask her out. He had liked being single, but this girl...
FLASHBACK...
"My, how you've grown," observed a woman standing over him. "I'll bet the girls never leave you alone."
"Not really, Claudia," Cloud replied.
"Stop calling me that," she snapped. "You're the only person I know who calls their mother by her first name. You know, I'm worried about you. There are a lot of temptations in the city. I'd feel a lot better if you just settled down and had a nice girlfriend."
"I'm all right," Cloud insisted.
"You should have," continued his mother, "an older girlfriend. One that'll take care of you. I think that would be the perfect type for you."
"Not interested," Cloud replied with a sigh.
….END FLASHBACK.
We'll see what happens," Cloud said to himself.
With nothing left to do, and practically kidnapped until the nest morning, Cloud lay down in the bed. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
LATER...
"adeuiawgubrteaivcartgydetgbvdvjitnvgjidrjslahbfcljakhcbawiehfwbioifcnslkdhbgaerilbnaclibnawlhnatgblarekhcvnarlejkbgfvalkwrhebgalreabglieeipoavncaroepivnraeikbvraeihbvaroeibvhaelhbvrareaeioheneboprupoaruewosmikopomasdcnaihubaoiwuhebfaowieybfatuedislcmwejhrugndbsfko"
THE NEXT MORNING...
Cloud awoke with a start. Those voices…he had never heard before. It sounded like millions of voices calling out to him at once. He had never experienced that before; he had found it both fascinating and frightening at the same time.
Remembering Elmyra's wishes, Cloud slowly made his way out of the house. He did so extra quietly, to avoid alerting his new friend. He slowly walked across the hallway and down the stairs without making a sound. The kitchen was deserted; both Aerith and Elmyra seemed to be still asleep. He quickly left the house and crossed the yard. When he got into the neighborhood, he began walking at a more careless pace. He was clear of the house, free to return to Tifa's bar.
When Cloud left the neighborhood, the first person he saw was Aerith.
"You're up bright and early," she greeted. She had placed her hands on her hips, and looked cross.
This girl was good. Really good, Cloud thought. "I heard voices in my head," he replied, telling the truth.
"Well, you're about to hear another one,' she responded. "A more pleasant one. Mine. You have to go through the slum in Sector Six to get to Tifa's Seventh Heaven. I'll take you there. Come on!" Before either of them could say another word, she took his hand in hers.
Cloud suddenly felt a tingle in his body. He had never been on a date with anyone, let alone held hands with a girl. He wouldn't admit it, but he enjoyed the feeling immensely. He really liked this girl, but he didn't know how to say it. Or what to tell her when they reached his destination. He was first a mercenary, but that special feeling he was getting made him want to see Aerith again. And again. And again.
"So where are you from?" she asked as they continued to stroll, hand-in-hand.
"Nibelheim, originally," Cloud replied.
"A Westerner!" she said in surprise. "How long have you been in Midgar?"
"A year," he answered. "I came here for the first time four years before that."
"When you joined SOLDIER?" she asked.
"You got it," he replied.
Cloud and Aerith soon came to a deserted playground. A swing set was there, along with a slide and some monkey bars that He had never been there before, but he was beginning to feel as if his destination was nearby. Beyond the playground lay a sealed gate that Aerith seemed focused on.
"The gate to Sector Seven's in there," she informed him.
"Thanks," replied Cloud. "I guess this is goodbye. Are you going to be all right going home?"
"Goodbye?!" Aerith exclaimed. "Oh no! Whatever will I do?" She paused. "Is that what you want me to say?"
"Fine," replied Cloud. "I'll take you home."
"Isn't that a little out of the way?" Aerith asked, realizing he was just flirting with her.
"Yeah, I guess so," agreed Cloud. "Why don't you come with me?"
"I could do that," Aerith replied. "But won't I be in your way?"
"What do you mean in the way?" asked Cloud. "You haven't caused too much trouble!"
"Nothing!" muttered Aerith, realizing he wasn't getting it. "Can we take a break?" She then focused on the playground. "I can't believe it's still here."
"What?" asked Cloud.
"This playground," Aerith replied as she climbed up on one of the slides that was shaped like a cat's face. "Cloud, get over here!"
He did as he was told. Once on top, Aerith rested her head on his shoulder.
"I definitely want a second date," she announced. "I really like you."
Cloud smiled. He wanted to tell her he liked her too, but felt a tad shy at the moment.
"What rank were you?" asked Aerith, quite randomly.
"Rank?"
"You know, in SOLDIER."
"Oh, I was First Class," Cloud replied.
"Just the same as him," Aerith observed.
"The same as who?" asked Cloud.
"My first boyfriend," Aerith replied.
"You were serious?" asked Cloud.
"No," replied Aerith. "But I liked him for a while."
"I probably knew him," Cloud suggested. "What was his name?"
"It doesn't really matter,' replied Aerith, shaking her head.
"Was it Zack?" asked Cloud, somewhat spontaneously.
Aerith's mouth dropped open. "How did you know?!"
"I just guessed," he said. "Great guy."
"Yeah," said Aerith sarcastically. "Great guy until he stopped writing. Must have found some cute bimbo." She looked down. "Sorry. I know you're not supposed to talk about past relationships on a date."
Just then, the gate to Sector Seven began to open. Out came a cart that was drawn by a chocobo. And standing on that cart was a girl who strongly resembled someone quite familiar.
"Huh? Hey, back there! Tifa!?" exclaimed Cloud as he shot up.
"That girl in the cart was Tifa?" asked Aerith. "Where was she going? She looked kind of odd."
"Good question," Cloud replied. Tifa had been wearing a purple dress that quite flattered her cleavage.
Suddenly, Aerith jumped down. "It better not be going where I think it's going!" she exclaimed as she began to run after the cart.
"Wait!" shouted Cloud. "I'll go on alone! You go home!"
Cloud chased Aerith for a good distance until both of them found themselves in a long strip. There were somewhat run-down stores on each side, with a sleazy-looking abode at the north end of it. People were everywhere.
"Great," sighed Aerith. "We're in Wall Market."
"Is that bad?" asked Cloud.
"This place is scary in a lot of ways," she replied. "Especially for a girl. So we've got to find Tifa fast."
Aerith took Cloud's hand as the two of them cautiously made their way through Wall Market, keeping their eyes peeled for pickpockets and perverts.
Suddenly, Cloud felt a feminine finger poke him in the shoulder.
He turned to see Aerith covering her mouth and giggling.
Seriously? he thought. At a time like this?
And then, he suddenly felt the buzz going again. Unable to resist, he poked her back.
"Excuse you!" she playfully exclaimed with a smile. She then poked him again.
Cloud and Aerith were soon engaged in a poke war as they continued their way through Wall Market. Eventually, they got to a building that was lit up in pink. The two of them suspended their game as they stared at the entrance.
"What's this place?" Cloud asked.
"That's the Honey Bee Inn," Aerith replied. "It's the local brothel. Tifa wouldn't be in there. The only women in there not only work there full time but live there."
Near the enterance, Cloud could see a man with red hair and a pointy nose pacing around.
"Man...should I go or not?" the man muttered. "I get so mental at times like this. I'm hopeless!" He then noticed who was staring at him. "Hey! Aren't you Cloud?"
"That's right, Johnny," Cloud said. "It's me."
"What!?" Johnny exclaimed. "You mean you're...too?"
"Don't bring me down to your level," Cloud reprimanded.
Johnny then took a look at Aerith.
"Is this your girlfriend, Cloud?"
"We are dating," Aerith replied.
"Wow," Johnny sighed as he disappeared into the Honey Bee Inn. "Bringing your girl to a place like this."
"Who is that?" Aerith asked as they resumed their search.
"Johnny," Cloud replied. "I grew up with him. He was a pervert and a lot of people hated him, but I didn't. I think he just had the misfortune of being from the wrong town or the wrong continent. He would be perfect living here. He'd fit in with all the other crazy creeps."
"Well, see that building yonder?" asked Aerith, pointing to the north end. "That's Don Corneo's mansion. He's a powerful man, and he likes to get into every girl's pants he can."
"Typical rich guy," Cloud commented. "If Tifa was dressed like that," began Cloud, "she was probably heading for the mansion. Let's go!"
"Are you kidding?" wondered Aerith aloud. "He would never let a guy in his mansion, other than his hired goons!"
"We'll just see about that," Cloud said.
A guard gave them a look as they approached the entrance to the mansion.
"This is the mansion of Don Corneo, the most powerful man in Wall Market," the guard announced. "Look, the Don's not into men. So don't let me catch you around here again." He then noticed Aerith. "Hey, and you got another cute one with you!"
"I'll go take a look," Aerith announced as she headed for the door. "I'll tell Tifa about you."
"No!" Cloud objected. "You can't?"
"Why not?" she asked.
"You do know what kind of place this is, don't you?" he warned.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" she asked. "You want to go in with me?"
"Well," Cloud replied, "being a man, that'll be pretty hard. Besides, if I bust in there, it'll cause too much commotion. But I just can't let you go in alone. First, we need to find out whether Tifa's alright."
Aerith suddenly started to giggle.
"What's so funny, Aerith?"
"Cloud, why don't you dress up like a girl?" she laughed. "It's the only way."
"What?!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, it won't be so bad!" she insisted. "Haven't you ever dressed up as a girl before?"
Cloud scratched his head.
"Come to think of it, it think I have," he replied, with an eerie feeling inside. "But I don't recall when." He quickly shook the odd feeling off. "But, now that we're on the subject, have you ever dressed up as a guy before?"
"I sure did!" Aerith replied cheerfully. "In the second grade, I was a man for Halloween. I had a suit and a hat. My mom drew a moustache on me with a sharpie. I even had a plastic cigar."
Cloud sighed.
Aerith smiled. "A dress won't kill you. I actually wear pants most of the time. In fact, I'm a big jeanaholic."
"It's different for girls," he insisted.
She smiled, and approached the guard again.
"Just wait," she said. "I've got a cute friend I want to bring."
"Aerith!" he protested. "I can't!"
She gave him a look.
"You are worried about Tifa, aren't you?" she asked. "Them come on, hurry!"
Aerith took Cloud's hand and marched him straight into the nearest dress shop. It was a small one, with one small room and an even smaller dressing room behind a curtain. Still, it was a dress shop.
"Excuse me!" the soprano greeted. "I'd like to get a dress."
"Umm, it might take a little time," replied the shop girl. "Will that be all right?"
"Not really," Aerith replied. "It's kind of an immediate need. What's the problem?"
"Well," replied the clerk, "my father, the owner, has been in a slump lately. You see, he makes all the dresses."
"And where is your father?" Aerith asked.
"He's probably plastered at the bar," the clerk replied.
Aerith groaned.
"So you're saying we can't get a dress unless we do something about your father?"
"Yes, I'm sorry," answered the clerk. "He's caused so much trouble."
"Well then," said Aerith, "I think I need to drag him back here, even if he's drunk off his butt."
"You'd help me bring him back?" the clerk asked.
"Well," Aerith replied, "if we don't do something, we don't get a dress, right?"
"Really!?" exclaimed the clerk. "Please help my crazy old dad. I just don't know what to do anymore."
"All right," agreed Aerith. "We'll do something. Let's go, Cloud!"
The bar at Wall Market was just a few yards from the dress shop. It was a large room, with three tables and a bar. It reeked of smoke in the air, causing Aerith's eyes to sting. Still, she could see a despondent looking man sitting at the bar. She had a hunch.
"Excuse us," she greeted, "are you the father of the girl at the clothing store?"
"I own the clothes shop," he replied as he took a shot of vodka, "but I ain't your father."
"I didn't say that," Aerith corrected him.
Cloud, meanwhile, decided to be more blunt.
"Make me some clothes," he commanded.
"I don't make men's clothes," the old man grunted. "And I don't feel like making anything right now."
Aerith turned to Cloud.
"Cloud, you wait over there for a second," she suggested. "I'll try and talk to him. Why don't you go over there and have something to drink?"
He did as he was told; given the circumstances of his twenty-first birthday, he had certainly earned it.
"You know, mister," Aerith began, "he always said that just once he'd like to dress up like a girl, so that's why I wanted a cute dress for him."
"What!?" the owner exclaimed. "A tough lookin guy like that?"
"So how about it?" she requested. "Will you make him one?"
"It might be interesting," the owner replied. "I was getting a little bored just making regular clothes."
"Then you'll do it for us?" she asked.
"Yeah, all right," the owner agreed. "What kind of dress you want?"
"Something that feels soft," she replied. "And something that shimmers."
"Hmm, got it," said the owner. " You know I got a friend that has the same taste as him. I'll go talk to him." He got up off of his seat. "Give me an hour." He then walked out of the bar.
Just then, the television made an announcement loud enough for the whole bar to hear.
"Coming Saturday, February Second," a voice announced. "The TV event of the year. Putty the Little Dog is Putty the Little Dog in: Putty the Little Dog Gets Lost"
The screen then cut to a little gray terrier, wagging its tail and farting, causing a few laughs in the bar.
"Ew!" Aerith exclaimed. "Where do they come up with this stuff?"
"Who knows," Cloud muttered, doing his best not to laugh.
Cloud and Aerith spent the next hour at the bar, resuming their poke war. Knowing they needed to remain sober, Cloud confined himself to one beer, while Aerith stopped at one Sex on the Beach. Afterwards, they returned to the dress shop to find the dress ready on schedule.
"Looks like everything went well," announced the clerk. "He's been making the dress ever since he came back."
"Oh, you're here," greeted the owner as he handed Cloud the It's ready. Go try it on.
"How do you put this on?" Cloud muttered before getting into the dress. He stared at himself in the mirror. He had never felt more humiliated in his life.
Just then, he noticed Aerith slowly poke her head in between the curtains.
"Whoa!" Cloud exclaimed. "What are you doing!"
"It's still not right," she observed. "A wig! That's what you need!"
"I thought you might," added the owner, "so I talked to my friend about getting one. You know the gym? You'll find a lot of people there like you. Go and talk to them."
Cloud changed back into his regular clothes and emerged from the dressing room.
"'Like you?'" he asked suspiciously. " Aerith, what did you tell him?"
"Does it matter?" Aerith asked. "Anyhow, we got a pretty dress!"
LATER ON...
Cloud and Aerith returned to the dress shop with the wig. Cloud's muscles ached; he had been asked to compete doing squats for the wig.
"Looks like you're all set," observed the owner. "Now try it on, and let's see how it fits."
Cloud stood still. He had never done anything like this before.
"Looks like you got it," added the clerk. "So try it on for size."
Cloud still remained still. He had been hoping for another way.
"Aren't you going to change?" Aerith pressed.
Cloud sighed.
"Okay," he said. "I'm ready"
Cloud walked into the dressing room. A minute later, he emerged, wearing the dress and wig.
"Hmm, not bad," said the owner. "This may be a new business for me."
"Yeah, you're right," added the clerk. "Should we try it? Thanks for showing us something new. My father's got his motivation back now, so the dress is on the house."
Meanwhile, Aerith noticed that Cloud continued to walk like a man.
"Walk more nicely like this, Miss Cloud," she commanded.
"What do you mean 'nicely?'" he questioned.
He then walked around the room with his legs closer together.
"Oh you're so cute, Miss Cloud!" Aerith giggled. She then shifted her attention to the dresses. "Aaah, I want one. Do you have one that'll look good on me too?"
Both the clerk and the owner each grabbed a dress.
"How's this?" asked the clerk.
"How about that one?" the owner suggested.
"Father, what are you talking about?" asked the clerk. "This one's much better."
"No, what are you saying?" insisted the owner. "This one."
Aerith, not heed either of them, grabbed a red dress hanging near the clearance section.
"I want this one," she decided.
The clerk and owner gave her a look.
"I'm going to go change," Aerith announced. She then placed her hands on Clouds shoulders, and turned him one hundred and eighty degrees. "No peeking!" she playfully warned.
Cloud heard her go into the dressing room, change, and come back out. He then felt her tap him on the shoulder.
"Okay, Cloud," she said. "You can turn around now."
She had her hair down, wearing a red dress and a pair of heals to match. The dress greatly flaunted her cleavage.
"So?" she asked. "How do I look?"
Cloud wanted to compliment her, but struggled to think of something appropriate.
"Oh, you're no fun!" she sighed.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER...
"I don't believe this," groaned Cloud. He was wearing a purple dress, a wig, and even perfume and makeup.
"Come on!" assured Aerith. "It's not like this is on the internet with millions of people reading about it."
"I suppose you're right."
Cloud and Aerith stood at the front door to the mansion. Aerith was wearing an extremely sexy red dress.
"Damn! Your friend's hot, too!" declared the guard, referring to Cloud. "Come in, come in! Two ladies coming through!"
"Hey, ladies," greeted a receptionist upon entering the mansion. "I'll go and let the Don know you're here. Wait here. Don't go wandering around." The receptionist then disappeared from the foyer.
"Now's our chance!" said Aerith. "Let's find Tifa."
After a few minutes, the new couple found themselves in what appeared to be a torture chamber.
"Ew!" whispered Aerith. "Why do people like stuff like this?"
Cloud shrugged. "I don't know. We all have our weird…well I'll be damned."
He saw Tifa, still in her purple dress. Needless to say, she did not recognize him.
"Tifa?" greeted Aerith.
"Who are you?" asked Tifa.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Aerith. Cloud's told me a lot about you."
"Hey, you're the one with Cloud in the park," Tifa realized aloud.
"Right," replied Aerith, "with Cloud."
"Oh," Tifa said. She hid her jealousy. Poorly.
"Don't worry," Aerith assured, somewhat dishonestly. "We just met. It's nothing."
"No, don't misunderstand," insisted Tifa. "Cloud and I grew up together. Nothing more."
"Poor Cloud," said Aerith. "Having to stand here and listen to both of us call him nothing. Right, Cloud?"
Tifa nearly jumped out of her skin. "Cloud?! Why are you dressed like that? And what are you doing here?" She then remembered the last time they had seen each other. "Forget that, what happened to you after the fall? Are you hurt?"
"Hey, give me a chance to explain," replied Cloud. "I'm dressed like this because there was no other way to get in here. I'm all right; Aerith helped me out."
"Oh, Aerith did." Tifa's jealousy was beginning to stick out like a sore thumb.
"Tifa, explain," asked Cloud. "What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Yeah, umm.…"
Meanwhile, Aerith made her way to the other side of the room. "Ahem!" she said in a rather annoyed tone of voice, "I'll just plug my ears."
"I'm glad you're okay," said Tifa.
"Thanks," replied Cloud. "What happened?"
"When we got back from the Number Five reactor, there was this weird man, so Barret caught him and squeezed some information out of him."
"That's when the Don's name popped up?" deduced Cloud.
"Right, Don Corneo. Barret told me to leave the leach alone, but something's been bothering me."
"I see," said Cloud. "So you wanted to get the story straight from Corneo's mouth."
"So I made it here, but now I'm in a bind," explained Tifa. "Corneo is looking for a bride. Every day, he gets three girls, chooses one of them, and then, well…."
"He fucks them," Cloud interjected.
"More or less," Tifa replied. "Anyway, I have to be the girl, or I'm out for tonight."
"This is an unexpected side of you," said Cloud, aloud, but to himself.
"Sorry," apologized Aerith as she returned to her previous spot, "but I overheard. If you know the three girls, there's no problem, right?"
"I guess so," Tifa agreed.
"We have two here, right?" said Aerith.
"No, Aerith!" objected Cloud. "I can't have you get involved."
"Oh? So it's all right for Tifa to be in danger?"
"No, I don't want Tifa in danger! She was my best friend growing up!"
"Is it all right?" asked Tifa, facing Aerith.
"I grew up in the slums, so I'm used to danger," Aerith replied. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," said Tifa. "Thanks, Ms. Aeris."
"Call me Aerith. With a th!"
"Hey!" called the receptionist from the top of the stairs. "It's time, ladies. The Don is waiting! I told you not to wander around. I tell ya, women nowadays. Hurry up, will ya?"
"I probably don't need to ask," began an uncomfortable Cloud, "but the other girl is me, right?"
A few minutes later, they had ascended to the Don's room. The room was oddly decorated, and smelled of endless sex. Boxes of condoms were everywhere, and toys were visible here and there.
"All right, ladies!" ordered one of the thugs. "Line up in front of the Don!"
The three did as they were told. Dom Corneo inspected each and every one of them. Each of them, especially Cloud, found the situation quite irksome. On a close look, he seemed to be old enough to be their father.
"Hmmm! Good, splendid!" said the Don. "Now, let's see. Which girl should I choose? This one? Or this one?"
Shoot me, Cloud thought to himself.
"Woo-hoo, I've made up my mind!" shouted Corneo all of a sudden. "My choice for tonight is this little beauty!" he decided, pointing to Tifa. "You can have the other ones!"
"Yes, sir! Thank you sir!" replied the thugs in unison.
"Well then, shall we go my pretty?"
"Hey guys!" announced one of the thugs in a private room. "We've got guests!"
"We'll take real good care of you," another thug assured Cloud.
"This is all thanks to the big boss, Don Corneo!" a third thug declared.
"Hey! Three cheers for Don Corneo!" the first thug announced. "Well ladies, are we, uh, all ready?"
MINUTES LATER...
The three thugs began to approach Cloud, who slowly backed towards the doorway.
"Hey what's wrong?" asked the lead thug. "Want me to keep you company?"
"No," Cloud replied in the most feminine voice he could muster. "I'm flattered, but no thanks. Because I ain't interested in a bunch of scrubs like you!" He ripped his dress off, revealing his identity.
"Shit, it's a dude!" the lead thug yelled. "Goddamn it! You think you can get away with this! Get him! Knock the crap out of him!"
The two lesser thugs approached Cloud. The guest quickly saw his chance and uppercut both of them simultaneously, knocking them out cold. "That's the closest you're getting to a threesome here!" he announced.
"C'mon!" shouted the lead thug. "What's the matter with you good for nothings?" He then turned to Cloud. "All right now, come on! I'll show you how it's done!"
Cloud, not missing a beat, drove his right foot into the thug's crotch. "I know how it's done," Cloud insisted. "I've been kicking people in the balls since I was nine!"
"No! Help!"
Cloud jumped after hearing that familiar soprano voice call for help. It had come from the basement. Wasting no time, Cloud made his way down there to find another thug chasing Aerith around in circles.
"Cloud!" Aerith called as she noticed him, and made her way for the stairs.
"Wait!" called the thug. "Just third base! I promise!"
Aerith, meanwhile, had made her way up the stairs and behind Cloud. The poor thug, on the other hand, had been focusing so hard on getting the most out of Aerith that he failed to notice Cloud on the higher ground.
Cloud quickly kicked the thug in the chin, sending him to the bottom of the stairs.
"I'm so sorry!" Aerith called from the stairs.
"You all right?" asked Cloud.
"I told you, I'm used to danger," Aerith replied. "To tell you the truth, my heart was pounding."
"I'm just glad you're okay," Cloud said.
"Cloud," began Aerith, "thanks again. There's something I need to ask you. I know it's a little soon, but…" she looked down. She was a little shy, but she knew it had to be said.
"What?" asked Cloud.
"I want you to be my boyfriend," Aerith declared, looking up again. "You've really proven yourself."
"Is this really the time or place to be discussing this?" asked Cloud.
"Ouch!" exclaimed the obviously offended Aerith. "What's wrong?"
"Well," Cloud began to reply, "I just met you. And this is crazy…"
"WHOA!" shouted Aerith as she placed her hands on her hips. "We are definitely not going there!"
"What do you mean?" asked the confused Cloud.
"That tunnel back there," Aerith replied. "It looked like you were planning to go there."
"Oh," Cloud said. "In any case, we've got to help Tifa!"
UPSTAIRS...
"Woo-hoo!" exclaimed the horny Don. "Come, come, don't be so shy!"
"I know," replied Tifa. "But you know, Don Corneo, I'd like you to explain something before we start."
"Hmm? Oh, you mean about sex?" asked the Don. "Don't worry, I'm single. There, feel better now?"
"No, I'm not asking about that."
"Oh that," replied the Don. "I'm not a backdoor man…most of the time. Let me prove it."
"Wait a minute!" pleaded Tifa. "No, not yet!"
"I can't wait any longer! Here comes papa!" he shouted as he leaped toward Tifa, who quickly hopped out of the way.
Just then, Cloud and Aerith barged into the room.
"Cloud!" Tifa greeted.
"What the hell?" exclaimed the Don. "Who goes there?"
"You still don't get it do you, Don Corneo?"
"Get what?"
Tifa slipped off her dress, revealing, to Corneo's disappointment, he normal clothes. "Shut up, we're asking the questions now! What did your assistants find out?"
"Talk!" ordered Cloud as he put a foot on the bed. "If you don't tell us, I'll chop them off."
"No!" cried the Don as he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Not that! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
"So talk!" ordered Tifa.
"I made them find out where the man with the gun-arm was. But that's what I was ordered to do."
"By who?" demanded Tifa.
"No!" pleaded the perverted pigpen. "If I told you that, I'd be killed!"
"Talk!" ordered Aerith, as she copied Cloud's foot gesture. " If you don't tell us, I'll rip them off."
"Couldn't you just give me a hand-job?"
"Ew! No!" shouted Aerith.
"It was Heidegger of Shinra!" he explained. "Heidegger, the head of Public Safety Maintenance!"
"The head of Public Safety Maintenance?" asked Cloud.
"Did you say the Shinra? What are they up to?" Tifa demanded. "Talk! If you don't tell us, I'll smash them."
"Smash what?" asked the poor Don.
"Your balls, dum-dum!" Tifa retorted.
"You're serious, aren't you," he sighed. :I'm not fooling around here either, you know. Shinra's trying to crush a small rebel group called Avalanche, and wants to infiltrate their hideout. And they're really going to crush them literally, by breaking the support holding up the plate above them."
"Break the support!?" Tifa exclaimed.
"You know what's going to happen?" the Don continued. "The plate'll go PING, and everything's gonna go BAM! I heard their hideout's in the Sector Seven Slums. I'm just glad it's not here in Sector Six."
"They're going to wipe out the Sector Seven Slums!?" cried Tifa. "Cloud, will you come with me to Sector Seven?"
"Of course, Tifa."
The three turned to exit.
"One more moment!" announced the Don as they reached the door.
"Go fuck yourself," Cloud retorted.
"No wait," insisted the Don. "It'll only take a second. How do you think scum like me feel when they babble on about the truth?"
"I'm not going to answer that," replied Cloud. "It's a trap."
"Then why are you still standing there?"
With that, the floor disappeared beneath the three's feet.
SOMEWHERE ELSE...
Elsewhere, a bearded man in green ascended the stairs to the president's office. He was somewhat overweight, and, amusingly, looked like a young Santa Claus in green. As he reached the top, he gazed in awe at the top. The office was vast, yet contained very little: two sets of stairs, with two sets of seats in between them, and the president's desk, which looked more like large computer console than a desk.
President Shinra was seated there, awaiting his visitor.
"How are the preparations going?" asked the president from his desk.
"Smoothly, very smoothly!" replied the bearded man. "I assigned the Turks to this."
"Mr. President!" exclaimed another executive in a blue suit with a smaller beard. "Are we really going to do this? Simply destroy a group with only a few members?"
"What's the problem, Reeve?" asked President Shinra as he stood up from his desk. "You want out?"
"No," replied Reeve. "But, as head of the Urban Development Department, I have been involved in the building and running of Midgar. That's why I object to Heidegger's handling of the situation."
"Reeve," replied Heidegger in a sour tone of voice, "you should flush those personal problems in the morning with the rest of your shit!"
"Could we please watch the language?" reprimanded the president.
"The mayor's against this anyway," continued Reeve.
"The mayor?" cackled Heidegger. "He just sits in his building all day feeding his face! You still call that a mayor? Now if you'll excuse me sir!"
Heidegger descended the stairs as President Shinra made his way over to Reeve.
"You're tired," said the president. "Why don't you take a couple of days off and go somewhere?"
Reeve descended the stairs. President Shinra was left alone in his office.
"We'll destroy Sector Seven and report that Avalanche did it. Then we'll send in the rescue operation care of Shinra, Inc. This is perfect." he laughed. He then called his secretary on the intercom. "Send her up now."
A woman in red began to ascend the stairs. The president looked perplexed; he had never seen her before. Everything about her was red. Her clothes. Her hair. Everything.
"Bestla," greeted the president. "Welcome to Shinra Headquarters."
"Thank you, Mr. President, for seeing me on such short notice."
"What can I do for you, Miss Bestla?"
"What if I told you I knew a technology that could bring the world to it's knees?"
The enthusiasm faded from President Shinra. "Young lady," he began, "we supply the world with power. Not death and destruction."
"I'm willing to offer you this technology," Bestla continued, "if you allow me to use your bullet-bombs."
"Miss Bestla," the president replied in an annoyed tone of voice, "we have ceased our weapons program years ago."
"We can wipe out Avalanche," Bestla added. "It would be a lot more effective than destroying parts of the the city."
President Shinra immediately pressed his intercom. "Get me security."
"That's very disappointing you don't take me seriously," Bestla observed.
"Miss Bestla," the president began, "our records show you are only fifteen years old. How you look a decade older is beyond me, but these are simply rumors you are hearing around school."
Just then, two security guards entered the presidents office. "How can we be of service?" offered one of them.
"Could you please escort Miss Bestla off the premises?" he requested. "I'll see her father in my office on Monday." He paused. "And her mother."
IN THE SEWER...
"You alright?" asked Cloud as he helped Aerith up.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Man!" muttered Tifa. This is terrible."
"Well, the worst is over," assured Aerith.
And as if almost on cue, the three of them heard a rumbling sound.
"Maybe not," Aerith retracted as hideous blue creature approached them.
"An aps!" shouted Cloud.
The creature began to stomp its feet.
"Look out!" shouted Tifa. "It's causing a tsunami!"
"Not if I can help it!" replied Aerith. "Fire in the hole!" She quickly cast a fire spell. The aps burst into flames. The poor, helpless creature ran in circles for a few moments before falling over dead.
"Cloud," began Tifa, "where did you pick up this girl?"
"She was selling flowers," he replied.
Tifa took another look at Aerith.
"Wow," she whispered.
- 9
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- 11
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