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
- 23
- 24
- 25
Chapter 24: Interrupted by Fireworks
"So, Yuffie," began Cloud the next morning. "Where's the keystone?"
"Sold," Yuffie replied.
"Sold?!" exclaimed Cloud. He nearly wanted to draw his sword and chop her head off right then and there.
"That's right," said Yuffie. "After we lost the war, we went bankrupt. We've been selling our relics ever now and then to make ends meet. We just had to sell the keystone for road repair."
"That's what you had to fucking tell us?!" Cid exclaimed.
"You asked," Yuffie reminded him. "Dio got his hands on our best treasures because of our misfortunes."
"Dio?" exclaimed Aerith. "That naked guy at Gold Saucer?!"
"Yeah," replied Yuffie. "The guy who runs Gold Saucer….he's naked?!"
"Mostly," Cloud replied. "He walks around in a speedo all day."
"Well," said Vincent, "now we know where we can get the keystone."
"You mean you know where you can't get the keystone," Yuffie corrected. "He won't just hand it over. You'll have to get into a nasty fight in the battle arena just to get him to consider."
Cloud grinned. "Like that's anything I can't handle?"
THAT AFTERNOON….
The tram calmly arrived at the Gold Saucer as Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barret, Red XIII, Cait Sith, Yuffie, Cid, and Vincent stepped out.
"The kiddie park," Cid groaned.
"I know what somebody's going to ask now," Barret grunted.
"I promise I won't ask to play," Aerith assured them. "Not this time."
"Really, now?" Barret asked skeptically.
"Really," Aerith insisted. "We need to find what we came here to find."
And eventually, they found it.
.
"It's the keystone," said Cloud as he saw it on display.
"Told ya so!" said Yuffie. "Am I cool with you guys?"
"For now," Cloud replied.
Just then, a familiar face show up from behind them.
"Long time no see, my boy," greeted Dio. "You like that, huh?"
"Do we?" replied Aerith. "This could potentially save the world!"
"Can you let me borrow this?" asked Cloud.
Dio began to laugh. "Sorry, but it's not for rent." He paused. "Since you've been good to me in the past, I can let you have it on one condition."
"One condition?" asked Cloud.
"Entertain me!" Dio laughed.
Cloud realized there was no time to waste through bargaining. "What'd you want me to do?" he asked.
"Hoo boy!" replied Dio. "It's not something that's really difficult. This is the Battle Arena. Show me your fighting skills. Just you, my boy. I'm expecting a good fight!"
"You want him to fight?!" Tifa exclaimed. "He could get killed!"
"Risk is part of the game," Cloud assured her.
"I haven't seen a good fight in years!" Dio exclaimed. "Did I tell you that the fighters from my childhood fought ten good fights on a daily basis?"
"Ten?!" Aerith exclaimed.
"No, I didn't know that," Cloud said.
"Did I tell you how they sent girls' hormones through the roof? I've never seen so many pairs of girls' pants fly off for anyone!"
"Sexist perv," Tifa whispered.
"Did I tell you how they died?" continued Dio. "Lonely old men in attic rooms, completely forgotten by everyone!"
"How many fights to I have to fight?" asked Cloud.
"Just one," Dio replied. "But I'm really hoping you'll fight good!"
"I won't let you down," Cloud assured him.
TWO HOURS LATER…
The first thing that reached Cloud's mind when he set foot onto the battle floor was the trap door on the floor; the same one he had been tossed into as a prisoner just a few days before.
At least a hundred spectators had come to witness what could potentially be Cloud's demise. Most of them looked like a bunch of lowlifes, who were so upset with their lives that a fight was the only meaningful entertainment for them. But as Cloud looked around more, he spotted Aerith. She was sitting front row center, and she blew him a kiss when she noticed he saw her. Tifa was in the crowd as well, towards the middle.
And then, the door on the other side of the floor opened. Out came a menacing, mechanical contraption. Cloud could best describe it as a purple spiked machine on wheels. The spikes were sharp. The mechanical sound was ominous. But, worst of all, is that after two seconds, it fired no less than eight missiles in Cloud's direction.
Cloud dodged the missiles by rolling to his side. Almost as if it was angry, the vehicle charged at Cloud. He rolled over again, sprang to his feet, and drove his sword into the back of the vehicle. An electric current briefly ran over both the vehicle and the sword. Then, finally, the current stopped, and the machine went limp.
There were loud cheers and a couple of boos from the audience. He could hear Aerith shouting "yay Cloud!" at the top of her lungs.
"That's my boyfriend!" she continued.
LATER…
"Hmm, you did pretty well, young man!" Dio complimented as he handed Cloud the keystone. "Good, it's a promise, so go ahead and take it. Well then, we shall meet again! Don't forget a ride or two on your way out!"
As Dio left, everyone simultaneously turned toward the ride-a-holic.
"Look, we can go," insisted Aerith. "A promise is a promise."
But when they got to the exit, it was another story.
"Excuse me, Cloud," began Joe. "I'm sorry. The tram is out of order right now."
"What?!" exclaimed Cid.
"I'm really sorry!" he said. "I'm afraid you won't be able to leave until it's fully repaired."
"What's wrong?" asked Cait Sith, who was approaching Cloud from behind.
"We're stuck here," Cloud replied.
"The tram's busted," Barret added. "I wonder who did it?"
"Hey!" Aerith exclaimed. "Why are you looking at me for?"
"Too bad," said Cait Sith. "It happens, though." He paused. "I know! Let's stay at the hotel! They know me here. I'll go talk to them."
And Cait Sith was off.
"There's a hotel here?" asked Cloud.
"You bet," Aerith replied. "Actually, there's six," she corrected herself. "One themed on each major holiday. Christmas, Halloween, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day. I hope he gets us Valentine's Day."
THAT EVENING….
Cloud and Aerith were sitting next to each other, holding hands, as Tifa, Red XIII, Vincent, Yuffie, Cid, Cait Sith, and Barret joined them in the lobby of the Haunted Inn. It was, naturally, Halloween themed. There were torture devices and scary paintings about, as well as projectors displaying the images of ghosts throughout the room.
"And you're saying Don Corneo fell off the hand?" asked Tifa.
"That's right," Vincent replied.
"Well, he certainly will not be missed," said Cait Sith. "Except by maybe the animal that gave him birth." He paused. "You know, I just realized something. We don't usually get the chance to be together like this, huh?" Cait Sith pointed out. "Cloud, how about it? Can you tell us what's happened so far? I don't really know what's goin' on because I wasn't here in the beginning."
"Yeah!" agreed Cid. "I'm all for it!"
"Good idea," said Vincent.
"I been here since the beginnin', an' I still don't know what the hell's goin' on either," said Barret. "Cloud, the hell's goin' on? C'mon, tell us!"
"All right, I'll give it a shot," said Cloud. "We are going after Sephiroth. Sephiroth must be in search of the Promised Land."
"The Promised Land?" asked Cid.
"A land full of Mako energy," Cloud replied. "Or at least that's what the Shinra believe. I don't know if it actually exists."
"The Cetras return to the Promised Land," said Aerith. "A land that promises boundless happiness."
"Cetra?" asked Barret. "That some kinda disease?"
"That's what the Ancients call themselves," Aerith replied, somewhat offended. "Didn't you listen to the elders at Cosmo Canyon? You don't 'know' where the Promised Land of the Ancients is. You search and travel, until you feel it. Like you just know, '...this is the Promised Land.'"
"Aerith," asked Cloud, "can you feel it too?"
"I think so," Aerith replied.
"So Sephiroth is traveling the world because he's searching for the Promised Land?" asked Tifa. "Is that it?"
"That," replied Aerith, "and one other thing he's searching for."
"The Black Materia," Cloud said.
"I heard from Dio that a man in a black cape was looking for the Black Materia," added Cait Sith.
"I don't even know what the black cape is," said Tifa. "How many men with black capes and number tattoos are there?"
"You know, of course," said Red XIII, "my tattoo is number 13."
"How did you get that tattoo?" asked Cloud.
"Hojo put it on me," Red XIII replied. "Everything else is just war scars, but the number was done by Hojo."
"So there are at least 13!?" asked Tifa.
"You know," said Aerith, "I think Hojo did something to those men in the black capes.
But I don't know what it has to do with Sephiroth though. That's why I think we should just go after Sephiroth himself."
"Yeah, me too!" added Barret. "It's all just too damn confusin'."
"And," Aerith began. But she stopped. She couldn't think of how to word it.
"What is it?" asked Tifa.
"I'm sorry, forget it!" Aerith replied. "I think I'm tired. I'm going to bed now."
Aerith ran upstairs, leaving the cat scratching his head.
"What was that, all of a sudden!?" Cait Sith exclaimed. "I guess she's a dog person?"
"I guess that's it," Tifa suggested.
"What!? That's it?" Yuffie exclaimed. "I'm goin' to bed!"
Yuffie followed Aerith's suit.
"Is that all?" asked Cait Sith. "How about the Black Materia?
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you," Cloud replied.
"Now all we gotta do is take action!" said Barret. "We're startin' tomorrow!
"Cloud," began Red XIII, "I'm number thirteen. Am I going to go mad too?"
"It doesn't look like it," Cloud replied.
"I don't know what Hojo did to you," added Tifa, "but you've been all right so far, right?"
"But…" began Red XIII.
"Be strong," Tifa interrupted.
"But, I..."
"Stop it, Nanaki!" Tifa snapped. "Be strong!"
"Tifa?" asked Cloud. He hadn't heard her use a tone of voice like that since they were kids.
"You're not the only one who's worried!" she insisted.
"I don't know what's going on," said Cait Sith, "but we're in a bad situation."
"There's something else," Cloud continued. "I've been having premonitions. And I've been experiencing déjà vu. It feels like I've lived through this before, and I'm almost feeling as if I know what could happen next."
"I've been feelin' 'em, too," Barret added. "Like with Dyne. Somehow I knew he was going to try an' kill himself."
"Hey," added Cid. "Same thing with me. I had a feeling is was going to meet more than just Rufus when you guys came along."
"What could they all mean?" asked Tifa.
"Who knows," replied Cait Sith. "Maybe it's just a coincidence?"
"I doubt it," Red XIII dismissed. "There has to be something behind this if most if not all of us are having these feelings."
"Maybe it's Sephiroth," suggested Vincent. "Somehow he's doing this to our minds. I heard his powers are beyond comprehension."
"Or maybe Jenova," suggested Cloud. "That thing is barely understood."
"I'm more inclined to believe it's her," Red XIII agreed.
Vincent, meanwhile, began to notice Cid beginning to nod off. "Hey Cid, let's go back to our rooms," he suggested.
But Cid was already fast asleep, and audibly snoring.
LATER THAT NIGHT….
"What's taking so long?" sighed Aerith.
"Huh?" asked Cloud.
Cloud and Aerith were seated on the bed together. They were placed in the smallest room. All the room had was a TV, a bathroom, a dresser, and a bed barely large enough for two people.
"I ordered dessert and it's been nearly an hour."
"The service is probably slow," Cloud said. "There's a lot of people trapped here tonight."
"I'll admit I'd rather be looking for the Temple than being stuck here."
"So would I," Cloud said. "But tomorrow, it will all be over,".
"I know," Aerith softly replied. "What then?"
"With Sephiroth dead, we'll wipe out the Shinra."
"I meant between us," Aerith clarified.
"Good question," Cloud replied. "I suppose I could return you to the slums."
"Hey!" exclaimed Aerith playfully.
"It was only a suggestion," Cloud teased.
"I know," Aerith said. "We'll buy that beach house."
"Beach house?" asked Cloud.
"The one in Costa del Sol," Aerith continued. "It's got everything this girl needs. We'll move in, have a nice view of the beach, the town, and just be happy together." She paused, and then grinned. "And have lots and lots and lots of sex."
"I could live with that," Cloud said.
"I know you could," said Aerith as she stood up.
"Where are you going?" Cloud asked.
"I have to pee," Aerith replied. "If the dessert guy comes, don't tip him. He's way too late."
Aerith then disappeared into the bathroom.
Cloud sighed. He felt trapped in the amusement park. It might have been a thrill for him five years earlier, but he had a mission to accomplish. He was waiting like a child on Christmas for a notice that the tram had been repaired.
And then the door sounded with a knock.
"The dessert guy," Cloud said to himself. He got up off of the bed and answered the door.
But it wasn't the dessert guy.
"Hey!" greeted Tifa.
"What's wrong?" asked Cloud.
"Nothing, really," Tifa replied with a smile. "I thought about what I was going to say, but, it's kinda embarrassing."
"What's that?" asked Cloud.
"Well," Tifa began as she lowered her head, "it's that…"
"What is it?"
Tifa suddenly perked her head up again. "Hey, Cloud!" she began. "Why don't the two of us sneak out of here and spend some time together?"
"Well…" Cloud began. He knew it wasn't a good time. Aerith was with him, she wanted to talk more, and she probably wanted sex, but he struggled to think of a way to politely decline Tifa's invitation.
He didn't get the chance. Before he knew it, Tifa was behind him, pushing him out the door.
"Come on, let's go!" she said enthusiastically. "I heard there's going to be an entertaining show in Event Square!"
Cloud groaned. He was beaten.
AT EVENT SQUARE…
Cloud and Tifa were in for a surprise as soon as they arrived in event square.
"Congratulations!" greeted Joe. "You are our 100th couple today! You two will be the leads in tonight's show!"
"Wha?" asked Cloud. "We're not…"
"Oh, now, it's not hard," Joe insisted. "Just play it however you want to and the rest of the cast will cover up for you. Come this way."
"Sounds like fun!" exclaimed Tifa. "Come on Cloud, let's give it a try."
Before Cloud could decline, Tifa darted off towards the stage.
"Hey!" Cloud began to shout, but it was too late. All he could do was resign himself to his fate.
ON STAGE…
"Long, long ago," began the narrator, "an evil shadow appeared over the peaceful kingdom of Galdia. Princess Rosa was just kidnapped by the evil dragon King, Valvados. What will become of her? Just then, the legendary hero, Alfred, appears!"
Cloud reluctantly ran onstage and stopped next to the knight.
"Oh," said the knight, "you must be the legendary hero, Alfred!"
Cloud shook his head, wondering why he agreed to it.
"Hey, it's your line," the knight continued.
"Me?" he mouthed.
"Yeah, you," the knight replied. "You must be the legendary hero, Alfred!
I know in my soul. Please, please save Princess Rosa! Now please talk to the King!"
Cloud noticed the king was now onstage.
"Oh...legendery hero, Alfred," began the king, "you have come to save my beloved Rosa. On the peak of a dangerous mountain dwells the evil dragon king, Valvados, who's kidnapped Princess Rosa. But you can't beat the evil dragon king now! Talk to the one who can help you."
Just then, another actor wearing wizard's clothes appeared stage right.
"I am the great wizard, Vorman," he said. "What do you wish to know?"
Cloud sighed. This got stupider by the minute. "The evil dragon king's weakness, I guess."
"Ahh, the weakness of the evil dragon king," replied the wizard. "It must be, it must be...yes, it must be true love! The power of love, a kiss, is the only weapon that can withstand the fangs of the evil dragon king."
"Oh what is going to happen next?" asked the narrator. "Oh legendary hero, look!"
On the left-hand side of the stage, a menacing green dragon appeared, carrying Tifa.
"I am the Evil Dragon King, Valvados!" he announced. "I have not harmed the princess. I have been expecting you!"
"Please help me, legendary hero!" pleaded Tifa.
"Here I come, legendary hero, Alfred!" taunted the dragon. "I already know your name!"
The knight charged at the dragon, but the latter promptly knocked the former away.
"What now, legendary hero!?" growled the dragon.
Cloud groaned inside. He knew what everyone in both the cast and the audience was expecting. He was supposed to kiss Tifa. He didn't want to do it. One, he had a girlfriend. Two, Tifa was a good friend, but that's all she was. Still, he knew what the audience wanted.
I'll just kiss her hand, Cloud thought to himself. I can get away with that.
Cloud walked over to Tifa, knelt down, and did as he had planned.
"Cloud...I mean, Alfred..." Tifa stumbled.
She couldn't believe it. He had actually kissed her. She had been wondering what would happen. She was expecting him to run off the stage. But he kissed her. It was just for the play, but it sent chills up her spine. She felt strange all over. She couldn't describe the feeling, but she liked it.
"Arrggaahhh!" shrieked the dragon. "Curses! The power of love!" And then, he shot upward and disappeared from view.
"Oh look!" exclaimed the king. "Love has triumphed! Now let's all return and celebrate!"
"Yes, let's!" agreed the wizard. "Yes, let's!"
"Oh, how profound the power of love!" said the narrator. "And so the legendary hero Alfred and our story live on happily ever after."
"Someone…help!" whimpered the knight, who was still lying on the ground.
A few minutes later, Cloud and Tifa were outside Event Square.
"That was funny," said Tifa. "Hey, let's go on the gondola next."
Cloud sighed. Aerith is going to kill me, he thought.
YUFFIE'S ROOM….
The shower water poured onto Yuffie's naked body as she washed herself clean. She was in paradise; her room was the largest, with pillars in the sitting area, and a pool, hot tub, and a king-sized bed all included. She almost forgot it was Halloween-themed.
And it was all hers. Part of her felt as if she didn't deserve it. She did betray the rest of the team. She didn't feel close enough to them to call them her friends, but she did grow fond of her peers in the few days she had known them.
The shower water sprayed on her from three different heads. They were so loud she did not hear the window opening beside the bed. And the warmth made her feel as if she was in the tropics.
Until the hot water ran out, of course. "It was a good ride while it lasted," she sighed as she turned the now cold water off. She grabbed a towel and dried her body off. She then went to the hair dryer and did the same to her hair. She then brushed her hair, wondering what kind of rooms her companions had gotten.
Having dried herself off, Yuffie went to her bed and lay down on her stomach. She did not bother to dress. It was the first time she had ever had a private room to herself, and could not of a better way to relish that than relax and unwind in the nude.
And then, Yuffie noticed the intruder in her room emerge from the shadowed corner.
"You!" called Yuffie. "What are you doing in my room?!
"Born naked, die naked!" hissed Nara as she charged toward Yuffie with a dagger.
Yuffie quickly rolled over as Nara pounced on the bed and sank the dagger into the spot where Yuffie had been.
"Hold still!" Nara demanded. "You're not stopping us!"
Yuffie, not missing the chance, grabbed the lamp on the night table and hurled it in Nara's direction. It hit the wall instead.
"Ha!" shouted Nara. "You missed!" She then felt Yuffie's bare foot slam into her face at lightning speed.
"Did I, now?" Yuffie taunted gleefully.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be!" Nara demanded. "Now hold still so I can cut your goddam throat!" She readied her knife again.
Yuffie quickly opened the top drawer to the night table, grabbed the Bible that was inside, and tossed it at Nara. The corner struck her right in the forehead.
"That's for blasphemy!" Yuffie said triumphantly.
Yuffie quickly leaped off the bed and got herself to a neutral distance in the center of the room.
Nara got to her feet, readied her dagger, and prepared to charge again.
Yuffie got into a defensive stance.
Nara charged with her knife pointed at Yuffie.
And then, Yuffie gripped Nara around the neck and flipped her on her back. The knife fell from her hand, leaving Yuffie to kick it to a safe distance. Nara groaned in pain.
"Why are you trying to kill me?!" demanded Yuffie angrily.
"You're planning on summoning Holy!" replied Nara.
"What the fuck are you talking about?!" exclaimed Yuffie.
"You can't expect to be in our way and survive!" Nara warned.
"You don't scare me," dismissed Yuffie. "Nobody fucks with Yuffie Kisaragi and gets away with it!"
"Wait!" gasped Nara. "You're not…..?"
Just then, the door broke down. In came four or five security guards, followed by a familiar man in a red speedo.
"What's going on here?!" demanded Dio. "I heard a loud disturbance."
"This bitch is trying to kill me!" Yuffie complained. "She thought I was trying to cast some bizarre spell!"
"Mistaken identity!" Nara protested. "I thought you were….."
"I don't give a shit who you thought she was!" Dio interrupted. "Creating such a disturbance with the intention to kill someone is not something I'll tolerate in my amusement park!"
Dio promptly signaled for one of the guards, who quickly handcuffed Nara and raised her to her feet.
"I think some time in the desert prison ought to get you to rethink your life!" Dio announced as the guards led Nara away.
"Thanks for getting rid of her," Yuffie said in a relieved tone of voice as she hugged Dio after the guards were gone.
"No sweat," Dio replied. "These windows have locks, so next time I would take advantage of that."
"Will do," Yuffie agreed.
"And also next time," Dio continued.
"Yes?" asked Yuffie.
"You should wear some clothes."
"Shit!" exclaimed the now-embarassed Yuffie as she quickly covered herself with her hands.
ELSEWHERE….
"Two, please," Tifa requested at the ticket booth by the gondola.
"Here you are, two tickets," said the lady at the booth. "Enjoy the sights of Gold Saucer."
Tifa quickly hopped into the gondola, followed by Cloud. They sat across from each other at arm's length. As the gondola started, Tifa suddenly felt the urge. She sorely wanted to grab Cloud's hand and hold it, but she knew it wasn't her place. He and Aerith were clearly together. Such an action would be unwelcome. She quickly distracted herself by looking out the window.
"Oh, how pretty," she said.
Cloud looked out the window. His eyes caught sight of a speeding, looping roller coaster. It was beautifully lit up, although he could also hear the riders screaming. He looked back at Tifa. She wasn't his girlfriend, but…..
..…he still felt some strange sense of security with her. Perhaps it was because she was so familiar. They did grow up together.
Tifa then looked out the window again. "Look, Cloud," she urged.
They were moving past the racetrack. Racers and birds flew across the track at lightning speed as Cloud and Tifa looked on.
Cloud turned to Tifa again.
What am I feeling? he thought.
True, they were friends. Old friends. Cloud had first met Tifa when he was one and a half. She was an infant.
"Look at the little baby," he remembered Tifa's mother saying as she held her on her lap. He also remembered the infant Tifa gazing at him with her beautiful brown eyes for the first time. From then on, they were inseparable playmates.
"Oh, Cloud," Tifa said again.
Cloud looked out the window. Fireworks of all colors were exploding all around them.
"It's really pretty, isn't it?" asked Tifa.
Cloud nodded in agreement.
"Ok, I'm going to just go ahead and say it," Tifa suddenly announced.
"What?" asked Cloud.
"Aerith would be able to just come out and say it, probably." She continued.
"Say what?"
"Cloud," Tifa began, "sometimes being old friends is hard. I mean, timing is everything."
"Yeah," Cloud replied, wondering what she meant by that.
"Cloud…I..."
And then, more fireworks began to explode. They exploded so loud they drowned out every other sound nearby.
And then, as soon as the fireworks ended, the gondola ride ended. The attendant opened the doors, and Tifa rose to her feet and left the gondola, followed by Cloud.
"Cloud, I really had fun tonight," Tifa said. "I missed doing stuff with you."
"Me, too," Cloud said. "By the way, what did you want to say a minute ago?"
Tifa suddenly tensed up. "N, nothing!" she replied quickly. "Nothing."
Cloud scratched his head. He had known Tifa for two decades. He could smell a lie off of her from a mile away.
Tifa quickly pulled out her cell phone. "Oh, look at the time," she said. "We should be getting back. Aerith must be worried sick!"
And then, Tifa caught the sight of a familiar face, hopping about. She noticed he was wearing a sack over his shoulder.
"That's Cait Sith," she said. "He seems strange."
And then, Cait Sith dismounted the sack and removed the contents.
"Is that the keystone?" asked Cloud.
"It is!" Tifa exclaimed. "What's he doing with it? Is he stealing it?!"
Cloud nodded. "Hey you!" he shouted. "Cait Sith!"
The cat stared at both of them in horror for a split second.
Cloud and Tifa began to run toward him.
"Oh, shit!" Cait Sith shouted as he quickly began to run.
The chase was on! Cait Sith made every effort to outrun Cloud and Tifa, but his weight was allowing them to gain on him. He kept turning corners, hoping to lose them, but Cloud and Tifa were not so easily fooled.
Eventually, he made it to the racetrack, where a chopper was hovering.
"Hey! Over here!" called Cait Sith. "The Keystone!"
The chopper door opened, and Tseng emerged.
Cait Sith tossed him the keystone just as Cloud and Tifa caught up to him.
Tseng caught it cold. "Well done!" he said as he closed the chopper door. In a moment, the chopper was gone, leaving Cait Sith alone with those he betrayed.
"You're fucked," Cloud warned.
"Wait a second!" pleaded Cait Sith. "I won't run or hide. Yes, I was a spy. I was hired by the Shinra."
"Don't mess with us!" warned Tifa.
"I couldn't help it," Cait Sith insisted. "It's my nature. How about if we continue like nothing ever happened?"
"Are you crazy?!" Tifa exclaimed. "I can forgive Yuffie stealing our materia, but not this!"
"No way, cat!" added Cloud. "You gotta lot of guts acting like a friend but being a spy!"
"Then, what are you going to do?" asked the cat. "Kill me?"
"We ought to," Cloud said. "Nine times if I have to."
"You'd just be wasting your time if you tried," said Cait Sith. "This body's just a toy anyway. My real body's at Shinra Headquarters in Midgar. I'm controlling this toy cat from there."
"So you're from Shinra," Tifa demanded. "Who are you?"
"Whoa," replied Cait Sith, "I can't tell you my name."
"We're not getting anywhere," Cloud said.
"See? I told you!" gloated the cat. "Talking won't do any good, so can't we just continue our journey?"
"You think I'm joking!?" exclaimed Cloud. "You work for Shinra. You're our enemy."
"Alright, yes, I am a Shinra employee," Cait Sith agreed. But we're not entirely enemies. Something bothers me. I think it's your way of life. You don't get paid. You don't get praised. Yet, you still risk your lives and continue on your journey. Seeing that makes me….it just makes me think about my life. I don't think I'd feel too good if things ended the way they are now."
"You're lying again," said Tifa angrily.
Cloud turned to her. "He'll never tell the truth. Once a spy, always a spy. We can't go on with someone like that. Come on, get real!"
The cat shook his head. "Just as I thought. Talking won't make a bit of difference. But I prepared something in case this happened." He then pulled out what looked like a communication device from the creature's mouth. "Why don't you listen to this?"
"Papa! Tifa!" squealed the device.
Tifa was the first to recognize the voice. "Marlene!"
"Hey! It's Tifa!" shouted the little girl. "Tifa! Help, I'm-"
Cait Sith abruptly silenced the device. "So, you have to do as I say."
"You're the lowest," Cloud growled.
"I didn't want to do this," Cait Sith insisted. "Using dirty tricks and taking hostages. But this is how it is. No compromises. So why don't we continue on as we did?"
"Leave your shit in your litterbox," Cloud grunted.
"Tomorrow is the Temple of the Ancients, right?" asked Cait Sith. "I know where it is so I'll tell you later. Of course, we'll get there after the Shinra, but you'll have to deal with that."
Cloud sighed. He was beaten, and he knew it. "Well, we're stuck. We'll have to do what he says."
"Marlene," Tifa whispered.
BACK AT THE ROOM…
"Where were you?" asked Aerith in a nervous tone of voice as Cloud returned through the door. "You have me worried sick!"
"It's all gone to hell!" Cloud replied angrily. "First of all, someone broke into Yuffie's room and tried to kill her."
"Is she okay?" asked Aerith.
"She's fine," Cloud replied. "And we lost the keystone."
"What?!" exclaimed Aerith. "How could we lose it?!"
"It was stolen," Cloud replied. "By Cait Sith."
"Cait Sith?"
"He's a spy," Cloud continued. "He works for the Shinra. I saw him hand it to Tseng himself."
"Where is Cait Sith now?" asked Aerith.
"In his room," Cloud replied.
"His room?!" exclaimed Aerith. "You let him get away with that?!"
"I didn't have a choice," Cloud said. "He's got Marlene hostage." He paused. "And Elmyra."
"My mother?!" exclaimed Aerith.
"So in order to keep them both safe, we need to play by his rules," Cloud continued. "But as long as we do, they'll be safe."
"Wow," sighed Aerith. "Things keep getting worse and worse."
"They'll get better," Cloud assured as he put his arm around Aerith.
Aerith rested her head on Cloud's shoulder. "How did I get so lucky?" she asked.
"I was wondering the same thing," Cloud replied.
"Seriously," Aerith continued. "I'm almost okay with whatever happens, as long as I have you." She then made eye contact with him.
"What's on your mind?" Cloud asked.
"I think we need to take both of our minds off of tonight," she said.
An hour later, Aerith lay in Cloud's arms, both in their naked glory. Although she was the one who initiated the lovemaking, she seemed uneasy.
And then, Cloud noticed tears in her eyes. "You okay?" he asked as he gently stroked her bare back.
"I'm fine," she replied.
"Your mom?" he asked.
"I guess," she replied. "But there's nothing we can do."
"We'll follow them to the temple tomorrow," Cloud assured her. "He'll free them when it's over."
"I know," Aerith sighed. She then reached for the head of the bed. She pulled a white tank top from the nearby clothes pile and put it on.
"What's up?" asked Cloud. She had done this the previous night as well.
"Oh," replied Aerith, "I always wear a tank top to bed. It feels really uncomfortable with my boobs hanging loose."
"Oh," Cloud replied.
"You learn something about me every day," Aerith said. "But, Cloud, I'm searching for you."
"But I'm right here," Cloud replied.
"I know," said Aerith, "but I want to meet you."
"We met in the streets," Cloud said.
"I want to know all about you, Cloud," Aerith informed him. "You know, I don't even think I asked how old you are."
"I'm twenty-one," Cloud replied.
"You're twenty-one?!" Aerith exclaimed. "But you look so mature. I would have guessed twenty-five."
"How old are you?" asked Cloud. "Eighteen? Nineteen?"
Aerith blushed. "I'm twenty-two."
"You're older than me?!" asked Cloud, somewhat surprised.
"I'm older than you," she affirmed. "Wow. I'm laying half-naked in bed with a younger man. I am such a cougar!"
"It bothers you?" asked Cloud.
"No, silly," Aerith replied as she kissed him. "I'm just glad you didn't say seventeen. Seventeen would get me twenty!" She paused. "I suppose I should put my hair up."
Aerith got up out bed and walked several feet to the dresser.
Cloud got another generous view of her bare butt as she rummaged through the top drawer. She found some clips and began to braid her hair, giving Cloud a view of the small of her back. She was so beautiful. And yet, what bothered him the previous night continued to do so.
"Cloud," Aerith began as she continued to put her hair up, "I love you to the moon and back."
"I love you, too," Cloud replied. "What's on your mind?"
"I just want you to remember that," Aerith said. "In case anything happened to me, you'd remember."
Aerith was relieved Cloud couldn't see her face. She could see it in the mirror. It was the saddest face she had ever seen.
This is our last night together, she thought. And the tears returned to her eyes.
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