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Post by djhipster on Aug 11, 2009 23:05:22 GMT -5
Yeah, so it hadn't started the way he had wanted it to.
Honestly.
Zack chuckled to himself as he looked at the large sword grasped in his hands, seeing the purple goo that Zack had assumed was the blood of the monster that now lay dead in front of him. Shinra's town(or wait a second, Shinra doesn't own this place any more, does it? Yeah, need to figure out how that happened) had not changed much...at least in the slums. There still seemed to be an aura of decay and rot that he had detected in his previous outings to this area of Midgar. And yet, there were traces of growth. Men and women seemed to be better dressed, children seemed to be more...happier? Could it be that simple? Yes, happiness is a simple thing.
Not only were the families in better condition, but the market! He couldn't believe how those hole in the wall shops had grown! Sure, they weren't LOVELESS avenue worthy, but it was progress wasn't it? In fact, ever since Zack woke up on the cold pavement...
"HELLOOOOOO?!?"
Zack shook his head, clearing the familiar voice from within. Every time he woke up, he heard...
Anyway, after waking up on one of the various subway platforms(Sector 1?) fully clothed and sword still with him(he gave that to Cloud...Cloud...), he was trying to recover from what felt like five rounds with an unleashed Sephiroth. His instincts commanded him to go to the slums, so a train ride later, he had arrived.
The church. Had to go to the church. Passing through the grown marketplace and on his merry way to the church, he was ambushed by what looked like a commonplace, goo-filled monster. There were a few onlookers that ran off as Zack finished the thing off in three strokes.
"I knew you would forget, so I fit all my wishes into one: I wish I could spend more time with you"
Zack placed the large blade onto its holding place, looking at the church through emotion tainted eyes. He didn't know why he was back here, in Midgar, but he knew one thing:
He had to see her again.
Zack ascended the church steps, opening the large wooden doors.
"I'm here." He whispered quietly, his eyes focusing straight ahead to see...
(I'll leave you to finish what Zack sees...teehee)
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 0:06:27 GMT -5
"Just a little care is all you need...."
Aerith sighs. She has been back for only a few days. And she came back to the very place she died. The church in the Slums. Aerith still had a positive attitude on. She was watering the few flowers that were left in her church. She remembered what ha happened here. Even in death Aerith knew....She was one their friends...And was always there for Tifa and Cloud....And especially there for Zack.....Oh how her heart ached to see him again.
The times they spent together alive were wonderful....He always made her laugh. When he didn't come back, she just thought that he was no longer intrested in her....And that maybe he got bored with her.....But now she knew why he didnt come back....That first time in the Life Stream with him said it all...She got her best friend back....But now she was alone again....Tending to her flowers...And tried to pick up the pieces....Her heart was broken deep inside her though....
"Zack....Where are you?" She asks herself as she looked up at the sky....
"I'm here."
Aerith stopped all she was doing that moment as she turned around....Water swelled in her eyes.....Could it be....? Could it really be.....Him?
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 11:23:31 GMT -5
Lifestream
Was he back in it again?
The thought had come to his mind as he looked towards the figure that resembled the person that had given him hope, given him inspiration to keep on moving. Even near the end of his life(he still needed to figure out how he got here, seeing as the Lifestream doesn't just usually vomit out spirits at random...but that was coming from a limited knowledge base), when he was faced with certain death, he would only allow thoughts of her to comfort him instead of wondering why it was him that had died.
It had seemed destined for him to pass on anyway.
Now as the former SOLDIER operative looked at Aerith(she seemed more radiant...of course, she always had been), old feelings that had been lying dormant resurfaced, causing Zack to walk forward, a small smile growing on his face as he asked:
"Why WAS that letter final?"
The smile grew bigger
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 13:50:25 GMT -5
"Why WAS that letter final?"
Her smile grew bigger as she covered her fingers over her mouth. In disbelief now...She walked slowly up to him.
"Is...It really you?"
She asked as she raised her hand up to his scar on his cheek....She was now crying. But only tears of joy....Not sadness no more....He was back...She knew she was not dreaming. Every day she prayed that he would return to her....And not just in her dreams either. He was real....As she rubbed the scar on his soft cheek....Her breathing increased only slightly. She was happy again....
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 14:31:58 GMT -5
"I...I don't even know." Zack voiced the truth that was now beginning to sink in: he had no clue as to why he was here again, why he even existed in this present world. The Life-stream had taken him in(Angeal...was he here too?!) and from that point on, he couldn't remember a thing. Until the subway platform. It was miracle to him that he could even breathe again on Gaia.
He took Aerith's hand, the one that had rubbed his cheek, and squeezed it slightly, saying:
"At least I know you're here...wherever 'here' is." Zack looked into those piercing eyes of hers, his arms now wrapping around her waist, bringing her in closer to himself. Yeah, she was real. He enjoyed the quiet moments of peace that enveloped the two, Zack kissing her head softly before saying:
"Thank you...for waiting."
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 15:39:37 GMT -5
"I...I don't even know."
"At least I know you're here...wherever 'here' is."
Aerith chuckled.....
"Church in the Slums...." It would not be the first time that she had to tell him where he was.....But after he said that he was glad that she was here....And he took her hand in his.....She knew it really was him....
"Thank you...for waiting."
"You're welcome....I didn't have to wait long....I...I was brought back here.....Where I...." She stopped...She didn't want to think about what happened in her past life....As she laid her head on his chest....To just hear his heart thumping steadily.....
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 18:00:14 GMT -5
He wasn't going to ask how SHE got back here either(boy this was starting to get confusing), but rather let the moments continue forward, Zack caressing her hair with his gloved hand(they got a little uncomfortable sometimes...maybe he should take them off sometime) before breaking away slightly, asking:
"Do you know what happened? Not just to me, but to..to everyone..." He broke away fully now, walking past her to examine the flowers.
They were still there
So beautiful.
Were there more here than before?
It sure looked like it.
He wondered about Angeal...and Cloud. If there was someone he wanted to see, it would be those two. That is, if Angeal was still here. Zack had a feeling Cloud was around, but finding him would be a problem.
"Because, as far as I can remember..." He turned around to look directly at Aerith.
"I'm dead...right?"
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 20:58:27 GMT -5
"Do you know what happened? Not just to me, but to..to everyone..."
Aerith looked down....She knew as much as he did...
"I'm sorry Zack...I don't know that answer....But maybe they're ok....Where ever they are....Huh..."
Aerith saw him look over at the flowers....And smiled...She hoped he remembered to not step on them....But she said nothing.
"Because, as far as I can remember..."
Aerith then walked up to him from behind....And wrapped her arms around him from his back to his stomach....And laid her cheek on his back.....As she breathed normally....She was just happier that at least she had him again.....
"I wish I could help you Zack...."
"I'm dead...right?"
She let go the minute he turned back around to face her.....
"You were.....We both were....What is going on? We aren't suppose to be here......"
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 21:27:21 GMT -5
Zack shook his head for a moment, saying:
"Yeah, we aren't..." A smile broke out onto his face as he continued:
"But as long as we ARE here, we can just pick up where we left off, right?"
And there was the positive attitude that Zack held. Never let the present circumstances press on the moment, but rather let the moment guide how the circumstances are viewed.
Of course, he never phrased it that way, rather letting his smile do the talking.
He stood up now, saying to Aerith:
"Instead of just sitting around, lets go do something. I'm sure we'll be able to sort this mess out somehow." As the last word came off his tongue, he remembered that Aerith had, still(to his knowledge anyway) been up to see the outside.
"Feel like selling flowers up above?" He pointed with his index finger to the ceiling for emphasis.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 22:17:46 GMT -5
"Yeah, we aren't..."
"But as long as we ARE here, we can just pick up where we left off, right?"
"I don't know...Can we do that? This world is a lot more different than the one we were in....I'm sure it's changed for the better....Maybe you won't have to leave so much.....Huh?"
She then smiled.....
"Instead of just sitting around, lets go do something. I'm sure we'll be able to sort this mess out somehow."
Aerith then looked up with hope as always in her eyes.....
"Feel like selling flowers up above?"
"We can try....It wouldn't hurt....I don't know if Flowers are still luxury items any more....No one probably doesn't care about them....But....We can try...As I said....I....got the last letter you wrote me Zack....Surprisingly they were all in the same place I hid them.....Hold on...Let me get a basket for the flowers....And those letters......" Aerith walked away for a moment to grab a basket & found her letters....Every single on....She walked back to where he was and gave him those letters so he could look at them if he wanted.....
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 22:34:26 GMT -5
It was amazing that the letters AND her basket was still there...it was if they had never left, as if things were stable and flowing. Zack looked at the letters, then back to Aerith, sighing, his shoulders slumping as he explained:
"I don't think I ever really told you what happened. Why I was gone for so long." Maybe now was not the time for this...
"I'll tell you once we sell out of stock." He gave Aerith one of his famous smiles, nudging her slightly as he took the clump of paper and stuffed it into the left front pocket of his pants(he had to find a place to store these...speaking of which, he needed to find a place to stay). Zack started to walk forward before...
The gift of the goddess...
nothing shall forestall my return
Genesis? Why was his mind bringing Genesis up no...
Zack hadn't realized he had stopped at the entrance of the church doors
And his brow was covered in a sort of cold sweat, as if he woke up from a nightmare. He shook his head, pushing the doors open and jumping the stairs, waiting for Aerith to descend the steps. There was less litter...
Good steps.
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 12, 2009 23:04:21 GMT -5
"I don't think I ever really told you what happened. Why I was gone for so long."
Aerith gave him a confused look...Tell her what happened? She wanted to know....
"I'll tell you once we sell out of stock."
"Alright...Deal...."
Aerith could see that Zack was thinking about some thing. Some thing was bothering him...But if he didn't want to talk about it right now, then it was ok with her. She was just glad that she got her best friend back in her life....And who knew what could happen with them now....Now that they were both older....And more able to understand those feelings they had for one another.....She knew there was love there.....But how strong was that love they shared?
Aerith followed him as she walked down the steps...And was heading up to the streets above them.....She was feeling a bit more safe with Zack by her side.....She grabbed a hold of a pillar on the church to help her not fall.....
"So...Are you happy?"
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Post by djhipster on Aug 12, 2009 23:10:47 GMT -5
Zack chuckled, saying:
"Of course I am. I'm with you, aren't I?"
He led Aerith through the revamped market place, commenting:
"Have you seen all this growth? It's unbelievable!" The shops were at a mid-afternoon lull, so there weren't many people to obstruct the view of all the new stalls and wares that were on display. The SOLDIER first class now brought her to the stairs to the subway platform, motioning upwards, saying with a smile:
"Don't worry. I'm with you." He began to walk up the steps, a question now forming:
"Aerith, when did you come back here? And where did you wake up?"
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Post by Aerith Gainsborough on Aug 13, 2009 11:31:34 GMT -5
"Of course I am. I'm with you, aren't I?"
"Have you seen all this growth? It's unbelievable!"
"MMHMM.....It looks a lot better...."
"Don't worry. I'm with you."
Aerith then smiled as he said that. She was a bit scared getting out of the church....But with him...Anything was possible.....
"Aerith, when did you come back here? And where did you wake up?"
Aerith knew he was going to ask her that....She looked up at him as she took a hold of his hand in hers.....
"I was brought back exactly where I...died...."
She didn't want to tell him that Sephiroth was the one....Maybe he knew already.....Maybe not....But she didn't like Sephiroth....She was terrified of the man......She just didn't want Zack to hold any anger.....And just be happy for once......
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Post by djhipster on Aug 13, 2009 11:47:36 GMT -5
Zack knew that she had died once before, which had caused him to take pause in their encounter within the Stream(He never thought an ancient could die...especially after dealing with Genesis and Sephiroth), but she had never told him how or why she had died in the first place.
"But why did you die in the first place?" They had ascended the steps completely now, the platform holding a few people who were impatiently waiting for the train(they seemed to never be on time.) Plastered around the walls were posters that displayed in large letters: SHINRA HAS FALLEN!!!
Yeah, what happened there?!
Zack had looked at the posters before looking back to Aerith, awaiting her response.
_________________________________________________
"You know they have returned."
"Indeed."
"Do we go through with the operation?"
"Wait to see if the others come back. If that occurs, we shall commence."
Silence
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