"Returning to You" FF7

[chibi_aeris027]

I just did this one about a week ago. I really like it so far. Tell me what u think, plz! I know it's long, but this is part one.

Returning to You-

Part One; "The Feeble Heart"

"Is it so hard to believe our hearts are made to be broken
Can't you see that the beauty of love lies in constant time
Don't you want our hearts to be torn wide open?
Won't you feel the heaven in our endless cry?

Oh at least you could try
Let me just a bit closer
For this one last time
Let me fall into your arms

It could be alright
Don't let us grow any colder
For this one last time
Let me close to your heart

Ever amazed how bright are the flames we are burning in
Ever smiled at the tragedies we have locked deep inside
Aren't you obsessed by our hand was on the verge of beginning
Won't you cherish your fear of life that keeps us alive?"

-"The Ninth Circle" by HIM.

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It was around midnight in Costa Del Sol. It had been three days since Aeris mysteriously come back to life. The group had decided to throw a party for her, although the party seemed to be for everyone except herself; as if none of them cared that she was back, nor did they want her there. So now, Aeris is sitting at the beach, watching as the others enjoy themselves.

She watched as Cid and Barret played poker and drank beer, laughing the whole time. She only smiled to herself, happy that they were joyful, but sad that nobody was paying her any mind. Marlene was sleeping, cuddled against Red, who also slept. She sighed and got up, walking up the stairs and into the Beach House. She saw Yuffie sorting her materia as she lay on her stomach on one of the beds. "Hey, Aeris." She waved, not looking at Aeris. Aeris gave a faint 'hi' back and sat down on one of the beds. She frowned sadly. Yuffie looked up curiously. "Ain't this party fer YOU?"

"It... is?"

"That's what they told me."

"Nobody's even paying any mind to me.. it's like they don't care that I'm back." Yuffie frowned. "That's just mean! I would do something with ya' but I'm too damned tired." Aeris giggled. "That's okay." Yufie looked at her again. "How were you brought back anyways?" Aeris shrugged. "I dunno. I just... woke up on the shore of the lake one day.... although.... somebody was there with me.... but I couldn't see.... I thought it might've been Cloud... but when I said, "Cloud", the person got sad... or mad... or both.... they were shaking... and breathing oddly... as if they were crying." Yuffie stared at her in wonder as she told the story. "They wouldn't speak to me at all. They just left me there."

"Oh my.... how cool! But you know.... it couldn't have been Cloud."

"Wh... why?"

"He's been so obsessed with wedding plans, he hasn't been anywhere. He's been cooped up with Tifa for about 2 week planning it now." Aeris felt her heart sink in her chest. "They're... getting married?" Yuffie smiled and nodded. Aeris bowed her head. "Then... who... was it that... brought me back? Or at least, who was there with me?" Yuffie shook her head. "Wasn't me... that's for sure... not that I didn't want you back, but I've been in Wutai with my daddy, I just got here yesterday." Aeris smiled. "Thank you, Yuffie." Yuffie smiled. "I'm goin' ta bed. I'm dead tired." Aeris nodded and left. "Good night, Yuffie."

"Night-night, Aer."

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Cloud smiled at Tifa, his soon-to-be wife. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Tifa smiled. "Yes. Quite. It's nice to get out of the house after being cooped up so long." She hugged him and stayed there, too comfprtable to move. Aeris went back to the beach, to see if anything had changed from the past 20-or-so minutes she was gone. Not a thing. She frowned. "This is the most fun I've ever had," she thought sarcastically. She sat down and leaned against the wall, hoping someone would notice her there.

An hour or more had passed, and everyone still went about their own business. She felt horrible now, as if this had degraded her. She watched, her eyes glittering with tears, as everyone had fun, at HER party, without HER. "I wish I hadn't come back." She thought, wiping her tears. "Nobody wants me, anyways.... and what do I have to live for now? Cloud is marrying Tifa, and Mother died..." She leaned her head back and gazed at the stars. The sky looked like blue velvet with crystals scattered across it. The sky was perfectly clear, the stars gleaming and the full moon lighting the sky.

It almost made her want to stop crying. Its beauty brought a small bit of warmth to her. She felt a cold shiver in her spine and hugged her knees to her chest. She felt as if she were being watched. She remembered that night in the forest, after she woke up from her 'slumber'. After the strange happenings with the person (the one who was with her when she awoke), she had passed out again. When she fully awoke, she could see again, and saw that her clothes, taken off and placed by the slowly dying fire to dry, were tattered and deteriorating, from the water she had been in for so long. Her body covered in a blanket, not the warmest, but it still kept her body warm.She felt for her hair bow, but it was gone, as well as her mother's materia. She looked around and saw the materia on the ground near her, beside an empty gun clip and a shred of black cloth. She gasped and grabbed the materia. She placed her clothes back on, and ran out of the ancient city.

She didn't want to be in that place any longer. She had been there, underwater, for god only knows how long. She stopped short, not remembering how to get out of the forest. Her eyes darted around, looking for an exit, She heard beastly noises, and trembled. "Oh dear god... please help me..." she fell to her knees and squeezed her eyes shut.

She saw something move in the bushes and gasped. "Who's there?!" she demanded, teary-eyed. She saw a purple beast come from the bushes. It looked something like Red, but this one was purple and stood on its hind legs, and its eyes were a beautiful red. It looked as if the creature had been... crying?

"Wh... what are you?" She thought to herself, knowing that it looked familiar. It approached her slowly. She reach to touch it. Her trembling fingers touched its face and she smiled. "You won't hurt me, will you?" She pet its cheek and smiled slightly. It howled, making Aeris jump back in fear. It ran off into the bushes again. She stared, shocked. "What... was that?"

Aeris opened her eyes and looked around. She forgot she was even at the party. She shook her head and got up, walking to the ocean. She sat down there and traced her finger in the sand. She tried to draw the beast from the other night. It turned out looking like a puppy and she giggled. "I tried," she thought. The tide washed most of the image away and she frowned, heading for the beach house. She was completely bored.

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She lay in her bed, trying to sleep. She found it hard to do.

All she could think about was her mysterious 'rescuer'. Who was it? She bit her lip. "How could I automatically assume that it was Cloud? That's so insensitive of me." She looked around and saw Yuffie tossing around in her bed, dishevelled beyond hope. She smiled to herself. She thought about that night again. "A gun clip... a tiny shred of black cloth... and a purple beast... not to mention that I felt something as cold as ice on my side." She pulled her t-shirt up and looked at her left rib. There were a few scratches from something.

She blinked in astonishment. "Who was it?!" she screamed internally. Yuffie groaned and stretched. "Hey... Aer?"

"Yes, Yuffie?"

"Is it just me or does someone seem to be missing?"

"I don't think so...."

Yuffie blinked. "But it just seems like someone's missing... who should be here... doesn't it?" Aeris nodded. "You're right. It does... but who is it?"

"Oh.... must be Val... he left about a week ago... haven't seen him since."

"Val?"

"You know Val! Haha. I'm going back to bed, Aer. G'night!"

"Good.... night." Aeris blinked. "...Val? Who is Val?" she wondered. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She felt sick. She knew that there was another member of Avalanche, but she couldn't remember them. Not even their name.Why was she like this? Certain things came right to her, but others... she shook her head. "Was it perhaps the monster in the forest? Haha. Sure." She laughed at herself. "If it were the creature, then there wouldn't have been an empty gun clip or any fabric. How dumb am I to think that?"

She dried her face and exited the bathroom. Yuffie looked up again. "I remember now!" Aeris blinked and looked at her from the doorway. "What is it, Yuffie?"

"Val did come back..."

"What?"

"After he left, he did come back... the day after you showed up. He's been avoiding any contact...." Aeris frowned. "Why?"

"Stop being an idiot. You know he's not a... 'people person'." Aeris shrugged. "So where has he been?" Yuffie shrugged. "He creeps around when everyone's asleep... he's like a snake." Aeris frowned on hearing the girl's metaphor. "He's so creepy sometimes... when he looks at you, it's like his eyes bore holes right through you...."

Aeris seemed a bit shaken by the girl's darkening tone. "Just by looking at him, you might think that if you open your mouth to speak, he'll kill you, mercilessly... either blast your brains out or tear you to shreds with his claws..." Aeris's eyes widened. His description scared her greatly. Yuffie's tone was very stoic, and dark. "His menacing eyes are as red as blood, and cold as ice... and his claws... made of metal..." She looked at Aeris and giggled, her tone normal and perky again. "But that's nothing what he's really like... he never bothers anyone at all, and never speaks unless spoken to. I don't think he would harm anyone... I think he's just lonesome." She chuckled to herself, continuing. "Hell, I'd be lonely, too if I was stuck in a coffin for thirty damn years." Aeris frowned. "That's so sad."

Yuffie glared at her. "Aer... you know all this. Why are you acting like you don't?"

"Since I woke up... I don't remember the guy. I mean, yes, I remember there was another member of Avalanche, but I dunno who. I barely remembered Cid. Why don't I remember this Val guy?"

"Val ain't his real name.... his real name is Vincent... we usually call him 'Val' or 'Vito'." Aeris frowned slightly, remembering him vaguely. Yuffie stood up and stretched. "I just can't sleep... I'm gonna go bug Cid for a few. See ya later." Aeris waved to her friend and looked around. She heard a faint noise coming from outside. It sounded like a song. She smiled and slowly traced its source. She listened, trying to decipher the words.

"Is it so hard to beleive our hearts are made to be broken..."

She stepped out onto the porch, looking all around.

"can't you see that the beauty of love lies inconstant time..."

She saw a shadow on the roof of the beach house.

"Don't you want our hearts to be... torn wide open..."

The song sounded so familiar to her ears. She couldn't make out the shadow, hard as she tried. She looked up, her eyes bright with curiosity. "What is the song you're singing?" she asked. She couldn't make out the facial features, but she could see two sad blood red eyes staring at her. She smiled. "Don't be sad. Won't you go to the party? That would cheer you up." The eyes grew a bit sadder. "Nothing can do such a thing for me." With that, the shadow got up, and, as if climbing down a ladder, disappeared into the roof. She frowned. "How gloomy." She remembered Vincent fully now. This had to have been him. She wondered where he could have gone, but realized that she shouldn't bother the man. She went back to her bed and thought. "Why are they getting married?" She wondered. She sighed, thinking of how dumb she felt. "I only knew him a week or two... he and Tifa have been friends forever. Tsk, tsk... how silly am I?" She rolled over and went to sleep.

Yuffie quietly opened the door and crept back into the house. She saw a figure in the living room doorway. "Vincent?" she asked. He looked up, his eyes ful of pain and sadness. "What... is it?" Yuffie blinked. "Are you okay?" He bowed his head. "No. I'm not. Not a bit." Yuffie frowned. "Why?"

"I am doomed to relive the same fate."

"What do you... mean?"

"It... it's nothing. I'm just sulking again." Yuffie narrowed her eyes. "I'm totally sick of you, Val."

"... what?"

"You always keep things to yourself, and never share a damn thing with any of us. THAT's why you're such a hermit. THAT is why you're so depressed. Getting it out makes you feel better, you dork." Vincent frowned. "I know that... but this is different... it's just like it was with... her."

"Who is 'her'?"

"Ah... I've said too much.... forget I said anything."

"SEE WHAT I MEAN?!"

Vincent stormed out of the house and Yuffie shook her head sadly. "Puh-thet-ic." She pulled the front door shut. She heard a scuffle of feet at the bedroom door and saw Aeris there, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "What was the ruckus?"

Yuffie didn't see her estranged friend anywhere in sight. "We may never know." Aeris blinked. "......what?"

"He's a total mystery." Aeris shrugged. "What's wrong with him?" Yuffie looked at her. "Some woman he loved died... he feels guilty, still... although it wasn't his fault at all... and also it happened thirty two years ago." Aeris bowed her head. "I remember now." Yuffie jumped when the alarm clock went off. "It's already seven?" Aeris blinked. "In the morning?" Yuffie laughed and nodded. "Reno's coming." Aeris looked at her again. "And you're happy to see him?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow. "Uh... YEAH! I'm sorta datin' 'im!" Aeris smiled. "That's nice. Hm... you two must be a cute couple." Yuffie blushed. "That's what they all say... but he can be a real moron sometimes." Aeris giggled. Yuffie smiled. "I have to go. I'm meetin' him at the dock, then we're goin' on a date. Wish me luck."

"Good luck." Aeris waved to her friend.

She looked out the window. "Looks like it's gonna' rain." She pressed her forehead against the glass. "Oh man... this is so boring." She walked towards the living room, a sad frown marring her pallid lips. She hated being in costa del sol with everyone. Nobody was even taking notice to her, save for Yuffie, and Vincent, who ran off. "I assume I'll be here by myself all day. Wonderful." She sank into the couch and turned on the T.V., flipping through channels to find anything that seemed the least bit interesting. She found nothing. She looked at the music collection, trying to find some good music to listen to. She saw a disc labeled, 'Angsty Songs and More, ^_^' and frowned. "Suits my mood, so I'll give it a try." She placed the disc into the stereo and listened to the music.

She looked at the track list. One of the titles caught her attention; 'Bury Me Deep Inside Your Heart'. She frowned at the strange title. "How morbid-sounding." That thought had just passed when the song began to play. She listened intently.

"let me wake up in your arms

you say it's not alright

let me be so dead and gone

so far away from life

close my eyes

hold me tight

and bury me deep inside your heart

all I ever wanted was you, my love"

She frowned. "I actually like this one.... but it relates too much to me." She frowned again and switched tracks. She studied the track list as she slowly drifted into a daze.

The song playing now seemed so familiar.... so close to her. The same song that....

"Is it so hard to beleive our hearts are made to be broken....

can't you see that the beauty of love lies inconstant time

don't you want our hearts to be torn wide open...

won't you feel the heavens in our endless cry...

oh atleast you could-"

She gasped in a sharp breath and jumped up when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked back in shock and saw Cloud. He laughed at her. "I just wanted to tell you that Tifa, Cid, Barret, Marlene and I are going to buy stuff for the wedding." Aeris nodded. "Thank you for telling me..." she said shakily. Cloud laughed and went back outside. She frowned sadly and started to cry. Her vision started to get hazy and she looked around. She felt light-headed. "Oh.... man.... I think I'm... sick.." She stood up and headed for the bedroom to lie down, but she seemed to be falling.... collapsing into a black void....

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End of 'The Feeble Heart', part one.

So how do you like it? I thought it was pretty good. It's just hard to beleive for me, because when I get on a roll and start typing, I hardly even know what I type... but I read over it and it's good, and it's just so awesome to me... I know I'm weird, you don't have to tell me. Please review for me, though!!

[chibi_aeris027]

Why do people read and never review???? Just take 30 seconds and type a few words of thought!