The Knight

After the previous event, Zack had been like butter on toast by Aerith's side. Aerith on the other hand liked and hated it. She likes how he was making an effort to stay by her a lot but with him disturbing her thoughts, she was missing out on what she had planned.

For today, Tifa thought of walking with Cloud at the vast garden behind the Mansion. Cloud agreed to it quickly, feeling rather conscious being inside when Vincent and Yuffie thought of running to the markets. The two pairs were left alone, and as of now, the guys would like to give the girls a good distance.

"It's as pretty as ever" Tifa sighed in relief as she recalled the assortment of flowers. Cloud watched her relaxed face and then concentrated to her lips. He remembered its texture and for some reason he wanted to taste them again. You can't blame him, he's a guy!

Before he could even ask for what he was craving, Tifa pulled him by the arm and began to increase her speed.

He didn't argue at the sudden notion and just went along, running by her side. Wherever she plans to go, he would follow.

Aerith exhaled her fourth sigh as she had walked around the halls of the mansion for over an hour.

"Thirsty?" Zack asked from behind her. He's been following her the whole time, and because of it, she couldn't think of a plan on her next move.

She turns around to face him, a smile on her face "That would be nice" she thought he would give her a couple of minutes of solitary, but to her disappointment he was already carrying a can of her favorite juice. He was really making sure not to leave her side.

"Thanks" she tried to maintain her smile as she opened it and took a sip. From the corner of her eyes she looks out, expecting to see the dried patch of soil, but to her surprise, a flower stood in isolation.

Without another word, she storms of, Zack at her heels.

"Impossible" the barrier of the mask was breaking. Her eyes began to form teardrops as she ran to the garden and to the once dried patch of soil.

Tifa continued on running, she knew she saw Aerith running. And if she wasn't mistaken, her mask was off.

"Tifa" Cloud smiled, running along with her "what's the sudden run for?" he was thinking it was a joke, probably a tease Tifa made, but as soon as he noticed the lines forming on her face, her knew there was something more.

"Where are we going?" he asked, his smile completely vanished. She replies with one word, and that was enough for him.

"Aerith" with a turn from the corner, they headed to the place where it started.

Once Aerith sets foot on her destination, tears begins to fall from her eyes. The small patch of land where flowers used to grow that was now expected as nothing but dirt carries a single flower in all its glory.

The very sight makes her tears overflow as she goes down on her knees. Zack was just behind her, no idea to what was happening.

Visions of a little girl humming entered Aerith's mind.

A little girl kneels down on a patch of land where bright flowers bloom. She hums in complete harmony while tending to her little friends. Her dress of pink hue was already dirtied and undoubtedly have few stitches loosed already. Yet the little girl pays no attention to the world except to her precious little garden.

AS rustling of leaves and grass grew louder, Aerith turned to see her sister, in full view with Cloud beside her. The peaceful visions turned dark.

Fire roamed around an adolescent's little haven. Her green eyes overflowing with despair and tears as the once blooming flowers succumb to the fiery flames, completely burning them and turning them to ash. Through her despair a familiar face remained a safe distance away, her own red orbs the color of the flames. Along just beside her was a retreating Man whom she never had pleased since young.

Tifa looks at Aerith as she recalls the same memories that inflicted her sister's mind.

'You're the reason! It's always YOU! YOU!'

'What do you want me to do?'

'Swear an Oath! Swear!'

'….Anything….'

'Stay away from what are mine and those that bring me happiness…'

'Of course…'

'Even if it cost your own happiness…'

'…yes'

The broken gaze from Aerith turned to cold stone. She stood eye level at Tifa. Tifa tried to compose herself and did her best to hold the tears about to give themselves out.

"It's here….you remember?" An icy tone left Aerith's mouth. Tifa simply nodded, not actually trusting her voice.

Not caring anymore that there was an audience, Aerith broke down "It was always you…"

She looks at the flower then back at her sister, a cruel laugh escaping her lips as tears were still flowing through her eyes.

"I bet you planted this? How much did it cost at the flower shop? You think I would fell for this?"

Without another thought, she raised her foot and pressed it down on the innocent flower. She repeats it a couple more times, before looking at Tifa.

Her Sister still stood the same she did when they were young. Stiff and as if holding out tears.

Without another word, Aerith leaves, Zack on her heels. Though Zack gave a glance at Cloud before moving.

As much as it was silly for them to just stand there, they couldn't just interrupt. They felt that they were in no position and they probably are.

Cloud clutched Tifa's shoulders, giving it a light squeeze of assurance. With a sigh, Tifa manages to bury her tears. She had Cloud to thank for always being there for her.

"Are you okay?" Cloud whispered to her ear. Tifa doesn't answer the question as she looks at the flower. Instead, she says something else.

"It hurts her more than it hurts me"

Tifa went near the dead flower and moved her finger on its once smooth and blooming petals. She knew it didn't grow at the patch, and of course it wasn't her who did it too. Her eyes turn to the window near them.

With a gasp, teary eyed Yuffie muffled her voice with the use of her hands. Her tears were dripping at what she just saw.

Vincent came to her aid once he finished unloading their baggage to the living room. He noted her tears and thought that she still blamed herself for what happened at the beach.

"It wasn't your fault, Yuffie…" he said, caressing her cheek.

She shook her head, tears still overflowing "Right now, it's mine…"

As Aerith ran faster, Zack felt the urge to set things straight and without any idea as to what he just did, he pushed Aerith lightly on the wall and cornered her with his hands.

He uses one hand to clutch onto her cheek where he wipes her tears. Aerith wouldn't look at him as she pants for breathe.

"Aerith, I need to know what's going on"

"Why should you? You don't know anything" she sniffed, Calming herself slowly.

"That's why you need to tell me! What's going on Aer…? Tell me…Please"

Hearing his plea, Aerith raised her head. Her reddened eyes seem to break Zack and with that opportunity, she runs to her room and locks herself.

Zack was left sitting in the halls, his head on his arms that are on his knees. It was the first time he sees her like that. She was always composed since they met. Even if she did change once she entered the school, she never let anyone see her tears just like that.

He is completely lost right now. He wanted to find the composed and cheerful Aerith he first met, not this Aerith.

The chest pieces have been moving; now the black's king is even moving without orders. The supposed attack of the black knight was backfired. Now it's gone, the bishop has to do its best to backfire now. It should make sure that the white queen goes down and not with its king. So, as queens do battle, so shall their kings.

There you go, one update…hope you like it! Sorry if its late…though I know I'm always kind of late…

oh yeah, zeprincelini, its a transition from Aerith to Tifa...sorry it took this long. i just wanted to try it out! :) hopefully you'll understand?