Inheritance (Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth)

꧁ XLVIII ꧂

"Hello! I know you're in there! Time's a-wastin', Cloud, and it's not like we have much left! You wanna see Lailah, don't you? Hah-hah, huh-huh, huh! Up and at 'em, SOLDIER!"

Cloud was regaining consciousness. His eyes began to open as he could faintly make out Aerith standing in front of him. Slowly, he got out of the wheelchair he was sitting in. He didn't take in his surroundings until the fuzziness in his mind vanished. He looked around before glancing down at his body. Utterly confused, he asked, "What is this?" One theory then popped into his mind. "Are we...?"

Hands behind her back, Aerith walked across her room before looking at him. "We could call it a "homecoming." Or "homeward bound" maybe?" She then clapped her hands together. "Let's just call it a dream. My dream, to be precise."

"What the hell are you—"

Aerith silenced him by placing a finger over his lips before backing away. "Just play along for a bit, okay? I know you want to see Lailah, but just wait."

Cloud looked around the florist's room again, realizing the shapeshifter wasn't with them. He remembered the cracked gemstone and how much pain she was in. "Is she okay?"

Aerith's smile faltered for a second. "I'm...not sure. Let's go check on her." She turned to the door and opened it, making her way down to the first floor. Cloud was right behind her. Seeing they were both ready to leave, she said, "Lailah wanted to check out the central district. C'mon!"

She walked over to the front door but stopped as she remembered something. "Ah..." She spun around and held up her finger. "One thing. You have to promise not to look up."

Cloud hummed in confusion.

"'Cause I'm pretty sure you won't like what ya see."

"You know I'm gonna have to look now, right?" He remarked.

She giggled. "Right... There I go...putting my foot in my mouth. When will I ever learn?" Turning around, she walked over to the front door and opened it. She stepped outside with Cloud behind her.

The ex-SOLDIER looked up at the sky. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the large scar across the sky. It marred the beautiful blue with a streak of yellow.

Aerith grabbed his hand and pulled his attention away from the sky. "Never keep a lady waiting! Especially one who so happens to be the most beautiful goddess in the entire universe!" She tugged on his arm and dragged him away from her house. She didn't let go of his hand until they walked past the Leaf House. She ran a little ways ahead and placed a hand on her forehead as she looked around. "Now, where could she be?"

Cloud looked around as well. He scanned the people until he spotted familiar snowy locks with multicolored tips. "Lailah!" He shouted her name before chasing after her. He ran in the direction she had walked until he lost sight of her. Feeling his heart racing, he desperately looked around at the people of the Sector 5 Slums in hopes of finding her.

Aerith caught up and was also looking for the shapeshifter. "You sure you saw her come this way?"

He nodded. Her hair color was too unique to miss in a large crowd. The snowy strands stood out against everyone else's. "I'm sure." He continued to spin his body around in search of the shapeshifter. His eyes scanned the crowd, unsure of where she had gone. He walked a little further down the street and wound up bumping into a few people in the process, totally unaware. He was so focused on finding the girl that he was disregarding everyone who wasn't her.

Aerith apologized to the people she bumped into, knowing how desperate he was to reunite with Lailah. She continued to follow him while also looking for her cherished friend.