Jealousy

Jealousy
Prologue
By Elly Liselle


Dead.

Aerith was dead.

No breathes came from her still form. No sounds, no movement.

Only blood, slowing down from the wound in her chest.

Felled.

By Sephiroth's blade.

Cloud couldn't think, couldn't move. He held her body to his chest, tears dripping onto her face. Her closed, beautiful eyes, never to look at him again. Tears rolled onto her perfect lips. Lips never to smile at him or laugh again.

Dead.

"Cloud!"

Vincent... was that Vincent? Cloud didn't care.

Aerith was gone.

Killed by the man he had loved.

"We have to go!"

Yes; Definitely Vincent.

Cloud barely glanced up as Yuffie screamed. A Jenova creature was approaching.

"Come on, Cloud!"

Tifa screamed the words.

Cloud couldn't bring himself to care.

His idol... his lover... had killed her. Why? Why would he want to cause Cloud this pain?

Oh, right... He's insane.

Cloud looked up to see Vincent shooting at Jenova.

"Vincent, you have to leave."

Vincent barely glanced at him. "Yes. Let's go, Cloud."

"No. You take the others. Go to Bone Village."

"We're not leaving you Cloud. We need you." Tifa yelled.

Cloud said his next words softly, but he knew the gunman could hear him.

"You must go without me. I'll catch up to you."

Vincent shook his head. "We won't leave you."

Cloud said firmly. "I can handle myself. Just as you guys can."

Vincent turned his head to look at Cloud.

"I need you."

Cloud could barely register Vincent's quiet words.

"You have to go NOW!"

Vincent saw there was no arguing with the blond. He glanced at Jenova before kneeling next to Cloud.

"Cloud, the creature is weakened and will move slowly. Be quick, still. You must come to Bone Village."

Vincent said it with such seriousness in his eyes, even more than usual, that Cloud had to nod.

The gunman then did something completely unexpected.

He quickly leaned forward to press his lips to Cloud's. A brief touch then he was standing.

Cloud heard Vincent yelling for the others to leave. When they protested, Cloud added his voice.

"Start heading out!" He called. "I'll meet you in Bone Village!"

Slowly, his comrades began to leave. They ran, Vincent staying one moment more.

"I know she was important to you, Cloud." Vincent murmured. "Just remember- You are just as, if not more so, important to me."

Cloud nodded. Vincent turned, cape swirling, and shot at Jenova as he left.

"Just you and me, Aerith." Cloud murmured. "Soon I'll be with you and Zack. Forever."

He glanced up as Jenova reached him.

"That was fast."

It seemed to stare at him. He turned his gaze back to Aerith.

"See you soon."

-T.B.C.-
Yes, there will be more. No, Cloud is NOT dead. I mean, come on, this is a SephirothxCloud. I can't kill half the pair in the prologue!