We Don't Really Know Each Other But... (Aerith)

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The huge old castle had numerous traps Vincent had navigated with care. To the outside eye he made it look easy, as though one could merely glide into Hollow Bastion as one made an entrance to a room It was not exactly so but Vincent was well versed in getting in and out of those awkward places. He knew how to angle his body, to curve his limbs, to stretch out his arms and legs, and what the most predictable outcome of a slicing giant razor blade would be. He also knew to expect what he did not expect, and mentally and physically readied himself for moving quickly, suddenly and sharply. He would never again get caught as he once had, expecting a confrontation without the long drawn out consequence of death.

But he did not die. Or he did. Vincent was not entirely sure on the matter. He suspected he was suspended somewhere between life and death while Hojo worked on his body with monster DNA before discarding him as scrap. And when he was done Lucrecia swooped in to pick up the pieces hoping to put him back together again. There had been only one way to save him. One way to prevent the breakdown of his matter and permanent death: G Substance. Mako, he had come to learn, had merely kept his body going and apparently, his consciousness around long enough for the procedure to work. G Substance, the very same black, violent, horror that had murdered his father saved his life. Chaos. It was a sentient xeno-form (Lucrecia never did explain in her thesis what she meant by this, or at least not in ahy of the discovered sections Shalua had recovered), had been designed by the planet to destroy all life, hurrying forward the end so Omega could rise to the heavens, scoop up the essence of the world and cradle until the journey ended somewhere new.  Things never quite work out the way you planned when you put a third party in the mix.

Now Gaia was overrun by Darkness.  He did not think it was the same darkness as Chaos.  Chaos was not borne of hatred. It was not borne if disgust or the desire to destroy. The tiny squire was another thing entirely: it was a desperate survival mechanism. Chaos was a last-ditched attempt at hope. A hope that life can begin elsewhere, blossoming anew among the stars. And so Chaos would gather up all life, all pusling heartbeats and all the grows gently lay it in Omega's cradle, so that he may soar amongst the diamonds and select the best cut to call home. Chaos was a way to live. Kingdom Hearts was another thing entirely. It was the slow creep of black ice, slick, thick and deadly on the ground.  You couldn't see it, but that didn't mean it wasn't there, working away, chipping, chipping, chipping. The fragments left behind scattered everywhere, uselessly tossed aside but attempting to make a whole. What, Vincent wondered, would happen if the whole it was gone. Were their lives so connected with their own planets? Or was that of no consequence. Vincent was sure if Gaia evaporated into dust today he would have no idea until he attempted to go back. But what then of Chaos? Would Chaos know?

This new darkness felt bitter and twisted and cold. It was frigid like the pretended his heart to be. And so he had come to Hollow Bastion looking for answers. He did not know what Kingdom hearts was, what it stood for, what it did. And so he would read whatever documents he could find. He got the impression something had happened here, something long ago, and in its library would be secrets. Locating the library had been a challenge, more so than avoiding the traps laid down by the castle's previous occupiers, but not impossible. Vincent eventually found his way there, making his way thorugh the maze of books until he found a central hub. There sat a computer which flickered lazily to life when he turned it on. HOw it had power still, he did not know, and suspected he had to move quickly. He was relieved to see it was a mainframe for the library, holding all the information he needed on location the documents he desired.

Those documents were tucked away on his person some forty minutes later. Electing to leave before nightfall, not wanting to still be there after dark if only because he suspected it may be overrun by Heartless by then, and its traps more difficult to manage, Vincent softly slipped away. It was as though he was never there. Soon he was back in the village square looking for a small tavern he was sure he had seen during his stay here. He walked slowly through the square, the twilight falling on the heels of the sun.

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Arms stretched right over the woman’s head as she groaned; perhaps she’d been working too hard lately. On what? Well, Aerith didn’t quite understand technology, she left that to Cid, what she did know was what she had to do with the machine on her shift. Push a few buttons here...a few there...and the security system worked its magic. It wasn’t as though there was much to do; she followed the warning lights which flashed if there was a problem. Cid didn’t take too kindly to her asking why there wasn’t an automatic system that dealt with the problem; he mumbled something about the system taking over between some profanities. Aerith would just point to the swear jar smugly and he’d shut up again...they’d almost raised enough munny to expand the headquarters.


Still because of the way Aerith was they didn’t make her do too much heavy lifting or strenuous work; she was more of the mediator of the group with the more sensitive touch with the townspeople. It was just natural for her to care about others and she knew everyone saw that in her, or at least that’s what she hoped it was and not because they just needed her to do something. No, Aerith was the one person people could count on for help and she was known for making things happen despite others perhaps being all talk. This had obviously gotten herself into more trouble than others may perceive to be worth but she didn’t care what others thought usually.


Pulling on her red jacket, Aerith walked towards the door, keys in her mouth trying to pull her arms through each sleeve. She caught a glimpse of herself in the window, she looked a little mismatched but with the sun about to set it would get a little cold. Aerith tried to take care in how she looked and she enjoyed the fact that everyone here looked so different to each other. It reminded her of back then when she ran across Gaia with her friends, none of them really looked like the other, they all had their separate identities...others had more than one. She shook her head quickly and tried to remember the security code for the building, it was something everyone was responsible for and with Yuffie’s help in creating a simple rhyme it came back to her in an instant. Great, now she’d have that rhyme in her head all the way home.


As the door closed behind her, Aerith clicked it shut and locked the extra bolts that held the door in such top security. The camera’s pointed her way and she stuck her tongue out, no doubt Cid would watch this as he got back here tomorrow morning. A rumble was heard from her stomach and Aerith placed a hand upon it trying to quieten it instinctively. Did she forget to eat today? No, it must have been hours ago since she last ate something and at this time she knew it’d be difficult to buy anything. Aerith pinched her dress so it was easier for her to run and began to jolt towards the market square, surely somewhere would be open. It wasn’t exactly in panic, but she knew that if she didn’t buy anything then she’d once again be stuck with bread and cheese...nothing that really took her fancy right now of course.


Her heavy feet begun to slow down until she was walking...and then propped up against a wall trying to catch her breath. “Wow...I’m really unfit” She panted and placed a hand on her chest. In between wheezes her emerald eyes scanned the square for an open shop but it was hard to concentrate with her heart thumping within her. It annoyed her to think that she was this unfit; she would look at Tifa and Yuffie with their energy and power and feel almost jealous of their stamina. Aerith just wasn’t like that though and she wasn’t sure she ever would be, although part of her in the back of her mind already had a hit list of people she’d like to try Tifa’s combat moves on. She grinned imagining herself flailing through the air and caught sight of a mysterious looking man crossing the square.


It was almost as though she’d caught her breath at once and the hand that she leant on pushed herself gently away from the wall. He was dressed mostly in black, Aerith recognised him straight away, he had a distinctive look although not quite in the same way as other men she knew. His hair was not blonde and spikey nor long and silver but it was black and covered part of his face so she was unable to really distinguish features. Before she knew what she was doing Aerith was almost tailing him quietly whilst trying to figure out if it was indeed him. Her hand reached out and almost tried to grab his arm but she stopped herself immediately, this wasn’t someone who could be snuck up on and the likelihood of her surprising him in a positive way wasn’t good. Instead her lips parted and she was able to speak softly in hopes that he’d remember her, it was a strange thing to wonder but given her revival things were a little...odd.


“Vincent? Is that you...?” A bright smile appeared and the ex-flower girl had forgotten why she was here, although right now it didn’t matter.

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Stealing into places was Vincent's speciality, as was getting out. Usually for people getting out was harder but not for Vincent. When you worked as he did, and did as he did, you grew accustomed to slinking in the shadows. No one noticed you and so no one remembered you. You are a ghost fluttering on the wind always whisping out of reach and out of sight before anyone can catch a hold. And Vincent quite literally could become a mobile flowing unit, silkily breezing from one place to another.

He had once used his skills for a company whose morals were questionable at best, and entirely missing at worse. He hadn't made the best decisions in life, but back in those days you worked ShinRa was still the most powerful company going and it was expanding. There were lots of job opportunities all of which were promising. It wasn't quite the way it had become in the end. When he woke up ShinRa had become a conglomerate so absolute it had squashed an entire country into submission and had a network spanning the entire planet.

It wasn't just about his own planet anymore, though he did feel a strange sort of attachment to it. He guessed that came from saving it a couple of times over. Logically he knew his attachment to Gaia was of no real use to anyone. There was more at stake than his own little patch of earth. All the planets had a threat over them. All of theme were united by roads and paths which either weren't there before or were inaccessible for a reason. Maybe the rest of the universe had one up on him already, maybe not. He wasn't going to go down without a fight. He had a lot to make up for.

Vincent was not unaware there was another in the square but assumed they like him were going some place. The presence came close to him and he was about to turn around and confront whomever it was when a voice spoke. Familiar to his ears, and not one he had expected to hear again, Vincent turned, surprise registering on his usually stoic face. "Aerith Gainsborough," he intoned.

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It was perhaps the sensation of relief that she was feeling for seeing Vincent, that was possibly the best word to describe it. If she had to guess why, it would be seeing a familiar face, one that she travelled with across Gaia to find the black materia and stop Sephiroth. It was an important task, no one could argue with Aerith on that (or dare to...considering the outcome) and Vincent was one of those that she trusted. Even later he inadvertently helped her by steering Cloud down the right path; he may never know how grateful she was to have someone as calm and collected as Vincent to be there for someone she cared about.

It was perhaps this side of him that made the others look up to him as well, even in the most dangerous or difficult situations Vincent seemed so together. Aerith admired this about him, although she wasn’t sure if she ever did tell him. Upon seeing his face and hearing his voice for the first time in years, Aerith smiled joyfully, “It is you!” Her voice was bright and cheerful too, Aerith clasped her hands together in front of her and nodded, “You made it to Radiant Garden!” Her voice stopped there when she remembered the situation and his tone of voice, excitement had stopped her from noticing, something Aerith usually prided herself in.

What had happened before wasn’t something Aerith liked to bring up; it wasn’t quite set out in her mind either so how could she explain it to others? The brunette was sure this wasn’t heaven or hell, the feeling of the Planet was still with her and she’d been in Limbo before she’d arrived. Although her version of limbo was rather vague compared to others, there were only a few who would have experienced both the Lifestream and then life again. Aerith often thought of the people she’d encountered in the Lifestream and whether or not they were alive just as she was. She was sure that she’d find out sooner or later; though later may be the preferable word at the moment.

Unfortunately, Vincent wasn’t stupid and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to avoid the inevitable question but Aerith did push her luck in the most difficult of situations. Quickly, Aerith tried to wrack her brain for something to say that would take the attention away from that conversation.

“So...what brought you here?”

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Vincent did not know Aerith very well. He had kept mostly to himself during his time in AVALANCHE. He still did not know the members particularly well. He dealt mostly with Cloud, who required nudging every so often. He understood that. He understood the need to be told where to go and what to do sometimes. Decisions were difficult things to make. He had wished someone had been able to tell him to get his arse in gear sooner when dealing with Hojo and Lucrecia. Maybe if he had not only would Sephiroth not be the mad man he is today, but he could have spared Cloud and his friends pain. The again, his inaction allowed a certain course of events to unfold enabling Cloud to become a super soldier - and the world needed him as a super soldier.

He, like the others wore a pink ribbon around his arm. His was covered so no one could see it. He had not told anyone it was there nor felt the need to. He was not keeping it a secret. It just wasn't...a topic he was going to broach. He didn't miss Aerith. He didn't know her well enough to really care she had gone but her sacrifice had been a good one, and a sad one. She had helped save the world and she had meant so much to the others. It just seemed as though it needed remembering.

"Research," he replied. "Went to Hollow Bastion to look up more about the Heartless. I thought...it might be able to help me," he said. He felt no need to keep secrets from Aerith. She had a way of knowing things already. She was a highly perceptive young woman. "So the Darkness brings resurrects?" he asked, but it was more rhetorical than anything else. He doubted it could be anything else. He sighed heavily.

"This time he gets to suffer," he muttered darkly to himself.

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The brunette watched the dark figure intently but she couldn’t make out any sort of thought or hesitation, any surprise or emotion from his face. This just seemed to be Vincent’s whole demeanour, she understood why but Aerith wasn’t used to it, she was more used to being able to figure people out. However, that didn’t mean that Vincent was unpredictable, he was the same as any other person, it just wasn’t written all over his face. Like the others, Aerith considered him a friend and ally despite the fact that they really weren’t close back then.

Aerith tilted her head at his answer to what had brought him here, it wasn’t quite what she expected, he seemed to have more idea than most people on this current world. She’d found that people who originated from Gaia came here when the paths joined again or were here like Cloud, Tifa and Leon. Nothing really made sense, not clear cut anyway, but that was the Planet’s way. Aerith didn’t know the Planet’s motives until they were staring her right in the face sometimes, that’s what took her so long to understand that she needed to help counter Meteor back then before returning to the Planet.

“Oh?” Aerith replied curiously and looked him over once more, “What is it that you want to know? Maybe I can help.” She had spent a long time in Radiant Garden now, even in Traverse Town too and she had learnt a lot from Sora’s journeys. All this information was imprinted in her mind and she, as usual liked to help others, if she got to use this information to help someone, especially a friend, then she’d be happy.

His next comment however made Aerith flinch, “I um-” she was caught off guard and had no idea what to say, how could she explain this? “I’m not sure that’s right...” Aerith began; she didn’t believe it was the darkness, no...It was the light. “It wasn’t the darkness Vincent; I’m as real as you are look...” Aerith reached out a hand towards his but didn’t take it; she was respectful enough to wait for him...if he did. “I’m as warm as any living being; perhaps the Planet needs me here more than within the Lifestream. Perhaps I’m not the only one either.”

Aerith didn’t believe she was the only one, yet, she hadn’t met any others that had come back like she did. Eyes focused on him once more with his final comment, there was one people who had done wrong to both Aerith and Vincent but she wasn’t sure...Cloud was supposed to be settling that.

“Who?”

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Aerith, a pink girl wearing pink clothes and a cheery heart captured the attention of everyone to whom she spoke. She was approachable and the exact opposite of himself. Maybe that was why she had friends and he didn't. He wasn't sure where along the way he decided he wanted to have some - it had to be between the world saving adventures he'd been having lately. he just wasn't very good at it.

"I was wondering how it was different to my own," he said after a fashion. It wasn't something he felt comfortable talking about but he also knew Aerith didn't do judgements or gossip. She was a classy girl - a rare breed in a world full of hypocrites, liars and thieves. Where the best man was also the one marking the bulls eye on your back because better you than him right? People just don't care about each other. They chewed each other up and spat each other out. Vincent had always preferred a succinct bullet to the brain. It was quick, relatively painless and final.

Vincent regarded her for a moment. "This isn't Gaia," he commented. "And it doesn't seem to have much fight any more. We keep killing it's defence mechanisms," Vincent said drolly. He didn't think the Planet knew or wanted her here at all. He believed it was something else. Why would the Planet want her on another world? How would it even do that, especially since it seemed as though the only way to travel was by Xeno-forms? But there was much Vincent did not know, and much for him to learn.

Had he said that loudly? "It doesn't matter," he groused. He had nothing to say on the matter.

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Aerith pondered on his comment, to wonder how this world was different than Gaia, was that what he meant? Vincent was being very short with her, which wasn’t exactly surprising considering how mysterious he usually was but there was something else. There was a dark cloud following him and it was different to previous times, there was something bigger on his mind. Aerith cocked her head and observed him, trying to understand what it was that he wanted and was searching for. It had brought him all the way to Radiant Garden so there must have been something here that he thought would be useful.

“You mean different from Gaia? There are a lot of differences…The Princess of light and Kingdom hearts are two of them. Although they are what connects all the worlds. This world, like many others has a key hole which is the heart of the world and a key bearer uses to lock it away from the darkness. There are a lot of differences Vincent, you just need to tell me what will help you.”

Aerith had learnt a lot about the universe from living here, it had already brought a lot of questions with this too though. Sora had helped them along the way and she was beginning to piece it altogether but there was so much more that she didn’t know too. Aerith scowled as she thought on his next comment about it not being Gaia, no, she knew that and he did too but he was right it wasn’t. However she wasn’t brought here on accident, she really did believe the Planet had something to do with it.

“I don’t think I could have come back on Gaia. I think it might have needed energy from somewhere else…” Her eyes glanced to the floor and an arm crossed over her body whilst the other leant gently on her lip, “But I can’t hear the Planet very well here, I can feel it calling me back but I don’t know what it wants.” Aerith’s emerald eyes travelled back to the dark figure and lay upon his again, “That’s my own worry though, care to share yours?” The Cetra wanted to help and she hoped he trusted her to do this, her stomach rumbled and she remembered why she had left the headquarters in a hurry…but that could wait.

Her head tilted again and she took a step forward to Vincent, her frown was not of frustration but of worry, “It does matter Vincent, I’m your friend, you can trust me.” The brunette glanced around the square and then back to him again, “Maybe not here though, let’s go inside somewhere and maybe I could help you go through your research, I want to help Vincent.”

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Vincent didn't believe in this whole universal fate crap. He also didn't believe that the Planet was all knowing. It was a sapient creature yes, in that it had feelings, but Vincent wasn't sure how much it understood or had thoughts. He saw it more as a sophisticated primal creature able to devise its own WEAPONS, escape plans and get-out-of-jail-free cards. For those who knew how to work the system there was certainly wiggle room to grow but Vincent was just a man caught up in a storm of lies, deceit and experimentation. Aerith knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of Hojo's schtick too.

Keyholes. Right. That made perfect sense. "Maybe we need to find Gaia's keyhole," Vincent commented. If that was how the heartless were getting in then it made sense they did something about keeping them out. "It might be the only way to save it now," he said. They had to take the Planet back at some point. They couldn't just allow it to fester in darkness. They had worked far too hard to let it go now. He hated to say it, but he was kind of invested in its future. After being forced to save it he was a bit ticked off about failing to keep The Hunger from taking it over.

"Maybe it's being drowned in the darkness we tried to repel," he commented sourly. Maybe Aerith was right and the Planet had ejected its most powerful forces for good from within its confines as an act of desperate hope. If only they could hear what it wanted now. If only the Cetrans hadn't been killed off long ago. But maybe they would find more of them now, wondering the worlds. If Aerith was as powerful as she was, and only half what the Ancients were, then it was reasonable to suppose they held more clout than she. But without meeting any he'd never know. Maybe they were too long gone to bring back now.

"The worlds are full of Chaos," he said. "And this probably is best convened in private," he agreed.

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The answers given were not meant to be vague, however it was difficult to pin point exactly what was wanted from the conversation. This just seemed to be the way it was with Vincent apparently, although he did speak of the Planet being saved, with the paths only opening up recently, Aerith hadn’t realised it needed saving until a few days ago. The brunette felt guilty for ignoring the pull she felt from the Planet, that she needed to go back but Rufus had told her that the Planet needed saving and Aerith was beginning to see the severity of it. However it was the place she had died, of course she had good memories there but her new life was keeping her more than occupied and she had been distracted for too long, unfortunately she had a duty.

“I know it sounds strange when you say it out loud, keyholes and princesses…okay I’ll talk about it when we get there! Follow me.” Aerith was still as positive as ever, this world had revived the hope that waned every time a new struggle surfaced. This was just something she liked to keep hidden, she trusted her friends of course but knew that they were also counting on her; be it for answers or comfort, Aerith always needed to be strong. A wave of the hand was all she gave Vincent to follow her with, she was thinking of her home here.

Her body turned to the darkened streets and strolled forwards not ignoring her partner by her side, “It isn’t far from here, my home that is.” She offered in comfort and turned to him with the same comforting smile. “Have you seen the others?” Aerith wondered about Barret, Nanaki and Cait Sith, none of the three she had seen yet although seeing Vincent brought a certain amount of comfort in hopes that they were safe. Her hand placed itself on her stomach as she felt it tighten, hunger…something even someone once dead couldn’t ignore.

With her spare hand, the Cetra reached in her jacket pocket for her keys as she spotted her front door. “Here.” She said simply and pointed to her house, “See? Not too far at all.” Aerith’s smile hadn’t faded, that was until the thought of the darkness taking her home came to play. Her mother still lived there, her friends still lived there and it was an emergency to her to keep them safe. Aerith fumbled the keys in her hand until she found the correct one and unlocked the door for them both.

Her house was simple, she stayed with Yuffie for a while and it showed, Aerith liked feminine things and Yuffie well…shurikans and other items of clothing were usually haphazardly thrown about the place. Aerith had grown used to this however which was visible by the way she ignored the slight mess and walked over to the dining table. It was small, perhaps big enough for four people to eat at but that was fine for the two of them or for whoever needed her council. Her emerald eyes traced over the room and back to Vincent.

“You can show me your research now if that’s okay. I’m just going to get something to eat, is there anything you need?” Aerith assumed Vincent didn’t need to eat or drink to be kept going, otherwise he wouldn’t have survived in a coffin for all those years. Aerith shuddered, she hated feeling alone…she hated being alone and the thought of living in a coffin for years with no loved ones with you was probably her worst nightmare. Even the Lifestream had those.

“The heart…” Aerith began as once again her arms folded themselves around her, “When the darkness takes over a world it feeds on the Planet’s heart. Perhaps that’s why it’s calling out to me.” It was spoken in almost a whisper and she immediately turned her back to Vincent and headed towards the kitchen that was a few feet away, “The key…?” As she wandered over to the door, her hand gently rested itself on the frame, her mind and imagination spinning out of control, “Sorry this is a lot to take in, give me just a moment and I’ll join you.”

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Vincent unfortunately, had been present when Gaia fell to Darkness as Tenebra’s Hunger swallowed it whole. He had to conceed he was being dramatic but he had seen what darkness did the worlds it took a hold in. Overrun by Heartless and powerful creatures taking leadership, it was an uphill battle.


He followed Aerith easily trusting she would lead him safely to wherever it is she wanted to take him. She wasn’t someone who would lead a fly into danger - she was far too kind for that. He walked calmly through the dull streets, darkness descending as night veiled over them.


It was not all too confusing for Vincent. He knew he would get the story straight once she explained it clearly. He had found references to locking and keyblades and keyholes in the documents he had taken from Hollow Bastion. ”Keyblades lock keyholes…” Vincent said. He didn’t know the entire ins and outs of it but that was the general idea.


Vincent took out the research he had gathered and gently placed it on a table. ”No. I do not rqeuire anything,” for a short space of time he had had the luxury of needing to eat and of feeling hungry, and thirsty and even tired. Although he could eat, and sleep and do all things normal men do, he did not need to do them at all not while Chaos sleeps, rumbles, within. it had been a year full of understanding what it was to have aches and pains and pulled muscles and hunger.

”I’m more interested in what it does to people,” he confessed though anything she had to say would be interesting.

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As she gathered the loaf of bread and block of cheese that she had hidden within her cupboard, Aerith listened to Vincent from the other room. As she expected, he didn’t need nor want anything but she was still glad she had asked, it wasn’t like her to treat people differently and he was no exception. The Ancient wondered whether he’d be open about things with her, they had a dark past that each of them chose not to speak about until was necessary and she liked that about him. It was this that made her feel like he understood her, sure their personas were different but that didn’t mean they had nothing in common, of course if you do not count the obvious strive for a better world and to take Sephiroth down back then.

“Okay, I’ll only be a moment.” Her soft voice called from the kitchen as she used an assortment of knives to cut through small pieces of the food. The flower girl was hungry but she had a guest with an intriguing situation, Aerith wasn’t in the mood for a feast right now. The food was placed on a table and she wandered back into the room glancing over the papers Vincent had gathered. She set the plate on the table and sat down across from Vincent as he went over things, she could tell that this was important to him. Her eyes followed each report on the heart and the keyholes, he had done an impressive job to gather so much information.

“Wow, there’s a lot here!” She exclaimed and ate a small piece of food from her plate. He mentioned to her that he wondered what it did to people, did he mean the darkness? There were a variation of things that the darkness would latch onto, the weakness of a person and she wondered if this was what it was. “Do you mean what the darkness does to someone?” She finally asked and tilted her head, “Has anyone been affected?” Her voice was comforting and calm, Aerith never really panicked until backed into a corner, she was unusually accepting which allowed others to open up if they were willing. Perhaps this also got her into trouble a few times too.

“It affects people in different ways but it seems to be something than conquers your body and soul until there is nothing left and you are a shell of the person you once were.” Aerith looked at Vincent, trying to decipher whether he was worried about any of this. “But there are those who in return have conquered it and use it for good, I don’t think you can have Light without Darkness it seems.”
Again her eyes traced over the papers and back to him, “Is any of that helpful?”