Aeris and Cloud walked along in silence for a while, before Cloud spoke.

"The Planet spoke to you, didn't it?" He said. Aeris looked at him in surprise. "When the girl stole our Materia. You told it to shut up." Aeris looked away, blushing.

"Y...yes."

"What did it say?" Aeris didn't answer.

"It...it told me the girl was in the tree."

"And after that?"

"After that?" Aeris repeated.

"It was after that you told it to shut up. Twice, actually."

He won't take offence.

"It's been talking to me a lot...saying things about you." Cloud looked surprised. They stopped walking as he looked at her.

"Me?" He asked.

"It keeps telling me...we're suited. We should...be together."

Now perhaps you can leave me alone, she thought, knowing the Planet was listening.

Not a chance. When you get together.

"It's talking to you again now, isn't it?" Cloud said. "I can tell." Aeris looked at him, and smiled.

"Yes, it is." They continued walking, Aeris clinging onto his arm. "It doesn't think Zack and I are suited."

"Neither do I," Cloud said. "He's not your type."

"And what is my type?" Aeris asked. Cloud shrugged.

"I think that's for you to decide, don't you?"

"Well, regardless of whether we're suited or not, we're getting married next week. I can't cancel now."

"Are you in love with him?" Aeris didn't answer for a moment. "Sorry," Cloud said. "You don't have to answer that."

"No, it's all right. It's just...I don't know if I do."

Tell him.

Tell him what? Aeris thought.

You know what. Tell him you love him.

Love him? I don't think I love him.

Yes you do. Don't deny it. Even if you are getting married, you'll always wonder what could have happened. You'll wonder about the time you never told him how you felt.

Who are you to tell me who I love?

The Planet. Fate. He's your soul mate. You'll always think about his reaction.

"Aeris?" Cloud said. She had stopped walking, and was staring into space. "Oh, it's talking."

"Cloud," Aeris said. "I..." she stopped.

I love Zack!

No you don't. He's not your type. He doesn't make you happy.

"Cloud..." she began again. Suddenly her grip tightened on his arm.

"Aeris, your fingernails are digging into my arm..." Cloud said, trying to loosen her grip.

"Duck!" She yelled, pulling him to the ground as a single bullet flew above them. Right through where Cloud had been standing. Cloud looked up, amazed.

"Did the Planet tell you that?" He said shakily.

"No," Aeris said, pulling him to his feet. She saw a shadow move closer, and the shadow became a person.

"I have never missed," the figure said.

"Who are you?" Aeris asked.

"That I cannot say." The man holstered his gun in his folds of his red cape and walked away. Aeris looked at Cloud, who was watching the man intently.

"An assassin," she said. "I never thought we had such people in the City of Ancients!"

"You thought wrong," Cloud said. "Come on. I think we should get back to the palace."

*******************

"What do you mean, you failed?" Zack hissed into the phone.

"He ducked."

"He ducked." Zack repeated. "Goddamit, you're the best assassin this city has ever seen! How can you miss?!" The door opened and Reeve walked in. Zack smiled. "I have to go now. I'm not happy." With that, he slammed the phone down in the cradle.

"Problems, Zack?" Reeve asked.

"No Sir," Zack answered with a smile. "Nothing I can't handle." He changed the subject. "Where's Aeris?"

"I haven't seen her since that argument. I didn't punish the girl, and she's on her way back to Wutai."

"That's great. Now she won't bother us any longer."

"That's right. But I don't think Aeris is going to be happy."

"She'll be all right. Can you let me know when she gets back?"

"Of course." Reeve smiled and left the room, shutting the door. He looked out the window and saw Aeris returning, with the blond haired man. Cloud, wasn't it? He looked closer. He could have sworn they were holding hands.

"I'll get you for this," he said quietly. "I'll find a way..."

*******************

"I wish I knew why that man tried to kill me," Cloud said as he and Aeris walked back to his room.

"I hate to think it, but I think Zack has something to do with it."

"You think?"

"I think he's annoyed about what happened earlier. I'll go talk to him." There was a silence before Cloud spoke.

"Well, goodnight Aeris." Aeris smiled.

"Goodnight Cloud." She smiled as he opened the door. Suddenly a thought struck her. "Cloud?" He turned to look at her. "How old are you?"

"Twenty one," Cloud said. Aeris smiled.

"The thought never occurred to me I could be robbing the cradle," she said. "I'm twenty two, so that's all right."

"Aeris, you're talking like we're gonna get together," Cloud said. "Don't. It can never be." With that, he walked into the room. Before he closed the door, he smiled at her. Aeris realised it was the first time he has smiled, a real smile. He looked so beautiful then. She just wanted to fall into his embrace and kiss him like there was no tomorrow. But she couldn't. Not because of her engagement to Zack. That was irrelevant now, seeing as he had tried to kill Cloud. She was certain of that now. But because it could endanger his life.

"Cloud," she began, but stopped as she saw Zack approach her from across the hall. "Have a good night."

"You too," Cloud said, also seeing the man. He closed the door as Aeris turned to Zack.

"Are you still mad at me?" He asked. Aeris's eyes narrowed, and she stalked away from him. "I don't see why!" Zack shouted, coming after her. "You're the one cheating on me!!"

"I am not cheating on you!" Aeris said, her eyes flashing, as she whirled round to face him. "Cloud and I are just friends!"

"It looked like more than that when you came back from your little stroll together."

"So you were spying on me?"

"No! I just happened to look out the window when you came back. You were holding hands."

"Maybe it was because someone just tried to kill him?!" Aeris yelled. "I can only guess who hired that assassin." Zack just stared at her.

"Are you accusing *me*?" He said slowly.

"Yes I'm accusing you!" Zack looked at her, a pained expression on his face.

"That hurts Aeris."

"Good."

"I don't know why you're so mad with me," he said as Aeris began to walk away again. "I didn't hire anyone! I've just been waiting here for you to get back so we can discuss our marriage!"

"Marriage?" Aeris turned round to him again. "Oh no Zack. There is no marriage."

"What...? What are you talking about?"

"The wedding is off!"

"You don't mean that; you're just mad."

"I mean it Zack, I'm not in love with you anymore!" Zack frowned, confused at her serious tone. His gaze grew hard.

"I think I'll give you time to cool down," he said evenly. With that, he walked away, leaving Aeris standing by herself in the corridor, fuming.

Well done. Now you can be with him.

I didn't mean it! She thought. Zack's right, I'm just mad...

You meant it.

"Oh just leave me alone!" She yelled. The Planet didn't reply, leaving her in solitude. She heard the palace doors slam down the hall. Zack had left, obviously to calm down himself. She started towards Cloud's room, but changed her mind. It was unfair to get him caught up in all of this in the first place. She wouldn't get him more involved than he already was just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.