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When the two emerged into the small alcove of the slums that Aeris' house occupied, Storm's nose was assailed with scents he hadn't smelled since he'd come to Midgar two years ago.

All around him, there was absolute natural beauty about him. A forest of flowers, it seemed, existed here where Aeris lived.

"But.....", Storm began, but trailing off.

"What can I say, I'm a good gardener", jeered Aeris as she set toward the front door of her modest house.

Impossible, he thought, the Mako reactors drain all life in the city and for a good radius outward. How can there be plants, flowers of all things, here in the goddamn city known for its lack of life?!

Absentmidedly scratching his soul-patch, Storm walked amongst the shoals of flowers for a good half-hour, contemplating how they could have gotten here. It wasn't until Aeris came behind him to flick him in the back of the head that he was jerked forth from his reverie.

"Going to gawk all night", she asked jokingly.

"How is this possible", interrogated Storm with a serious tone, "This is Midgar for God's sake!"

"I honestly don't know", answered Aeris airily, "I've just been able to grow vegetation here, as long as I've been here."

"It goes against the laws of nature", growled Storm, his brows glaring in frustration as he made his tactless remark.

"Abomination", exclaimed Aeris with incredulity, "Why? Because I can bring life into this goddamned hellhole of a city? Because for once, there's some form of life in a city where the common motto is 'When stopped by a mugger, pay him and be rid of him. Ask someone else for help and you will pay two bandits that day, nor will you ever be free of them'?! I don't know about you and these laws that you govern yourself with, Storm, but they obviously need an overhaul!"

Storm was taken aback after being struck dumb by Aeris' outburst.

"Well", he shot back, "I'm sorry that I can't understand why all of these flowers are being sucked dry as we speak. My apologies for not knowing why these plants aren't withering into dust!"

Aeris shrugged before she picked up a small pair of shears and pruned a few unruly flowers.

"I didn't know how....or when", she began, setting down the shears and taking a seat on the dirt, "but ever since I was little, whenever I planted something in the ground, it would grow. It would even flourish in this parched, drained soil after I'd put it in. I dunno. It just helped me growing up, being chased around every corner by those Turks, being harrassed by men wanting more than the literal 'flower'. Everyday, I could come home and see these flowers and know that I would be accomplishing something, no matter how small."

Storm listened to her short tale with an open mind, using his own knowledge to piece together some of the puzzle. Then, his mind was drawn back to the Church, to something that Reno had said.

"The Ancient is getting away!"

Storm's eyes closed when he'd realised the significance of this comment. Though Reno wasn't exactly the most trustworthy person, Storm wasn't one to be decieved by dishonesty.

"I guess I get this", shrugged Storm as he gestured to the flowers, offering his hand to help Aeris up, "but right now, I could use some good hospitality."

Aeris took his hand and allowed him to help her up. They both made their way through the forest of flowers and were soon inside of Aeris' house.

"Mom", she called, "Mom, I'm home!"

A middle-aged woman in a green dress with a white apron came out of a small kitchen nearby to greet the both of them.

"It's good to know you've survived another day", said the woman in a wizened voice as she met Aeris' open arms in an affectionate hug, "and who might this be?" The woman's tired eyes came to rest on Storm as she peered over Aeris' shoulder.

"This is my bodyguard, Storm Kensho, ma", replied Aeris, releasing her mother and facing Storm, "He helped me find my way home. Storm, this is Elmyra, my mother."

"Bodyguard...", trailed Elmyra with a weak tone, "Were you followed home again, dear?"

"Yeah", affirmed Aeris, remaining cheerful even though Elmyra had gotten grim in her expression, "But they stood no chance against Storm!"

"Thank you for bringing my daugther home, young man", thanked Elmyra as her face relaxed.

"Hey, I do what I can, make what I can, and go where I can", said Storm, accepting Elmyra's thanks but also pretending to brush it off, "I just happened to run into your daughter along the way."

Elmyra's face cracked the first smile Storm had seen since he'd first met her, and they seemed rare indeed. Elmyra turned to the kitchen and began to busy herself, though Storm's ears caught a faint whisper of "Too much like he was, that boy is.....".

Storm's brows knitted as he dissected Elmyra's comment, but soon brushed it off as he took a seat at the dining table.

"Your mother's a nice enough person", commented Storm as he placed his left hand on the side of his face with his middle and index fingers rubbing his temple after the day's worth of stress.

"Raising a child in the slums is tough enough work", answered Aeris, "It's made even tougher when that child is a girl. So Storm, where are you heading off to?"

Storm's eyes closed for a moment as he leaned back and relaxed for the first time today, breathing in the sweet air secreted by the flowers outside.

"I'm going to Sector 7", replied Storm, opening his eyes and meeting Aeris', "I need to go to Tifa's bar, the Seventh Heaven."

"Ah", acknowledged Aeris, a look of recognition coming over her face as Storm mentioned the bar's name, "Is Tifa.......a girlfriend?"

"Huh", exclaimed Storm as his face registered shock, "Hell no. She's my sister!"

"Oh", responded Aeris with a look of relief, "I'm sorry......Mom. I'm going to take Storm to Sector 7."

"But you just got here", said Elmyra as she emerged from the kitchen with a roast of chicken on a platter, "Shouldn't you stay the night, first, and go when your strength is back?"

Storm shook his head to refuse the offer.

"I appreciate it, but I'm more than capable of handling myself", he spoke with a hint of weariness in his voice.

"Sector 5 and 6 is a dangerous place, young man", said Elmyra with a firm tone, "Especially after dark, when most of the local thieves are going through their rounds."

"You've got a point", acknowledged Storm, leaning forward to eat.

The three helped themselves to a good feast that night. Elmyra's cooking, in Storm's opinion, was top-notch to some of the food he'd recieve during his occasional visit to Shin-Ra headquarters.

"Aeris, you'll need to make your bed", ordered Elmyra as she cleaned the table, "and prepare the other bedroom as well for our guest."

"Going, mother", answered Aeris as she ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Storm made to follow, but Elmyra grabbed his arm with a grip he didn't think she possessed.

"I'm sorry if this sounds rude, sir", said Elmyra with her eyes suddenly gaining a more sharp look about them, "but you should leave. Tonight while Aeris is asleep."

"I understand", responded Storm as he continued up the stairs.

When he arrived, Aeris was waiting for him in the main area outside the two bedrooms upstairs. She had removed her boots and was holding them in one hand as she held a nightgown in the other.

"Sector 7's gate is on the other side of Sector 6, through some pretty treacherous terrain. We'll need a good night's sleep to make it through in one piece", explained Aeris as she padded into her bedroom and unzipped the red outer jacket she always wore.

"Goodnight, bodyguard", teased Aeris as she closed the door behind her. Storm made his way to the room on the right and opened the door, finding a small, modest enclosure that Elmyra probably used on a normal day. Pushing down upon the mattress, Storm found it plush and comfortable as he undid his hair, allowing it to cascade about his shoulders, removed his boots and swordbelt as well as unbuckle his armour and slide the curiass off. After that, he undid the clasp on his greaves and removed those along with his undershirt. Laying down upon the clean bed, Storm allowed himself to air out a bit since he'd set out from his business on the Plate before he gradually slipped off into a deep sleep.

How's the bed, the Voice asked.

It's pretty good. I slept in better ones before, though, Storm replied.

Oh?

Well, I was a Wutaiin noble at one point, remember.

Good point.

Storm's thoughts were adrift as he dozed in this comfortable bed. The bed reminded him of home, in Wutai, back before the War started, when Storm was simply Storm Kensho, and not the Former-1st Class SOLDIER, Renowned-Mercenary Storm of today.

"Again", Metsubi Kensho ordered the young thirteen year-old Storm, pointing to the straw-and-wood dummy used for sword practice.

Storm hit the test-dummy again and again under his father's strict tutelage. He had been training since he was old enough to wield a small dagger, everyday at 8 in the morning under 11 in the morning. Even though Storm always made progress, he still was never good enough to please his father.

"No, no, no", barked Metsubi as he smacked Storm's shoulders with his bamboo rod, "Your shoulders are too tense. Loosen up. A samurai does not fight with rigidity, not those trained in the Kensho family discipline. We fight like the ever-flowing Da Chao river, ever moving with the ebb-and-flow of the world. We adapt from one situation to the next, always learning and never foolishly sticking to one method of fighting. We are not rigid as the wood, for even the strongest oaken wood will break and splinter over time. Water never does. It can destroy, and then only flow when attacked."

Storm grew up with this powerful discipline, never resenting his father like a fool, for even though his father was not a perfect man, Storm knew that his father was still his father, and he loved his father despite those flaws.

"Remember, my only son", ordered Metsubi everyday when they would finish with training, "I was probably rash in sending your mother away when you were born, but it is not your parents' actions that define you. It is you, your own actions and your own decisions that define you. You may one day be a greater master than me, only time will tell. You may, indeed, accomplish deeds that would put the feats of the Kensho line to shame. This will only happen, though, if you're able to meet these events with your head held high and your blade in your hands, ready to defend you and the ones you care for when the time comes."

Storm's eyes shot open as they gazed into pure darkness. As his vision focused and adjusted to the blackness, Storm checked his PHS phone to find the time to be 8 in the morning, the same time he'd been awakened for training in the mornings back in Wutai.

Storm touched his cheek to find a wet tear sliding down it, the memories of his past no doubt triggering this involuntary reaction.

Putting those thoughts aside, Storm quickly dressed and put on his swordbelt.

"Okay", he murmered, running the situation through his mind, "Sector 6 shouldn't be too far from here. If I can just slip downstairs, I'll be able to get there without Aeris even knowing I'm gone."

Breathing deeply, Storm pushed open his door into the dark hallway to make his way downstairs......