It was a dark and stormy night, the thunder roars through the sky and the rain poured down like a waterfall. The streets was empty and quiet, expect for the dimly lit street lights that occasionally flickered for a while. A very nice view to be enjoyed from the comfortable indoors, when you are all dry and cozy...
It is at this time, somewhere along the street, a man was leaning against the railing, all soaked with the rain and his head looking down at the sidewalk. All he saw was the rain that fell flowing in front of him, and then continued to stream into the drains. He was cold, shivering and wet, but he kept on waiting, knowing that he had to do this, he had to... or he might not have another chance to do so...
The man waited some more. He had no intention of giving up. He will wait and wait, until the person arrived. He know she would. She must...
“You... are really here...”
The man turned to look at the direction of the voice. His heart leaped with joy. Finally, she came. She was holding a small umbrella, but still, she was thoroughly soaked too. Her expression seemed be a mixture of worry and joy, but at the same time... guilty...
“Why... in this rain...” The girl softly spoke.
“I... I can't keep it any longer, I must tell you this... I...” The man said while making his way to her...
“I... love you...”
The man said held the girl's hands. The girl tried to break free but she couldn't. The man's face was just inches away from her. She felt an urge, a really strong urge to just...
“I can't... I just can't... I am engaged to someone else...”
The girl softly replied but the man then wrapped his arms around her shoulders. His head burrowed between her shoulder and her neck, and his tears warmed her skin. She couldn't possibly resist him anymore, whatever happens happens...
“I can't bear to lose you... I just can't...”
The man said and then he shifted his face toward her's. He could see her now, her eyes filled with tears just like him. He drew his lips closer to her's... slowly... slowly...
“I love you... Rinoa...”
“Cloud...no...”
.........???
It is now day again. There is now the ringing of bells, church bells. There are many people gathered in the church, all well dressed and everything. Some holding their hands, some couldn't bear to hold their tears back, a typical scene you see in a wedding...
The church organ started playing the ever well-known wedding tune, and the bride walked slowly down the aisle with her father, step-by-step towards the groom on the alter. She could see the happy face on the groom, and the priest ready for the ceremony. She is now getting married, she should be very happy, a girl's dream! But somehow, she felt like...
“We now gather here...”
The priest started saying the usual verses for the marriage ceremony.
“Will you take her...”
The words just past by like wind to her... her mind seemed to be flying off somewhere...
“I do...”
She heard the voice coming from next to him. She was now confused, not knowing what to do...
“Will you...”
Her heart races more and more...
“Rinoa Heartily... take this man as your wedded husband?”
The girl turned and looked at look at that man. He somehow seemed like a stranger to her... why is she doing this... why...
“No! Rinoa! Don't!”
The girl heard the church's door opening and in came a man rushing in, with an untidy attire and a really haggard look. Everyone in the church stood up and turned around to see what it was all about. The man... it can't be...
“Rinoa... I love you...”
The man said and then he rushed right toward the groom. He smashed the groom with his fist and the crowd watched and gasped in horror. Almost instantly, he grabbed the bride's hand and ran out through the back door of church. The crowd and the priest are baffled, the groom was devastated. The wedding was ruined...
“Why... why are you doing this to me?!”
“Simply... because I love you...” The man said while running away with the someone else's bride. The two ran off, leaving behind all conscience and responsibility.
“Cloud...”
......!!!???!!!
It was now sunset and the beach was really beautiful with it's orange color sky and the fishing boats far away in the horizon. The beating of the waves onto the beach, the cry of the sea gulls...
Now on the entire beach, there are only a couple there. One that was haggard as a broke gambler, and another fully dressed as a bride. The two gazed at each other... each waiting for the other one to speak...
“I am sorry for ruining your wedding. But I can't bear seeing you marrying someone you do not love. Let's run off into the horizon, where nobody can find us, and live together forever...” The man slowly spoke out.
“But I... so many people are hurt... my fiancee... oh poor thing... he don't have a clue about this...” The girl said with tears of guilt flowing from her eyes.
“But to me, everything else doesn't matter. The question is, do you love me as much as I love you?”
The man said and then closed up against the girl. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed on her forehead.
“No... please...”
The man then started to reach for the girl's zip behind her wedding dress. The girl hesitated and struggled but then she gave up...
“Tell me you love me... Rinoa...” The man said slowly with his lips playing around her neck.
“I... I would give you everything... everything... Cloud...” Their lips met. And at this time...
“What in...”
“the world...”
“was...”
“that...?!”
Cloud woke up on the couch, shocked with what he just experience. Rinoa, catching for breath, took a look out of the window and saw the sun shining onto her bed. It was... it was just a....
“Dream?” Cloud scratched his head and wondered.
“A weird one...” Rinoa sat on her bed for a little more time, gathering herself and her thoughts. It somehow seemed so real...
“What is...”
“he...”
“doing...”
“in it?”
Cloud wondered some more and took a look at the clock. Time to get up, another day of work. Rinoa hastily made her bed and then headed for the bathroom. Cloud brushed his teeth, readying himself for another day, but at the same time, while looking into the mirror, Rinoa couldn't stop thinking about the dream. He saw her inside... Can that mean that she... he...
“Stop it! There is no way that could happen!”
Cloud and Rinoa both turned away from the mirror and stop thinking about that dream. It's just a dream, a meaningless dream...
Hm... does anybody believe in dreams that could tell the future?
So another morning greeted Square World. People, as usual, buzz in and out, making their way through the rush hour, hopefully arriving at their workplace at the right time. Cloud, looking at his watch, jogged toward Square Studios.
“Everyone's waiting... I cannot be late again...” Rinoa said while running down the street.
“That dream...”
“I wonder...”
Cloud looked straight ahead of him and saw Rinoa running towards him, and then she stopped. Seeing Cloud stopped, Rinoa suddenly felt a very awkward feeling inside her. A feeling he never thought he will have for her...
“Morning!”
Cloud was shock when the Rinoa greeted him at the same moment as he does. Rinoa's heart started thumping, something weird is going on. Cloud broke the weird atmosphere and walked towards the main entrance, and Rinoa entered after Cloud opened the door. Rinoa walked side by side with Cloud, and his heart raced faster and faster the moment they entered the lift. Cloud saw the door of the lift closing, with only the two of them. She couldn't stop thinking about the dream this morning...
Her lips...
His touch......
Her tears.........
His words............
The sound of her zip opening............
(Stop it!)
Cloud, not knowing why, stole a glance at Rinoa. She, at that moment, had eye contact with him, quickly withdrew herself and acted as nothing ever happened. He, hoping that Rinoa never noticed, acted as if he was looking at the lift's floor display.
Nine... Ten... Ding!
Rinoa shifted her eyes off the floor display and then walked out of the lift. He felt that he collide with someone and saw Rinoa walking out the lift the same time as he did.
“You first...”
Rinoa sheepishly obeyed and walked out of the lift. Cloud followed and they were then greeted by Reeves. They started their working day, like any other day... but with something in their mind...
Coincidence?
“...... All right... CUT! Good shot! Take a break, everyone!”
Reeves shouted through the megaphone and everyone sighed in relieve. The NPC started to flock together and headed to the cafeteria, while the other crew started to plan about the next scene. Rinoa, trying to avoid Cloud, started to chat with a female NPC she knew at that scene. That female NPC seemed to be able to sense something happening...
“Cloud... you two are quiet today... had you and Rinoa been fighting?” Reeves asked Cloud suddenly.
“No... nothing like that happened! We are cool...” Rinoa reluctantly answered the female NPC's question.
“Oh... I get it... you started to... have feelings for him?” The NPC closed up and asked Rinoa with a smirk on her face.
“No... no way! That will never happened!” Cloud protested to Reeves. Reeves rubbed his chin and continued.
“Oh... really...”
“Of course! That guy... he is not my type...” Rinoa answered and avoid eye contact with the female NPC.
“Ha ha, just joking! But look at you... you are all...”
Reeves said and left Cloud alone to take a tea break himself. Cloud stood up and walked around, and saw Rinoa, looking at him, the same way he looked at her.
“Today's weather is fine huh?”
The two kept quiet the moment the two said the same thing. What is wrong with this world?! Are the two cursed or something?!
The quiet moment went on and the atmosphere is really getting strange. Cloud wanted to say something, but she stopped the moment she saw his lips moving. To make the atmosphere less tense, Cloud broke out into laughter like an idiot and Rinoa looked at him and slightly giggled.
“Ha ha, you know... I had a funny dream last night... There is this cliché confession in the rain thing...”
“Yeah right, like there is going to be a runaway bride in mine...”
“... and finally by the sea...”
Cloud saw Rinoa's face became pale. She couldn't believe what she heard. This is... this is...
“Excuse me...!”
The two said and each bolted off toward the opposite direction, trying to cover up whatever they've got. There is something.... really wrong going on...
The curse continues...
Cloud went down to the cafeteria, seeing Reeves sitting there, chatting with a few of his crew. Cloud approached him, and Reeves saw him, knowing that Cloud had something serious to discuss.
“Uh, Reeves...”
“You looked troubled. Is there something really wrong going on?” The female NPC that just chatted with Rinoa asked Rinoa. Rinoa remained quiet but then spoke.
“I uh... had a really weird day going on today...”
“Weird? Tell me about it.” Reeves asked while sipping his cup of coffee.
“Uh... to what extent do you believe in coincidence?”
Rinoa asked the female NPC that is now looking at her strangely, not expecting such a question. She scratched her head a little, looking for a answer.
“I haven't experienced it before but if there is a lot of it, I believe it is called faith.”
Reeves put down his cup of coffee and replied leisurely to Cloud. Cloud then started to enter into a state of deep thought. Faith? What... what kind of faith?
“Or... you could believe that there is a parallel execution of events happening on the two of you for an unexplainable reason.”
The female NPC then continued with a slight smile and Rinoa nodded for a while, then suddenly had her eyes wide opened. She looked at the female NPC and then questioned her?
“How... how do you know its me and him?”
Reeves shook his head slightly the moment he saw Cloud's reaction. Gracefully, he lifted his cup of coffee again and expressed what that is in his mind.
“Who else can it be? Any Tom, Dick or Harry could had guessed it... So... how did it started?”
The female NPC lifted her eyebrows, showing interest in whatever that is about to be discussed. Rinoa felt uneasy with the female NPC looking at her like that, and words came out softly.
“Uh... last night...”
“Oh my god! You slept with her!”
Reeves cried out loud without even hearing the remaining sentences. Cloud immediately shut Reeves mouth, while looking around, noticing the attention towards them. Cloud then denied whatever Reeves said.
“If not... did he... kissed you? Confessed to you?”
The female NPC laid the foundation to dig out whatever that is inside Rinoa. Rinoa shook her head violently, none of that had happened...
A flash of her inside his arms under the rain came into her mind...
He remember the moment where he kissed her with rain pouring all over them...
“So...?” Reeves questioned Cloud and waited for his reply. To reduce the amount of misunderstanding, Cloud tried to make the point as direct as possible.
“I had this strange dream last night...”
“It's some sort of romance fantasy type of dream... but the weirdest thing is...”
“I... saw her in the dream... she...”
“He...”
Reeves eyebrows raised the moment he heard that. He started to get more interested in this.
“You... are having fantasies about him?” The female NPC asked and Rinoa just went red again. She blushed but then protested.
“No! It's not a fantasy about her! It so happens that she's in it... but what is stranger is...”
“He... kinda have the same dream too... I don't know... it seems just so...”
“Ah! You two share the same dream! There may be a hidden message in it...” Reeves said with his eyes sparkling, knowing that some juicy story is about to come out...
“So... what's the dream about?” The female NPC said and waited patiently.
“It's um... it started out with a confession in the rain... under the heavy rain, he waited.. waited for me... then he confessed... and then we...”
“I don't know how, but I remember seeing her in the church, standing with a groom next to her. Somehow, something took over me. I just ran up there and held her hand... and took off with her... then”
“Then you both went to the beach. And make love like there is no tomorrow.” Reeves while sipping his cup of coffee.
“Yeah... that's it...wha..”
“How... do you know about that...?!”
Rinoa asked the female NPC that had suddenly lost interest in whatever she was talking about. The female NPC now replied her lazily.
“Did you wake up today on your couch, with the TV still on?” Reeves asked Cloud that was looking at him stupidly.
“Come to think about it... my TV in my room in switched on...”
Rinoa answered her chatting mate. The female NPC took out a TV guide out of her handbag and passed it to Rinoa.
“Romance like the wind. 11 o'clock every night.” Reeves pointed out a TV programme from the TV guide.
“A soap opera about a man that run off with his lover. But in the end the man is actually a con-man though...”
Rinoa looked at the TV guide and studied the synopsis of the story there. It happened just like...
“You are asleep when you saw that show. The story somehow entered your brain and then...”
Rinoa rested back in relieve, after knowing that everything is just the common show they saw last night. It's not a message or something special between them. It's just coincidence... It is at this time, that female NPC leaned forward and asked her filled with interest...
“I wonder... why is it she that is in your dream...?” Cloud's throat was stuck at this moment. He had to find something to say.
“It must be her pestering me all the time... ah ha ha ha...”
“That guy... he even messed with my dream... I won't forgive him...”
Rinoa replied in a joking manner. The female NPC just looked at her.
“You enjoyed the beach scene?”
Reeves looked at Cloud with a sly smile on his face and Cloud felt like all his defenses against Reeves had been tore down. He had to think of something nice to say...
“Ha ha... I woke up the moment it started...”
Rinoa replied in a half joking manner but it seems she didn't manage to satisfy her chatting partner
“We will never know... we will never know...” Reeves said while patting Cloud on his shoulder and returned to his crew.
Rinoa looked as her chatting companion left and she too started to walk away. It is at this time, she saw Cloud walking into the room, and they had direct eye contact.
“Where you've been?” Cloud asked.
“Just gossiping. You?” Rinoa asked back.
“Had some things to discuss with Reeves.” Cloud replied casually and Rinoa just nodded.
“You know, I had a weird dream with you being nuts about me.” Cloud joked.
“Yeah? That will never happen in reality. But in my dream, you can never let me go...” Rinoa replied teasing Cloud.
“Yeah, right...”
“Right...”
It is now Reeves and that female NPC that was chatting to each other while looking at Cloud and Rinoa. The two couldn't stop feeling amused, seeing Cloud and Rinoa arguing. It is funny, really...
“You know... I somehow felt like there is a bad case of deja vu today...” Reeves said while smiling.
The authors wants everyone to know that...
(This is what you get if you mix a out-of-the-ordinary-cross-over-fic with science fiction and romance. Even confuses myself when editing. Forces me to use color codes to identify who is who. Probably something I should be proud of or something I shouldn't try at all. I chose the former.)