Forty-seven minutes later the black boat began to notably slow.
"Here already?" Tifa said looking out one of the portholes. But the territory did not look familiar
"Are you ready to go?" Cloud asked as he entered her room.
"Where are we?" she asked
"We are near Midgar" said Cloud
"I thought we were going to Junon" said Tifa
"Because of my job it could have been dangerous to go to Junon, people despise leaders of Soldier remember?" said Cloud "So I ordered the ship we were on to take a longer route to Junon and this ship met us part of the way"
Sephiroth had followed the ship's usual course all the way to Costa del Sol but the ship was nowhere to be seen. Sephiroth guessed that Cloud had anticipated his arrival and so had ordered the ship to take another route, one that would make it impossible for Sephiroth to track it. Once Sephiroth had figured this out he took off again but this time he was going directly for Midgar.
Tifa climbed onto the back of the Fernir and put her arms around Cloud as he ignited the engine and took off away from the boat and to Midgar. The plains were not how Tifa had imagined them; she had imagined them as luscious green and the sky a beautiful cerulean blue. But the grass was brown and dying and the sky was grey with smog.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked as he glimpsed her in the mirror
"I thought that Midgar would be nicer" she said "Not this horrid monstrosity" Cloud laughed
"Many people have the wrong idea about Midgar when they imagine it" Cloud explained "They seem to forget that it's a city filled with motor vehicles and large buildings that cause so much pollution, also the streets can be quite messy as there aren't enough cleaners"
"You actually live here?" Tifa said
"It has its highpoints" said Cloud
"Like what?" Tifa asked
"Restaurants" Cloud said
"That's just one" said Tifa. Cloud laughed again
"I'll take you to one" he said "Then see how you feel about them"
"I'll take you up on that" she said.
Minutes later they had reached the highway that led into the city. Already the traffic was tremendous as hundreds of families and tradesmen that lived on the outer rim of the city wanted to get inside. A crash had also affected the traffic making things even more difficult. Above them a massive airship flew over displaying the banner with President Rufus' name. He had been newly situated as President due to the ex-presidents heart which gave out. Cloud turned into the hard shoulder and sped down to the front of the gridlock. The Soldiers that were there keeping order recognised him and his bike and waved him instantly past onto the now deserted road. Once the road was free Cloud instantly opened the throttle wide and set off like a shot down the highway completely disregarding the speed limits.
Twenty-eight minutes after Cloud and Tifa arrived back at Cloud's apartment Sephiroth landed in Midgar. He stretched for a few seconds before emerging from the alley into a crowded street. The sun was strong overhead but was dulled by the smog that circled the outer rim of the city. People moved all over the place discussing the weather and other pointless events. Sephiroth guessed that Cloud lived in the centre of the city in the vicinity of the Shin-Ra building as it would be highly patrolled by armed guards.
Cloud was showing Tifa around his fairly large apartment. Tifa was glad to see that she had her own room and that the bathroom and shower room doors could be locked so Cloud couldn't accidentally wander in. Tifa went over and opened one of the blinds
"Don't you mind living so close to the Shin-Ra building?" Tifa asked him. Cloud walked over and looked at the large building which towered over them, at the moment it was silhouetted by sunlight making it look rather beautiful, he knew that the entire east side of the building would have their shutters down to block out the glare.
"Not really" Cloud told her "It can actually help, you don't really get hit by the wind so I can have the windows open on the windiest of days without the danger of having my curtains sucked out" Tifa giggled
"That would be a problem" she said.
"Indeed it would" Cloud said and smiled at her.
"So what's for lunch?" she asked
"We'll find something in town" he said "I have never been much of a good cook"
"What sort of things do they have in town?" Tifa asked as they left his home and walked past the armed guards.
"It all depends on what you like" he said
"What I like?" Tifa asked
"Yeah" said Cloud "They have got stuff from Wutai, Mideel and Cosmo Canyon, they've got every type of food you can think of"
"Never tried any of it" she admitted
"You are kidding right?" he asked her
"No" she said shaking her glossy haired head
"Then we have to get a move on, so many foods" he said. Tifa laughed as Cloud dragged her, almost running, towards the nearest restaurant. Tifa couldn't help but laugh as she managed to keep her footing as she followed the Cloud Strife that reminded her so much of the young man she once knew. Tifa couldn't help pulling herself free and running ahead of Cloud who desperately tried to get ahead of her but Tifa was just too fast, just like when she was a child.
Sephiroth continued towards the Shin-Ra building, for a second he thought he had spotted Tifa but it was a different young woman. Sephiroth began to feel his annoyance rise like the everyday tide; how was he meant to find two people in such a big city without aid especially with all the cars going around, people shouting, adults running around like children, dogs roaming the streets and children playing in very irritating places. Despite all the annoyances Sephiroth continued to search the grey and dirty streets. He continued to trudge onwards until he reached the area where Cloud's house was situated. Just as Sephiroth guessed it was completely surrounded by armed guards as were the other buildings in the area. He was thinking of making a run for it; he could probably make it through one of the windows if he ran fast enough but the Soldiers would shoot him, there was no doubt about that one. Sephiroth stood there and stared at the house using his enhanced hearing to actually listen inside the house.
"Who's that guy?" a Soldier in a black uniform asked his partner who was stood near the next house along. The other Soldier looked up to see Sephiroth standing in the middle of the road just staring at one of the houses; it was a very bizarre sight.
"Hell if I know" said the other guard who yawned, he had been on duty all night and didn't get off for another three hours.
"But let's go say hi" he said getting to his feet and walking over to him. Sephiroth was listening ever so closely; he could even hear the ticking of the kitchen clock. Suddenly Cloud's alarm clock went off which was near deafening to Sephiroth. The incredibly loud beeping startled Sephiroth. Sephiroth shook his head and was about to start listening in again when two guards were suddenly stood next to him.
"Hello" said the guard closest.
"Hello" Sephiroth replied
"Do you live here?" asked the other guard
"No, you don't" said the closest guard before Sephiroth could reply "So piss off" the guard removed a control from his pocket and pressed the button closing a large black titanium gate between them and the houses and Sephiroth. Sephiroth looked at the two black clad guards through the bars of the gate.
"You don't seem to be leaving" said the guard "If I have to open this gate again then I'm going to arrest you" without a word Sephiroth walked away from the gate; Cloud was not in the house and so must be somewhere close because Sephiroth had glimpsed the motorbike parked at the side of his house.
Tifa was enjoying herself for the first time in a long while. Tifa had always enjoyed her days with Sephiroth but with Cloud she could act very childish and she was glad to see that Cloud was being open with her for once. Cloud was banging a tub of something against the table trying to get it open.
"Hate it when this happens" he said with a smile.
"Hand it over" she said snatching it from him
"If I can't open it" Cloud started but Tifa twisted the lid off easily "Never mind" he finished with a smile. Tifa grinned up at him
"Were you going to say something?" she asked
"Just trapped wind" Cloud said with a smile. Tifa and Cloud both laughed. Cloud spread some of the stuff he had got from the pot onto some bread.
"What's that stuff?" Tifa asked, the smell was incredibly familiar
"Peanut butter" he said
"What's that?" she asked "I've heard of peanuts and butter but never two in one"
"It's got the texture of butter" he said "But the taste of peanuts" Tifa saw the 'peanut butter' was very thick and bitty.
"Cloud Strife, you must be visually challenged, I have never seen butter that looks like that" said Tifa with a smile making Cloud laugh
"Alas no" he said "Maybe not texture but everything else I said was spot on"
"I shall take your word for it" said Tifa continuing in the posh accent.
"Indeed you shall" said Cloud copying the posh-ness with a smile "Would you care to try some miss?" he asked brandishing some peanut butter on a spoon.
"Indeed" she said with a smile. Cloud held it out and Tifa leaned forwards to eat it off the spoon. At the last moment Cloud nudged the spoon upwards catching Tifa on the end of her nose. Tifa sat back in her chair
"I cannot believe you have done that young man" she said with a laugh whilst wiping it off her nose with a napkin. A waiter came over carrying a tub of ice in which dwelled a bottle of champagne.
"Here we go, sir" he said putting it down on the table
"Thank you" said Cloud uncorking the bottle and pouring some into glasses for Tifa and himself.
"Thanks for this, Cloud" said Tifa
"For the food?" Cloud asked "Least I could do"
"No" said Tifa "For saving me from the Shin-Ra before they arrived and to make sure I was safe"
"You are my childhood sweetheart" said Cloud blushing only ever-so slightly "I couldn't leave you there to be captured"
"How sweet" she said tapping her glass against Clouds "A toast" she said with a smile
"To what?" Cloud asked. Tifa shrugged
"To childhood sweethearted-ness" she laughed
"You made that word up" said Cloud
"Yeah" said Tifa with a smile as she drank some of the champagne as did Cloud.
"So what do you want to do later?" he asked her
"I'm not sure, I am quite tired after the journey but if you want to do something then I'm up for it" said Tifa smiling.
"If you're tired then we should go and do something tomorrow, so then you'll have all your energy to bounce around and whatever else it is you do" said Cloud smiling
"Bounce around?" said Tifa trying to prod Cloud with her fork "I don't bounce anywhere, cheeky" the two of them then tucked into their meals.