A BETRAYAL OF THE SOUL

Chapter 1: Behind closed doors

Unknown voice: Cloud

Cloud: …………

Unknown voice: Cloud my love why aren't you here yet???

Cloud: uuugghhh hello??

Unknown voice: Yes, yes Cloud

Cloud: I can't see you

Unknown: But you know who I am…..

There was a gentle knock at the door and without a reply entered Tifa.

Tifa: Cloud who are you talking to??

Cloud: Have you never heard of privacy Tifa? Geez

Tifa: Cloud come on, its not like I haven't seen you half naked before (rolling her eyes). You still having those freakish dreams huh??

Cloud looks away from Tifa and towards an empty space in the corner of the room.

Cloud: no……Tifa if you don't mind I'm feeing a little uncomfortable

Cloud pulls up the duvet to cover his broad and hairless chest. Tifa lets out a little giggle and stands by the door with hands on her hips.

Tifa: Alright, alright……ahhh Cloud there hasn't been a day since we met where you've failed to make me laugh

Cloud still staring into the corner of the room

Tifa: Hellooooooooooo, well hairy chest its nearly time to go. Cid is going to pick us all up after breakfast. Ahhh I cant wait its going to be so much fun, Cloud remember fun??……CLOUD?!!!

Cloud: yes Tifa??

Tifa: Please be ready…..for me?

Tifa throws her hair to one side, pauses with a smile and waits for a reply

Cloud: yeah I'll be downstairs as soon as I've showered. I give you my word

Tifa's smile grows wider as she leaves the door semi-open and hops away from the room in excitement. A year has passed since the demise of Sepiroth. Though his downfall, Cloud never felt like he won the great battle against his mentor. Whereas the others had moved on swiftly, the magnitude of guilt that Cloud was now bonded to was beyond imagination. Cloud felt helpless; helpless he could not save or even attempt to save his beloved flower girl. Ever since that moment, ever since he became in tune with only himself, he failed to realise that this burden was slowly destroying all the hopes and dreams Tifa has carried with her since her childhood.

With the exception of Cid and his new wife Shera, all the gang held residence in Tifa's new bar: "Premium Heart", that was now the new focal point of sector 5, Midgar.

­

Yuffie is sitting downstairs in the kitchen, sipping on coffee as Cloud enters from down the stairs

Yuffie: Morning morning morning mister

Cloud: Yuffie (mumbled voice)

Cloud decides to sit at a small table for two in the corner by himself

Yuffie: Cloud, any coffee, I just made a fresh pot??

Cloud: …………

Yuffie: No coffee? Maybe some carob nuts or chocobo greens then??

Cloud: …………

Cloud had never responded to Yuffie's light humour in the past and this was going to be no exception. With his elbows lying on the table and hands over his eyes, Cloud looked tired and seemed to be collecting his thoughts

Entered Tifa who seemed jumpy

Tifa: Heyyyyyy guys!!!!! Perfect weather for today don't you think?!

Yuffie: You said it!!! Coffee hun? Just made a fresh pot

Tifa: Sure, where did Barret go he's not upstairs?

Yuffie: Wall Market I think, he said he will be back any minute. You guys going to get the supplies??

Tifa: We sure are….ooooooo I cant wait!!!!!!!!!

Tifa sits down next to Yuffie and takes a sip of her coffee before playful laughter and giggles enter the room in the form of Marlene and Vincent

Vincent: Stop tick….haha…hehe…ha....tick, tickling…..oooohhhhh

Marlene: hehehehehe uncle Vincent your so much fun

Vincent: Marlene look over there is that a gold chocobo?! (oldest trick in the book)

Marlene spins around instantly with curiosity. Vincent wrestles Marlene to the ground and tickles her stomach to the point where Marlene's face goes as blue as Vincent's elemental materia

Vincent: Catch me if you can!!!!!

Vincent starts to taunt Marlene. Marlene labours to her feet and starts chasing Vincent in a circle motion around the table where Cloud is sitting. Cloud is still motionless

Yuffie: I wish, I really wish…..

Tifa: huh??

Yuffie squints her eyes and glares forcefully at the playful twosome

Yuffie: I wish Vincent would even pay me half the attention he does with little Marlene

Tifa: Yuffie come on, she's only a kid

Yuffie diverts her eyes to Cloud, twisting her head sideways simultaneously and lets out a long sigh

Tifa: Hey don't even entertain that thought Miss Kisaragi!!! By the way when did you start stealing boyfriends too?!!

They both chuckled amongst themselves

Vincent: Ok, ok you win little princess, boy I'm so tired

Marlene sits on Vincent's lap as they occupy the remaining seat on Cloud's table.

As almost what seemed to be a rush Cloud removes his hands from what now looked like bloodshot eyes. He uses them to push against the table to leave his seat, storms out of the kitchen and up the stairs heavy footed. The chuckling amongst the girls stopped and the room feel silent if under a spell. If ever there was a time since that day one year ago, when Cloud felt lonely it was now.

Barret walks into the kitchen not knowing of this morning's events and breaks the tense silence.

Barret: Haha, how's my girl!!!!

Marlene: Barret look, look, look what I made for you!!!

As quickly as Marlene left the kitchen she returned with a pair of shorts that seemed to be sewn by herself. Her handywork had produced bright red flowers against a white fabric background. Even Vincent couldn't hide his amusement.

Marlene: So do you like them?? I spent the last few days with Tifa, she showed me how to knit. What you think, what you think??

Barret: Well Marlene……this is marvellous. I cant wait to show these off on out trip today. Look everyone that's my girl…..ahhhh come here……

Barret crouches down and lifts Marlene up on his big shoulders. Marlene had what seemed the biggest smile on her that anyone of those in the room had seen for some time. Reality then hit home for Tifa

Yuffie: So……should I go over, Vincent is on (interrupted)

Tifa: Yuffie I'm going upstairs I may be a while. Hey Barret, be right back, then we will go get those supplies

Barret: ok, be quick and wake Cloud!!! Can't believe he use to be part of SOLIDER he can't even get outta bed!!! Tell him Cid will be here soon.

________________________________________________________________________

Tifa: (knock knock) Cloud??

Cloud opens his bedroom door and walks away to sit on his bed. Tifa enters. Closing the door behind her she then sits up close next to what now seems like an emotionally battered man.

Tifa: Promise me one thing Cloud

Cloud: How Tifa, HOW?! How can you move on, how can anyone?!! Have you forgotten she's one of us

Tifa: ………Cloud (softly)

Cloud: Sepiroth was right about everything. This world is an evil place, an illusion, a place that keeps false hopes and has no rights

Tifa: We defeated Sepiroth Cloud, don't think of him anymore. Aerith was our friend, more,………part of our family, her sacrifice gave us the strength to (interrupted)

Cloud: Don't!! Please just don't its not right

Tifa puts her right arm behind Cloud's back, rubs it and slowly pulls him towards her chest

Tifa: Aerith's sacrifice gave us the strength to defeat Sepiroth, Midgar and more importantly the whole planet. All of this (waving one hand around the room),……our being today, is all possible because of Aerith

Cloud: Tifa I no longer want her to be a memory………or a dream

Tifa: She will always be close to us, in our hearts forever she is tied to this friendship circle. She had the bravest of hearts, the strongest of souls and courage beyond…….

Tifa stops as Cloud starts to sob quietly in at her chest. Tifa pulls away crouches to find a portrait of tears, tears she could now understand. Tears of a lonely heart, and nothing else. Tifa then embraces Cloud in a hug, a hug of pure human nature. A hug when one needs another to soften the blow. Cloud continues to sob in Tifa's arms.

On the other side, Tifa slowly closes her eyes, only to release silent tears for her Cloud

Tifa: (cough) So……

Tifa pulls away from Cloud and wipes away any remaining tears with her sleeve

Tifa: Barret will still be waiting for me downstairs. Time to get ready yeh?! Chin up, don't worry, Aerith will always be with us

Tifa gets up, straightens her hair, opens the door and leaves the room. She pauses at the door and turns to see her childhood friend, an innocent Cloud, someone who opened up and shared his thoughts and dreams with her. This time Tifa left his bedroom door open and trotted downstairs to meet Barret.

She wanted him to know he could always come to her. Tifa would always leave the door open for her beloved Cloud….