Tifa stood at the edge of the lake, her face unreadable. It had been weeks since it happened, and everyone missed her, but it seemed like Tifa'd actually taken it harder than anyone else. Which suprized Yuffie; she would have thought it'd be Cloud who'd take it worst, but he seemed... calm. Relaxed, almost. And he was certainly spending more time with Tifa, so wouldn't it make sense for her to be happy? But every time they came back to the City of the Ancients to see if Bugenhagen had made any progress, Tifa would slip away from the group, here. Yuffie had followed her the last three times, and Tifa had yet to shed a tear or say a word. This time didn't look to be any different, until Tifa looked away from the lake and caught a glimpse of Yuffie standing in the shadows. She span back to the lake, turning away as her face flushed. Yuffie swallowed drily and stepped forward.

"Um. I'm- I didn't mean to intrude. I was just checking you were okay. I wasn't going to-"

"I'm fine." Tifa's voice was flat and cold as she cut the ninja off. "Got everything going for me, don't I? So I'm fine, Yuffie. Go back to the ship." She hugged her arms as she stared into the water, and for the first time that Yuffie had seen Tifa seemed to make an effort not to cry.

Yuffie walked up beside Tifa, cautiously, and stared at her reflection. The water blurred her face enough that Yuffie couldn't tell if she was crying or not.

"We all miss her." Yuffie's voice seemed unnaturally loud in the cave; the water swallowed the echoes but her words still hung in the air, heavy and dead. "I didn't know- I mean I didn't think you and-" Yuffie stopped as Tifa shook, thinking that she was finally crying. "Oh, Tifa, it's okay, I-" Yuffie was cut off as she realized that Tifa was laughing, almost sobbing with it as her shoulders shook.

"You didn't think? Oh, Yuffie, you never do. I don't miss her. I hate her." There was an echo this time, but only in Yuffie's skull. "I mean, we got on, and I liked her- we were getting close- and then she went and died. Stupid sanctimonious bitch actually went and died, and now I don't know if he- I mean I don't know who he would've- I don't know I don't-" Tifa's fists clenched hard, over and over, creaking the leather of her gloves. When Yuffie reached an arm around her shoulders, she twitched so violently that Yuffie thought for a second that Tifa was about to hit her in the face.

"Sorry." Yuffie said it, and it didn't help, and she knew it, but it was all that could be said. "I really am." It still didn't help, and now drops from Tifa's face rippled the water. "I guess I could..."

"You could what?" Tifa's voice was soft and small now, like a child's. Yuffie closed her eyes and hoped this was the right thing to say.

"Well if you really want I guess I could go ask Cloud out. I mean he's been checking me out for days, and if it would help..." Tifa tensed up under Yuffie's arm. Oh hell, thought Yuffie. Now she really is gonna hit me. The noise was so loud that Yuffie thought she had been hit for a second, and then she identified it; it was Tifa's laugh, Tifa's real laugh, loud and broad and infectious, and Yuffie realized she hadn't heard it for far too long. Yuffie started laughing too, half out of relief, and Tifa fell into Yuffie, and they both staggered about laughing until they lay on the bank of the lake, gasping for breath.

When they'd both calmed down, Tifa helped Yuffie up and kissed her on the forehead. "You're stupid. And thankyou. And if you ever touch him I'll rip your arms off." She said, smiling.

"No problem. And I like my arms just where they are. Let's go back to the others, kay?"

"Okay." Tifa took Yuffie's hand as they walked away from the lake. They didn't come back.