Note: Taro is a completely made up character by me! :P everyone else is from ffvii

Just who do you think you are?" Tifa cried, slamming her cup on to the table, "I swear, you drive me crazy sometimes."

"Me? I've been waiting for you all this time, yet you refuse to even look at me," Cloud said, staring down at what was left of the water in his now half empty cup, "Do you realize how long it's been since I last saw you?"


"What are you talking about? Saying things like that...as if we were together. I hate you," Tifa shot her childhood friend an indignant glare and stormed out of the room, cup in hand.


"Like I didn't already know that," Cloud sighed, smiling sadly to himself.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


"Thanks Barret I really appreciate the help," Tifa said, carrying a large crate of beers into the basement of her bar.

"Yeah don't mention it. I was starting to worry about Cloud. With you gone, Cloud, he--"

"Oh look, there's Taro. Thanks for your help, I'll see you tomorrow Barret!"

"But Tifa," Barret looked uneasy, "Ughh fine. Don't listen. This isn't even any of my business." Barret turned his gaze down towards his feet. "Damn Cloud." He muttered under his breath—too quiet for Tifa to hear. He looked up at his friend and ruffled his large bronze hand through her hair. "Just remember, tonight. Seven-thirty. 7th Heaven. Basement. Be there, don't forget!"

Tifa gave him a reassuring smile, "Yeah yeah I'll be there. It's in my own bar anways so I think I should be able to remember." She gave Barret a smack on the back and pushed him towards his truck. "Send Marlene my love!" Tifa watched as Barret got into his truck and drove off into the distance.

She could feel the pain that she had been dreading ever since the day everyone went their own separate ways inching its way back into her heart.

She was alone.

Or maybe not.

"Hey there, Miss, it's been a while," a voice said behind Tifa's back, "I don't recall you ever being this tall."

"Taro! But... I thought you over there.. wait. What?" Tifa jumped in shock, "You haven't changed a bit! Come here!" Tifa wrapped Taro up in her arms and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Taro blushed and took a step back.


"As soon as I heard you were back in town, I worked as fast as I could just so that I could come visit..." he smiled and looked up at the sky, " the sky... it's pretty nice tonight, isn't it?"


"Yeah...just like I remembered it. Well, it's been a while, how has everyone been?" Tifa said taking a look up at the sky as well.


"Everyone's been good. I've been getting by, but I've missed you! And Cloud, he... well... you know," Taro paused, suddenly uneasy, "he....." he paused fiddling with the tip of his shirt, "you were wrong about him you know... you shouldn't jump to conclusions. But it's okay Tifa, because I'm here for you, you know that right?" Taro forced a smile.


"What are you saying? Geez Taro you're just so silly sometimes." No. No matter what anyone said, nothing could possibly make things right again. Tifa tried hard to hold back her tears, but to no avail. A tear managed to escape from her eye, and was soon followed after by others.


"Tifa, come on don't cry. Just smile for me, okay?" Taro grabbed her in his arms and gave her a tight squeeze.


"How can I not cry? After what he did....I couldn't possibly forgive him. I hate him. I really do."

From his bedroom window, Cloud watched as Tifa cried, the tears running in endlessly across her face.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Ouch!" Tifa exclaimed, wipping her hand away from the boiling tea pot, "Oww oww oww"

Taro got up out of his seat and ran over to Tifa's side,"Let me see" he took Tifa's hand in his and examined it closely.

"It's not too bad," He said, giving her a reassuring smile.

Tifa looked down at the floor, suddenly embarrassed, "Yeah it doesn't h--"

Before she could finish her sentence, Taro brought her finger up to his lips...into his mouth...

"Taro!" she yelled, taking a few steps back, "what are you doing?" Tifa laughed. She could feel his tongue brushing against her skin...back and forth...

She flushed a deep red.

Taro returned her finger and gave her one of his "killer Taro smiles"

"There, now it shouldn't hurt anymore"

"It didn't hurt to begin with," Tifa said, jerking her hand away from within his grasp. What was wrong with him? The last time she saw him, Taro. was just a shy little boy who would never think of getting close to anyone. Silly little Taro...always afraid of making any sort of physical contact... Tifa smiled at the memory.

"Oh please, don't even try to act all tough, Miss Lockhart, 'cause I could tell that really hurt." He gazed down at her, a smirk plastered across his face.

"Heh are you saying I'm just some baby who needs to be taken care of by you?" She cocked her head to one side and stared at him from the corner of her eyes. "Well I'll have you know, mister, that I'm completely capable of taking care of myself."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"I'm not so sure I believe that."

"Well then that's just too bad." Tifa stepped closer to her friend so that her face was practically touching his. She could feel his breath grow increasingly faster as it blew against her lips.

She took her fist and jammed it into his arm.

"You didn't think I would really kiss you, did you?" Tifa laughed.

Taro regained his senses, and directed his attention to the window.

"Tifa...there's something i've been meaning to tell you," Taro said, suddenly serious.

"Ok, shoot," Tifa replied, worried that she may have actually hurt his feelings.

"I...I umm...I" Taro began, returning his gaze to Tifa. He then took her in his arms so he would not have to look at her directly, "Tifa, I--"

Just then there was a knock on the door. The knob began to turn in its place and then there was a moment's pause.

"Hey...I know you're mad but at least listen to what I have to say..." Tifa turned to look at the person standing in her doorway.

It was Cloud.

*****to be continued****