Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts or any of their
characters. I do however own Retune, Tora, and Moogly.
A/N: C&C welcomed but please don't flame.
Cloud's Priceless Treasure
Cloud looked around the island that was once his home. He thought he had forgotten but in fact he did not. He walked on the sands of the beach; they reminded him of the beach his mother used to take him on hot summer days to play. However, by the time he was about three years old, the happiness in his life seemed to go with the days. His father changed, he distanced himself from Cloud and his mother, and found a new love. Her name was Retune Solace, she was from Al Bhed she seemed to be a fine choice. She was beautiful, kind, polite, and nonetheless rich. From the day Cloud first met Retune he knew that she was not what she seemed to be. He saw right through her beauty, kindness, manners, and money and saw that she was nothing more than a cruel poor ugly rude soul that would stop at nothing until she had everything that she desired.
Cloud's father married Retune when he was five years old. The family saw that as a blessing, but Cloud saw it as a defiling plague that would soon kill them all. The only thing that Cloud saw as a good thing in his father's and Retune's relationship was that Cloud was about to be a big brother, in just a few more months. Cloud seemed to be excited about it, and he was but also a part of him was very nervous, he didn't know if he could be a good big brother or not. That is why he practiced everyday; with the baby dolls that were in the nursery. He would rock them, feed them (all pretend of course), change their diapers, and play with them, everything a big brother did, so he would be ready for his baby brother or sister.
Tora Hikari Strife, which meant "Light of the Heavens", was born on November twentieth, Cloud stood on his tiptoes to look through the nursery room window at the hospital, his eyes searched the room for a baby that looked either hopefully like his father, or Retune. Then he saw it; the tiny baby he was looking for, he could tell straight off it was a girl, she was laying there crying, her eyes were squinched shut, her tiny hands balled up into fists, shaking and waving at everything, her tiny legs just kicking away at nothing. Cloud looked confusedly at the sad baby then he tapped on the window at her with one finger. The baby opened her eyes, her large crystal blue eyes, and looked at him. Cloud smiled and looked the baby up and down, so as not to miss a single detail about her. Tora was a very tiny baby; he noted that, she had soft looking beautiful sea green curls on top of her head, divine crystal blue eyes that were so large anyone could drown in their depths, but the thing he noticed most was, she looked very scared.
They took Tora home the next day, and from the first time that Cloud got to hold her, he did not want to let go. From the moment Cloud and Tora first met, Cloud could proudly say he was a big brother. But with the birth of Tora, unfortunately was followed by the death of Cloud's mother and the disappearance of Cloud's father. Cloud had no other family members to speak of except for Tora and Retune which left him in the custody of his 'wicked' stepmother, Retune. But regardless of the young children's needs, the young widow was completely lost without her husband whom she really did truly love, so she left some of the time, traveling to other countries. But as time went on she despite the fact that her children needed her, she quickly began to not care at all about them. There were times that she would come home, and Tora would want her to hold her, she did not even remember her own daughter's name.
However, as the years past her traveling heart seemed to leave with the years and she began to stay at home. Cloud was fifteen now and Tora was eleven and nothing had changed between them over the past eleven years, except for the fact Cloud acted like he was Tora's mother. But as much as it pained him, Cloud wanted to see the world, and seek the murderer of his mother, but Tora would not let him no matter how much Cloud begged her to let him go.
"But Tora-Chan..."Cloud shouted in aggravation. "No, Ni-Sama...you cannot leave me. You just cannot." Tora interrupted him. "Hey, it'll be okay." He hugged her. "Your mom isn't going anywhere and plus, everyday she's getting a little better at being a mom. She even got your name right yesterday, and not only that, Moogly will be here to take care of you too." He said comfortingly. "But, I do not want Ni-Sama to go!!" She cried loudly. "Look Tora, I am sorry. I just cannot stay here, sitting here day after day, wondering what happened to my mother. I just cannot...not without ever finding out the truth. I have to find the truth, Tora." He explained to her. "Fine, Ni-Sama. You leave! I do not care! Just...just...never ever come back!" She yelled as she ran off. "Tora-Chan!" He yelled after her.
That was the last time I saw her. he looked into the crystal blue waves that washed up on shore. Blue. He thought sorrowfully. Her crystal blue eyes. How they were filled up with so much fear when I first saw her. It wasn't there after that, it was gone. All I saw in her eyes after that was love. But, the day I left there was so much fear in her eyes. Tifa walked up behind Cloud and hugged him. "Cloud, what's wrong?" she asked delicately. "Tifa..." he was smiling a little. "I was just thinking about Tora." He stopped smiling. "She told me never to come back. What will she say to me? What will she do?"
Tifa raised an eyebrow at him as he turned to look at her. "Oh, I'm sure she'll look at you, call you a baka chocobo head and hit you with a mallet." She said derisively. Cloud ignored her statement. "I'm not serious, Cloud." She smiled. "She'll be happy you are back." She took his hand and put it on her round stomach. "And she'll be happy for us." Cloud smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah, I'm sure she will."
Cloud and Tifa walked up to the mansion that was once Cloud's home. Cloud stared at it, too amazed to even knock. "Cloud." Tifa smiled. He looked at her. "Knock." He nodded as he did so. The door was answered by a moogle. "Yes?" It said looking up at Cloud and Tifa. "Moogly?" Cloud blinked questioningly. The moogle tilted his head to the side. "Yes, kupa?" Cloud smiled. "It's me! Cloud!" He exclaimed. Moogly's eyes brightened. "Nushi Cloud! Kupa!" Moogly jumped up and hugged Cloud tightly. "Moogly thought Nushi Cloud would never come back!" Moogly squealed.
Cloud smiled and hugged Moogly tight as a woman with long white hair and purple eyes wearing a dark gray sleeveless tunic and light gray pants walked to the doorway and stared at them. Cloud stopped smiling and looked at her. "Moogly? Who is this?" The woman asked. "Oh, Nana. This is Nushi Cloud. Nushi Tora-Chan's brother." He explained gleefully. The woman known simply as Nana's eyes went wide. "Cloud Strife?" She said. Cloud nodded. "Tora has talked about you a lot these past years." She smiled. "Please, come in." She invited them in.
"I am Nana." She said closing the door. "I am Tora's nurse." Cloud blinked. "Nurse?" He inquired. Nana nodded. "More like her nanny. And is this your girlfriend?" Nana smiled at Tifa as she bowed. Cloud smile. "My fiancé." He answered simply. Cloud thought for a moment. "Where is Retune my stepmother?" He asked curiously. "She travels." She answered simply. Cloud nodded. "I see...so where is my sister?" He questioned. "She is over at her boyfriend's house." Nana answered. Cloud sort of glared. "Boyfriend?"
"Yes. His name is Riku." She answered. "Riku?" Cloud crossed his arms. "Not him. How old is Tora now? Sixteen?" He asked. Nana nodded. "How old is he now? Same age?" Nana shook her head. "He's eighteen." Cloud growled a little. "Tora is too young for a boyfriend." Cloud said loudly. "Nana...who is here." A soft voice asked. Nana turned around and looked behind her at a sixteen year old girl with short green hair, and long side bangs with a decorative bead in each. She had blue eyes just like Cloud's; she wore a purplish black hat, a short purplish black dress, and purplish black slip on sneakers. "This is..." Tora interrupted her as quickly as she had started. "Ni-Sama..." She whispered staring at Cloud. Cloud smiled. "I told you to back." She said angrily. "Tora..." Nana objected to her tone of voice. "Your heart..." she said simply. "Do not get over excited. You must remember your illness." Cloud blinked inquisitively. "Illness?" He asked. Nana nodded as Tora stormed out.
"After you left; Tora began to experience heart troubles. Her mother wanted to travel and she was so confused she did not know what to do. So, she hired me and after that, Tora told me one day that she felt her family had deserted her. Her father from what I understand disappeared without a trace. You had gone to other lands to search for answers to your questions, and her mother left because she did not want her. She soon slipped into an unconscious sleep that she could not wake from. It was difficult...but I took care of her the best that I could, and her moogle Moogly helped and so did Riku. We stayed with her and she woke up three years ago and acted like nothing had happened. She was normal...but she wasn't happy. Though, she was happier than she was before." Nana elucidated calmly.
Cloud looked at Tifa who had not said a word the whole time. "I had no idea she would go through all that." He alleged forlornly. "Hey, it's okay. She's better now." She said, caressing his face. Cloud calmed down and looked back at Nana. "Where is Tora's room?" He asked. "Tora's room? Why it's in the basement; she's had the same room forever from what I know that Mistress Retune told me." Cloud nodded and looked at Tifa. "Go sit in the living room. I don't want you walking down those stairs." Tifa nodded and Nana took her to the living room. Cloud went into the direction that Tora had gone in earlier and stopped at the wooden door painted blue. Cloud knocked and walked down the stairs. Tora was sitting on a pretty expensive looking futon with a bedspread on it decorated with Chocobos.
"Hey, Tora." He smiled walking over to her. Tora turned away. "Hey , don't do that." He pleaded. "I haven't seen you in...five years. The least you could do is give me a proper hello." Tora turned to him smiling. "You're right. I should give you a hello you deserve, Ni-Sama." Cloud smiled and nodded. "Yup! That's my Tora-Chan!" Suddenly he felt a small pain on his face. His eyes opened wide as he finally noticed the pain and he searched for the source. Tora had slapped him. "Tora? Why...did you slap me?" He asked. Tora's smile had turned into a frown and her eyes had narrowed. "You wanted a proper hello. I gave you one you deserved. But you're not happy with it. Isn't that so like you? You don't like what you've got." She said getting up to leave. Cloud grabbed her by her arm. "Let go of me, Cloud." Cloud shook his head. "Not until I'm finished talking to you, Tora." He said, pulling her back to sit on the bed. "I'm sorry I left you with Retune all those years ago. I'm sorry for what you went through. But even, had I known that all those bad things were going to happen. I still wouldn't have stayed here."
Tora looked at the ground. "How come no one but Nana, Moogly, and Riku wants me?" She asked. "Hey..."He said putting a hand gently on her cheek as he turned her face towards him. "I never said I didn't want you. I care about you so much." He said soothingly with tears in his eyes. "But you said you'd still have left me." She started to cry. Cloud shook his head. "I didn't say that. I said I still would have left. I said nothing of leaving you again. If I had a second chance...a chance to do it over I would have taken you with me. Though I doubt I wouldn't regret it because among my friends that I lost, I could have lost you too. But don't you see? It was better I left you behind, Tora. My friends and I went through so much bloodshed that I don't think you would have survived. Do you understand? I love you Tora. You're my baby sister and all I want now is to be with you and my fiancé and our baby and have a happy life." He smiled. "You...have a child?" She asked. Cloud beamed happily. "In a few more months." Tora hugged him tightly. "It's Tifa...I know it is. I wish you both the best!" She exclaimed. Tora sighed. "I'm happy for you." She said. "I'm sorry I was ugly to you, Ni-sama." She cried.
Cloud ran his fingers through her hair. "It's okay, I understand why you did it. You felt as if I had abandoned you." He explained. Tora nodded. "I can tell you haven't been sleeping well, Tora." He said observantly. Tora nodded. "Well you need rest. So I'll put you to sleep like I used too." He smiled. "Okay." Tora nodded in response. Cloud adjusted her in his arms so he could rock her. He stared at Tora as he rocked her and it was strange to him that he did not see the sixteen-year-old girl he was rocking now. Instead he saw the small child that he loved so dearly all those years ago, as if she were his own. The one that would in the smallest of voices ask about her father and cry for the mother that she wished she had. He sighed as he held her close and leaned up against the wall the futon was pushed up close to. He was happy now he had everything he wanted. He had his soon to be wife, Tifa who was carrying their child, and he had his baby sister and nothing could take his happiness away.
Or so he thought, for lurking nearby, stalking Cloud, unknowingly, was the undead psychotic murderer who could obviously not be killed; Sephiroth was alive as ever. Cloud had not killed him as he thought he did, and Sephiroth was intent on the thought of making Cloud for all the times he annoyingly stopped him from summoning 'Meteor'. He knew Tifa carried a child and Cloud had family left, his plan was to murder them one by one. Cloud was to be his last victim of course, because he wanted to see Cloud suffer.
It was morning when Cloud awoke. He looked at Tora who was sleeping soundly in his arms. He then looked at the clock it read 8:00. He nudged Tora. "Tora-Chan." He said gently. Tora opened her eyes halfway. "Hmm?" She grunted softly. "It's time to get up." He answered. Tora gently broke away from him and stretched as she flopped back down on the bed. "Come on." He smiled as he ruffled her hair and got up. He stretched and yawned as he walked up the stairs. "I smell something good." He said. "Nana is cooking pancakes!" Tora called after him. Cloud exited the room and entered the kitchen. "I smell something good, Nana." He said hugging Tifa who was sitting at the table. "Moogleberry Pancakes." She answered. "Mmm!" Tora said from the doorway. "My favorite, Nana." She smiled. "I know." Nana beamed proudly. "Thank you." Tora exclaimed gratefully. "Tora..." Tifa smiled. "Tifa." Tora walked over and gave her a hug. "How are you?" Tifa asked. "I'm fine. How about you?" Tifa smiled and put Tora's hand gently on her stomach as it sort of bounced.
"Oh! It's kicking!" Tora giggled gleefully. Tifa nodded. "Is it a boy or a girl?" She asked. Tifa smiled. "A girl." Tora looked curious. "What are you going to name her?" Tifa sighed happily. "Misoko Aerith-Hikari Strife." Tora looked at Cloud. "Misoko was your mother's name was it not?" Cloud nodded. A knock was heard at the door. "I'll get it!" Tora yelled, running to the door. Tora opened the door and smiled when she saw Riku standing there. "Hey Tora." Riku said coolly. "Riku-Kun!" She yelled as she glomped him. Riku hugged her back as he smiled. "Wanna come in for breakfast?" she asked. "Sure." Riku nodded. "What are we having?" Tora smiled. "Moogleberry Pancakes." Riku chuckled as he took Tora's hand and walked with her to the kitchen. Cloud looked at Riku and glared at him.
Riku smiled and sweat dropped as he thought, Oh, shit I'm dead. "Riku- Kun...you remember Cloud don't you?" Tora smiled. "Yes." Riku nodded. Riku had met Cloud since he had left home. It was when he and Sora went on that extraordinary journey that changed their lives forever. Cloud growled as Tifa patted his hand. Cloud looked at Tifa and blinked. "Be nice, Cloud. "She smiled. Cloud sighed as he sat down next to Tifa. Tora huggled Riku and giggled as he poked her in the side. Cloud glared as he stabbed the pancakes that Nana had set in front of him with a fork. Tifa smiled. "Are you going to be like this with our child?" She asked. Cloud looked at her skeptically. "Yes." He answered.
A/N: C&C welcomed but please don't flame.
Cloud's Priceless Treasure
Cloud looked around the island that was once his home. He thought he had forgotten but in fact he did not. He walked on the sands of the beach; they reminded him of the beach his mother used to take him on hot summer days to play. However, by the time he was about three years old, the happiness in his life seemed to go with the days. His father changed, he distanced himself from Cloud and his mother, and found a new love. Her name was Retune Solace, she was from Al Bhed she seemed to be a fine choice. She was beautiful, kind, polite, and nonetheless rich. From the day Cloud first met Retune he knew that she was not what she seemed to be. He saw right through her beauty, kindness, manners, and money and saw that she was nothing more than a cruel poor ugly rude soul that would stop at nothing until she had everything that she desired.
Cloud's father married Retune when he was five years old. The family saw that as a blessing, but Cloud saw it as a defiling plague that would soon kill them all. The only thing that Cloud saw as a good thing in his father's and Retune's relationship was that Cloud was about to be a big brother, in just a few more months. Cloud seemed to be excited about it, and he was but also a part of him was very nervous, he didn't know if he could be a good big brother or not. That is why he practiced everyday; with the baby dolls that were in the nursery. He would rock them, feed them (all pretend of course), change their diapers, and play with them, everything a big brother did, so he would be ready for his baby brother or sister.
Tora Hikari Strife, which meant "Light of the Heavens", was born on November twentieth, Cloud stood on his tiptoes to look through the nursery room window at the hospital, his eyes searched the room for a baby that looked either hopefully like his father, or Retune. Then he saw it; the tiny baby he was looking for, he could tell straight off it was a girl, she was laying there crying, her eyes were squinched shut, her tiny hands balled up into fists, shaking and waving at everything, her tiny legs just kicking away at nothing. Cloud looked confusedly at the sad baby then he tapped on the window at her with one finger. The baby opened her eyes, her large crystal blue eyes, and looked at him. Cloud smiled and looked the baby up and down, so as not to miss a single detail about her. Tora was a very tiny baby; he noted that, she had soft looking beautiful sea green curls on top of her head, divine crystal blue eyes that were so large anyone could drown in their depths, but the thing he noticed most was, she looked very scared.
They took Tora home the next day, and from the first time that Cloud got to hold her, he did not want to let go. From the moment Cloud and Tora first met, Cloud could proudly say he was a big brother. But with the birth of Tora, unfortunately was followed by the death of Cloud's mother and the disappearance of Cloud's father. Cloud had no other family members to speak of except for Tora and Retune which left him in the custody of his 'wicked' stepmother, Retune. But regardless of the young children's needs, the young widow was completely lost without her husband whom she really did truly love, so she left some of the time, traveling to other countries. But as time went on she despite the fact that her children needed her, she quickly began to not care at all about them. There were times that she would come home, and Tora would want her to hold her, she did not even remember her own daughter's name.
However, as the years past her traveling heart seemed to leave with the years and she began to stay at home. Cloud was fifteen now and Tora was eleven and nothing had changed between them over the past eleven years, except for the fact Cloud acted like he was Tora's mother. But as much as it pained him, Cloud wanted to see the world, and seek the murderer of his mother, but Tora would not let him no matter how much Cloud begged her to let him go.
"But Tora-Chan..."Cloud shouted in aggravation. "No, Ni-Sama...you cannot leave me. You just cannot." Tora interrupted him. "Hey, it'll be okay." He hugged her. "Your mom isn't going anywhere and plus, everyday she's getting a little better at being a mom. She even got your name right yesterday, and not only that, Moogly will be here to take care of you too." He said comfortingly. "But, I do not want Ni-Sama to go!!" She cried loudly. "Look Tora, I am sorry. I just cannot stay here, sitting here day after day, wondering what happened to my mother. I just cannot...not without ever finding out the truth. I have to find the truth, Tora." He explained to her. "Fine, Ni-Sama. You leave! I do not care! Just...just...never ever come back!" She yelled as she ran off. "Tora-Chan!" He yelled after her.
That was the last time I saw her. he looked into the crystal blue waves that washed up on shore. Blue. He thought sorrowfully. Her crystal blue eyes. How they were filled up with so much fear when I first saw her. It wasn't there after that, it was gone. All I saw in her eyes after that was love. But, the day I left there was so much fear in her eyes. Tifa walked up behind Cloud and hugged him. "Cloud, what's wrong?" she asked delicately. "Tifa..." he was smiling a little. "I was just thinking about Tora." He stopped smiling. "She told me never to come back. What will she say to me? What will she do?"
Tifa raised an eyebrow at him as he turned to look at her. "Oh, I'm sure she'll look at you, call you a baka chocobo head and hit you with a mallet." She said derisively. Cloud ignored her statement. "I'm not serious, Cloud." She smiled. "She'll be happy you are back." She took his hand and put it on her round stomach. "And she'll be happy for us." Cloud smiled half-heartedly. "Yeah, I'm sure she will."
Cloud and Tifa walked up to the mansion that was once Cloud's home. Cloud stared at it, too amazed to even knock. "Cloud." Tifa smiled. He looked at her. "Knock." He nodded as he did so. The door was answered by a moogle. "Yes?" It said looking up at Cloud and Tifa. "Moogly?" Cloud blinked questioningly. The moogle tilted his head to the side. "Yes, kupa?" Cloud smiled. "It's me! Cloud!" He exclaimed. Moogly's eyes brightened. "Nushi Cloud! Kupa!" Moogly jumped up and hugged Cloud tightly. "Moogly thought Nushi Cloud would never come back!" Moogly squealed.
Cloud smiled and hugged Moogly tight as a woman with long white hair and purple eyes wearing a dark gray sleeveless tunic and light gray pants walked to the doorway and stared at them. Cloud stopped smiling and looked at her. "Moogly? Who is this?" The woman asked. "Oh, Nana. This is Nushi Cloud. Nushi Tora-Chan's brother." He explained gleefully. The woman known simply as Nana's eyes went wide. "Cloud Strife?" She said. Cloud nodded. "Tora has talked about you a lot these past years." She smiled. "Please, come in." She invited them in.
"I am Nana." She said closing the door. "I am Tora's nurse." Cloud blinked. "Nurse?" He inquired. Nana nodded. "More like her nanny. And is this your girlfriend?" Nana smiled at Tifa as she bowed. Cloud smile. "My fiancé." He answered simply. Cloud thought for a moment. "Where is Retune my stepmother?" He asked curiously. "She travels." She answered simply. Cloud nodded. "I see...so where is my sister?" He questioned. "She is over at her boyfriend's house." Nana answered. Cloud sort of glared. "Boyfriend?"
"Yes. His name is Riku." She answered. "Riku?" Cloud crossed his arms. "Not him. How old is Tora now? Sixteen?" He asked. Nana nodded. "How old is he now? Same age?" Nana shook her head. "He's eighteen." Cloud growled a little. "Tora is too young for a boyfriend." Cloud said loudly. "Nana...who is here." A soft voice asked. Nana turned around and looked behind her at a sixteen year old girl with short green hair, and long side bangs with a decorative bead in each. She had blue eyes just like Cloud's; she wore a purplish black hat, a short purplish black dress, and purplish black slip on sneakers. "This is..." Tora interrupted her as quickly as she had started. "Ni-Sama..." She whispered staring at Cloud. Cloud smiled. "I told you to back." She said angrily. "Tora..." Nana objected to her tone of voice. "Your heart..." she said simply. "Do not get over excited. You must remember your illness." Cloud blinked inquisitively. "Illness?" He asked. Nana nodded as Tora stormed out.
"After you left; Tora began to experience heart troubles. Her mother wanted to travel and she was so confused she did not know what to do. So, she hired me and after that, Tora told me one day that she felt her family had deserted her. Her father from what I understand disappeared without a trace. You had gone to other lands to search for answers to your questions, and her mother left because she did not want her. She soon slipped into an unconscious sleep that she could not wake from. It was difficult...but I took care of her the best that I could, and her moogle Moogly helped and so did Riku. We stayed with her and she woke up three years ago and acted like nothing had happened. She was normal...but she wasn't happy. Though, she was happier than she was before." Nana elucidated calmly.
Cloud looked at Tifa who had not said a word the whole time. "I had no idea she would go through all that." He alleged forlornly. "Hey, it's okay. She's better now." She said, caressing his face. Cloud calmed down and looked back at Nana. "Where is Tora's room?" He asked. "Tora's room? Why it's in the basement; she's had the same room forever from what I know that Mistress Retune told me." Cloud nodded and looked at Tifa. "Go sit in the living room. I don't want you walking down those stairs." Tifa nodded and Nana took her to the living room. Cloud went into the direction that Tora had gone in earlier and stopped at the wooden door painted blue. Cloud knocked and walked down the stairs. Tora was sitting on a pretty expensive looking futon with a bedspread on it decorated with Chocobos.
"Hey, Tora." He smiled walking over to her. Tora turned away. "Hey , don't do that." He pleaded. "I haven't seen you in...five years. The least you could do is give me a proper hello." Tora turned to him smiling. "You're right. I should give you a hello you deserve, Ni-Sama." Cloud smiled and nodded. "Yup! That's my Tora-Chan!" Suddenly he felt a small pain on his face. His eyes opened wide as he finally noticed the pain and he searched for the source. Tora had slapped him. "Tora? Why...did you slap me?" He asked. Tora's smile had turned into a frown and her eyes had narrowed. "You wanted a proper hello. I gave you one you deserved. But you're not happy with it. Isn't that so like you? You don't like what you've got." She said getting up to leave. Cloud grabbed her by her arm. "Let go of me, Cloud." Cloud shook his head. "Not until I'm finished talking to you, Tora." He said, pulling her back to sit on the bed. "I'm sorry I left you with Retune all those years ago. I'm sorry for what you went through. But even, had I known that all those bad things were going to happen. I still wouldn't have stayed here."
Tora looked at the ground. "How come no one but Nana, Moogly, and Riku wants me?" She asked. "Hey..."He said putting a hand gently on her cheek as he turned her face towards him. "I never said I didn't want you. I care about you so much." He said soothingly with tears in his eyes. "But you said you'd still have left me." She started to cry. Cloud shook his head. "I didn't say that. I said I still would have left. I said nothing of leaving you again. If I had a second chance...a chance to do it over I would have taken you with me. Though I doubt I wouldn't regret it because among my friends that I lost, I could have lost you too. But don't you see? It was better I left you behind, Tora. My friends and I went through so much bloodshed that I don't think you would have survived. Do you understand? I love you Tora. You're my baby sister and all I want now is to be with you and my fiancé and our baby and have a happy life." He smiled. "You...have a child?" She asked. Cloud beamed happily. "In a few more months." Tora hugged him tightly. "It's Tifa...I know it is. I wish you both the best!" She exclaimed. Tora sighed. "I'm happy for you." She said. "I'm sorry I was ugly to you, Ni-sama." She cried.
Cloud ran his fingers through her hair. "It's okay, I understand why you did it. You felt as if I had abandoned you." He explained. Tora nodded. "I can tell you haven't been sleeping well, Tora." He said observantly. Tora nodded. "Well you need rest. So I'll put you to sleep like I used too." He smiled. "Okay." Tora nodded in response. Cloud adjusted her in his arms so he could rock her. He stared at Tora as he rocked her and it was strange to him that he did not see the sixteen-year-old girl he was rocking now. Instead he saw the small child that he loved so dearly all those years ago, as if she were his own. The one that would in the smallest of voices ask about her father and cry for the mother that she wished she had. He sighed as he held her close and leaned up against the wall the futon was pushed up close to. He was happy now he had everything he wanted. He had his soon to be wife, Tifa who was carrying their child, and he had his baby sister and nothing could take his happiness away.
Or so he thought, for lurking nearby, stalking Cloud, unknowingly, was the undead psychotic murderer who could obviously not be killed; Sephiroth was alive as ever. Cloud had not killed him as he thought he did, and Sephiroth was intent on the thought of making Cloud for all the times he annoyingly stopped him from summoning 'Meteor'. He knew Tifa carried a child and Cloud had family left, his plan was to murder them one by one. Cloud was to be his last victim of course, because he wanted to see Cloud suffer.
It was morning when Cloud awoke. He looked at Tora who was sleeping soundly in his arms. He then looked at the clock it read 8:00. He nudged Tora. "Tora-Chan." He said gently. Tora opened her eyes halfway. "Hmm?" She grunted softly. "It's time to get up." He answered. Tora gently broke away from him and stretched as she flopped back down on the bed. "Come on." He smiled as he ruffled her hair and got up. He stretched and yawned as he walked up the stairs. "I smell something good." He said. "Nana is cooking pancakes!" Tora called after him. Cloud exited the room and entered the kitchen. "I smell something good, Nana." He said hugging Tifa who was sitting at the table. "Moogleberry Pancakes." She answered. "Mmm!" Tora said from the doorway. "My favorite, Nana." She smiled. "I know." Nana beamed proudly. "Thank you." Tora exclaimed gratefully. "Tora..." Tifa smiled. "Tifa." Tora walked over and gave her a hug. "How are you?" Tifa asked. "I'm fine. How about you?" Tifa smiled and put Tora's hand gently on her stomach as it sort of bounced.
"Oh! It's kicking!" Tora giggled gleefully. Tifa nodded. "Is it a boy or a girl?" She asked. Tifa smiled. "A girl." Tora looked curious. "What are you going to name her?" Tifa sighed happily. "Misoko Aerith-Hikari Strife." Tora looked at Cloud. "Misoko was your mother's name was it not?" Cloud nodded. A knock was heard at the door. "I'll get it!" Tora yelled, running to the door. Tora opened the door and smiled when she saw Riku standing there. "Hey Tora." Riku said coolly. "Riku-Kun!" She yelled as she glomped him. Riku hugged her back as he smiled. "Wanna come in for breakfast?" she asked. "Sure." Riku nodded. "What are we having?" Tora smiled. "Moogleberry Pancakes." Riku chuckled as he took Tora's hand and walked with her to the kitchen. Cloud looked at Riku and glared at him.
Riku smiled and sweat dropped as he thought, Oh, shit I'm dead. "Riku- Kun...you remember Cloud don't you?" Tora smiled. "Yes." Riku nodded. Riku had met Cloud since he had left home. It was when he and Sora went on that extraordinary journey that changed their lives forever. Cloud growled as Tifa patted his hand. Cloud looked at Tifa and blinked. "Be nice, Cloud. "She smiled. Cloud sighed as he sat down next to Tifa. Tora huggled Riku and giggled as he poked her in the side. Cloud glared as he stabbed the pancakes that Nana had set in front of him with a fork. Tifa smiled. "Are you going to be like this with our child?" She asked. Cloud looked at her skeptically. "Yes." He answered.