Title: Choosing Between Hearts & Minds.
Pairing: Tifa / Sephiroth.
Progress: Completed!
POV: 90percent Tifa and Sephiroth. 10percent other FFVII characters.
Rated M: Mostly for the mature scenes in chapter 7 and further. I've marked the areas which are for the eyes of 17+ only. Just skip the parts if you're not old enough for it, you won't miss much of the main storyline.
Summary: This is a story partly based on the FFVII game but has some interesting twists in it. The story is set a few years after the defeat of Sephiroth and the group of warriors broke up and lost most of their contact with each other. The main focus lies on Tifa, who is forced by Shiva & Diablo to team up with her former enemy... Sephiroth.
Both aren't too happy with this, but can they learn to cooperate for the sake of earth?
Note: The first two chapters might seem long-winded but they're necessary for the more interesting parts of the story. Next to that; English isn't my first language. I try my best to write these stories in perfect English, but they're far from it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, nor am I associated with the game, these characters are copyrighted to squaresoft and all the other companies associated with the creation of final fantasy VII.
Chapter 1: Memories from the past.
"Where is that stupid hammer" Tifa cursed to herself while examining the wooden shelf above her head.
"I'm absolutely sure I placed it there this morning. She got down on her knees to explore the cupboard beneath her bar. Tifa let out a small sigh while picking up the dusty tool.
"Hmm… how did it get there?" she wondered. She got up to her feet and her eyes fell on the dusty furniture shattered around what used to be her bar, not only hers, but also Avalanches' safe haven.
Avalanche, the thought of her former team made her eyes watery. She and her friends fought for a better life on earth, but the future didn't turn out the way she hoped.
During the battle against Shinra and soldier she lost many loved ones. It had been three years since the defeat of Sephiroth, and Tifa hadn't had much contact with her former friends ever since.
The roads of the team members had split and everyone had their own business to take care off.
Tifa turned to face a photograph located next to the entrance.
The picture was taken when her team necessarily had to spend the night at the Golden Saucer, it pictured her and her friends smiling; and enjoying the evening.
Even Cloud had a shy smiling curling around his small lips.
Tifa couldn't help herself noticing the girl on his right – which to her disappointment wasn't her – gently touching Cloud's wrist; Aeris the flower girl from the slums.
A soft snore escaped from her lips while thinking over the entire situation there. Once she had feelings for Cloud, maybe she even loved him, though she still hadn't worked that ou.
She did showed affection when it came to Cloud: those feelings stayed unanswered.
Tifa could remember the day Aeris died as if it were yesterday. The anger and grief on Clouds face… she'll never forget his facial expressions while gently handing Aeris over to the lifestream.
Would Cloud have reacted in the same way if it were she who died that day? Would he have grieved as much? Would it haunt him? Tifa knew she would never know the answer to those questions.
She took a glass out of the cupboard, filled it with water and drank it at once. "Well" she said to herself, "Aeris was special, she was nice, lovely, sweet and cute… almost a saint. She was everything I'm not; I'm a sinner, not a saint".
Aeris was everything Tifa would never be but Tifa couldn't care less, for she was over Cloud. Her feelings for him had vanished over the years. "Out of sight, out of mind" she sighed.
"Ah, so you finally managed to get rid of this shack" an old voice croaked.
Tifa looked up to see her neighbor staring at her. "Well hello mister Crane, nice evening to you" she replied, "You'll be getting new neighbors soon" she smiled as she showed him a board that read "Sold".
"An European family will move in next week, they're planning on starting a museum here".
"I hope you know what you're doing young thing" Mr. Crane said, "This old shack was the love of your life". Tifa's smile vanished and she stared at her Seventh Heaven.
"I know" she whispered with a soft voice "but it's time to start over. I've got lots of good memories here, but they're overshadowed by negatives".
"Do what you think is best sweety" Mr Cane croaked while scaring a street cat with his walking stick.
"Aargh stupid animals, secretly I was hoping some pet catcher would open up a little company in that shack of yours", "Seventh Pet-Heaven would've been a nice name". With those words mister Crane took off.
Mr. Crane's words helped Tifa to cheer up, even though she was a cat lover herself. With pain in her heart she attached the "sold" board to the "sale" one and attached it with a few nails
A dreamy tingling made her look up into the starry sky and she decided to sit down and take a few minutes to enjoy the moment just once more. From now on she'd be spending her nights alone in StormVale.