Yes, yes I know everybody's a bit off character, but it's my fic, I'll do what I want.
Beware Tifa lovers, it's not exactly happy... leave now!
Lost Soul
Tifa slid her hand in Cloud's. He didn't do anything. He continued starring out the window as though he was starring through the bars of his cage. Tifa placed her other hand on his shoulder, he turned towards her. She smiled at him, he plastered a smile on his face and an engagement ring appeared in front of Tifa.
"Will you marry me?" He asked not looking in her eyes as he slid the diamond ring onto her finger. Tifa leaned towards him for a kiss and when their lips met, she looked into his eyes and they said one name, Aeris.
* * *
"So how's the happy couple?" Cid asked.
"We're engaged," Tifa replied, twisting her engagement ring round and round.
"So how the hell did you get him to forget Aeris?" Yuffie demanded.
"I didn't," Tifa mumbled.
"huh?" Yuffie asked.
"I hate her! The day she died was the day Cloud died!" Tifa screamed and ran from the room as tears poured down her face.
"I love you, Cloud," Tifa said, stroking his face.
"I love you too... Tifa," He whispered gently, though his eyes said otherwise. Tifa swallowed and turned away, keeping him from seeing the tears that ran down her cheeks.
"Tifa? What's wrong?" Cloud asked, turning her tear stained face towards him.
"Cloud, sometimes I feel like you're not all here, like it's just your body but not your soul, Cloud, free yourself and ..." forget about Aeris. Tifa thought. "You're so close, leap the rest of the way," Tifa urged, she didn't hear him whisper, "I'm not anywhere near being close, I'll never forget Aeris. Never."
* * *
I can't, I just can't live like this anymore, Tifa thought sobbing. I can't keep loving him. His words show he's sure of us, but his heart doesn't, it's still somewhere else. A flash of brown hair and a pink dress crossed her mind. I deserve to be loved, I deserve someone who's soul isn't lost. I deserve to be happy. She nodded as she realized there was only one alternative.
* * *
"Cloud? I need to talk to you," Tifa said tapping him on the shoulder. He turned around. She motioned towards the kitchen table. They sat down, across from each other.
"I thought I was helping you forget... everything but I now realize I'm not, after all this time, 3 years, you're still dead and I'm not exactly helping so I'll set you free of this... of marrying me" she bit her lip to keep her tears from falling as she pulled of her engagement ring and placed it in his palm. "I'm setting you free, Cloud Strife, because I want what's best for you, now you have to do the rest, find your soul Cloud," Tifa said.
Cloud looked at her. "I felt like it was my duty to marry you but Tifa I can't live a life of lies, I don't love you, never have and never will..." He stopped looking at the painful expression on Tifa's face. He looked at the ring in his hand, stood up and walked out the door. Tifa went to the window and placed her hand on the glass panel, she stood watching as Cloud disappeared out of her life.
~Fin~
Be nice! Don't be too harsh! But if you must flame me, go ahead! =(