Chapter One
"Cloud?"
"Ngh," The spiky-haired blond replied sleepily.
"You have to wake up! It's Vincent's birthday today, and we have to travel all the way to Nibelheim!" Tifa poked Cloud, hoping he would get up for the sake of Vincent's birthday.
"Five more minutes..."
"Cloud Strife, if you don't get your spiky chocobo-haired butt out of bed RIGHT NOW you're going to regret it immensly."
Cloud covered his head with a pillow. "Go away," he mumbled.
Tifa sighed and motioned to Marlene, who was holding a rather large bucket of water in her hand. Marlene raised the bucket over Cloud and tipped it over.
"GAH! What the hell?!" Cloud jumped up, dripping water on the wood floor.
"Get dressed. We're leaving in five."
...
Cloud walked downstairs, dressed and (mostly) dry. He didn't see why Vincent's birthday was a big deal anyway. That guy's probably older then Cid, he thought bitterly. Of course, those years he spent in a coffin in The Shinra Mansion's basement might not count.
Cloud was sitting in a barstool trying to use his logic figure out exactly how old the gunman was when, suddenly, he noticed something.
My materia- It's gone! He had set some fire materia on the counter in front of him, but now it was gone. It couldn't have just vanished while I was thinking. What the- wait a second! Cloud heard a slight rustling in the corner. That's right, SHE's coming with us...
"Yuffie, get out here and give me my materia. NOW."
"Aww, man! You're getting smarter, Chocobrain!" She stomped across the room and dropped the materia in Cloud's waiting hand.
"Damn right, I am."
"What's going on down here?" Tifa appeared in the doorway with Marlene and Denzel in tow. "Oh, you're here, Yuffie!" Great now the only person we need is-"
"I thought you said HE wasn't coming." Cloud cut her off.
"Plans changed."
Cloud cursed under his breath. They already had to bring Yuffie with them, and now they had to deal with-
"Yo!"
Him.
"Hey, Reno!" Tifa grinned cheerfully at the redhead, who had just arrived. Speak of the devil and the devil appears, Cloud thought darkly.
"Wassup, guys? Why so glum, Spiky?" Reno turned to look at Cloud.
"Tifa," Cloud mumbled so Reno couldn't hear, "If I murder him, I'm holding you completely responsible."
Tifa whispered in the same tone, "If you murder him, your body will be in the ground with his." The last word came out as a hiss, and Cloud flinched. As strong as he was, Tifa could still kick his ass.
"Let's go then!" Cloud said, trying his best to fake enthusiasm, "Wouldn't want to be late."
...
"You sure we're going the right way?"
"Positive!"
They were driving to Nibelheim with Cloud at the wheel, and Tifa was sure they should've made a left turn, not a right. "I think I know where I'm going, Teefs. I used to live there."
"Well, so did I! And that WAS a left turn back there!" Tifa insisted.
Okay, so she did live there too, Cloud thought, But I'm positive I went the right way.
"May I just add one thing to the conversa-"
"NO!" Cloud and Tifa both interrupted Reno.
"Okay, okay," said Reno, "There's no need to yell in unison."
"Let's stop up here and rest. We'll start driving again in the morning." Cloud parked the car.
"Where are we gonna sleep?" Marlene asked, confused.
"In the car!" Tifa answered. Everyone in the backseat groaned.
...
A/N: Yay! Road trip! Then next chapter will be up soon, I'm so busy though so I can't say when! Sayonara for now! *Kisses* ~OneWingedHoneybee