Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7. If I did, Zack would be alive!! Long live Zack Fair!
My Happy Ending
Message 01: Seventh Heaven
I was as optimistic person, often the one giving the advice. I can't say if I was all that good of an advice-giver because I never advised myself but, according to others, I gave some of the best advice. I was an advice guru I guess.
Tifa Lockhart was my identity and it would never change no matter how much I wanted it to. My hair was dark brown, matching my chocolate irises, reaching just past my thighs now. I always dressed in black, a black, zipped leather shirt that revealed my stomach, a white undershirt hidden under it, with a matching leather skort, black shorts snuggly beneath them. A red ribbon my childhood friend, Cloud, gave me was tied securely on my upper arm. When I fought, I would put on a pair of black gloves but now I couldn't look at them without breaking into tears.
Midgar was infected with a common and deadly disease: war. It was consuming us all, splitting us into rebel groups, reforming our whole world, claiming the lives of my dearest friends Aerith and Zack and taking my friend, Cloud, from me.
I was a commoner with experience in mortal combat. My fists packed a punch, sending men twice the size of myself hurdling out the window. Otherwise, I worked in the Seventh Heaven, a bar my family owned. The Strife Delivery Service was no more seeing as to how Cloud disappeared.
That was another thing Cloud claimed from me…
It was always so dark and quiet since Cloud left, no one was there to greet me, keep me company, or just comfort me with their presence. No, I was all alone.
The ceiling fan ticked to my annoyance as the blades wound around the center, creating a small, appreciated draft in the hot, humid room. My bare hands, covered with a small paper napkin, continued to dry the clear drinking glass from a few hours earlier when a group of men created a riot in the Seventh Heaven, forcing me to step in and provide reinforcement for those who were quickly getting irritated. They were kicked out, courtesy of myself, their faces smashing straight into the concrete. I swore I could hear their jaws crack under the pressure. They staggered to their feet, spitting out curses and as soon as I held up my fist, they scrambled away.
I couldn't help but laugh at the memory.
It was so funny how oblivious people could actually be. They were so self-indulgent that they would put a sunflower on their mother's tombstone.
The soles of my shoes scraped lightly against the wooden flooring as my legs took me to the cupboards on the far left end of the counter. I moved the wooden latch, the cup in one hand, held against my chest, as I opened the small wooden door. Carefully, I put the cleaned glass upside down beside the other cleaned glasses before I shut the door and latched it once again.
There was no light traveling in through the windows upstairs. Though the curtains were closed, there was always a small line of light that would pass through from the bit of sun that made it through the thick smog. The strip of gold wasn't there. I guessed that it was about time to shut down tonight.
With the power of my legs, I walked myself to the door, putting the metal latch down after I securely locked it.
My hands fell limply to my sides as I sighed loudly. Denzel and Marlene had found another place to settle in with another girl who was infected with the stigma and boarded in with her family, thinking they were a burden to me.
After Cloud defeated Sephiroth, he disappeared again without giving so much as a call, a letter, not even a goodbye…
I turned on my heel and practically sprinted up the stairs, trying to clear my mind. The pictures on the wooden walls didn't help things much or the cluttered boxes in every corner.
A hot shower didn't prove successful either.
Work wasn't an option seeing as to how most people were asleep at this time.
I was consumed in my thoughts when I got out of the shower.
My hair was still damp when I went to bed. As usual, I wore a black T-shirt that reached my upper legs and since no one was around, I didn't see a reason to wear shorts underneath.
When I reached my bed, I let my body collapse on top of it like a stone landing on a fluffy cloud…Cloud…
I immediately flipped over onto my back, clutching the pillow to my chest.
You just had to say "Cloud" didn't you. I internally punched myself for bringing Cloud back into my mind.
I took a deep breath, holding it for a few moments before exhaling it, giving myself a moment of relief. The pillow was hanging limply over the edge of the bed now, the white pillowcase scrunched up in my hand.
Silence filled my ears, engulfing me in its serene spell. Unlike my ears, my mind was undergoing extreme emotion, the sounds of various voices filling my senses.
"I wonder where he is now," I though aloud, my eyes gazing at the ceiling above me. I felt pressure build up in my eyes and I screwed them shut, trying to prevent the tears from spilling out. "You loved her and yet, you left me with something I cannot ever leave behind."
The tears fell down my cheeks and I rolled onto my side. "I need you."
I was no longer my twenty-two year old self. Four years can age a person. If I had to guess, I would say that I aged twenty years in the past forty-nine months.
-x-
The next day, when I woke up, my eyes were crusty with sleep, reluctant to open. After I rubbed the disgusting crust from my eyes, I was greeted by a blinding light. I turned to my alarm clock, reading the red numbers.
9:32
Crap! I overslept!
Once again, I found myself mentally kicking myself as I jumped out of my bed, rushing to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth, showered, dressed, combed and blow-dried my hair, and bolted down the steps to the bar below.
I was supposed to open the Seventh Heaven over an hour ago.
I quickly unlatched the doors and put the OPEN sign on the front golden knob.
Quickly, I gathered my dignity at the counter, pulling out glasses and putting them out, ready for fill.
A few moments later, someone came in.
"A little late are we?" a voice mocked. A familiar not-so-tall man entered through the doors. His red hair was pinned back in a long ponytail that trailed behind him, the hair on top of his head still flaring up in medium sized spikes. As usual, his cerulean eyes showed the utmost confidence. Goggles were on his head, a messy dress shirt and casual, unbuttoned business coat and slacks were his attire.
"Reno," I managed to growl, my eyes narrowing dangerously.
The Turks intimidated people, making them fearful, taking over half the town that way. They were also referred to as part of ShinRa and, even after they aligned themselves with AVALANCHE, they started draining the world's life for power. Reno was one of them. To me, he was just as much of a bastard as Rufus ShinRa.
They were not allies.
"Whoa, whoa, down kitty, I'm just here to have a drink," Reno explained, waving his arms in the air for emphasis.
"You're not welcome here, get out," I ordered.
"And I was told to bring this," Reno said, taking out a white envelope from his pocket, holding it up lazily between his pointer finger and middle finger. He let out a smirk. "Now how about that beer?"
I stared incredulously at the man in front of me. What was in the envelope?
Reno sat in one of the stools by the front counter. I closed the Seventh Heaven for good reason. Now it was just me and Reno.
I slid the drink in front of Reno, a bit timidly for some reason. Was I nervous?
I was so nervous that I could throw up on the spot.
Without a word, watching Reno carefully, I slid into the empty seat next to him. He looked at the small shot glass, quickly swigging the red liquid down. The glass came down with a loud slam as Reno took a huge sigh.
"Ah, there's nothing better than a nice glass of alcohol on a rainy day!"
I raised a brow. It wasn't raining; it was the middle of July. Was he delusional? Scratch that, was he even sane?
In order to knock him back into reality, I brought my hand back in front of my mouth and gave a fake cough.
It worked.
"Huh, oh, sorry."
"The envelope?" I reminded coldly.
"Oh, yeah, here." It took Reno a minute to fish it out of his pocket before he handed it to me.
Overeager to see what was hidden inside; I hurried to rip open the envelope, finding a piece of folded parchment inside. Without a second thought, I discarded the ripped envelope, seeing Reno catch it in the corner of my eye.
Then, I unfolded the parchment.
The paper wasn't white; it was creamy, a bit tattered around the edges, signaling that this letter was written probably over a month ago.
My heart was thumping against my chest, threatening to pop out at any given moment. The breath in my throat hitched, coming out in a rough cough. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Was I dreaming? My hands trembled, my eyes widened, that scrawny handwriting…I recognized it.
It was Cloud's.
Dear Tifa,
It has been awhile since I have seen you. I know that I neglected to write to you and I'm sorry. Some things have come up, making my free time relatively short.
How are Marlene and Denzel? Is everything going well at Seventh Heaven?
I could practically hear his voice, stoic and icy but being melted away with warmth and worry. How I missed you Cloud. My eyes went back to the paper.
Since you would probably ask how I am doing, I'll just write it down. I sustained no injuries from my previous battles and am resting up for what lies ahead. It still seems surreal that Sephiroth is gone, that he is defeated. But with that victory came a price.
Most likely, you are upset with me for leaving without a word but I had my reasons and you would have been in immediate danger if I would have brought you along.
But I plan on returning home soon, if possible, within the next month.
Sincerely,
Cloud Strife
The paper crumbled in my hands as tears fell from my eyes, dripping down my cheeks. Reno looked at me and then at the paper.
"Um, I hate to tell you this, but look at the back of the paper," Reno said hesitantly, seeming to lose his playful energy.
I looked at him for a moment, hesitating, but Reno just urged me to turn the paper over. So I did.
That's when my entire world shattered.
"The date," I trembled.
This was written over three years ago.
Reno looked at his feet. "We found this in a cabin in Mideel, I'm sorry for your loss," Reno hesitated.
"In Mideel…" Cloud was…gone…?
"Did you find anything else?" I asked.
"No," Reno said, "nothing."
Maybe…
"Maybe he's not dead, you didn't find a body so, he's not dead," I said, forcing a smile.
"Tifa, I know this is hard but we highly doubt Cloud is" Reno started, obviously shocked.
I believed in Cloud and his will to lose. That's one thing Reno and I differed in: are beliefs in Cloud Strife.
"I believe in Cloud, he'll come back, I'm sure of it, he always has and always will," I said, folding the letter up and putting it on the counter.
"Believe what you want but don't say I didn't tell you so," Reno said icily, getting out of his seat abruptly and leaving the Seventh Heaven.
All went quiet except for the ticking ceiling fan. Drops dripped from the faucet, the counter shimmered, and the light shined.
"Reno, you don't know how wrong you are," I said aloud.
But… My eyes traveled back to the folded letter. Was Cloud alive? If so, why hasn't he returned?
I stared up at the ceiling fan.
Maybe waiting wasn't good enough anymore.
Then I made my decision, the one that would change my life forever.
I was going to find Cloud Strife.
-x-
I carried very little things and I only needed one bag. I had my ID, my wallet with money I got from my account at the bank, a change of clothes, a bottle for water that I would later fill, and a few snacks if I couldn't find a village. I would purchase a map right before I departed from Midgar.
But I had to take care of a few things first.
Reno and the Turks would never know of my leave but others, like Barret, Marlene, Denzel, and Melanie.
When I exited the Seventh Heaven, I made sure it was securely locked, giving the key to the back door to Barret.
Marlene hugged me tightly when I went to tell her of my departure. Denzel just watched with empty eyes until Marlene ushered him over. He gave me a small hug.
My last trip was to Melanie's small home in another section of town.
There were three steps to the door to her home on the crowded streets. People flocked by, filling up the sidewalks on both sides of the street.
I gave a small knock at the door, and a few moments later, a small woman with white hair and blue eyes greeted me, opening the door.
"Tifa, this is a surprise, I thought you weren't visiting for another five days," she said.
"Actually, I came to tell you that I'm leaving Midgar for awhile," I told her with a sad smile.
"Oh, but why?" she asked, shocked. The woman at the door, smoothed out her blue dress and stained apron nervously, like she always did when she wanted to delay something.
"To find Cloud," I said, daring to not look at Melanie.
I head her give a small gasp, her hands snapping to block her opened mouth.
"Cloud, as in Cloud Strife!?" she said a tad too loudly.
"Yes, but, can you lower your voice, I don't want," I looked around cautiously before continuing, "I don't want ShinRa to know."
"I see, but what about"
"Tell Lucia that I love her and I'll be back soon," I interrupted.
"Come back safe Tifa, you're all she has," Melanie whispered as I started my way to the store to buy a map. She closed the door and returned to caring for the children. A girl with short brown hair in pigtails with blue eyes stared out the window by the door, clutching her teddy bear to her chest, trying to stay strong like she was told.
-x-
It took no time at all to buy a map; all stores carried many of them in stalk for very low prices which was convenient.
With my things in tow, I began to make my way to the end of Midgar. Seeing as to how I had no other way to travel, walking was my only option.
Yuffie was in Wutai and from what I heard; she wasn't coming back for a visit for at least another month. Cid was all the way in Rocket Town and Vincent; I hadn't seen him for over a year.
This time, I was on my own.
It had been so long since I had felt anything like this. The hope and determination were strengthening by the second; building into a worthy defense that not even a whole kingdom of men could falter. My sadness and depression melted away, replaced with this satisfying feeling of strength. Nothing was going to stop me.
My slender legs walked me through the crowds, my face not faltering, only looking ahead, through the people and through the faces. I kept my fist balled beneath my gloves, tightening the maroon material around my knuckles. The black bag I had my things in was slung over my back, the straps tight around my arms, making the bag rise as high as possible on my back for convenience. My brown hair followed behind my powerful strides, beating upon my back as I went since I tied it a few inches from the bottom with a red hair tie. I was wearing my white, undershirt that cut off a bit below my chest with my black skort and black shorts. Attached to the belt of my skort was a thin, belt-like strap that wound up and over my chest, shoulders, going behind my back and attaching to the other side of my skort belt. On my arms, ending a bit above my elbow were finger-less gloves that my gloves went over. It started black and ended with a metal strip and red material at my upper arm. I no longer bared the red ribbon Cloud and I shared. I wouldn't wear it until I found him.
"Tifa!" a faint voice called.
I stopped in my tracks, the crowd still maneuvering around me.
"Tifa!"
The voice was growing louder with each passing moment.
Within moments, a little girl with short, chocolate brown locks and blazing blue eyes was at my feet, a tattered pink bunny in her arms. She wore a beige dress that ended at her knees, small scorch and tears on the ends of it. Under that she wore a white, collared, polo shirt that had small sleeves that reached her elbow. The girl was relatively small and frail. She never was strong physically.
I gave her a warm smile, kneeling down to her eyelevel.
"Lucia, why are you out here?" I asked, trying to conceal the worry in my voice.
She shifted her gaze from me to the ground. The three year old hesitated before answering, "I c-came to see if you w-were weally going."
"Don't worry Lucia, I'll be back soon and we can play together like we used to," I promised.
"Weally?" She looked up, hope glittering in her eyes.
I nodded.
"I want you t-to have this," she said slowly, taking something out from a pocket in her beige dress. She put something in the palm of my hand slowly, withdrawing her tiny hand. It was soft like smooth silk and it was the color of ash. A small white ribbon, the same one I gave Lucia for her second birthday, was in the palm of my hand.
"L-Lucia," I choked.
Why was she returning her birthday gift?
"Don't forget me," she pleaded.
I smiled, hiding my true feelings. How could she even think I would ever forget her? She was the last gift Cloud ever bestowed upon me.
"Lucia! Lucia!" another voice called.
A familiar white haired woman bounded out to embrace the little girl, literally collapsing to her knees.
"Lucia, than goodness, never run away in town like that again." Melanie panted, planting a small kiss upon her forehead. Melanie looked up at me. "Tifa, I'm sorry if we're"
I cut off her apology.
"It's alright Melanie; I shouldn't have left without a proper goodbye," I admitted, standing up on my stiff legs with a small wobble.
The two followed suit, standing up to their full heights as well, Melanie keeping her hands on the bend of Lucia's spine to keep the toddler steady.
"I must be going soon," I said, seeing the two practically stare holes into my skin like puncturing needles.
"Be careful Tifa, Marlene, Denzel, and Lucia need you," Melanie reminded me. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she was crying. Melanie was only seventeen and she had a lot on her plate and with Denzel being twelve and Marlene ten, the two were becoming more adventurous and a bit troublesome with their antics, mostly Denzel wanting to act more like an adult and Marlene following.
The two were good kids though and Cloud, Denzel, Marlene, and I were always a family.
"Tell Denzel and Marlene to take care, I'll be back soon," I said, my feet starting the other way.
I waved to them and saw, from the corner of my eye, Lucia frantically waving her arms in the air and Melanie holding her back from chasing after me, tears streaming down both of their cheeks.
As I continued away, my eyes stayed glue to them. They grew smaller, smaller, smaller, and smaller with every step. Lucia's lips moved but I could not here what she said. I feared that I would never see his child again after that day.
-x-
It was interesting how you wouldn't realize how precious someone was to you until they were gone. I felt that with Zack, Aerith, and even Cloud. I didn't know how much their absence would impact my life until I realized that they were actually gone.
In a way, I lost everything.
Marlene and Denzel didn't depend on me like they used to, Lucia had Melanie, Yuffie and Vincent disappeared from my life like Cloud, and I never trusted ShinRa or the Turks like Reno.
No one needed me.
The city of Midgar was far behind me. All that surrounded me now was hidden organisms, rough stones, and uneven cliffs. My feet grew sorer by the minute.
These rocks were hard and every time I stepped, something would practically stab and wedge itself in the heel of my foot.
I looked around myself, seeing only stones. Midgar was just a speck in this prominence of rocks. There were no signs of life, just a vast region of rock. There was a cliff ahead, a forest below it that would lead me to the next city.
My eyes wandered to the sky. Gray was all I saw. No clouds, just gray. The sky was no longer a lush shade of light blue; it was now a deprived shade of gray.
This world changed over the years. The development of ShinRa changed everything including my life… My father was dead because of those bastards. My hand tightened into a fist.
I hope you're rotting in hell Sephiroth.
Over time, my body eased and to keep my mind off my aching limbs, I consumed myself in happy memories of my friends and family.
The optimistic black-haired ninja appeared in my head first, my mind traveling back in time.
We had just defeated Sephiroth and the celebration was at its peak. The Seventh Heaven was lit, the walls shining orange with the lighting and darkness from the night sky mixing together. Calm jazz music played for us, getting some people "into the groove", getting them to dance in the spot I had renovated earlier for the more "wild" ones to enjoy themselves.
Reno and some of his fellow Turks were at the counter, chugging down beer in large glasses. Barret was sitting beside Reno, just as drunk as the redhead, now giving the smaller man next to him a giant pat on the head, messing the red spikes up, making them spilt and fall into his face.
Marlene and Denzel had their own little table in the far back left corner where they sipped on their Cokes that I had provided for them. Normally, they wouldn't get fizzy drinks with caffeine but, seeing as to how it was a celebration, today was an exception.
We…well Yuffie…somehow convinced Vincent to come to the party, which he did, and he was in the darkest corner of the room, sitting at a table alone. He seemed t be in a daze, staring at nothing in particular.
Yuffie, on the other hand, was having a ball on the dance floor, dancing with various AVALANCHE members wildly.
Cloud was by actually enjoying himself as well, a small smile on his face as he took a seat at Marlene and Denzel's table. The three chatted and smiled, seeming to have a pleasurable conversation.
I was doing my normal job as the Seventh Heaven bartender, serving drinks, mostly to Reno and Barret, and other AVALANCHE members.
My job was never done.
"Hey, bartender, over here, an order of champagne!" a black-haired girl called, waving her arms in the air. Yuffie was alone at her table, wanting a drink, sweat dribbling down her forehead from the previous activities she included herself in.
With a sigh, I stepped over to her.
She sat down in her seat, ready to make her order.
"One order of champagne," she grinned.
"Yuffie, you're underage, you can't have champagne," I sighed.
"Then I'll take a glass of tequila," she announced.
"Too young," I stated.
"Beer?" She now resorted to questions.
"Nope."
"What can I have?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Coke," I smirked.
She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Fine, I'll have a glass of Coke," she sighed. Her enthusiasm seemed to diminish within moments after hearing that she couldn't ingest adult beverages.
"One Coke coming up," I smiled, walking back behind the counter.
I went in the backroom behind the counter, immediately going to the fridge. I opened the frosty door, a chill erupting from its cavities and cooling my heated flesh. My hand scanned the fridge, passing by the snacks and toppings.
"Coke." I grabbed the 6oz bottle of Coco Cola before I shut the refrigerator door with the back of my foot.
Without a second thought, I exited the backroom, shutting the door behind me as I entered the lively barroom once again. After grabbing a glass, I strode back to a lonely looking Yuffie.
Soon enough, I was back at Yuffie's table, glass and Coke in hand. Yuffie had her head hung low, like she was ashamed or something. I stood there for a few moments, expecting her to pop her head up and say, "I got you!" That didn't happen.
My eyebrow was twitching. Why was this girl acting like a deaf old woman!?
I slammed the glass on the table, finally getting the young ninja's attention. Her head snapped up, her eyes a little hazed. She blinked a few times. "Tifa?"
"Your drink?" I said, pouring half of the bottle into the cup.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
Something was wrong, Yuffie was never quiet.
"Be right back," I said, rushing off.
I put the bottle back into the fridge and rushed back to the table where Yuffie was and took a seat in the other vacant seat.
She looked at me, shock evident in her eyes.
"Want some company?" I asked.
"Sure," she answered, trying to smile. The effort was futile, she could never fool the "Great and All-Knowing Tifa."
"Okay, what's wrong? You're not yourself," I finally said, leaning in closer for her answer.
She looked to her lap, fidgeting with her fingers. The fidgeting seemed to linger on for minutes until she finally answered.
"Am I still a child?" she murmured.
My eyes widened. So that was what was getting her. I leaned back in my chair, thinking of what to say.
Yuffie's eyes wandered back to her lap, her whole posture changing. Her hands and arms were directed to her lap, her arms straight and stiff, her hands balled into fists; Yuffie's shoulders were tensed, her eyes not on me but on her feet.
This was not like her at all.
"You still have a long way to go before you are an adult but you aren't a child," I said with a hopeful smile.
"So, I'm in the middle?" she asked, her stiff body going limp.
I nodded.
"Well, Teef, I…I…," she looked at someone away from the table quickly, "Am I too young for Vincent?" she sputtered.
The jazz music still hummed throughout the room like blood coursing through human veins. People still danced, drank, and talked, making merriment keep the celebration booming.
"Vincent, the Vincent Valentine? The one you call 'Vinnie'" I asked.
The two were polar opposites. She was hyper; he was cool, calm, and collected. They were so different that there was an attraction between the two.
Yuffie nodded sheepishly, taking a quick glance his way.
"There is an age difference," I said, stroking an invisible mustache, "But I think it would work," I finished slowly.
"Really!?" she practically shouted, jolting out of her seat.
"Yuffie, calm down," I said, ushering her to sit back in her seat correctly. "Vincent is the opposite of you and visa versa, that's what makes it work. Have you ever heard the saying 'opposites attract'?"
"So, I have a chance?" Hope glittered in her dark eyes.
"Yes," I smiled, "you do."
Yuffie's lips turned upward, into a smile I had never seen before. It was bright, her teeth glittering brilliantly. It was a true smile.
Maybe she had her chance at a happy ending.
…
…
…
Her happy ending…
Yuffie didn't make a move that night. No, instead she spent the remaining time sitting with me and chatting about our hopeless love lives.
Shortly after the party, Yuffie returned to Wutai to straighten out a few things and to continue training kids in learning wushu.
Vincent disappeared shortly after. From the rumors I heard, all I gathered was that he left town and went north somewhere.
The place was probably dark to say the least.
Then memories of Vincent Valentine rushed into my head, crashing into my mind like a giant tidal wave. One in particular got my attention.
Yuffie had already left for Wutai over two months ago, sending me a single postcard saying that she had arrived safely.
Of course, I had told Vincent.
The dark-haired man was hanging around the Seventh Heaven now, not having anywhere to go and of course, he didn't openly admit that. No, instead he just stalked around, his red tattered cape trailing behind him as he lingered in various dark corners of the bar. He wouldn't say much but he was there.
He seemed to be sulking.
To put it bluntly, he missed the company of the hyperactive ninja.
"Vincent, how long are you going to sit around and sulk? You are acting like a child," I finally said one day as I cleaned up the Seventh Heaven. Cloud had left without a word and Vincent was the one that stuck around during the time I sulked.
But it was my turn to help him.
"I am not sulking," he said coldly.
"Well you sure seem like you are," I said, putting another glass back into the cupboard.
"I merely am waiting for her return," he said from his barstool seat at the counter.
I suppressed a chuckle. "Sure ya' are Vinnie." I waved my hand in a dismissing fashion as I did my Yuffie impersonation.
The dark-haired gunman sighed. "Tifa, you are being difficult."
"You're going to blame my prying on Cloud's absence, aren't you?" I asked, my mood turning into raw anger.
Vincent said nothing and stared at his reflection in the newly cleaned wooden counter.
"Tifa, I am leaving. I realize Yuffie won't be returning anytime soon and you need your time to think and we cannot dwell on the past." With that, Vincent stood up and walked out, his hair trailing behind him as well as his red tattered cape.
I bit my life, forcing a smile. I knew he would leave too. They all did. But I was grateful for the amount of time he spent, comforting me. Tears fell down my cheeks.
For awhile, I believed Vincent was my best friend. And for awhile, he was…
"Goodbye Vincent."
Vincent didn't return after that. I figured that he needed to sort out his own life, much like me.
My eyes trailed over the stones set around me.
I took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before exhaling and letting it all out. How I wished the air I got rid of were all of my troubles.
I wished Zack and Aerith were with me. The company would be nice.
But they were in the Promised Land. Sometimes I wondered why I wasn't there with them.
I wished I was…
-x-
It was nighttime already and I hadn't reached the forest. The ground was rocky so I was forced to search for a stone large enough for me to sleep on. Luckily, I located one that fit the description decently well. I kept the bag hugged to my chest. I had no blanket and the chill was making me shiver.
Somehow, my eyes closed, the heaviness weighing my eyelids down.
My body was weightless, in a swirl of everlasting blue. In the heat of the moment, I allowed my arms to flow outwardly and for my legs to dangle in the air. My hair sprawled out of its original tie and all I felt was eternal bliss.
Like a feather, I lowered into a grassy plain, somehow adjusting myself to land weightlessly on my feet.
As soon as I was upright, I scanned my surroundings. The tall, lush green blades of grass stretched out as far as the eye could see. It was never-ending. The sky here was blue, not a cloud in sight. But, I couldn't see the sun. Everything was lit up but there was no yellow, shining orb of bright light.
"Long time no see Tifa," a voice greeted behind me.
That voice…
I turned around quickly, almost tripping over my own clumsy feet. Black spiked hair, transparent blue eyes, dark clothes, pale skin. Zack Fair.
"Zack," I croaked, tears welling up in my eyes.
Zack…was…dead…
His lips turned upward into the smile I hadn't seen in years.
"Are you going to stand there and cry all day or are we going to talk?" Zack asked.
I practically ran to him, throwing my arms around his muscular form. My face buried into his chest and Zack seemed to hesitate before patting me awkwardly on the back.
"Miss me that much?"
"You have n-no idea," I sobbed quietly.
Zack lightly pushed me back, looking at me to se how much I changed. I noticed that he hadn't aged a day.
"You don't look too different than the last time I saw you," Zack said, letting go of me.
"You haven't aged a day," I smiled.
"Hm, well, that's no surprise. I stopped aging the moment I entered this place," he said, looking to the sky.
"Really? It must be nice to not have to worry about wrinkles, gray hair, or the whole world for that matter," I said.
"It gets lonely," Zack said, averting his gaze to me.
"What about Aerith?" I asked, remembering the brunet woman that inspired so many.
Zack smiled, shutting his eyes. "She's gone, like the rest of them."
"What?" I asked. Gone?
"For some weird reason, people have been disappearing from the Promised Land."
"Disappearing?" Why would people be disappearing from the Promised Land? Where did they go? A million different questions raced through my head.
"For all I know, I'm the only one left and I found that I can venture into the world of the living, unseen of course. I'm starting to think that the disappearances and Cloud missing-in-action might be connected somehow."
A slight breeze blew, rusting the strands of my hair. The air here wasn't hot or cold. There wasn't a climate. I couldn't tell you what the weather was. It was like my skin couldn't feel anymore…like it became rubber or some sort of unfeeling substance. My senses were going haywire.
"Zack?"
"Yeah?"
"Would I be able to se you if you came to the human world?"
"Well, you're here and seeing me now," Zack said.
"That's not what I mean!"
"I know." Zack looked back at the sky, his smile disappearing. "Aerith knew something was wrong. She kept tabs on you and Cloud and one day, she couldn't find Cloud anywhere. She looked for him for months and nothing came up. It was like he vanished from the face of the Earth. Shortly after, spirits here started to go missing. That's why she gave me something before she disappeared and told me to contact you. She knew something was going to happen." Zack dropped a small necklace with a single pearl at the end of the golden chain. "This will help you see me in the human world." I put it around my neck, letting the pearl dangle at the end.
"Whatever Aerith sensed is happening, isn't it?" I asked.
Zack's gaze fell to the ground. "Yes."
"Dilly-dally-shilly-shally, Zack, how about this? You come to the material world and assist me in my search for Cloud. Maybe, together, we can find Cloud and Aerith," I suggested.
"That sounds good."
"So, see you when I wake up?"
"You can bet I'll be there, just don't talk to me in public, you'll look like a senile old woman," Zack teased.
"Hey, I am not old, you just haven't aged!" I barked.
"Sure, well, see you when you wake up Sleeping Beauty," Zack said.
The world disappeared, a black hole appearing under my feet. Suddenly, my body felt like a ton of bricks and I was falling. My eyes shut, my body becoming numb as the hole of black closed on me.
…
…
…
The last thing I saw was Zack's smiling face
My eyes snapped open, my arms sending me upward a bit too hard. Let's just say I tumbled off the rock I was sleeping on.
I was heaving, rubbing the now sore spot on my lower back, my left eye cracking open.
"Wow, for Sleeping Beauty, you sure are a klutz," a familiar, muscular man snickered.
I couldn't help but smile at the man standing above me. Zack was really here. I looked down at my upper chest, spotting the necklace that was sitting neatly below my collar bone.
It wasn't just a dream. My gaze fixed on Zack again. This was reality.
"Earth to Tifa, are you going to ever get up or are you going to spend the rest of your days on the ground?" Zack asked, sarcasm dripping like venom from his voice.
I staggered to my feet, knowing he couldn't help me. After all, he wasn't tangible…
"Where to next?" he asked after I regained my balance.
"To the forest just below the cliff," I said.
"The one about an hour's walk ahead?" Zack asked, trying to get a feel for my future journey.
"Yeah," I answered. For a dead man, Zack still was very familiar with these parts. The training in SOLDIER came in handy at times, much to my distaste.
"Well, the sooner we get there, the better. We're burning daylight here, hurry up," Zack said, already starting to walk away.
"Hey, wait up!"
Still groggy, I forced the remainder of my energy to my legs, pumping me to the former army man's side.
-x-
"It's…beautiful…" I said in awe, my eyes trailing over the long stretch of lush green forest that hadn't been corrupted as of yet.
"One place ShinRa hasn't touched," Zack added.
The trees stretched out for a vastly, the ground covered with the green of treetops and Christmas Pines. The beauty was overwhelming. I couldn't help but gape at the sight. Never once had I seen an area ShinRa hadn't destroyed. Judging by the trees, I could guess the wildlife rarely, if not ever, saw humans. ShinRa probably didn't know this place existed. The towns were to the east and this forest was west.
Zack and I stood over the edge, gazing down with envy at the sight.
"Ready?" Zack asked, giving me his usual cocky grin.
"Yeah, but, are you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow after I fired his question back at him like a rocket.
Zack chuckled. "Gotten a bit confident while I was gone, eh?"
"I never was the type to sit back and squander time," I smirked, putting a hand on my hip.
"You were always quite the optimist," Zack said, seeming to let his mind wander into old memories, his chin fixed between his thumb and pointer finger.
My bag was securely strapped behind my back so tight that it didn't even dangle an inch off my back. My hair, still bound at the ends, hung over my bag, practically covering it. At least it was further away from my feet.
Zack had no weapon but his fists proved worthy in battle since he trained in soldier. I had to say, though, my hand-to-hand combat made his look like child's play.
"So, are we going to spend our day reminiscing or are we going to get down that cliff?" I asked, pointing to the brush below.
"Ha, ha, yeah, okay, okay, I'll stop babbling long enough to get down the cliff," Zack laughed.
"Finally," I sighed,
"But…" Zack drawled, "how do we get down exactly?"
"Uh…I guess we have to rough it by climbing down," I said.
Zack's gaze flickered between me and the cliff.
"Great, and here I thought that this was going to be an easy journey."
-x-
The climb down, to say it bluntly, felt like I entered a hellhole and climbed out of it…two years later. Every muscle in my body ached. It felt like the muscles were tearing, fire burning through the folds of flesh. I could hardly stand, let alone walk. My arms took the brunt of it. The upper portion of my right and left arms were searing with pain while the rest of my arm below my elbow was numb, feeling like Jell-O.
I was out of breath, finding a shaded rock nearby to collapse on my backend with.
"W-Wow, o-out of b-breath already Tifa," Zack wheezed, not looking any better than me.
As soon as I caught my breath, I fired back, "Look who's talking."
Zack managed a hoarse chuckle before collapsing on the ground himself, trying to catch his breath. He sat on the grass, not caring what he looked like at all.
Sweat beaded down his face, from his chin, nose, forehead, seeping out of every possible pour his body successfully located. I felt the wetness of my skin, the tip of my finger reaching my forehead to be greeted with a river of perspiration.
How I craved for a nice, cold shower. Curse the hot weather of mid July.
My eyes traveled to the blue skies, something racing into my mind.
A memory…
…
…
…
…of Cloud…
My skin was burning…at least, that's what it felt like. The sun, which I though of as the devil for the last month and a half, sat in the sky, blaring its evil rays of light upon me like it was mocking me.
"Stupid sun," I muttered under my breath, the small metal handle of the bucket of water I was carrying.
The white tank top that covered my upper body and torso was soaked in sweat from the hard hours of labor I was forced to endure. Even my jean shorts were damp.
My mind told me to make a sign that said "Will pay for Shower" but there was no marker…or paper for that matter.
It was so freaking hot that I tied my hair back with a big clip in a messy bun. That didn't help rid the sweat bottled up behind my neck. Nope, it just exposed it to the sun. The stupid, stupid, sun.
"Stupid sun," I mumbled, pouring the water into the deep cemented ditch that was to be a pool soon.
Why I decided to help out in the middle of July with filling up my neighbor's friend's mother-in-law's son's pool remained a mystery to me to this day.
For the last two hours, I had been spending taking trips from one side of their too large backyard to the other, filling the bucket with water since the hose wasn't long enough to reach to the edges of the pool.
Stupid hose…
Cloud and I elected together to help out. That didn't help my attempts to avoid him since my feelings were growing by the day, making me act a bit foolish, admitting things I didn't want to. This was not the time to be truthful.
I looked to the blonde who was on the other side of the yard, dumping a bucket of water in the hole in the ground. Like me, he was drowning in his own perspiration, plus, the expression on his face definitely was far from expressing pleasure.
Even though I was avoiding him, that didn't mean I couldn't admire him from afar.
Something cool and refreshing splashed onto my wrist. My eyes focused down at the bucket that was now perfectly overflowing, a puddle of mud forming in the green grass.
I was so busy ogling at Cloud that I was too busy to notice that the bucket had already filled! My gaze flickered to the pool. And, to make matters worse, Cloud was heading back here.
Quickly, I twisted the faucet handle to turn off the water pressure and to hopefully stop the flooding.
My feet splattered mud on my ankles as they twisted, pulling me in the direction of the pool, my legs pumping me there.
As I passed Cloud, I prayed once again that he wouldn't notice the puddle.
What excuse could I come up with? How would a puddle form in the grass when it was over a hundred degrees!?
My face heated up instantly as his scent entered my senses, the slight breeze brushing past my skin as he strode by. It was all so overwhelming. The heat wasn't helping matters either.
Now I was even more exhausted, feeling like I could keel over dead at any random moment.
Suddenly, my left foot landed in front of my right, throwing off my balance completely. My eyes screwed shut, my fingers unclasping the bucket handle automatically as I prepared myself for the impact of the fall.
It wouldn't hurt much to fall on grass but with the way my feet twisted, it could result in a good amount of pain from something like a twisted ankle.
With a CLANK, the bucket hit the grass, the water filing out quickly, making it empty once again.
I was ready for the pain to erupt but it never came.
A few more seconds…
Nothing came.
My eyes were squinted when they opened cautiously. Something warm and smooth, like flesh, was wrapped around my lower torso. I studied it for a moment before noticing the breathing that hit my neck like a feather.
Blonde hair…
Blue eyes…
Cloud's left arm was wrapped securely around my lower torso, hugging me to his body, my back grinding against his chest and stomach, our lags tangled. His other hand still held onto the bucket of water, not spilling a drop. Cloud looked down at me, his eyes holding the utmost concern for me.
I couldn't help but gasp. Cloud was so close to me. My instincts took over, making me struggle in his grip.
"Tifa," he kept saying, trying to get my attention. I kept struggling.
My right leg kicked his, his foot skidding off the ground, sending us crashing down.
Cloud's bucket hit the ground with a CLANK, the water draining out of his as well.
I had my eyes shut tightly once again. Then, it happened again. His breath was hot against my neck, making me want to arch up in pleasure but I held back the screaming urge. I forcefully opened my eyes. Cloud was smashed against me, his body on top of mine now, our legs intertwined. The bump of his arm beneath my back was there, meaning he didn't let go.
Our eyes met, both of us looking away quickly before wandering back to meet.
"Um, you're on my" Cloud started quietly.
I interrupted him before he could finish his sentence.
"Oh, sorry!" I said, arching my back up high enough so he could slide his arm out from beneath me.
He sat up first, his weight, which was quite heavy actually, no longer crushing me. I sat up as well, expecting him to move but his didn't.
Now, my arms held me up, angling behind me, my body positioned in a diagonal line, my head starting the highest.
"Um…"
Why wasn't he moving?
Cloud stared at me intently, apparently consumed in some thought running through his mind.
"Tifa," he said, finally blinking, his body shifting back to give me more room to sit up. At least I was sitting up straight.
But he was still seated in my lap, his hips grinding against mine whenever he moved, keeping my legs planted against the squashed blades of newly-planted grass with the added weight applied.
"Why are you acting different?" he asked.
My eyes widened considerably. That was one of the things I feared him asking. Lately, I had been acting much more skittish around him, going as so far to avoid him and when you lived with him, avoiding him wasn't as easy as I thought it was.
"Cloud, I…" I started, my gaze falling to the grass surrounding us.
Then it hit me.
This was the time to tell him how I truly felt, the feelings I harbored for so long.
"I'm not acting different," I said, the words I truly meant not erupting from my throat.
"Tifa, I am not getting up until you tell me what is bothering you," Cloud said.
"If I told you, it would just make things worse," I stated coldly.
"Tifa"
"If I told you that I loved you, what would you say!?" I shouted, tears brimming in my eyes.
For what seemed like an eternity, it was silent, neither one of us muttering a word.
Cloud shifted his weight off of me, rising to his full height. I stood up, no, more like snapped up, dashing for the gate to get out.
It was all over, my mind told me again and again. He loved Aerith, not me.
His hand clamped onto my wrist, stopping my hasty retreat. I screamed, thrashed, cried but his grip only tightened.
"Damn it Cloud, let go!" I screamed, finally turning around, tears now streaming down my cheeks.
Everything seemed to freeze up. Suddenly, I was being pulled in, closer to Cloud, my face meeting his covered chest, his arms wrapping around my back like a shield.
"Tifa," he whispered hotly in my ear, his lips touching my earlobe, "Let me make up for the time I wasted drowning in my sins and misery. Let me make it up to you. Tifa, let's start from scratch."
"No," I said, shutting my eyes, "I don't want a new beginning. I want to keep moving forward. Now, we can move towards a better future…together…"
"Yeah, that sounds nice," Cloud agreed. "We can keep moving forward, together."
That was just the beginning.
…
…
…
What happened to "together"? To our happy ending? Was it all a lie Cloud? Did you lie to me? About us, you, me, the baby…?
"Tifa, earth to Tifa," Zack said, waving a hand in front of my eyes, causing me to blink.
"Well, should we get going?" I asked hastily, directing my vision towards Zack.
"O-kay…" Zack raised a dark brow.
"I was thinking Zack," I said, trying to prevent the oncoming headache.
Zack stood up, stretching out both arms.
"Let's go," he smiled, looking back.
"Right," I said, getting up, a smile on my face as well.
Whether or not it was real or not, I didn't know. Sometimes, my heart felt like stone, others, like glass.
…Sometimes I didn't even feel human…
-x-
The sky was orange with sunset, a bright array of colors decorating the background above us. Even through the thick brush of the trees, we could tell it was getting late.
For a forest, I noticed, I hadn't seen a single organism since we entered.
What were we going to eat?
Given, the berries but some were obviously non-edible and I wasn't going to try my luck at guessing. I was not a forest ranger.
Zack hunted for edible berries, remembering some suggested berries from a friend that he knew in SOLDIER.
Meanwhile, I just walked around, exploring I guess you could say.
Then, something caught my eye.
It was brown, quite small, and almost a perfect square. Wooden walls, a cracked roof, broken windows.
It was a cabin!
But…
What the hell was a cabin doing out in the middle of a deserted forest?
I shrugged off the thought. At least it was a place to sleep and maybe even a place to get a bite to eat. My stomach gave a loud growl of approval, my hand resting on top of it.
I was so hungry that it hurt.
"Zack, cabin!" I yelled, getting his attention.
He sprinted to my side. "Where?" was the first thing he said.
I pointed it out. It was just a couple of meters away.
"Well, what we waiting for? Let's get some food?" Zack rushed, getting ready to run.
"Spirits eat?" I asked, raising a brow.
Zack shrugged. "Dunno, all I know is that I'm starving. I can't remember the last time I had REAL food."
That's cause you were dead, my mind answered.
Together, we sprinted, snapping branches, tearing vines, thorns scraping my flesh all the while.
Within a short while, we were at the porch.
"The door's closed, we should knock," I said, noticing the closed entrance.
"Yeah," Zack agreed, letting me step up and knock on the front door.
We took a few steps back, allowing whoever to open the door.
To my astonishment, it opened seconds later, revealing the cabin's inhabitant. She looked like a child, maybe sixteen. Her transparent, blonde tresses draped over her practically white shoulder, also hanging down her forehead, trailing down by her cerulean eyes. The girl was frail, boney by the looks of it, her legs resembling sticks like her arms.
Was she ill?
The girl was tall, a little shorter than me. And, all she wore was white. A simple white gown ending at her upper legs, small, light blue, slightly heeled sandals on her feet giving her little protection from parasites and insects that had a tendency to bite.
She didn't open the door completely. A simple chain lock kept it shut, allowing her to only reveal herself and not the inside of the small cabin.
"What do you want?" she asked. Her voice was sweet, like venom, it was practically dripping with purity, making me sick to my stomach.
She reminded me a bit of Aerith…
"I'm a traveler," I lied, "I need a place to stay, I'm starving"
"You're asking if you can stay with me," she guessed. She didn't smile but she wasn't angry. I couldn't tell what she was feeling and that irked me. Just being around this girl made me edgy.
"Yeah, pretty much," Zack nodded, knowing she couldn't see him. I gave a meek nod as well.
She took a moment before responding, her eyes studying us carefully as if we were some sort of experiment.
With a click, she unlocked the chain, opening the door.
"I see nothing wrong with you staying with me," she said, her face still neutral.
"Thanks, by the way, I'm Tifa," I introduced.
"I am called the White Witch Namine but you may call me Namine," the girl introduced with a small bow.
Message 01: End Transmission
Character Analysis:
Tifa Lockhart
Age: 26
DOB: May 3
Height: 5'4"
Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Dark Brown
Personality: Optimistic, cheerful, realistic
Abilities: Superhuman strength
Likes: Cloud, loyal friends and family
Dislikes: ShinRa, war, death, Sephiroth
This is just a test. I spent about a week on it and I typed 7 pages yesterday. I may or may not continue this story. If I do, this will be the one I update this summer while I roast in my living room alone.
(This story takes place after Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, exclude that. And a skort is shorts and a skirt in one, that's what my family refers to it as so just go with it. And Tifa became a litte distant after Cloud left so...)
PS: I can update fast.
The other chapters would be about this long. So longer waits but more events in a chapter. I realize some of my others works just suck but I'm not removing them but I'm working on avoiding frequent one liners and constant dialogue. I can't picture everything through pure dialogue so...
If you want more, review and if I reach 7 or remotely around that, ever, I will, if possible, keep the story going.
I have most, if not all, of the story planned out. Let's just say crossovers will happen. Cough...Final Fantasy X...cough. Hints: there ARE various pairings, more than 1 crossover, and the pasts of the FFX characters are a bit AU to fit into the storyline. Oh, and if anyone knows Zack's or Reno's birthday, mention that or I'm going to make it up.
So, review if you want the story to keep going, don't hesitate. I want opinions, thoughts, anything. If this story sounds good, tell me so!! Plus, I'm still writing the story but I don't have to post it so. If you want to see Tifa fight a dragon, review! Oops, preview slipped...
R and R
