Waves Of Time Chapter 1: The End, a final fantasy vii fanfic

A/N: Wow! This must be the longest chapter 1 ever! I suggest you grab a soda and some popcorn because this is one hell of a chapter! Enjoy! xD

The breaking dawn peeked from the western mountains, its rays crept across a dark room—waking a pair of cerulean eyes. He lay in the soft covers, debating with himself whether he'd wake up or go back to sleep. After a few moments, he groggily pulled his perfectly toned body at the edge of the bed and let his feet dangle above the cold marble floor. His pale hand ran through his blonde locks as his eyes scanned his whole surroundings. He was alone.

I wake in the morning
Tired of sleeping

The sun was now visible from the horizon and his pet rooster had cuckooed for 7 times, yet he didn't want to move. Still, he gathered whatever's left of his energy to walk towards the bathroom that was only two feet away from where he stood. Clothes were then discarded from his body before he turned the knob of his shower. The stinging cold of the running water struck his body like it was being pierced by thousands of needles, but he didn't mind. It was nothing. After the bath, he got out of the bathroom donned only with a towel that hung on his lean thighs. Drops of water from his soaked hair fell on the white covers of his bed as he fixed the linens. He sighed inwardly when the job was finished. At this time, doing the same thing wasn't as much fun anymore.

Get in the shower
And make my bed alone

He took few slow steps towards the wooden dresser, letting the damp towel slide from his hips when he opened the cabinet. His hand ran through the dozens of shirts that hung up on the hangers and took out what he needed for the day. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves crinkled up to his upper arm, and black pants. As he buttoned his shirt, he looked at his face in the mirror. A pair of weary blue eyes, which seemed to be older than his present age, looked back at him. His fingers stopped at the button between his clavicles, showing his pearly white skin. The man behind that mirror was very different from the one he had seen several months ago. He wanted him back.

I put on my *get up
Talk into the mirror

Just as he was about to leave his room, a wet furry nose poked from the door and along with it came a red furry head. The crimson-colored dog forced himself through the door and it slowly walked towards the blonde man. It looked up to his master with soulful amber eyes that appeared to have a sad glow. The man knelt down on one knee, smiled and patted the dog's head. Even though he was only a dog, he knew what his master was thinking. It was a new day for him…for them.

Ready for a new day

Without you

Walking forward with the dog at his feet, the blonde felt a pang of pain at every step he took. Everything he had built, he had experienced…he felt it had faded away yesterday. He himself had already faded away yesterday. Now, he knew not who he is or what could he look forward to. What has the future in store for him? He didn't know nor care if he knew. He only wanted to go back to yesterday. He also knew he couldn't do that. Right now, all he could do was walk forward and greet this new day. A day he didn't want to come.

And I walk steady on my feet
I talk my voice obeys me

His bedroom door opened to reveal a brightly lit hallway. At the end of it was his next destination…the kitchen. He doesn't really need to eat, only the dog. He had no appetite to eat anything for last night he had enough food in his stomach to vomit out. He was so wasted that he was driven home by a very close friend. That same friend bathed, clothed and tucked him into his bed. That person left him with the lights of the bedroom on in fear that he'd have nightmares. That person knew him well…but not too well—or so he thought. Lights or no lights, he'd still have nightmares. However, he'd rather dwell in his nightmares because he knew he could still wake up from it. The real nightmare was reality, his reality. He'd always wake up into his reality, his nightmare.

I go out at night
Sleep without the lights

A soft nuzzle from his dog waked him from his daze, he was already in the kitchen. The dog excitedly ran to his food and water bowl with his long tail wagging anxiously. He grinned at the mutt and took a bag of dog food from the upper right cabinet. He didn't need to be on his toes because he was tall enough to reach the dog food. It wasn't a big deal for him. A smirk graced his lips when he thought about the previous owner who had short legs. It was very difficult for that person to get that bag for the crimson dog. He poured a great amount of food and water into the dog's bowls as though they were preparing for a long journey. A sigh came out of his lips as he watched the dog chow down his food eagerly. The dog was a living memento, and looking after that reminder made him etch a beautiful memory in his heart…through that memento he would never forget.

And I do all of the things I have to
Keeping you on my mind

A grumbling noise that came from his stomach made his attention waver from the dog and into the refrigerator. His head was still recovering from last night's hang-over, so he thought food wouldn't be a good idea. All he needed was a cup of coffee and everything would be alright. Approaching the kitchen counter made him remember countless things that brought a bittersweet smile to his handsome features—especially the coffee maker. His fingers ran through the metal handle of the little machine and nostalgia washed all over him. Thinking again, he left it alone. Coffee wasn't a good idea either. Not just that. Everything that he has done up to now…all the things that he did so nonchalantly since yesterday just to prove he could handle everything the way he did before…when he'd thought everything was ok…in that fact, he knew everything was wrong.

But when I think I'll be alright
I am always wrong cause

My hands
Don't wanna start again
My hands
No they don't wanna understand
My hands
They just shake it try to break whatever piece I may find
My hands
They only agree to hold
Your hands
And they don't wanna be without
Your hands
And they will not let me go
No they will not let me go

He could still remember the words that an aged woman left him. She was thanking him for everything he had done for the benefit of her family, her peace. He didn't hesitate to talk about that subject with her. Somehow, he felt light talking with that woman. Could it be that the same aura of his home surrounded her? He never knew the answer, but he swore he'd visit her everyday until she too would be taken by the Merciful Lord to meet her husband in the heavens. They would reunite there. It would be the only way for them to find each other again. A tear didn't fall from her eyes as she spoke of such things. He knew why. That case was his last, he told her. When she asked what he would do from then on he merely smiled. Only the future knew the answer. Tears weren't part of it that much he knows.

I talk about you now
And I do without crying

"Cloud! Yer late, man! Get yer sorry ass over here!"

A bear hug greeted him as he entered a noisy bar with people of all kinds flocking in. The huge man that squeezed him was grinning so foolishly that he'd thought he would catch it. This is what he needed right now. He needed happy, carefree people to surround him. There wasn't a reason for him to be so down because he had won. He had won the case that was forgotten a long time ago. Now, he was celebrating his success with his buddies from work, from college, from almost everywhere. Though he wanted to go back to his house, he wouldn't want to disappoint everybody that had come for this special occasion. Everything would be alright, for as long as everybody's happy…he'd be happy. After this night, he'd be alone again. Its not like he doesn't have any choice, it's because he wants to.

I go out with my friends now
I stay home all alone

Amidst all kinds of people in the bar, there were no familiar faces. Everything, everyone was so mixed together that he couldn't distinguish anyone. His eyes wandered to and fro as if searching for something. When he realized what he was doing, he smiled cynically to himself. What was he doing, he asked himself. He blamed his instincts. He was anticipating something, but he knew it was clearly impossible. Then somebody dragged him from the dance floor and into a private room full of anxious young faces. They were the same as him and they want to know his story—though one particular thing was left out. One he couldn't say but could. Running into circles, he carefully chose words for them to understand. That thing wouldn't be left out, but the secrets would be only for his heart. And so, he spoke his story.

And I don't see you everywhere
And I can say your name easily

"I never thought you'd find them badmouthing at each other funny," Tifa commented as she watched Cid and Barret quarrel over the jukebox.

He smiled at them before gulping whatever's left of his 4th bottle of beer, "I only noticed it now."

"You were pretty distant these last few months," she stated bluntly. For the first time, she felt awkward of her conversation with the blonde. She didn't feel like that before, but why now? The brunette stared at him through her thick black lashes as he opened another bottle. "Where were you running off to? What were you doing?"

"Stuff…" he said before drinking the whole bottle with one gulp. "You wouldn't understand."

How could I understand? Tifa sighed inwardly. You've never talked to me anymore.

"Congratulations on the case by the way," she said with half a smile.

"Yeah, thanks…" He replied and grinned at her, his face a deep scarlet.

Tifa furrowed his brows at the blonde's strange reaction. "Cloud…?"

He didn't reply…instead he ran off laughing to Cid and Barret; apparently, he was already out of his right mind.

I laugh a bit louder
Without you

Strange things came out his mouth as he was driven home by Tifa…things she couldn't discern. He was drunk silly and was incapable of holding even the handle bars of his bike. She occasionally glanced at him smiling and pointing at the stars. This troubled the brunette.

"Hey, Cloud…" she started with a sincere look at the blonde. "What happened to us?"

"What do you mean?" He asked with a dreamy smile.

Tifa crossed her brows and pursed her lips in annoyance. He wasn't acting like he would be professionally. In truth, she hasn't seen him so drunk her whole life. It was weird and a bit depressing. When they'd break up, it would only last for a few days and everything would be alright again. The blonde didn't think of the petty quarrels so much as to get drunk and waste himself like he did today.

"Were here," he suddenly announced when the lights of a cottage shone through the pitch black window of Tifa's car.

The brunette helped him down and prepared himself for sleep. She bathed him, clothed him and tucked him into his bed. He murmured a silent thanks as she moved the loose strands of his blonde locks from his forehead.

"Are you sure you'll be ok? I could stay for the night, if you want…" she suggested with gentleness.

"Yeah," he murmured through the blanket that covered his lips. He looked at her with his gleaming cerulean eyes. "Thanks again, Tifa."

She nodded at him and left the lights on before leaving. When the sound of Tifa's car engine slowly disappeared, he leaned on his elbow to turn off the lights. He doesn't need the safety of the light anymore.

And I see different shades now
And I, I'm almost never afraid now

Sweat began to build up in his forehead as he tossed and turned. No matter how he tried to close his eyes and his mind, the force of a single memory still reminded him of the stinging wound that he had died to endure. The only different thing was…he was alive. He suddenly sat up from the bed and slowly turned his head to the empty side of the bed. He furrowed his brows as he returned his gaze to the lower half of his body. Clutching at his head, he painfully closed his burning eyes.

But when I think I'll be ok
I am always wrong cause

My hands
Don't wanna start again
My hands
No they don't wanna understand
My hands
They just shake it try to break whatever piece I may find
My hands
They only agree to hold
Your hands
No they don't wanna be without
Your hands
And they will not let me go
No they will not let me go

Hey…

As if being pushed by invisible hands, he walked towards the exit of the kitchen/dining room and into a brightly lit hallway. To his side was a glass wall that showed a beautiful landscape of different kinds of flowers and vegetables. Further from the patch was the edge of a cliff that continued on to the wide sparkling sea. It was a breathtaking sight. It was also one of the reasons why he bought and loved his home.

Over here…

He nodded and looked forward. After a few quick steps, he was once again in a new room of the little cottage. It was a round room composed of many large windows. A white grand piano was standing at the side, perfectly clean and well tuned. Different paintings were hung in the walls of that room, but one in particular caught the blonde's blue eyes; in front of him hung the largest and most beloved painting of them all.

Sometimes I wait
I see them reaching out for you

Be careful, Cloud!

He nodded again and approached the big portrait. His hand reached out to the glass that covered the precious canvas ever so cautiously as if one touch could scratch and ruin it. When his skin lightly touched the cold surface of the glass, he held his breath. As his palms rested on it fully, he exhaled heavily with his chest aching at his action. Closing his eyes, he imagined somebody standing beside him. He could still hear the conversation that he had shared with that person.

It's the best painting in the world, you know…

Oh really? He thought while moving his lips in unison with those words.

Yup!

He could still remember the proud and gentle smile that person gave him. Turning to the side, he opened his eyes and the image broke into millions of irreparable pieces…with it, his heart.

Quietly break
Whatever shields I spent so long building up

I cannot fake
Cause when they cry I'm almost broken

Finally, his hand slid from the glass…uncovering something that was written beautifully on the painting.

.-+-.

Flowers blooming in the Church

By:

Aerith Gainsborough

.-+-.

They miss holding my baby

He backed away from the painting with his hands shivering…not because he was cold, but because he was angry. He was angry at himself, his decisions…everything. His hands were already calloused of picking broken pieces of glass and ceramics which he had thrown anywhere out of rage, out of grief. However, even that…wasn't enough.

My hands, My hands
No they don't wanna understand
They just shake it try to break whatever piece I may find
My hands
Your hands
They don't wanna be with us?
And they will not let me go

No they will not let me go

Exhausted, he slumped beneath the painting. The crimson-colored dog, which was done with his food, came up to him and let his head rest on his master's lap. When the dog whimpered, the blonde gently brushed its silky red coat. There was not much he can do…he knew that. Even if he knew what would happen, he still went on with his decision. Not because he wanted to, but it was his promise. And he'd never go back on a promise. Then, he swore the day he chose his profession. He shouldn't have promised. But did he have a choice? Did he know that things would turn out that way? It wasn't his fault…it was destiny's.

"You miss her, too…don't you?"

The dog raised his soulful amber eyes to the blonde in reply.

Take care of him, okay?

He didn't know what she meant by those words. She already knew he'd take care of the dog, but why did she say that without looking at his eyes?

"Could she mean..." He stared at his pet. "That you'd be the one to take care of me?"

Before he could find the answer, his doorbell rang. The crimson dog suddenly stood and barked incessantly at the direction of the front door. It was no illusion anymore. For the first time, he felt his heart race just like it did when he first saw her.

Could it be…?

A/N: The next chapters would be a year earlier of the present chapter. In other words, this chapter was supposedly the second to the last chapter of this story. BTW, the song is My Hands by Leona Lewis. It is the theme song for FFXIII. Hope you'd enjoy this story as much as I had enjoyed writing it! :D

*It's supposed to be 'make up'. But since Cloud isn't gay—or so we are made to believe—I changed it to 'get up'.