Chapter Two

Cloud walked through the rain as he made his way to Fenrir, parked in the driveway. He mounted the bike and out of the corner of his eye saw Tifa come out of the house and began running toward him.

"Cloud! Where are you going?"

He did not answer. The roar of Fenrir drowned out Tifa's cries as he backed out of the driveway. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a pair of sunglasses. He put them on and sped off into the distance, leaving Tifa in the driveway.

She stood there as he drove off, wondering why he had overreacted at Yuffie's childish behavior. She turned on her heel and strode back inside the house.

Cloud drove for what seemed an eternity before he finally calmed down. He didn't know why he had reacted so harshly to Yuffie. Sure, she could be annoying, but that was no reason to threaten her life the way he did. He remembered her lying there as he towered over her. He cringed at the thought at what would have happened if Vincent weren't there. He looked back as he left Midgar and watched it slowly shrink in size.

All I do is hurt people…

The bitter cold stung Cloud's face as he drove. The rain felt like needles but still he drove on. He didn't know where he would go, for no place can erase the guilt he felt at his actions that morning.

The rain was coming down in sheets now and he could barely see two feet in front of him. He swerved to miss a giant rock in the ground and nearly lost control of Fenrir. He regained control and traveled on. The intense cold was affecting his motor skills. His muscles began cramping as he tried to keep control of his bike.

Another rock came into his field of vision, but he did not react quickly enough. His front tire crashed against it and sent him and the bike flying through the air. While airborne, he tried to brace himself for landing. He hit the ground hard, landing on his back in a large puddle. Fenrir came after him and landed on his legs, sending a sickening crunch into the air. Cloud screamed in agony as he felt the bones of his legs being snapped like twigs. He began to hyperventilate as he desperately struggled to free himself, but every movement sent sheets of pain flaring throughout his body. His blood began to mix with the murky water around him.

With a cry of defeat, he lay back on the ground as the rain fell mercilessly on his broken body. He looked around and saw nothing to help him. His vision began to flicker as the cold began to slow his breathing. He looked up at the sky above him and saw a lightning bolt shoot through the sky.

He knew no more.

Yuffie sat in her room sobbing as she stared out the window. Why had Cloud been so angry with her? She said she was sorry, and she meant it. It was torture for her not knowing why. She had always had a bit of a crush on Cloud, but just recently she found herself unable to stop thinking about him. She wanted him to forgive her so badly that she felt sick. There was a knock at her door.

"Yuffie? It's Tifa. Can I come in?"

"…Sure."

Tifa carefully made her way into Yuffie's room. She sat down onto the bed next to Yuffie.

"Why was Cloud so mad, Tifa?"

"I'm not sure," replied Tifa, "but I think he's just been under a lot of stress. We all have, seeing as how Aerith has…"

Tifa began to get choked up and couldn't finish. Yuffie buried herself in Tifa's arms as she once again started to bawl. After a few moments, Yuffie gained control of herself and sat up straight. She wanted to apologize. He'd only been gone a short while, perhaps she could still catch him…Yuffie stood up, walked over to her shuriken and picked it up.

"Where are you going, Yuffie?" inquired Tifa.

"I'm gonna find him."

Yuffie walked out of her bedroom door and down the stairs. She grabbed a few potions from their supply, and a Fire and All materia as well. She thought she was well prepared if an encounter with a monster were to happen. And with that she left, ill-prepared for the horror that awaited her just outside the gates of Midgar.