The raven haired girl ran down the cold deserted streets, out of breath. She turned a corner and hid in a dark alleyway as a shadow passed by. Only the sound of the rain pounding on the ground and her breathing could be heard. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding in as she relaxed slightly against the wall. Death was right at her door and she had been running from it for eleven whole years. The ruby eyed girl was dying slowly and painfully but death didn't want to wait that long. She was so tired of running and was really worn down. She just wished she could see everyone again but she didn't want to put them in anymore danger. If they found out they would want to help her and she was afraid that it would try and take them as well. But the one person on her mind was Cloud. Did he even miss her or had he moved on? The fight they had before she left. She wished she could take back the things she said back and just go home, but part of her was still far too angry at Cloud to go back. Even after eleven years she was still angry at him. The raven haired fighter was hurt and confused at the same time, and maybe a little jealous of the love he had for the flower girl. If she said she wasn't happy that Aeries died she would be lying to herself. She knew it sounded mean and the flower girl was one of her best friends but she wished Cloud loved her half as much as he loved Aeries. Cloud never showed her as much affection as he showed the brown haired beauty and for that reason the raven haired girl resented her.

She peeked around the corner and it was all clear. The blackness of night blocked out most of the street but she couldn't feel it. A foggy mist covered the air that made a chill run up her spine. She kicked a rock which sparked on the concrete as she walked down the cobbled street. It was freezing and yet she could not feel the cold. She was always cold but this cold was different. It came from almost dying. It came along with losing Cloud. Since the night she left she had felt this way. Like she would never feel warm again. Cloud had been such a jerk and she was sick of pretending everything was okay. She had kept it inside for so long and she was finally sick of it. Cloud had gone out on a delivery and was late home again. He never called again. And she was up half the night again. She waited for him to come home and just before the sun rose he walked through the door. "Hey Teef" he said as if everything was fine and she just snapped at him. She probably would have never left if he hadn't of suggested it. Okay maybe he didn't use those exact words but it was pretty close. She remembered yelling at him. Asking him if he loved her and if he did why hadn't he let her go. Why didn't he show her the same love he showed her. Why didn't he call her. She remembered him yelling back. Telling him he loved me. Saying he had let her go but it all sounded so fake. The way he said every word to her like she was nothing more then a child and she finally snapped and so did he. He yelled at her...

"If you think it's so bad living with me leave, tell me to leave! If you hate me that much just tell me to go. God Tifa you can't keep doing this to me!"

"I hate you Cloud!" I screamed back.

"Fine! Leave! Just get out of here!"

"Fuck you Cloud!" And that's when she walked out. It was his decision. She was sick of worrying about him. Him not calling her and always coming back on the brink of death.

"Tifa..." the shadow called.

Tifa whipped her head left and right before breaking out into a run.

"Tifa..." It laughed tormenting her further.

She stopped dead in her tracks as it's ghastly figure appeared in front of her in the shape of a large black dog with glowing red eyes.

"Why do you run?"

"I'm...I'm not..ready to...die" she stammered.

"Why not? What else do you have in your life? The person whom you loved is long gone. Your friends have moved on so why don't you?" he whispered as holding onto each word as lond as possible.

"I can't die" she shook her head.

"You cheated death once, you can't do it again"

"I can try" Tifa whispered for only herself to hear as she turned and ran. She could feel it's cold breath breathing down the back of her neck. She hated running from her enemy but this was one she could not defeat. Not yet anyway. Not by herself. She slowed when she was sure she had lost it and her house for a few days came into sight.

The raven haired beauty shoved open the old wooden door and stepped inside the grungy one room house. If had a couch that was falling to pieces, a round table with a single wooden chair and a few half torn down posters on the walls. It wasn't much but it would have to do. How she longed to see her bar again. Feel the smooth wood of the counter. Just talk to her customers. Just talk to someone. Tifa sat on the hard wood chair deep in thought. Something warm licked her hand and she looked down smiling.

"Hey, Griever" she spoke softly rubbing her hand over his head before reaching his neck and rubbing my hand through his thick coat.

He barked happily as he placed two paws on her lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzeling her head into the thick coat around his neck. He didn't smell like dog, he never smelled like dog. Ever since the first day he was with her she always thought he smelt like Cloud. She's not saying Cloud smelt like a dog. This dog smelt sweet not dirty. And with the dogs ways he reminded her of Cloud and that made her laugh but sometimes it was just plain depressing. He was her only company and she had grown attatched to him.

She first came across Griever 4 years after she left. Tifa was walking around the slums of Midgar when she heard a faint yelping so she followed it. In a small alley he was just laying there, lifeless, covered by bits of cardboard and newspaper. He was only a puppy and he was really badly hurt so she nursed him back to health. Ever since then he had followed her and she wouldn't of had it any other way. Seven years later here they were and still together and an added bonus was that he was well behaved. There was something strange about him though. His eyes were an azure blue. Like Cloud's they were mezmerising. He's part wolf that much she was sure of and she thought a bit husky. His coat mainly black on top with a bit of white underneath. Griever had helped her out many times when she was in trouble. In a way he was like her guardian angel.

Griever began to flash his teeth and growl as there was loud banging on the door. Tifa patted him reassuringly as she got up. She cautiously approached the door. Who would be coming here at this time at night or even just here? She spun the knob and the door crept open. Cold wind and rain blew through the door forcing it open but there was no one there. Tifa closed it before she got a chill and shrugged. It wasn't safe to be here anymore. Actually it wasn't safe to be anywhere anymore. She gathered up her stuff (which wasn't much) and started for the door. She turned to Griever to get him to follow but he was already removing himself from the comfort of the couch. He caught on fast. She felt he knew her better then anyone did, especially him and he understood her.

Tifa stepped out into the now wet streets. The rain was still bucketing down and she was saturated after only a minute. Griever shook spraying anything within a two metre radius. She laughed as she continued down the street. Sure she was deeply depressed but that dog always seemed to make her laugh when she was down. She wondered what he would do when she was gone. A cold wind swept past that made the raven haired girl shudder. Griever trotted on ahead. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched from somewhere. She continued nervously. Each step amplified by the deafening silence.

"Whoa..." Tifa mumbled falling back as she bumped into something.

Tifa hit the ground with a thud and looked slowly up to the person she bumped into. It felt like she had hit a brick wall but the person standing in front of me wasn't that big. In fact she was small. Kinda like a girl she used to know.

"Yuffie...?"